• Food For The Poor packs disaster relief kits with ‘hopeful’ hand-written notes
• State Department deploys Miami-Dade search-and-rescue team
• Miami-Dade’s tax collector opens 11 drop-off locations
• Doral opens 4 aid drop-off locations
• Aid drop-off location opens in Homestead
• International Medical Corps deploys staff, needs donations
• Save The Children asks for emergency fund donations
• Samaritan’s Purse focuses on ‘emergency field hospital’
• Red Cross asks for Disaster Response Emergency Fund donations
• UN asks for donations for ‘underfunded’ program for kids
• World Vision asks for ‘disaster relief fund’ donations
• World Central Kitchen asks for donations for fresh meals
• United Way Miami launches ‘Operation Helping Hands’

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The fire rescue personnel with the Urban Search and Rescue, or USAR, and Florida Task Force 1, or FLTF1, which includes 80 specialists, will support search and rescue operations.

“We know that many people in our community have family, friends, and loved ones in Venezuela, which makes this mission especially meaningful to us,” a MDFR spokesperson wrote in a statement. “We deploy with a single purpose: to provide hope and assist those who have been affected during this difficult time.”

The FLTF1 “Type I” team also includes six canine teams and experts in 19 areas, including command and control, technical search, structural evaluation and stabilization, planning and technical information, advanced medical care, hazardous materials mitigation, tactical communications, logistics, safety, and technical rescue.

The State Department had already deployed two urban search and rescue teams from Los Angeles and Fairfax, Virginia, that had worked together in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa.

More HELPING VENEZUELA coverage

• Food For The Poor packs disaster relief kits with ‘hopeful’ hand-written notes
• Miami-Dade’s tax collector opens 11 drop-off locations
• Doral opens 4 aid drop-off locations
• Aid drop-off location opens in Homestead
• International Medical Corps deploys staff, needs donations
• Save The Children asks for emergency fund donations
• Samaritan’s Purse focuses on ‘emergency field hospital’
• Red Cross asks for Disaster Response Emergency Fund donations
• UN asks for donations for ‘underfunded’ program for kids
• World Vision asks for ‘disaster relief fund’ donations
• World Central Kitchen asks for donations for fresh meals
• United Way Miami launches ‘Operation Helping Hands’

Buttigieg wrote in a Substack post that a Michigan State Police officer told him they found nothing to substantiate the anonymous allegation and believed it was politically motivated. He described the 24-hour ordeal as “among the darkest hours of my life.”

In a statement, Michigan State Police said they received an “anonymous report” and that they and child protective services “responded and determined the report was false.”

According to Buttigieg, a Michigan State Police officer and a child protective services worker came to his home after receiving an anonymous report alleging he posed a danger to his children. He said authorities arranged forensic interviews for his twins and instructed him not to be alone with them until the interviews were complete.

The following day, Buttigieg said investigators told him the anonymous caller claimed he had confessed years earlier to violent crimes during a chance meeting in Alabama. Buttigieg said he had never been to the town where the meeting allegedly occurred. He said police told him the allegation would not be referred to prosecutors, while Child Protective Services found nothing to substantiate the report.

“I cannot describe the mix of rage and sadness that I feel at the idea that someone brought our children into this," writes Buttigieg. “They are four years old. Four. They do not know or care what a Democrat or a Republican is.”

Buttigieg, who is widely viewed as a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2028, has long been the target of anti-LGBTQ attacks.

In recent years, conservative activists and some Republican officials have opposed efforts to portray same-sex parents as ordinary families in schools and public life. June — widely recognized as Pride Month — is Strong Families Month in Alabama, intended to coincide with Father’s Day. Gov. Kay Ivey’s proclamation says fathers are “the head of the household” and “homes led by a father and mother provide children with the structure and discipline necessary to succeed throughout life.”

Buttigieg wrote that the incident occurred soon after he shared photos of his family online for Father’s Day.

Buttigieg drew criticism from some Republicans for taking paternity leave after he and his husband, Chasten, adopted their twins while he was serving in the Biden administration. Buttigieg also wrote that he has faced death threats during his career.

“But this is the ugliest thing that has happened to me since my career in service began,” he wrote.

Public officials from across the political spectrum have increasingly been targeted by swatting, which is the act of making a false call to emergency services to prompt a response at a particular address. The goal is to get authorities, particularly a SWAT team, to show up. Law enforcement agencies have warned that the incidents divert resources from other pressing tasks and pose risks to both law enforcement and the victims.

Buttigieg said the incident reflected a broader escalation in political attacks.

“Everyone knows politics is ugly these days,” he wrote. “It’s always been ugly, but now it feels more and more like bloodsport."

“Even so, this is different.”

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According to arrest reports, officers identified the suspects as Terrance Beron Sills, 22, Jayden Cereus, 18, both of Fort Lauderdale, and Kevin Peeples, 18, of Miami.

Police said officers were on patrol around 11:30 p.m. Thursday after receiving a be-on-the lookout alert for a gray Honda Accord that had been linked to multiple smash-and-grab burglaries in Pinecrest and repeatedly detected by automated license plate reader cameras throughout the village.

According to the reports, an officer spotted the vehicle near Southwest 122nd Street and Southwest 67th Avenue.

Investigators said the driver was wearing a black ski mask over the lower half of his face before pulling it down. They also confirmed that the driver, Cereus, turned off the car’s headlights and began reversing after noticing a marked police vehicle.

Officers said they stopped the Honda and detained all three occupants without incident.

According to the reports, officers found three automotive window punch tools, multiple pairs of gloves and black ski masks in plain view inside the car. Police said the tools are commonly used to quickly shatter vehicle windows during burglaries.

After being advised of their Miranda rights, the three suspects gave conflicting explanations about why they were in Pinecrest, according to the reports.

Police said Peeples told investigators the group was “staying at a hotel far from here,” and were looking for an Airbnb to rent in Pinecrest, but officers later contacted the homeowner at the address on his phone, who said they were not expecting anyone and did not know the suspects.

According to the reports, Sills, who told officers the Honda belonged to him, admitted the window punch tools were his but claimed he kept them in case he locked his keys inside the car.

Police said Sills also stated the group had driven from Fort Lauderdale “to look for cars” before refusing to answer additional questions.

Investigators said Cereus told officers the group had been driving around Pinecrest for about 30 minutes but also claimed the hotel where they were staying was about an hour away.

They said based on the car’s connection to previous burglaries, repeated license plate reader alerts, the items recovered from the car and the suspects’ conflicting statements, officers arrested all three men.

Police have not disclosed how many valuables or how much property was stolen in the burglaries linked to the thefts.

Jail records show Sills, Cereus and Peeples each face one count of possession of burglary tools and one count of loitering or prowling.

As of Friday, all three suspects are being held on a $5,100 bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

Anyone with information on the case is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

Según los informes de arresto, los sospechosos fueron identificados como Terrance Beron Sills, de 22 años; Jayden Cereus, de 18, ambos de Fort Lauderdale; y Kevin Peeples, de 18, de Miami.

La Policía indicó que los agentes patrullaban alrededor de las 11:30 p.m. del jueves después de recibir una alerta para localizar un Honda Accord gris que había sido vinculado a múltiples robos a vehículos tras romper sus ventanas en Pinecrest y que había sido detectado repetidamente por cámaras automatizadas de lectura de matrículas en toda la localidad.

Según los informes, un agente localizó el vehículo cerca de la calle 122 SW y la avenida 67 SW.

Los investigadores dijeron que el conductor llevaba una máscara negra de esquí cubriéndole la parte inferior del rostro antes de bajársela. También confirmaron que el conductor, Cereus, apagó las luces del vehículo y comenzó a retroceder después de notar una patrulla policial identificada.

Los agentes dijeron que detuvieron el Honda y arrestaron a los tres ocupantes sin incidentes.

Según los informes, los agentes encontraron a simple vista dentro del vehículo tres herramientas para romper ventanas de automóviles, varios pares de guantes y máscaras negras de esquí. La Policía indicó que estas herramientas son utilizadas comúnmente para romper rápidamente las ventanas de los vehículos durante los robos.

Después de ser informados de sus derechos Miranda, los tres sospechosos dieron explicaciones contradictorias sobre por qué estaban en Pinecrest, según los informes.

La Policía indicó que Peeples dijo a los investigadores que el grupo “se hospedaba en un hotel lejos de aquí” y que buscaban un Airbnb para alquilar en Pinecrest, pero posteriormente los agentes contactaron al propietario de la dirección que aparecía en su teléfono, quien dijo que no esperaba a nadie y que no conocía a los sospechosos.

Según los informes, Sills, quien dijo a los agentes que el Honda le pertenecía, admitió que las herramientas para romper ventanas eran suyas, pero afirmó que las llevaba por si dejaba las llaves dentro del vehículo.

La Policía indicó que Sills también declaró que el grupo había viajado desde Fort Lauderdale “para buscar vehículos” antes de negarse a responder más preguntas.

Los investigadores dijeron que Cereus informó a los agentes que el grupo había estado conduciendo por Pinecrest durante unos 30 minutos, pero también afirmó que el hotel donde se hospedaban estaba aproximadamente a una hora de distancia.

Indicaron que, con base en la vinculación del vehículo con robos anteriores, las repetidas alertas de los lectores de matrículas, los objetos recuperados del automóvil y las declaraciones contradictorias de los sospechosos, los agentes arrestaron a los tres hombres.

La Policía no ha revelado cuántos objetos de valor ni qué cantidad de bienes fueron robados en los casos vinculados.

Los registros de la cárcel muestran que Sills, Cereus y Peeples enfrentan cada uno un cargo de posesión de herramientas para robo y un cargo de merodear o deambular con fines delictivos.

Hasta el viernes, los tres sospechosos permanecían detenidos con una fianza de $5,100 USD cada uno en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight.

Cualquier persona con información sobre el caso puede comunicarse con Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers al 305-471-8477.

El personal de bomberos y rescate de Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) y de Florida Task Force 1 (FLTF1), que incluye a 80 especialistas, apoyará las operaciones de búsqueda y rescate.

“Sabemos que muchas personas de nuestra comunidad tienen familiares, amigos y seres queridos en Venezuela, lo que hace que esta misión sea especialmente significativa para nosotros”, escribió un portavoz de Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) en un comunicado. “Nos desplegamos con un solo propósito: brindar esperanza y ayudar a quienes se han visto afectados durante este difícil momento”.

El equipo FLTF1 de “Tipo I” también incluye seis equipos caninos y expertos en 19 áreas, entre ellas mando y control, búsqueda técnica, evaluación y estabilización estructural, planificación e información técnica, atención médica avanzada, mitigación de materiales peligrosos, comunicaciones tácticas, logística, seguridad y rescate técnico.

El Departamento de Estado ya había desplegado dos equipos urbanos de búsqueda y rescate desde Los Ángeles y Fairfax, Virginia.

Más cobertura de AYUDA A VENEZUELA

• Food For The Poor incluye en sus kits de ayuda humanitaria notas escritas a mano con mensajes de esperanza.
• El recaudador de impuestos de Miami-Dade abre 11 puntos de entrega.
• Doral abre 4 puntos de entrega de ayuda.
• Se abre un punto de entrega de ayuda en Homestead.
• International Medical Corps despliega personal y necesita donaciones.
• Save The Children solicita donaciones para su fondo de emergencia.
• Samaritan’s Purse se centra en los “hospitales de campaña de emergencia”.
• La Cruz Roja solicita donaciones para su Fondo de Emergencia para la Respuesta ante Desastres.
• La ONU solicita donaciones para un programa infantil que carece de fondos suficientes.
• World Vision solicita donaciones para su “fondo de ayuda en casos de desastre”.
• World Central Kitchen solicita donaciones para comidas frescas.
• United Way Miami lanza la ‘Operación Manos Amigas’.

Fue el sangriento desenlace de una larga disputa entre los hermanos. Leyva, de 49 años, llegó en un scooter poco después de las 12:20 p.m. del 24 de abril de 2025 a Priced Rights Motors, Inc., negocio que Rivero, de 35 años, había heredado, según muestran los registros.

Los agentes de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade, Alfredo Pérez y Dea Harris, dispararon contra Leyva poco antes de la 1 p.m. en el 7321 de la calle 45 SW, en el vecindario de Glenvar Heights, al oeste de South Miami, según muestran los registros.

“Leyva disparó contra los agentes al menos una vez antes de que cualquiera de ellos utilizara fuerza letal”, escribió la fiscal adjunta del estado de Miami-Dade, Sara Imm, según el memorando de cierre que también firmó la fiscal estatal de Miami-Dade, Katherine Fernandez Rundle.

Antes de que los agentes respondieran con un escudo balístico, Armando Yadro le dijo a un operador del 911 que Leyva le había disparado y que estaba fingiendo estar muerto porque se encontraba dentro del negocio, según muestran los registros.

Imm describió cómo Leyva también “dirigió” un “aparente explosivo”, una bomba de humo que parecía ser una granada, antes de que Pérez “disparara su arma de fuego”, según el memorando de cierre aprobado el jueves por Fernández Rundle, de acuerdo con los registros.

“Es razonable concluir que tanto el agente Harris como el agente Pérez creían que el uso de fuerza letal era necesario para evitar una muerte inminente o causar un gran daño corporal a ellos mismos y/o a los otros dos civiles”, escribió Imm, según el memorando.

Los videos mostraban a niños corriendo para ponerse a salvo en el exterior y a personas refugiándose en negocios cercanos. Un equipo SWAT llegó al lugar y evacuó el área, que incluía un almacén donde había niños en una práctica de porristas.

Yadro, de 35 años, sufrió una herida en la clavícula y sobrevivió. Rivero recibió un disparo en un costado de la cabeza, y un médico lo declaró muerto en el Hospital HCA Florida Kendall. Leyva recibió un disparo en la cabeza.

“Los médicos no pudieron extraer el proyectil alojado en su cerebro”, escribió la fiscal, según el memorando.

Tras sufrir “complicaciones” por la herida de bala, Leyva permaneció hospitalizado y murió el 14 de febrero, según muestran los registros.

La Fiscalía Estatal de Miami-Dade (MSAO) informó que recibió el informe del Departamento de Cumplimiento de la Ley de Florida (FDLE) el 22 de mayo.

Lea el memorando de cierre

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It was the bloody end to the brothers’ long-running feud. Leyva, 49, rode a scooter and arrived shortly after 12:20 p.m. on April 24, 2025, at Priced Rights Motors, Inc., which Rivero, 35, had inherited, records show.

Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Deputies Alfredo Perez and Dea Harris fired at Leyva shortly before 1 p.m. at 7321 SW 45 St., in the Glenvar Heights neighborhood, just west of South Miami, records show.

“Leyva shot at the officers at least one time prior to either officer using deadly force,” Miami-Dade Assistant State Attorney Sara Imm wrote, according to the closing memo that Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle also signed.

Before the deputies responded with a ballistic shield, Armando Yadro told a 911 dispatcher that Leyva had shot him and he was pretending to be dead because he was in the business, records show.

Imm described how Leyva also “directed” a “perceived explosive,” a smoke bomb that appeared to be a grenade, before Perez “discharged his firearm,” according to the closing memo that Fernandez Rundle approved on Thursday, records show.

“It is reasonable to conclude that both Deputy Harris and Deputy Perez believed that the use of deadly force was necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to themselves and/or the other two civilians, Imm wrote, according to the memo.

Videos showed children running for cover outside, and people at nearby businesses hiding. A SWAT team arrived and evacuated the area, which included a warehouse with kids in a cheerleading practice.

Yadro, 35, suffered a wound to the clavicle and survived. Rivero was shot in the side of the head, and a doctor pronounced him dead at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital. Leyva was shot in the head.

“Doctors were not able to remove the projectile lodged in his brain,” the prosecutor wrote, according to the memo.

After suffering from “complications” from the gunshot wound, Leyva was hospitalized and died on Feb. 14, records show.

The MSAO reported receiving the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s report on May 22.

Read the closing memo

Scheffler had to settle for a 10-under 60 on the soft TPC River Highlands course, setting an early target atop the scoreboard on a day of extreme low scoring at the final signature event of the regular season.

Moments earlier, Viktor Hovland needed to birdie the final two holes for a 59. He settled for a pair of pars and a 61, matching his career best on tour. Akshay Bhatia had a 62.

Scheffler was at 16-under 124, two shots ahead of Hovland when he finished. Eric Cole, the 18-hole leader, still had four holes left in his round.

Scheffler shot 59 in his rookie season in 2020 in the second round of The Northern Trust at the TPC Boston, another rain-softened course that featured low scoring. Dustin Johnson was 11 under through 11 holes that day and had to settle for a 60.

Furyk shot his first sub-60 round in the second round of the 2013 BMW Championship at Conway Farms outside Chicago, a 59 that included a bogey on his card. Three years later, he set the PGA Tour record at the Travelers Championship with a 58 in the final round.

Furyk did not win either tournament.

Scheffler, who won the Travelers Championship two years ago, is coming off a tie for fourth in the U.S. Open when he played in the final round. His last victory was The American Express in the California desert, his first start of the year.

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

After entering as a substitute for Germany, Undav scored three goals and set up two more, putting him just behind top-scoring superstars such as Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé of France and Vinicius Jr. of Brazil on the leaderboard.

Undav, who identifies as a Kurdish Yazidi, is the son of Yazidi refugees. His success is being celebrated by a small, insular community that has endured decades of oppression and violence, notably a 2014 onslaught in which thousands of Yazidis in Iraq’s Sinjar region were killed or abducted by militants from the Islamic State group who considered them to be heretics.

Responding to a question at a news conference Wednesday, the German-born Undav said he hoped his performance would inspire fans everywhere, especially within the Yazidi community.

“I always get the news from my parents how they view me, how they see me and it’s making me proud, you know, that we finally have somebody,” he said.

Undav has fans across Syria, Germany and Iraq

In the village of Khirbet al-Ghazal in northeastern Syria, a small group of Yazidis gathered Thursday night to watch the Germany-Ecuador match at the home of community leader Ismail Dalaf. Many residents are related to Undav’s mother, who is from a now-deserted nearby village whose residents left for economic reasons or fled during Syria’s long civil war that began in 2011.

Dalaf said Undav’s World Cup performance has made him “a symbol that shows Yazidis can reach a higher position and be seen with respect.”

