The stabbing was on Thursday night. Police officers found the victim shortly after 8:20 p.m. in the area of Northwest 25 Avenue and 57 Street, according to the Miami Police Department.

Fire rescue personnel rushed the victim to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, according to police.

Detectives asked anyone with information about this or other cases to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477 to remain anonymous.

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Local 10 News Assignment Editors Sofia Mendez and Mercedes Cevallos contributed to this report.

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According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services inspection report, inspectors documented live roaches crawling on food preparation tables, walls and floors inside the processing area.

Dead roaches were also found on the floor under and around fryers and on metal trays used in food preparation.

Inspectors also observed several flies inside the processing area, indicating active pest activity in areas where food is handled.

The report details conditions that allowed pests to enter and persist.

A rear receiving door was left open while not in use, and there was a gap under a back door leading outside. An insect control device was installed over a food prep table, and another was stored on a prep surface, creating a risk that insect fragments could fall into food.

Inspectors noted the business could not provide a recent pest control service invoice during the inspection, raising concerns about whether a consistent pest management program was in place.

Because of the infestation, the state issued a stop sale order covering all open food in the processing area, deli, bakery, shawarma station, coffee station and buffet.

Those food items were voluntarily destroyed, according to the report. Inspectors also issued a stop use order on food processing equipment and utensils, including the three compartment sink, citing contamination concerns tied to insect activity.

Beyond the pest issues, inspectors documented heavy grease and food buildup throughout the facility.

There was an accumulation of grease and dried food debris on the undersides of prep tables, ovens, fryers and nearby shelving. Floors beneath cooking equipment had heavy grease and dirt buildup, according to the inspection.

Sanitation practices in the kitchen also fell short. Wet wiping cloths were left on prep tables instead of being stored in sanitizer solution. Clean pots, pans and bowls were stacked while still wet, a practice that can allow bacterial growth.

Inspectors found chemicals stored improperly. Bottles of bleach and hand sanitizer were stored above food prep areas, and sanitizer concentrations were measured at more than 200 parts per million before being corrected, exceeding safe levels.

Food handling violations added to the concerns. Employees were observed putting on gloves without first washing their hands and washing their hands in a food prep sink.

In another case, an employee used bare hands to handle ready to eat rolls, prompting a stop sale order for that product, which was discarded.

Inspectors also cited improper food storage practices, including raw chicken stored above other meats and raw shell eggs stored above ready to eat items, creating a risk of cross contamination.

Temperature control violations were also documented. Hot prepared foods such as meat pies, pastries and sausage rolls were not cooled properly and were found at unsafe temperatures hours after preparation. Milk used at a coffee station was also held at an unsafe temperature. Both violations resulted in additional stop sale orders and destruction of those food items.

The inspection report states the violations pose a risk of foodborne illness and require correction.

A re-inspection has been ordered, and inspectors warned that if pest activity continues, additional enforcement action could be taken, including restricting the facility from receiving food deliveries.

State records show the establishment must implement a pest control program, fully clean and sanitize affected areas and correct all violations before being cleared.

Según el informe de inspección del Departamento de Agricultura y Servicios al Consumidor de Florida, los inspectores documentaron cucarachas vivas arrastrándose sobre mesas de preparación de alimentos, paredes y pisos dentro del área de procesamiento.

También se encontraron cucarachas muertas en el piso debajo y alrededor de freidoras y en bandejas metálicas utilizadas en la preparación de alimentos.

Los inspectores también observaron varias moscas dentro del área de procesamiento, lo que indica actividad activa de plagas en áreas donde se manipulan alimentos.

El informe detalla condiciones que permitieron que las plagas entraran y persistieran.

Una puerta trasera de recepción estaba abierta cuando no estaba en uso, y había un espacio debajo de una puerta trasera que daba al exterior. Un dispositivo de control de insectos estaba instalado sobre una mesa de preparación de alimentos, y otro estaba almacenado sobre una superficie de preparación, creando el riesgo de que fragmentos de insectos cayeran en los alimentos.

Los inspectores señalaron que el negocio no pudo proporcionar una factura reciente de servicio de control de plagas durante la inspección, lo que generó preocupaciones sobre si existía un programa constante de manejo de plagas.

Debido a la infestación, el estado emitió una orden de suspensión de venta que cubre todos los alimentos abiertos en el área de procesamiento, deli, panadería, estación de shawarma, estación de café y buffet.

Según el informe, esos alimentos fueron destruidos voluntariamente. Los inspectores también emitieron una orden de no uso sobre equipos y utensilios de procesamiento de alimentos, incluido el fregadero de tres compartimentos, citando preocupaciones de contaminación relacionadas con la actividad de insectos.

Más allá de los problemas de plagas, los inspectores documentaron una gran acumulación de grasa y residuos de alimentos en toda la instalación.

Había acumulación de grasa y restos de comida secos en la parte inferior de mesas de preparación, hornos, freidoras y estanterías cercanas. Los pisos debajo del equipo de cocina tenían una fuerte acumulación de grasa y suciedad, según la inspección.

Las prácticas de saneamiento en la cocina también fueron deficientes. Paños húmedos de limpieza se dejaban sobre mesas de preparación en lugar de almacenarse en solución desinfectante. Ollas, sartenes y tazones limpios se apilaban aún húmedos, una práctica que puede permitir el crecimiento bacteriano.

Los inspectores encontraron químicos almacenados de manera inadecuada. Botellas de cloro y desinfectante de manos estaban almacenadas sobre áreas de preparación de alimentos, y las concentraciones de desinfectante se midieron en más de 200 partes por millón antes de ser corregidas, superando niveles seguros.

Las violaciones en la manipulación de alimentos aumentaron las preocupaciones. Se observó a empleados ponerse guantes sin lavarse las manos primero y lavarse las manos en un fregadero de preparación de alimentos.

En otro caso, un empleado usó las manos sin guantes para manipular panes listos para comer, lo que provocó una orden de suspensión de venta para ese producto, que fue desechado.

Los inspectores también citaron prácticas inadecuadas de almacenamiento de alimentos, incluyendo pollo crudo almacenado sobre otras carnes y huevos crudos almacenados sobre alimentos listos para comer, creando un riesgo de contaminación cruzada.

También se documentaron violaciones de control de temperatura. Alimentos calientes preparados como empanadas de carne, pasteles y rollos de salchicha no se enfriaban adecuadamente y se encontraron a temperaturas inseguras horas después de su preparación. La leche utilizada en una estación de café también se mantenía a una temperatura insegura. Ambas violaciones resultaron en órdenes adicionales de suspensión de venta y destrucción de esos alimentos.

El informe de inspección indica que las violaciones representan un riesgo de enfermedades transmitidas por alimentos y requieren corrección.

Se ha ordenado una reinspección, y los inspectores advirtieron que si la actividad de plagas continúa, se podrían tomar medidas adicionales, incluida la restricción de la instalación para recibir entregas de alimentos.

Los registros estatales muestran que el establecimiento debe implementar un programa de control de plagas, limpiar y desinfectar completamente las áreas afectadas y corregir todas las violaciones antes de ser autorizado nuevamente.

Un grupo de perros se involucró en una pelea alrededor de las 9:30 a.m. en el área de Northwest 11th Avenue y Seventh Street en la zona de Homes Beautiful Park.

Uno de los dueños de los perros estaba armado con un arma de fuego y disparó a cuatro perros, incluidos dos que murieron en la escena de la pelea, según la policía.

Un segundo dueño de perro sufrió una mordedura mientras intentaba separar la pelea, y personal de Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue respondió para atenderlo, según la policía.

Oficiales de la Unidad de Crímenes contra Animales del Departamento de Policía de Fort Lauderdale respondieron para investigar el incidente.

La editora de asignaciones de Local 10 News, Mercedes Cevallos, y la editora sénior de asignaciones, Frine Gomez, contribuyeron a este informe.

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A group of dogs got into a fight at about 9:30 a.m. in the area of Northwest 11th Avenue and Seventh Street in the Homes Beautiful Park area.

One of the dog owners was armed with a gun and shot four dogs, including two that died at the scene of the fight, according to police.

A second dog owner suffered a dog bite while trying to break up the fight, and Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue personnel responded to treat him, according to police.

Police officers with FLPD’s Animal Crimes Unit responded to investigate the incident.

Local 10 News Assignment Editor Mercedes Cevallos and Senior Assignment Editor Frine Gomez contributed to this report.

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Melania Trump on Friday announced that she is expanding the White House honey program by adding a beehive in the shape of the White House to two other beehives that have been on the south grounds since 2009.

The existing hives can swell to about 70,000 bees during peak summer months and produce 200 to 225 pounds of honey in a year, the White House said. The new hive could increase honey production by about 30 pounds, according to the White House.

The White House uses the clover honey to prepare meals, as official gifts from the president and first lady, and in donations to food kitchens.

The bees help pollinate a nearby produce garden that then-first lady Michelle Obama started in 2009 and a nearby flower cutting garden, along with vegetation on the National Mall.

The beekeeping program began in 2009 after a White House carpenter started beekeeping as a hobby on the complex.

The new hive was funded through the Trust for the National Mall, the White House said.

The hive and the base were designed by White House residence staff and hand-made by a Virginia artisan.

Millwall was blindsided by the educational pamphlet that featured the southeast London club’s badge edited onto an illustration of a Ku Klux Klan robe. The Westminster City Council has since apologized.

A British lawmaker told The Associated Press that the misuse of Millwall branding is an “insult,” and the team’s leading fan group said it was “outraged” at the portrayal.

The second-division club said it is considering legal action because the imagery creates “a false and damaging image of the club.”

The incident comes at a time when Millwall has a strong chance to secure a first ever promotion to the Premier League. The team was last in the top flight in the 1989-90 season.

Millwall’s image

The checkered reputation of fan behavior dates to the days of England’s worst episodes of hooliganism in the 1970s and 80s. Hardcore Millwall fans proudly chanted, “No one likes us, we don’t care.”

But the club has worked to change its perception. The anti-discrimination body it created in 1994 was “the first organization of its kind at an English football club.” Millwall also boasts of its working relationship with anti-discrimination organizations Kick it Out and Show Racism the Red Card.

Despite the initiatives, Millwall has suffered dings to its image.

Millwall fans turned on each other — and police — during the 2013 FA Cup semifinal against Wigan at Wembley Stadium.

A few days after players were booed for taking a knee before kickoff at a December 2020 game, fans entering The Den received a printed statement that read: “The eyes of the world are on this football club tonight — your club — and they want us to fail.” That night, fans respected anti-racism gestures by both teams.

The English Football Association suggested its disciplinary commission consider a partial stadium closure because of offensive chanting by Millwall supporters about disabilities during a September 2025 game at Crystal Palace in the League Cup. The commission called the chants “abhorrent” and opted to fine Millwall 45,000 pounds ($60,000) in its recent ruling.

It was the third breach in the past three years — the previous chanting focused on religion and sexual orientation.

What was in the pamphlet?

The educational booklet distributed in London primary schools tells the story of Paul Canoville, a Black player who was subjected to racial abuse while playing for Chelsea in the early and mid-1980s.

One page depicts a Ku Klux Klan member in a white robe that has Millwall's logo on the chest. It's next to a Canoville quote about being racially abused at Millwall.

The Paul Canoville Foundation said it wasn't consulted on any of the contents. It said the illustration “is a depiction of a real incident Paul experienced whilst playing for Chelsea Reserves against Millwall Reserves in the 1980s, in which he was subjected to serious racial abuse by a number of individuals wearing Ku Klux Klan-style white hoods.”

The Westminster City Council said the booklet has been removed from circulation.

“We accept the use of this image was an insensitive way to illustrate the historic problem of racism within football. We have apologized to Millwall Football Club for the improper use of their logo and for any offense caused,” it said in a statement.

Neil Coyle, Labour MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, told AP on Friday that the decision to use the Millwall branding “is an insult to southeast London frankly,” because of the club's work in the community.

The Millwall Supporters’ Club also weighed in Friday, saying it was “outraged" and “this deeply damaging misrepresentation does not reflect our club or a fanbase that works tireless to eradicate discrimination of any kind from the game.”

The Kensington and Chelsea Council's logo also features on the front of the pamphlet. A council spokesperson told the AP: “We understand the booklet is being withdrawn, and support that decision.”

Premier League promotion in sight

Millwall is battling Ipswich to earn the second outright promotion spot. Coventry has clinched the title. The top two finishers in the Championship get promoted automatically. The next four enter a playoff for the final promotion spot.

The two clubs are tied on points but Ipswich holds the advantage on goal difference, plus it has three games remaining compared to two for Millwall.

Millwall plays at already relegated Leicester on Friday night. Ipswich plays at West Brom on Saturday.

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

The April 20 report was prepared by an outside law firm retained by the town to review a complaint filed by Ashley Sikora and to examine the circumstances surrounding her suspension earlier this year.

Sikora, a part time legislative assistant to the mayor, was placed on administrative leave in February after then Town Manager David Lynch raised concerns about her work activity and requested information related to outside employment.

The report states there is no evidence to support concerns that Sikora was not working the hours she reported. “There is no evidence provided to support his suspicion,” the report states, referring to concerns raised by Lynch.

The report further states that interviews conducted during the investigation, including with Sikora and Jacobs, indicate that she did perform the duties of a part-time legislative assistant. According to the report, those duties included handling phone calls and emails on behalf of the mayor.

Investigators also found that Sikora’s remote work arrangement and her residence in Alabama were known to town leadership at the time she was hired.

The report states there is no town policy prohibiting a part time employee from holding outside employment. It concludes there is no reason for her leave to continue and states the town may return her to active duty and consider awarding back pay.

Documents included in the investigation show that Lynch asked Sikora to provide details about any outside employment and set a deadline of Feb. 27. Emails included in the report show Sikora responded on Feb. 24, including responses sent at 4:25 p.m. and 4:52 p.m., three days before that deadline.

The investigation does not find that Sikora failed to comply with the request and does not conclude that any deadline was missed.

The report states that Lynch questioned whether Sikora was working the hours she reported after reviewing records produced in response to a public records request. According to the report, those records did not convince Lynch that Sikora was working, which led to further inquiry. However, the investigation concludes that those concerns were not supported by evidence.

The report also documents tension between Lynch and Jacobs. It states that several witnesses indicated Lynch’s actions may have been influenced by a dispute with the mayor, although Lynch denied that claim.

Lynch acknowledged there had been a falling-out between him and Jacobs. The report does not make a finding of misconduct against Lynch.

Since the investigation began, Lynch is no longer serving as town manager. Pembroke Park commissioners voted to remove him from the position.

As previously reported by Local 10 News, Sikora was placed on administrative leave after the station began asking questions about her role, qualifications, and work product. Public records reviewed at the time, including her town issued email account, showed mostly automated system messages and did not include legislative memos, drafted ordinances, or policy research documents.

Multiple sources inside Town Hall also told Local 10 News they were unclear about her specific duties. The investigation does not dispute those records, but concludes that the absence of traditional written work product does not establish that no work was performed.

In a statement posted on social media, Jacobs said the investigation shows his assistant performed her duties and accused Lynch of misconduct. He also criticized media coverage of the issue.

Jacobs wrote that Sikora responded before a deadline set by the town manager and stated there was no evidence she failed to perform her job.

The report leaves decisions regarding Sikora’s employment status and any back pay to town leadership.

The five-member Florida Public Service Commission met on Thursday in Tallahassee for a hearing about the Andytown-Oasis project to place four transmission lines from Broward to Miami-Dade.

A representative of the Environmental Defense Fund, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization based in New York, was critical of the proposal.

“FPL did not conduct a full evaluation of alternatives,” David Cranston, EDF’s Florida clean energy manager, said during the meeting.

Related document: EDF’s prehearing statement

Ted Thomas, a Florida-based energy consultant and a former chairman of the Arkansas Public Service Commission, highlighted issues with cost and technology.

“FPL is asking you to approve a nearly billion-dollar capital expenditure based on an outdated silo approach to transmission planning,” Thomas told the Florida PSC panel during the meeting.

Despite the controversy, the Gov. Ron DeSantis’s appointees to the Florida PSC who were present did not have any questions during the meeting.

The Florida PSC members will receive post-meeting notes next week, and they will have to decide if there is a public need for FPL’s proposed project.

Related document: Procedure for petition for determination of need

FPL reported that the transmission lines are meant to deal with “an increase of approximately 220,000 new customers” from 2026 to 2033 in Miami-Dade, which will translate into an 11% load increase.

One of the four transmission lines would start at FPL’s existing Andytown substation in Broward and end at FPL’s planned Oasis substation in Miami-Dade, according to the Florida PSC.

In Miami-Dade, a second line would start at FPL’s Quarry substation and end at the Oasis substation. Two other lines would start at Oasis, but one would end at Quarry and the other at the Levee substation.

According to FPL, after completing the design and permitting phase in 2028, construction is set to begin in 2029 and end in late 2033.

Related document: South Florida Regional Planning Council (April 20)

Related presentation: SFRPC guest speaker (April 20)

Location: Andytown

The members of the Florida PSC: Gabriella Passidomo Smith, Mike La Rosa, Gary F. Clark, Ana Ortega, and Bobby Payne.

If you want a voice, you need to take action.

Florida has been changing election laws. New voter identification requirements under the Florida SAVE Act won’t take effect until next year, but other changes in the law may still impact your registration status.

Voters who have not cast ballots in a few election cycles may have been purged from the voting rolls. Now is the time to make sure you are registered to vote.

To confirm your status as a registered voter, check the election website in your county now.

If you are not registered, it can be done online at registertovoteflorida.gov.

You must register 29 days before an election, so if you want to vote in the Aug. 18 primary, you have until July 20 to do so.

And remember, Florida is a closed primary state. If you want to vote in the Democratic or Republican primaries, you must be registered in those parties.

You have until July 20 to register or change your party affiliation.

For more information on this year’s midterms, check out Local 10’s 2026 Election Guide.

A federal criminal complaint states that the investigation into Evan Michael Sands, 26, began with a tip from the messaging platform Discord.

That tip, sent to the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children and forwarded to the South Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in December, pertained to two child sexual abuse videos shared through Discord depicting girls who appeared to be 6 years old, authorities said. The videos, they said, were found in Sands’ account.

Federal agents said they applied for a search warrant for Sands’ Discord account in January and got data from the company in March.

“The Discord data revealed that Sands, using the username, astraldrag0n#0, engaged in numerous conversations with children under the age of 18, some under the age of 12, where he solicited the children to send him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves,” the complaint states.

Sands, authorities said, also sent the children explicit videos of himself and identified himself “by name and address and his place of employment.”

They said the search warrant revealed that he was also sending child sexual abuse images and videos through the platform.

According to the complaint, agents executed a search warrant on Sands’ home in the 8100 block of Northwest 105th Avenue on Thursday. They said they also pulled him over after seeing him leave before the raid.

The complaint states that agents searched his phone and saw videos depicting the rape and sexual abuse of children as young as babies.

It states that during an interview, Sands admitted to sending the explicit content on Discord and admitting to enticing children by giving them “Robux,” a virtual currency used on the online game Roblox.

Agents said that Sands “admitted that he believed the youngest minor that he solicited” was 12 and confirmed that he send children explicit videos of himself.

“He estimated his sexual conduct with minors started in 2021,” the complaint states.

Sands now faces two federal charges related to the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, as well as one count of enticement of a minor to engage in illicit sexual behavior.

Records show he was scheduled to appear in Fort Lauderdale federal court at 11 a.m. Friday.

According to court documents, prosecutors are expected to ask that he be held on pre-trial detention.

As of Friday morning, Sands was being held in the Broward Sheriff’s Office Main Jail facility on behalf of the U.S. Marshals Service.

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U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeannine Pirro said on X on Friday that her office was ending its probe into the Fed’s extensive building renovations because the Fed’s inspector general would scrutinize them instead.

The move could lead to a swift confirmation vote by the Senate for Warsh, a former top Fed official whom President Donald Trump, a Republican, nominated in January to replace Powell. Powell's term as chair ends May 15. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, had said he would oppose Warsh until the investigation was resolved, effectively blocking his confirmation.

With the investigation completed, the leadership transition at the world's leading central bank may proceed quickly. Republicans praised Warsh during a Tuesday hearing even as Democrats questioned his independence from Trump, the lack of transparency around some of his financial holdings, and what they said was his flip-flopping on interest rates. Still, Trump's previous appointment to the Fed's board of governors, Stephen Miran, was approved by the full Senate just 13 days after his nomination.

The investigation was among several undertaken by the Justice Department into Trump’s perceived adversaries. For months it had failed to gain traction as prosecutors struggled to articulate a basis to suspect criminal conduct.

A prosecutor handling the case conceded at a closed-door court hearing in March that the government hadn’t yet found any evidence of a crime, and a judge subsequently quashed subpoenas issued to the Federal Reserve. The judge, James Boasberg, said prosecutors had produced “essentially zero evidence” to suspect Powell of a crime. Boasberg branded prosecutors’ justification for the subpoenas as “thin and unsubstantiated.”

More recently, prosecutors made an unannounced visit to a construction site at the Fed’s headquarters but were turned away, drawing a rebuke from a defense attorney in the case who called the maneuver “not appropriate.”

Warsh said during the Senate hearing Tuesday that he never promised the White House that he would cut interest rates, even as the president renewed his calls for the central bank to do so.

“The president never once asked me to commit to any particular interest rate decision, period,” Kevin Warsh, a former top Fed official, said under questioning by the Senate Banking Committee. “Nor would I ever agree to do so if he had. ... I will be an independent actor if confirmed as chair of the Federal Reserve.”

Warsh’s comments came just hours after Trump, in an interview on CNBC, was asked if he would be disappointed if Warsh didn’t immediately cut rates and responded, “I would.”

The decision to abandon the investigation represents a rare pullback for a Justice Department that over the last year has moved aggressively, albeit unsuccessfully, to prosecute public figures the president does not like.

Robert Hur, an attorney for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, didn’t immediately respond Friday to an email seeking comment.

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Associated Press Writers Michael Kunzelman and Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this report.

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Follow the AP's coverage of the Federal Reserve System at https://apnews.com/hub/federal-reserve-system.

It won’t be the last time, either.

The minimum salary for an NFL draft pick in 2026 is slotted at $915,120. But with college revenue sharing going into effect before the 2025 season — top programs are now spending up to $20.5 million on student-athletes, with the majority earmarked for the most talented football players — there are undoubtably players who will be drafted Saturday who topped the million-dollar mark last season and will earn less in the pros.

At least in Year 1.

“So the character of those players, their passion and love of the game come to the forefront even more,” Roseman said.

Most of the players making more than $1 million in college football are quarterbacks. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Alabama’s Ty Simpson were first-round draft picks, with Mendoza going No. 1 to the Las Vegas Raiders and Simpson surprisingly landing with the Los Angeles Rams at No. 13.

Mendoza’s NFL rookie deal is slotted to top $57 million, including nearly $10.5 million in 2026. Simpson’s contract will be roughly half that — $25.4 million total, including $4.6 million in the first year.

LSU's Garrett Nussmeier and Miami’s Carson Beck are projected to be the next quarterbacks selected, with both potentially coming off the board in the second or third round Friday night — and both likely earning less as NFL rookies than they made as established college starters.

Same goes for fellow QBs Drew Allar (Penn State), Taylen Green (Arkansas), Cole Payton (North Dakota State), Sawyer Robertson (Baylor), Cade Klubnik (Clemson), Joey Aguilar (Tennessee) and others.

Although revenue share payments are typically undisclosed, name, image and likeness valuations are much more public. Nearly half of the top 50 NIL valuations in 2025 belonged to QBs, according to On3, with two dozen of those over $1.5 million.

“They come in almost like pros now,” Raiders general manager John Spytek said. “I actually think it’s made it easier because you know what the guys are going to do when they have money.

“You know the ones that love the game and are about the right things, and just because they’ve got more money than we all had when we were in college, they still prepare the right way, they play the right way, they love the game, they’re there for their teammates. I think it’s kind of been a little bit illuminating to the character of who they are.”

The financial component has less of an impact on NFL decision-makers as the age issue.

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said this is the third consecutive year in which 18% of the team’s draft board is comprised of players at least 24 years old. That number used to be 4%, he added.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the initial age surge. But soaring NIL payments and rev share could be the deciding force for years to come.

“That’s something that we don’t really understand fully and what that means,” DeCosta said. “I don’t think it’s a good thing, certainly. But historically we’ve tried to draft younger players when we can. That’s been something that we feel strongly (about), but now we’ve got 18% of the draft board that’s over 24 years old. So that’s going to change the way that maybe we target players.”

And some of them will be millionaires before they even sign an NFL contract.

“That’s interesting. I don’t know that it’s rooted in financial thoughts as much as you talk about age quite a bit and whether or not tread on the tires is something of note,” Jacksonville Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said. “I think most of the times the guys have a little bit more financial awareness, and that can be a really helpful tool.

“The fact that they’re not just being dumped a good chunk of cash for the first time when they enter the NFL. They now have some version of experience navigating that, and that can be a really helpful piece for sure.”

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

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The Las Olas Food and Wine Festival is celebrating 30 years by turning four blocks of Las Olas Boulevard into a walkable foodie playground — all for a good cause.

For one night, the street transforms into a full-scale food and wine experience, featuring more than 50 restaurants and about 200 culinary tents serving up their best bites.

“It’s such a great time. You get to see, touch, taste different foods, drink some great wine,” said Peter Lopez, director of operations at Shooters Waterfront.

As guests eat and sip their way down the street, they’re also giving back. The festival benefits the American Lung Association.

“I think it’s a great time for the community to come out for a great cause, the American Lung Association,” Lopez said. “It’s the camaraderie with the al fresco dining lifestyle that we have going on down here. You have 200 great culinarians putting their best foot forward, and you get to meet the chefs that are cooking it. And the winemakers are there.”

The event also highlights Fort Lauderdale’s growing food scene.

“There are so many great restaurants that are popping up, and some great culinarians are coming up,” Lopez said. “Fort Lauderdale wasn’t really known for its great culinary scene like Miami is, but we’re upcoming. We’re very small, but a very tight community. We’ve got some great restaurants and restaurateurs that have come in. It’s a great experience to try something you might not have had a chance to visit but have heard about.”

Among the participating restaurants is Shooters Waterfront, a South Florida staple.

“We’ve been around 44 years. We were around in the heyday when Fort Lauderdale was wild, crazy and untamed. We like to say we’ve grown up,” Lopez said. “We’ve taken our cuisine and elevated it. No more burgers, beers and bikinis — we have true culinarians. My chefs have been with me for 10 to 11 years.”

Shooters will feature dishes in the VIP section, including a lobster roll and a creamy risotto topped with sliced prime rib and veal glacé.

“Our fan favorite — how can you not go to South Florida and have a lobster roll?” Lopez said. “There are different versions out there, but for us, the lobster is the star of the show.”

In honor of its 30th anniversary, the festival will also feature a 1990s-themed area, paying homage to the era when the event was founded.

Tickets are available online, with discount code RESTAURANT by clicking here.

El festival Las Olas Food and Wine celebra 30 años convirtiendo cuatro cuadras de Las Olas Boulevard en un espacio peatonal para amantes de la comida, todo por una buena causa.

Por una noche, la calle se transforma en una experiencia completa de comida y vino, con más de 50 restaurantes y unas 200 carpas culinarias sirviendo sus mejores platillos.

“Es un momento increíble. Puedes ver, tocar, probar diferentes comidas, tomar un gran vino”, dijo Peter Lopez, director de operaciones de Shooters Waterfront.

Mientras los asistentes comen y beben a lo largo de la calle, también están aportando a la comunidad. El festival beneficia a la American Lung Association.

“Creo que es un gran momento para que la comunidad salga por una gran causa, la American Lung Association”, dijo Lopez. “Es la camaradería con el estilo de comida al aire libre que tenemos aquí. Tienes a 200 grandes culinarios dando lo mejor, y puedes conocer a los chefs que cocinan. Y los vinicultores están ahí”.

El evento también destaca la creciente escena gastronómica de Fort Lauderdale.

“Hay tantos restaurantes excelentes que están surgiendo, y grandes culinarios en ascenso”, dijo Lopez. “Fort Lauderdale no era realmente conocida por su gran escena culinaria como Miami, pero estamos en crecimiento. Somos muy pequeños, pero una comunidad muy unida. Tenemos grandes restaurantes y restauradores que han llegado. Es una gran experiencia probar algo que quizás no has tenido la oportunidad de visitar pero has escuchado”.

Entre los restaurantes participantes está Shooters Waterfront, un referente del sur de Florida.

“Llevamos 44 años. Estábamos en la época cuando Fort Lauderdale era salvaje, loco e indomable. Nos gusta decir que hemos madurado”, dijo Lopez. “Hemos elevado nuestra cocina. Ya no son hamburguesas, cervezas y bikinis, ahora tenemos verdaderos culinarios. Mis chefs han estado conmigo de 10 a 11 años”.

Shooters ofrecerá platos en la sección VIP, incluyendo un lobster roll y un risotto cremoso cubierto con prime rib en rebanadas y glaseado de ternera.

“Nuestro favorito del público: ¿cómo no ir al sur de Florida y comer un lobster roll?”, dijo Lopez. “Hay diferentes versiones, pero para nosotros, la langosta es la estrella”.

En honor a su 30 aniversario, el festival también contará con un área temática de los años 90, rindiendo homenaje a la época en que se fundó el evento.

Los boletos están disponibles en línea, con el código de descuento RESTAURANT, haciendo click aquí.

The weekend will be similar, with spotty showers and thunderstorms at times, especially in the afternoon. High temperatures will be noticeably warmer, in the mid-80s.

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They said drugs were seized during three interdictions in the Caribbean Sea involving the USCGC Tahoma and the USS Billings, which was operating with an embarked Coast Guard law enforcement detachment.

“The success of these interdictions reflects the strength of our partnerships and the persistence of our crews,” wrote Cmdr. Ian Starr, commanding officer of the Resolute, in a news release obtained by Local 10 on Friday. “By stopping these shipments at sea, we are preventing dangerous drugs from reaching our communities and disrupting transnational criminal organizations.”

Investigators said multiple units supported the operations, including a Coast Guard helicopter interdiction squadron, a tactical law enforcement team, watchstanders in the Southeast District and Joint Interagency Task Force South.

The Coast Guard said the offload is part of ongoing efforts to interdict and disrupt the flow of illicit drugs by sea.

Authorities noted that about 80% of drugs bound for the United States are stopped in maritime operations.

The agency reported seizing more than 511,000 pounds of cocaine in 2025 — more than three times its annual average — along with additional seizures tied to expanded counter-narcotics operations in the Eastern Pacific.

Officials said those efforts have denied criminal organizations billions of dollars in illicit revenue and helped prevent dangerous drugs from reaching U.S. communities.

Indicaron que las drogas fueron incautadas durante tres interdicciones en el mar Caribe que involucraron al USCGC Tahoma y al USS Billings, que operaba con un destacamento de aplicación de la ley de la Guardia Costera a bordo.

“El éxito de estas interdicciones refleja la fortaleza de nuestras asociaciones y la persistencia de nuestras tripulaciones”, escribió el comandante Ian Starr, oficial al mando del Resolute, en un comunicado de prensa obtenido por Local 10 el viernes. “Al detener estos envíos en el mar, estamos evitando que drogas peligrosas lleguen a nuestras comunidades y perturbando a organizaciones criminales transnacionales”.

Los investigadores dijeron que múltiples unidades apoyaron las operaciones, incluido un escuadrón de interdicción de helicópteros de la Guardia Costera, un equipo táctico de aplicación de la ley, personal de vigilancia en el Distrito Sureste y la Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta Interagencial Sur.

La Guardia Costera indicó que la descarga forma parte de los esfuerzos en curso para interceptar y frenar el flujo de drogas ilícitas por mar.

Las autoridades señalaron que aproximadamente el 80% de las drogas con destino a Estados Unidos se detienen en operaciones marítimas.

La agencia reportó la incautación de más de 511,000 libras de cocaína en 2025, más de tres veces su promedio anual, junto con incautaciones adicionales vinculadas a operaciones ampliadas contra el narcotráfico en el Pacífico Oriental.

Los funcionarios dijeron que esos esfuerzos han negado a las organizaciones criminales miles de millones de dólares en ingresos ilícitos y han ayudado a evitar que drogas peligrosas lleguen a comunidades de Estados Unidos.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order last weekend directing the FDA and other federal agencies to speed research and loosen restrictions on psychedelics, a class of hallucinogenic drugs which remain illegal under federal law.

The FDA said it awarded priority review vouchers to two companies studying psilocybin — the active ingredient in magic mushrooms — for hard-to-treat forms of depression. A third company received a voucher for methylone, a drug related to MDMA, for post-traumatic stress disorder. The FDA did not name the companies in a press release announcing the news.

“We owe it to our nation’s veterans and all Americans who are suffering from these conditions to evaluate these potential therapies with urgency,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said in a statement.

The vouchers don’t guarantee approval, but instead mean that regulators will try to shorten their reviews from a period of months to weeks.

The recent moves on psychedelics reflect growing popular support for the mind-altering substances among Trump’s supporters, including combat veterans and followers of the Make America Healthy Again movement spearheaded by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Last July, Kennedy told members of Congress his department aimed to make psychedelics available for hard-to-treat psychiatric conditions within one year. Some of Kennedy’s top allies and staffers are proponents of the drugs.

Calley Means, a former Kennedy campaign staffer now serving as a senior health adviser, has previously written about the “mind-blowing” power of psychedelics and his plans to invest in companies developing the drugs.

FDA's special treatment for psychedelics is likely to renew scrutiny of its program for speeding up drug reviews, known as the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher program.