“When people see a Yazidi entering the field, scoring goals and changing the result of matches, it changes public perception,” he said. “It tells the world that Yazidis have a role in the world.”

The Kurds are among the largest stateless ethnic groups in the world, with roughly 30 million living as minorities in Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria. Yazidis are a Kurdish-speaking religious minority mostly found in Syria, Iraq and Turkey. There are around 235,000 Yazidis living in Germany today, according to Irfan Ortac, chair of the Central Council of Yazidis in Germany. Many arrived after the 2014 onslaught.

“Until now, we have mostly been known as victims of violence,” Ortac said. “Whenever we spoke about Yazidis, we always had to talk about genocide, discrimination, and displacement. It makes us very proud and happy to be able to talk about something positive.”

In Iraq — home to the largest concentration of Yazidis in the world and the location of their most holy site, the Lalish temple — members of the community also have embraced Undav’s success.

“It makes me very happy to see a Yazidi bringing our name to the World Cup and playing in front of the whole world,” said Luqman Sleiman, spokesperson for the temple.

Diyar Bakir, 29, a Yazidi from Sinjar, hopes to travel to Germany one day to see Undav play.

His family “came from a place where his ethnicity and religion were not appreciated, yet he is now recognized and valued by a great team like Germany,” Bakir said. “He emerged from the womb of suffering, and we wish him every success.”

Undav has faced abuse for his heritage, but his popularity surges

At times, Undav has faced abuse over his heritage from spectators and on social media.

When his club team Stuttgart played in Turkey at Fenerbahce last year, German media reported the outbreak of obscene chants about his mother. Two Kurdish anti-discrimination groups said social media insults were part of a growing campaign of “racist and ethnically motivated hostility.”

Undav’s decision to represent Germany and not Turkey, as other eligible German-born players have done in the past, also resulted in some online hostility from Turkish fans. But now, his popularity is surging.

Düzen Tekkal, a German documentary filmmaker and author of Kurdish Yazidi heritage, is from northwestern Germany, like Undav. She is the co-founder of Scoring Girls(asterisk), a nonprofit offering free soccer classes for girls from diverse backgrounds.

“There definitely is a Deniz Undav effect and it’s very important,” she said, referencing children who can celebrate their heritage and feel they belong in Germany at a time when migration is often treated as a political problem.

“It is no coincidence that he plays with this lightness and freedom,” Tekkal added. “People are asking how come he’s so good under pressure or he can cope with so much pressure? Because he doesn’t know it any other way. That is the DNA, that is the resilience. ... That’s how he scores these goals because what is that pressure compared to being Kurdish or Yazidi?”

When Undav scored one of those goals, against Curacao, he broke into a Yazidi-inspired jig with his hands clasped behind his back. He was joined by Antonio Rüdiger, a Black German soccer star who has faced racist and anti-Muslim abuse during his career, in what Tekkal called “one of the highlights, no matter how this World Cup goes from here.”

“Dancing is a form of expressing resistance for us,” Tekkal emphasized. “We dance on the graves of our dead. Our mantra is that resistance is life. He’s dancing there for his forefathers who were oppressed.”

Mahmoud Kanabi, a Kurd from Irbil, moved to Berlin in 2020 and works in a Kurdish restaurant. Because of Undav, he purchased a Germany jersey.

“Unfortunately, for us Kurds, we don’t have a team because we don’t have a country,” he said. “Now, when a Kurdish player is in a team, we have to be fans of it. It doesn’t matter what team it is.”

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Martany reported from Irbil, Iraq; Fahey from Berlin and Ellingworth from Duesseldorf, Germany. AP Sports Writer Ron Blum in East Rutherford, New Jersey, contributed reporting.

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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Her sound, anyway.

Speakers inside the interview room at the stadium started blaring some of Lipa’s songs for a few minutes in the middle of Martínez’s availability session. It wasn’t totally clear why — some wires got crossed, evidently, during a rehearsal happening inside the stadium — but nobody seemed to mind that it happened.

Martinez even swayed a little in his chair while workers tried to find a way to silence the music.

“Dua Lipa’s supporting Portugal, I believe,” he said.

Lipa — the three-time Grammy-winning, London-born, British Albanian singing powerhouse — is a huge soccer fan and has been at countless major events in recent years. And when Martinez was asked later in his news conference about the balance of his midfield play so far in the tournament, he couldn’t resist bringing the talk back to the music.

“Balance and Dua Lipa, those were the two main topics,” Martínez said.

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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

The space rock — 1997 NC1 — makes its closest approach Saturday morning, coming within 1.6 million miles (2.6 million kilometers), according to the European Space Agency.

Discovered nearly three decades ago by an asteroid-tracking system in Hawaii, the asteroid is between 2,461 feet (0.75 kilometer) to 5,413 feet (1.65 kilometers) wide — roughly the size of two to four Empire State Buildings.

Skygazers with binoculars and small telescopes may be able to spot the asteroid as a small point of light passing harmlessly through the sky. It won't greet Earth from such a distance again until 2133, according to NASA.

The last time an asteroid similar in size passed safely by Earth from an even closer distance was in 2022, when a space rock called 1994 PC1 made its approach.

NASA, ESA and other space agencies track the paths of asteroids and other space junk so they can keep Earth safe from any possible collisions. Last year, astronomers tracked a smaller asteroid resembling a spinning hockey puck and said there's no chance of it hitting Earth or the moon.

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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.

The assertion — challenging a longstanding concept in American law — comes amid a raft of recommendations in a draft report of the Religious Liberty Commission, released Friday afternoon.

The advisory body was created by President Donald Trump last year and filled almost entirely by conservative Christians. The 224-page draft report — part policy document, part philosophical argument — echoes members' support for a stronger role for religion and religious expression in government, schools and the public square.

The report applauds recent Supreme Court decisions expanding rights to religious expression in public settings, such as creating opt-outs for religious objections to school lessons.

The report recommends eliminating the “ Johnson Amendment ” that forbids political activities by tax-exempt religious groups — a longstanding goal of Trump. It calls for compensating military service members who were discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccines.

It calls in general for allowing more religious expression in the public square, greater access to public money for faith-based agencies and broader exemptions for those claiming conscientious objections to policies ranging from vaccine mandates to pronoun usage to classroom lessons.

It recommends that federal agencies publish “Know Your Rights” posters for various settings and establish hotlines to receive complaints about religious liberty violations.

The draft report also calls for the creation of new honors — a Presidential Medal of Religious Liberty and First Freedom Hero Awards. And it calls for exhibits and markers at historic sites paying tribute to the role of religion in American history.

The draft report is now available for public comment over the next 15 days. It is sure to draw opposition.

Some other groups defend the separation of church and state

A coalition of groups – including one suing over the commission’s lack of ideological diversity, as required of federal advisory panels – issued a preemptive report earlier in June defending the concept of church-state separation.

“Religious liberty belongs to all people, not to any single tradition, political party, or administration,” said the report, published by the Center for American Progress and others.

Critics of the Religious Liberty Commission's work say its perspective is skewed toward by favored by Trump and his supporters and that it heard almost entirely from like-minded scholars and activists. They say the commission failed adequately to address such issues as anti-Muslim efforts in Texas and elsewhere, and also the rise of antisemitism on the right, not just the left.

The report comes as conservative states such as Texas have worked to incorporate more religion into public spaces such as classrooms, including Bible lessons and Ten Commandments displays.

Trump, speaking to supporters at a Faith & Freedom Coalition gathering in Washington on Friday, touted the newly released report.

“We saved religion, it was going down,” he boasted.

Trump contended that the administration of his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, had carried out a “reign of persecution.”

While the commission report downplays the separation of church and state, the commission didn't go so far as to call it a “lie,” as the commission chairman, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, did in April.

But it largely took the stance that the idea is misapplied.

“To be clear, this does not involve or require advocating ‘theocracy’ or even the total elimination of any separation between church and state,” the report says. Rather, it calls for honoring a “tension between the relevant clauses of the First Amendment” that guarantee religious freedom but forbid any government-established church.

Supreme Court rulings on church/state issues have evolved

The phrase, “a wall of separation between church and state” does not appear in the Constitution, but it’s embodied in Supreme Court precedent. Thomas Jefferson used that expression in a letter to Baptists, supporting them in opposing official churches in U.S. states, a practice that soon ended.

Twentieth-century decisions by the high court invoked the “separation” phrase to extend the First Amendment’s prohibition on federal church establishment to state and local governments, citing the 14th Amendment’s ban on states denying citizens’ rights.

That led to bans on official prayers and Ten Commandments displays in public schools. The Supreme Court in recent years has steered a different course, permitting such things as a public school coach's on-field prayers and a religious opt-out for parents objecting to a lesson on transgender issues.

The draft report contends that even Jefferson didn’t believe in completely banishing religion from public life, but rather in keeping church and state in a kind of balance.

“In reality, the church and state strengthen and support one another,” it says.

The report touts the value of religion to society in terms of providing humanitarian work, anchoring families and acting as “conscience” monitoring government.

“In many cases the law protects the religious expression of Americans, but government officials and employers often use fear tactics to silence individuals into believing that they don’t have the right to publicly express their faith,” it argues.

It argues — citing one of its own members, Catholic media figure Bishop Robert Barron — that notions of strict church-state separation can be traced to a “God is dead” ideology that originated in Europe and saw traditional religion as an opponent to individual autonomy.

“This way of thinking made its way … into the American culture and courtroom,” the report said.

Little recognition for non-religious Americans

The report, while touting the value of religion, appears to give little emphasis on the large population of Americans with no religious affiliation. A key argument of many atheists and secular humanists is that one can be “good without God” — that religion doesn't have a monopoly on virtue and can do harm as well as good.

The lawsuit challenging the commission, filed by the Interfaith Alliance and other religious groups, says its lack of ideological range is shown in that commissioners have asserted that America is specifically a Judeo-Christian or Christian nation and that most commission meetings took place at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, an institution with Christian leadership.

The Republican administration is asking a federal court to dismiss the lawsuit. The government is citing legal technicalities and contending the law does not define how a commission should be fairly balanced or whose viewpoints should be represented.

This draft report comes two months after another entity created by Trump — the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias — issued its own report. It claimed that Christians faced discrimination under the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden in areas such as education, tax law and prosecution of anti-abortion protesters.

Progressive critics said that the report failed to prove its case and amounted to advocacy rather than an investigation.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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The Venezuelan government and military have welcomed rescue crews and relief efforts from all over the world.

Here are locations in South Florida that are accepting donations for relief efforts.

BROWARD COUNTY

Coconut Creek:

Food For The Poor, located at 6401 Lyons Road.

Donations are being accepted weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon.

Donations being accepted:

• Fruits: Canned peaches, pineapple, mango, pears, and similar varieties

• Vegetables: Canned tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, green beans, spinach, and mixed vegetables

• Protein: Canned chicken, turkey, beef, fish, or dehydrated meat

• Dry Grains: Rice, beans, lentils, and peas

• Cereals: Wheat, cornmeal, oats, and pasta

• Nuts, Seeds, and Nut Butters: Peanut butter, almond butter, sunflower seed butter

• Vegetable Oil: Cooking oil (vegetable, canola, or sunflower)

• Milk Products: Boxed or powdered milk, fortified alternatives (shelf-stable)

• Ready-to-Eat Snacks: Nutritional biscuits, energy bars, or fortified snacks

• Hygiene supplies, such as soap, deodorant, and wash cloths

• Tarps

• Solar lanterns

• Blankets

• Diapers for children and adults

• Feminine hygiene products

• Children’s activity books and games

Miramar:

Miramar Police Headquarters, 11765 City Hall Promenade

Fire Station 19, 6700 Miramar Parkway

Fire Station 70, 9001 Miramar Parkway

Fire Station 107, 11811 Miramar Parkway

Fire Station 84, 14801 SW 27th St.

Fire Station 100, 2800 SW 184th Ave.

Donations needed include non-perishables, water, batteries, hand sanitizer, professional first-aid kits, gloves, masks, pet supplies, new blankets, tarps, trash bags, etc.

(Not accepting clothing, shoes, linens, or similar items)

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

Here is the list of the aid drop-off locations that the Miami-Dade tax collector has open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday:

MIAMI BEACH: 100 16 St.

CORAL GABLES: 224 Minorca Ave.

DOWNTOWN MIAMI: 200 NW 2nd Ave.

KENDALL: 11735 SW 147 Ave.

MIAMI CENTRAL: 3721 NW 7 St.

MIAMI GARDENS: 18326 NW 7 Ave.

NORTHSIDE: 7900 NW 27 Ave.

MIDWAY CROSSINGS: 7795 West Flagler St. #82c

CORAL REEF: 14652 SW 122 Ave.

FLORIDA CITY: 1448 North Krome Ave.

HIALEAH GARDENS: 11093 NW 138 St.

Doral:

• GEM headquarters is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, at 1850 NW 84th Ave.
• Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections Office lobby is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., from Monday to Friday, at 2700 NW 87th Ave.
• Doral Legacy Park Community Center is open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., from Monday to Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at 11400 NW 82 St.
• El Arepazo is open 24 hours from Monday to Sunday at 10191 NW 58th St.

Donations that are needed include emergency gear, such as flashlights, heavy-duty batteries, solar phone chargers and work gloves; and baby care items, such as diapers.

More ways to help

• Miami-Dade’s tax collector opens 11 drop-off locations
• Doral opens 4 aid drop-off locations
• Aid drop-off location opens in Homestead
• World Central Kitchen asks for donations for fresh meals
• International Medical Corps deploys staff, needs donations
• Save The Children asks for emergency fund donations
• Red Cross asks for Disaster Response Emergency Fund donations
• UN asks for donations for ‘underfunded’ program for kids
• World Vision asks for ‘disaster relief fund’ donations

The officials did not share details on the agreement, which does not include Hezbollah and prompted one of the group's officials in Lebanon to warn of civil war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said that the framework would allow Lebanese forces to eventually take control of territory from Israel's military.

The agreement was signed in front of Rubio in Washington by Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, and Nada Hamadeh, the Lebanese ambassador to the United States.

Hamadeh said the framework “is a first step on the road to restoring Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity, securing a permanent and final cessation of hostilities, enabling our people to go back to their land and allowing all Lebanese to live in peace, security and prosperity.”

Leiter said the final destination of the framework is peace between the two countries.

“Real peace, where both countries will live in security, where Israel’s and Lebanon’s sovereignty will be respected, honored and protected,” Leiter said. “In this performance-based trilateral framework agreement, Iran is out. Hezbollah is out. And the road to peace between Israel and Lebanon is in.”

The latest conflict began when Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel days after Israel and the U.S. launched their war on Iran on Feb. 28. Israel invaded Lebanon and has expanded its control.

The talks between Israel and Lebanon were separate from the interim deal that was signed last week by the leaders of the U.S. and Iran to end the fighting in the Islamic Republic. That agreement set a 60-day period for negotiations on key issues, including the future of Tehran’s nuclear program amid concerns that Iran wants to use it for military purposes, a claim the country denies.

The Lebanese government had been wary of having Iran negotiate on its behalf, and Lebanon launched its own direct negotiations with Israel after the outbreak of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war. Hezbollah was not part of the talks, which resulted in several ceasefire agreements that were never implemented on the ground. Iran, meanwhile, insisted that its own agreement with the U.S. explicitly include a ceasefire in Lebanon. The first halt in fighting in Lebanon since March coincided with the beginning of U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland.

Hassan Fadlallah, a member of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, reiterated the group’s stance on Beirut-based pan-Arab Al-Mayadeen TV that it rejects Lebanon’s direct negotiations with Israel and that it will not give up its weapons.

Fadlallah said Lebanese authorities “will not be able to enforce the agreement signed in Washington unless they go, with American support, to civil war.” He also called the agreement in Washington “an attempt to derail the Islamabad process,” referring to the U.S.-Iran negotiations.

In a statement, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun thanked the Trump administration and the Lebanese negotiating team and said Friday's agreement will be a “first step” toward allowing the Lebanese displaced by the war “to return to their fully liberated land and to their homes” and to live “with their heads held high, under the sovereignty of a Lebanese state that has no partner in its sovereignty over its land and people.”

He did not share details of the pact.

More than 4,000 people in Lebanon have been killed in Israeli strikes since March. At least 37 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Lebanon or northern Israel during the fighting.

A lull earlier this week in fire between Israeli and Hezbollah forces began to show cracks after Israel said it targeted Hezbollah militants in several strikes across southern Lebanon.

Lebanese officials have said that securing a withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon is a top priority for them in the negotiations, while Israeli officials have prioritized the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Aoun had told a visiting British parliamentary delegation on Wednesday that a proposal for “pilot zones” where the Lebanese army is supposed to take exclusive control of the territory as Israeli troops will withdraw was “under discussion pending approval from the Israeli side.” He reiterated that the Israel-Lebanon negotiations in Washington are separate from what emerged from from the Iran-U.S. talks in Switzerland.

An Israeli official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media said Israel’s direct negotiations with Lebanon include discussions about the redeployment of Israeli forces after southern Lebanon is cleared of Hezbollah infrastructure and Hezbollah has disarmed.

Hezbollah is unlikely to agree to any plan that would include its disarmament throughout the country. The group has maintained that it is only required by previous agreements and U.N. resolutions to disarm in the area south of the Litani River, near Lebanon’s border with Israel.

Netanyahu, the Israeli leader, said in a video on Friday that the framework is a “great achievement” for Israel.

“The most important thing, first and foremost, is that Israel will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon,” he said. “This is a major achievement, and we will maintain it as long as Hezbollah has not been disarmed and as long as it continues to pose a threat to the State of Israel.”

Netanyahu also said that Israel is allowing the Lebanese army to begin preparing to take control of territory.

“We are establishing two pilot zones, both based on the recommendation of the IDF,” he said. “The first is entirely outside the security zone and south of the Litani River. The second is north of the Litani.”

On Wednesday, Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun told a visiting British parliamentary delegation that a proposal for “pilot zones” where the Lebanese army is supposed to take exclusive control of the territory as Israeli troops will withdraw was “under discussion pending approval from the Israeli side.”

___

Sewell reported from Beirut. Lidman reported from Tel Aviv. Associated Press writers Koral Saeed in Herzliya, Israel, and John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, contributed to this report.