Democratic members of Congress have noted that vouchers have gone to companies that are politically favored by the White House, including those that have agreed to cut prices on their medications.

In a separate move, the FDA authorized initial testing of a drug related to ibogaine, a powerful psychedelic made from an African shrub, for people with alcohol use disorder. Ibogaine is known to sometimes cause dangerous heart rhythms but has been embraced by combat veterans as a way to treat trauma and addiction.

The drugmaker, DemeRx, is led by a Florida-based researcher who first began studying ibogaine as a treatment for cocaine addiction in the 1990s, before federal health officials pulled funding for the work.

“Every grant proposal that I submitted to (the National Institute on Drug Abuse) was rejected,” Deborah Mash, a neurologist and founder of DemeRx, told The Associated Press. “I couldn't get that funding and that's why ibogaine didn't advance in the 1990s.”

Ibogaine is known to cause intense hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, tremors and sometimes dangerous irregular heart rhythms. Mash says DemeRx’s drug is a metabolite of ibogaine, and doesn't carry the same hallucinogenic effects or risks as the original drug.

Saturday’s White House event on psychedelics suggested Trump’s political allies had a role in pushing the drugs to the top of his agenda.

Joe Rogan, the podcaster who appeared at the Oval Office event, said he texted Trump about the psychedelic ibogaine, which he’s repeatedly discussed on his show. According to Rogan, the president quickly responded: “Sounds great. Do you want FDA approval? Let’s do it."

Rogan’s endorsement of Trump days before the November 2024 election was seen by White House aides as a key factor in his election victory.

On his show earlier this week, Rogan said he learned about ibogaine from his friend Ed Clay, a mixed martial arts trainer and entrepreneur who runs retreats making use of it in Mexico.

Virtually all psychedelics, including LSD, psilocybin and MDMA are classified as Schedule I substances, a category for high-risk drugs that have no medically accepted use.

For decades, drugmakers steered clear of the substances due to the difficulties of studying drugs that are illegal under federal law.

But dozens of small drugmakers, many fueled by Silicon Valley investors, have recently jumped into the race to win FDA approval for various psychedelics. For example, tech billionaire Peter Thiel — who has made political donations to both Trump and Vice President JD Vance — has invested in AtaiBeckley, a company studying MDMA and other psychedelic compounds.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

“For the zoo and for us here, it’s the very big deal,” said Amarylis Celestina, who oversees carnivores and koalas at the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society in West Palm Beach, Florida. "We are trying the best that we can to help with a lot of the genetic diversity within the population that we have here in the United States. So that’s why it’s important that we do have a joey and that we were successful this year.”

The joey, born to Ellin and Sydney last fall, remains in its mother's pouch and has just recently started to become visible to zoo officials.

They continue to monitor Ellin's weight, and are providing extra food as she cares for the baby.

Meanwhile, the koala population is enjoying a renovated habitat, which include more greenery, new perching for exercising, and solar tubes to bring in more natural light. The changes bring a bit of the Australian outback to the zoo for koalas, which are an endangered species. They are able to move between their climate-controlled indoor exhibit and the expanded outdoor area.

“This new habitat is a milestone for our koalas,” Margo McKnight, the zoo's CEO and president said in a news release. “The deliberate design supports the voluntary, cooperative care our zoologists and koalas have developed together.”

Koalas in the U.S. are on loan from the Australian federal government to help with conservation practices.

Koalas are generally peaceful, have a calm nature and enjoy a “slow” lifestyle. They like to climb and hop between the trees in the habitat. The renovations are designed to help koalas express their natural behaviors, zoo officials said.

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Frisaro reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The changes have followed a rise in political violence nationwide that included the stunning assassination last June of Rep. Melissa Hortman, the top Democratic leader in the Minnesota House, and the September killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was speaking at a college in Utah.

In Minnesota, most doors at the state Capitol are now locked, and people entering must go through weapons detectors. People entering the visitors' galleries to watch floor debates must go through a second set of detectors.

“It’s important for us to be able to not have our government fall apart if our legislators are under threat,” said Minnesota Rep. Julie Green, a Democrat who sits directly across the aisle from Hortman's old desk, which remains empty except for fresh roses, her portrait and a speaker's gavel. “It’s a complicated, complex, very emotional issue, as you can imagine.”

High-profile attacks have stoked lawmakers’ fears

In addition to the killings of Hortman and Kirk, violence targeting political figures in the U.S. in the last few years has included an arson attack last year at the home of Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro; an assassination attempt on then-candidate Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally in 2024; and a hammer attack on the husband of Democratic then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at their California home in 2022.

Twenty-five states, including Minnesota, now formally allow candidates to use campaign funds for personal security. Most made the change after the killings of Kirk and Hortman. Eleven states have laws permitting it, while others have approved it through rules or other mechanisms, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the VoteMama Foundation.

This year alone, Alabama, Oregon, Nebraska and Utah enacted laws allowing campaign funds for security. Bills to legalize it are pending in about a dozen other states.

It’s not just happening at the state level. Security spending for congressional and presidential campaigns has jumped fivefold over the past decade. Federal political committees spent more than $40 million on expenses labeled as security during the 2023-24 campaign cycle, according to an April report from the nonpartisan Public Service Alliance.

Weapons detectors are just one response

Metal detectors — one of the most visible signs of concerns about political violence — were installed at Alaska's Capitol last year. Democratic Rep. Sara Hannan said the change was due to “increased risk of violence in our public institutions.” Lawmakers approved them before Hortman was killed.

But some states have balked at making it harder to access the halls of power. Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a Republican who knew Hortman, resisted efforts to install metal detectors in his state, saying he didn’t want to “fortify” the Capitol. Wisconsin’s is one of 11 state capitols that don’t have metal detectors, a state audit found.

Minnesota lawmakers are also considering creating a special unit within the State Patrol, which oversees Capitol security, that would provide protection for legislators, the state attorney general, secretary of state, state auditor, and Supreme Court justices.

One lead author is Democratic Sen. John Hoffman, who survived being shot nine times the night Hortman was killed. Prosecutors say the gunman, disguised as a police officer, began his rampage by shooting Hoffman and his wife, then stopped at the residences of two other lawmakers who weren't home. He then went to Hortman's home, where he killed the representative and her husband, and wounded their dog so severely that he had to be euthanized.

At a hearing Tuesday, Hoffman called his measure “a necessary response” that would “keep elected officials and Supreme Court justices safe and dedicate the resources necessary and hopefully stop future tragedies from happening.”

Numerous states have also taken action to protect lawmakers’ personal information. North Dakota lawmakers on Wednesday discussed a bill draft for next year that would make confidential the home addresses of candidates and public officials upon request.

The NCSL in February created a $1.5 million fund to reimburse legislatures for expenses related to lawmakers' personal safety and security while they’re away from their statehouses. More than 30 states have applied or are preparing to, NCSL spokesperson Katie Ziegler said.

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Bauer reported from Madison, Wisconsin. Associated Press writers Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska, and Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota, contributed to this report.

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Commissioner Roberto J. Gonzalez, an attorney who was elected in 2024 to represent District 11, which includes parts of West Kendall, stood in opposition.

“West Kendall is already burdened with congestion, and adding more without a clear, realistic mitigation plan is not responsible,” Gonzalez wrote in a statement released on X after the vote.

The redevelopment project has been at the center of a long and tedious fight between a group of residents trying to protect their neighborhood’s quality of life and an influential group of investors.

“I have been advocating for seven years now,” Amanda Prieto, the leader of Save Calusa, a nonprofit grassroots residents’ organization, told commissioners during the meeting on Thursday.

The Calusa Country Club, at 9400 SW 130th Ave., opened in 1968 with a legally-binding land covenant that banned redevelopment until 2067.

“This is designated parks and rec land that was intended to be preserved for 100 years,” Prieto told commissioners during the meeting.

Facundo Bacardi, of the family-owned spirits company founded in Cuba, purchased the 169-acre golf club in 2003 and closed it in 2011. Commissioners lifted the covenant in 2020.

In 2021, Bacardi sold the golf course to Sunrise-based GL Homes for $32 million, and commissioners voted to rezone it in favor of the redevelopment’s vision of a community of single-family homes.

“In 2021, the commission passed it, this was a reconsideration of that,” Richard Norwalk, a senior vice president at GL Homes, said about the commissioners’ vote on Thursday.

Prieto filed a lawsuit against the county to invalidate the 2021 rezoning vote. The Florida Supreme Court sided with Prieto, who had claimed the county had failed to notify residents about the hearing.

“I am proud of my community,” Prieto said about Save Calusa’s efforts to protect the golf course. “We made tremendous progress over the last seven years.”

After the court’s ruling, Norwalk went back before the commission and had the application reheard.

“Notice wasn’t done correctly, so we are glad that once again they saw their way to approving this community and providing more housing for Miami-Dade,” Norwalk said after the commissioner’s zoning vote.

The developers’ proposals have ranged from 1,300 houses to the most recent 524, which makes up three units per acre.

Aside from traffic, Prieto and the Save Calusa members have also raised concerns about a loss of green space and impacts to local wildlife, including a bird rookery.

Wildlife expert Ron Magill sided with Save Calusa over concerns about bonneted bats and tricolored herons. The developer hired environmental consultants.

There were some concessions. The developer also committed to working with the Tropical Audubon Society to protect the rookery.

“The revised plan expands the lake,” Norwalk told commissioners during the meeting.

The development is within Commissioner Raquel A. Regalado’s District 7.

“I am very happy with the agreement with Audubon, and I think that a lot of the concessions that have been made make this a very different and much better application,” Regalado said during the meeting before moving the item.

Commissioner Oliver G. Gilbert seconded the item with Kendall Associates I, 9800 Calusa Club Drive, and Home at 9810 as the applicants.

Prieto said she was disappointed that she couldn’t agree with the developer on density, and that despite this, eight commissioners bent to the will of the developer.

“We got some rookery protections. I think our voices were heard, but ultimately, this decision, and their legacy, will lie on the shoulders of the commissioners that voted today,” Prieto said.

Related document: County staff recommendations summary (553 pages)

THE 8-5 VOTE

Eight who voted to pass it: Gilbert, Regalado, and Commissioners Keon Hardemon, Vicki L. Lopez, Natalie Milian Orbis, Marleine Bastien, Juan Carlos “JC” Bermudez, and Kionne L. McGhee

Five who voted against it: Gonzalez, and Commissioners René Garcia, Danielle Cohen Higgins, Anthony Rodriguez, and Micky Steinberg.

Watch the meeting

Related stories

• Kendall’s Calusa development proposal postponed after community concerns
• Florida Supreme Court hands victory to Calusa homeowners
• Worried residents hope Miami-Dade County mayor can save Calusa
• New drone video of construction on Calusa golf site causes concern among residents

Related social media

Statement on the Calusa Development Application… pic.twitter.com/BpEuNnx4x7

— Commissioner Roberto J. Gonzalez (@RobJGonzalezFL) April 23, 2026

El comisionado Roberto J. González , abogado elegido en 2024 para representar al Distrito 11, que incluye partes de West Kendall, se opuso a la propuesta.

“West Kendall ya está sobrecargado de congestión, y añadir más sin un plan de mitigación claro y realista no es responsable”, escribió González en un comunicado publicado en X después de la votación.

El proyecto de reurbanización ha sido el centro de una larga y tediosa lucha entre un grupo de residentes que intentan proteger la calidad de vida de su barrio y un influyente grupo de inversores.

“Llevo siete años abogando por esto”, dijo Amanda Prieto, líder de Save Calusa , una organización vecinal sin fines de lucro, a los comisionados durante la reunión del jueves.

El Calusa Country Club, ubicado en 9400 SW 130th Ave., abrió sus puertas en 1968 con un convenio territorial legalmente vinculante que prohibía la remodelación hasta 2067.

“Se trata de terrenos designados como parques y zonas recreativas, que estaban destinados a ser preservados durante 100 años”, dijo Prieto a los comisionados durante la reunión.

Facundo Bacardi, de la empresa familiar de bebidas espirituosas fundada en Cuba, compró el club de golf de 169 acres en 2003 y lo cerró en 2011. Los comisionados levantaron la restricción en 2020.

En 2021, Bacardi vendió el campo de golf a GL Homes, con sede en Sunrise, por 32 millones de dólares, y los comisionados votaron a favor de cambiar la zonificación para favorecer la visión de la remodelación de crear una comunidad de viviendas unifamiliares.

“En 2021, la comisión lo aprobó; esto fue una reconsideración de esa decisión”, dijo Richard Norwalk, vicepresidente sénior de GL Homes, sobre la votación de los comisionados el jueves.

Prieto presentó una demanda contra el condado para invalidar la votación de rezonificación de 2021. El Tribunal Supremo de Florida falló a favor de Prieto, quien alegó que el condado no había notificado a los residentes sobre la audiencia.

“Estoy orgulloso de mi comunidad”, dijo Prieto sobre los esfuerzos de Save Calusa para proteger el campo de golf. “Hemos logrado un progreso tremendo en los últimos siete años”.

Tras el fallo del tribunal, Norwalk volvió a comparecer ante la comisión y solicitó una nueva audiencia para la solicitud.

“La notificación no se realizó correctamente, por lo que nos alegra que una vez más hayan encontrado la manera de aprobar esta comunidad y proporcionar más viviendas para Miami-Dade”, dijo Norwalk después de la votación de zonificación del comisionado.

Las propuestas de los promotores han oscilado entre las 1.300 viviendas y las más recientes, 524, lo que supone tres unidades por acre.

Además del tráfico, Prieto y los miembros de Save Calusa también han expresado su preocupación por la pérdida de espacios verdes y los impactos en la fauna local, incluyendo una colonia de aves.

El experto en vida silvestre Ron Magill apoyó a Save Calusa debido a la preocupación por los murciélagos de cabeza rapada y las garzas tricolores. El promotor inmobiliario contrató consultores ambientales.

Hubo algunas concesiones. El promotor también se comprometió a colaborar con la Sociedad Audubon Tropical para proteger la colonia de aves.

“El plan revisado amplía el lago”, dijo Norwalk a los comisionados durante la reunión.

El proyecto urbanístico se encuentra dentro del Distrito 7 de la Comisionada Raquel A. Regalado .

“Estoy muy contento con el acuerdo con Audubon, y creo que muchas de las concesiones que se han hecho hacen de esta una solicitud muy diferente y mucho mejor”, dijo Regalado durante la reunión antes de someter el punto a votación.

El comisionado Oliver G. Gilbert secundó la moción, presentando como solicitantes a Kendall Associates I , 9800 Calusa Club Drive , y Home en 9810 .

Prieto dijo estar decepcionada por no poder llegar a un acuerdo con el promotor inmobiliario sobre la densidad, y que, a pesar de ello, ocho comisionados cedieron ante la voluntad del promotor.

“Conseguimos cierta protección para las colonias de aves. Creo que nuestras voces fueron escuchadas, pero en última instancia, esta decisión, y su legado, recaerá sobre los hombros de los comisionados que votaron hoy”, dijo Prieto.

Documento relacionado : Resumen de las recomendaciones del personal del condado (553 páginas)

LA VOTACIÓN 8-5

Ocho que votaron para aprobarlo: Gilbert, Regalado y los comisionados Keon Hardemon , Vicki L. López , Natalie Milian Orbis , Marleine Bastien , Juan Carlos “JC” Bermúdez y Kionne L. McGhee.

Cinco personas que votaron en contra: González y los comisionados René García , Danielle Cohen Higgins , Anthony Rodríguez y Micky Steinberg .

Mira la reunión

Historias relacionadas

• La propuesta de desarrollo de Kendall en Calusa se pospone tras las preocupaciones de la comunidad.
• El Tribunal Supremo de Florida otorga la victoria a los propietarios de viviendas de Calusa.
• Los residentes preocupados esperan que el alcalde del condado de Miami-Dade pueda salvar a Calusa.
• Un nuevo vídeo grabado con un dron sobre las obras en el campo de golf de Calusa causa preocupación entre los residentes.

Redes sociales relacionadas

Statement on the Calusa Development Application… pic.twitter.com/BpEuNnx4x7

— Commissioner Roberto J. Gonzalez (@RobJGonzalezFL) April 23, 2026

Federal prosecutors say Gannon Ken Van Dyke used his access to classified information about the operation to capture Maduro in January to win money on the prediction market site Polymarket.

Van Dyke, who was stationed at Fort Bragg near Fayetteville, North Carolina, was charged Thursday with unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud and making an unlawful monetary transaction.

He could face years in prison. A publicly listed phone number listed for Van Dyke isn't in service, and court records don't list an attorney for him yet.

Van Dyke, 38, was involved in the planning and execution of capturing Maduro for about a month, according to the New York federal prosecutor’s office. He signed nondisclosure agreements promising to not divulge “any classified or sensitive information” related to the operations, but prosecutors say he used this information to make a series of bets related to Maduro being out of power by Jan. 31, 2026.

“This involved a U.S. soldier who allegedly took advantage of his position to profit off of a righteous military operation,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a social media post.

Polymarket, one of the largest prediction markets, said it found someone trading on classified government information, alerted the Justice Department and “cooperated with their investigation.”

Massive profits from well-timed bets aroused public attention days after the raid in Venezuela and brought bipartisan calls for stricter regulation of the markets, where people can wager on just about anything.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the federal agency that regulates prediction markets, announced Thursday that it had filed a parallel complaint against Van Dyke.

That complaint alleges that Van Dyke moved $35,000 from his personal bank account into a cryptocurrency exchange account on Dec. 26 — a little over a week before U.S. forces flew into Caracas and seized Maduro.

Van Dyke made a series of bets on when Maduro might be removed from power, according to the complaint. He placed those bets between Dec. 30 and Jan. 2, with the vast majority occurring the night of Jan. 2 — just hours before the first missiles struck Caracas.

The bets resulted in “more than $404,000 of profits,” the complaint says.

“The defendant was entrusted with confidential information about U.S. operations and yet took action that endangered U.S. national security and put the lives of American service members in harm’s way,” said Michael Selig, the commission’s chairman.

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Fernando Mendoza, a former Indiana Hoosiers star and standout at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, was selected first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders following a Heisman Trophy-winning, national championship season.

The 22-year-old quarterback has remained in South Florida in recent days and is expected to celebrate the moment with family in Coral Gables rather than attend the draft in person.

“The last five months has been such a blessing by God. I can’t thank Him enough. I’m looking forward to getting to work,” Mendoza told ESPN after being drafted. “College was fantastic. I’m so blessed to have that career. Now i step into a great game into the NFL. Looking forward to proving and earning it every single day.”

Mendoza’s family had nothing but positive things to say about his work ethic when speaking to Local 10 News.

“Oh this is so very exciting. We’re so proud of him,” said Enrique Espino, Mendoza’s great-uncle. “He followed the mother’s advice and the father’s restrictions and conditions -- everyone is excited about him.”

Police have blocked off a portion of the street for a private party that soon will be filled with celebration.

Plenty of friends and neighbors sharing pride in Mendoza’s hard work and dedication.

“They’re a really nice family. We’re all just thrilled they’re happy,” said Michael Brown, Mendoza’s neighbor.

La extensión propone un acuerdo operativo de 20 años para el evento anual en el centro de la ciudad.

Mientras tanto, la Downtown Neighbors Alliance está presionando para que la ciudad retrase la votación para que los residentes tengan la oportunidad de expresar sus preocupaciones sobre la continuidad de la asociación.

“Los residentes no están pidiendo lo imposible, estamos pidiendo un lugar en la mesa”, dijo James Torres, presidente de la Downtown Neighbors Alliance. “Un aplazamiento no solo es razonable, es necesario para establecer el tono correcto. Si se aprueba un acuerdo de 20 años sin participación, ¿qué incentivo habrá para que Ultra escuche a los residentes después?”

Además, la organización presentó una demanda contra Ultra “relacionada con sus obligaciones bajo el acuerdo de conciliación vigente”.

Local 10 News contactó a Ultra para solicitar comentarios, pero no había recibido respuesta al momento de la publicación de esta nota.

Ultra se defenderá enérgicamente contra la demanda presentada por Downtown Neighbors Alliance, Inc. (“DNA”).

Ultra ha cumplido con todos los requisitos aplicables que regulan los niveles de sonido, incluidos los establecidos en el Acuerdo de Licencia Revocable (“RLA”) con el Bayfront Park Management Trust y las ordenanzas aplicables de la Ciudad de Miami. El evento ha operado dentro de los parámetros establecidos por la Ciudad, respaldado por monitoreo continuo y coordinación en tiempo real.

Ultra también ha participado en múltiples reuniones comunitarias, incluidas aquellas solicitadas por asociaciones vecinales y las convocadas por instrucción de los comisionados de la Ciudad, en consonancia con su práctica de larga data de participación comunitaria.

Durante casi tres décadas, Ultra ha operado en la Ciudad de Miami en asociación con la Ciudad y otras partes interesadas, estableciendo el estándar para la producción responsable de eventos a gran escala. Ultra es un evento emblemático que se ha vuelto sinónimo de la cultura de Miami.

Los esfuerzos de Ultra para mitigar impactos son a nivel comunitario, reflejando un compromiso con todas las partes interesadas del Downtown. Ese enfoque ha ganado el apoyo del Miami DDA, el Bayfront Park Management Trust y otras partes interesadas importantes.

Ultra espera continuar su asociación de larga data con la Ciudad y el Bayfront Park Management Trust.

Ultra continuará actuando como un vecino responsable, independientemente de cualquier acuerdo o arreglo formal con la DNA o cualquier otro grupo de residentes, y sin importar esta demanda.

Ultra Music Festival

ENLACE ADICIONAL

Agenda de la reunión de la comisión de la ciudad

Resumen de la agenda y legislación

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Video captures the scene as the truck plows through a concrete barrier and lands on top of an unsuspecting car. Debris -- including shattered glass, a tire and twisted metal -- is seen across the roadway as the pickup crushes the car beneath it.

The crash happened on the Friday around 5 a.m. on the Palmetto Expressway, near Northwest 36th Street in Doral.

Investigators say 26-year-old Reinerio De La Torre Toledo was driving the truck and is believed to have taken his own life moments before the vehicle went airborne.

Detectives with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office say a gun was recovered at the scene, and a witness said detectives mentioned finding bullet casings.

The driver of the other vehicle has been identified as Jorge Reales of Miramar. A GoFundMe created by a family friend says Reales is unable to work and faces an overwhelming financial burden due to extensive medical treatment.

At the time of the crash, authorities said the 57-year-old was in stable condition, though the full extent of his injuries was not immediately known.

Traffic along the southbound lanes of the Palmetto Expressway was shut down for miles and remained backed up for hours. Aerial footage showed investigators examining the wreckage near a large hole left in the concrete barrier.

Family and friends of Reales say they are grateful he survived and are asking for financial support as he recovers.

El video captura la escena cuando la camioneta atraviesa una barrera de concreto y cae encima de un auto desprevenido. Escombros, incluidos vidrios rotos, una llanta y metal retorcido, se observan sobre la vía mientras la camioneta aplasta el vehículo debajo.

El choque ocurrió el viernes alrededor de las 5 a.m. en la autopista Palmetto Expressway, cerca de Northwest 36th Street en Doral.

Los investigadores dicen que Reinerio De La Torre Toledo, de 26 años, conducía la camioneta y se cree que se quitó la vida momentos antes de que el vehículo saliera volando.

Detectives de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade dicen que se recuperó un arma en la escena, y un testigo indicó que los detectives mencionaron haber encontrado casquillos de bala.

El conductor del otro vehículo ha sido identificado como Jorge Reales, de Miramar. Un GoFundMe creado por un amigo de la familia indica que Reales no puede trabajar y enfrenta una carga financiera abrumadora debido a un extenso tratamiento médico.

En el momento del choque, las autoridades dijeron que el hombre de 57 años estaba en condición estable, aunque la magnitud total de sus lesiones no se conocía de inmediato.

El tráfico en los carriles hacia el sur de la autopista Palmetto Expressway fue cerrado por millas y permaneció congestionado durante horas. Imágenes aéreas mostraron a los investigadores examinando los restos cerca de un gran agujero dejado en la barrera de concreto.

Familiares y amigos de Reales dicen estar agradecidos de que sobreviviera y están solicitando apoyo financiero mientras se recupera.

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Bianca Gutierrez said she was eating bourbon chicken and noodles last week when she noticed something unusual.

“I was in disbelief. I was at a loss for words,” she said. “I was like, ‘Oh my God.’”

What she initially thought might be a vegetable quickly turned into something far more disturbing.

“I was like, that’s not a vegetable,” she said.

Gutierrez recorded video showing what appeared to be a roach with legs and antennae in her food. In the video, she can be heard reacting in shock.

“Disgusted. Very disgusted. Disappointed,” she said.

The incident happened at the food court inside Pembroke Lakes Mall. Gutierrez said the meal came from Kelly’s Cajun Grill.

She returned to the counter immediately.

“They were shocked as well. They didn’t know what to say. They just apologized,” Gutierrez said.

According to Gutierrez, staff issued a refund. After returning home, she sent the video to Local 10 News and filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

State inspectors responded the very next day.

Records show the restaurant was ordered shut down after an inspection uncovered multiple violations, including the presence of roaches. An inspector noted finding roaches on top of a prep table in a rear food preparation area.

A Local 10 News crew later visited the restaurant and spoke briefly with a manager, who acknowledged the shutdown but declined to provide details. No one from corporate responded to a request for comment.

Gutierrez said the experience has changed her habits.

She says for now, she plans to stick to home-cooked meals until she can get the image out of her head.

Bianca Gutierrez dijo que estaba comiendo pollo bourbon con fideos la semana pasada cuando notó algo inusual.

“Estaba incrédula. Me quedé sin palabras”, dijo. “Yo estaba como, ‘Oh Dios mío’”.

Lo que inicialmente pensó que podría ser un vegetal rápidamente se convirtió en algo mucho más perturbador.

“Yo estaba como, eso no es un vegetal”, dijo.

Gutierrez grabó un video que mostraba lo que parecía ser una cucaracha con patas y antenas en su comida. En el video, se le puede escuchar reaccionando con asombro.

“Asqueada. Muy asqueada. Decepcionada”, dijo.

El incidente ocurrió en el patio de comidas dentro de Pembroke Lakes Mall. Gutierrez dijo que la comida provenía de Kelly’s Cajun Grill.

Ella regresó al mostrador de inmediato.

“Ellos también estaban sorprendidos. No sabían qué decir. Solo se disculparon”, dijo Gutierrez.

Según Gutierrez, el personal emitió un reembolso. Después de regresar a casa, envió el video a Local 10 News y presentó una queja ante el Departamento de Regulación Comercial y Profesional de Florida.

Los inspectores estatales respondieron al día siguiente.

Los registros muestran que se ordenó el cierre del restaurante después de que una inspección descubriera múltiples violaciones, incluida la presencia de cucarachas. Un inspector señaló haber encontrado cucarachas sobre una mesa de preparación en un área trasera de preparación de alimentos.

Un equipo de Local 10 News visitó posteriormente el restaurante y habló brevemente con un gerente, quien reconoció el cierre pero se negó a proporcionar detalles. Nadie de la corporación respondió a una solicitud de comentarios.

Gutierrez dijo que la experiencia ha cambiado sus hábitos.

Dice que por ahora planea mantenerse con comidas caseras hasta que pueda sacarse la imagen de la cabeza.

Fernando Mendoza, ex estrella de los Indiana Hoosiers y destacado de la escuela secundaria Christopher Columbus en Miami, fue seleccionado como la primera elección global por los Raiders de Las Vegas tras una temporada en la que ganó el Trofeo Heisman y el campeonato nacional.

El mariscal de campo de 22 años se ha mantenido en el sur de Florida en los últimos días y se espera que celebre el momento con su familia en Coral Gables en lugar de asistir al draft en persona.

“Oh, esto es muy emocionante. Estamos muy orgullosos de él”, dijo Enrique Espino, tío abuelo de Mendoza. “Siguió los consejos de su madre y las restricciones y condiciones de su padre, todos están emocionados por él”.

La policía ha cerrado una parte de la calle para una fiesta privada que pronto estará llena de celebración.

Muchos amigos y vecinos comparten el orgullo por el arduo trabajo y la dedicación de Mendoza.

“Son una familia muy agradable. Todos estamos encantados de que estén felices”, dijo Michael Brown, vecino de Mendoza.

La atención también está puesta en los Miami Hurricanes, que podrían tener hasta tres, o incluso cuatro, jugadores seleccionados en la primera ronda.

El liniero defensivo Rueben Bain Jr. y el liniero ofensivo Francis Mauigoa también están proyectados para ser elegidos en la primera ronda, mientras que el EDGE Akheem Mesidor y el back defensivo Keionte Scott también podrían escuchar sus nombres más adelante en la ronda.

Mientras tanto, los Miami Dolphins entran en la noche con dos selecciones de primera ronda, las número 11 y 30, lo que le da al nuevo gerente general Jon-Eric Sullivan y al entrenador Jeff Hafley la oportunidad de agregar jugadores de impacto inmediato.

Miami tiene siete selecciones dentro de las primeras 100 del draft hasta la tarde del jueves.

Miami podría buscar reforzar su plantilla con talento local, dependiendo de cómo se desarrolle el draft.

La primera ronda del Draft de la NFL 2026 está programada para comenzar a las 8 p.m.

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According to Miramar police spokesperson Janice McIntosh, officers responded around 2 a.m. to an initial call about a robbery near Pembroke Road and Hiatus Road.

McIntosh said that call was later updated to a shooting as investigators worked to piece together what happened.

Police said a woman was found with a gunshot wound and was taken to a hospital. Her condition has not been released.

Investigators say a man who lives at the apartment pulled the trigger, but the motive remains unclear.

“Right now, we’re still trying to find out exactly what happened,” McIntosh said. “The two persons involved were known to each other, and so obviously one person was shot. The one who was shot has been transported, and the other individual is being questioned, but he is fully cooperating with the police.”

Authorities said the two individuals knew each other and may have been in a casual relationship.

The man has been taken into custody for questioning, but it remains unclear whether he will face charges. Neither individual has been identified by police.

Police continue to investigate as neighbors woke up to a heavy law enforcement presence and a portion of the complex taped off with crime scene tape.

Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

Según la portavoz de la policía de Miramar, Janice McIntosh, los agentes respondieron alrededor de las 2 a.m. a una llamada inicial sobre un robo cerca de Pembroke Road y Hiatus Road.

McIntosh indicó que la llamada luego fue actualizada a una balacera mientras los investigadores trabajaban para reconstruir lo ocurrido.

La policía informó que una mujer fue encontrada con una herida de bala y fue trasladada a un hospital. Su condición no ha sido revelada.

Los investigadores dicen que un hombre que vive en el apartamento disparó, pero el motivo sigue sin estar claro.

“En este momento, todavía estamos tratando de determinar exactamente qué ocurrió”, dijo McIntosh. “Las dos personas involucradas se conocían, y evidentemente una persona recibió un disparo. La persona herida fue trasladada, y el otro individuo está siendo interrogado, pero está cooperando plenamente con la policía”.

Las autoridades dijeron que ambos individuos se conocían y podrían haber tenido una relación casual.

El hombre fue puesto bajo custodia para ser interrogado, pero aún no está claro si enfrentará cargos. Ninguno de los dos ha sido identificado por la policía.

La policía continúa investigando mientras los vecinos despertaron con una fuerte presencia policial y una parte del complejo acordonada con cinta de escena del crimen.

Cualquier persona con información sobre la balacera debe llamar a Broward Crime Stoppers al 305-471-8477.

From herbs that wilt in days to berries that seem to mold even faster, what we toss in the trash often has less to do with what we buy than how we store it at home.

A lot of that spoilage happens because of moisture and temperature.

From a scientific perspective, produce doesn’t just go bad — it breaks down under specific conditions. Plants, like humans, carry natural microflora, a diverse community of microscopic organisms.

“This could be bacteria, yeast, molds, things like that,” said Amanda Deering, associate professor of produce food safety at Purdue University.

Here are a few small changes that can extend the life of food by days.

Wait to wash

Washing produce before storing it can leave water that bacteria, yeast and mold need to grow.

Experts recommend waiting to wash fruits and vegetables until just before eating, and keeping them as dry as possible in the fridge meanwhile. Adding a paper towel can absorb dampness in containers of berries or leafy greens.

Food experts also warn that cutting up fruits and vegetables before storing them can reduce their shelf life.

“The big one is washing it and cutting it before storing it. This, of course, can leave a lot of excess moisture behind,” said Abbey Sharp, registered dietitian. “It speeds up spoilage because you’re cutting into those cell walls.”

Keep most produce cold and give it space

At room temperature, microscopic organisms grow faster. Keeping food in the fridge can slow that process, Deering said, but how you pack your fridge also matters. Overcrowding it can block airflow and make it harder to keep temperatures consistent.

Different foods have different needs.

Herbs last longer when treated like flowers, trimmed and placed in water, while harder herbs can be wrapped in a damp towel and stored in the fridge. Root vegetables like carrots can be kept in water to maintain crispiness. Separating leafy tops can extend the shelf life of carrots and beets.

Keep some kitchen staples apart

Where you store produce can affect both how it tastes and how it lasts. The texture and flavor of tomatoes, for example, are best preserved at room temperature, even if refrigeration can slow their spoilage, said Deering.

Whole garlic should be kept in a cool ventilated space, while cut or peeled garlic belongs in the fridge.

Potatoes and onions are best stored outside the fridge in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place, like a pantry or cabinet, but they shouldn’t be kept together.

“You want to keep them away from one another because they actually can make each other spoil faster,” said Sharp.

Mixing fruits at different stages of ripeness also can shorten shelf lives. As fruits ripen, they release ethylene gas, a natural compound that speeds up the ripening process in nearby produce. So storing very ripe bananas next to greener ones or alongside other fruits can cause everything around them to ripen and spoil more quickly, Deering said.

Know what spoiled actually looks like

Confusion about what’s actually safe to eat also drives food waste.

The FDA estimates that confusion over food labels accounts for about 20% of consumer food waste, as many people misinterpret the "purchase-by" dates as indicators of safety. Other food gets trashed when it doesn't look perfect, according to Sharp, who notes that “a little ugly is not the same as unsafe.”

When fruits and vegetables wilt, soften or become slightly discolored, they may not taste as fresh in certain recipes, but that doesn't mean they're spoiled. A limp carrot or a slightly soft celery stalk, for example, can still be safe to eat, especially when cooked, Sharp said.

“Produce that is like a little bit wilted or like a little soft or a little less crisp is often more a quality issue. It’s not necessarily a food safety issue,” said Sharp.

Signals that food should be thrown away are more distinct, like visible mold, slime, leaking liquid or a strong unpleasant odor — clear indications that produce has broken down beyond the point of safe consumption, according to Sharp.

Think of the impact outside your kitchen

Throwing away food also discards the results of all the resources used to grow, transport and store it. But small habits can make a big difference, like buying what you need, using items before they sit too long, and freezing produce like berries or bananas before it goes bad.

“Household food waste represents probably the largest portion of food waste when we look at it across the whole supply chain,” said Pete Pearson, a vice president at World Wildlife Fund.

And that waste also produces a potent greenhouse gas that harms the planet long after discarded food leaves the kitchen.

“When food enters landfills, it’s essentially buried in a non-oxygen environment where it breaks down and creates bacteria and methane emissions,” said Pearson.

But because people interact with food every day, even small shifts can add up, depleting fewer resources across the broader food system.

“It’s these small changes over millions and millions of people that can make a huge difference,” said Pearson.

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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 Atlanta-based railroad said Friday that it earned $547 million, or $2.43 per share. That's down from $750 million, or $3.31 per share, a year ago. The disastrous derailment in the small town on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border has generally boosted earnings in recent quarters as the railroad collected insurance payments, but that wasn't the case this time, so it combined with planning costs related to the merger, earnings per share were reduced by 22 cents. Last year's results were also helped by some land sales.

Without those unusual costs, the railroad's profit would have beat Wall Street estimates. The analysts surveyed by FactSet Research predicted the railroad would earn $2.51 per share.

CEO Mark George said the railroad also dealt with the uncertain economy that reduced the shipments it delivered by 1%, along with severe weather and rapidly rising fuel costs.

“Despite these challenges, our employees safely delivered a solid service product, managed costs effectively, and earned the continued trust of our customers. As conditions improved, we captured momentum exiting the quarter, reinforcing the strength of our operating foundation and the dedication of the entire Norfolk Southern team,” George said.

The railroad's revenue was relatively flat at just under $3 billion. But its expenses jumped 15% compared to last year when insurance payments from the derailment added $185 million to Norfolk Southern's bottom line.

Norfolk Southern is working with Union Pacific to update its application to merge that the railroads plan to submit next Thursday. The U.S. Surface Transportation Board rejected the railroad’s first request to approve the $85 billion merger because the regulators wanted more information. The STB hasn’t yet decided whether the deal that would cut the number of major freight railroads down to five will enhance competition.

Norfolk Southern operates trains all over the eastern United States. Combining with Union Pacific's network west of the Mississippi River would create the nation's first transcontinental railroad.

Success on the pitch for both Spain’s women and men’s teams has been partially overshadowed in recent years by incidents of racism, sexism and xenophobia.

As the World Cup approaches, concerns have been raised about whether meaningful cultural change is happening in Spain, one of the title favorites.

“It’s not a very good image for Spain right now, but we can’t mistake these acts by minority groups, usually the ultra groups, with the actions of the majority of fans in Spain,” said Esteban Ibarra, head of the Madrid-based Movement Against Intolerance, Racism and Xenophobia.

Spain is one of the co-hosts of the 2030 World Cup, and cleaning up its image abroad is seen as a priority. The Spanish government and local soccer officials have been working hard to dismiss the notion that Spain is a racist country.

They have called recent incidents in soccer — including the anti-Muslim chants last month — isolated cases that can be blamed mostly on the actions of a minority of radical fans.

“The first thing we must bear in mind is that these acts, which we condemn in the strongest possible terms, have been perpetrated by a group of people who in no way represent the vast majority of Spanish soccer fans,” Spain's Higher Council for Sports, the nation's top sports authority, told The Associated Press in a statement.

“The chants were deplorable and cannot be repeated," it said. "We are confident that the Spanish men and women attending the World Cup this summer will support our team with passion and always with respect.”

Lamine Yamal speaks out

Spain was drawn into a World Cup group that includes Saudi Arabia, an overwhelmingly Muslim country.

It was in the March 31 friendly against Egypt — another predominantly Muslim nation — that a group of Spanish fans sang the anti-Muslim chants that made headlines worldwide. They also jeered Egypt's national anthem in the match in Barcelona.

“These actions are entirely unacceptable in football stadiums and represent a negative phenomenon that must be collectively addressed and eradicated,” the Egyptian Football Association said.

The chants happened despite the presence of Spain star forward Lamine Yamal, who is Muslim. On the next day, he called the chants disrespectful and intolerable, and said it didn’t matter that they were not directed at him personally.

“I understand that not all fans are like that, but to those who chant these things: Using a religion as a taunt on the field makes you look ignorant and racist,” the 18-year-old Yamal said. “Football is for enjoying and cheering, not for disrespecting people for who they are or what they believe.”

Spanish police opened an investigation into the behavior of the fans during the game, and FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against the Spanish soccer federation.

The Spanish federation has used the popularity of Yamal as an example of how the recent incidents don’t represent the nation’s fanbase as a whole. It noted that Yamal's shirt is the best-selling Spain jersey and that he is the most sought-after player everywhere the team goes.

The federation also noted several actions and campaigns that have been taking place in Spain, with the participation of the government and other soccer entities, against intolerance and discrimination in sports.

Abuse against Vinícius sparked action against racism

Spain was widely criticized for its lack of action against racism in soccer after Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinícius said he was racially abused in a Spanish league game in Valencia in 2023. Vinícius, who is Black, said at the time that the Spanish league “now belongs to racists” and Spain “is seen as a racist country.”

He has since nuanced his description of Spain, but continues to speak up against racism in the sport.

“I’m not saying that Spain or Germany or Portugal are racist countries, but there are racists in these countries, and in Brazil and other countries as well,” Vinícius said after praising Yamal for his condemnation of the anti-Muslim chants last month. “But if we keep fighting together, I think future players and people in general won’t have to go through this again.”

There was widespread support for Vinícius after the 2023 match in which he threatened to leave the field in Valencia after a few members of ultra groups called him “monkey.”

The number of cases of racial abuse against the Brazil international decreased as authorities started to take more significant action. The first conviction for racism-related cases in professional soccer in Spain came after Vinícius’ repeated complaints, and fans were punished in other cases as well.

A recent Supreme Court ruling set a precedent for more severe sentences in cases of intolerance in sports, another step forward for Spain in the fight against discriminatory actions.

Federation says it has changed since the Rubiales scandal

Not long after the abuse against Vinícius, the Spanish soccer federation faced another scandal involving the behavior of then-federation president Luis Rubiales.

Rubiales resigned and was eventually found guilty of sexual assault for grabbing player Jenni Hermoso's head and kissing her on the lips after Spain won the 2023 Women's World Cup final.

Critics said the scandal highlighted a culture of sexism in Spanish soccer.

The federation says the incident prompted internal change, noting that 50% percent of its board of directors is now composed of women, who are also in several top managerial positions.

Spanish fans expected to behave at the World Cup

During the World Cup, the federation does not expect problems involving Spanish fans, in part because it can try to keep members of radical fan groups from buying tickets for Spain’s matches by monitoring the identity of those making mass purchases.

“In theory, during the World Cup there isn’t really the risk that these types of cases will happen," Ibarra said. “Especially now that Spain is on alert because of the international repercussion of the recent incidents, and more severe measures are expected against these Spanish ultra groups that are responsible for these acts.”

The Spanish government said it has been working for years "in a coordinated and effective manner with government agencies, state security forces, federations, clubs and fans to prevent a few hooligans from tarnishing our sport.”

The government also noted it has “one of the most advanced systems in Europe” to combat intolerance acts, with an anti-violence commission in place to coordinate actions by authorities, prosecutors and other institutions involved.

The men’s team heads to the World Cup as the defending European champion. Since its disappointing round-of-16 elimination in the World Cup in Qatar, Spain also won the Nations League in 2023 and was runner-up last year.

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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

En sus redes sociales, la policía anticorrupción informó que agentes, junto con elementos de la fiscalía, realizaban un operativo de allanamiento en la casa de Corvetto, de otros exfuncionarios de la ONPE y del representante legal de una empresa llamada Galaga, encargada de transportar papeletas electorales hacia centros de votación.

Corvetto renunció el martes. En una carta indicó que dimitía luego de los “problemas focalizados” el 12 de abril, cuando más de 52.000 peruanos no pudieron votar porque las cédulas no llegaron a más de una decena de centros electorales en Lima, lo que provocó una lluvia de críticas de diversos partidos políticos.

Corvetto añadió en su misiva que su dimisión busca que se organice el balotaje del próximo 7 de junio, que definirá al próximo presidente, “en un contexto de mayor confianza ciudadana”.

Contabilizadas el 95,1% de las actas, la conservadora Keiko Fujimori, del partido Fuerza Popular, lidera con 17,05% de votos; el nacionalista Roberto Sánchez, de Juntos por el Perú, es segundo con el 12,03% y le pisa los talones el ultraconservador Rafael López Aliaga, de Renovación Popular, con 11,90%, según la ONPE.

El lunes, el tribunal electoral de Perú anunció que el 15 de mayo será la fecha máxima para informar sobre quienes serán los dos candidatos que disputarán la presidencia en la segunda vuelta.

Los resultados sobre quiénes pasan a un balotaje presidencial en Perú son lentos comparados con otros países de la región. En las elecciones presidenciales de 2021, el Tribunal Electoral los anunció el 18 de mayo, 37 días después de los comicios de primera vuelta del 11 de abril de 2021. En aquel entonces, la separación entre el segundo y tercer lugar fue amplia desde el inicio y no existió el suspenso de ahora.

Cellphone video captured the moment bystanders reacted, with one saying, “the trouble is over,” as the suspect fell face-first onto the road after being tased. Officers then rushed in and swarmed him.

Hialeah police say their K-9 unit was assisting Florida Highway Patrol near a Walgreens at West 68th Street and 12th Avenue when an officer spotted the man, who troopers idenfitifed as 41-year-old Yam Perera Nunez.

Florida Highway Patrol says troopers tried to pull him over during a traffic stop on Okeechobee Road in the Pembroke Road area a day earlier, but he refused to stop.

Investigators say during the pursuit Perera Nunez abandoned his truck on Northwest 137th Avenue and ran off on foot.

Sky 10 was overhead during that search and spotted troopers and ICE agents in the area looking for him before he was eventually arrested.

Authorities say this was not Perera Nunez’s first encounter with law enforcement.

Back at the multi-agency arrest outside the Walgreens, authorities were seen towing a sports car with front-end damage. Witnesses said they were stunned by what unfolded in front of them.

Authorities say Perera Nunez faces a long list of federal charges, including aggravated assault, aggravated fleeing and eluding, battery, resisting arrest with violence and grand theft.

Frustrated and seemingly exhausted Wednesday, Kennedy said he wanted more time to debate his amendments to a budget resolution to fund immigration enforcement agencies. But he had another complaint.

“Frankly I am worried about the health of some of our members,” Kennedy said as 9 p.m. approached. “Not that they’re in bad health, but it’s hard to stay up all night.”

More than 6 hours later, just past 3:30 a.m., senators wrapped up another marathon voting session on amendments and filed out of the chamber, dazed, tired and resigned to soon doing it all again.

It's a complaint as old as the Congress, with leaders in both major political parties often turning to the torturous grind of an overnight session to exhaust members, overcome objections and push legislation to passage. But it's a scenario that is playing out again and again, nearly business as usual, as the House and the Senate fracture and careen from one crisis to the next.

Lawmakers say it’s a symptom of a broken Congress that leaders are increasingly forced to govern in the dead of night.

“The dysfunction is getting worse,” said Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, who has been in Congress for 14 years. Lawmakers have become “less mature,” he said, as a growing number act only in their own self-interest and hold up bills or delay proceedings.

“It’s not a healthy lifestyle,” Cramer said, for the country or the lawmakers. “There’s less concern for the team effort.”

Late-night fights have become the norm

In the last few weeks, Congress has repeatedly debated pressing national issues at night — leading to confusion and turmoil in both chambers.

Much of the drama has centered, as it increasingly does, on government funding.

In late March, Senate Republicans struck a deal with Democrats to reopen most of the Department of Homeland Security, including the Transportation Security Administration, while Democrats continued to block money for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol after the shootings of two protesters in Minneapolis. It was a breakthrough, and Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., passed the spending bill by voice vote — meaning there were no objections on either side — just past 2 a.m.

Senators then flew home for a two-week recess, leaving final passage to the House. But House lawmakers who were asleep when the final Senate agreement was announced woke up and angrily rejected it, saying they wouldn’t pass legislation that didn’t include funding for the immigration enforcement agencies. Senators were then forced to figure out a new plan for reopening the department, and it remains unresolved.

An equally contentious matter, the renewal of surveillance powers for federal spy agencies, also devolved into an after-hours affair.

House GOP leaders kept members in session well past midnight last week while trying and ultimately failing to pass different versions of a foreign surveillance bill. Scrambling to pass an extension of the law ahead of a Monday deadline, leaders eventually cobbled together a 10-day extension past 2 a.m.

Members of both parties were exasperated by the last-minute mayhem.

“Who the hell is running this place?” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass. He said Republicans threw the bill together “on the back of a napkin in the back room in the middle of the night.”

“Just about everyone agrees that this is serious stuff, the kind of debate that Congress ought to have in the open,” McGovern said.

Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles, a Republican and member of the House Freedom Caucus who opposed the leadership bills, said the outcome was predictable.

“We warned them that this was gonna happen,” Ogles said. “Unfortunately, here we are at 2 in the morning.”

Time-consuming partisan bills push Senate into late nights

The late-night vote series in the Senate this week was part of an arcane, complicated process called budget reconciliation that GOP leaders are using to try to fund the two immigration enforcement agencies that Democrats continue to block. It's become the default mode of governing for majorities in Congress as bipartisanship on major issues fades away.

Reconciliation allows the Senate majority to bypass the filibuster and pass budget-related bills along party lines. First, though, they have to get through two lengthy series of votes — and that's where the dreaded “vote-a-rama” comes in.

The process is open-ended, which means lawmakers in both parties can offer as many amendments as they want to put the other side on record — or, as Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska describes it, “to make each other miserable.”

Leaders generally hold the votes in the middle of the night, as they did Wednesday into Thursday, in hopes of exhausting both sides and forcing senators to stay on the floor and vote quickly. But instead of waiting around between amendment votes, Murkowski walked back and forth between the chamber and her “hideaway,” a small office each senator has in the Capitol building.

“I’m at 14,291 steps,” she said just after 11 p.m., looking at her smartwatch, which was also telling her that her bedtime was approaching. She said if she couldn’t sleep, she might as well get more exercise.

Senators went through the same reconciliation process last year, in extremes, as they labored for weeks to pass President Donald Trump’s package of spending and tax cuts, which he dubbed One Big Beautiful Bill.

The bill had barely enough Republican support to pass, and the Senate and the House held nearly back-to-back all-night sessions to pass it by Trump’s July 4 deadline. In the Senate, GOP leaders kept the long vote series open for hours on end as they worked to win support from Murkowski and others.

“It’s insane,” Murkowski said of the late nights. “My mom always said, ‘Nothing good happens after midnight.’”

Overnights are not new but become more common

Overnight votes are certainly nothing new in Congress. The Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama’s signature health care law, passed the Senate in the early hours of Christmas Eve in 2009 after weeks of negotiations, just in time for senators to get home for the holidays. Countless other big bills have been passed in the dead of night, as well.

But lawmakers say the after-dark routine has gotten worse and more frequent.

“Part of what’s changed here is there’s a lot of heavy lifting that you have to do to get a bill passed,” said Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, who has served in Congress since 1981, when he was elected to the House. “I think at some point you’ve got to have a forcing mechanism, and one of the easiest is to stay up until the wee hours so that everybody is basically trying not to fall asleep on national TV.”

Democratic Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey, a relative newcomer to the Senate elected in 2024, said there’s an eventual question of whether anyone is watching.

In the middle of the night, he said: “Are the American people paying attention? How do we get the message out?”

Still, he said, it’s important that lawmakers get their work done at any hour, especially when there is a war going on with Iran and lawmakers take long stretches away from Washington.

“I don’t mind being here,” Kim said.

Furyk would be the fourth U.S. captain to get a second chance dating to 1979, considered the modern era of the Ryder Cup when continental Europe became part of it.

Three people aware of the selection process said the Ryder Cup committee chose Furyk once Tiger Woods removed himself from competition after his March 27 arrest on suspicion of DUI. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the PGA of America has not announced it.

Furyk declined to comment in a text message.

When asked for confirmation, the PGA of America said in a statement Friday, “We look forward to sharing details regarding our 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup captain announcement soon.”

Furyk was the 2018 captain in Paris, a 17 1/2-10 1/2 win by Europe. That week was marked by the four U.S. captain's picks going 2-10-0 at Le Golf National and Patrick Reed blaming Jordan Spieth for them not playing together and Furyk for benching him twice.

Furyk led the Americans to victory as Presidents Cup captain in 2024, and he was said to be a reliable voice as an assistant to U.S. captain Keegan Bradley in the last Ryder Cup.

Europe built a record seven-point lead after two days last year at Bethpage Black and held on for its second straight victory under captain Luke Donald, who returns for a third stint in Ireland.

Bradley was a surprise choice for the 2025 matches after the PGA of America waited until the summer of 2024 to see if Woods wanted the job.

This time around, the PGA of America set a soft deadline for the end of March for Woods to decide, and its backup plan was to have a list of candidates for the Ryder Cup committee to consider if Woods chose not to be captain.

It was not known which way Woods was leaning when his SUV clipped the back of a trailer being pulled by a pickup truck on a residential road in Florida, turning his SUV on its side. Woods was arrested and briefly jailed after Florida authorities determined he was impaired.

Four days later, Woods said he was stepping away indefinitely “to seek treatment and focus on my health," and he told the PGA of America he would not be captain.

Davis Love III (2012 and 2016), Tom Watson (1993 and 2014) and Jack Nicklaus (1983 and 1987) are the other U.S. captains to have the job twice since 1979.

Love and Nicklaus had Ryder Cup matches at home both times. Furyk faces the daunting task of trying to win a Ryder Cup on the road, which the Americans have not done since 1993.

The Americans were coming off a resounding victory at Hazeltine in 2016 when it went over to Le Golf National, set up with narrow fairways and thick rough. After getting out to a 3-1 lead, the Americans never won another session.

Woods, coming off his victory the week before at the Tour Championship, went 0-4. Phil Mickelson went 0-2 and Bryson DeChambeau was 0-3. All were captain's picks. DeChambeau had won two FedEx Cup playoff events leading into the matches.

Europe has won 11 of the last 15 matches dating to Oak Hill in 1995. Donald will try to become the first captain to win three straight times in September 2027 at Adare Manor.

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

Miami acquired picks No. 27 and No. 138 in the deal, sending the 49ers its first-round pick (No. 30) and third-round pick (No. 90).

Johnson, a 6-foot, 193-pound defensive back, joined the Aztecs in 2022 and made an immediate impact, appearing in 12 games as a freshman before earning a larger role in the seasons that followed. He began to emerge in 2024, recording one interception, 67 tackles and three forced fumbles.

His senior season marked a true breakout.

Johnson started 11 games and recorded four interceptions, 49 tackles (36 solo), one sack, 13 passes defended, and 1 forced fumble. He also had two interceptions returned for touchdowns.

He was named a second-team All-American, co-Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, first-team All-Mountain West, and his two interceptions returned for touchdowns were tied for the most in the FBS.

Miami also selected Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor with pick No. 12 in the first round after trading back with the Dallas Cowboys. Miami acquired

Proctor and Johnson are Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley’s first two draft selections with the team.

As of Friday, the Dolphins’ draft capital includes:

• Round 1, pick 12: Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor

• Round 1, pick 27: San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson (Trade with San Francisco)

• Round 2: No. 43

• Round 3: Nos. 75, 87, 94

• Round 4: Nos. 130, 138

• Round 5: Nos. 151, 177 (Dallas), 180 (Dallas)

• Round 7: Nos. 227, 238

With each call, a prisoner stumbled out the doors and into another woman’s tearful embrace. Fifteen men and two women. All alleged political prisoners. All freed just hours into Valentine’s Day thanks to the work of Mendoza, Rosales and more than two dozen other women who dared to challenge their authoritarian government.

These wives and mothers had already participated for 37 days in a protest that transformed a dead-end street in Caracas into a tent city. The women had prayed, chanted slogans, posted their pleas on social media. They had chained themselves together. They had screamed, hoping their cries might be heard by prisoners held behind thick concrete walls.

The release of the 17 inmates that frigid February morning was bittersweet for Mendoza and Rosales. They felt a surge of pride at each emotional reunion outside the jail walls. Yet, they felt defeated. Their own husbands’ names were not called.

The two women, who had no previous experience in politics, were part of a movement that sprang up after the U.S. military attacked Venezuela on Jan. 3 and captured and removed its president, Nicolás Maduro. The protest tested the wives' health and determination in ways that continue to haunt them. It has also challenged an authoritarian government's willingness to restrain its repressive impulses.

Under pressure from the U.S. government, Venezuela announced in January that it would free political prisoners, giving hope to families of detained dissidents. About 150 protesters, mostly wives and mothers, set up outside the doors of jails and prisons suspected of holding political detainees. Their demonstration became a key test of how far the U.S. intervention can clear the way for the restoration of civil liberties in Venezuela after Maduro was replaced by his loyal vice president.

The Trump administration has praised the government of acting President Delcy Rodríguez for its pledge to release political prisoners. But human rights groups say Venezuelan authorities have been selective in deciding whom to free, and more than 400 political prisoners remain behind bars.

The Venezuelan government’s press office did not respond to a request for comment on its plans for prisoners or how it decides which detainees will be freed.

After learning their husbands and at least 40 other men would remain in the jail, they headed back to their tent. Dawn had not yet broken as they discussed their options over a breakfast of crackers and ham salad. This would be their last meal, they vowed, until their husbands were freed.

“We’ll be here as long as necessary,” Mendoza told Rosales, sitting on a mattress and wearing a facemask as a health precaution. “We must continue fighting for our goal, which is the release of all of them. Not one, not two, not 17, but all of them.”

How the protests began

Rosales and Mendoza did not know each other before they started fighting for their husbands’ freedom.

Mendoza lived in western Caracas with her husband and two children, while Rosales and her husband raised four children in the once-thriving industrial city of Valencia, in north-central Venezuela.

A stay-at-home mother, Mendoza, 30, sold handcrafts to supplement her husband’s pay as a driver. Rosales, 37, had a steady job as an elementary school teacher; her husband worked as an explosive’s technician for the state’s intelligence service. Neither were the type to socialize in their free time, much preferring to spend time with their kids.

Mendoza last saw her husband, Eric Díaz, on a November morning when he left the house to go to work. She learned of his arrest from a friend and panicked. He was not allowed to call her, and authorities refused to acknowledge his detention.

Weeks went by before she learned that he had been accused by the Venezuelan government of plotting to detonate a bomb in a public plaza in Caracas. The plan, according to the country’s feared Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, was promoted by the U.S. and a faction of Venezuela’s opposition.

Rosales’ husband, Dionnys Quintero, had also been arrested that month and accused of being involved in the same plot. He, too, was not granted a phone call.

She was flummoxed by the accusations. She and Quintero firmly believed in the ideas of Hugo Chávez, the fiery Venezuelan leader who ushered in a self-proclaimed socialist revolution at the turn of the century and was Maduro’s mentor and predecessor. They consistently voted for the ruling party. She could only conclude that he had been “linked to the case because of his profession.”

“All police forces are organized like a ladder. The one at the top won’t fall; the one at the bottom will,” Rosales said. “And those at the top will always be careful not to fall.”

The Venezuelan government did not respond to questions about why it was detaining the pair's husbands.

For her part, the allegations perplexed Mendoza. Her husband had not been politically active, nor had he worked for security services. She said he spent all of his time delivering equipment for an events company or at home.

The holidays were particularly hard on their children because the women had no answers when they were asked the same question:

“When am I going to see my dad?”

The two wives dared not complain publicly. They were each told by friends and family members to keep quiet because they risked being arrested and leaving their children to fend for themselves. Maduro’s government had a reputation for ruthlessly cracking down on dissent, especially in the aftermath of his 2024 reelection claim.

That calculus changed after the U.S. military rappelled down helicopters and captured Maduro on Jan. 3 in Caracas. Five days later, under pressure from the White House to free dissidents, the Venezuelan government announced the imminent release of prisoners in an effort “intended to seek peace” without specifying with whom.

By then, Mendoza had gone to multiple detention facilities to ask about Díaz. Outside a jail, she met a man who had recently been released from custody. She showed him pictures of Díaz and a cousin of his who had also been detained. The man recognized Díaz.

He told Mendoza that her husband was being held with dozens of other political prisoners at a police station on Calle Mara, a dead-end street in a neighborhood filled with warehouses, a furniture factory, a pharmaceutical laboratory and a Catholic school.

Hours after the government announced it intended to free detainees, Mendoza and a handful of other women went to the station expecting to comfort their husbands. They carried nothing more than a few fleece blankets.

When the men were not freed, the women decided to do something. They refused to leave, setting up a makeshift camp outside the station. A furniture factory employee gifted them foam cushions to make it a little easier to lay down at night.

A few days later, Rosales joined the effort, which at its height would grow to 30 women. She and Mendoza soon became close friends, finding a sort of balance in their opposite temperaments.

While Rosales was calm and rational, frequently keeping Mendoza from doing something impulsive, her friend was fiery and passionate, unafraid to push other wives out of their comfort zones to amp up their chants and sloganeering.

“We are much more than comrades; we are a family,” Mendoza said, describing Rosales and the other wives. “No matter what happens, I will always be there for them because I have learned so much from them, including to be brave.”

While they had different personalities, they agreed that they were facing a dangerous foe.

The Venezuelan authorities have “absolutely no humanity. They have no fear of God,” Rosales said. “Venezuelan society is facing a monster.”

The camp slowly expanded from the sidewalk into the street. Tents, palettes in which to set them, chairs, stools and food began to take up space. A warehouse gave the women water, and another ran an extension cord so they could charge their phones, make coffee, play music and heat hair straighteners. A business allowed them to use the restroom.

Under growing international pressure sparked by the protests, the Venezuelan government granted a concession, allowing the women to visit their loved ones – effectively acknowledging for the first time that the men had been held there all along.

They raced to collect the clothing the government required them to wear on the Jan. 27 visit – white T-shirts and blue jeans.

Mendoza, Rosales and about two dozen other women were giddy as they entered the station. All were optimistic they might walk out with their loved ones.

The men looked pale and had lost weight

The women entered the visitation area in small groups. What they saw shocked them.

Their men – and two detained women – were pale and had lost weight. They seemed to have aged. The female prisoners wore neon green uniforms while the men were all clad in baby blue, which the women considered was an effort to link the prisoners to the political party of opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado.

The Venezuelan authorities have accused Machado’s party of being part of the bomb plot. Its official color is baby blue.

During the emotional get-together, some prisoners cried, and so did the wives, mothers and sisters. The prisoners asked about their children. The men knew Maduro had been deposed, but they were not aware of the sit-in protest outside the prison.

If Venezuelan government officials had hoped the visit might quelch the protests, they were mistaken. Concerned about the prisoners’ well-being, the women redoubled their efforts.

“I’m not satisfied with just one visit. I want my family member’s full freedom, and the other women feel the same way,” Rosales said a week after she saw her husband. “Weekly or biweekly visits? That’s a waste of time, and life is fleeting.”

They met with lawmakers debating a bill to grant amnesty to political prisoners. They filed paperwork with the court and spoke with lawyers. They held vigils and prayed at all hours.

As they listened to Christian music, which helped drown out the city’s bustle, Mendoza, Rosales and the other women talked and talked. They grew familiar with each other’s stories -- hometowns, jobs, religions, favorite ring tones. They met each other’s children on videocalls or in person.

Their sisterhood strengthened when 10 of them began the hunger strike.

“What we have here is war dogs – courageous women, fighters – who despite the adversities are always together,” Mendoza said two days into her hunger strike.

Rosales lasted two days without food. Mendoza made it five. Sweat dripped down her forehead and she complained of heart palpitations when she quit and had to be taken to a hospital, weak, dizzy and dehydrated.

A stomach bug hit the camp, sending a few women home. Others, including Rosales, had to go back to work. Only another woman outlasted Mendoza, and only by a few hours. The strike ended on the camp’s 42nd day.

Hope faded slowly over the next two weeks.

Then, on the night of March 6, just as a police officer had done on Valentine’s Day, another had come outside and screamed the names of prisoners being released, and men began to shuffle out the gates.

“Freedom! Freedom!” the camp chanted as the releases extended into the first hours of March 7. Some knelt and thanked God.

Mendoza and Rosales again soaked in their achievement. Twenty-five men were freed. Yet, as they watched families embrace, reunited, they felt the familiar pang of emptiness. Their husbands remained behind bars.

One by one, reunited families drove away. Rosales crawled into a tent with a blinding headache. Mendoza stood silently by the dark gates of a warehouse.

Another prison, another visit

By sunrise, the tent city was mostly empty. Mendoza, Rosales and a few other women had a decision to make; they could continue their protests or head home.

As they weighed their next step, the wives learned their husbands had been transferred to a prison outside Caracas. They wondered if the men were being punished for their protests. The prison was much harsher than the police station. Notorious for sweltering conditions, physical and psychological abuse, insufficient food, and a particularly small cell in which new arrivals are crammed in for several days.

They decided to continue their vigil but lost more and more momentum over the next week. On March 13th, their 64th day of camping outside the police station, they gave up. Mendoza, Rosales and a few others folded up the tents and headed home.

The protest became a waiting game by their phones – hoping the government might grant them another visit. That call came two weeks later. This time, they could bring their children.

On April 5, Easter, the women took a bus from Caracas. Mendoza was joined by her son and daughter. Rosales escorted her two daughters and son, leaving her toddler home with a relative. Each family also carried something special for their prisoner.

Mendoza had some of her husband’s favorite snacks: popcorn and fried plantains. Rosales brought a sheet cake to celebrate the recent birthday of her eldest daughter, as well as her own, which was that very day.

The visit, the women and children said, was filled with conversations mostly about life and family. In between school and dentist appointment updates, the women assured their husbands they were not giving up on them. They just needed time to figure out another way to win their freedom.

After four hours, their reunion ended in hugs and tears –- the kind the wives have come to know those that say goodbye, not welcome home.

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Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Right in the middle of it is a player with roots in Hialeah who is bringing that energy back home.

At Country Village Park in Hialeah, kids aren’t just working on their swings.

They’re perfecting their big-play celebrations.

Through flair and personality, much of their inspiration can be traced back to one player: 31-year-old Cory Cubano.

After playing with the Savannah Bananas, he now suits up in a hard-to-miss uniform for the Chili Peppers.

It’s a team in the Cosmic League, part of the fast-growing world where entertainment meets baseball.

He now returns to teams like the Hurricanes Baseball Club to mentor young athletes and his authenticity is catching on far beyond South Florida.

“That’s where I got the whole ‘Cory Cubano’—walking around with a red Solo cup and cigar in the outfield. I get to be myself," Cubano told Local 10’s Michaila Hightower.

Known for his larger-than-life personality, his style — rooted in Cuban culture — embraces what some call “sazón,” a mix of confidence and showmanship among Latinos.

Cubano has a simple, but positive message.

“If I can teach anything to these kids, it’s just to have fun out there, because baseball is a game of failure,” he said.

Cosmic baseball will be touring Florida, including stops near Miami with the Tri-City Chili Peppers.

Specific dates haven’t been released yet, so keep an eye out. Tickets are on a lottery basis because of how competitive it is to snag them.

You can learn more about the league here.

Prosecutors selected lyrics with alleged references to gang affiliation and shootings to convince jurors that instead of life in prison, Broadnax, who is Black, should be put to death after his conviction — a move his lawyers argue biased the almost all-white jury.

Broadnax isn’t the only defendant or even the only person on Texas’ death row whose rap lyrics have been introduced to a jury. Rap lyrics have featured in hundreds of court cases in more than 40 states over the past 50 years, though judges often exclude other forms of creative expression from being used as evidence, researchers have found. Treating rap lyrics as diary entries minimizes their artistic value while playing on negative racial stereotypes to influence jurors, experts say.

“It denies rap music the status of art. It is characterized as autobiography,” said Erik Nielson, co-author of the book “Rap on Trial.” “It really does speak to underlying assumptions that some people have about young men of color — and that’s almost exclusively who this practice targets — that they aren’t sophisticated enough to engage in various literary devices. That there isn’t metaphor here.”

Rap lyrics are commonly used in racketeering or gang-related cases. Prosecutors try to establish the defendant’s involvement in an underlying crime by introducing lyrics as evidence, Nielson said. If someone is charged with a shooting, for example, prosecutors look for lyrics that mention a shooting.