She felt like she needed to prepare for death — in case she gets deported back to Haiti, a country she fled at 9 years old.

After the Supreme Court decided Thursday to allow the Trump administration to end legal protections for migrants fleeing violence and natural disasters in Haiti and Syria, fear ricocheted through those communities across the United States. Hundreds of thousands of people now face the prospect of deportation.

“I have been living with this internal fear, it’s like preparing for a funeral, just in case I die when going to another country,” said the nurse, who asked not to be identified for fear of being targeted for deportation.

She is among about 350,000 Haitians granted Temporary Protected Status, many of whom have legally lived and worked in the U.S. for decades and have children who are U.S. citizens. Thursday’s decision, which is expected to take effect July 27, also applied to around 6,000 Syrians. It could also open the door to the administration unwinding protections for 1.3 million people from 17 countries.

Temporary Protected Status allows people to live and work in the US

Congress created Temporary Protected Status in 1990 to prevent deportations to countries deemed dangerous, because of disasters, civil war or other violence or instability. It permits people to work legally in the U.S. but does not provide a path to citizenship. It can be renewed in increments of up to 18 months if the homeland security secretary deems conditions unsafe for return.

The Biden administration roughly doubled the number of people covered by TPS. The Trump administration ended those protections, insisting it was meant to be temporary, the countries are now safe and that President Joe Biden’s administration expanded the destination and poorly vetted its recipients.

TPS beneficiaries have, by definition, been living in limbo and their futures have been especially precarious under President Donald Trump, but the Supreme Court ruling delivered what could be a crushing blow to living and working legally in the United States.

Haitians in Ohio have been in the spotlight before

The Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio, became a particular target of the administration during the 2024 campaign, when Trump spread fictional rumors that Haitians there were eating people’s cats and dogs. There is no evidence to support those claims.

Still, the community has been under intense pressure ever since, said Viles Dorsainvil, the executive director of the Haitian Community Help and Support Center in Springfield.

Thursday’s ruling added to the panic and chaos. People don’t know if they should withdraw all their money from the bank, Dorsainvil said. They don’t know if they can work, if their kids can go to school. Many are making preparations to leave their children who are U.S. citizens behind if they are sent away.

“As a Haitian, I always say that life has not been easy for us, nothing has been easy for us and this is another chapter in our life. And we’ve been in that type of situation since after the presidential campaign when they came up with that type of conspiracy theory of us eating cats and dogs,” he said. “We’ve been targeted. We’ve been in the spotlight for their political agenda.”

Dorsainvil said he’s focused on trying to keep people calm, telling them not to panic, not to feel hopeless or make desperate decisions that could further jeopardize them and their children.

Many TPS holders work in caregiving roles

On Thursday morning, a Haitian mother of a 17-month-old baby boy who lives in Florida woke up to the news.

“I was reading it and I just for a moment there I just felt like I couldn’t breathe, like as if something was just sitting on my chest, like my lungs couldn’t extend,” the 37-year-old said, her voice breaking.

She asked not to be identified for fears of being detained and deported.

“I did not expect this. It is so hard to accept. Maybe I am in denial but I think this can’t be real,” she said. “I had so much hope.”

She arrived in the U.S. in 1995 when she was 7 years old and graduated from high school here. But she could not go to college because she did not have legal status.

But in 2010 everything changed, when the U.S. granted Haitians protection after a catastrophic earthquake. The U.S. repeatedly extended that amid the gang violence that has consumed the country and displaced more than a million people.

The Florida woman applied, and she was able to go to school and become a nurse.

She was supposed to begin a new job in two weeks. Now she doesn’t know if she’s authorized to work.

TPS holders are overrepresented in caregiving roles, and the long-term care industry, like nursing homes and facilities for disabled people, industry groups said, could be hit particularly hard as fear and uncertainty ripples across America.

The nurse in Kentucky said she’s trying to focus on her work taking care of disabled people. But it’s hard to not think of the worst-case scenario, imagining being separated from her children, who are ages 13, 12, 8, and 2, and being sent to her home country that she left more than two decades ago. She reads in the news that there are gang wars, kidnappings, killings.

“I don’t want to go there. I am very Americanized,” she said. “It’s like someone saying, hey, do you want to go live in a horror movie? Like, you know, no, I don’t.”

—-

Aftoora-Orsagos reported from Springfield, Ohio, and Galforo contributed from Louisville, Kentucky.

The Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium will grant $350,000 to two dozen Southern community organizations working in thirteen states. The grants will fund organizations that address acute challenges facing underserved Black women and girls, like maternal health, gender-based violence prevention and educational support.

The funding and tour come at a moment when organizations focused on supporting underserved communities face funding crunches following the Trump administration's crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

The administration has invoked civil rights laws traditionally understood to have protected the rights of marginalized communities to investigate or prosecute instances of “anti-white racism” and “illegal DEI” in companies, non-profits and government agencies.

“We’ve seen this retrenchment in philanthropy, and people are not putting resources on the ground,” said Chanceé Lundy, Southern Black Girls’ executive director. “Organizations are struggling, and we want to make sure that people know that we see them. We value the work that we’re doing, and we want to be able to help fill some of the gaps that they are experiencing.”

The grants coincide with the organization’s summer “Joy and Justice” tour, which convenes community building activities, resource drives and festivals in nine cities. Most of the tour stops take place at schools and community centers in majority-Black neighborhoods. One rally will take place at the Virginia Capitol alongside agency leaders promoting diversity in the state's government.

Southern Black Girls has maintained funding from some major corporations and foundations, though Lundy described the efforts to maintain those relationships as “extremely difficult” for most groups in the current political climate, where supporting race and gender conscious organizations may prompt backlash from the federal government.

“We’re being punished for who we are,” said LaTosha Brown, a voting rights activist and co-founder of the organization.

President Donald Trump defeated former Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman presidential nominee of a major party. About 9 in 10 Black women backed Harris for the presidency, according to a survey of voters by AP VoteCast. Brown said that Black women’s longstanding participation in liberal politics made them a “target” in the current political climate.

“We have always been anchored, particularly in the social justice movements of this country, and I don’t think that that’s any different now. I think in many ways it has been exacerbated, just given the environment,” said Brown.

Both Brown and Lundy noted that Black women have always faced discrimination and marginalization in the South despite being integral to the region's economy and culture. Lundy recalled stories of past generations of Black women who raised the children of white families that upheld Jim Crow policies that underfunded schools, restricted voting and enabled political violence against Black communities.

“You have to have a deep, deep sense of humanity to be able to do that,” said Lundy. She said that the tour was part of promoting Black women's place in the country's history and future as the U.S. prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary. “We've kept our humanity intact through it all, and I think this moment requires that.”

Lundy said she hoped the tour and grants would enable Black girls to reach their full potential.

“You matter now in this moment,” Lundy said was her “joyful” message to young Black girls. “And you’re not a victim. You are actually the solution, that you are the antidote to what is happening right now.”

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According to an arrest report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, Dennis Michael Millwood, 55, of Miramar, was arrested Thursday following a weeks-long investigation conducted by UPS investigators and MDSO’s Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Squad.

The report states that UPS investigators began looking into a series of thefts involving packages whose contents disappeared while in transit through the company’s Hialeah distribution center at 6001 E. Eighth Ave.

Investigators reviewed surveillance video and alleged that Millwood routinely arrived before his scheduled shift and removed packages from the “Lakes Box Bottom Slide,” an area containing packages that were not assigned to his delivery route. Those packages were then loaded into his assigned UPS truck, investigators said.

Authorities said packages assigned to Millwood’s route were normally loaded from a different conveyor system, making his actions outside the scope of his job responsibilities.

Rolex reported missing

The investigation focused in part on a package containing a Rolex watch valued at approximately $55,000.

According to the report, surveillance video from June 9 showed Millwood loading the package into his truck. Tracking data later confirmed the package remained inside his vehicle, authorities said.

Millwood later told UPS the package had been mistakenly loaded onto his truck and transferred to another driver responsible for rerouting misdirected deliveries, according to detectives.

Detectives said the package ultimately reached its intended recipient, but investigators said the recipient discovered the Rolex watch was missing when the box was opened.

UPS investigators said “RFID” (Radio Frequency Identification) data confirmed the package had been inside Millwood’s truck before it was delivered.

Investigators also alleged that on Wednesday, Millwood selected four additional packages that were not assigned to his route. One of those packages was later found to have been opened and resealed, authorities said.

Sting operation leads to arrest

On Thursday, investigators conducted a controlled operation using two packages containing Samsung cellphones, GPS tracking devices and a hidden security dye pack designed to activate if the packages were opened without authorization, the arrest report stated.

According to the report, investigators watched live surveillance footage as Millwood loaded four packages from the same conveyor, including the two bait packages, into his UPS truck before beginning his delivery route.

Authorities followed Millwood and said he stopped near Northeast 132nd Terrace, where he allegedly opened one of the controlled packages.

Investigators said the security dye pack activated when the package was opened, covering Millwood’s hands in red dye.

An MDSO sergeant reported seeing Millwood frantically attempting to wash the dye off his hands using a towel, paper towels and water before continuing his route.

Detectives arrested Millwood a short time later while he was making another delivery near Northeast 127th Street, authorities said.

A search of the UPS truck uncovered the opened package, which investigators said had been resealed and placed back on a package rack. The Samsung phones and GPS tracker were recovered from another area inside the truck, according to the report.

Investigators said the two phones had a combined value of approximately $2,399.

Investigators say driver admitted opening packages

After being advised of his Miranda rights, Millwood initially denied opening or taking any packages, according to the report.

Investigators said that after being shown surveillance video, Millwood admitted to tampering with and opening one of the controlled packages.

When questioned about the missing Rolex, investigators said Millwood first denied taking the watch. He later allegedly told detectives he had given it to a friend named “Chris” after keeping it for about a week, the report stated.

According to the report, Millwood refused to identify the friend or provide any additional information, saying he did not want to get him into trouble. Investigators said he also offered to retrieve the watch if he were released.

The report states that when asked why he repeatedly selected packages that were not assigned to his route, Millwood responded that he “does that all the time.”

Millwood was arrested and transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

Court records show he faces a charge of second-degree grand theft.

As of Friday afternoon, Millwood remained held at TGK on a $7,500 bond.

Local 10 News has reached out to UPS for comment and is awaiting a response.

According to the Pembroke Pines Police Department, Humberto Exposito was making a delivery to Sedano’s supermarket in the 10300 block of Pines Boulevard Wednesday morning when he allegedly threw the dog, Nico, several feet from the back of a box truck.

Police said Exposito returned to the truck after completing the delivery while Nico remained on the ground and made no effort to help it.

They said Nico was left without food, water, shelter or protection.

Nico is now in the care of Broward County Animal Care, where it is receiving medical evaluation and treatment, according to investigators.

A BCAC spokesperson told Local 10 News that Nico arrived at their shelter malnourished, has matted hair and appears to have advanced hip dysplasia.

A staff member said Nico is “in poor condition, has cancer, is unable to walk, and isn’t doing well.”

Detectives later located Exposito, who they say was arrested and faces one count each of aggravated animal cruelty, abandonment of an animal and confinement of an animal without sufficient air exchange.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing.

Exposito appeared in a Broward County courtroom Friday, where a judge set his bond at $12,000 and prohibited him from possessing any animal.

Según un informe de arresto de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade (MDSO), Dennis Michael Millwood, de 55 años y residente de Miramar, fue arrestado el jueves tras una investigación de varias semanas realizada por investigadores de UPS y la Unidad de Delitos Organizados contra el Comercio Minorista (ORC) del MDSO.

El informe señala que los investigadores de UPS comenzaron a indagar una serie de robos de paquetes cuyo contenido desaparecía mientras estaban en tránsito por el centro de distribución de la empresa en Hialeah, ubicado en 6001 E. Eighth Ave.

Los investigadores revisaron videos de vigilancia y alegan que Millwood llegaba habitualmente antes del inicio de su turno y retiraba paquetes del “Lakes Box Bottom Slide”, un área donde se colocan paquetes que no estaban asignados a su ruta de entrega. Según los investigadores, esos paquetes eran cargados posteriormente en el camión de UPS asignado a Millwood.

Las autoridades dijeron que los paquetes correspondientes a la ruta de Millwood normalmente se cargaban desde un sistema de bandas transportadoras diferente, por lo que sus acciones estaban fuera del alcance de sus funciones laborales.

Rolex reportado como desaparecido

La investigación se centró, en parte, en un paquete que contenía un reloj Rolex valorado en aproximadamente $55,000 USD.

Según el informe, un video de vigilancia del 9 de junio mostró a Millwood cargando el paquete en su camión. Posteriormente, los datos de rastreo confirmaron que el paquete permaneció dentro del vehículo, informaron las autoridades.

Según los detectives, Millwood le dijo más tarde a UPS que el paquete había sido cargado por error en su camión y que lo transfirió a otro conductor encargado de redirigir entregas enviadas por equivocación.

Los detectives dijeron que el paquete finalmente llegó a su destinatario previsto, pero los investigadores indicaron que el destinatario descubrió que el reloj Rolex había desaparecido cuando abrió la caja.

Los investigadores de UPS dijeron que los datos de identificación por radiofrecuencia (RFID) confirmaron que el paquete había estado dentro del camión de Millwood antes de ser entregado.

Los investigadores también alegan que el miércoles Millwood seleccionó otros cuatro paquetes que no estaban asignados a su ruta. Las autoridades dijeron que posteriormente se descubrió que uno de esos paquetes había sido abierto y vuelto a sellar.

Operativo encubierto termina con un arresto

El jueves, los investigadores realizaron un operativo controlado utilizando dos paquetes que contenían teléfonos celulares Samsung, dispositivos de rastreo GPS y un paquete oculto con tinta de seguridad diseñado para activarse si los paquetes eran abiertos sin autorización, según el informe de arresto.

De acuerdo con el informe, los investigadores observaron en tiempo real las imágenes de vigilancia mientras Millwood cargaba cuatro paquetes de la misma banda transportadora, incluidos los dos paquetes señuelo, en su camión de UPS antes de comenzar su ruta de entregas.

Las autoridades siguieron a Millwood y dijeron que este se detuvo cerca de Northeast 132nd Terrace, donde presuntamente abrió uno de los paquetes controlados.

Los investigadores informaron que el paquete de tinta de seguridad se activó cuando el paquete fue abierto, cubriendo las manos de Millwood con tinta roja.

Un sargento del MDSO informó haber visto a Millwood intentando desesperadamente quitarse la tinta de las manos usando una toalla, toallas de papel y agua antes de continuar con su ruta.

Los detectives arrestaron a Millwood poco tiempo después mientras realizaba otra entrega cerca de Northeast 127th Street, informaron las autoridades.

Un registro del camión de UPS permitió encontrar el paquete abierto, que, según los investigadores, había sido vuelto a sellar y colocado nuevamente en un estante para paquetes. De acuerdo con el informe, los teléfonos Samsung y el dispositivo GPS fueron recuperados en otra parte del camión.

Los investigadores dijeron que los dos teléfonos tenían un valor combinado de aproximadamente $2,399 USD.

Investigadores dicen que el conductor admitió haber abierto paquetes

Después de ser informado de sus derechos Miranda, Millwood inicialmente negó haber abierto o tomado algún paquete, según el informe.

Los investigadores dijeron que, después de mostrarle el video de vigilancia, Millwood admitió haber manipulado y abierto uno de los paquetes controlados.

Cuando fue interrogado sobre el Rolex desaparecido, los investigadores dijeron que Millwood primero negó haber tomado el reloj. Posteriormente, presuntamente les dijo a los detectives que se lo había entregado a un amigo llamado “Chris” después de conservarlo durante aproximadamente una semana, señala el informe.

Según el informe, Millwood se negó a identificar al amigo o proporcionar información adicional porque no quería meterlo en problemas. Los investigadores dijeron que también ofreció recuperar el reloj si era puesto en libertad.

El informe indica que, cuando le preguntaron por qué seleccionaba repetidamente paquetes que no estaban asignados a su ruta, Millwood respondió que “lo hace todo el tiempo”.

Millwood fue arrestado y trasladado al Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight.

Los registros judiciales muestran que enfrenta un cargo de robo mayor en segundo grado.

Hasta la tarde del viernes, Millwood permanecía detenido en el TGK con una fianza de $7,500 USD.

Local 10 News solicitó comentarios a UPS y está a la espera de una respuesta.

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The ceremony featured the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner, the Pledge of Allegiance, American flags and applause as the new citizens took the oath and officially joined the nation.

Among them was Fabiola Perez, who immigrated from Mexico with her son, Juan Pablo.

“I said this is the best city in the U.S. I said if I live in (the) U.S., I want to live in Miami,” Perez said.

Her son said he hopes to become a U.S. citizen next year and already has plans for his future.

“I really would love to live the American dream in the sense of getting into society, contributing and working,” a man named Juan Pablo said.

Coco Wachli Banks, originally from Kenya and now a high school French teacher in Miami, said becoming a citizen during the nation’s 250th anniversary made the moment even more meaningful.

“To commemorate the 250th anniversary of this country, I can’t explain it, but I’m filled with pride,” Banks said. “I’m going to be the proudest American when it happens.”

Martha Garcia, originally from the Dominican Republic, also became a U.S. citizen Friday. Garcia, a preschool teacher in North Miami, reflected on achieving a longtime goal.

“I’ve earned my goal here working as a teacher. It’s so exciting to help the development of children. They are definitely the future. I don’t know why they picked me, but when they told me, I said, ‘Why me?’ I don’t know what purpose he has with this opportunity for me. It’s so unique and I’m so thankful,” Garcia said.

Although they came from different parts of the world and have different backgrounds, the new citizens shared a common theme throughout the ceremony — gratitude for the opportunity to become Americans and optimism about pursuing the American dream.

La ceremonia incluyó la interpretación del himno nacional de Estados Unidos, el Juramento a la Bandera, banderas estadounidenses y aplausos mientras los nuevos ciudadanos prestaban juramento y se incorporaban oficialmente a la nación.

Entre ellos estaba Fabiola Pérez, quien inmigró desde México junto con su hijo, Juan Pablo.

“Me dije: esta es la mejor ciudad de Estados Unidos. Si voy a vivir en Estados Unidos, quiero vivir en Miami”, dijo Pérez.