“If the lyrics were written before the alleged crime, the prosecutors will say this is evidence of motive,” Nielson said. “If they’re written afterward, they’re characterized as a straight-up confession.”

Rap lyrics introduced in court as autobiographical

Broadnax and his cousin were charged with murder for the 2008 shooting deaths of two men outside a suburban Dallas music studio. After more than a decade on death row, he is scheduled to be executed April 30.

In their pending appeal asking the U.S. Supreme Court to halt Broadnax’s execution, his attorneys argue that a judge should have considered the potential for racial bias and instructed the jury that his lyrics should not be viewed as autobiographical.

“The emphasis on the rap lyrics was a key element in this racially charged narrative,” Broadnax’s attorneys wrote. “Worse, the record in this case confirms that the jury delivered a death sentence based on the racial stereotypes invoked by the rap lyrics.”

Kemba, a rapper featured in the documentary “As We Speak: Rap Music on Trial,” told The Associated Press that introducing rap lyrics is particularly effective with juries because of innate prejudices — and because prosecutors want convictions.

“There’s a lot of people that don’t see rap or Black music as artistic expression,” he said. “And when you’re in a court case, there’s already an assumption that you’ve done something (wrong).”

The defendants in these cases are “almost exclusively young men of color, often with very limited resources,” and many can’t afford a private attorney, Nielson said.

But some high-profile rappers have had their songs introduced in court, like Young Thug, whose lyrics were used as evidence at his trial on gang and racketeering charges. He pleaded guilty to those charges and was released from custody in 2024.

Stereotypes about rap emerge

“The criminalization and the targeting of hip-hop has been going on for all 50 years of the culture,” said Nielson, who noted the use of rap lyrics in court ramped up in the early 1990s.

The monitoring of Black artistic expression dates back to the antebellum South, he said, though that intensified as rap music became more critical of power structures, like N.W.A.’s 1989 song “F--- the Police,” which condemns police brutality.

In 2022, The New York Times’ Jaeah Lee looked for non-rap examples of lyrics used at trial from 1950 onward and found only four. Three cases were thrown out and one led to a conviction that was overturned. In that same time period, Nielson found roughly 700 examples of rap lyrics used in court cases, including lyrics that someone rapped but didn’t even write.

Another study conducted by University of Nevada assistant professor Adam Dunbar examined stereotypes of rap. He presented people with lyrics, saying they were from rap, country or metal music. When it came to rap, respondents overwhelmingly considered the lyrics to be autobiographical.

“But if they’re given the same lyrics and told that those are country or heavy metal lyrics, they say, 'No, it’s just art,’” said J.M. Harper, director of “As We Speak.”

Some rappers have begun directly attesting to the fictional nature of their music. The year before he was fatally stabbed in 2021, Drakeo the Ruler released the song “Fictional” from behind bars because his lyrics were being treated as nonfiction. In 2023, 21 Savage described his raps as “fiction as hell.”

“There’s no doubt in my mind that they are doing this for fear of prosecution,” Nielson said.

Rules of evidence can be open to judge's interpretation

A number of A-list rappers, including Travis Scott, T.I. and Killer Mike, have filed briefs at the Supreme Court in support of Broadnax, cautioning against considering rap lyrics autobiographical.

Prosecutors in the case said Texas law allows evidence relevant to a defendant’s reputation at sentencing and contend the court shouldn’t consider the argument against the lyrics because Broadnax failed to raise concerns in previous appeals. State courts have ruled against other appeals by Broadnax’s attorneys.

“At the end of the day, the most important thing is not the prosecutors,” rapper LL Cool J told the AP in 2024, adding that judges should better block rap lyrics from trials. “The question is: Why is it even admissible?”

Lucius T. Outlaw III, a professor at Howard University School of Law who filed the amicus brief on behalf of Nielson and Killer Mike, said judges enforce rules of evidence specific to each state.

One judge might view rap lyrics as relevant; another may disagree. One might worry about triggering “anti-rap, which is anti-Black, bias,” he said, “where another judge will say, ‘I don’t see that prejudice.’”

“Guidelines about what is relevant when it comes to artistic expression and what is overly prejudicial is so needed,” he said.

Jeff Bellin, a professor at Vanderbilt Law School, said current rules tell judges to exclude evidence if it has low value as proof and a danger of creating bias.

“The safeguard should be judges, but they are often not aware of the social issues, or the context, when it comes to rap lyrics,” he said.

New legislation seeks protection for lyrics

Bellin said legislating around the issue is difficult because lawmakers don’t want to create rules that would exclude evidence truly relevant to any case.

In the past five years, at least 27 bills have been introduced federally and in a half-dozen states to limit the use of a defendant’s creative expressions, including rap lyrics, in criminal proceedings, according to an AP analysis using the bill-tracking software Plural.

On April 9, Maryland became the third state to pass legislation, creating “guardrails and a test for judges to impose anytime prosecutors want to use artistic expression, not just rap,” Outlaw said, noting it requires a factual connection between the potential evidence and the charges.

“It’s not the cure-all, but it’s a huge, important step,” he said.

Analysts say the biennial auto show in China's capital, which opened to media on Friday, shows how its auto industry is setting the global pace for cutting-edge technologies in areas such as electric vehicles and batteries, eclipsing many foreign brands that used to dominate the global market.

More than 1,450 vehicles are on display at this year’s show, including 181 global debuts. The show runs until May 3.

Intelligent driving, fast charging showcased

Chinese EV maker XPeng is showing off its latest GX model, a six-seater SUV with a third row seats that can lie completely flat, among other new displays and technologies.

Huge crowds gathered for a presentation by its founder and CEO He Xiaopeng, who described more high-tech aspects of the vehicle.

“When you’re driving on the highway, you fall asleep, or if you feel unwell and can no longer control the vehicle, the system can detect the situation, pull over automatically and alert emergency services,” He said. “Many people who have tried it say it’s amazing.”

Chinese EV maker BYD showcased its new generation of the fast charging “blade” EV battery, first unveiled last month, which can achieve a near full charge in nine minutes, at the auto show, as well as demonstrated charging under the low temperature of minus 30 degree Celsius. Also showcased by Yijing, a EV joint venture between Chinese carmaker Dongfeng Motor Corp. and technology giant Huawei, was the X9, their flagship six‑seat SUV.

According to Chairman Wang Junjun, the new model will features some of the latest auto technology, including a next-generation Qiankun intelligent driving system and a new HarmonyOS cockpit and operating system developed by Huawei.

Ahead of the show, Chinese battery giant CATL unveiled on Tuesday a new version of its “Shenxing” battery, which can be charged from 10% to 98% in only about six-and-a-half minutes.

China's ‘aggressive’ advancements

The auto show showcases the “speed and aggressiveness of advancement” among Chinese automakers, said Tu Le, managing director of consultancy ​Sino Auto Insights. “It just reinforces that the Chinese — whether in EVs, batteries, intelligent driving — are setting the pace for all these important sectors,” he said.

“China has become one of the fastest-moving markets for deploying and iterating new vehicle technologies, giving consumers early access to some of the most advanced features,” said Chris Liu, a senior analyst at research and advisory group Omdia.

China has become the world’s biggest car exporter, benefiting from its ability to reap cost advantages from its huge scale as well as significant government subsidies and support that helped automakers to rapidly scale up and more quickly rolling out new models and technologies than their foreign competitors.

But Chinese automakers has been facing immense pressure from ferocious price wars over the past months. This year, the government has scaled back subsidies encouraging drivers to switch to EVs and plug-in hybrids, weighing on domestic demand.

Sales of passenger cars in China dropped 23% in the January-March quarter from a year earlier to around 4 million vehicles, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. But exports jumped 63% to almost 2 million vehicles as Chinese cars made inroads in regions like Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America.

Omdia forecasts China’s passenger vehicle exports will grow by around 14% year-on-year in 2026.

The hypercompetitive Chinese market have pulled vehicle prices down by a fifth over the past two years, according to a report this week by consultancy AlixPartners.

Few new tech expected to be exported

Few of the new technologies showcased at the auto show may be exported to overseas markets in the short term due to regulatory and safety challenges, Liu said. But they signal “capabilities that can be refined and adapted for global markets over time.”

Even as foreign automakers have been losing market share in recent years in China, some are staging a comeback, with Volkswagen ‌Group announcing on ​Tuesday plans for installing “agentic” AI ​into ​its vehicles for China. It also unveiled new EV models for the Chinese market, including the new UNYX 09 electric sedan co-developed with XPeng.

While the foreign car brands may try to “stabilize” their market share in China, “gaining back a significant market share they had before is, to my perspective, not realistic,” said Andreas Radics, managing director at Berylls by AlixPartners specialized in the automotive industry.

Meanwhile, given the growing demand and often better profitability in overseas markets, Chinese automakers have been shifting from exporting cars from China to building more factories overseas, including in Hungary and Turkey, to increase supplies abroad and avert trade friction.

Chinese carmakers are likely to almost triple their overseas production by 2030 to 3.4 million vehicles from 1.2 million last year, according to AlixPartners estimates.

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Chan reported from Hong Kong. Associated Press video producer Wayne Zhang in Beijing contributed to this report.

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The extension is for a proposed 20-year operating agreement for the annual downtown event.

Commissioners passed the item after amending it to examine the 20-year extension at five-year intervals.

“Originally the proposal was for two 10-year periods, so it was amended for four five years with a check-in every five years” said Ultra Chief of Security Ray Martinez. “So we have to present a report to the commission so they have to take action. Remember it is a revocable license so they are able to do it as a commission as a whole.”

The Downtown Neighbors Alliance pushed for the city to delay their vote so that residents have an opportunity to voice their concerns about continuing the partnership.

“Residents are not asking for the impossible, we are asking for a seat at the table,” said James Torres, president of the Downtown Neighbors Alliance. “A deferral is not only reasonable, it is necessary to set the right tone. If a 20-year deal is approved without engagement, what incentive will there be for Ultra to listen to residents afterward?”

Additionally, the DNA has filed a complaint against Ultra “related to its obligations under the existing settlement agreement.”

Local 10 News reached out to Ultra for comment, and their full statement can be read below:

Ultra will vigorously defend against the lawsuit filed by the Downtown Neighbors Alliance, Inc. (“DNA”).

Ultra has complied with all applicable requirements governing sound level, including those set forth in the Revocable License Agreement (“RLA”) with the Bayfront Park Management Trust and applicable City of Miami ordinances. The event has operated within the parameters established by the City, supported by continuous monitoring and real-time coordination.

Ultra has also participated in multiple community meetings, including those requested by neighborhood associations and those convened at the direction of City Commissioners, consistent with its longstanding practice of community engagement.

 For nearly three decades, Ultra has operated in the City of Miami in partnership with the City and other stakeholders, setting the standard for responsible, large-scale event production. Ultra is a signature event that has become synonymous with Miami’s culture.

Ultra’s efforts to mitigate impacts are community-wide, reflecting a commitment to all Downtown stakeholders. That approach has earned the support of the Miami DDA, the Bayfront Park Management Trust, and other significant stakeholders.

Ultra looks forward to continuing its long-standing parentship with the City and the Bayfront Park Management Trust.

Ultra will continue to act as a responsible neighbor, independent of any formal agreement or arrangement with the DNA or any other resident group, and irrespective of this lawsuit.

Ultra Music Festival

ADDITIONAL LINKS

City commission meeting agenda

Agenda summary and legislation

Washington’s premier soiree on Saturday is most identified by its modern form: a red carpet for the capital’s journalism elite, political staffers and an assortment of American business leaders and celebrities — with the leader of the free world and a comedian offering roasts.

Some years are forgettable and relegated to C-SPAN archives. Others produce viral moments — funny, cringeworthy or undeniably tense — and endure across social media.

Here’s a look at some of that history as Donald Trump prepares for the first time to attend as president:

Ronald Reagan once gave up the chance to rebut a comedian

As a former Hollywood actor, the 40th president had a magnetic stage presence and easy manner with a joke, and it was during Reagan’s presidency that comedians became an annual part of the dinner.

In 1983, Mark Russell, whose satire was a PBS staple, offered relatively tame jabs at Reagan. “There is another speaker following me,” he opened, “and so it is quite an honor for me to be doing the warmup for my chief writer here.”

When it was the president's turn, Reagan demurred. He reminded the audience that he’d made “a sad journey” to Andrews Air Force Base earlier that day to receive the remains of the Americans killed in the April 18 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon.

“I realize the original plan was that I would, in a sense, sing for my supper. In fact, I was prepared, not really to sing, but to do what you expected,” Reagan said, before explaining that it would be inappropriate for him to deliver humorous remarks. “If you’ll forgive us,” he said, “I’ll keep my script, and I hope you’ll give us a rain check, and it’ll still be appropriate next year.”

Dana Carvey and George H.W. Bush: A rare friendship

Presidents have been lampooned on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” since Chevy Chase first depicted Gerald Ford in 1975. But Dana Carvey and President George H.W. Bush set the standard.

Carvey, who also played the iconic Church Lady, embellished the 41st president’s nasal tone and patrician air to caricature his signature phrases: “Not gonna do it. Wouldn’t be prudent.”

Bush became a fan. He and Carvey sat together at Bush's last dinner as president, in 1992. After he lost to Bill Clinton that November, the president invited Carvey to the White House for a Christmas party. The two remained friends.

George W. Bush jokes about weapons of mass destruction

In 2004, American forces remained in Iraq after the 43rd president ordered an invasion based on assertions that Saddam Hussein had weapons that threatened U.S. security.

By the time of the annual dinner, it was apparent those claims were overblown. Bush made light of the situation with pictures of him looking around the White House for Saddam’s weapons.

“Those weapons of mass destruction have got to be here somewhere,” he said as one slide showed him looking under furniture in the Oval Office.

The audience laughed and applauded. Some veterans, including then-Sen. John Kerry, a 2004 presidential nominee, were not amused. Bush defeated Kerry that November anyway.

Colbert skewers Bush and the media

Not long into his second term, Bush sat uncomfortably as Stephen Colbert, then a Comedy Central host, hammered him with an aggressiveness unusual for the dinner.

“The greatest thing about this man is he’s steady,” Colbert said in 2006. “You know where he stands. He believes the same thing Wednesday that he believed on Monday, no matter what happened Tuesday. Events can change; this man’s beliefs never will.”

He sarcastically urged Bush to ignore his approval ratings, then in the low 30s: “We know that polls are just a collection of statistics that reflect what people are thinking in reality. And reality has a well-known liberal bias.”

Colbert lambasted the dinner hosts, too, suggesting Washington media protected the Bush administration.

“Over the last five years you people were so good — over tax cuts, WMD intelligence, the effect of global warming. We Americans didn’t want to know,” Colbert said, “and you had the courtesy not to try to find out.”

A Trumpian dinner without Trump

During his first White House term, Trump broke the long streak of presidential attendance. Comedian Michelle Wolf targeted him anyway.

“It’s 2018, and I’m a woman, so you cannot shut me up — unless you have Michael Cohen wire me $130,000,” she cracked, referencing payments made to keep an adult film star from disclosing her allegations of a sexual encounter with Trump.

When the audience groaned at her crassness, Wolf quipped, “Yeah, shoulda done more research before you got me to do this.”

With Trump absent, his press secretary and now-Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders sat at the head table and at the center of Wolf’s routine. Wolf compared Sanders’ role for Trump to being a character in “The Handmaid’s Tale,” a dystopian novel about an authoritarian, misogynistic society.

Her harshest barb riffed on a famous Maybelline mascara ad.

“I actually really like Sarah. I think she’s very resourceful,” Wolf said. “But she burns facts and then she uses that ash to create a perfect smoky eye. Like maybe she’s born with it; maybe it’s lies. It’s probably lies.”

Trump, who was in Michigan, called the routine “disgusting.”

Within hours, the Correspondents’ Association issued a statement saying the dinner is meant to celebrate “our common commitment to a vigorous and free press while honoring civility, great reporting and scholarship winners” and saying Wolf’s monologue "was not in the spirit of that mission.”

Sanders rekindled the moment earlier this year at Washington Gridiron, another annual politics-journalism event. “I’m proud to note that color has really taken off,” she said. “In fact, it’s the exact same thing worn by Vice President JD Vance.”

Obama vs. pre-presidential Trump

Despite not yet attending as president, Trump's had his moment at the dinner.

In 2011, he helped lead the birther movement against then-President Barack Obama. Trump used social media and frequent Fox News Channel appearances to push the false narrative that the first Black president was born in Kenya and not a natural-born U.S. citizen.

But at the Washington Hilton, Obama had the lectern — and he used it with Trump sitting in front of him.

“Tonight, for the first time, I am releasing my official birth video,” Obama deadpanned, before showing the opening scene of Disney’s “The Lion King,” when the royal cub Simba is presented on the savanna.

Obama then turned his fire directly on the reality TV star.

“No one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than the Donald,” Obama said. “And that’s because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter. For example, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?”

As cameras captured a dour Trump, Obama mocked Trump’s role on “Celebrity Apprentice.”

“We all know about your credentials and breadth of experience,” the president said, marveling that Trump had to decide who to blame when “the men’s cooking team cooking did not impress the judges from Omaha Steaks.”

“These are the kind of decisions that would keep me up at night,” Obama concluded. “Well handled, sir. Well handled.”

Trump glared icily.

By November 2012, as Obama prepared for his second term, Trump had filed a trademark application for the phrase he would emboss in the national culture four years later: “Make America Great Again.”

The crackdown, led by a U.S. government Scam Center Strike Force, includes the Treasury Department's sanctioning of a prominent lawmaker and 28 other people and companies accused of operating from Cambodia. Criminal charges also were filed against two Chinese nationals involved in a similar operation in Myanmar.

The initiative includes a warrant to seize and shut down a major online recruitment channel on the Telegram messaging app and freezing hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit assets, Pirro said in a virtual press conference connecting her from Washington to journalists in Asia.

Cybercrime has flourished in Southeast Asia in recent years, particularly in Cambodia and Myanmar, with illegal operations making mammoth profits from victims around the world, according to United Nations experts and other analysts. Americans lost nearly $21 billion to cyber-enabled crimes and online scams in 2025 alone, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The illicit industry is closely involved in human trafficking, with foreign nationals employed to run romance and cryptocurrency scams, often after being recruited with false offers of legitimate jobs and then forced to work in conditions of near-slavery.

The Scam Center Strike Force comprises Pirro’s U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service.

The most prominent target of the crackdown is Kok An, a Cambodian senator and prominent businessman described by the Treasury Department as a “scam center kingpin."

The department's Office of Foreign Assets Control announced sanctions against Kok An and associates for their roles in a network that has allegedly defrauded U.S. citizens of millions of dollars. They include blocking Kok An’s assets in the United States and prohibiting U.S. entities from doing business with him.

The Associated Press was unable to contact Kok An or any of his representatives for comment.

“His Excellency Kok An is a Cambodian Senator and he was elected by elections, and as a senator he has parliamentary immunity," said Chea Thyrith, a Cambodian Senate spokesperson, who added that only the U.S. side could speak clearly about the sanctions.

Kok An is at least the second Cambodian senator to be sanctioned by the U.S. In 2024, Washington acted against another top tycoon, Ly Yong Phat, who also was accused of being connected with forced labor, human trafficking and lucrative online scams.

Pirro said the latest crackdown was set in motion in November when FBI agents sent to Thailand accessed copious evidence seized from an abandoned scam center in Myanmar, including more than 8,000 phones and 1,500 computers.

That led to charges of wire fraud conspiracy against two Chinese nationals, Huang Xing Shan and Jiang Wen Jie, who were managers of the compound before seeking to reestablish their operations in Cambodia. They are being held by Thai authorities for immigration violations and the U.S. is seeking their extradition, Pirro said.

Cambodian lawmakers unanimously adopted a new law in March targeting online scam operations with up to life in prison, following a government pledge to shut down the centers by the end of April.

In January, Cambodia extradited to China another alleged scam kingpin, Chen Zhi, the founder of business and banking conglomerate Prince Holding Group, even though U.S. authorities had sought custody after indicting him last year for allegedly running a huge scam operation.

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Sopheng Cheang in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Michael Kunelman in Washington contributed to this report.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X that he was on his way to Pakistan, Oman and Russia on a trip focused on “bilateral matters and regional developments."

The White House did not immediately respond to questions about Araghchi’s trip to Pakistan and whether a U.S. delegation would also travel there.

The trip comes as much of the world has been on edge over a war that has snarled crucial energy exports through the Strait of Hormuz, clouded the global economic picture, and left thousands dead across the Middle East.

Earlier, two Pakistani officials told The Associated Press that Araghchi was heading to Pakistan with a small government delegation. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Islamabad has sought to reinject momentum into the negotiations between Iran and the United States, which had been set to resume this week but did not materialize.

Trump extends the Jones Act waiver for 90 days

Separately Friday, the White House said President Donald Trump issued a 90-day extension to the Jones Act waiver, making it easier for non-American vessels to transport oil and natural gas in the wake of the war.

Trump first announced a 60-day waiver in mid-March, a move seen as helping to stabilize energy prices and making it easier for more ships to travel to the U.S. following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The post on social media by a White House press aide said: “New data compiled since the initial waiver was issued revealed that significantly more supply was able to reach U.S. ports faster.”

The price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, retreated on the news, falling to around $104 a barrel. Earlier it had edged up to more than $107, a level nearly 50% higher than where it was on Feb. 28, when the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran to start the war.

Pakistan forges ahead with diplomatic efforts

Pakistan has been trying to get U.S. and Iranian officials back to the table after Trump this week announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran, honoring Islamabad's request for more time for diplomatic outreach.

That hasn’t lowered tensions in the strait the strategic waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas is shipped during peacetime.

Iran has kept its stranglehold on traffic through the strait, attacking three ships earlier this week, while the U.S. has maintained its blockade of Iranian ports and ordered the military to “shoot and kill” small boats that could be placing mines.

“Iran has an important choice, a chance to make a deal, a good deal, a wise deal,” U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters on Friday. He said a second U.S. aircraft carrier will join the blockade in a few days.

Washington now has three aircraft carriers in the region after the USS George H.W. Bush arrived in the Indian Ocean this week. The USS Abraham Lincoln is in the Arabian Sea and the USS Gerald R. Ford is in the Red Sea.

It is the first time since 2003 that three American carriers have been operating in the region simultaneously. The force includes 200 aircraft and 15,000 sailors and Marines, U.S. Central Command said.

A growing toll even as ceasefires hold

Since the war began, at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran, and over 2,290 people have been killed in Lebanon, where new fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah broke out two days after the war started, according to authorities.

Additionally, 23 people have died in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members throughout the region have been killed.

The U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon has also sustained casualties in the context of the latest Israel-Hezbollah fighting.

UNIFIL said Friday that an Indonesian peacekeeper died of wounds sustained in an attack on his base on March 29, raising to six – four Indonesians and two French – the number of force members killed since the war erupted.

Tensions linger in Lebanon despite extended truce

The situation in Lebanon remained tense a day after Trump announced Israel and Lebanon had agreed to extend a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah by three weeks.

Hezbollah has not been a participant in the diplomacy brokered by Washington between the two governments.

The Israeli army asked residents of the southern Lebanese village of Deir Aames to evacuate, saying Hezbollah was using the village to launch attacks against Israel.

Israel's military said it downed a drone over Lebanon following the launch of a small surface-to-air missile by Hezbollah. The militant group, meanwhile, said it shot down an Israeli drone with a surface-to-air missile over the outskirts of the southern port city of Tyre.

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Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Rising from Bangkok. Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Josh Boak in Washington, Bassem Mroue in Beirut, and Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this report.

Though the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was passed by the House of Commons last June, the U.K.'s revising chamber, the House of Lords, effectively talked it out since then.

Proponents of what has been termed “ assisted dying ” — sometimes referred to as “assisted suicide” — hoped it would mark the biggest change to social policy in the U.K. since abortion was partially legalized in 1967.

But opponents in the House of Lords have managed to hold up its passing by filing more than 1,200 amendments. That is believed to be a record high number for a piece of legislation that was tabled by a backbencher rather than by the government. Bills proposed by backbenchers can only be debated on a Friday, limiting the time available.

Campaigners for assisted dying have expressed their anger at the sight of unelected politicians holding up the will of the elected chamber. They have insisted that they intend to bring the bill back in the next parliamentary session, which begins after King Charles III outlines the government's upcoming program in a speech to both houses of Parliament on May 13.

The sponsor of the bill in the House of Lords, Charlie Falconer, said he felt “despondent” that a piece of legislation, which he said was “so important to so many, has not failed on its merits, but failed as a result of procedural wrangling."

He said many terminally ill people and their relatives “have shown such courage and forbearance” and have been “utterly bewildered by the way we have behaved."

The bill that's been making its way through parliament over the past 18 months or so had proposed allowing adults in England and Wales, with fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death subject to the approval of two doctors and an expert panel.

Those tabling amendments in the House of Lords said they have been providing necessary scrutiny to strengthen the legislation. Some have branded it unsafe and unworkable, citing their concerns around potential coercion of vulnerable people and a lack of safeguards for those with disabilities.

Kim Leadbeater, who introduced the Bill to the House of Commons in late 2024, has said she will “keep pushing for a safer, more compassionate law until Parliament reaches a final decision."

Last month, lawmakers in the Scottish Parliament rejected legislation that would have made Scotland the first part of the United Kingdom to allow terminally ill adults to end their lives. Scotland has a semiautonomous government that has authority over many areas of policy, including health.

Assisted suicide — where patients take a lethal drink prescribed by a doctor — is legal in countries including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and parts of the U.S., with regulations on qualifying criteria varying by jurisdiction.

The 22-year-old national champion and his family announced the launch of the Mendoza Family Fund, a national effort in partnership with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society aimed at advancing research toward a cure for multiple sclerosis. A spokesperson for the organization confirmed the initiative.

As part of the effort, Mendoza is committing $500,000 to support multiple sclerosis research at the University of Miami Health System and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

The cause is personal for the Mendoza family.

Their mother, Elsa Mendoza, has been living with the disease, which has inspired Fernando and his brother, Alberto, to raise awareness and support others affected by MS.

The new fund builds on previous grassroots fundraising efforts that have raised more than $360,000, expanding those efforts into a national initiative.

“We’re grateful for the support of the National MS Society and the Mendoza Family Fund,” Dr. Dipen Parekh, CEO of UHealth—University of Miami Health System, said in a statement. “The University of Miami Health System and Miller School of Medicine share their commitment to a world free of MS, and we value this opportunity to accelerate our work discovering, developing and delivering treatments for all patients.”

Fernando Mendoza was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency asked prosecutors earlier this week to request a court warrant to arrest Bang, the billionaire founder and chairman of Hybe. The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office said that it found that the request lacked sufficient grounds to justify his detention and instructed police investigators to strengthen their case.

Bang, who has been barred from leaving the country since August, isn't seen as a realistic threat to flee.

The 53-year-old is being investigated over allegations that he misled investors in 2019 by indicating that Hybe had no immediate plans to go public, prompting them to sell their shares to a private equity fund, shortly before the company proceeded with an initial public offering.

Police believe that the fund may have paid Bang somewhere around 200 billion won ($135 million) in a side deal that promised him 30% of post-IPO stock sale profits.

Bang denies any wrongdoing, Hybe officials say. Bang’s legal team had criticized police for seeking his arrest, saying that he has been fully cooperating with the investigation for months.

Bang’s legal troubles are a public relations setback for Hybe, coming as BTS launches a global tour after a nearly four-year hiatus as its seven members served their mandatory military service.

BTS performed in front of tens of thousands of international fans at a free comeback concert in Seoul last month and have also held concerts in South Korea’s Goyang city and Tokyo. The group will kick off a series of U.S. events with a concert in Tampa, Florida, over the weekend.

ČEZ chief executive Daniel Beneš said that the work includes the project plan and licensing documentation necessary for issuing building permits for the reactor.

Beneš said the company hopes to have all the approvals by 2030. The small nuclear reactor will be built at the site of the existing Temelín nuclear plant.

On April 13, Great Britain Energy – Nuclear, a government agency, inked a contract with Rolls-Royce SMR to begin design work for the first small nuclear reactors in the U.K.

Beneš said that the Czech small nuclear reactor will be the second one built by the British firm after the first one is completed in the U.K.

ČEZ has a 20% share in Rolls-Royce SMR and the companies had signed a deal about a strategic partnership, which should result in up to 3 gigawatt energy sources installed in the Czech Republic.

The Czech state has an almost 70% stake in ČEZ and the government is taking steps to acquire full control of the company.

Small modular reactors are a type of nuclear reactor that can generate a smaller amount of power than a traditional reactor. Developers say small reactors will be built faster and at a lower cost than large power reactors, scaling to fit the needs of a particular location.

Among those in the firing line is Spain, which has refused to allow U.S. forces involved in the war to use bases on its territory or airspace. Spain says that U.S.-Israeli actions in the Iran war contravenes international law.

France and the U.K. also refuse to give U.S. forces free rein to use their territory for the bombing campaign.

The Pentagon is reported to be mulling whether to suspend Spain from NATO, according to an unidentified U.S. official referring to a U.S. Defense Department email, and quoted by the Reuters news agency. The Associated Press hasn't seen the email or had confirmation of its content. It has asked the Pentagon for comment, but received no immediate response.

“Well, we do not work with emails," Sánchez told reporters at a European Union summit in Cyprus. "We work with official documents and positions taken, in this case, by the government of the United States.”

“The position of the government of Spain is clear: absolute collaboration with the allies, but always within the framework of international legality,” he said.

The Trump administration has routinely floated plans or ideas that are neither acted upon nor become policy.

The email also suggested reassessing U.S. support for the United Kingdom's claim to the Falkland Islands, near Argentina, which are also known as Islas Malvinas.

Dave Pares, a spokesman for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said the U.K. position on the islands is “longstanding and it’s unchanged: Sovereignty rests with the U.K., and the islanders’ right to self-determination is paramount.”

Pares noted “the Falkland Islands have previously voted overwhelmingly in favor of remaining a U.K. overseas territory.”

NATO staying out of the war

NATO operates by consensus, and all 32 member countries must agree for it to act.

The trans-Atlantic alliance's founding treaty has no mechanism for suspending or ejecting any of the members, although nations may leave of their own accord one year after notifying the other allies. As an organization, NATO has no direct role in the Iran war except to defend its own territory.

Asked for comment, NATO headquarters said: “NATO’s Founding Treaty does not foresee any provision for suspension of NATO membership, or expulsion.”

U.S. President Donald Trump has been angered by what he sees as the failure of some NATO members to back American actions in the Iran war and to help police the Strait of Hormuz, a major trade route. He has questioned the purpose of U.S. membership in the military organization.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas appeared perplexed by the U.S. criticism, given that the United Kingdom and France are leading an effort to help secure trade in the strait once the war is over.

“When we have had contacts with the American counterparts, then actually their asks for us have been exactly what we are able to offer after the cessation of hostilities,” she said. “Demining, escorting of ships, all of this that we have been discussing.”

But the United States has “long-standing arrangements and agreements with European allies on overflight, on basing” that should be respected, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has said, in implicit criticism of some allies like Spain, but also France.

While Spain restricted U.S. military activity related to the Iran war, U.S. warplanes have flown over other NATO allies’ airspace and used U.S. bases in other NATO countries for war-related operations.

Trump has even threatened to cut trade with Spain over its refusal to allow the use of its bases and airspace. More broadly, Spain has also disappointed its allies by failing to commit to spend as much as they plan to do on defense.

Security without the US

As the reality sinks in that the U.S. commitment to NATO and Europe’s security under Trump has waned, the EU leaders debated how best to use European laws to come to each other’s aid should one of them come under attack.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, whose country holds the bloc’s presidency until July, said that the leaders had tasked the European Commission to “prepare a blueprint on how we respond” should a member seek help under Article 42.7 of the EU treaties.

It's only ever been used once, by France after the Paris terror attacks in 2015.

EU envoys and ministers are set next month to conduct “table-top exercises” to game out how the treaty article might be used, drawing on the bloc’s military capacities, but also other assets not available to NATO, like trade, border and visa policies.

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Lorne Cook reported from Brussels. Jill Lawless in London contributed.

Authorities are seeking to remove at least 10 tons (9 metric tons) of the fish from Jakarta's waterways, an effort officials hope will restore balance to the Ciliwung River and renew public attention on water quality.

From the polluted river to the concrete embankments and skyscraper-lined canals of the city’s heart, the dark shapes of the fish cling tightly to the river walls. At first glance, they appear almost prehistoric, with armored bodies gleaming a dull brown beneath the murky surface.

Janitor fish, or suckermouth catfish, known scientifically as Pterygoplichthys and locally as “sapu-sapu,” aren't native to Indonesia. Imported decades ago for aquariums because of their ability to consume algae, they were later released and found a home in Jakarta’s heavily polluted rivers. The fish can grow up to 50 centimeters (nearly 20 inches) and live for 10-15 years.

Experts have long warned that unchecked populations of invasive species can destabilize freshwater ecosystems, particularly in densely populated urban areas like Jakarta.

Dian Rosleine, an ecologist from the Bandung Institute of Technology, said that the adaptability of janitor fish is very high, so that even in polluted conditions, it can survive when other species can't.

“So, these fish are biological indicators that the water is in poor condition,” she said.

The Ciliwung once carried clear water from the mountains of West Java into Jakarta. Today, it flows through dense neighborhoods, carrying untreated household waste and industrial runoff. Concrete walls replaced riverbanks. During dry months, the water warms and slows — conditions that favor janitor fish over native species, Rosleine said.

Jakarta authorities have responded with mass removals, targeting the janitor fish in city waterways. The campaign began last week.

The cleanup drive, ordered by Jakarta Gov. Pramono Anung, was carried out simultaneously in all five administrative cities of the capital, involving hundreds of personnel, including firefighters, disaster officers and local residents. They have netted and buried more than seven tons of janitor fish across the city within a week.

The cleanup on Friday at a 6-meter-deep (19-foot-deep) reservoir in East Jakarta’s Ciracas neighborhood drew curious crowds as city workers collected about 320 kilograms (705 pounds) of the fish.

Piles of wriggling janitor fish filled red barrels along the reservoir — tangible proof that something, at last, was being done.

“The janitor fish populations have reproduced at a notable level while also feeding on native species," East Jakarta's mayor, Munjirin, told reporters when visiting Friday's cleanup. “The impact extends beyond ecosystem destruction, contributing to structural damage to riverbank and embankment walls.”

Munjirin, who like many Indonesians uses a single name, said that the coordinated operation marks the beginning of a sustained effort to control the species, with regular monitoring and removal planned to prevent further ecological damage.

However, he vowed a review of the program’s method after the Indonesian Ulema Council, or MUI, raised concerns over perceived cruelty, pledging that all fish will be dead before burial.

While endorsing the cleanup, MUI’s fatwa commission warned that burying the janitor fish alive amounts to a violation of animal rights enshrined in Islamic teaching.

Authorities are still cautious about what happens next. As janitor fish are edible in some countries, concerns over heavy metal contamination mean they won't be immediately approved for consumption in Jakarta. Instead, officials are exploring alternatives, including processing the fish into animal feed or fertilizer.

Anung said that the cleanup method will require the fish to be dead before burial at designated sites, with hygiene standards applied to block their return to rivers or trade.

The Jakarta governor noted that buried janitor fish can serve as natural compost and suggested adopting Brazil’s model, where the fish are turned into charcoal to generate greater economic benefits.

Yet experts caution that removal is only a beginning. Without improving wastewater management and reducing pollution, the river could quickly return to the same condition.

“The Ciliwung River requires rehabilitation, our major challenge that must be addressed,” Rosleine said. “Addressing the symptoms without tackling the root causes will not provide a lasting solution.”

“The Tale of KAHO,” which is scheduled to be released July 3 in print and digital formats, centers on a 26-year-old picture book author named Kaho.

The new novel is Murakami’s first in three years. His previous novel, “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” is a story of a male protagonist searching for love, loss and the boundaries between real and subconscious worlds.

Kaho is the first lone, woman protagonist featured in a full-length novel by Murakami, Shinchosha Publishing Co. said Thursday in a statement.

Initially, the novel started as a short story titled, "Kaho," which Murakami rehearsed at a book reading event two years ago at Waseda University, his alma mater in Tokyo, with Mieko Kawakami, a renowned female author and fan of his work. The story was published in the June 2024 edition of the monthly Shincho magazine.

The character Kaho, who has average looks and intelligence, is a curious person. One day she dines with a man who tells her, "I've never seen one as ugly as you.” Not outraged but baffled, curious Kaho tries to find out his hidden message.

Soon she starts encountering bizarre things in her life.

“I must find the way out of this world,” a brief promotional teaser released by the publisher says. “Murakami world is in full force.”

Murakami has since released three subsequent “Kaho” series stories in Shincho magazine, most recently in the March edition. They include “The Anteater of Musashi-sakai,“ “Kaho and the Termite Queen” and “Kaho and the Motorcycle Man, and Scarlett Johansson.”

The English version of the first piece, translated by Philip Gabriel, was published in The New Yorker magazine in 2024.

Murakami brings the four parts together and gives them new life in the 352-page new novel, the publisher said.

The trip to Pakistan comes as officials there have been trying to get the United States and Iran to a second round of ceasefire negotiations. The report said the trip, beginning Friday, is focused on “ongoing regional developments” and the US-Iran war.

Also, U.S. President Donald Trump says Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah by three weeks after talks at the White House on Thursday. The meeting was the second high-level negotiation between the two countries since last week. The initial 10-day ceasefire, which took effect last Friday, had been due to expire Monday.

Here is the latest:

Netanyahu says Israel and the US are operating in ‘full cooperation’ on Iran

“The same is true in Lebanon: We have begun a process to achieve a historic peace between Israel and Lebanon, and it is clear to us that Hezbollah is trying to sabotage this,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday in a video statement released by his office. He was referring to direct negotiations underway between the two countries — which don’t have formal diplomatic relations — for the first time in decades.

Israel says it struck Hezbollah sites after rocket fire from Lebanon

The Israeli military said it hit sites from which rockets were launched toward the town of Shtula a day earlier.

The strikes targeted the town of Deir Aames, which is outside the border area in Lebanon that Israeli forces have declared a buffer zone and continued to occupy since a 10-day truce was implemented last week. Earlier Friday, the Israeli military issued a warning for residents of Deir Aames to leave.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a three-week extension to the Israel-Hezbollah truce, but both sides have continued to fire at each other.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says meeting in Saudi Arabia was productive

In a Telegram post Friday, Zelenskyy said his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was productive and that both countries are developing a strategic security agreement.

The agreement includes three elements, he said: exporting Ukraine’s defense expertise and capabilities, expanding energy cooperation, and strengthening food security.

“We are working together to strengthen our nations and partners. We have defined tasks for our teams and I expect their prompt and full implementation,” he said.

Saudi Arabia, along with other Mideast countries, has been targeted by missile and drone attacks from Iran since the war began.

Iran’s top diplomat says purpose of tour is to consult on regional developments

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a social media post that the purpose of his upcoming tour to Islamabad, Pakistan; Muscat, Oman; and Moscow is to “closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments.”

Araghchi’s comments didn’t address any possible resumption of talks with the U.S., but Pakistani officials have been intensifying efforts in recent weeks to get the U.S. and Iran to a second round of ceasefire negotiations.

Hezbollah legislator says extension of ceasefire is ‘meaningless’

Ali Fayyadh said in comments Friday that the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that was extended for three weeks the day before has no meaning as long as Israel continues its attacks, targeted killings and strikes on Lebanese villages.

Since the 10-day ceasefire went into effect last Friday it has been repeatedly violated by both sides.

Fayyadh said every Israeli attack against any Lebanese target, regardless of its nature, gives his group that right to respond appropriately.

He added that any ceasefire that doesn’t constitute a prelude to an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory affirms the Lebanese people’s “inalienable and final right to resist” the occupation and expel it from our land in order to restore full Lebanese sovereignty.

Lebanon’s president calls on European Union to hold conference for reconstruction of his country

President Joseph Aoun’s comments Friday came during a visit to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus where he’s a guest at the European Union summit.

Aoun said in a speech that “Lebanon’s stability is part of the region’s stability.”

He added that Lebanon refuses to be a bargaining chip in regional conflicts. He was apparently referring to Iran, which has put a permanent ceasefire between Israel and the militant Hezbollah group on top of its list in talks with the U.S..

Aoun said Lebanon, like other countries in the region, “places great importance on de-escalation, stability, and peace.”

Aoun used World Bank figures, saying the Israel-Hezbollah was has caused damage worth $1.4 billion to Lebanon’s infrastructure and that 38,000 housing units were destroyed.

He said 150,000 people in Lebanon are without homes.

US protected ships from Iran in Strait of Hormuz during ‘Tanker war’ in the ’80s. Could it again?

Today, offering escorts in the Strait of Hormuz wouldn’t be so easy. Military technology has advanced since the “Tanker war.”

The U.S. hasn’t defined the same clear, narrow goals in this war as it did in the 1980s. And it’s not clear international shippers would feel safe even with an American Navy escort given it’s a combatant now.

The U.S. Navy has long been familiar with the small boat tactics deployed by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which has adapted to international sanctions blocking its ability to access military vessels by using smaller civilian ships for military purposes.

For years, the Guard has used vessels the size of small commercial fishing boats to shadow American aircraft carriers whenever they pass through the strait. Instead of bearing fishing poles, most have Soviet-era heavy machine guns bolted to their bows with a small rocket launcher atop.

Using those small boats, Iran seized two cargo ships this week.

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A surge for Intel sends tech stocks higher on Wall Street and crude oil prices swing some more

A surge for Intel following a blowout profit report is leading technology stocks higher, while oil prices keep swinging in the wait for what’s next with the Iran war.

The S&P 500 rose 0.2% early Friday and pulled near its all-time high set Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 74 points, while the Nasdaq composite jumped a market-leading 0.7%.

The price for a barrel of Brent crude to be delivered in June was down 0.4% at $104.67 after yo-yoing between roughly $103 and $107.

European stock markets were modestly lower and Asian markets closed mixed.

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Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov

In a statement in Islamabad, the foreign ministry said Lavrov appreciated Pakistan’s “constructive role” in facilitating dialogue between Iran and the United States.

Dar reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to supporting efforts that promote dialogue and diplomacy to resolve disputes, it said.

Both sides agreed to remain in contact, it added.

Israeli military confirms a drone downed over Lebanon

The army said in a statement Friday that a remotely piloted aircraft was downed in southern Lebanon following the launch of a small surface-to-air missile by the militant group Hezbollah.

The military said the incident is under review.

The statement came after Hezbollah said it shot down an Israeli Hermes 450 drone over the outskirts of the southern city of Tyre.

Malaysia in talks with Iran to let two tankers pass

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Friday that his government is in talks with Iran to allow two Malaysian-owned tankers carrying fuel supplies to pass through.

The vessels have exited the Strait of Hormuz but face severe restrictions despite earlier clearance given by the Iranian government, he was cited as saying by the national Bernama news agency. He didn’t provide further details.

One Malaysian vessel has earlier reached home and another is expected to enter Malaysian waters soon, he said. Another is stranded at port due to technical problems, he added.

Hegseth says any new Iranian mine laying would violate the ceasefire with the US

Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon on Friday that the military is prepared to deal with any Iranian ships that “recklessly and irresponsibly” lay more mines.

But he said he wouldn’t speculate on reports that it will likely take six months to clear mines in the strait. The Associated Press reported that the Pentagon gave that timeline in a classified briefing to lawmakers this week.

Hegseth was responding to statements from President Trump who said Thursday that he has ordered the military to “ shoot and kill ” small Iranian boats deploying mines.

Hegseth said the U.S. is confident it can clear any mines it identifies “and would encourage other countries to be a part of such an effort as well.”

White House didn’t immediately respond to questions on Iran’s foreign minister going to Pakistan

And it didn’t respond to questions on whether the U.S. would send a delegation.

Crews of seized tankers remain in US custody

The crews of all three merchant vessels seized by the U.S. military over the past week are still in U.S. custody, Gen. Dan Caine said at a briefing Friday.

“We will continue to conduct similar maritime interdiction actions and activities in the Pacific and Indian Oceans against Iranian ships and vessels of the Dark Fleet,” Caine said.

Caine also said the crew of the Tousca, the first merchant ship seized by U.S. forces Sunday, “repeatedly ignored U.S. warnings” over a six-hour period. Caine said this behavior prompted the crew of the Navy destroyer following the ship to fire five warning shots.

“The vessel and her crew continued to ignore warnings and, after exhausting all other measures, CENTCOM authorized disabling fire against the Tousca,” Caine said. Then, according to Caine, the destroyer disabled the ship’s engine by firing nine inert rounds from the destroyer’s 5-inch guns “precisely into the engine room and engine space on board the Tousca.”

“Not surprisingly, the vessel then reported issues with their engine, went dead in the water and began to comply with U.S. directions,” Caine added.

Hegseth criticizes European allies for inaction on the Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. secretary of defense suggested traditional U.S. allies in Europe are “free-riding” and being disloyal by not using their own forces to open the Strait of Hormuz that’s been closed because of President Trump’s Iran war.

“We are not counting on Europe, but they need the Strait of Hormuz much more than we do,” Hegseth insisted. He mocked a recent European confab, saying U.S. allies “might want to start doing less talking” instead of holding “a fancy conference” and “a silly conference.”

Iran’s maneuver to choke off the strait has disrupted global energy supplies — especially in Europe, where many leaders remain frustrated. French President Emmanuel Macron said at one point that the U.S. can’t complain about a lack of support “in an operation they chose to undertake alone.”

Hegseth’s broadsides echo Trump’s swipes that other nations should “Go get your own oil!” and “start learning how to fight for yourself.”

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency confirms Iranian foreign minister heading to Pakistan for talks

IRNA said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also would go to Oman and Russia.

The trip to Pakistan comes as officials there have been trying to get the United States and Iran to a second round of ceasefire negotiations.

The IRNA report said Araghchi’s trip, beginning Friday, is focused on “bilateral consultations and discussions on ongoing regional developments, as well as the latest situation surrounding the imposed war by the United States and Israel against Iran.”

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calls war in Iran a ‘gift to the world’

Speaking to reporters Friday at the Pentagon, Hegseth said the U.S. blockade of Iranian shipping will continue “as long as it takes” to accomplish America’s “bold and dangerous” mission to end Iran’s threat to global security.

U.S. officials say that so far the blockade has turned back 34 ships, but ship-tracking data shows Iran has still been to move some of its sanctioned oil.

Lloyd’s List Intelligence said “a steady flow of shadow fleet traffic” has passed in and out of the Persian Gulf, including 11 tankers with Iranian cargo that have left the Gulf of Oman outside the strait since April 13.

The maritime intelligence firm Windward said this week that Iranian traffic continues to flow “via deception.”

Iranians are able to evade the blockade by faking tracking data and by traveling through Pakistani territorial waters.

Israeli military asks residents of south Lebanon village to evacuate

The Israeli army’s statement Friday regarding the village of Deir Aames came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah by three weeks.

The military said the militant group Hezbollah is using Deir Aames to launch attacks against Israel.

The military said residents of the village should move 1,000 meters outside Deir Aames.

Hezbollah says it shot down an Israeli drone

The group said the Hermes 450 drone was shot down with a surface-to-air missile Friday over the outskirts of southern port city of Tyre.

Hezbollah said it was in retaliation for Israeli violation of Lebanese air space.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

Pakistan’s prime minister reaffirmed commitment to dialogue and the peaceful resolution of disputes

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s message Friday came as the world marked the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace.

In the message, Sharif said Pakistan remains guided by the principles of the United Nations Charter amid growing global security challenges and will continue to promote diplomacy to advance regional and international peace.

He also highlighted Pakistan’s ongoing mediation efforts, saying they’re rooted in a commitment to cooperation and conflict resolution.

Ukrainian president arrives in Saudi Arabia for a second time to discuss more deals

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Saudi Arabia on Friday for talks on potential agreements covering energy, infrastructure and security, he said in a post on Telegram.

Zelenskyy is set to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

“Yesterday, at a meeting with European leaders, we secured financial guarantees for our stability,” Zelenskyy posted, referring to a crucial 90 billion-euro loan approved by European leaders. “Today we are developing agreements with Saudi Arabia in the fields of security, energy and infrastructure.”

The visit is his second trip to Saudi Arabia in a month, following a late-March visit focused on air defense technology.

Trump is extending the Jones Act waiver for 90 days

The White House said that Trump issued a 90-day extension to the Jones Act waiver, making it easier for non-American vessels to transport oil and natural gas in the wake of the Iran War.

Trump first announced a 60-day waiver in mid-March and the move has been seen as helping to stabilize energy prices and making it easier for more ships to travel to the U.S. following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The post on social media by a White House press aide said: “New data compiled since the initial waiver was issued revealed that significantly more supply was able to reach U.S. ports faster.”

Iran’s top diplomat to go to Pakistan by this weekend

Two Pakistani officials told The Associated Press on Friday about the visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. They declined to provide any other details, other than to say he would be accompanied by a small government delegation and could arrive as soon as Friday.

Pakistan has been trying to restart ceasefire talks between Iran and the United States.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Iran did not immediately acknowledge Araghchi’s trip.

Indonesian peacekeeper dies in Lebanon weeks after being wounded

The U.N. peacekeeping force deployed in southern Lebanon, or UNIFIL, says Corporal Rico Pramudia, 31, died at a Beirut hospital after he was critically wounded following a projectile explosion in his base in Adchit al-Qusayr, southern Lebanon, on March 29.

The attack in Adchit al-Qusayr also killed an Indonesian peacekeeper.

Two other Indonesian peacekeepers were also killed in southern Lebanon shortly after.

Drones reportedly fired from Iraq struck sites in Kuwait

Kuwait says explosive drones launched from Iraq have struck two sites on the northern land border Friday morning.

The Kuwait army said on X that the drones caused material damage, but that there were no reports of casualties.

Residents frustrated with ongoing security restrictions in Pakistan

A weeklong, lockdown-like security clampdown in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad and nearby Rawalpindi has sparked frustration among residents, who urged authorities to ease restrictions so they can resume normal commutes.

Roads leading into Islamabad’s heavily guarded Red Zone have appeared deserted at times, with concrete barricades, barbed wire and security personnel dominating normally busy corridors. The absence of routine traffic has added to a sense of disruption in the twin cities.

“We were happy that Pakistan is hosting these talks to end the war between America and Iran. But now almost a week has passed, and it takes me one to two hours instead of 30 minutes, depending on traffic, to reach home from Islamabad to Rawalpindi,” said Sher Khan, a lift operator at a shopping plaza.

There is still no official word on exactly when the talks will take place.

Authorities have deployed thousands of police and paramilitary troops since last weekend.

While Pakistan is still trying to secure Iran’s participation, there has been no confirmation yet on when Tehran will send its delegation. The visit by the U.S. delegation is also on hold.

Beirut residents call for peace in south Lebanon

Some residents in Beirut believe south Lebanon should be included in a ceasefire between Israel and militant group Hezbollah.

They said a deal will not be sustainable without a lasting truce between Iran and the United States.

“It is not related to Hezbollah and Israel, but to Iran and the US. If they reach an agreement, the whole of the Middle East will be calm, but if not, there will be escalation in Lebanon and the rest of the world,” Joe Ghafari said.

Diala Ammar said it is “unfair” for the south to stay at war while the rest of the country “lives normally.”

Israeli forces occupying a strip of territory extending several miles into southern Lebanon have continued strikes, while Hezbollah has attacked Israeli forces there.

DeepSeek’s V4 has been keenly anticipated by users looking to test how it compares to U.S. competitors like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude and Google’s Gemini. Anthropic and OpenAI have accused DeepSeek of unfairly building its technology off their own.

Some industry analysts had expected the new model to arrive more than two months earlier at the start of the Lunar New Year.

DeepSeek says the new V4 open-source models, which include “pro” and “flash” versions, have big improvements in knowledge, reasoning and in their “agentic” capabilities – the ability to perform complex tasks and workflows autonomously. Another big change is they are powered by computer chips made by Chinese tech giant Huawei, not U.S. chipmakers like Nvidia.

V4 is a successor to V3, an AI model that DeepSeek released in late 2024.

But it was DeepSeek’s specialized “reasoning” AI model, called R1, that took markets by surprise with its release in January 2025. DeepSeek claimed it was more cost-effective than OpenAI’s similar model and it became a symbol of how China was catching up with the U.S. in technological advancements.

DeepSeek said the “V4 Pro Max” version has “superior performance” in terms of standard reasoning benchmarks relative to OpenAI’s GPT-5.2 model and Google’s Gemini 3.0-Pro. It falls “marginally” short of GPT-5.4 and Gemini 3.1-Pro, it said. DeepSeek's release came hours after OpenAI released its new GPT-5.5 model on Thursday.

In terms of “agentic” capabilities, the Chinese company said the V4 “pro” version could outperform Claude’s Sonnet 4.5 and approaches the level of Claude's Opus 4.5 model based on its own evaluation.

The “flash” version of V4 performs on a par with the “pro” version on simple agent tasks and has reasoning capabilities closely approaching it, DeepSeek said.

“Based on the benchmark results, it does appear DeepSeek V4 is going to be very competitive against its U.S. rivals,” said Lian Jye Su, chief analyst at the technology research and advisory group Omdia.

Marina Zhang, an associate professor at the University of Technology Sydney, said DeepSeek's V4 rollout is as a “pivotal milestone for China’s AI industry,” especially as global competition intensifies in the pursuit of self-reliance in critical technologies.

DeepSeek offers a free‑to‑use web and mobile chatbot. Unlike the top models from Anthropic, Google and OpenAI, it describes its technology as “open source” in the way that it enables developers access to modify and build on its core technology.

Both the V4's “pro” and “flash” versions have a 1 million token context window, a parameter of how much information an AI model can process and recall, and run on a more efficient basis, the startup said. That is a significant improvement from before, since the V3 supported a 128,000 token context window.

Huawei said in a separate statement Friday that its Ascend chips and related technology are compatible with the DeepSeek V4 models. It’s a demonstration of technical feasibility of operating outside the Nvidia-dominated computing ecosystem “amid sustained technological decoupling between China and the U.S.,” said Zhang.

A report from Microsoft in January showed use of DeepSeek has been gaining ground in many developing nations, particularly those where Huawei phones are widely used.

However, some analysts remain skeptical. Ivan Su, a senior equity analyst at Morningstar, said while V4 is a “competent” follow-up, it’s not as big a breakthrough as the rollout of R1.

“Domestic competition has intensified significantly since R1’s release,” Su said. “Against U.S. models, DeepSeek’s own evaluation suggests its capabilities largely match on most fronts, but independent evaluations are needed before final conclusions can be drawn.”

In February, Anthropic accused DeepSeek and two other China-based AI laboratories of “industrial-scale campaigns” to “illicitly extract Claude’s capabilities to improve their own models.” It said they did that using a technique called distillation that “involves training a less capable model on the outputs of a stronger one.” OpenAI made similar allegations in a letter to U.S. lawmakers.

This week, Michael Kratsios, chief science and technology adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, also accused foreign tech companies “principally based in China” of distilling leading U.S. AI systems and “exploiting American expertise and innovation.”

China’s embassy in Washington hit back at the allegations, describing them as “unjustified suppression of Chinese companies by the U.S.”

___

O’Brien reported from Providence, Rhode Island.

The serac between base camp and Camp One is unstable and is risky for climbers, said Himal Gautam of Nepal's Department of Mountaineering.

Officials are working with climbers and expedition organizers to assess the situation as hundreds of climbers and their guides wait at base camp unable to move up the mountain.

According to the department, 410 foreign climbers have been issued permits to attempt to reach the Everest summit during the spring climbing season, which ends at the end of May.

The “Icefall Doctors,” the elite guides who lay the yearly climbing route by setting ropes and securing aluminum ladders over crevasses usually finish the task by mid-April.

The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, which would deploy the team to lay the route, plans to assess the serac by aerial survey. The risk of avalanche is high and they are waiting for the serac to melt down on its own to a safe level, committee Chairman Lama Kazi Sherpa said.

The serac is part of the Khumbu Icefall, a constantly shifting glacier with deep crevasses and huge overhanging ice that can be as big as 10-story buildings. It is considered one of the most difficult and trickiest sections of the climb to the peak.

In 2014, a chunk of the glacier sheared away from the mountain, setting off an avalanche of ice that killed 16 Sherpa guides as they carried clients’ equipment up the mountain. It was one of the deadliest disasters in Everest climbing history.

Hundreds of foreign climbers and about the same number of Nepalese guides and helpers are expected to attempt to scale the mountain next month when there are a few brief windows of favorable weather.

Thousands of people have climbed the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) high peak since it was first climbed on May 29, 1953, by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay.

Yoon is charged with benefiting an adversary and abusing his powers, which are among a long list of indictments against the conservative former leader over his short-lived imposition of martial law in South Korea in December 2024.

The request came in the closing stages of a trial at the Seoul Central District Court, where a team of investigators led by special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk said that Yoon and his top defense officials were responsible for alleged drone infiltrations into North Korea, about two months before he imposed martial law, while portraying the liberals as North Korea-sympathizing, “anti-state” forces.

Yoon’s legal team said in a statement to reporters that he never ordered the alleged drone flights over North Korea's capital, Pyongyang, or retroactively approved such action, and said that prosecutors are failing to back their “speculation and delusion” with evidence.

In February, the court sentenced Yoon to life in prison after finding him guilty of the more serious rebellion charge. That verdict was appealed both by Yoon and prosecutors, who had sought a death sentence.

Cho’s team said in a statement Friday that Yoon tried to create a warlike situation between the Koreas while plotting an authoritarian push to remove his political opponents and “monopolize and extend his power.” Prosecutors are seeking a 25-year prison term for Yoon’s former defense minister, Kim Yong Hyun, a key confidant who helped plan and mobilize forces for the martial law declaration.

North Korea accused Seoul of flying drones over Pyongyang to drop propaganda leaflets three times in October 2024. Kim initially made a vague denial, but Seoul's Defense Ministry later switched to saying it couldn’t confirm whether or not the claims were true. Tensions with North Korea rose sharply at the time.

Yoon proceeded with his late night martial law declaration on Dec. 3, 2024, delivering a televised address in which he criticized liberals over a range of issues, but largely over their impeachments of his top officials and cuts to his government’s budget bill.

The decree lasted about six hours until a quorum of lawmakers broke through a blockade of heavily armed soldiers and police Yoon had deployed to the National Assembly. They then voted to overturn it, forcing his Cabinet to lift the measure.

Yoon was suspended from office on Dec. 14, 2024, after being impeached by the liberal-led legislature and was formally removed by the Constitutional Court in April 2025. He was arrested in July that year and has been undergoing various criminal trials since.

Though brief, Yoon’s martial law decree threw the country into a severe political crisis, paralyzing politics and high-level diplomacy and rattling financial markets. The turmoil eased only after his liberal rival, Lee Jae Myung, won an early presidential election in June.

Shortly after taking office, Lee approved legislation that launched independent investigations into Yoon’s martial law stunt and other criminal allegations involving him, his wife and associates.

They dashed in vans to hangars where their prepped and armed Rafale jets awaited, clambered into the cockpits and fired up the engines, which puffed and screamed.

Within minutes of takeoff from the Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania, they were over the Baltic Sea, first intercepting a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft and then tailing supersonic Russian bombers and their fighter escorts that neared the airspace of multiple NATO countries.

In a conflict situation, things could quickly get heated. But for the moment, with Russia and the military alliance at odds over Ukraine but not at war, pilots on both sides just watched and filmed each other — keeping their distance like wary tomcats with claws unsheathed, their missiles visible but not used.

One of the points of the posturing — in aerial ballets that take place away from public gaze hundreds of times a year — is to try to ensure that the frostiness between NATO and the Kremlin over Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine doesn't tilt into open hostility.

Commanders and pilots flying NATO air-policing missions on the eastern flank of the 32-nation military alliance say that their goal is to deter, not provoke. They believe their presence is reassuring for Baltic states — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — that border Russia and its ally Belarus but don't themselves have airpower to fight off any Russian attack, if it ever came to that.

“It's a game of cat and mouse, or rather cat and cat,” said Lt. Col. Alexandre, commander of a French air force wing of four Rafales that is sharing the Lithuanian base with another fighter detachment from Romania. Citing security concerns, the French military withheld the commander's surname.

“We watch each other, scrutinize each other and try to make sure that it doesn't go any further," he said.

Alliance members take turns policing Baltic skies around the clock, seven days a week. The French inherited the building that now serves as their temporary headquarters from a Spanish detachment. They will hand it over to Italian replacements in August. Successive teams leave plaques and badges on a wall that records their passage.

NATO scrambles jets to identify and possibly take other action when Russian planes fly in Baltic airspace without switched-on transponders and without filing flight plans or communicating by radio with air traffic controllers.

“There are plenty of times in which, on purpose or not, they’re not really respecting the ICAO — the International Civil Aviation Organization — rules, regarding flight plans and behavior," said Col. Mihaita Marin, commanding the Romanian detachment of six F-16s.

“So obviously we are forced to take off and just make sure that they are who they say they are and their intention is peaceful,” he said.

The arrival of spring, bringing better flying conditions, means French and Romanian flyers have been busy since they deployed at the start of April on four-month NATO rotations.

Marin said interceptions “are getting close to daily" and "that will definitely increase as the weather is getting better."

French aircrews — watched by an Associated Press journalist who was reporting at the airbase — had their busiest day so far on Monday.

Scrambled under NATO command, French Rafales met and observed a pair of Russian Tu-22M3 bombers carrying supersonic, anti-ship missiles from their bellies that Russia has also used in Ukraine, repurposing them to attack ground targets, and which can be equipped to carry a nuclear warhead.

The strategic bombers' more than four-hour flight from an airbase near St. Petersburg, escorted by Su-30 and Su-35 fighters, remained in international airspace but took them past the coasts of NATO countries Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, doubling back when they approached Denmark.

The French detachment said the Russian planes didn’t have switched-on transponders, file flight plans or enter into radio contact. Fighter jets from Sweden, Finland, Poland, Denmark and Romania also went airborne to keep watch, according to the French. NATO didn't respond to requests for comment.

The French commander, Lt. Col. Alexandre, said it isn't clear why Russian pilots behave in ways that could endanger other users of Baltic airspace.

“We don’t know if it’s lack of professionalism or just a means for them to test us," he said.

“But what is sure is that we need to go every time," he added. "We cannot say, 'OK, that's usual, this time we will just let them pass.'”

Aunque el paso por la vía navegable suele tener una tarifa fija previa reserva, las compañías que no tengan una pueden cruzar pagando un cargo adicional en una subasta de cupos, que se adjudican al mejor postor en lugar de esperar durante días frente a la costa de la Ciudad de Panamá.

Ese precio se ha multiplicado en las últimas semanas mientras Irán y Estados Unidos bloquean la crucial ruta del estrecho de Ormuz, y la demanda de esos cupos se ha disparado. Cada vez son más buques los que cruzan por el canal de Panamá a medida que se redirigen los envíos y los compradores adquieren productos en otros países para evitar el comercio a través de la ahora peligrosa vía marítima de Oriente Medio.

"Con todos los bombardeos, los misiles, los drones (...) las empresas dicen que es más seguro y más barato cruzar por el canal de Panamá", apuntó Rodrigo Noriega, abogado y analista en la Ciudad de Panamá. “Todo esto está afectando las cadenas de suministro globales”.

Mientras, según Noriega, el gobierno de Panamá está “maximizando lo que puede ganar con el Canal de Panamá”.

El precio medio para cruzar por el canal oscila entre los 300.000 y 400.000 dólares, dependiendo de la embarcación. Antes, para obtener un cruce más temprano, las empresas pagaban entre 250.000 y 300.000 dólares adicionales. En las últimas semanas, el costo adicional promedio se ha incrementado hasta rondar los 425.000 dólares.

Ricaurte Vásquez, administrador del canal, indicó que otra empresa, cuyo nombre no quiso revelar, pagó 4 millones de dólares extra cuando su buque cisterna tuvo que cambiar de destino debido a las tensiones geopolíticas.

“Era un barco que llevaba combustible a Europa, y lo redirigieron a Singapur, y necesitaba llegar allí porque Singapur se está quedando sin combustible”, señaló.

Otras petroleras pagaron más de 3 millones de dólares, además de la tarifa de cruce, para acelerar su paso ante el alza de los precios del petróleo.

Vásquez apuntó que los barcos no se han aglomerado en el canal, sino que los costos pueden atribuirse a cambios de última hora y a una mayor urgencia de las embarcaciones que necesitan ir de un punto a otro más rápido en medio del caos comercial.

Según Vásquez, los costos no son una tarifa general del mercado, sino un peaje temporal asumido por las empresas.

“Ellos deciden hasta qué precio llegar”, manifestó.

Al tiempo que obtiene más dinero por el nuevo negocio, el gobierno de Panamá también ha sufrido un revés por la pugna geopolítica.

El miércoles, la cancillería del país acusó a Irán de incautar ilegalmente un buque con bandera panameña de la empresa italiana MSC Francesca en el estrecho de Ormuz.

Panamá, uno de los países con más buques registrados en el mundo, dijo que la embarcación fue “tomada por la fuerza” por Irán. No estaba claro si el barco seguía bajo custodia iraní.

La incautación “representa un grave atentado contra la seguridad marítima y constituye una escalada innecesaria en momentos en que la comunidad internacional aboga por que el estrecho de Ormuz se conserve abierto a la navegación internacional sin amenazas ni chantajes de ningún tipo”, indicó el ministerio en un comunicado.

Noriega señaló que la cantidad que las empresas pagan para cruzar el canal podría seguir aumentando si el conflicto se prolonga, ya que los precios del petróleo ya se están disparando. El precio de un barril de crudo Brent superó brevemente los 107 dólares esta semana, frente a los alrededor de 66 dólares que costaba hace un año.

“Nadie previó realmente los posibles efectos (de la guerra) sobre el comercio mundial”, afirmó Noriega.

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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.

While passage through the waterway usually comes at a flat rate via reservations, companies without reservations can cross by paying an additional fee in an auction for slots, which are awarded to the highest bidder rather than waiting for days off the coast of Panama City.

That price has ballooned in recent weeks as Iran and the United States have bottlenecked the key shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz, and demand for those slots has skyrocketed. Ships have increasingly traveled through the Panama Canal as shipments are rerouted and buyers purchase from other countries to avoid commerce through now-treacherous Middle Eastern waterway.

"With all the bombings, the missiles, the drones ... companies are saying it's safer and less expensive to cross through the Panama Canal," said Rodrigo Noriega, said lawyer and analyst in Panama City. “All of this is affecting global supply chains.”

Meanwhile, Noriega said Panama's government is “maximizing what it can earn from the Panama Canal.”

The average price to cross through the canal ranges between $300,000 and $400,000 depending on the vessel. Previously, to get an earlier crossing, businesses would pay an additional $250,000 to $300,000. In recent weeks, the average additional cost has jumped to around $425,000.

Ricaurte Vásquez, the canal’s administrator, said another company that he would not name paid an extra $4 million when its fuel vessel had to change its destination because of ongoing geopolitical tensions.