Su hijo afirmó que espera convertirse en ciudadano estadounidense el próximo año y que ya tiene planes para su futuro.

“Realmente me encantaría vivir el sueño americano en el sentido de integrarme a la sociedad, contribuir y trabajar”, dijo Juan Pablo.

Coco Wachli Banks, originaria de Kenia y actualmente profesora de francés en una escuela secundaria de Miami, dijo que convertirse en ciudadana durante el 250.º aniversario del país hizo que el momento fuera aún más significativo.

“Conmemorar el 250.º aniversario de este país… no puedo explicarlo, pero me llena de orgullo”, dijo Banks. “Voy a ser la estadounidense más orgullosa cuando suceda”.

Martha García, originaria de República Dominicana, también se convirtió el viernes en ciudadana estadounidense. García, maestra de preescolar en North Miami, reflexionó sobre el logro de una meta de muchos años.

“He alcanzado mi meta aquí trabajando como maestra. Es muy emocionante ayudar al desarrollo de los niños. Ellos definitivamente son el futuro. No sé por qué me eligieron, pero cuando me lo dijeron pensé: “¿Por qué yo?”. No sé qué propósito tiene Dios con esta oportunidad para mí. Es algo muy especial y estoy muy agradecida”, dijo García.

Aunque llegaron de diferentes partes del mundo y tienen distintos antecedentes, los nuevos ciudadanos compartieron un sentimiento común durante toda la ceremonia: gratitud por la oportunidad de convertirse en estadounidenses y optimismo por alcanzar el sueño americano.

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According to an arrest report, officers responded around 3 a.m. to the Aura Apartments, located at 17071 W. Dixie Highway, after receiving a report of a burglary in progress.

The report states officers entered the building’s mailroom using a law enforcement access code and found Brandon Maurice Pritchett, 40, hiding behind a wall. Police said after repeatedly ordering him to come out, Pritchett exited the mailroom.

According to the report, Pritchett told officers he did not live at the complex but said a friend who lived there had allowed him to have a pair of shoes delivered to the building.

Officers said during a pat-down search of Pritchett, they found a flathead screwdriver in his pocket.

Police said Pritchett initially identified himself as “Robert J. Jones” after being detained.

They said while searching the mailroom, they also found a black BB gun with its orange tip painted black and equipped with a laser in an apparent effort to make it resemble a real gun.

The report states the BB gun was found on top of a black bag containing nine packages that did not belong to Pritchett, a makeshift smoking device, another screwdriver, a bank card belonging to another person and a white mask.

According to the report, officers also found four bank cards belonging to other people, a fake Georgia identification card and a forged check on Pritchett.

After being advised of his Miranda rights, Pritchett told officers he had followed an unknown female resident into the building to gain access to the mailroom, according to the report.

Jail records show Pritchett is facing multiple charges, including burglary of an unoccupied dwelling while masked, possession of burglary tools, possession of a weapon while committing an offense, possession of forged or counterfeit notes, possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of four or fewer identification cards, and possession of a simulated driver’s license.

As of Friday afternoon, he was being held on a $17,500 bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

Según un informe de arresto, los agentes respondieron alrededor de las 3 a.m. a los apartamentos Aura, ubicados en 17071 W. Dixie Highway, tras recibir un reporte de un allanamiento en curso.

El informe indica que los agentes ingresaron a la sala de correo del edificio utilizando un código de acceso para las fuerzas del orden y encontraron a Brandon Maurice Pritchett, de 40 años, escondido detrás de una pared. La Policía dijo que, después de ordenarle repetidamente que saliera, Pritchett salió de la sala de correo.

Según el informe, Pritchett les dijo a los agentes que no vivía en el complejo, pero aseguró que un amigo que sí reside allí le había permitido recibir un par de zapatos en el edificio.

Los agentes informaron que, durante un registro corporal, encontraron un destornillador de cabeza plana en uno de los bolsillos de Pritchett.

La Policía dijo que Pritchett inicialmente se identificó como “Robert J. Jones” después de ser detenido.

También indicaron que, mientras registraban la sala de correo, encontraron una pistola de balines negra con la punta naranja pintada de negro y equipada con un láser, aparentemente para hacerla parecer un arma de fuego real.

El informe señala que la pistola de balines fue encontrada sobre un bolso negro que contenía nueve paquetes que no pertenecían a Pritchett, un dispositivo improvisado para fumar, otro destornillador, una tarjeta bancaria perteneciente a otra persona y una máscara blanca.

Según el informe, los agentes también encontraron en poder de Pritchett cuatro tarjetas bancarias pertenecientes a otras personas, una identificación falsa del estado de Georgia y un cheque falsificado.

Después de ser informado de sus derechos Miranda, Pritchett les dijo a los agentes que siguió a una residente desconocida para ingresar al edificio y así obtener acceso a la sala de correo, según el informe.

Los registros de la cárcel muestran que Pritchett enfrenta múltiples cargos, entre ellos allanamiento de una vivienda desocupada mientras llevaba una máscara, posesión de herramientas de allanamiento, posesión de un arma durante la comisión de un delito, posesión de documentos falsificados o falsos, posesión de parafernalia de drogas, posesión ilegal de cuatro o menos tarjetas de identificación y posesión de una licencia de conducir simulada.

Hasta la tarde del viernes, permanecía detenido en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight con una fianza de $17,500 USD.

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According to the Miami Police Department, the stabbing happened at around 11:50 p.m. on Sunday in the city’s Coral Gate neighborhood. Officers found the suspect, Leisnier Mauri Garcia, on Thursday and took him into custody.

An MPD arrest report states that the victim told investigators that she had been in a “generally good” relationship with Garcia since December, but “there were occasions” in which the 40-year-old “would become aggressive toward her.”

Authorities said while on the way to a restaurant, Garcia noticed that his girlfriend received a text message from the father of her child, sparking an argument which led the victim to tell Garcia that she wanted to break up.

Police said the two had gone to an Airbnb to collect their belongings. According to the report, Garcia said he needed to go back inside the Airbnb to retrieve a forgotten item.

Officers said when he got back in the vehicle, he “insisted on sitting in the rear passenger seat,” which the victim found “unusual,” because he normally sat up front.

According to police, the attack happened in the 3400 block of Southwest 16th Terrace, at the same address listed as Garcia’s home on the arrest report.

“Without warning, (Garcia) produced a knife from the rear seat and began stabbing her multiple times from behind,” the report states. “The victim stated she immediately opened the driver’s side door in an attempt to escape the attack. The victim exited the vehicle while pleading with (Garcia) to stop.”

According to the arrest report, the victim suffered the nearly three dozen stab wounds all over her upper body, including 10 on the neck.

Doctors treated her at Jackson Memorial Hospital, police said.

“The victim stated this was not the first incident of violence during their relationship,” the report states. “(She said) that during a previous breakup, which lasted approximately two months, (Garcia) attempted to assault her.”

Police said they found Garcia just before 2 p.m. on Thursday in the area of Northwest Fourth Terrace and 36th Court in the Little Havana neighborhood.

After being taken to JMH himself for “lacerations to his hands,” police said he declined to speak with investigators.

As of Friday afternoon, Garcia was being held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with a bond listed as “to be set” in Miami-Dade jail records.

Según el Departamento de Policía de Miami, el apuñalamiento ocurrió alrededor de las 11:50 p.m. del domingo en el vecindario Coral Gate de la ciudad. Los agentes localizaron al sospechoso, Leisnier Mauri García, el jueves y lo arrestaron.

Un informe de arresto del MPD señala que la víctima les dijo a los investigadores que había mantenido una relación “generalmente buena” con García desde diciembre, pero que “hubo ocasiones” en las que el hombre, de 40 años, “se volvía agresivo con ella”.

Las autoridades dijeron que, mientras iban camino a un restaurante, García notó que su novia recibió un mensaje de texto del padre de su hijo, lo que provocó una discusión que llevó a la víctima a decirle que quería terminar la relación.

La Policía indicó que ambos fueron a un Airbnb para recoger sus pertenencias. Según el informe, García dijo que necesitaba volver a entrar al Airbnb para recoger un objeto que había olvidado.

Los agentes dijeron que, cuando regresó al vehículo, “insistió en sentarse en el asiento trasero del lado del pasajero”, algo que la víctima consideró “inusual”, ya que normalmente se sentaba en el asiento delantero.

Según la Policía, el ataque ocurrió en la cuadra 3400 de Southwest 16th Terrace, la misma dirección que figura como el domicilio de García en el informe de arresto.

“Sin previo aviso, (García) sacó un cuchillo desde el asiento trasero y comenzó a apuñalarla repetidamente por la espalda”, señala el informe. “La víctima dijo que de inmediato abrió la puerta del lado del conductor en un intento por escapar del ataque. La víctima salió del vehículo mientras le suplicaba a (García) que se detuviera”.

Según el informe de arresto, la víctima sufrió casi tres docenas de heridas de arma blanca en la parte superior del cuerpo, incluidas 10 en el cuello.

La Policía informó que los médicos la atendieron en el Hospital Jackson Memorial.

“La víctima declaró que este no era el primer incidente de violencia durante la relación”, indica el informe. “(Ella dijo) que durante una ruptura anterior, que duró aproximadamente dos meses, (García) intentó agredirla”.

La Policía dijo que encontró a García poco antes de las 2 p.m. del jueves en el área de Northwest Fourth Terrace y 36th Court, en el vecindario de La Pequeña Habana.

Después de ser trasladado también al Hospital Jackson Memorial por “laceraciones en las manos”, la Policía indicó que se negó a hablar con los investigadores.

Hasta la tarde del viernes, García permanecía detenido en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight y, según los registros de la cárcel de Miami-Dade, su fianza aún estaba pendiente de ser fijada.

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At a workshop on Friday morning in Broward County, volunteers said they were working to pack hundreds of “disaster relief kits” that included “hopeful” handwritten notes.

Cesar Guevara, the FFTP’s director of strategic partnerships, said the nonprofit had relationships with Venezuelan non-governmental organizations “that are going to be distributing our donations.”

“Venezuela was in a state of emergency prior to the crisis,” Guevara said. “The hospitals are collapsed. There are no medical supplies. People have to bring their own stuff when they have a medical emergency.”

Guevara said his team was preparing for a long-term effort with the community’s support and asked the public for cash donations to support it.

“We’re opening the channels for us to send containers,” Guevara said.

The organization was also accepting drop-off donations of nonperishable food and hygiene products at the warehouse at 6401 Lyons Road in Coconut Creek.

For more information about how to support the efforts and make a donation, visit this page.

More HELPING VENEZUELA coverage

• Miami-Dade’s tax collector opens 11 drop-off locations
• Doral opens 4 aid drop-off locations
• Aid drop-off location opens in Homestead

• Caritas charity calls for ‘merciful love’ to reach families in need
• International Medical Corps deploys staff, needs donations
• Save The Children asks for emergency fund donations

• Samaritan’s Purse focuses on ‘emergency field hospital’
• Red Cross asks for Disaster Response Emergency Fund donations
• UN asks for donations for ‘underfunded’ program for kids

• World Vision asks for ‘disaster relief fund’ donations
• World Central Kitchen asks for donations for fresh meals
• United Way Miami launches ‘Operation Helping Hands’

En un taller celebrado el viernes por la mañana en el condado de Broward, los voluntarios dijeron que estaban trabajando para empaquetar cientos de “kits de ayuda para desastres” que incluían notas manuscritas llenas de esperanza.

César Guevara, director de alianzas estratégicas de la FFTP, dijo que la organización sin fines de lucro tiene relaciones con organizaciones no gubernamentales venezolanas “que van a distribuir nuestras donaciones”.

“Venezuela ya se encontraba en estado de emergencia antes de la crisis”, declaró Guevara. “Los hospitales están colapsados. No hay suministros médicos. La gente tiene que llevar sus propios artículos cuando tiene una emergencia médica”.

Guevara afirmó que su equipo se estaba preparando para un esfuerzo a largo plazo con el apoyo de la comunidad y pidió al público donaciones en efectivo para respaldarlo.

“Estamos abriendo los canales para que podamos enviar contenedores”, dijo Guevara.

La organización también aceptaba donaciones de alimentos no perecederos y productos de higiene en el almacén ubicado en 6401 Lyons Road en Coconut Creek.

Para obtener más información sobre cómo apoyar estos esfuerzos y realizar una donación, visite esta página .

Más cobertura de HELPING VENEZUELA

• El recaudador de impuestos de Miami-Dade abre 11 puntos de entrega.
• Doral abre 4 puntos de entrega de ayuda.
• Se abre un punto de entrega de ayuda en Homestead.

• La organización benéfica Caritas hace un llamamiento al “amor misericordioso” para llegar a las familias necesitadas.
• International Medical Corps despliega personal y necesita donaciones.
• Save The Children solicita donaciones para su fondo de emergencia.

• Samaritan’s Purse se centra en los “hospitales de campaña de emergencia”.
• La Cruz Roja solicita donaciones para su Fondo de Emergencia para la Respuesta ante Desastres.
• La ONU solicita donaciones para un programa infantil que carece de fondos suficientes.

• World Vision solicita donaciones para su “fondo de ayuda en casos de desastre”.
• World Central Kitchen solicita donaciones para comidas frescas.
• United Way Miami lanza la ‘Operación Manos Amigas’.

OpenAI said its new AI product, called GPT-5.6 Sol, would only be available for now to a “small group of trusted partners” approved by the Trump administration.

“We don’t believe this kind of government access process should become the long-term default,” OpenAI said in a statement. The company said it viewed the testing period as a temporary step on the “path to broader availability in the coming weeks.”

OpenAI's staggered release of a powerful new AI system follows actions the government took earlier this month against OpenAI rival Anthropic, maker of the Claude chatbot. Anthropic took offline two new AI models, known as Fable 5 and Mythos 5, just days after publicly releasing them to comply with a Trump directive blocking their use by foreign nationals.

The White House said Friday it continues to collaborate with frontier AI labs on addressing the challenges of scaling the fast-growing technology.

Officials have grown increasingly concerned since Anthropic warned earlier this year that its Mythos model was adept at finding software flaws in a way that could be weaponized by malicious hackers and threaten critical computer networks around the world.

New, powerful AI models have drawn White House scrutiny

Trump earlier in June signed an executive order on AI oversight that established a framework for the federal government to vet the national security risks of the most advanced AI systems for up to 30 days before their public release. The order described participation by AI developers as voluntary but the framework has not yet been fully developed.

Some of Trump’s allies have laid blame on Anthropic and its CEO Dario Amodei for the need for heightened government scrutiny.

“Dario came to Washington a few months ago, back in April, and basically said that he had created a cyber weapon called Mythos,” said investor David Sacks, who co-leads Trump’s council of technology and science advisers, on a recent podcast. “And he spiked the cortisol level, got everyone really worried. And there was some truth to it in terms of the sense that this model had advanced cyber capabilities.”

San Francisco-based OpenAI said its new Sol model “is better at helping people find and fix vulnerabilities” than it is at carrying out cyberattacks and does not cross the company’s own risk threshold. But it acknowledged there could be unforeseen risks especially if its model is combined with other tools.

“That uncertainty, along with the model’s broader step change in capabilities, is why we are pairing the model’s increased capabilities with stronger safeguards and a phased release,” the company said Friday.

OpenAI hasn't named any of the roughly 20 customers that have been approved to use the new model so far.

Critics warn government intervention can hold back US companies

A broad group of cybersecurity experts has criticized the government's actions that led Anthropic to shut down Fable, which the company had pitched as a safer version of Mythos. It's now been unavailable for two weeks.

“I just want to say that pretty much nobody in the cybersecurity industry believes that there’s any factual basis for this action,” Stanford University cybersecurity expert Alex Stamos said on a call with reporters earlier this week.

Stamos, the chief product officer at AI security company Corridor and a former chief security officer at Facebook parent Meta, said he reviewed an analysis of research on Fable by Anthropic's primary cloud computing backer, Amazon, and didn't find any risks that aren't present with other publicly available AI models, including those made in China.

"If the administration is honest about wanting the United States to beat China in this race, then this is about the dumbest thing they could possibly do,” Stamos said.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman spoke with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about the model release Wednesday, part of a series of negotiations in recent weeks between AI industry executives and Trump officials.

Anthropic has also been part of those talks but Amodei has had a more contentious relationship with the Trump administration. The Pentagon designated Anthropic as a national security risk for raising ethical and safety concerns about AI usage in war, and Trump himself ordered federal agencies to stop using Claude. Anthropic responded with a lawsuit that is still working its way through federal courts.

A court filing late Thursday says the plaintiff, Sam O'Hara, will drop his lawsuit's claims against the district and four Metropolitan Police Department officers within three business days of receiving the settlement payment. The filing doesn't specify a dollar amount for the deal between the district and O'Hara, who is represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia.

In an email on Friday, an ACLU spokesperson referred to the settlement's financial terms as “a significant amount" that O’Hara "is pleased with” but said they aren't disclosing the dollar figure to protect his privacy. A spokesperson for D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb's office declined to comment on the settlement.

O'Hara's agreement with the district doesn't resolve his related claims against an Ohio National Guard member. Attorneys for the Guard member, Sgt. Devon Beck, have asked a judge to dismiss O'Hara's claims against him.

“He was there because that was his assigned duty,” Beck’s lawyers wrote. “This was not an accidental encounter or a one-time disagreement on a public sidewalk.”

An earlier court filing, in February, said O'Hara had reached a settlement agreement “in principle” with the district. In response, a judge agreed to suspend the case while they negotiated terms.

O'Hara sued the district last October, claiming police officers violated his First Amendment rights to free speech and his Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable seizures and excessive force.

The ominous orchestral music of “The Imperial March” from Star Wars movies was the soundtrack for O'Hara's peaceful protests against President Donald Trump’s ongoing deployment of Guard members in Washington. Millions of TikTok users have viewed O’Hara’s videos of his interactions with troops, according to his lawsuit.

O’Hara, an artist who works in the hospitality industry, says he didn’t interfere with the Guard troops during their Sept. 11, 2025, encounter on a public street. One of the troops summoned Metropolitan Police Department officers, who stopped O’Hara and kept him handcuffed for 15 to 20 minutes before releasing him without charges, according to the lawsuit.

“The law might have tolerated government conduct of this sort a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. But in the here and now, the First Amendment bars government officials from shutting down peaceful protests,” the suit says.

Trump, a Republican, issued an executive order declaring a crime emergency in Washington last August. Within weeks, hundreds of Guard troops and federal agents were helping police patrol the city. The surge inflamed tensions with residents of the heavily Democratic district. Hundreds of Guard members remain deployed in the district nearly a year later, with no clear end in sight.

In a post on social media, Trump took aim at European countries that he said are discussing “imminent” implementation of taxes on American companies. The U.S. president has repeatedly sought to use tariffs as way to deter such taxes, but many countries are looking for revenues as their economies increasingly operate in digital realms that are dominated by American companies.

“Please let this statement serve to represent that any Country that imposes such a Tax will immediately be met with a 100% TARIFF on any and all Goods sent to the United States of America,” Trump wrote.

He added that the new tax would supersede any previously negotiated trade deals. Trump said the penalty would apply to any country that moves forward with such a tax, but he singled out European nations in his post.

The move could lead to a larger showdown that could increase prices and hinder economic growth, possibly setting off a larger trade war if the 27-member European Union was compelled to retaliate.

“Unilateral measures targeting such legitimate policies are unjustified. If pursued, the EU will respond swiftly and decisively to defend its rights and regulatory autonomy,” said Olof Gill, a spokesperson for the European Commission on Friday.

He defended taxation on technology companies as “non-discriminatory” and applied equally to “all large companies, regardless of their origin.”

Trump has repeatedly pushed against foreign efforts to tax or regulate American tech giants. Last year, he threatened new tariffs on any country that moved to do so. A post from last August said that digital taxes and regulation “are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, American Technology.”

The threat comes ahead of Trump's July 4 deadline for the European Union and the United States to start implementing a tariff deal that caps tariffs on most EU exports at 15%.

The European Union in May finalized a trade deal with the United States that caps most tariffs on EU exports at 15%. The deal followed months of debate within the EU after European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen tentatively struck the deal last year while visiting Trump’s golf course in Scotland.

Digital taxes were not part of the agreement and have remained a sticking point between the U.S. and the European bloc.

The U.S. government has previously conducted tariff investigations into digital services taxes under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. But it was unclear how Trump would carry out his threat and whether he would apply the tariffs broadly or initially target certain nations.

Britain, which is no longer part of the EU, has since 2020 levied a 2% digital services tax on revenues earned by search engines, social media sites and online marketplaces that “derive value” from U.K. users.

The British government said in a policy document at the time that corporate tax rules for digital businesses had “led to a misalignment between the place where profits are taxed and the place where value is created.”

The U.K. tax includes thresholds, so mainly large international companies will pay it. The tax was designed to “ensure the large multinational businesses in-scope make a fair contribution to supporting vital public services,” the document said.

___

AP reporters Sam McNeil in Brussels and Kelvin Chan in London contributed to this report.

“Es un gran paso y una respuesta que la comunidad universitaria del país estaba esperando”, dijo a The Associated Press Franco Bartolacci, rector de la Universidad Nacional de Rosario.

El fallo de la víspera obliga al gobierno a cumplir con dos artículos de la ley de financiamiento universitario que establecen actualizaciones salariales retroactivas a 2023 y un aumento de los fondos destinados a becas.

La norma fue aprobada por el Congreso en 2024 y ratificada en 2025 luego de que Milei la vetara. Pero el gobierno suspendió su aplicación mediante un decreto al sostener que no especifica de dónde provendrían los recursos para financiar las medidas que contempla.

“La comunidad universitaria del país ha hecho a lo largo de este tiempo un enorme esfuerzo para sostener todo en condiciones muy precarias”, afirmó Bartolacci.

Según representantes universitarios, las transferencias del gobierno a las universidades nacionales registraron una caída de 45,6% entre 2023 y 2026.

“Fue un camino largo y difícil”, escribió en X Emiliano Yacobitti, vicerrector de la Universidad de Buenos Aires. “Gracias a una sociedad que nunca renunció a la defensa de la universidad pública como principal motor de movilidad social y herramienta central para el desarrollo del país”.

La comunidad universitaria protagonizó varias movilizaciones masivas en distintos puntos del país desde 2024 para reclamar mayor financiamiento y denunciar el deterioro del sistema por la reducción de fondos aplicada por el gobierno de Milei como parte de su política de ajuste destinada a preservar el superávit fiscal.

En la práctica, el fallo de la Corte dejó firmes algunos aspectos acordados por el gobierno y sectores universitarios en junio que incluyeron un aumento salarial de en torno del 24% y un incremento de fondos para el funcionamiento de las casas de estudio.

Los representantes de las universidades no quisieron, sin embargo, desistir de su reclamo judicial para lograr el cumplimiento total de la ley, que contempla un incremento salarial mayor y una actualización de las becas para estudiantes que están congeladas.

Milei no se ha pronunciado sobre el fallo de la Corte.

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Police said Roxanabel Medina Leon, 31, would leave the boy alone with little to no food in their dirty apartment while she was at her boyfriend’s apartment.

Authorities said the boy told police that not only was he left alone with little food, “he shares his food with the family dog because there is no dog food available in the residence.”

According to the Doral Police Department, a building employee called officers to the building, the name and address of which are redacted from an arrest report, at around 3 a.m., after seeing the boy walking alone in the garage. According to the report, he told the boy to go back to his own apartment and remain there until police arrived.

According to the DPD report, that employee told investigators that the boy had come to the building’s lobby at around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday “and asked him if he had any food or water.”

Police said the employee gave Medina’s son popcorn, Biscoff cookies and water.

According to police, the boy told investigators that he “frequently goes to his mother’s boyfriend’s apartment to obtain food” and that he had gone to the front desk that morning because his mother hadn’t answered the door, saying “the only food available (in the apartment) was expired macaroni and cheese” which he didn’t eat “because he believed it would make him sick.”

He told police that he “often has to wake his mother” because his 4-month-old baby brother is crying and she doesn’t hear him. According to the report, he said he was in the parking garage trying to find his mother’s vehicle “in an effort to find her and obtain food because he was hungry.”

In the report, a Doral police officer described the conditions in the apartment:

“Upon entering the residence, I observed the apartment to be in disarray. The floors were sticky to the touch and there was a strong odor consistent with urine and feces throughout the residence. I proceeded to the juvenile victim’s bedroom, where I observed a mattress positioned directly on the floor without a bed frame. I then entered the bathroom adjacent to the juvenile victim’s bedroom and observed a dog cage containing two bowls. Both bowls were empty and did not contain food or water. While in the kitchen, I observed two knives on the countertop. The knives were unsecured and appeared readily accessible to the juvenile victim. I then entered the defendant’s bedroom, where I observed a baby bassinet. The bassinet appeared soiled and did not contain a clean fitted sheet or bedding.”

DPD report

Additionally, police said there was “little to no food” inside the unit.

According to the report, the boy told investigators that “there have been occasions when he became so hungry that he ate Gerber baby rice cereal mixed with water because there was no milk available in the apartment and added that the family dog had not eaten regular dog food for approximately three months.”

Authorities said they went to Medina’s boyfriend’s apartment and found her and the 4-month-old there.

According to the report, she claimed she cleaned the apartment “last Tuesday” and said her “son is constantly fed when she either cooks or orders food.”

“She stated that she left her dog food last night and doesn’t know why the dog was found with no food,” the report states.

Police arrested Medina on two felony counts of child neglect and one misdemeanor animal cruelty charge.

As of Friday morning, she was being held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $5,500 bond.

La Policía dijo que Roxanabel Medina Leon, de 31 años, dejaba al niño solo con poca o ninguna comida en el sucio apartamento donde viven mientras ella estaba en el apartamento de su novio.

Las autoridades dijeron que el niño le contó a la Policía que no solo lo dejaban solo con muy poca comida, sino que “comparte su comida con el perro de la familia porque no hay alimento para perros disponible en la vivienda”.

Según el Departamento de Policía de Doral, un empleado del edificio, cuyo nombre y dirección fueron omitidos del informe de arresto, llamó a los agentes alrededor de las 3 a.m. después de ver al niño caminando solo por el estacionamiento. De acuerdo con el informe, el empleado le dijo al menor que regresara a su apartamento y permaneciera allí hasta que llegara la Policía.

Según el informe del DPD, ese empleado les dijo a los investigadores que el niño había acudido al vestíbulo del edificio alrededor de las 8:30 a.m. del miércoles “y le preguntó si tenía algo de comida o agua”.

La Policía informó que el empleado le dio al hijo de Medina palomitas de maíz, galletas Biscoff y agua.

Según la Policía, el niño les dijo a los investigadores que “con frecuencia va al apartamento del novio de su madre para conseguir comida” y que esa mañana había ido al área de recepción porque su madre no respondió la puerta, explicando que “la única comida disponible (en el apartamento) era macarrones con queso vencidos”, los cuales no comió “porque creía que le harían daño”.

También les dijo a los agentes que “con frecuencia tiene que despertar a su madre” porque su hermanito de cuatro meses está llorando y ella no lo escucha. Según el informe, el niño dijo que estaba en el estacionamiento buscando el vehículo de su madre “con el fin de encontrarla y conseguir comida porque tenía hambre”.

En el informe, un agente de la Policía de Doral describió las condiciones del apartamento:

“Al ingresar a la vivienda, observé que el apartamento estaba en completo desorden. Los pisos estaban pegajosos al tacto y había un fuerte olor compatible con orina y heces en toda la vivienda. Luego me dirigí a la habitación de la víctima menor de edad, donde observé un colchón colocado directamente sobre el piso, sin base de cama. Después entré al baño contiguo a la habitación del menor y observé una jaula para perro que contenía dos recipientes. Ambos estaban vacíos y no tenían comida ni agua. Mientras estaba en la cocina, observé dos cuchillos sobre el mostrador. Los cuchillos no estaban asegurados y parecían estar fácilmente al alcance del menor. Luego entré a la habitación de la acusada, donde observé un moisés para bebé. El moisés parecía estar sucio y no tenía una sábana ajustable limpia ni ropa de cama.”

Informe del DPD.

Además, la Policía informó que había “poca o ninguna comida” dentro de la vivienda.

Según el informe, el niño les dijo a los investigadores que “ha habido ocasiones en las que tuvo tanta hambre que comió cereal de arroz Gerber para bebés mezclado con agua porque no había leche disponible en el apartamento”, y agregó que el perro de la familia no había comido alimento para perros de forma regular durante aproximadamente tres meses.

Las autoridades dijeron que fueron al apartamento del novio de Medina y la encontraron allí junto con el bebé de cuatro meses.

Según el informe, Medina afirmó que limpió el apartamento “el martes pasado” y dijo que “su hijo siempre come cuando ella cocina o pide comida”.

“Ella manifestó que la noche anterior le había dejado comida al perro y que no sabe por qué el perro fue encontrado sin alimento”, señala el informe.

La Policía arrestó a Medina por dos cargos graves de negligencia infantil y un cargo menor de crueldad animal.

Hasta la mañana del viernes, permanecía detenida en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight con una fianza de $5,500 USD.

Ten of the 12 jurors insisted Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, is innocent. Judge Anne Hwang quickly set an Oct. 19 retrial date and ordered him jailed until then.

Rinderknecht has pleaded not guilty to starting one of the most destructive wildfires in California history, and feels encouraged that so many of the jurors “resoundingly found that the government’s case was not strong, and they did not have enough evidence to convict him,” defense attorney Steve Haney said.

But First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said they have strong evidence and will seek a guilty verdict in a new trial.

Prosecutors said Rinderknecht used a barbecue lighter on Jan. 1, 2025 to spark a blaze that burned undetected deep in root systems before flaring back up Jan. 7 and killing 12 people as it incinerated entire neighborhoods in Los Angeles and Malibu. Only 17 rebuilt homes in Pacific Palisades have been certified for occupancy since then.

Prosecutors never provided direct evidence that Rinderknecht started the earlier blaze. They showed jurors he was in the area when it began and presented a digital trail to indicate he was motivated by a desire to take revenge on society.

His defense said fireworks were the likely cause and that investigators had zeroed in too quickly on Rinderknecht without clear proof.

“This is a big victory, and it feels so unfair that, given the circumstances, the government maintains my son in jail,” said his father, Joel Rinderknecht.

Digital records revealed Rinderknecht’s state of mind

The trial featured a trove of digital records and eight days of testimony from investigators, experts and witnesses.

Security camera recordings helped determine where the Jan. 1 fire is believed to have started: a mountainside spot off a trail in a neighborhood familiar to Rinderknecht. He dropped off his last Uber passenger in the same neighborhood, shortly before midnight, and later called 911 more than a dozen times. His phone’s geolocation data showed him at the clearing and walking down the trail as he reported the fire.

Jurors saw records from his phone, email, Uber, social media accounts and OpenAI. Thousands of comments showed he regularly consulted ChatGPT.

“Why am I so angry all the time?” he said in one exchange.

He vented over wealth inequality and global warming

Rinderknecht inquired about Luigi Mangione, who was charged with the murder of United Healthcare’s CEO, and on Reddit he searched “lets kill all the billionaires.” He looked up the address of DoorDash CEO Tony Xu, asking if he had children or surveillance cameras at home.

He vented about his rejection by a woman he contacted to see if she had New Year’s Eve plans. When she turned him down, he sent her angry and vile messages from another phone.

Rinderknecht also recorded videos of firefighters battling the blaze, pausing to ask ChatGPT if someone would be responsible for a fire accidentally started by a cigarette. And he screen-recorded both the 911 calls and his ChatGPT prompt, which prosecutors said showed he was trying to mislead investigators.

On January 6, a day before powerful Santa Ana winds rekindled smoldering roots into a conflagration, he recorded a selfie video saying he was having a mental breakdown.

Investigators interviewed him weeks after fire

Rinderknecht also spoke for roughly eight hours with a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent in late January, before he was a suspect.

ATF agent Matthew Beals drove with him to the site, so that Rinderknecht could identify his movements as the fire started — an account that conflicted with the place and time of his 911 calls, the agent testified.

Rinderknecht became “agitated” when asked for details, at one point accusing Beals of interrogating him as a suspect, the agent said. He repeatedly expressed dismay about political matters, and speculated that someone frustrated by inequality might hypothetically start a fire in the wealthy neighborhood.

All such behavior is consistent with that of a “societal revenge motivated” arsonist, testified Kevin Kelm, an expert in arsonist behavior.

His defense blamed fireworks

Haney said investigators never found any searches about arson, the best way to start a fire, or purchases of fire-starting materials. And while his DNA was found on a barbecue lighter in his car, they couldn’t prove a lighter sparked the blaze — only that it began with an “open flame,” he said.

Fireworks were the most likely cause that New Year’s Eve, the defense argued. One firefighter recalled hearing fireworks in the area shortly before and after midnight. And two residents and a security guard testified they either saw flashes of light or heard fireworks. Two saw a group of teenagers running down the trail afterward.

Former LA fire investigator Ed Nordskog accused the investigators of confirmation bias, noting that he often responded to dozens of fires on New Year’s Eve, most of them started by fireworks.

“They’re choosing to look at information in a very sinister way when they should be a little more open about it,” Nordskog said.

Defense witnesses also noted that the fire scene could have been compromised because access was not closed off until Jan. 14, nearly two weeks after the first blaze started.

“Can you convict a man based on a crime scene that was destroyed? Stripped of all evidence? Evidence that could’ve proved his innocence?” Haney asked jurors during closing arguments.

Juror explains why she voted against conviction

Juror No. 4, who identified herself as Syrena and wouldn’t share her last name, said she voted not-guilty.

“There’s just not enough proof,” she said. And even if he did start the Jan. 1 fire, she said he shouldn’t be considered responsible for the entire disaster given the negligence of other parties.

“Shouldn’t the firemen, shouldn’t they have known?” she said.

Rinderknecht’s attorney wanted to argue that the Los Angeles Fire Department had been negligent, but the judge ruled he couldn’t make that case in court.

Juror No. 4 said there wasn’t enough evidence to make her believe the prosecution’s assertion that Rinderknecht was alone in the area before it started.

As for his use of ChatGPT, she said he was “just being human” that that she talks to ChatGPT frequently as well.

“It made me angry that they were putting his character down,” she said.

___

Associated Press reporter Safiyah Riddle contributed to this report.

The nonprofit is working with the support of the U.S. State Department and through a long-term partnership with Caritas Venezuela, a nonprofit founded in 1997, to respond to La Guaira.

The team’s list of goals includes providing food assistance to children under 5 and pregnant and nursing women; prioritizing water, sanitation, and “hygiene support;” and distributing “voucher‑based" cash aid to families in need.

A spokesperson for Caritas released a statement in Spanish with the organization’s wish: “May peace and consolation from merciful love reach every Venezuelan family.”

Caracas Archbishop Raúl Biord Castillo also released a statement in Spanish.

“It is time to reach out to our neighbors, to take special care of our elderly, young people, and children, and to demonstrate that faith translates into fraternal love,” Castillo wrote. He also called for Venezuelans to “set aside differences and unite as one people.”

For more information about how to support CRF’s efforts, visit this page. For more information about how to support Caritas Venezuela, visit this page.

More HELPING VENEZUELA coverage

• Miami-Dade’s tax collector opens 11 drop-off locations
• Doral opens 4 aid drop-off locations
• Aid drop-off location opens in Homestead
• International Medical Corps deploys staff, needs donations
• Save The Children asks for emergency fund donations
• Samaritan’s Purse focuses on ‘emergency field hospital’
• Red Cross asks for Disaster Response Emergency Fund donations
• UN asks for donations for ‘underfunded’ program for kids
• World Vision asks for ‘disaster relief fund’ donations
• World Central Kitchen asks for donations for fresh meals
• United Way Miami launches ‘Operation Helping Hands’

Blyth died Wednesday of “natural causes” at her home in Rancho Santa Fe, California, according to her daughter, Eileen McNulty. Blyth's family was at her side.

One of the last surviving actors from the Hollywood studio system, Blyth appeared in youth movies as well as dramas such as "Another Part of the Forest," and her co-stars included Bing Crosby, Power, Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum. Blyth had stopped appearing in films by the end of the 1950s when she chose to spend more time with her children. But she would work in TV musicals and dramas and tour in concerts and musicals from "Show Boat" to "The Sound of Music."