"It was a ship carrying fuel to Europe, and they redirected it to Singapore, and it needed to get there because Singapore is running out of fuel,” he said.

Other oil companies paid an excess of $3 million in addition to the crossing fee to accelerate their passage in the face of soaring oil prices.

Vásquez said that ships have not piled up at the canal, but rather the costs can be attributed to last-minute shifts and greater urgency by vessels needing to get from one point to another faster in the wake of larger trade chaos.

Vásquez emphasized that the costs were not a blanket market rate, but rather a temporary toll shouldered by companies.

"They decide how high a price to go,” Vásquez said.

At the same time it's earning more money from the new business, Panama's government has also been dealt a blow by the geopolitical struggle.

On Wednesday, the country's foreign ministry accused Iran of illegally seizing a Panama-flagged vessel from the Italian company, MSC Francesca, in the Strait of Hormuz.

Panama, a country with one of the world's largest ship registries, said the ship was “forcibly taken" by Iran. It wasn’t immediately clear if the boat remained in Iranian custody.

“This represents a serious attack on maritime security and constitute an unnecessary escalation at a time when the international community is advocating for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open to international navigation without threats or coercion of any kind,” it said.

Noriega, the analyst, said that the amount companies are paying to cross the Panama Canal may only go up if the conflict continues to stretch on, as oil prices are already skyrocketing. The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil briefly jumped above $107 this week, soaring from around $66 a barrel a year ago.

“No one really foresaw the potential effects (the war) would have on global trade,” Noriega said.

With the 13th overall pick, the Los Angeles Rams selected undersized and inexperienced quarterback Ty Simpson out of Alabama to serve an apprenticeship under NFL MVP Matthew Stafford.

Simpson's selection was the biggest shocker on the draft's opening night in Pittsburgh, but there were a few others that also pushed value into the top of the second round Friday night, when the San Francisco 49ers own the first pick.

Rams general manager Les Snead made a first-round pick for only the second time in the past decade — and he turned in a surprise by taking Simpson, who wasn’t considered a first-round talent on most draft boards.

Simpson was a starter for only one season with the Crimson Tide, passing for 3,567 yards and leading them to the Rose Bowl after three seasons as a backup.

Other players who went higher than many anticipated included Clemson offensive lineman Blake Miller to Detroit at No. 17, Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge to Houston at 26 and Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods to the Chiefs at 29.

Two University of Tennessee cornerbacks are among the prime prospects expected to go early in the second round: Colton Hood, who also played at Auburn and Colorado; and Jermod McCoy, who missed the 2025 season with a torn ACL.

Others who could hear their names called early in Round 2 include:

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

A high-energy defensive back, McNeil-Warren is a tall (almost 6-foot-4, 201 pounds), long safety who makes big hits his hallmark. He’s just as aggressive tackling ballcarriers as he is in hitting wide receivers. He forced eight fumbles in four seasons at Toledo.

Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas

Hill has exceptional speed (low 4.4 in the 40) for his size (6-foot-3, 238 pounds). He works around blockers with quickness and an elite change of direction and he sports impressive closing speed. He collected 17 sacks and forced eight fumbles in three years in Austin.

Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M

The SEC Defensive Player of the Year had 11 1/2 sacks and 14 tackles for loss last season. He's undersized for a pass rusher but has proven he gets to the quarterback and finishes. He has the burst to knife through the line and disrupt things behind the line of scrimmage.

Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Terrell is an athletic, if undersized (5-foot-11, 180 pounds), cornerback with great quickness and instincts. An active and willing tackler and an outstanding blitzer, his NFL future is almost certainly at nickel as he’s most effective in underneath zone coverage.

Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

Boston is strong, fast and has elite ball skills. At 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds, he’s a big target lining up both outside and in the slot. He boasts strength and a long stride and can wall off defenders at any level downfield. He scored 20 TDs over the last two seasons.

Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

McDonald was expected to join Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles as Buckeyes defenders going in the first round. He’s a natural run defender who’ll clog the middle of the line. At 6-foot-3 and 326 pounds, he has excellent size and strength for the position.

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Gabriel Landeskog and Artturi Lehkonen scored on fortunate deflections for the Presidents' Trophy-winning Avalanche, who went up 3-0 in the series with another narrow win over the persistent Kings.

With Wedgewood backstopping the defense in his first playoff series, Colorado has allowed just four goals in three games by defense-minded Los Angeles, which has held superstar Nathan MacKinnon without a goal so far.

“It’s been tough sledding to create offense, but we have different guys stepping up on different nights and scoring in different situations,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “That’s been able to make the difference.”

Trevor Moore and Adrian Kempe scored and Anton Forsberg stopped 19 shots, but the Kings are a loss away from being eliminated in the first round for the fifth consecutive season.

Game 4 is Sunday in Los Angeles. A loss would end the 20-year career of Kings captain Anze Kopitar, who is retiring after the season.

Los Angeles scored two goals for the first time in the series, but couldn't find a tying goal after Kempe scored on a power play with 4:03 to play. Instead, Brock Nelson scored into LA's empty net with 2:18 left.

“We’ve just got to continue to find ways to break them down,” Makar said. “I feel like tonight, we got a lot of chances and capitalized on a few. Still, I feel like there’s areas for improvement, for sure.”

Los Angeles hasn't won a playoff round in six previous tries since raising the Stanley Cup in 2014, and this loss was the Kings' seventh straight postseason defeat dating to last spring.

After grinding out a pair of 2-1 victories in Denver, the Avalanche again took care of business in LA with fundamentally sound hockey — and a good bit of luck this time.

Landeskog put the Avs ahead in the opening minutes with a fluke goal when his wrist shot hit the end boards and caromed back perfectly to deflect in off Forsberg’s skate.

Colorado then got another fortunate bounce during a Kings power play in the third period. When Lehkonen and Logan O’Connor broke out on an odd-man rush, Lehkonen’s pass deflected off the back of Kempe’s skate and ricocheted through Forsberg’s legs with 12:21 to play.

Offense remains the fatal flaw of the Kings, who were the only team in the bottom third of the NHL in scoring to make the playoffs. Los Angeles has four goals on 76 shots against Colorado.

“We've got to find ways to score,” Kings interim coach D.J. Smith said. “I mean, we had looks. You can give them credit, but we missed the net 13 times leading into the third period.”

Makar put Colorado ahead in the second, dangling just inside the blue line and firing a brilliant wrist shot through traffic. The perennial Norris Trophy candidate has 23 playoff goals — second-most among active defensemen — in 82 career games, memorably scoring eight in his Conn Smythe Trophy-winning performance during the Avs' championship run in 2022.

Colorado defenseman Josh Manson left Game 3 early with an upper-body injury. He'll be re-evaluated before Sunday, Bednar said.

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

The S&P 500 added 0.5% and rose above its all-time high set on Wednesday, even though the majority of stocks within the index fell. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 197 points, or 0.4%, as of 11:15 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.1% higher.

Intel led the way and is potentially heading for its best day since 1987. It jumped 23.9% after reporting much stronger results for the first three months of the year than analysts expected. CEO Lip-Bu Tan said the next wave of artificial-intelligence technology is increasing the need for Intel’s chips and products, and the company’s forecast for profit in the spring topped analysts’ estimates.

Such strong profit reports have helped Wall Street rally to records, and the S&P 500 has leaped more than 12% in a little under a month. Hopes have also built in financial markets that the United States and Iran can find a way to avoid a worst-case scenario for the global economy because of their war.

A ceasefire is tenuously in place between the two, but tensions between them are still keeping oil tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz to deliver crude from the Persian Gulf to customers worldwide.

Oil prices climbed this week on worries about the strait, but a potentially encouraging signal came Friday after Iran’s top diplomat said he was heading to Pakistan. That's where officials have been trying to get the United States and Iran to convene for a second round of ceasefire negotiations.

The price for a barrel of Brent crude to be delivered in June yo-yoed between roughly $103 and $107 in the morning and most recently was up 0.6% at $105.71. The price for a barrel of Brent oil delivered in July, which is where more of the trading is happening in the market, added 0.2% to $99.59.

On Wall Street, Procter & Gamble rose 3.9% after reporting stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. CEO Shailesh Jejurikar said it saw broad-based growth across regions and products, which include Bounty paper towels and Tide detergent.

That helped offset a drop of 23.7% for Charter Communications, whose profit for the latest quarter came in weaker than analysts expected. It lost 120,000 internet customers during the three months, more than some analysts expected.

Hartford Insurance Group fell 1.6% after reporting profit growth for the latest quarter that fell short of analysts’ expectations.

In the bond market, Treasury yields eased after a report said sentiment among U.S. consumers remains sour. A survey by the University of Michigan found weaker sentiment in April across political party, income, age, and education, though it improved a bit after the ceasefire in the war with Iran was announced earlier in the month.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury dipped to 4.31% from 4.34% late Thursday.

Investors are also betting again on the possibility that the Federal Reserve could resume its cuts to interest rates later this year. The path appeared to clear Friday for President Donald Trump's nominee to chair the Fed, Kevin Warsh, after the U.S. Justice Department ended its probe into the Fed's current chair, Jerome Powell.

Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, has said he would oppose Warsh until the investigation was resolved, effectively blocking his confirmation. Warsh is the choice of Trump, who has been arguing loudly for lower interest rates.

In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed across Europe and Asia. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1%, and France’s CAC 40 fell 0.7% for two of the world’s bigger moves.

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AP Business Writers Chan Ho-him and Matt Ott contributed to this report.

There were no fatalities and only minor injuries reported.

The confirmed tornado Thursday moved across parts of Enid, a city of about 50,000 people near the state's northern border in Garfield County, according to the National Weather Service. Video showed a rapidly rotating column of air touching down along with totaled homes.

Commercial buildings just south of the city were turned into a pile of twisted metal, splintered wood and insulation by the powerful twister that pushed the buildings completely off the concrete foundations.

The tornado knocked down utility poles and left power lines wrapped with huge chunks of debris. A home had part of its metal roof torn off and trees were left stripped of bark and limbs.

Dave Lamerton of Enid spent Friday morning salvaging what was left of his son Joseph’s woodworking shop just south of the city, along with some family members and a group of volunteers who traveled from Kansas to help with cleanup.

“The tornado just swung right through here and just hit us directly,” Lamerton said, pointing to a giant mess of splintered wood beams, furniture, debris and heavy machinery that was pushed into a massive pile at the edge of the building’s foundation. “We’ve got stuff on the property we can’t even find."

Neighboring counties also reported some flooded roads and barn damage. The National Weather Service office in Norman, Oklahoma, was sending two crews out Friday to do damage surveys related to six potential tornadoes in the Enid and Braman areas of north-central Oklahoma, meteorologist John Pike said.

In Enid, local police and fire departments and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol conducted multiple home searches, rescuing some trapped residents, Mayor David Mason said Friday.

Mason said some of the worst damage happened in Gray Ridge, a neighborhood on the south side of the city, where homes were knocked down.

“The support from our community has been remarkable. Local businesses have offered equipment and labor, residents have opened their doors, and supplies have poured in already,” Mason posted online. “This is who Enid is in challenging moments — we continue to show up for one another.”

Fences and some equipment were knocked down at nearby Vance Air Force Base, about 80 miles (129 kilometers) north of Oklahoma City. The base was closed until further notice “due to ongoing power and water restoration efforts,” it posted online Friday.

Everyone assigned to the base has been accounted for and no injuries were reported, 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs Chief Ashley D. Hendricks said in an email Friday.

“Please join me in praying for the Enid community, which has been severely impacted by tonight’s tornado,” Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt posted on social media.

More storms are possible through Friday night across south-central and southeast Oklahoma, the weather service said. Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to develop Saturday, including in the Enid area.

It was a stormy night in other states, too. In Kearney, Missouri, north of Kansas City, officials reported downed trees, debris blocking roadways and damage to homes on Thursday night after storms passed through the area. Officials said in a social media post that no injuries had been reported. Crews worked to make roads passable by early Friday and were expected to continue cleanup efforts during the day.

—-

Associated Press writers Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, and Sarah Brumfield in Cockeysville, Maryland, contributed to this report.

But that might only be Trump's first step. A new administrative hearing slated for the end of June could result in the reclassification of marijuana more broadly, granting tax and other benefits to state-licensed recreational markets, too.

“This is a signal that this administration means business on getting this done,” said Boston-based cannabis industry attorney Jesse Alderman, of the firm Foley Hoag.

The order issued Thursday does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law, and it is likely to face legal challenges.

But it does change the way marijuana is regulated, shifting licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I — reserved for drugs without medical use and with high potential for abuse — to the less strictly regulated Schedule III.

A long-sought shift

It was a significant policy shift for a U.S. government that has been steadfast in its prohibition of pot, even as all states but two — Idaho and Kansas — have approved cannabis in some form since California became the first to OK the medical use of marijuana in 1996.

Two dozen states plus Washington, D.C., have authorized adult recreational use of marijuana, raising billions in tax revenue. Forty have medical marijuana systems, and eight others allow low-THC cannabis or CBD oil for medical use.

The order noted that regulation of medical marijuana has come a long way, with comprehensive licensing polices from cultivation to sales in most states.

Douglas Hiatt, a longtime Seattle marijuana defense attorney, recalled the height of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and '90s, when police regularly raided grow operations designed to support patients.

He joined one client, a disabled medical marijuana activist named JoAnna McKee, as she met in the woods with members of the Hells Angels motorcycle club to procure cannabis for other patients after a police raid — just one example of the desperate lengths that were sometimes required to procure pot back then, he said.

“We were watching all these guys die from this horrible disease, and the only thing that helped them keep their pills down was marijuana, and the cops were going after anyone who helped them get it,” Hiatt said in a phone interview Thursday. “It was crystal clear from the beginning that it had medical uses. For the feds to admit that now is great. It's surreal."

Critics express doubts

Some health experts have suggested that legalization in the states has led to stronger and stronger cannabis products, which need to be researched rather than categorized less strictly than before.

Taking marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug implies that it’s useful as a treatment, but there are no “massive medical indications for cannabis,” said Dr. Smita Das, an addiction psychiatrist at Stanford University. Further, cannabis use disorder — which affects about 3 in 10 people who use pot, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — has been on the rise, she said.

“We’ve already had kind of a decrease in risk perception related to cannabis over the years with the state legalization," Das said. "This will probably just add to that.”

The reclassification is a far cry from what many critics of the drug war still long to see: full legalization, with measures to address the harms caused by prohibition, especially in minority communities that were disproportionately affected. Many states have already taken steps such as expunging criminal records.

There is confusion for some dispensaries

Now, state-licensed medical operators can finally deduct business expenses on their federal taxes, a crucial financial benefit.

But in a number of recreational pot states, licensed dispensaries serve both markets — making it an accounting nightmare to ascertain how much of their business expenses might stem from the medical side, and thus be deductible.

“If this artificial distinction between medical and recreational is maintained, it raises all sorts of questions,” noted sociology professor Josh Meisel, who co-founded the Humboldt Institute for Interdisciplinary Marijuana Research at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt.

Trump told his administration in December to work as quickly as possible to reclassify marijuana, following up on stalled efforts launched during the Biden administration. On Saturday, as the Republican president signed an unrelated executive order about psychedelics, he seemed to express frustration that it was taking so long.

‘Giving a tax break to Big Weed’

The president of the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp, Michael Bronstein, called the order “the most significant federal advancement in cannabis policy in over 50 years."

But marijuana legalization opponent Kevin Sabet, CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, said that while marijuana research is necessary, “there are many ways to increase our knowledge without giving a tax break to Big Weed.”

Trump has made his crusade against other drugs, especially fentanyl, a feature of his second term, ordering U.S. military attacks on Venezuelan and other boats the administration insists are ferrying drugs.

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Johnson reported from Seattle.

Associated Press reporter Laura Ungar contributed.

McDaniels had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Ayo Dosunmu added 25 points and nine assists off the bench, and Donte DiVincenzo had 15 points and four steals as the surging Timberwolves built a 27-point lead in the third quarter and finished with a 68-34 advantage in points in the paint.

Rudy Gobert followed his inspired Game 2 effort against Nikola Jokic by stifling the three-time MVP again on an ugly 7-for-26 shooting night, and the Timberwolves established a postseason franchise record by allowing the Nuggets just 11 points in the tone-setting first quarter.

“The shooting really put us behind the 8-ball to start the game,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said. “We only gave up 25 points in the first quarter. That’s actually a very good number. We just had a hard time making shots tonight. Our physicality offensively has got to get better."

Jokic finished with a too-little-too-late 27 points and 15 rebounds for the Nuggets, who were missing Aaron Gordon to a calf injury and all the energy he provides from his starting power forward spot.

“He’s the greatest offensive player I’ve guarded in my whole career,” Gobert, the four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year who had 10 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks, said of Jokic. “Just trying to enjoy the challenge.”

Jamal Murray had 16 points on just 5-for-17 shooting as the league's best 3-point shooting team during the regular season struggled again from deep. The Nuggets have hit 30% of their 3s in the series, going 33 for 109.

But the Timberwolves did even more damage with the ball.

“They’re kind of pushing the pace, playing faster,” Jokic said. “Don’t let us set our defense, and then just driving the ball and trying to be aggressive.”

McDaniels, who flatly answered a question about Minnesota's offensive strategy after Game 2 by labeling all of Denver's players “bad defenders,” proved to be more prescient than reckless with his assessment. Rather than irking the Nuggets, he had himself and his teammates fired up as the series shifted to their home court.

The Wolves turned loose their primary wing players — McDaniels, DiVincenzo and Dosunmu — to repeatedly attack the basket as they raced around the Nuggets at every turn in the first half on the way to a 61-39 lead.

“We're being decisive," Dosunmu said. "That's what it's all about.”

McDaniels delighted the crowd with a 3-pointer from the top of the key and a one-handed slam in traffic over Jokic and Spencer Jones down the stretch in one of his finest performances in the postseason for Minnesota. Several fans clutched signs honoring McDaniels and his blunt "bad defenders" quote, a cheeky tribute that made even the stone-faced sixth-year player smile afterward.

“I thought it was a very emotionally sound game for him," Gobert said. "That’s huge for him to just stay locked in, stay present, not getting frustrated.”

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

China on Friday announced it will send two giant pandas to Zoo Atlanta in the U.S. in Beijing's latest efforts of panda diplomacy despite tensions with Washington, less than a month before a much-anticipated visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to Beijing.

The China Wildlife Conservation Association said in a statement that male panda Ping Ping and female panda Fu Shuang, from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, will kick off a decade-long conservation partnership under an agreement it signed with the zoo last year.

The association did not specify the pandas' departure date but said the U.S. side was carrying out facility upgrades, among other preparation work, to create a more comfortable and safer environment for the pair. Chinese experts provided technical guidance on the upgrades, it said.

The announcement came weeks ahead of Trump's planned visit to China in mid-May, during which he is expected to discuss various issues, including trade, with his counterpart, President Xi Jinping.

Zoo Atlanta said Thursday that it was delighted and honored to be trusted as stewards of the pandas and to partner with the association.

“We can’t wait to meet Ping Ping and Fu Shuang and to welcome our members, guests, city, and community back to the wonder and joy of giant pandas,” the zoo's president, Raymond B. King, said in a statement.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters that the new round of cooperation on conservation would help improve the health and well-being of the giant pandas, advance global biodiversity protection and strengthen the friendship between the Chinese and American people.

During an earlier giant panda agreement between the zoo and China that concluded in 2024, pandas Lun Lun and Yang Yang gave birth to seven bears, the zoo said. Lun Lun and Yang Yang and their two youngest offspring left Atlanta for China in October 2024, where the rest of their offspring reside, it said.

Giant pandas have been a symbol of the U.S.-China friendship ever since Beijing gifted a pair of pandas to the National Zoo in Washington in 1972, and China has long used its giant panda loan program as a tool of Beijing’s soft power diplomacy worldwide.

Beijing could also be renewing its cooperation with U.S. zoos at a time of otherwise sour relations in a bid to boost conservation efforts for the mammals.

The association said Friday that the new round of cooperation will help China and the U.S. to advance in areas ranging from disease prevention and treatment to scientific exchanges.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature, a leading international group, took pandas off its endangered list in 2016 and classified them as “vulnerable" instead.

In 2024, the National Zoo in Washington and the San Diego Zoo also received pandas from China.

Researchers blame a number of factors including climate change causing fuel to dry out and be more flammable, a record drought, tens of millions of tons of dead trees from Hurricane Helene and just the large area where dense forests and high numbers of people try to coexist.

So far this year, 2,802 square miles (7,258 square kilometers) of the United States has burned in wildfires — much of it in Nebraska, an unusual area for massive wildfires — that's 88% more than the 10-year average for this time of year, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. That's happening as significant chunks of the country set records for the warmest winter and March and April drought.

“The warmer we get, the more fire we see. Longer fire seasons, more lightning possibly, and drier fuels,” said fire scientist Mike Flannigan of Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia, Canada. “I think we're going to see more fire in the East. We're seeing more intense fires.”

Fires are increasing in the East

The number of large fires, likelihood of them happening and amount of land burned has increased in most of the Southeast United States from 1984 to 2020, according to a 2023 study by University of Florida fire ecologists Victoria Donovan and Carissa Wonkka.

“The fires in the East historically and today are a lot smaller than in the Western United States, so they might not always grab as much attention as those out West. But we’re starting to see now this shift in dynamics in the East, we’re starting to quantify it,” Donovan said Thursday. “Even though the changes that we're seeing in the East are much smaller than we're quantifying out West, we think it's extremely important to start to get ahead of this problem now.”

Three months ago, Donovan, Wonkka and other fire scientists created a new network for fire researchers to study Eastern fires because some of the issues that experts have learned out West may not apply in the East, Wonkka said.

Even though the West has bigger and more noticeable fast-spreading fires, the East has more people in the way of flames in something scientists call the wildland-urban interface or WUI.

“We found that 45% of all large wildfires in the East burn some portion of the wildland-urban interface and 55% of the area burned so that a lot of these large wildfires are associated with WUI fires,” Donovan said.

Add to that the forests in the East are denser and less likely to be thinned out than those in the West, Donovan said.

Hurricane Helene created a ‘ticking time bomb’

A week ago, federal and state official looked at the drought, the weather and the millions of dead trees from Hurricane Helene in 2024 and issued an advisory to watch out for fires, said Nick Nauslar, a National Weather Service fire science and operations officer at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.

“They are thinking, you know, they could see more fires, more resistance to control with the fires that they get,” Nauslar said. “It has been warmer and drier than normal across many of the areas where Helene caused damage. So there’s the potential there. You have an excess of fuel available because now (the trees are) dead and at the mercy of weather and climate. And then if you get dry and windy conditions, if you get an ignition, it’s more likely to ignite and spread.”

In Georgia alone, 13,954 square miles (36,142 square kilometers) of forest land was hit by Hurricane Helene, downing more than 26 million tons of pine and 30 million tons of hardwood, according a November 2024 University of Georgia and Georgia Forestry Commission timber damage assessment.

“Many of us have worried about fuel buildup post-Helene. It’s a ticking time bomb,” University of Georgia meteorology professor Marshall Shepherd said.

Dry air makes it worse

But it's not just downed trees — it's also dry air increasing the likelihood of fires. It's not just a lack of rain, but the air itself is less humid, which causes problem, Nauslar and Flannigan said.

“As we warm … the atmosphere’s ability to suck moisture out of dead fuel, not live fuel, but dead fuel, increases almost exponentially as temperature increases,” Flannigan said. “The drier the fuel, the easier it is for a fire to start, means more fuel dried and is available to burn, which leads to higher intensity fires that are difficult to impossible to extinguish.

“That's what we're seeing now starting to make inroads into the East,” Flannigan said. Human-caused climate change is clearly playing a role, he 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 mission would mark the end of an era for the American space program, but Schmitt already was looking to the future. His voice crackling over a high-frequency radio signal that day, he shared his thoughts with Cernan and those listening in at Mission Control.

“Well, I tell you Gene, I think the next generation ought to accept this as a challenge. Let's see them leave footsteps like these someday,” Schmitt said.

Schmitt, 90, is one of the four Apollo moonwalkers still alive today. A field geologist, he was the first scientist to set foot on the moon and his expertise helped answer questions about the origin of that big rock up there and what it tells us about the solar system.

Schmitt felt the thrill again when the Artemis II crew rocketed into space on a historic lunar flyby. Pure excitement and the potential for so much more. And he's hopeful as new generations get back to the moon and beyond.

Interviewed by The Associated Press, the former U.S. senator from New Mexico spoke about everything from the importance of having a lunar base to tapping new energy sources and whether we’re alone in the universe. Dark matter and quantum entanglement also were mentioned, with Schmitt saying many discoveries are yet to come.

“You’ve just got to remember," he said, “what used to be called supernatural probably should be called unknown physics.”

This interview has been edited for brevity.

Q: What about having a lunar base?

Well, I think a lunar base makes a lot of sense and it always has for a lot of reasons. One is geopolitical. Probably the most important one is a geopolitical presence in deep space — and in preparation for going on to Mars.

The moon has resources that are going to reduce the cost of actually going to Mars and it gains experience. One of the things people keep forgetting about is you’ve gone through several generations and the new generation has to gain experience — psychologically as well as practically about how you work in deep space. And they’re doing that. That was probably the most important part of Artemis II, is it gave the ground people, Mission Control and others, the experience now to really have the risk as real rather than as part of a simulation.

Q: What was your mission during Apollo 17?

I had a lot of understanding of what other crews had learned, what had been learned from some of the early sample analyses and so we were trying to put sort of the frosting on the cake of answering questions in a very complex geologic area called Taurus-Littrow.

Taurus-Littrow actually is deeper than the Grand Canyon and so it has a three-dimensional aspect to it that we hadn’t had on other missions. And plus having a field geologist like myself on board meant that we should be more efficient at gathering samples that had a meaningful aspect to our further understanding of the origin of the moon, its relationship to the Earth and, it turns out, also its relationship to the history of the sun.

Q: So we're building upon our knowledge of the universe around us?

Well there’s no question that the moon has a history to tell us.

It’s been recording the history of the solar system ever since the solar system formed about 4.5 billion years ago. That is really what the moon gives us — that library of knowledge, of potential knowledge about how the solar system evolved and then what the sun has been doing in that 4.5 billion years.

In the recent work that I’ve been doing in that layer of debris, the regolith, we find that the sun became even more active than it had been about the same time as we had an explosion of life in the oceans on Earth, and so the oceans may have been and almost certainly were warming to that more active sun and life likes warmth. So it multiplied not only in quantity but in diversity. The mammals started to appear soon after that, life started to move up onto the continents that had formed so things were really starting to move about a half-billion years ago.

Q: Tell us about the moon rocks

This is a sample of a basalt lava and we have a lot of basalt lavas here in New Mexico. This is different in that it is rich in titanium, more rich than most terrestrial basalts. And that titanium turns out to be very important in terms of the resources that are available on the moon. It has a property of concentrating some of those resources, particularly hydrogen and helium.

There’s an isotope called helium-3 and that is going to be, I think, ultimately very, very important in the production of energy. It’s going to be extremely useful in quantum computing, in cancer therapy and other things here on Earth. We just don’t have much on Earth, so the moon is going to be a our reservoir, our source of this very important isotope of helium-3.

Q: How important will this isotope be in the future?

Helium-3 offers a possibility of having nuclear energy without nuclear waste. We’ve known that for decades, and so the moon now offers that opportunity to begin to substitute a nuclear form of energy that doesn’t produce nuclear waste for what we have today.

Q: Is it just as much an energy race as a space race?

There’s no question about it. China is interested in it, we’re interested in it. And that’s probably one of the big technological drivers of this new race to the moon, a new space race, a Cold War that’s on now primarily involving China and I think helium-3 is a big actor in that right now.

Q: What was it like in the Taurus-Littrow Valley?

First of all, we were in a valley deeper than the Grand Canyon. The mountains on either side were as high as the Grand Canyon from the bottom. Secondly, you’re in one-sixth gravity so that means you can walk much more easily than you could here on Earth. Now we were covered by a pressure suit but still walking around was like being a kid again ... if you fell you didn’t fall very hard and you certainly didn’t cry about it. But the moon is really a very easy place to work so as long as you have the right equipment surrounding you. You have to have that atmosphere of course to breathe.

Q: Any downsides to working in a weightless environment?

For me, it was a very comfortable environment to be in and you get a little bit lazy. For example, if you’re taking notes with a pad of paper and a pen or pencil and somebody says would you take the SCS switch to off, well you just let go and it floats there and you go over to the switch and come back and start to dictate those notes again.

You’ve got to be careful though because you’re brain gets lazy. When I got on the carrier after splashdown, I was taking my first drink of water and I just let go of the cup and of course it broke on the floor. Human beings tend to take advantage of their environment very quickly and the brain does get a little bit lazy like that. It took about three days to get comfortable again back here on Earth.

Q: So we'll have no problem living on the moon?

No, I think living on the moon is going to be very good. Now long term civilization on the moon, there’s still some major issues. The radiation issue has to be dealt with and we can. There are ways to do that. Going to Mars is another issue and that’s why you’ll almost certainly need fusion rockets to cut that time frame.

Q: We've heard a lot lately about UFOs. What are your thoughts on that?

Well there are billions of sunlike stars out there and so you just have to imagine that life may have originated on some other planet, although the conditions for life to originate here on Earth are really unique. Everything sort of fit together and creation for us sort of leads to you thinking of an infinitely intelligent being that made it all happen. But the technical potential statistically is very high that you could have had the similar kind of conditions develop elsewhere in the universe.

Now are they visiting us? My feeling is if they’re really so advanced they could be here, they'd communicate better than they have and so I just don’t know. But it’s plausible. Let’s put it that way. Unlikely maybe, but plausible.

Q: Would you take the opportunity to go back to the moon or to Mars?

Oh surely. Teresa, my wife, would like very much to go with me — that would be one condition. But I think a trip to Mars is going to be fantastic for those people.

So youth is extremely important and the education of those youth particularly in mathematics is extraordinarily important, and NASA now has a younger agency than they had grown to be during the shuttle era.

Look what has happened since Apollo. The commercial sector has developed new technologies, new ways of doing things and NASA is now trying to integrate those into a new approach to deep space exploration.

A plea agreement calls for Carie Hallford to receive from 25 to 35 years in prison during her appearance before District Judge Eric Bentley in Colorado Springs.

Her ex-husband, Jon Hallford, received a 40-year sentence on corpse abuse charges at a February hearing in which he was called a “monster” by family members of those whose bodies were left to rot.

Carie Hallford was the public face of Return to Nature, dealing with bereaved customers at the couple's funeral home in Colorado Springs. Jon, still her husband at the time, performed much of the physical work at another location south of Colorado Springs in Penrose, where neighbors in 2023 noticed a foul odor and complained.

Authorities found bodies piled throughout the bug-infested Penrose building in various states of decomposition.

The case became the most egregious in a string of criminal cases involving Colorado funeral homes as details emerged about the Hallfords’ lavish spending and their pattern of defrauding customers.

Just months before the bodies were found in Penrose, a mother and daughter who operated a funeral home in the western Colorado city of Montrose were sentenced to federal prison after being accused of selling body parts and giving clients fake ashes.

In 2024, authorities in Denver arrested a financially troubled former funeral home owner who kept a deceased woman’s body in a hearse for two years at a house where police also found the cremated remains of at least 30 people.

And last year, state inspectors found 24 decomposing bodies and multiple containers of bones behind a hidden door of a Pueblo funeral home owned by the Pueblo County coroner and his brother. It was the first ever inspection of that mortuary under new rules that allow all funeral homes to be routinely inspected.

Carie Hallford asked for leniency in March when she was sentenced in a related federal fraud case, saying she was a victim of abuse and manipulation in her marriage.

But she enters Friday’s hearing with limited sympathy from victims such as Crystina Page, whose son, David, died in 2019. His body languished for years inside the room-temperature building in Penrose with other corpses before their discovery.

Jon Hallford “was the monster under the bed, but Carie was the one who fed the monster,” Page said. Page and others received fake ashes instead of the cremated remains they were promised.

The Hallfords, who divorced following their arrest, received prison sentences in the related federal fraud case — 18 years for Carie and 20 years for Jon. They have each appealed.

State officials and industry representatives said this week that industry reforms adopted by Colorado lawmakers are making a difference.

In response to the Hallford case, the state mandated inspections and adopted an industry licensing system. The changes put Colorado “in the middle of the pack” compared to regulation in other states, acknowledged Sam Delp with the state Department of Regulatory Agencies, which oversees the funeral industry.

“We were the only state in the country that didn’t regulate them,” said Delp, who directs the agency's Division of Professions and Occupations.

Matt Whaley, president of the Colorado Funeral Home Directors Association, suggested that customers have become more cautious after years of news coverage about Return to Nature and other businesses where crimes occurred.

More often now, family members ask to be present for a loved one’s cremation rather than just receive the ashes after the fact, Whaley said.

“The confidence level of a funeral professional in the state of Colorado is questioned, and we’ve got to work hard, one family at a time, to build that trust back,” he said.

Blanca Eberhardt, a licensed funeral director who previously practiced mortuary science in Indiana, Texas and Hawaii, recalled moving to Colorado and being appalled at the mistreatment of some corpses inside a funeral home where she worked in Pueblo. For Eberhardt, the experience confirmed Colorado's reputation for lacking basic rules such as licensing for funeral home directors and routine inspections.

“The joke has been for the last 40 years if you lose your license in another state, just move to Colorado," she said.

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Brown reported from Billings, Montana. Associated Press journalist Thomas Peipert contributed to this story.

It’s a spectacle that once brought 1,000 or more tourists each year to Kaktovik, the only settlement in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, in a phenomenon sometimes called “last chance tourism” — a chance to see magnificent sights and creatures before climate change renders them extinct.