She was acting and singing from an early age and her first big break came at 13 when she was cast as Paul Lukas's daughter in Lillian Hellman's anti-Nazi play, "Watch on the Rhine," which also starred Bette Davis. She stayed with the play for almost a year on Broadway and a year on the road.

When "Watch on the Rhine" appeared in Los Angeles, Universal Studio signed her to a term contract starting at $175 a week. A dark-haired actor with a melodic singing voice, she appeared with a young Donald O'Connor in low-budget musicals such as "Chip Off the Old Block" and "Bowery to Broadway." The loan-out to Warner Bros. for "Mildred Pierce" elevated Blyth's career and led to grown-up roles.

Good at being bad

Like "Double Indemnity," adapted for the screen by Billy Wilder in 1944, "Mildred Pierce" was a James M. Cain thriller about vengeance and calculation. Crawford won the 1945 Oscar as a waitress who rises to own a string of Los Angeles restaurants. Blyth was nominated in the supporting role as Mildred's spoiled daughter, Veda, who seduces her mother's second husband (Zachary Scott), then riddles him with bullets in a jealous rage.

Directed by Michael Curtiz of “Casablanca” fame, "Mildred Pierce" was a memorable piece of film noir that took place mostly at night. For Blyth it was a major change from the cheery musicals she had been known for. It was also a stretch for an actor who was the subject of magazine articles entitled "Incorruptible!", "Angelic Annie" and "Ann Blyth: Success Without an Enemy."

In 1946, Blyth broke her back in a toboggan accident, and it appeared her career might be over. She spent seven months in a body cast and another seven months in a wheelchair, relying on her Roman Catholic faith for courage.

"The busy, exciting world I had known faded away, and my life slowed down to little things," she later told The Associated Press. "But even here I found myself blessed, for a new sense of prayer began to unfold to me."

Once recovered, she appeared as the love interest for Sonny Tufts in "Swell Guy," Howard Duff in "Brute Force" and Mickey Rooney in a prizefight movie, "Killer McCoy." She displayed her dramatic skill as the young woman in love with a suspected wife-killer, Charles Boyer, in "A Woman's Vengeance."

Her strongest role after "Mildred Pierce" came with "Another Part of the Forest," Hellman's prequel to her stage and film drama "The Little Foxes." Blythe appeared as the young Regina Hubbard, created as an adult on Broadway by Tallulah Bankhead and in the film by Bette Davis.

Add a little music

Blyth's career made a turn in 1951 when she starred with Mario Lanza in "The Great Caruso." Her lilting soprano made an ideal match for his tenor, and they were cast in "The Student Prince." But the temperamental Lanza dropped out after recording his songs, and British actor Edmund Purdom acted his role and mouthed the songs. Blyth co-starred with Howard Keel in "Rose Marie" and "Kismet."

Her other films included "Top o' the Morning" with Crosby, "The World in His Arms" (Peck) and a reunion with O'Connor, "The Buster Keaton Story." Her last film was in 1957, “The Helen Morgan Story,” which co-starred Paul Newman.

Born in 1928 in Mount Kisco, New York, to an Irish mother and English valet father, she grew up in New York City. After the father left the family, Nan Blyth supported herself and two daughters by washing clothes and working in beauty parlors.

She had high hopes for daughter Ann's future as an actress, and at 5 the girl began appearing on a New York radio show. She continued as a radio performer and spent three years studying and performing with the San Carlo Opera Company.

After becoming a movie star, Blyth admitted of her early career: "I'd become blue and despondent when I failed to get a job, and my mother's encouraging words made me want to try again." Before the actress's breakout performance in "Mildred Pierce," her mother died of cancer.

In 1953, Blyth married Dr. James McNulty, brother of tenor-comedian Dennis Day. They had five children and remained married until McNulty’s death, in 2007. A few weeks before son Timothy was born in 1954, she made television history of a sort performing the song "Secret Love" at the Oscars — visibly pregnant as she sang, "Once I had a secret love ... and my secret love's no secret anymore."

_____

Thomas, a former Associated Press Hollywood correspondent who died in 2014, was the primary writer of this obituary.

A whistleblower who said she was fired without due process spoke to Local 10 News this week about what happened regarding City Manager Darvin Williams, who was previously fired by the city of Opa-locka for similar complaints.

Kerlyn McHenry said several staff members are working in fear.

She had served as interim director of Public Works for the city of North Miami Beach, where she was known as process-driven, methodical, and, according to a letter of recommendation, “innovative and results-driven” and “highly respected,” which is why she says she was stunned when she was suddenly demoted, then fired, after flagging a series of procurement and accounting concerns for Williams.

“It alluded to capital funds being misappropriated, which is not a true statement at all, and so once I forwarded that to the manager, of course within hours police officers as well as HR was at my door,” she said. “I was pretty scared. I didn’t think that it was warranted.”

Michael Pizzi is McHenry’s attorney who, on Monday, sent the city a notice of their intent to sue.

“A violation of the Florida Whistleblower Statute, abuse of power, and a variety of other violations of federal, state, and local statutes,” said Pizzi. “Right now, the city of North Miami Beach, Ms. McHenry, and other employees are really being terrorized by the new administration.”

Court records show Williams is named a defendant in other suits, including a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by a former North Miami Beach employee who claims she was terminated without due process.

“It is a fear zone,” said McHenry. “Everyone’s afraid of Darwin Williams in the city of North Miami Beach.”

Williams hasn’t been with the city very long, formally installed in February.

Before that, he was with the city of Opa-locka.

In early-February, two days before he was formally sworn-in, Opa-locka’s Commissioner Natasha Ervin spoke in front of the North Miami Beach commission.

“After giving Darvin Williams a contract, everything went awry,” said Ervin. “Darvin terminated employees without due process. He even terminated one employee while he was away fulfilling his duty as an Army reservist. After firing Darvin Williams, it was discovered that he opened 17 bank accounts in the city’s name at a financial institution that we don’t do business with.”

In a memo dated on June 17, Williams told the mayor and city commission that in March, he assumed “additional responsibilities of interim chief financial officer.”

In May, Ervin filed a defamation suit against Williams, claiming he was falsely accused of a crime when she moved to hold him accountable. She is also represented by Pizzi.

“If the city of North Miami Beach commissioners had simply done a Google search, they would have known that this is what was going to happen,” said Pizzi.

Local 10 News reached out to Williams for comment but he had not replied as of the time of this story’s publication.

North Miami Beach Mayor Michael Joseph, who was the only “no” vote against hiring Williams, released a statement to Local 10 News. No other members of the city commission responded to Local 10’s request for comment.

“The city commission faces a decision to stop Mr. Williams’ disruptive management decisions or remain silent and complicit while we continue to loose good and qualified employees. I was the only No vote against Mr. Williams’ hiring as City Manager because he publicly stated that he did not meet the minimum qualifications for the position. Despite my strong objections, the City Commission decided to allow Mr. Williams to prove himself or prove that my objections were correct and that his previous employer was right to fire him.”

North Miami Beach Mayor Michael Joseph

MCHENRY NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUE:

Claiming wrongful demotion and wrongful termination, the notice states: “Our client contends these actions were not isolated events but were part of a coordinated effort to remove her from employment in retaliation for her protected complaints and whistleblower activity while treating her differently than similarly situated male employees.”

FROM THE FEDERAL LAWSUIT:

“Plaintiff, Marline Monestime, brings this civil rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. §1983 to obtain legal recourse against the Defendants for the deprivation of her constitutionally protected property interest in her continued employment with the City of North Miami Beach without due process, in violation of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.

“WHEREFORE Plaintiff, Marline Monestime, demands the entry of a judgment in her favor and against Defendant, City of North Miami Beach, after trial by jury, declaring and determining that it violated her due process rights, reinstating her employment to the position she would have held, with all attendant wages and benefits, awarding her damages, lost past and future wages and employment-related benefits, mental anguish and emotional distress damages, awarding her attorney’s fees, costs, and all interest allowed by law, and such other relief as the Court deems just and proper.”

The Spanish-American humanitarian started his nonprofit to feed communities in times of crisis after the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

WCK teams helped Venezuelans affected by Hurricane Beryl in 2024 and Hurricane Julia in 2022. On Thursday, WCK announced there was a team on its way.

For more information about how to make a financial donation to help the team in Venezuela, visit this page.

Related story: Aid starts to flow into El Arepazo in Doral

More ways to help

• Doral opens 4 aid drop-off locations
• Aid drop-off location opens in Homestead
• Save The Children asks for emergency fund donations
• Red Cross asks for Disaster Response Emergency Fund donations
• UN asks for donations for ‘underfunded’ program for kids
• World Vision asks for ‘disaster relief fund’ donations

Fernandez, Miami-Dade County’s tax collector, announced that his office opened drop-off locations for donations that GEM is committed to delivering aid.

“People of Venezuela you are not alone,” Fernandez said at the warehouse.

GEM started operations at the warehouse after two 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes struck on Wednesday causing devastation in northern Venezuela.

Here is the list of the aid drop-off locations that open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday:

MIAMI BEACH: 100 16 St.

CORAL GABLES: 224 Minorca Ave.

DOWNTOWN MIAMI: 200 NW 2nd Ave.

KENDALL: 11735 SW 147 Ave.

MIAMI CENTRAL: 3721 NW 7 St.

MIAMI GARDENS: 18326 NW 7 Ave.

NORTHSIDE: 7900 NW 27 Ave.

MIDWAY CROSSINGS: 7795 West Flagler St. #82c

CORAL REEF: 14652 SW 122 Ave.

FLORIDA CITY: 1448 North Krome Ave.

HIALEAH GARDENS: 11093 NW 138 St.

For more information about the tax collector’s efforts, visit this page.

Related story: South Florida donation drop-off locations to help Venezuelans after earthquakes

More ways to help

• Doral opens 4 aid drop-off locations
• Aid drop-off location opens in Homestead
• Save The Children asks for emergency fund donations
• Red Cross asks for Disaster Response Emergency Fund donations
• UN asks for donations for ‘underfunded’ program for kids
• World Vision asks for ‘disaster relief fund’ donations
• World Central Kitchen asks for donations for fresh meals

Related report:

After the earthquakes on Wednesday, the healthcare-focused nonprofit organization announced that a team was working with partners on the ground.

The organization has experience with health, nutrition, mental health support, child protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene programs in Venezuela.

For more information about their efforts and to make a donation, visit this page.

Related story: South Florida donation drop-off locations to help Venezuelans after earthquakes

More ways to help

• Miami-Dade’s tax collector opens 11 drop-off locations
• Doral opens 4 aid drop-off locations
• Aid drop-off location opens in Homestead
• Save The Children asks for emergency fund donations
• Red Cross asks for Disaster Response Emergency Fund donations
• UN asks for donations for ‘underfunded’ program for kids
• World Vision asks for ‘disaster relief fund’ donations
• World Central Kitchen asks for donations for fresh meals
• United Way Miami launches ‘Operation Helping Hands’

Related report:

The century-old nonprofit organization announced that “100% of the funds raised will be allocated to purchasing relief supplies and services through nonprofit organizations actively providing assistance on the ground.”

For more information about the nonprofit and experience in Miami-Dade County, visit this page.

Related story: South Florida donation drop-off locations to help Venezuelans after earthquakes

More ways to help

• Miami-Dade’s tax collector opens 11 drop-off locations
• Doral opens 4 aid drop-off locations
• Aid drop-off location opens in Homestead
• Save The Children asks for emergency fund donations
• Red Cross asks for Disaster Response Emergency Fund donations
• UN asks for donations for ‘underfunded’ program for kids
• World Vision asks for ‘disaster relief fund’ donations
• World Central Kitchen asks for donations for fresh meals

Related report:

The Christian nonprofit, working with the support of the U.S. State Department, plans to “airlift an Emergency Field Hospital, as well as shelter tarp, solar lights, blankets, and water filters.”

Franklin Graham, the nonprofit’s president, released a statement on Facebook: “Pray for rescue and recovery operations, first responders, and all who are injured or grieving lost loved ones.”

For more information about how to support the organization’s efforts, visit this page.

More ways to help

• Miami-Dade’s tax collector opens 11 drop-off locations
• Doral opens 4 aid drop-off locations
• Aid drop-off location opens in Homestead
• International Medical Corps deploys staff, needs donations
• Save The Children asks for emergency fund donations
• Red Cross asks for Disaster Response Emergency Fund donations
• UN asks for donations for ‘underfunded’ program for kids
• World Vision asks for ‘disaster relief fund’ donations
• World Central Kitchen asks for donations for fresh meals
• United Way Miami launches ‘Operation Helping Hands’

Congo accused Rwanda of breaching international conventions on genocide, racial discrimination, discrimination against women and torture. It said civilians in the east have suffered massacres, extrajudicial killings, torture, sexual violence, forced displacement and ethnic and gender-based discrimination since the 1990s.

Mineral-rich eastern Congo has been battered by decades of conflict as government forces and allied militias fight more than 100 armed groups, the most potent of them the Rwandan-backed M23. Its fighters made major advances early last year, seizing Goma and other key cities as they quickly expanded their presence.

The U.N. has called the conflict in eastern Congo “one of the most protracted, complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth.”

The violence goes back to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when Hutu fighters responsible for the killings fled across the border into eastern Congo. Rwanda has repeatedly sent troops or backed armed groups there in the years since, saying it was acting to neutralize Hutu fighters and protect its security. Congo and the U.S. government have accused Rwanda of using the rebels as a pretext to gain access to the region’s mineral wealth.

Congo named a string of Rwandan-backed rebel groups it blames for the violence over the years, including M23.

It asked the ICJ to declare Rwanda internationally responsible for the conflict, order it to halt its activities in Congo, demand guarantees they won’t be repeated, and award reparations to Congo and civilian victims.

The court said in a statement that Congo had filed an application instituting proceedings. It did not say whether it had determined if it has jurisdiction to hear the case.

Rwanda’s government did not immediately respond publicly to the filing of the case. It has consistently denied backing armed groups in Congo, though U.N. experts have said they found evidence that Rwandan troops have fought alongside and directed M23.

This is Congo’s third attempt to bring Rwanda before the ICJ, the United Nations’ highest court for disputes between states. Congolese authorities withdrew an earlier case in 2001, and the court dismissed a second in 2006 for lack of jurisdiction, finding Rwanda had not signed or had entered reservations to some of the treaties Congo cited, or that other conditions for a case weren’t met.

The new filing comes as separate, U.S.- and Qatar-mediated peace talks between Congo and Rwanda have struggled to produce a lasting deal.

On Thursday, the U.S. imposed sanctions on a Rwanda -based gold refinery, describing it as being part of “a network working in coordination” with M23 in eastern Congo. It said the sanctions against Gasabo Gold Refinery were in support of the U.S. and Qatari peace efforts.

——

Banchereau reported from Dakar, Senegal. Associated Press writer Rodney Muhumuza in Kampala, Uganda contributed to this report.

Son algunas de las imágenes publicadas por familiares dentro de Venezuela y en el extranjero que buscan desesperadamente a sus seres queridos desaparecidos tras dos potentes sismos consecutivos el miércoles por la noche.

Cientos han muerto y miles han resultado heridos. Se espera que el número de víctimas aumente a causa de los sismos de magnitud 7,2 y 7,5, que dejaron daños generalizados y estuvieron entre los más fuertes que han azotado a Venezuela en más de un siglo.

Con las comunicaciones intermitentes, las redes sociales y los registros en línea se han convertido en una herramienta crucial para muchos venezolanos que buscan información y recursos más allá de las escasas estadísticas del gobierno. Un registro independiente en línea documentó 51.000 personas desaparecidas, y otro enumeró 24.000 personas cuyo paradero se desconoce, lo que refleja la falta de datos oficiales o de información sobre los desaparecidos.

Cuando algunos se apresuraban a buscar bajo los escombros de edificios derrumbados, otros crearon volantes digitales en WhatsApp, Facebook y X con los datos de sus familiares.

Búsqueda de familiares

Entre ellos estaba Vanesa Marcano, de 31 años, quien publicó fotos desde Madrid de su tío y su tía, que viven en el estado La Guaira, al norte de la capital, Caracas, que sufrió algunos de los peores daños y el número de víctimas más elevados.

Marcano publicó las imágenes con la esperanza de que simplemente no pudieran ser contactados debido a líneas de comunicación dañadas. La hija de su tío y su nieto de 7 años estaban de visita desde Estados Unidos y también están desaparecidos.

“Se siente impotencia e inseguridad”, afirmó Marcano por teléfono. “Yo ya sé que hay que mantener la calma y concentrarse en las acciones que puedas tomar, pero es que es muy fácil caer en la desesperación”.

Jhoyser Concalves, un venezolano de la ciudad costera norteña de Catia La Mar, hablaba con su pareja y la hija de ella apenas unos minutos antes del temblor. Fue lo último que supo de ambas.

Cuando el sismo se detuvo, Concalves salió corriendo de su casa hacia el edificio de apartamentos donde vivían, en el sexto piso. Sólo había escombros y gente intentando desesperadamente rescatar a vecinos de entre los restos.

Concalves publicó un volante que decía “DESAPARECIDAS” en X y Facebook en un intento desesperado por encontrarlas.

“Hoy estan sacando gente del edificio con vida. Entonces tengo la esperanza que todavia estan ahi con vida”, declaró.

ONU pide se restablezca acceso a redes sociales

La búsqueda se complicó por las restricciones del país a las redes sociales y a las plataformas de mensajería.

La misión de derechos humanos de la ONU en Venezuela emitió un comunicado el jueves en el que pidió al gobierno levantar las restricciones locales a las redes sociales y señaló que el acceso oportuno a información confiable puede salvar vidas.

Sitios como X y la aplicación de mensajería Signal fueron bloqueados en agosto de 2024 por el entonces presidente Nicolás Maduro en un intento de suprimir la comunicación entre quienes rechazaban su proclamación de victoria en las elecciones presidenciales. La exvicepresidenta Delcy Rodríguez se convirtió en presidenta encargada en enero luego que Estados Unidos capturara y sacara a Maduro del poder.

Poco después de la solicitud de la ONU el jueves, los venezolanos dentro del país pudieron acceder a X.

Búsqueda desde el extranjero

Fuera del país, esos sitios se han vuelto aún más importantes para muchos de los 8 millones de personas que han migrado de Venezuela en los últimos años y no pudieron verificar cómo estaban sus seres queridos.