The COVID-19 pandemic and an order from the federal government halting boat tours to see the bears largely ended Kaktovik's polar bear tourism amid concerns that the tiny village was being overrun by outsiders.

But Kaktovik leaders are now hoping to revive it, saying it could be worth millions to the local economy and give residents another source of income — provided the village can set guidelines that protect its way of life and the bears themselves.

“We definitely see the benefit for tourism,” said Charles Lampe, president of the Kaktovik Inupiat Corp, which owns 144 square miles (373 square kilometers) of land. “The thing is, it can’t be run like it was before.”

Visitors overwhelm a tiny village

As far back as the early 1980s, anyone in Kaktovik with a boat and knowledge of the waters could take a few tourists out to watch the bears as they lumbered across the flat, treeless barrier islands just off the coast or tore into the ribs of a bowhead whale left by subsistence hunters.

Tourism in Kaktovik soared in the years after federal officials declared polar bears a threatened species in 2008. The rapid warming of the Arctic is melting the sea ice that the bears use to hunt seals, and scientists have said that most polar bears could be wiped out by the end of the century.

As visitation boomed, the federal government imposed regulations requiring tour operators to have permits and insurance, and that began to squeeze locals out of the industry, Lampe said. Larger out-of-town operators moved in, and before long, crowds of tourists were coming to Kaktovik — a village of about 250 people — during the six-week viewing season.

The town’s two hotels and restaurants lost out on some business when large operators began flying tourists in from Fairbanks or Anchorage for day trips. Locals complained that tourists gawked at them or traipsed through their yards.

Small plane capacity became an issue, with residents sometimes battling tourists to get on flights to or from larger cities for medical appointments, forcing those left stranded in the cities to get expensive hotel rooms for the night.

Renewing polar bear tourism, with changes

When the pandemic struck, Kaktovik paused visitation. Then in 2021, the federal government, which manages polar bears, halted boat tours, mostly over concerns about how tourists were affecting bear behavior and overrunning the town.

Alaska Native leaders are now in talks with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to address those concerns and reignite the industry, perhaps as early as 2027. The agency told The Associated Press in a statement that it’s working with Kaktovik “to ensure that any future opportunities are managed in a way that prioritizes visitor safety, resource protection, and community input.”

Among the changes Kaktovik leaders want to see is a limit on how long a boat can sit in the water near the bears. Too long, Lampe said, and the bears get used to humans — making for a dangerous situation when bears wander into town looking for food.

During the height of the tourism boom, it became tougher to haze bears out of town, even with the town’s bear patrol shooting at them with nonlethal rounds. The patrol had to kill about three or four bears per year, compared with maybe one per year before the boom, Lampe said.

“Our safety was at risk,” Lampe said.

In 2023, a 24-year-old woman and her 1-year-old son were killed in a polar bear attack in Wales, in far western Alaska. It was the first fatal polar bear attack in nearly 30 years in Alaska, the only U.S. state home to the species.

Since the boat tours in Kaktovik were halted, the bears once again seem more fearful of humans, Lampe said.

Encouraging respectful visits in the Arctic

Polar bear tourism coincides with Kaktovik’s subsistence whaling season. When a crew lands a whale, it's usually butchered on a nearby beach. While the community encourages visitors to watch or even help, some were recording or taking pictures without permission, which is considered disrespectful, Lampe said.

Sherry Rupert, CEO of the American Indigenous Tourism Association, suggested that Kaktovik market itself as a two- or three-day experience.

Native communities that are ready for tourists "want them to come and be educated and walk away with a greater understanding of our people and our way of life and our culture,” she said.

Roger and Sonia MacKertich of Australia were looking for the best spot on the planet to view polar bears in the wild when they came to Kaktovik in September 2019. They spent several days in the village, took a walking tour led by an elder and bought souvenirs made by local artists, including a hoodie featuring a polar bear.

For Roger MacKertich, a professional wildlife photographer based in Sydney, the highlight was the boat tours to see bears roaming on the barrier islands or taking a dip in the water. The bears paid them no attention.

“That’s nearly as good as it gets,” he said.

Shapiro, who is just beginning to hit the campaign trail, wants voters to give Democrats control of the state legislature for the first time in decades. And he's pushing his favored candidates in competitive congressional primaries, an attempt to mold his party's slate in the midterm elections that will determine control of Washington.

All of this means that, much like other potential Democratic presidential candidates, Shapiro is testing his political capital in ways that could shape his future and the party’s.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker successfully boosted his favored candidate in his state's U.S. Senate primary. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore failed to convince lawmakers to redraw the state's congressional map, while California Gov. Gavin Newsom achieved redistricting through a voter referendum last year.

Shapiro brushed off questions — and Republican criticism — about burnishing his credentials for a White House run.

“The only thing I am focused on is beating my opponent for governor and helping other Democrats get elected here and sending a clear message to Donald Trump that the chaos, cruelty and corruption that he’s been engaged in is not something that we support here in Pennsylvania,” Shapiro told The Associated Press after speaking to Democrats at a packed coffee shop in small-town Lock Haven.

Shapiro has never said whether he's interested in running for president. But he does say he wants a voice in his party's future. Democrats need to figure out how to “get stuff done” to make people’s lives better, he said, and he wants to be “part of that conversation.”

Stacy Garrity, the Republican state treasurer who is running for governor, said Shapiro can't hide his ambition — and it's bad for the state.

"We all know that he’s more interested in Pennsylvania Avenue than helping Pennsylvania families,” she said in an interview. “He thinks if he can hand Pennsylvania on a platter to the Democratic Party, then maybe they take a harder look at him.”

An opportunity to demonstrate strength

They just might.

Pennsylvania is a hard state to succeed in politically, and Democrats around the country are taking note of Shapiro because of that, said Paul Begala, a Democratic campaign strategist, commentator and senior aide to Bill Clinton when he was president.

The election gives Shapiro an opportunity to demonstrate strength.

“Right now, Democrats, the thing they want the most is a winner, and a very close second is a fighter,” Begala said. “This election is an opportunity for him to show that.”

Ahead of this year's campaign, Shapiro put his stamp on the Pennsylvania Democratic Party by getting committee people to elect his hand-picked chair and plunging more than $900,000 so far this election cycle into the organization's accounts.

He’s on track to break his own state fundraising record and tells voters that Pennsylvania is the “center of the political universe” in the fight for control of the U.S. House.

Democrats want to flip four House seats in Pennsylvania. Shapiro's endorsed candidates include Paige Cognetti, mayor of Scranton; Bob Brooks, president of the state firefighters' union; and Janelle Stelson, a former television news personality who narrowly lost two years ago.

Shapiro already cut an ad for Brooks, who is running in a hotly contested four-way primary for the chance to challenge freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie.

Contested primaries and GOP surrogates

Shapiro's endorsements haven't scared off Democratic rivals.

Ryan Crosswell, a former federal prosecutor running against Brooks, issued a campaign memo that — in a veiled reference to the governor — said Crosswell has “no party machine behind him, no power broker network, no favors to call in.”

For his part, Shapiro said: “I’m just focused on trying to elevate good people. Hopefully they’ll all win.”

Republicans, meanwhile, have their own surrogates.

Garrity said the White House asked her for a list of people she wants to visit in Pennsylvania.

Trump, Vice President JD Vance and a number of Cabinet secretaries have already visited the state's contested congressional districts. Earlier this month, House Speaker Mike Johnson made a fundraising swing through Pennsylvania.

“We know the majority runs through Pennsylvania and the speaker is focused on doing everything he can to help those members defend their seats,” said Greg Steele, a spokesperson for Johnson’s political operation.

It’s quite likely Johnson will be back: Pennsylvania was his last campaign stop before the 2024 election.

Trump and Vance could return, too, and in the meantime, the president is keeping an eye on Pennsylvania. On Tuesday night, he took to social media to take credit for a decision by owners of two coal-fired power plants not to close in what he called a “BIG WIN for the Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which I love.”

Shapiro starts hitting the campaign trail

As he begins to campaign, Shapiro is proving himself to be a draw even in Pennsylvania’s out-of-the-way areas. Earlier this month, he helped pack a ballroom for Centre County Democrats and the coffee shop for Clinton County Democrats.

“I saw brand-new people, I saw people who have not been engaged in the party in years,” Bre Brannan, Clinton County's Democratic Party chair, said. The crowd included Republicans and independents, too, she said.

With a Democratic "trifecta," Shapiro tells audiences he could get more done, citing legislation Republicans have stalled. That includes raising Pennsylvania's rock-bottom minimum wage and expanding legal protections for LGBT residents. He also has a housing affordability plan he's pushing this year.

Consolidating control of the state Legislature would be no small feat. Democrats hold a one-seat majority in the state House and haven’t held the state Senate majority in over three decades.

Few Democrats in the party's 2028 presidential sights have an opportunity to demonstrate political strength and party-building aptitude in swing states.

The opportunity could help Shapiro prove his mettle when the presidential campaign season cranks up and would-be candidates go in search of institutional support, endorsements and donor commitments.

Pouring money into down-ballot races and flipping seats may not help Shapiro with the average voter. But activists, donors and other elected officials care a great deal about that, strategists say.

Success would strengthen Shapiro’s hand at a time when candidates are trying to win the “perception campaign” that they are the strongest candidate, Democratic campaign strategist Mike Mikus said.

“It doesn’t guarantee anything,” Mikus said. "But it is definitely something to bring to the table when you’re lining up donors, endorsements and finance chairs, things like that. It’s compelling to them.”

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Follow Marc Levy at http://twitter.com/timelywriter

Offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa was taken No. 10 overall by the New York Giants, defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. went No. 15 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Akheem Mesidor was selected No. 22 by the Los Angeles Chargers.

Bain and Mesidor anchored Miami’s defensive line during its national championship run, combining for 117 tackles, 22 sacks and five forced fumbles last season.

Mesidor led the duo with 63 tackles and 12.5 sacks, while Bain added 54 tackles and 9.5 sacks.

The pair also made their presence felt on the biggest stage, generating 33 pressures and seven sacks across three College Football Playoff games.

Miami defensive line coach and Pro Football Hall of Fame edge rusher Jason Taylor said earlier this month that both players are built for the next level.

“They got everything,” Taylor said.“They have the mental makeup. They love football. Those two guys love ball.”

Taylor dismissed concerns about Bain’s measurables, including his 30⅞-inch arm length, and Mesidor’s age, pointing instead to their production and consistency.

“I don’t give a damn how long somebody’s arms are,” Taylor said. “Put on the tape.”

On offense, Mauigoa entered the draft with some injury concerns. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported he has a herniated disk in his back, a factor teams evaluated leading up to the draft.

Despite that, analysts view him as a plug-and-play lineman.

Listed at 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds, Mauigoa brings extensive experience at right tackle with a powerful frame, strong hands and the ability to anchor in pass protection. His footwork also gives him the versatility to potentially move inside to guard.

With three first-round selections, Miami once again is well represented on draft night.

The Hurricanes have a long history of producing NFL talent.

At least one Miami player has been selected in 51 consecutive NFL drafts, a school record.

Proctor, 20, is 6-foot-7 and 359 pounds and is expected to compete for the right tackle spot currently held by Austin Jackson. He said he’s ready to contribute wherever needed.

“I feel comfortable playing anywhere. Wherever coach needs me to play, I’ll be there,” Proctor said during a Zoom call with reporters.

Proctor said he quickly connected with Miami’s staff.

“We hit it off right away and I liked the coaching staff right away,” he said.

Known for his size and physicality, Proctor emphasized his approach in the run game and what it means to block for Pro Bowl running back De’Von Achane.

“Physicality, running the s--- out of the ball. It feels good blocking for a guy that has grit and toughness,” Proctor said. “He’s going to make plays.”

Proctor is Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley’s first draft selection with the team.

Miami received the No. 12 overall pick, along with picks No. 177 and No. 180 in the fifth round, in the trade with Dallas.

The Cowboys selected Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs with the 11th pick.

Proctor said the moment was emotional as he looks ahead to joining the organization.

“I go out there and try to handle my business,” he said. “Tears flowing down my face, I’m ready to get down there and build a great bond.”

He added that he feels confident in multiple blocking schemes, including zone, and is eager to get on the field.

Proctor also acknowledged his past weight — once reaching 400 pounds while at Alabama under coach Nick Saban — but said he has a plan in place to maintain his conditioning and perform at a high level.

The Dolphins also traded to pick 27 with the San Francisco 49ers in the first round and selected San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson.

As of Thursday, the Dolphins’ draft capital includes:

• Round 1, pick 12: Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor

• Round 1, pick 27: San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson (Trade with San Francisco)

• Round 2: No. 43

• Round 3: Nos. 75, 87, 94

• Round 4: Nos. 130, 138

• Round 5: Nos. 151, 177 (Dallas), 180 (Dallas)

• Round 7: Nos. 227, 238

Miami traded its sixth-round pick to the New York Giants in exchange for tight end Darren Waller.

Schlittler limited the team he rooted for growing up to four hits over eight innings, and the Yankees rallied twice to beat the Boston Red Sox 4-2 on Thursday night for a three-game sweep and a season-high six-game winning streak.

A Red Sox fan who grew up in Walpole and played college ball at Northeastern, Schlittler told the New York Post ahead of the game that he and his family had received death threats.

With Cody Charneski, a Yankees producer of digital and social content, joining him in the bullpen for his warmup, Schlittler said his reception from Fenway fans in person wasn't too out of line.

"There was a couple things but, again, Cody is out there with the camera, so I think that’ll limit that,” Schlitter said, "Not too bad. I think you overestimate how many genuine people are out there compared to online. So it’s a good feeling. I had a lot of buddies out there watching.”

Schlitter's family and friends were noticeably excited when he struck out his final batter, Jarren Duran, with his 96th pitch.

Schlittler (3-1) allowed two runs — one earned — over eight innings while striking out five, walking one and lowering his ERA to 1.77.

It was the longest outing in 20 regular-season starts for the 25-year-old right-hander, who pitched eight shutout innings to beat the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium in last year’s AL Wild Card Series.

“He’s got a great demeanor about him. He’s very even keeled and very adaptable, but also competitive and very confident. All great traits,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s always looking forward to his day out there. He’s a very confident guy and I think it’s meaningful for him to come back to where he grew up.”

Schlittler tossed a ball to a fan in the front-row of the right field seats before heading to the bullpen. Another fan in close proximity to the bullpen held up a yellow sign that stated, “Walpole Loves Schlittler.”

“For the most part, really respectful,” Schlittler said.

The public-address announcement of Schlitter as New York’s starting pitcher drew a mixture of cheers and boos. Cody Bellinger, whose two-run single as a pinch-hitter put the Yankees ahead a three-run seventh, was impressed with how Schlitter responded this week.

“I think he handled it great," Bellinger said. "He's such a young kid, and this rivalry, it is —- it's different when you wear these two uniforms and he’s just done a tremendous job pitching and handling everything that comes with it.”

Schlitter struck out 12 against the Red Sox in the postseason game that ended Boston's 2025 season.

“There were plenty of distractions to be had before his playoff start last year, and he obviously handled that really well,” Boone said.

“He was throwing hard that day,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora recalled before the series finale. “From pitch one, we had to be almost perfect. We didn’t put too much pressure on him.”

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

Fans say they don’t just listen to Springsteen’s music -- they absorb it, adding that his songs never seem to age.

They’re here for The Boss.

One of the most iconic voices in rock ‘n’ roll is bringing the E Street Band to South Florida, with guitars, drums and a lineup expected to include hits like Born to Run and Born in the U.S.A..

Doors opened at 6:30 p.m., but some fans -- more like superfans -- showed up early, trying to catch a glimpse of Springsteen near the back entrance.

Among them were Denise Blatz of North Port and Taylor Davis of Palm Beach, who said they just met at the arena while bonding over their shared love of Springsteen.

Maybe they’ll be heading to future concerts together.

As of this evening, tickets are still available, with single seats going for about $85 and others listed around $590.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office says deputies found 23 dogs being neglected at Jamar Clair’s home.

Working with Broward County Animal Care and Adoption, an arrest report states deputies found nine adult pit bulls and pit bull mixes, along with 14 puppies estimated to be 3 to 4 weeks old on the property. Investigators said 13 dogs were in the front yard and seven more were in the backyard.

Deputies said one of the dogs had a severe eye infection and needed medical treatment, adding all seven dogs in the backyard showed signs of abuse and neglect.

A woman who identified herself as Clair’s fiancée spoke but did not want to show her face.

She said she feeds the dogs twice a day and argued the animals were not neglected, adding some were only being kept temporarily for a friend.

According to the report, some of the puppies were removed before a follow-up visit by law enforcement. During a final follow-up, investigators took the remaining five dogs from Clair’s home.

Investigators described the property as unkempt, with feces and flies present. When asked about those conditions, the woman said the dogs were in their own environment and kept in cages with locks.

Authorities say Clair has faced similar accusations before. Last year, police said a dog was found tethered outside on a short chain in 87-degree weather.

He was also accused of similar allegations in 2024.

In this case, investigators say Clair refused to appear in bond court. He is being held on a $75,000 bond and is accused of not cooperating with police.

After starring in a Game 2 stunner at Madison Square Garden, McCollum got the ball with his team trailing by a point. He came through again from 15 feet, finishing with 23 points.

Hawks coach Quin Snyder called it “a great shot,” but stressed the effort of his entire team.

“They work, they share,” Snyder said. “That's the thing about this group that I've enjoyed so much.”

The Hawks led nearly the entire game, building an 18-point lead in the first half. But New York rallied for a 108-105 edge on Jalen Brunson's three-point play with 1:03 remaining.

After Jalen Johnson, who led the Hawks with 24 points, rolled in a shot, Josh Hart missed a 3-pointer for the Knicks. New York got the offensive rebound, but couldn't get off a shot ahead of the 24-second clock.

“You couldn't ask for anything better than that,” Knicks coach Mike Brown lamented. “Less than a minute to go in the game and a chance to go up by three.”

The Knicks failed to get off a shot at the end, either, as Brunson turned the ball over and the horn sounded.

Jonathan Kuminga had a huge night for the Hawks off the bench, finishing with 21 points.

OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 29 points, Brunson had 26 and Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in with 21. It wasn't enough for New York.

Brown griped about the officiating, believing the refs missed some calls at the basket. But he stressed that his team must make better decisions going forward.

Game 4 is Saturday in Atlanta.

“They're closing out hard," Brown said of the Hawks. ”It's a tough game for the officials to officiate, but I know we got fouled on a few of the tries that didn't get called."

McCollum picked up were he left off at Madison Square Garden, hitting a step-back jumper beyond the arc for Atlanta's first points. He had 16 by the halftime break.

McCollum showed off more than his offensive skills. After Hart scooped up a loose ball and drove toward the hoop with only the Atlanta guard to beat, McCollum blocked the shot and sent the ball off Hart's foot to give possession back to the Hawks.

The Hawks outscored the Knicks 27-12 over the final seven minutes of the opening quarter, turning the game in their favor with an 11-0 spurt and closing the period with three straight 3-pointers. The first was by little-used center Mouhamed Gueye, left wide open by the New York defense, followed by two straight from backup forward Kuminga to send the State Farm Arena crowd into a frenzy.

But, with the Hawks on the verge of blowing the game open late in the first half, New York closed the the period on a 12-2 run. Atlanta went to the locker room with a 58-50 lead.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Alex Lyon stopped 24 shots in his first start of the postseason and the Sabres, who snapped an NHL-record 14-year playoff drought by winning the Atlantic Division, regained home-ice advantage in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is Sunday in Boston, with the Bruins needing a win to assure themselves of another home game.

Jeremy Swayman made 25 saves, and Tanner Jeannot scored early in the second period for the Bruins as they opened the scoring for the third straight game. But they missed a chance to go up 2-0 when Viktor Arvidsson's penalty shot went wide.

“Definitely a turning point,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said.

Boston had a chance to go up 2-0 when Mattias Samuelsson’s stick broke right in front of the Buffalo net, for a turnover that gave Arvidsson an open lane on the net. Rasmus Dahlin took him down, leading to a penalty shot.

Arvidsson circled wide and came in slowly but Lyon left him no opening.

“I try not to overthink the penalty shot too much,” Lyon said. “Kind of the same situation as the shootout and just try to kind of be in the moment. That’s when practice comes through. So you've just got to trust your instincts and lean on those.”

About a minute later, Byram one-timed a shot past Swayman to tie it.

“Yes, it was a big swing. Absolutely,” Bruins coach Marco Sturm said. “The bench was not the same, let’s put it that way.”

Tuch made it 2-1 when he grabbed a loose puck and fired it past a screened goalie, and Noah Ostlund added an empty-netter with 1:24 left.

The teams split the first two games in Buffalo, with Boston taking the lead both times before Buffalo rallied in the last half of the third period. In Game 1, the Sabres came back to win 4-3, but they were too far back after a 4-0 deficit in Game 2 and lost 4-2.

The early struggles doomed Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to backup. He won the playoff starting job by closing the regular season 12-2-1 but was pulled after allowing the fourth goal early in the third period on Tuesday night.

Lyon went 20-10-4 during the season.

“I think getting in for a few minutes of the last game was really helpful,” he said. “Before that, it was probably two weeks since I had played. So just to get the feel of the game, I think that set me up nicely for today.”

Buffalo continued to struggle on the power play. After failing to score on the last 22 chances in the regular season, the Sabres have misfired on their first 13 man advantages in the series, including four Thursday.

“Our power play let Swayman off the hook,” Ruff said. “But there was some good stuff there. And both goaltenders made some big saves at key times.”

Up next

Game 4 is Sunday before the series shifts back to Buffalo for Game 5 on Tuesday night.

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AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Periodistas de The Associated Press tuvieron acceso en la jornada a uno de los pabellones del Centro de Confinamiento Contra el Terrorismo (CECOT), donde en completo orden sentados en sillas plásticas los pandilleros participaban de forma virtual frente a grandes pantallas del desarrollo del proceso en su contra.

Vestidos con pantalones cortos y camisa blanca, con tatuajes que los identifican como miembros de la Mara Salvatrucha, rapados por completo, esposados y con grilletes, en total silencio, escuchaban los testimonios de quienes los involucran en los supuestos crímenes. El juicio a 486 pandilleros tiene lugar en el Tribunal Sexto Contra el Crimen Organizado de San Salvador, la capital.

Es el segundo juicio masivo a integrantes de estos grupos, luego que en marzo de 2025 se realizó el primero que resultó en la condena de 52 miembros de la pandilla Barrio 18 que habían sido capturados en los primeros días de vigencia del régimen de excepción impulsado por el presidente Nayib Bukele para enfrentar a las pandillas y que está vigente desde marzo de 2022.

En noviembre del año pasado un tribunal declaró culpables a 45 pandilleros de ese grupo por varios delitos, entre ellos extorsión y homicidio, e impuso una condena de 397 años de prisión a uno de los cabecillas.

Múltiples crímenes

El Ministerio Público dice que los pandilleros están siendo procesados por más de 47.000 delitos que van desde homicidio, feminicidio, extorsión, tráfico de armas y hasta desaparición de personas. En el caso de los señalados como cabecillas —poco más de una veintena— están vinculados presuntamente a más de 9.043 delitos, entre ellos el asesinato de 80 policías.

El fiscal adjunto contra el Crimen Organizado, Max Muñoz, explicó a través de un video difundido por la Fiscalía que a los jefes de las pandillas se les pretende responsabilizar de todos los hechos delictivos, cometidos supuestamente entre el 2012 y finales de marzo de 2022, incluidos los 86 asesinatos que propiciaron que el presidente Bukele impulsara el régimen de excepción.

"Todas esas muertes se van a atribuir a los ranfleros (jefes) históricos que son 22”, aseguró el fiscal.

Los llamados cabecillas históricos nacionales y fundadores de la pandilla escuchan la audiencia a través de pantallas de televisión en pequeños salones del CECOT, ubicado en una zona rural del distrito de Tecoluca, departamento de San Vicente, a 81 kilómetros al este de la capital.

El CECOT —la megacárcel construida por el gobierno de Bukele— aparentaba diferente el jueves. Las celdas del pabellón número tres estaban vacías, ya que los miembros de las pandillas Barrio 18 fueron trasladados a otro pabellón, mientras que los de la Mara Salvatrucha participaban del juicio de manera virtual.

Este tipo de proceso colectivo tiene lugar luego de una reforma del Código Penal realizada en julio de 2023 que establece que los detenidos bajo el régimen de excepción, que suspende derechos fundamentales, sean agrupados según sus grupos o territorios.

Las autoridades dicen haber capturado desde que entró en vigor ese régimen a 91.300 personas acusadas de pertenecer supuestamente a las pandillas o tener vínculos con esos grupos criminales. Bukele ha dicho que 8.000 personas que eran inocentes han sido liberadas. Organizaciones de derechos humanos, en tanto, aseguran que han registrado más de 6.000 denuncias por víctimas bajo ese régimen y documentado la muerte de al menos 488 personas bajo custodia.

Los cabecillas

Entre los cabecillas que están siendo procesados, según la fiscalía, están Dionisio Arístides Umanzor Osorio, alias “El Sirra de Teclas; Borromeo Henríquez Solorzano, alias “Diablito de Hollywood"; Carlos Tiberio Ramírez Valladares, alias “Snayder” y César Antonio López Larios, alias “Greñas”.

Ellos formaron parte del grupo que participó en las negociaciones con el entonces gobierno del presidente Mauricio Funes, del exguerrillero Frente Farabundo martí para la Liberación Nacional (FMLN), según las autoridades.

Otros cabecillas históricos ya han sido procesados, unos guardan prisión en el CECOT y en otra cárcel de máxima seguridad salavadoreña conocida como Zacatraz. Otros guardan prisión en Estados Unidos o están huyendo de la justicia mientras son procesados en ausencia.

Patty Tavatanakit, who won this major as a rookie in 2021 when it was the ANA Inspiration in the California desert, played bogey-free for a 67 and was two shots back along with Somi Lee, who bogeyed her final hole on the par-3 ninth.

Farah O'Keefe, the junior at Texas, missed a 5-foot par putt on her last hole to fall back into the group of players at 68.

“Just day one out of four — a lot can happen,” Korda said after her best opening round in a major since a 64 in the 2022 Evian Championship. “So happy to be in this position and hoping to move forward.”

Korda has been building toward the first major of the LPGA season, playing in the final group in each of her four tournaments this year and winning the season opener.

She started on No. 10 and the American star was in full flight after making the turn on a rain-soaked course that got little roll in the fairway. She made birdie on the three par 5s on the front nine and really shined on the tough par 3s — a 6-iron to 4 feet on No. 2, a 5-iron to 5 feet on No. 7.

Equally important was keeping bogeys off her card — her first bogey-free round in a major since the second round of the 2024 Women's British Open — especially on the front nine.

“Made a really long one on my first hole which could have started out the day with a bogey and I didn’t. I made a really solid putt,” she said. “Even on the second hole where I saved a 5-footer for par. Made some good saves for par.”

She also took advantage of the par 5s, which she often does when contending in majors (she was 21 under on the par 5s in her major wins at The Chevron in 2024 and the KPMG Women's PGA in 2021). They didn't always go as planned.

Korda couldn't get to the par-5 first hole (her 10th) in two because of a drive that strayed to the right. And when she hammered a drive with the wind at her back on the par-5 third, she had 6-iron to the green that came up short of a green with a back pin.

“Chunked it,” Korda said. “But I birdied both, so we're good.”

But it was the par 3s coming in that stood out, especially No. 2. Korda hit 6-iron from a slightly elevated tee over the bunker complex to 4 feet, a shot she considered her best of the day.

She prefers to hit a draw, and the wind gusting off the left made that uncomfortable for her. She had to carry a big slope, and the pin was tucked behind a bunker on the right, a bad place to miss.

“So really dialed into my target ... just left of the pin and the wind took it nicely and it dropped right next to the hole,” she said. “One, it took really nice. Two, it landed absolutely the perfect number. So those are the shot that you're like, ‘Oh, God, I love golf.’

“And then I hit a chunk on the next hole.”

The easy laugh was another indication Korda is in a happy place in golf and in life, coming off a winless season that also included her getting engaged.

Also having a great time was O'Keefe, who didn't get an invitation to The Chevron until after the Augusta National Women's Amateur. She chipped in for birdie on the par-4 fourth hole (her 13th) to reach 5 under and her name on the leaderboard — right up there with Korda — was quite a moment.

“It's a dream,” O'Keefe said. “It's something that you think about every once in a while and hope for, but I feel like I’m trying to stay composed. There is a lot more golf left to be played. The job is not done and I’m just going to keep doing what I have been doing because it just happens to be working.”

The Chevron is at Memorial Park — also site of the Houston Open on the PGA Tour last month — for the first time after three years at Carlton Woods. The course is listed at just over 6,800 yards on the scorecard, though some tees were moved up because of soft conditions from two days of rain.

Thirty-seven players in the 132-player field broke par. Jeeno Thitikul was not among them. The No. 1 player in women's golf had four bogeys over her last eight holes and shot 74. In her quest to win her first major, she started out nine shots behind Korda with her first goal to make the cut.

Minjee Lee, the Women's PGA champion trying to win her fourth of the LPGA's five majors, also opened with a 74.

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

The picks kicked off what should be a busy early stretch for New York, which has four selections in the first 44 spots in the draft. The Jets also have the first pick in the second round Friday night (No. 33) and No. 44.

Bailey gives coach Aaron Glenn and the Jets a big-time pass-rushing presence for a defense that was among the NFL’s worst last season.

“I feel like this organization is trending in the right way,” Bailey said. “I’m just ready to work.”

Bailey is the highest-selected defensive player by the Jets in the NFL draft since the 1970 merger.

With Las Vegas long linked to quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall, the most suspense centered on what New York would do one pick later. In the last few weeks, Bailey and Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese were most often linked to the Jets — and it was just a matter of which one they’d select, if they didn’t trade the pick.

General manager Darren Mougey stayed at No. 2 and took Bailey, who’ll be expected to help boost a pass rush that ranked 31st in the NFL with only 26 sacks. The crosstown-rival Giants drafted Reese with the fifth overall pick.

New York then addressed its offense 14 picks later, giving new quarterback Geno Smith a pass-catching tight end in Sadiq. It was largely assumed the Jets would go after a wide receiver in that spot — Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. and USC's Makai Lemon were still available. Instead, they went with Sadiq, who set a school record last season for tight ends with 51 receptions.

Bailey was a force last season for Texas Tech, tying for the FBS lead with 14 1/2 sacks. He also ranked second with 19 1/2 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and three pass breakups in 14 games, including 13 starts.

With the Jets, Bailey will help replace edge rusher Jermaine Johnson, who was traded to Tennessee for defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat in February.

“That feeling, it's like no other,” Bailey said of getting sacks. “It's really what I be chasing. I have a lot of motivations for why I play the game. That's one of them. That feeling when you get a sack and the crowd is on your side, especially during a home game — but regardless, home or away — it's one of the best feelings. I take a lot of pride in that.”

After three seasons at Stanford, the 22-year-old Bailey transferred to Texas Tech and was an AP All-America pick, the Big 12 defensive lineman of the year, the conference’s newcomer of the year and a finalist for the Lombardi Award as the country’s top lineman.

The Jets canceled their top-30 visit with Bailey last week, leading some to speculate that the team had waning interest. But Mougey said Tuesday at New York’s pre-draft news conference that wasn’t the case.

“In regards to David, we had good touch points with him at the combine, we went to his pro day, had a good dinner with him,” Mougey said. “We were just kind of juggling our 30 and how to use them and I wouldn’t look too much into a cancellation because there were other ones we may have changed, as well.”

Bailey will get his visit to the Jets' facility, after all. As New York's top draft pick.

“I had a great interaction with them at the combine,” Bailey said. “Obviously, they canceled the 30 visit, but other than that, man, I had a great FaceTime with Mougey and everybody.”

It’s the fourth time in franchise history that the Jets picked second overall and first since they took quarterback Zach Wilson in 2021. Running back Blair Thomas (1990) and wide receiver Johnny “Lam” Jones (1980) were the others.

The 6-foot-3, 241-pound Sadiq joins Jeremy Ruckert and Mason Taylor — the team's second-round pick last year — in the Jets' tight ends room.

Sadiq is considered a versatile tight end with terrific athleticism who should be able to help in both the passing and running games.

“I can create separation," Sadiq said. “But I can also go hit someone.”

He's the third-highest tight end taken by the Jets in NFL draft history, behind only Kyle Brady, who went ninth overall in 1995 and Johnny Mitchell, who was 15th overall in 1992.

Sadiq opened eyes at the NFL combine, running a 4.39 40-yard dash — a blazing speed for a tight end his size. He led FBS tight ends with eight touchdown catches last season, his first as a full-time starter for the Ducks.

“I play fast and I play hard," he said, "and that's two things I pride myself on.”

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

El 23 de marzo, el Hércules C-130 de matrícula 1016 de la Fuerza Aérea Colombiana se accidentó segundos después de su despegue en Puerto Leguizamo, en el departamento sureño Putumayo en la Amazonia colombiana, precipitándose cerca de la pista.

Según el informe de la Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana (FAC) que dio a conocer en rueda de prensa el coronel Luis Giraldo, director de Seguridad Operacional, cuatro segundos después el despegue, la aeronave impactó con tres árboles que se encontraban en la trayectoria de salida de la pista.

El material vegetal afectó a los motores con “pérdida significativa de potencia” e incidió “en el control de la aeronave”, que luego de 36 segundos “impactó en el suelo… generándose el incendio posterior”, detalló el coronel Giraldo.