El padre de Elibel Tovar, de 70 años, se mudó a Brasil hace más de 20 años, pero estaba en La Guaira por negocios. Félix Ramón Tovar Hernández planeaba viajar el viernes a Chile para su primer reencuentro con su hijo en más de una década. Pero Tovar, de 38 años, contó que no ha sabido nada de su padre.

“Siento impotencia porque no sé cómo esto le afecta, el shock, la decisiones, si está bien físicamente o básicamente vivo”, expresó Tovar, quien registró a su padre en el sitio web de personas desaparecidas.

“Estando en Chile es muy difícil acceder a información y todo lo que vemos se siente confuso”, comentó por WhatsApp.

En Madrid, Marcano dijo que intentaba mantener la calma por el bien de su hija de un año.

“Esperas a ver si alguien hace alguna recolecta, si puedes ayudar de alguna manera”, señaló Marcano. “Pero es que desde lejos es muy poco lo que puedes hacer”.

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Hughes reportó desde Río de Janeiro.

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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.

For the newly hired Chayka, the selection provides him the next opportunity to help reshape one of the NHL’s marquee franchises, which suddenly is in transition following a last-place finish in the Atlantic Division. Chayka already has hired a new coach in Jim Hiller and last week acquired defenseman Darren Raddysh in a sign-and-trade deal with Tampa Bay.

Now it’s a matter of restocking the Maple Leafs' youth in the same downtown Buffalo arena where Toronto selected star Auston Matthews with the first pick in the 2016 draft.

McKenna is a prolific play-making right winger, who is from Whitehorse, Yukon. Among the other top prospects are Sweden left winger Ivar Stenberg, center Caleb Malhotra and a host of defensemen: Alberts Smits of Latvia, North Dakota’s Keaton Verhoeff and Chase Reid, the top-ranked U.S.-born prospect.

Barring trades, rounding out the top five selections are San Jose at No. 2, followed by Vancouver, Buffalo and the New York Rangers.

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

Maria Andreina Pernalete, a World Vision communications manager in Caracas, was homeless and sought refuge at a nearby convent.

“There have been many after shocks,” Pernalete said, according to the organization’s update.

Luis Colmenares, a World Vision communications specialist in Barquisimeto, reported witnessing injuries during a panicked evacuation.

On Friday, the organization reported having “over 200 staff and existing operational capacity” to respond.

The nonprofit is working with the support of the U.S. State Department.

For more information about how to make a financial donation to the organization’s fund, visit this page.

When a 'double double' crisis hits a country where systems have already broken down, you can expect that responding will be a challenge.

We're already in place in Venezuela, with over 200 staff and existing operational capacity to respond. Since 2019, we've reached over 2… pic.twitter.com/ChXXnON95R

— World Vision (@WorldVision) June 26, 2026

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Indiana coach Stephanie White said Friday morning that Clark wouldn't play. Indiana doesn’t play again after Saturday until visiting the Las Vegas Aces on July 5.

“She's OK. She's going to be out on Saturday. She's doing all right,” White said. “Obviously, it's a good time as we have all week next week. Take this opportunity to get her treatment, get her healthy and get her back on the floor and see what happens.”

Clark only played in 13 games last season because of a variety of injuries. She’s missed one game this season because of her back. Clark is tied for fourth in the league with 21.2 points a game. She had 19 points in 20 minutes against Phoenix.

“Long-term health and wellness is the most important thing," White said. “I think we want her to be healthy physically, mentally, emotionally. When you've gone through injury and the traumatic aspect of injury that she had last year, it's ups and downs physically, mentally and emotionally. Making sure that she's 100% ready to go is the most important thing.”

Clark was also hit in the throat Wednesday by Phoenix's Alyssa Thomas. While no foul was called, the Mercury forward was suspended by the league for a game on Thursday for that play.

Clark is currently second in All-Star fan voting that was released Wednesday behind teammate Aliyah Boston. The All-Star Game is July 25 in Chicago.

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

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The South Florida teen is the first in his family to attend college, reaching a milestone made possible through years of faith, family support and personal sacrifice.

Now, thanks to the George Snow Scholarship Fund, the Monarch High School graduate will attend Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, where he plans to study ministerial theology with all four years of tuition covered.

“Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast,” Nelson said, reciting his favorite Bible verse from 1 Corinthians 13:4.

The scripture has become the foundation of his life.

“I know love is the most powerful force on this earth, so I try to go forth and show that every single day,” he said.

A family united by love

When Nelson was 10 years old, his family’s life changed dramatically after his father suffered a debilitating stroke.

His mother, Lucy Nelson, took on two jobs to support the family. His older brother, Leo, helped by driving him to and from school.

Nelson found his own way to contribute, stepping into the role of part-time caregiver for his father.

“It was just helping him to grow, to be more independent,” Nelson said.

Despite the added responsibilities at home, he excelled in every aspect of his life.

On the football field, Nelson helped lead Monarch High School to a district championship in 2025 as a left guard.

At church, he serves as a youth elder.

In the classroom, he graduated with a 4.0 GPA.

“My family pushed me a lot to do it, and I owe it to them,” Nelson said. “Look at where we are now.”

A life-changing opportunity

That journey caught the attention of the George Snow Scholarship Fund.

After reviewing his application, the organization awarded Nelson two scholarships that will cover the full cost of his college education.

“He has worked very hard through his high school career and filled out a great application for us,” said Tim Snow, president of the George Snow Scholarship Fund. “It was kind of a no-brainer for us to want to help him.”

In addition to paying for tuition, the scholarship program will provide Nelson with a new laptop, emergency financial assistance, clothing and dorm room essentials as he begins college.

The George Snow Scholarship Fund has helped approximately 4,600 students pursue higher education.

Looking ahead

While leaving home will be difficult for both Nelson and his family, they believe his future is bright.

“I am going to miss him, but God knows everything,” his mother said.

His father offered simple but powerful words of encouragement: “Hold on fast. Do not let go.”

Nelson says he plans to carry those words — along with another passage from his favorite chapter of scripture — into the next chapter of his life.

“Love never fails.”

As he prepares to leave South Florida for Alabama, Nelson is already focused on the future.

“Without a shadow of a doubt, I know I will be walking on that stage in four years,” he said. “I’m gunning. I’m coming for everything.”

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El joven del sur de Florida es el primero de su familia en asistir a la universidad, alcanzando un logro que fue posible gracias a años de fe, apoyo familiar y sacrificio personal.

Ahora, gracias al George Snow Scholarship Fund, el graduado de Monarch High School asistirá a Oakwood University, en Huntsville, Alabama, donde planea estudiar teología ministerial con los cuatro años de matrícula cubiertos.

“El amor es paciente, es bondadoso. El amor no tiene envidia, no es jactancioso”, dijo Nelson al recitar su versículo favorito de la Biblia, 1 Corintios 13:4.

Ese pasaje se ha convertido en la base de su vida.

“Sé que el amor es la fuerza más poderosa de esta tierra, así que trato de demostrarlo todos los días”, dijo.

Una familia unida por el amor

Cuando Nelson tenía 10 años, la vida de su familia cambió drásticamente después de que su padre sufriera un derrame cerebral que lo dejó con graves secuelas.

Su madre, Lucy Nelson, asumió dos trabajos para mantener a la familia. Su hermano mayor, Leo, lo ayudaba llevándolo y trayéndolo de la escuela.

Nelson encontró su propia manera de contribuir, asumiendo el papel de cuidador de medio tiempo de su padre.

“Era simplemente ayudarlo a progresar, a ser más independiente”, dijo Nelson.

A pesar de las responsabilidades adicionales en casa, sobresalió en todos los aspectos de su vida.

En el campo de fútbol americano, Nelson ayudó a llevar a Monarch High School al campeonato distrital en 2025 como guardia izquierdo.

En la iglesia, sirve como anciano del ministerio juvenil.

En el salón de clases, se graduó con un promedio académico perfecto de 4.0.

“Mi familia me impulsó mucho a lograrlo y se lo debo a ellos”, dijo Nelson. “Miren dónde estamos ahora”.

Una oportunidad que cambia la vida

Ese recorrido llamó la atención del George Snow Scholarship Fund.

Después de revisar su solicitud, la organización otorgó a Nelson dos becas que cubrirán el costo total de su educación universitaria.

“Ha trabajado muy duro durante toda la escuela secundaria y presentó una excelente solicitud”, dijo Tim Snow, presidente del George Snow Scholarship Fund. “Fue una decisión muy fácil para nosotros querer ayudarlo”.

Además de cubrir la matrícula, el programa de becas le proporcionará a Nelson una computadora portátil nueva, asistencia financiera de emergencia, ropa y artículos esenciales para su dormitorio al comenzar la universidad.

El George Snow Scholarship Fund ha ayudado a aproximadamente 4,600 estudiantes a continuar sus estudios universitarios.

Mirando hacia el futuro

Aunque dejar su hogar será difícil tanto para Nelson como para su familia, todos creen que su futuro es prometedor.

“Lo voy a extrañar, pero Dios lo sabe todo”, dijo su madre.

Su padre le ofreció unas palabras de aliento sencillas pero poderosas: “Mantente firme. No te rindas”.

Nelson dice que llevará esas palabras, junto con otro pasaje de su capítulo bíblico favorito, a la siguiente etapa de su vida.

“El amor nunca deja de ser”.

Mientras se prepara para dejar el sur de Florida para ir a Alabama, Nelson ya tiene la vista puesta en el futuro.

“Sin la menor duda, sé que estaré caminando por ese escenario dentro de cuatro años”, dijo. “Voy con todo. Voy por todo”.

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A misunderstanding led to a highly unusual exchange for the restrained and traditional atmosphere after the nation’s highest court took the bench Thursday to hand down their decisions. Those rulings included two major immigration wins for President Donald Trump.

After conservative Justice Samuel Alito finished his reading of the majority’s ruling limiting how people can seek asylum at the southern border, liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor spoke up to read from her biting dissent.

She traced the difficult journey many asylum seekers face and outlined a painful chapter in the country’s history: When the U.S. and other countries turned back a ship full of Jewish refugees attempting to flee persecution in Nazi Germany in 1939. About 250 of those passengers later died in the Holocaust.

Sotomayor, the first Latina justice, said the majority’s opinion would allow the Trump administration to block people from applying for asylum at the border, which would result in more deaths. The decision “regrettably and tragically extinguishes the light of the torch of the Statue of Liberty.”

Justice Brett Kavanaugh watched her intently as she spoke, while Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson looked straight ahead.

Majority opinions are always read from the bench and dissenters can speak up as well to underscore their objections, which typically happens in few cases every term. Additional rulings are expected on Monday.

Sotomayor’s spoken dissent, however, appeared to be a surprise for Alito. In a very rare move, he spoke off the cuff. He sounded surprised and frustrated, saying he would have added more detail to his summary if he'd known about plans to speak.

The confusion turned out to be a misunderstanding on Alito's part; Sotomayor's chambers had passed along word of her plan.

For the conservative majority, the case was about whether the law allows border officials can delay asylum seekers’ entry into the U.S. “until they can be processed in a safe and orderly way," not about the wisdom of the policy itself.

Out loud, Alito defended his opinion by noting that the policy at the center of the case had been used under both the Obama and Trump administrations. “I won’t add anything more to that,” he said.

The exchange comes during the court's busiest time of the year, as the justices prepare to release opinions next week on some of the biggest issues of the term, and Trump’s presidency so far. Those include his push to restrict birthright citizenship and expand the president’s power to fire board members at independent agencies.

Supreme Court justices have spoken publicly about their cordial working relationships and regular lunches as a group where they set aside cases to talk and share each other's company. And while there are ideological splits between the court's conservative majority and its liberal wing, they also decide many cases unanimously, including one this month about the Second Amendment rights of marijuana users.

Still, it isn’t the first time unusual tensions have surfaced this term. Sotomayor issued a rare public apology in April to another justice, Brett Kavanaugh, for what she termed “hurtful comments.” She had said during a law school talk that a colleague “probably doesn’t really know any person who works by the hour.”

In another public appearance in March, Kavanaugh and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson sparred over the many emergency orders the court had issued allowing Trump to move ahead with key parts of his agenda.

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According to the Lauderhill Police Department, officers responded around 5 a.m. to the 2200 block of Northwest 58th Terrace, where they found a man suffering from lacerations.

Police said the victim was taken to Broward Health Medical Center with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

They said the victim was cut with an unknown object. The suspect fled before officers arrived and has not yet been identified, according to police.

Police said the victim and suspect know each other, and the incident appears to be isolated with no known threat to the public.

They said the LPD’s Criminal Investigations Division and Crime Scene Investigations Unit responded to process the scene.

A motive for the stabbing remains unclear at this time.

Anyone with information on the case is urged to contact Lauderhill police at 954-497-4700.

Según el Departamento de Policía de Lauderhill, los agentes respondieron alrededor de las 5 a.m. a la cuadra 2200 de Northwest 58th Terrace, donde encontraron a un hombre con laceraciones.

La Policía informó que la víctima fue trasladada al Broward Health Medical Center con heridas que no se consideran de riesgo para su vida.

Indicaron que la víctima fue cortada con un objeto no identificado. El sospechoso huyó antes de que los agentes llegaran al lugar y aún no ha sido identificado, según la Policía.

La Policía dijo que la víctima y el sospechoso se conocen y que el incidente parece ser un hecho aislado, sin una amenaza conocida para el público.

También informaron que la División de Investigaciones Criminales y la Unidad de Investigación de la Escena del Crimen del Departamento de Policía de Lauderhill acudieron para procesar la escena.

Por el momento, se desconoce el motivo del apuñalamiento.

Cualquier persona con información sobre el caso debe comunicarse con la Policía de Lauderhill al 954-497-4700.

The Cottonwood Fire in a sparsely populated area of southern Utah started Monday. It reached nearly 111 square miles (287 square kilometers) Friday and was entirely uncontained, forestry officials said. One of six large wildfires burning in Utah, it severely damaged the Eagle Point ski resort in Beaver County, forcing mandatory evacuations.

Bruce Brown, 76, said he accompanied the sheriff on Thursday to find that his 31-year-old cabin and others in the area were gone.

“It looks a lot like the moon,” he said. “Just burned out. Power poles tipped over all up the canyon.”

Alyssa Olsen, 27, said her family’s cabin also burned in the fire. The house had a room with memorabilia from her grandfather’s time in the ski patrol. It was the last place they gathered for family photos with her grandmother before she died of cancer. Her brother was to get married there in two months.

“That stuff you can’t just build back,” Olsen said.

Smoke from the fire has been pushing to the east and northeast, meaning the air quality at popular vacation spots like Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks -- which are located far south of the flames — hasn’t been significantly affected beyond some haze sinking into the Bryce area. Still, visitors to Bryce have posted videos on social media showing the giant plume in the distance.

The smoke could further be seen for hundreds of miles, all the way to Colorado.

“This is unlike anything we’ve seen in recent memory,” state forester Jamie Barnes said in a statement Thursday. “We're seeing fires spread farther and faster under conditions that defy historical expectations. Some of the fires we’ve responded to this year are behaving in ways veteran firefighters simply haven’t seen before.”

Much of Utah is experiencing severe to extreme drought, while parts of Arizona and Colorado are experiencing severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Fireworks will be limited in Utah through July 5

Gov. Spencer Cox set the temporary fireworks restrictions through July 5 as the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, saying “this year is different.”

The weather service in Salt Lake City, for the first time in the office's history, issued a “ Particularly Dangerous Situation ” warning for five Utah counties, including the area of the Cottonwood Fire. The rare alert was first used to warn of tornado conditions. A red flag warning also was issued for most of the state.

“Prepare now for rapid fire growth,” it said.

A similar “dangerous situation” warning had been issued for the 2025 Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, which killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes as it incinerated hillside neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades and the city of Malibu. A federal judge declared a mistrial Friday in the arson case against Jonathan Rinderknecht, the man accused of sparking the fire. The jury said it couldn't agree on a verdict.

Extreme fire conditions were expected in Utah on Friday, with wind gusting up to 50 mph (80 kph) and low humidity, across the southwest desert and central and southern mountains, including the area of the Cottonwood Fire.

Rocky Mountain Power issued a public safety power shut-off watch/warning for areas of central, southern and eastern Utah from Friday through the weekend.

Beaver County, affected by the Cottonwood Fire, has a population of about 7,400 people, according to the U.S. Census.

Meanwhile, the Iron Fire, about 70 miles (113 kilometers) southwest of Salt Lake City, blackened 63 square miles (163 square km) by Friday and was 26% contained, authorities said. It forced the evacuation of Eureka, population 1,000, as well as people at a nearby ranch. They were allowed to return Thursday.

While the cause of the Cottonwood Fire was unknown, Cox's order noted that since the beginning of fire season, more than 75% of Utah’s wildfires have been human-caused.

The governor's order gives power to Barnes to restrict or prohibit fireworks displays in Utah's cities and towns, instead of leaving those decisions up to the communities.

Other western states also face wildfire danger

Red flag warnings, which mean conditions such as low humidity, warm temperatures and strong winds can create an extreme wildfire risk, were in effect Friday for a large swath of the West — stretching from Idaho to southern Arizona and New Mexico.

The warnings extended into Saturday, with forecasters predicting winds of 25 to 35 miles an hour (40 km/h to 56 km/h) and very low humidity levels. The worst conditions were expected from northern Arizona into central and southern Utah.

In New Mexico, firefighters were battling a blaze that had forced the evacuations of campgrounds and a YMCA camp in the Jemez Mountains.

In Arizona, a wildfire prompted some evacuations last weekend near Sedona, burning about several hundred acres of steep and rugged terrain near Oak Creek Canyon.

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Associated Press reporter Sudhin Thanawala contributed to this story.

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This story has been corrected; the state forester's first name is spelled Jamie, not Jaime.

Miller, 48, was arrested June 6 in Fremont County, which borders Montana and Wyoming, and charged with possessing psilocybin mushrooms. He pleaded not guilty last week and said his friend who was with him had a small amount of drugs he didn't know about.

County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake said in a statement provided to The Associated Press on Friday that her office will be dismissing the drug possession and drug paraphernalia charges against Miller.