Consultado sobre una posible falla humana, el director a cargo de la investigación declinó señalarlo como la causa determinante y aseguró que es parte de la investigación en curso.

Pese a ello, Giraldo subrayó que los hallazgos determinaron que “previo al vuelo la aeronave se encontraba perfectamente”, y que contaba con el certificado vigente de aeronavegabilidad. Agregó que tampoco tenía un mantenimiento pendiente “que impusiera restricciones” para su vuelo y que el peso en la aeronave y las condiciones meteorológicas eran adecuadas.

Los últimos segundos en el avión antes de su impacto, de acuerdo con los instrumentos de vuelo analizados revelaron, según contó la autoridad aeroespacial, que “solo hay una exclamación de sorpresa” y que el piloto y la tripulación se concentraron en intentar mantener el control de la aeronave.

El informe preliminar recomienda el retiro de los árboles en la zona pues representan “un riesgo” para otras aeronaves.

En el siniestro fallecieron 61 miembros del ejército, seis de la Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana y dos de la policía nacional.

El accidente aéreo considerado uno de los más graves en el país andino encendió el debate sobre el estado de la flota aérea colombiana. El presidente Gustavo Petro insistió en la necesidad de renovarla, pues, según dijo, la aeronave fue fabricada en 1983 y donada por Estados Unidos.

Gray worked a perfect inning in his debut for the Texas Rangers on Thursday night, getting a groundout on his first pitch in the majors and ending the 6-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates with a strikeout of Konnor Griffin, the highly touted shortstop playing the day before his 20th birthday.

“That makes me feel pretty old,” Grey said with a smile. “Getting my first career strikeout on him is pretty cool.”

The Rangers promoted Gray from Triple-A Round Rock earlier Thursday when placing left-handed reliever Robert Garcia on the 15-day injured list because of left shoulder inflammation after he hadn't pitched in a week. Gray was the fourth reliever they used after two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom recorded his 62nd career 10-strikeout game, getting those in 5 2/3 innings.

“It was awesome, and I was getting chills,” Rangers manager Skip Shumaker said. “The journey that he had to get to this spot, you could probably write a book about it.”

Gray found out about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday night, after Round Rock was rained out for the second day in a row in Sugar Land, Texas, that he was going to join the Rangers. He then called his parents in Columbus, Indiana, and they made the more than 900-mile drive to be at their son's big-league debut.

Each time the phone rang in the Rangers bullpen Thursday night, Gray got antsy thinking it could be his moment.

“When it was finally my turn, it was awesome. I wasn’t nervous I was more excited, prepared,” said Gray, who was asked later why he didn't feel nervous. “I think I visualized this moment so many times throughout my life. ... I feel like I’ve been a big leaguer already. I just haven’t been able to be on this stage yet.”

After needing only one pitch to get his first out, Gray got a flyout before facing Griffin, the teenager who two weeks ago agreed to nine-year, $140 million contract with the Pirates. The swing-and-miss for strike three was on an 83.4 mph changeup that catcher Danny Jansen blocked and then threw to first base to end the game.

“This game is amazing. I love this game so much because of stories like that,” Schumaker said. “You’re seeing a kid that just came out of high school not too long ago, and then another guy that has spent (time) trying to get his moment. ... For him to get a strikeout against a future All-Star over there. That’s what the beautiful part of this game is, you don’t see that in every sport. That just doesn’t happen. So yeah, pretty cool moment.”

After being in the Rangers’ minor league system last season, Gray impressed them in spring training this year as a non-roster invite. He had 2.53 ERA in nine appearances with 18 strikeouts and one walk over 10 2/3 innings.

The pitcher who will turn 31 on June 2 began this season at Triple-A Round Rock, where he threw 12 2/3 scoreless innings over seven games, going 1-0 with two saves, 15 strikeouts and two walks.

“Being the 30-year-old non-roster invite that doesn’t have any big league time, I don’t think they expected me to put up as many zeroes and throw as many strikes as I did,” Gray said in the Rangers clubhouse before his MLB debut. ”So I think I surprised them. I might have surprised myself a little bit too.”

After pitching at Florida Gulf Coast University, Gray’s professional debut was a short season with the Colorado Rockies’ affiliate in the Northwest League in 2018, and he stayed in their organization in 2019.

He spent 2021 in the Kansas City Royals’ organization, that between three different seasons for the Milwaukee Milkmen in the independent American Association. He pitched in the Dominican last winter, after the previous three winters in the Mexican Pacific League.

“That’s awesome. 30 years old, that it’s a long time and been through a lot,” deGrom said of Gray. “So for him to get up here and get to the major leagues is just a testament to how hard he has worked throughout the minor leagues and stuff. So very happy for him.”

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

According to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board, the truck drove through the airport's version of a stop light and the vehicle lacked a transponder, hampering a crash warning system. There was also extra heavy air traffic and an emergency involving another plane at the time.

Air Canada Express Flight 8646, a regional jet from Montreal with 76 people aboard, slammed into the fire truck seconds after landing on March 22. Pilots Antoine Forest, 30, and Mackenzie Gunther, 24, were killed, and 39 people were taken to hospitals with injuries, including the two people in the fire truck.

It was the first deadly crash at LaGuardia in 34 years. Here are some key takeaways from the NTSB's report.

Busy air traffic controllers

Two air traffic controllers were on duty on the night of the crash, consistent with normal scheduling.

But LaGuardia was busier than usual because flight delays pushed the number of arrivals and departures after 10 p.m. to more than double what was scheduled, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Planes were landing every few minutes in the lead up to the crash. At the same time, the controllers had to shuffle their duties because of an emergency involving a strong odor on a departing United Airlines jet. The fire truck involved in the collision was leading a convoy of vehicles responding to the emergency.

While the more senior controller was coordinating the United emergency response, the other controller took over directing vehicles on the ground while continuing to authorized takeoffs and landings.

“These controllers were just way busy, just too busy,” aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti said.

No transponder on the fire truck

LaGuardia is one of 35 major U.S. airports with an advanced surface surveillance system that combines radar data with information from transponders inside planes and ground vehicles to help prevent collisions. Controllers have a display in the tower that’s supposed to show the location of every plane and vehicle.

The fire truck involved in the crash — and the others in the convoy — were not equipped with transponders that would have enabled the system, known as ASDE-X, to precisely track their movements.

The system's radar had trouble distinguishing the fire truck and the other vehicles, and the radar targets intermittently merged on the display. As a result, it didn’t sound an alarm to alert controllers.

Red lights were on

According to air traffic control transmissions, the Air Canada flight was cleared to land at 11:35 p.m. About two minutes later, 25 seconds before the crash, the fire crew asked to cross the same runway.

The flight was about 100 feet (30 meters) above the ground when an air traffic controller cleared the fire truck to cross. At the time, a system of red lights on the runway that act as a warning for crossing traffic were still lit up.

They remained illuminated until the truck reached the edge of the runway — about three seconds before the collision. By design, the lights turn off two or three seconds before a plane reaches a runway intersection, the report said.

The truck should have never entered the runway while the warning lights were on, even though the controller cleared it to cross, according to former airline pilot John Cox, CEO of Safety Operating Systems.

“That’s an automated system so even though the controller says you’re cleared to cross, the lights mean that there’s an airplane that is either on the runway or about to be,” Cox said.

Guzzetti said it may have been hard to see the runway lights before the crash because it was dark and the pavement was wet.

‘Stop, stop, stop’

Nine seconds before the crash, the controller realized the plane and truck were set to collide and told the fire crew: “Stop, stop, stop, stop. Truck 1. Stop, stop, stop, stop.”

The fire truck's turret operator told investigators that he recalled hearing “stop, stop, stop” but didn't know who the words were intended for until subsequently hearing “Truck 1."

He then noticed the truck had already entered the runway. As they turned left, he said he could see the plane's lights on the runway.

It’s understandable that the driver didn’t realize the controller's initial stop call was meant for the truck, Cox said, since he was giving instructions to multiple different vehicles in succession.

“Now we know who he’s talking to, but the first three stop, stop, stop there is ambiguity, if you were listening to it, who he’s talking to,” Cox said.

But Cox said he's not sure the truck would have been able to stop in time even if the driver had slammed on the brakes at the first call to stop, because the NTSB said it had reached 29 mph (47 kph) before it entered the runway.

Given the truck's speed and weight, Cox said, the vehicle “isn’t going to stop on a dime."

The president announced the renovation at an Oval Office event Thursday, saying the coating had already begun. He was inspired to tackle the project after a friend visited from Germany and lamented that the water was filthy and looked disgusting, Trump said.

“And I went over there with Secret Service in tow, and I said, isn’t that a shame? That’s terrible,” Trump said, showing reporters a photo of the site as it undergoes work.

The project is one more makeover refashioning the nation’s capital to Trump’s liking, following others such as the demolition of the White House's East Wing to make room for a new ballroom.

Lined with stately elm trees between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, the reflecting pool is one of the most iconic sites in the capital. It’s where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963.

In Trump’s telling, the reflection pool project is a case study in business acumen. The president said he scrapped plans to have the granite replaced, which he said was estimated to cost $301 million and would take at least three years.

Instead, Trump said he called a few pool contractors he knows from past real estate projects — “I have a guy who’s unbelievable at doing swimming pools up the road,” Trump said.

The president went with a plan to clean the granite and lay down a new “industrial grade pool” surface for $1.5 million, he said. All told, it would take a few weeks. Trump noted it would be ready well before July 4, when the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence.

Trump brought up the project unprompted and spoke about it for several minutes at a White House event on efforts to reduce drug prices. He said he initially wanted a turquoise-colored surface “like in the Bahamas” but was sold when a contractor suggested “American flag blue.”

“You’re going to end up with a beautiful, beautiful reflecting pool,” Trump said, “the way it’s supposed to be, much better than it ever was.”

Smalley and Springer matched the tournament record with a 58.

“We’ve got a long way to go before the tournament is over, but it’s a fun format,” Smalley said about the PGA Tour's only team event. “It’s nice to kind of mix it up a little bit, to have a team event like this instead of doing the same monotonous thing that we do week in and week out, just kind of doing our own thing, playing our own ball.”

Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka, who comprise the most accomplished team at the par-72 TPC Louisiana, shot a 66 to leave them outside the top 40 and in danger of missing the cut — unless they can make a strong push Friday in alternate-shot play.

The format returns to better ball Saturday, and back to alternate shot Sunday.

“The biggest thing is getting those two rounds under your belt, seeing where you lie, and kicking on from there,” Matt Fitzpatrick said.

Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat were a shot behind after a round in which they followed Eckroat's eagle on the par-5 seventh with eight straight birdies.

Three teams were tied for third at 60: Sam Stevens and Zach Bouchou, along with Eric Cole and Hank Lebioda, and Nick Dunlap and Gordon Sargent.

Billy Horschel — the only player to win the Zurich in both single-play and team formats — was again in the hunt when after he and Tom Hoge shot a 61 — highlighted by Hoge's eagle on No. 2 — to put them in a seven-way tie for sixth.

Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala each made eagles — Rai by spinning in a 106-yard approach shot on the par-4 13th — and posted a 62.

Defending Zurich champs Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak shot a bogey-free 65 and will need to move up some to make the cut in the only team event of the season.

Smalley, who has never won on the PGA Tour, made a 19-foot eagle put on the par-5 second hold after sinking a 16 1/2-footer to bridie No. 1. His tee shot on No. 3 landed within 7 feet to set up another birdie to put his team at 4 under.

“It’s nice to have another player to lean on a little bit,” Smalley said. ”

The pair of 29-year-old Americans then combined to birdie 10 of their final 14 holes. Springer, also seeking a maiden tour triumph, accounted for the final four birdies, highlighted by his 36-foot putt on the par-3 17th.

A large gallery gathered at the first hole to watch the Fitzpatricks tee off in the same group with Lowry and Koepka on a sunny, breezy, 80-degree afternoon.

Koepka — in his first season back on the PGA Tour after four years with LIV Golf — entered the week needing a good showing to earn his first exemption for a signature event, the next of which takes place next week at Trump National Doral in Miami.

Lowry carried their team early, with birdies on five of the first eight holes. Koepka finally pitched in with a 31 1/2-foot birdie putt on 10, but the pair did not better that par the rest of the way.

The Fitzpatricks, playing together a fourth straight year in New Orleans, got to 9-under with Matt Fitzpatrick's three straight bridies on the 15th through 17th holes. But then both hit their second shots in the water on the par-5 18th and closed with a bogey.

“Really disappointing way to end with two balls in perfect position,” Matt Fitzpatrick said. “It’s not good enough, really.”

A shirtless Michael Brennan made a splash — literally and otherwise — when he elected to hit a ball on the water's edge on 18 and sent muddy water flying everywhere while his ball popped straight up and plopped back in the water.

Still, he and teammate Johnny Keefer finished the round just three shots behind the leaders.

“I was dropping it if I was just playing in a normal tournament,” Brennan said. “But Johnny had a birdie putt on the green. So I was, like, ‘Well, I guess we can try it.’ But, yeah, it was fun.”

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

The Lakers made the designation on their high-scoring guard Thursday while the team flew to Houston. Los Angeles has a surprising 2-0 series lead heading into Game 3 on Friday night despite playing without Luka Doncic and Reaves, its top two scorers.

Reaves hasn't played since he strained his oblique muscles and Doncic strained his hamstring in a game at Oklahoma City on April 2, but Reaves returned to on-court basketball activities over the past few days. Before the Lakers' flight, coach JJ Redick said he had no update on the schedule for his injured starters' return to play.

Reaves averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds during an impressive regular season for the Lakers, although he played in only 51 games due to two lengthy injury absences. In his fifth season with Los Angeles, the former undrafted free agent cemented his status as a prolific secondary scorer and dependable offensive facilitator while the Lakers won 53 games and the Pacific Division.

But Reaves and NBA scoring champion Doncic were both injured during the Lakers' blowout loss to the Thunder three weeks ago.

Doncic is still out for Game 3, but Redick said earlier this week that the Slovenian superstar is expected to begin initial on-court work soon. The Lakers haven’t publicly speculated on the date of either guard’s return.

After losing three straight games following the injuries, the Lakers have regrouped and won five in a row. Los Angeles stunned the NBA by claiming the first two games of its first-round series at home over the Rockets, who were perceived as the strong favorites in the series due to the Lakers' injury problems.

Although 41-year-old LeBron James is leading the way, Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart also have stepped up impressively in the absence of the Lakers' starting backcourt. Kennard scored 27 points in Game 1 and 23 in Game 2, and Smart scored 25 points with five 3-pointers in Game 2 while leading Los Angeles' impressive defensive effort against Kevin Durant, who managed only three points after halftime.

Reaves will be eligible for a big new contract this summer if he declines his option for next season, as expected. Both Reaves and team officials have said they believe the guard will remain with the Lakers, his favorite team since childhood.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

During a Thursday event announcing a deal with drugmaker Regeneron to lower the cost of its pharmaceutical products, Trump defended his past claims that prices on prescription medications had been cut by well over 100% — something that is mathematically impossible without manufacturers dropping prices to zero and then presumably paying consumers to use their product.

Trump acknowledged having boasted that his efforts to lower drug prices had reduced what consumers pay by “500%, 600%.” But he added, “We also sometimes say 50%, 60%” and called it a "different kind of calculation" that could go up to "70, 80 and 90%."

“People understand that better,” Trump said. “But they're two ways of calculating” and “either way, it doesn't make any difference.”

There could indeed be two ways of calculating such things — but the difference is very important. One is correct. The other is nonmathematical.

It was one of several times Trump used his own — but incorrect — math during the drug pricing event. He claimed the 7 1/2-week-and-still-going Iran war actually fell within the four- to six-week timeline he predicted early on. The president also brought up the crowd size for his 2017 inauguration — a subject that led onetime top Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway to unwittingly make the phrase “ alternative facts ” famous.

Trump’s incorrect take on percentages — something he has long repeated — came just after his health chief, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., brought up the issue on his own during the same Oval Office event Thursday.

Kennedy noted that he was reminded of his exchange the previous day with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., at a congressional hearing when she said that claiming price cuts exceeding 100% might suggest “companies should be paying you to take their drugs.”

Kennedy said during the hearing that Trump “has a different way of calculating.”

On Thursday, Kennedy argued that drug manufacturers had raised prices on popular medications by more than 100% and that Trump was then cutting the price down substantially — meaning he was wiping out percentages of costs worth more than 100%.

“If the drug was $100, and it raised the price to $600, that would be a 600% rise,” Kennedy said — even though that's incorrect. Six hundred is indeed 600% of the original 100 value, but the increase from one to the other is actually only 500%.

Kennedy then continued, “And the president used that mathematical device.”

But no such device exists for the way Trump characterizes it — at least not when math is done correctly.

Something can increase in price by more than 100%. A product that increases from $1 to $2.10 has increased by 110%. But prices cannot be reduced by more than 100% without being pushed to a value of $0 — or reduced 100% of the full price — and then into negative territory, where consumers presumably would need to be paid for using a product.

In a subsequent question-and-answer session with reporters during the price announcement event, meanwhile, Trump offered another dash of fake math for how long the war in Iran, which began Feb. 28, had been going on.

Asked about the war having exceeding the four to six weeks he originally suggested it would last, Trump argued that he'd actually met his own timeline because Iran's military was “decimated” by then.

The U.S. and Iran agreed to a ceasefire this month, and Trump announced this week that he was extending it. But neither side says the war is over, and a conclusion that hasn't been achieved certainly didn't occur in the four to six weeks that have already elapsed.

Trump also brought up his 2017 inaugural crowd size issue on Thursday, when talking about renovations at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. He noted that Martin Luther King Jr. had drawn hundreds of thousands of people to the National Mall for his “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963 and claimed: “I had the same exact crowd. Maybe a little bit more,” arguing that pictures of both events backed him up.

“I actually had more people," Trump added. “But that’s OK.”

In a Thursday memo, Michael Kratsios, the president's chief science and technology adviser, accused foreign entities “principally based in China” of engaging in deliberate, industrial-scale campaigns to “distill,” or extract capabilities from, leading AI systems made in the U.S. and “exploiting American expertise and innovation.”

The administration, Kratsios wrote, will work with American AI companies to identify such activities, build defenses and find ways to punish offenders.

The memo arrives at a time when China is challenging U.S. dominance in artificial intelligence, an area where the White House says the U.S. must prevail to set global standards and reap economic and military benefits. But the U.S.-China gap in performance of top AI models has “effectively closed,” according to a recent report from Stanford University's Institute for Human-Centered AI.

China's embassy in Washington said it opposed “the unjustified suppression of Chinese companies by the U.S.”

“China has always been committed to promoting scientific and technological progress through cooperation and healthy competition. China attaches great importance to the protection of intellectual property rights,” said Liu Pengyu, the embassy spokesperson.

In Beijing, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters Friday that the U.S. claims are groundless and were smearing the achievements of China's artificial intelligence industry.

“China firmly opposes this. We urge the U.S. to respect facts, discard prejudice, stop suppressing China’s technological development, and do more to promote scientific and technological exchange and cooperation between the two countries,” he said.

Kratsios' memo also came the same week that the House Foreign Affairs Committee offered unanimous, bipartisan support for a bill to set up a process to identify foreign actors that extract “key technical features” of closed-source, U.S.-owned AI models and to punish them with measures including sanctions.

“Model extraction attacks are the latest frontier of Chinese economic coercion and theft of U.S. intellectual property,” said Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., who sponsored the bill. “American AI models are demonstrating transformative cyber capabilities, and it is critical we prevent China from stealing these technological advancements.”

Last year, the Chinese startup DeepSeek rattled U.S. markets when it released a large language model that could compete with U.S. AI giants but at a fraction of the cost.

David Sacks, then serving as President Donald Trump's AI and crypto adviser, suggested that DeepSeek copied U.S. models. “There’s substantial evidence that what DeepSeek did here is they distilled the knowledge out of OpenAI’s models,” Sacks said then.

In a February letter to U.S. lawmakers, OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, made similar allegations and said China should not be allowed to advance “autocratic AI” by “appropriating and repackaging American innovation.”

Anthropic, the maker of the Claude chatbot, in February accused DeepSeek and two other China-based AI laboratories of engaging in campaigns to “illicitly extract Claude’s capabilities to improve their own models” using the distillation technique that “involves training a less capable model on the outputs of a stronger one.”

Anthropic said distillation can be a legitimate way to train AI systems but it's a problem when competitors “use it to acquire powerful capabilities from other labs in a fraction of the time, and at a fraction of the cost, that it would take to develop them independently.”

But it can go both ways. San Francisco-based startup Anysphere, maker of the popular coding tool Cursor, recently acknowledged that its latest product was based on an open-source model made by Chinese company Moonshot AI, maker of the chatbot Kimi.

Kyle Chan, a fellow at the Washington-based think tank The Brookings Institution and an expert on China's technology development, said it will be like “looking for needles in an enormous haystack” to separate unauthorized distillation from the vast volume of legitimate requests for data. But information sharing and coordination among U.S. AI labs could help, and the federal government can play an important role in facilitating anti-distillation efforts across labs, Chan said.

It's hard to assess how far the House bill can go, but Chan said Trump may not want to rock the boat with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of a planned mid-May state visit to Beijing.

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AP Technology Writer Matt O'Brien contributed to this report from Providence, Rhode Island.

Pickens has yet to sign the one-year, fully guaranteed contract but intends to put the issue to rest as the Cowboys go into the NFL draft, the people told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the signing isn't official.

The move by Pickens comes a day after executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones said the Cowboys planned for Pickens to play on the tag this season. The sides would have had until July 15 to try to reach agreement on a long-term deal.

By signing the agreement, Pickens can be fined for not showing up at mandatory minicamp in June or for training camp in July. But getting under contract allows the 25-year-old to participate in the offseason program, which starts Monday.

The timing of Pickens’ decision — just two hours before the start of the draft — raised speculation about a trade. Jones shut it down.

“We’ve got every reason in the world to believe that hopefully he's ready to go to work," Jones said after the first round of the draft. “But we have zero intention of moving George Pickens.”

Pickens, acquired last offseason in a trade with Pittsburgh, had career highs in catches (93), yards receiving (1,429) and touchdowns (nine) for one of the best offenses in the NFL last season. Dallas had one of the worst defenses in the league and finished 7-9-1, missing the playoffs for the second year in a row.

The 2022 second-round pick out of Georgia thrived alongside CeeDee Lamb, who is going into the second year of a $136 million, four-year contract that currently ranks him third among NFL receivers with an average annual value of $34 million.

There is incentive for Pickens to take the guaranteed money under the tag because it's a huge payday compared to the total earnings of $6.8 million on his four-year rookie deal.

Quarterback Dak Prescott and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence played a season under the franchise tag within the past eight years for Dallas before reaching long-term deals. Tight end Dalton Schultz and running back Tony Pollard also played under the tag before leaving in free agency the next year.

Jones said the “newness” of Pickens' tenure with the Cowboys was a factor in the decision to stick with a one-year deal for now and not a longer contract.

Pickens’ talent was on display during three seasons with the Steelers, but so were enough instances of petulant or indifferent behavior for then-coach Mike Tomlin to question his maturity.

Brian Schottenheimer never took issue with Pickens publicly in his first season as a head coach after a quarter-century as an NFL assistant. But Pickens and Lamb were benched for the first series in Las Vegas after missing curfew following a casino visit the night before the game.

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

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On Thursday, Broward County prosecutors filed a third-degree felony case with 41 charges against Jamar Clair, a convicted felon who was born in Fort Lauderdale and lives in Oakland Park, records show.

Clair is “believed to be the owner of 9 adult pitbull and pitbull mix dogs, 14 pitbull puppies/dogs estimated to be between 3-4 weeks old,” a deputy wrote, according to an arrest report in the case.

Clair refused to appear in bond court on Thursday morning. Broward County Circuit Judge Corey B. Friedman, who was presiding, allowed his relatives to speak during the bond court hearing.

“My dad is a caring and supportive person ... Those were not his dogs, and I do not believe that he harmed any animals,” Clair’s daughter Jamilia Clair told Friedman in court.

Relatives said Clair was doing the dogs’ owner a favor. A prosecutor told Friedman during the hearing that “once someone accepts the responsibility of caring for animals, it is their responsibility whether they were the original dog owner or not.”

Friedman said BSO deputies reported Clair refused to cooperate during the investigation, and he ordered him to stay away from animals.

“This was going on for months involving many different dogs,” the prosecutor told Friedman.

Deputies reported there was a “strong odor of animal feces” inside Clair’s house and “piles of dog feces” in the yard, according to the deputy’s arrest report.

“Some of the dogs you could see their rib cage. One of the pit-bull dogs had a severe eye infection,” a deputy wrote, according to the report.

A deputy reported there were 13 puppies inside a medium-sized cage.

“The cage had no water, and fresh feces scattered throughout,” the deputy wrote. “The inside was so small the puppies were having to climb over each other.”

Deputies reported visiting the house and returning the next day to learn that someone had removed 14 puppies and three adult dogs, and there were still four adult dogs in the backyard and two adult dogs inside.

“There was still evidence of ongoing abuse and neglect,” a deputy wrote, according to the arrest report.

Clair was the subject of animal control complaints in the last few years. On July 28, 2025, Broward County’s Animal Care Division issued Clair a citation for cruelty to animals in Fort Lauderdale, according to court records. The case remained open on Thursday.

“A dog was tethered on a short chain, kept in a crate outside, sores on the ears, and flies all over him,” a deputy wrote about a visit to the house in 2025, according to a deputy’s report.

In 2024, the Broward County Animal Care removed a puppy and three adult dogs from Clair’s home that were neglected, according to an arrest report.

The Florida Department of Corrections released Clair from prison on Oct. 17, 2020, after he was convicted of a robbery in Broward County and sentenced to six years and eight months in prison, records show.

On Thursday evening, Clair was at the Broward County Main Jail in Fort Lauderdale.

Clair is facing 18 counts of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, a third-degree felony.

Clair is also facing 23 counts of tormenting, depriving of sustenance, mutilating, or killing an animal, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Clair’s bond was $75,500. Broward County Circuit Judge Francis I. Viamontes was set to preside over the case.

Watch the bond court hearing

Local 10 News Assignment Editor Carson Merlo contributed to this report.

Deputies later identified the pair involved.

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Investigators with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said the shooting happened in a home near Southwest 168th Street and 92nd Avenue, where deputies were called to just after 4:45 p.m. in reference to a reported domestic dispute.

They said they took David Ronald McPeck, 75, into custody outside of the home after he fatally shot his 47-year-old son, David Dylan McPeck.

Deputies said Thursday afternoon that they later released the elder McPeck “and at this time no formal charges have been filed.”

Deputies said they’ve responded to the house before for mental health calls.

A woman who identified herself as David Dylan McPeck’s sister told Local 10 News that her family has “seen this coming for years.“

“We’ve made plenty of phone calls, trying to get help,” she said.

She returned to the family home Thursday morning.

“I’m sorry that it has come to this. I don’t know what else to say,” the woman said. “This is so tragic that it ended this way. I can’t even begin to tell you what this is doing to my family.”

Deputies still haven’t elaborated on exactly what led up to Wednesday’s shooting.

“(I’m) very shocked, because Mr. McPeck is very nice,” neighbor Victoria Delgado said. “They care a lot about the house and with us, we talk.”

Delgado said she last saw MDSO deputies at the home months ago. She said she would frequently see the younger McPeck outside, yelling.

“I know they have kind of some problem, because the day before yesterday, he was running and screaming, very high,” she said.

Records show that in a 2021 incident, the younger McPeck was accused of attacking his father and violating a restraining order.

Deputies said the investigation into the shooting continued Thursday afternoon.

Gannon Ken Van Dyke was part of the operation to capture Maduro in January and used his access to classified information to make money on the prediction market site Polymarket, the federal prosecutor’s office in New York said.

He has been charged by the Justice Department with unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud and making an unlawful monetary transaction. He could face years in prison.

Van Dyke, 38, was involved in the planning and execution of capturing Maduro for about a month beginning Dec. 8, 2025, according to the federal prosecutor’s office. Even though he signed nondisclosure agreements promising to not divulge “any classified or sensitive information” related to the operations, prosecutors say the Army soldier used this information to make a series of bets related to Maduro being out of power by Jan. 31, 2026.

“This involved a U.S. soldier who allegedly took advantage of his position to profit off of a righteous military operation,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a post to social media.

A telephone number listed for Van Dyke in public records was not in service. There was not yet an attorney listed for him in court documents.

Polymarket, one of the largest prediction markets in the world, said it had found someone trading on classified government information, alerted the U.S. Department of Justice and “cooperated with their investigation.”

“Insider trading has no place on Polymarket,” the company said in a statement.

Second complaint filed against the soldier

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the federal agency that regulates prediction markets, announced Thursday it had filed a parallel complaint against Van Dyke.

That complaint alleges that Van Dyke moved $35,000 from his personal bank account into a cryptocurrency exchange account on Dec. 26 — a little over a week before U.S. forces would fly into Caracas and seize Maduro.

Van Dyke used more than $32,500 to make a series of bets on when Maduro might be removed from power, according to the complaint. He placed those bets between Dec. 30 and Jan. 2, with the vast majority occurring the night of Jan. 2 — just hours before the first missiles would fall on Caracas.

In the early hours of Jan. 3, President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform a photo of the now-captured Venezuelan leader, wearing a gray sweatsuit, headphones and a blindfold.

The bets Van Dyke made on Maduro leaving power resulted in “more than $404,000 of profits," the complaint said. Bets on three other Venezuela-related contracts netted the solider more than $5,000, according to the document.

“The defendant was entrusted with confidential information about U.S. operations and yet took action that endangered U.S. national security and put the lives of American service members in harm’s way," said Michael Selig, the commission's chairman.

The massive profits from the well-timed bets aroused public attention days after the raid and brought bipartisan calls for stricter regulation of the markets where people can wager on just about anything.

Officials allege that shortly after the operation, Van Dyke put most of the money he won in a foreign cryptocurrency vault and then into a new brokerage account. He also asked Polymarket to delete his account, saying he had lost access to his email associated with the account, according to the federal prosecutor’s office.

Trump, when asked about the case Thursday, drew parallels between the embattled soldier and late professional baseball player Pete Rose, who was banned from the sport amid accusations that he placed bets on his own team.

“The whole world, unfortunately, has become somewhat of a casino, and you look at what’s going on all over the world and Europe and every place, they’re doing these betting things,” Trump told reporters.

The Trump administration has been a key ally of the growing prediction market industry in a critical legal fight with states seeking to ban the platforms. The president’s eldest son is an adviser for both Polymarket and its competitor Kalshi, and a Polymarket investor. Trump’s social media platform Truth Social is also launching its own cryptocurrency-based prediction market called Truth Predict.

Nearly two decades in the Army

Van Dyke joined the Army in 2008 and, in 2023, was promoted to the rank of master sergeant, the second-highest enlisted rank in the Army, according to the indictment. Federal prosecutors said he was part of the special forces community and was stationed at Fort Bragg near Fayetteville, North Carolina, but their indictment offered little other details about his military service.

The document said Van Dyke was photographed following the raid on the deck of a ship “wearing U.S. military fatigues, and carrying a rifle, standing alongside three other individuals wearing U.S. military fatigues."

The Pentagon referred questions on the case to the Army and the Justice Department.

Army officials declined to provide Van Dyke's service record. Typically, the military services are reticent to offer details about members of the special forces and take measures to keep their identities secret.

Bets on geopolitical tensions draw scrutiny

The high-profile indictment comes as bipartisan lawmakers are considering legislation to ban prediction markets from allowing bets on war, assassinations or terrorist attacks.

Earlier this month, The Associated Press reported that a group of new accounts on Polymarket made highly specific, well-timed bets on whether the U.S. and Iran would reach a ceasefire on April 7, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits for the new customers. On the same day the AP published the report, the White House warned staff against using private information to trade on prediction markets.

On Wednesday, Kalshi fined and suspended three congressional candidates who the company said wagered on the outcome of their own elections.

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Golden reported from Seattle, and Schoenbaum from Salt Lake City.

Many can be surgically repaired, but for really large tears, there’s a minimally invasive way to get patients back in the game.

Fifty-year-old Jon Kikel is no weekend warrior. For him, physical activity happens seven days a week.

He played both high school and college hockey.

“I love playing hockey, it’s been a passion of mine since I was five years old,” he said. “I do that one or two times a week in a men’s league. I love to go to the gym, be outdoors, go to the beach.”

Last year, when Kikel experienced a painful rotator cuff injury after a bike accident, the result was devastating.

“After that, it got to the point that I could barely lift a plate and get it on a shelf,” he said. “I couldn’t go to the gym or play hockey. I knew I had to seek some help.”

Several doctors told Kikel that because the rotator cuff tear was so large, he would need a full shoulder replacement, an invasive surgery that would greatly limit his activity.

Then Kikel met Dr. Keith Hechtman with Baptist Health Orthopedic Care, and he had another option: a tuberoplasty.

“It gave him the option that he could still live the life you want to live without the restrictions or fear that he has a prosthetic there, something that is very delicate,” said Hechtman.

Since the bone touching bone is what causes the pain, in a tuberoplasty, the doctor actually reshapes the bone to improve function and reduce pain.

“We actually shave the ball, so that it doesn’t hit at the top,” said Hechtman. “It shaves the edge here so it doesn’t stick up.”

After surgery, Kikel did physical therapy and was back on the ice about three months later.

“I’d say I’m about 90%,” he said. “I still have some rebuilding to other parts of my shoulder, but I’m extremely happy and I feel very blessed that I found this solution.”

The tuberoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that is done arthroscopically, where a tiny camera and shaving device is inserted through small buttonhole sized incisions.

Kikel went home the very same day he had the surgery.