“Although the deputy had sufficient probable cause to arrest Mr. Miller at the beginning of June, we recently received information which resulted in our office determining it is in the interest of justice to dismiss Mr. Miller’s misdemeanor charges,” she said. "I will not be discussing the specifics of this recent information due to it being related to another active case.”

Blake did not provide details on the other active case. Online court records related to Miller's case list another man who was charged with the same crimes.

Miller's lawyer, Jeromy Stafford, did not immediately return phone and email messages Friday. He told media outlets earlier this week that Miller did not have any drugs on his person when he was arrested.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Miller said he was pulled over after accelerating to pass a vehicle on a highway. He said his friend had a small amount of cannabis and a cannabis pipe, which Miller said he didn't know about.

“We fully cooperated with the officer,” he said. "I am hopeful the misdemeanor charges will be dropped once the facts are reviewed.”

In a probable cause statement, Fremont County Sheriff's Deputy Jacob Hurt wrote that he found Miller with a white dispensary bag containing 4.1 grams of the psychedelic mushrooms.

The 48-year-old Miller took a gambler’s approach to ski racing. His high-risk, high-reward style resulted in six Olympic medals, including gold in the super-combined at the 2010 Vancouver Games, and numerous crashes.

His last major race was at the 2015 world championships in Beaver Creek, Colorado, when a bad wipeout knocked him out of the super-G. He later underwent surgery to fix a torn right hamstring tendon caused when his ski sliced him. He said in late 2017 that he was retired for good.

Miller won 33 World Cup races and a pair of World Cup overall titles. He also captured four gold medals at world championships.

The operation saw dozens of Israeli commandos storm the Entebbe Airport where Palestinian and German militants — backed by Ugandan forces — had taken 106 passengers from a hijacked flight from Tel Aviv to Paris. It lasted less than an hour with limited casualties among the commandos and hostages, most of whom were either Israeli or Jewish, making it the stuff of lore given the difficulty and high-risk nature of the mission.

Israel released the files ahead of the raid's 50th anniversary on July 3, and as the nation still grapples with the aftermath of the hostage crisis that began when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The attack killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 others taken hostage to Gaza.

The files on the Entebbe raid build on earlier disclosures and what was already known about then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s ad hoc crisis team and show how officials weighed negotiating for the hostages’ release against attempting a long‑range operation that would require Israeli commandos to fly thousands of miles (kilometers) over multiple hostile states.

The team initially insisted there should be no negotiations with the hostage‑takers — the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and West Germany’s Revolutionäre Zellen. The groups, which hijacked the Air France flight from Tel Aviv when it stopped over in Athens, demanded the release of prisoners in multiple countries and warned they would start killing hostages if talks hadn’t delivered by their self‑imposed deadline.

But as the crisis dragged on over six days and pressure from the families of the hostages grew, Israeli leaders gradually became more open to talks, according to a summary of the files released by the Israel State Archives.

“The zero hour is approaching … We believe that a supreme effort must be made and break the ultimatum,” Rabin’s crisis team wrote in one memo, authorizing negotiations over some of the conditions.

Israel has historically negotiated with Palestinian militant groups to exchange hostages for Palestinian prisoners and detainees even as critics warned the practice could encourage more kidnappings. Entebbe is often viewed as a moment when Israel pivoted -- choosing a risky military operation -- but Friday’s documents suggest otherwise. Behind the scenes, officials moved to force only once negotiations stalled and confidence in a potential operation grew.

According to the documents, Israel took a two-pronged approach. It pushed forward France-led negotiations with Ugandan President Idi Amin, while mocking up blueprints of the airport and preparing to send transport planes to Kenya and onto Uganda to raid the airport under the dark of night.

The commandos broke into the airport and saved all but three hostages killed in the crossfire. During the gunbattle, Israeli forces killed all of the hijackers and dozens of Ugandan soldiers. Only one commando — Yonatan Netanyahu, brother of future Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — was killed.

The operation was criticized by Amin and the Organization of African Unity — the African Union's predecessor organization — which saw the raid as a violation of Uganda’s sovereignty at a moment when it claimed to be negotiating for the hostages’ release.

For Israel, Entebbe was widely seen as a success just four years after all nine Israeli hostages were killed in a German-led rescue attempt at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Still, its leaders knew that military successes would not end conflict.

“Let us not deceive ourselves,” Rabin wrote in one of the memos released Friday. “It was an extraordinary operation and achievement. However, the problem is not over. Terrorism continues to operate. What other problems terrorism will pose to us and what lessons we must learn from this matter, it is too early to say. We have finished one battle, but the war continues.”

The pattern for the weekend will be overnight thunderstorms that last into the morning. The afternoons and early evenings will be drier. Expect similar heat on Friday.

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Overall tropical activity from the Gulf and Caribbean to the wider Atlantic is the lowest to-date in 12 years.

Of course, even though we’re already through about 16% of the hurricane season based on the calendar, historically 98% of tropical activity occurs after June.

And as we’ve discussed extensively in newsletters in previous seasons, early season activity (either high or low) isn’t a meaningful predictor for what could happen later in the season.

Only once we get into late July and August does activity to-date start to provide any meaningful clues about what the peak months of the season could hold.

Nevertheless, the paltry start to the Atlantic hurricane season is in line with what we would expect with a much earlier arriving and historically strong El Niño across the eastern Pacific.

The subtropical jet stream has been relentless through the tropical belt of the Atlantic this month — including into parts of the Gulf and Caribbean — and will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future.

Watching off the southeast to start July

As we detailed in Thursday’s newsletter, some of our forecast models – namely Google’s machine learning-based DeepMind hurricane model – are hinting at a small development window off the southeastern U.S. for the middle part of next week.

Odds remain low for now (10% or less), but best chances will come from next Tuesday to Thursday if anything tries to spin up.

The catalyst for what we’ll be watching next week will be a dying front draped over the warm waters off the southeast U.S.

Some models are hinting at a Mesoscale Convective System or MCS — a large cluster of thunderstorms — forming inland, diving off the coast, and getting tangled up on the frontal boundary, which could promote some development.

We won’t know the exact details for a few days, but regardless the odds are low enough that NHC hasn’t added it to its outlook just yet. Given lighter upper-level winds east of Florida along with near-record warmth in the waters for the time of year, it’s worth monitoring the trends.

Interestingly a similar setup (old front with an embedded MCS) is what spawned Hurricane Arthur in 2014, the last hurricane season to start as quietly as 2026.

Even the handful of models that do suggest development don’t point to significant development or a strong system, however, so for now it’s not anything to worry about.

In the meantime, enjoy the quiet weekend and quiet end to June.

Even before the two earthquakes hit Venezuela on Wednesday, nearly 8 million people were already in need of aid, according to Tom Fletcher, the UN aid chief.

The earthquakes caused most of the destruction in Caracas, and in the states of La Guaira, Miranda, Aragua, Carabobo, and Falcón, according to the UN, which is working with the U.S. State Department and U.S. Southern Command.

For more information and to donate, visit this UN page.

More ways to help

• Doral opens 4 aid drop-off locations
• Aid drop-off location opens in Homestead
• World Central Kitchen asks for donations for fresh meals
• Red Cross asks for Disaster Response Emergency Fund donations
• UN asks for donations for ‘underfunded’ program for kids
• World Vision asks for ‘disaster relief fund’ donations

The 51-year-old Calvelli replaces Giorgio Furlani, who was fired by U.S. owner, RedBird Capital Partners, last month as it cleaned house after what it deemed “an unequivocal failure” of a season.

“The mandate is clear — we will play to win, instead of playing not to lose — in everything that AC Milan touches, but most importantly on the field,” RedBird managing partner Gerry Cardinale said in a statement.

“The entire organization at AC Milan will now benefit tremendously from his full time appointment and sense of urgency to bring a winning culture and results back to the club.”

Calvelli will continue to serve as CEO International at RedBird Development Group and Operating Partner at RedBird Capital Partners. A former professional tennis player, he was previously ATP CEO from 2020-25.

“Since joining RedBird last year, Massimo has distinguished himself as a leader and driver of organizational design that brings people together and establishes a culture of collaboration and professionalism,” Cardinale added.

“Our model at RedBird often requires our senior leadership to go “in house” in our most important investments to ensure best in class execution, especially in situations requiring change and innovation.”

Milan spent much of last season in the top two positions and fighting for the Serie A title. But a run of only two wins in its last eight matches dropped it to fifth on the last day of the campaign and saw it miss out on Champions League qualification.

That led to a number of dismissals, including coach Massimiliano Allegri. He was replaced by Rúben Amorim earlier this month.

“The opportunity to lead AC Milan as it navigates this critical moment in its football trajectory, as well as within the overall state of Italian football, is something I take very seriously and with a profound sense of urgency,” Calvelli said.

“The mandate from Gerry is to bring a culture of winning and results both on and off the field back to AC Milan … I’ve had a full year working collaboratively with the senior leadership of the club across all functions and have a hands-on sense of what needs to be fixed and innovated.”

___

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

La actividad tropical general, desde el Golfo Pérsico y el Caribe hasta el Atlántico en general, es la más baja registrada en los últimos 12 años.

Por supuesto, aunque según el calendario ya hemos transcurrido aproximadamente el 16% de la temporada de huracanes, históricamente el 98% de la actividad tropical se produce después de junio.

Y como hemos comentado ampliamente en los boletines informativos de temporadas anteriores, la actividad al principio de la temporada (ya sea alta o baja) no es un indicador fiable de lo que podría ocurrir más adelante en la temporada.

Solo cuando lleguemos a finales de julio y agosto, la actividad registrada hasta la fecha comenzará a proporcionar pistas significativas sobre lo que podrían deparar los meses de mayor actividad de la temporada.

Sin embargo, el escaso inicio de la temporada de huracanes en el Atlántico concuerda con lo que cabría esperar de un fenómeno de El Niño mucho más temprano e históricamente fuerte en el Pacífico oriental.

La corriente en chorro subtropical ha sido implacable a través del cinturón tropical del Atlántico este mes, incluyendo partes del Golfo y el Caribe, y seguirá siéndolo en el futuro previsible.

Observando desde el sureste a principios de julio

Como detallamos en el boletín informativo del jueves , algunos de nuestros modelos de pronóstico, en concreto el modelo de huracanes DeepMind de Google, basado en el aprendizaje automático, sugieren una pequeña ventana de desarrollo frente a la costa sureste de Estados Unidos para mediados de la próxima semana.

Las probabilidades siguen siendo bajas por ahora (10% o menos), pero las mejores posibilidades se presentarán entre el próximo martes y el jueves si algo intenta reactivarse.

El detonante de lo que veremos la próxima semana será un frente que se desvanece sobre las cálidas aguas del sureste de Estados Unidos.

Algunos modelos sugieren que un Sistema Convectivo de Mesoescala (SCM, por sus siglas en inglés), un gran cúmulo de tormentas eléctricas, se formaría tierra adentro, se desplazaría hacia la costa y se enredaría en el límite frontal, lo que podría favorecer cierto desarrollo.

No conoceremos los detalles exactos hasta dentro de unos días, pero, en cualquier caso, la probabilidad es tan baja que el NHC aún no lo ha incluido en su pronóstico. Dado que los vientos en altura son más suaves al este de Florida y que las temperaturas del agua rondan el máximo histórico para esta época del año, conviene estar atentos a las tendencias.

Curiosamente, una configuración similar (un frente antiguo con un sistema convectivo de mesoescala incrustado) fue la que dio origen al huracán Arthur en 2014, la última temporada de huracanes que comenzó de forma tan tranquila como en 2026.

Sin embargo, incluso los pocos modelos que sugieren desarrollo no apuntan a un desarrollo significativo ni a un sistema sólido, así que por ahora no hay nada de qué preocuparse.

Mientras tanto, disfruten del tranquilo fin de semana y del tranquilo final de junio.

Leer en español

The Miami-Dade resident joined the world’s Venezuelan diaspora in their struggle to communicate with loved ones after the tragedy.

“I didn’t hear from my sister for hours last night,” Alcantara said. “My niece was able to tell me that she spoke to her.”

Alcantara has been following the rising death toll as the search and rescue efforts continued. She is worried about the urgent needs of the survivors, so she dropped off donations at El Arepazo in Doral.

“We need food, medicines,” Alcanta said. “We need a lot; we need everything.”

Mayor Christi Fraga partnered with the local Global Empowerment Mission, a nonprofit founded in response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

El Arepazo, one of four drop-off locations for donations that GEM plans to deliver to Venezuela, opens 24 hours, seven days a week, at 10191 NW 58th St.

The list of items needed included first aid kits; emergency gear such as flashlights, heavy-duty batteries, solar phone chargers, and work gloves; and baby care, such as diapers.

The need for aid rises amid an uncertain political transition under acting interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who has been cooperating with President Donald Trump after Nicolás Maduro’s capture.

“We are not going to give up. We are never going to give up, and we are going to be able to be free and rebuild,” Alcanta said. “We have to.”

Related story: Doral opens 4 aid drop-off locations

More ways to help

• Aid drop-off location opens in Homestead
• World Central Kitchen asks for donations for fresh meals
• Save The Children asks for emergency fund donations
• Red Cross asks for Disaster Response Emergency Fund donations
• UN asks for donations for ‘underfunded’ program for kids
• World Vision asks for ‘disaster relief fund’ donations

Related coverage

• The 2 earthquakes that struck Venezuela are known as a ‘doublet.’ Here’s how they happen
• Venezuelans search rubble for survivors after 2 strong quakes kill at least 188
• After Venezuela earthquakes, here are some of the deadliest in Latin America in the last century
• World leaders react with offers and solidarity after powerful quakes hit Venezuela
• Back-to-back powerful earthquakes hit Venezuela, causing widespread damage

La residente de Miami-Dade se unió a la diáspora venezolana en todo el mundo en su esfuerzo por comunicarse con sus seres queridos tras la tragedia.

“No tuve noticias de mi hermana durante horas anoche”, dijo Alcántara. “Mi sobrina pudo decirme que habló con ella”.

Alcántara ha estado siguiendo el aumento en la cifra de personas fallecidas mientras continúan las labores de búsqueda y rescate. Le preocupan las necesidades urgentes de los sobrevivientes, por lo que llevó donaciones a El Arepazo, en Doral.

“Necesitamos alimentos, medicinas”, dijo Alcántara. “Necesitamos mucho; necesitamos de todo”.

La alcaldesa Christi Fraga se asoció con la organización local Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), una organización sin fines de lucro fundada en respuesta al terremoto de Haití de 2010.

El Arepazo, uno de los cuatro centros de recepción de donaciones que GEM planea enviar a Venezuela, está abierto las 24 horas, los siete días de la semana, en 10191 NW 58th St.

La lista de artículos necesarios incluye botiquines de primeros auxilios; equipos de emergencia como linternas, baterías de alta capacidad, cargadores solares para teléfonos y guantes de trabajo; y artículos para el cuidado de bebés, como pañales.

La necesidad de ayuda aumenta en medio de una incierta transición política bajo la presidencia interina de Delcy Rodríguez, quien ha estado cooperando con el presidente Donald Trump tras la captura de Nicolás Maduro.

“No nos vamos a rendir. Nunca nos vamos a rendir, y vamos a poder ser libres y reconstruir”, dijo Alcántara. “Tenemos que hacerlo”.

Historia relacionada: Doral abre cuatro centros de recepción de ayuda.

Más formas de ayudar

• Se abre un punto de entrega de ayuda en Homestead.
• World Central Kitchen solicita donaciones para comidas frescas.
• Save The Children solicita donaciones para su fondo de emergencia.
• La Cruz Roja solicita donaciones para su Fondo de Emergencia para la Respuesta ante Desastres.
• La ONU solicita donaciones para un programa infantil que carece de fondos suficientes.
• World Vision solicita donaciones para su “fondo de ayuda en casos de desastre”.

Cobertura relacionada

• Los dos terremotos que azotaron Venezuela se conocen como un “doblete”. Así es como ocurrieron.
• Venezolanos buscan supervivientes entre los escombros tras dos fuertes terremotos que dejaron al menos 188 muertos.
• Tras los terremotos de Venezuela, aquí están algunos de los más mortíferos de América Latina en el último siglo.
• Los líderes mundiales reaccionan con ofertas y solidaridad tras los potentes terremotos que azotaron Venezuela.
• Dos fuertes terremotos consecutivos sacudieron Venezuela, causando daños generalizados.

The organization, which manages one of the largest humanitarian networks in the world, announced the activation of the Disaster Response Emergency Fund on Thursday.

The Venezuelan Red Cross, or “Cruz Roja Venezolana,” reported critical damage to the headquarters on Avenida Andrés Bello in Caracas.

The organization reported staff and volunteers, some of whom had suffered damage at their homes, were working at hospitals and polyclinics, distributing relief supplies and focusing on rescues and assessments.

For more information about how to make a financial donation to the fund, visit this page.

Related social media

Nuestros socorristas están desplegados en las zonas afectadas para apoyar las labores de respuesta tras los eventos sísmicos registrados en #Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/bMryuxKFe3

— Cruz Roja Venezolana (@CruzRojaVe) June 25, 2026

More ways to help

• Doral opens 4 aid drop-off locations
• Aid drop-off location opens in Homestead
• World Central Kitchen asks for donations for fresh meals
• Red Cross asks for Disaster Response Emergency Fund donations
• UN asks for donations for ‘underfunded’ program for kids
• World Vision asks for ‘disaster relief fund’ donations

ATF, the federal agency responsible for enforcing the nation’s gun laws, told The Associated Press that it discontinued what it called a “pilot” program using a tool called Webloc after Rep. Michael Cloud, a Republican from Texas, and Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, expressed reservations about the agency's use of bulk commercial location data.

Webloc, which is made by a vendor called Penlink, sources data from consumer apps and advertising networks, which collect the location of mobile devices from consumers who download apps or browse the web. Such data is sometimes called “ad tech” and has been controversial in criminal law enforcement as it allows agencies to bypass warrant requirements to identify the mobile devices present in certain areas at specific times.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that police needed a warrant to obtain historic movement data from cellphone companies on a criminal suspect. But it has never addressed the growing practice of commercially acquired data.

Other users of Webloc include the U.S. military and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement but also local law enforcement agencies such as police in places like Elk Grove, Calif. and Durham, N.C. The technology has also expanded around the world, with the national police in El Salvador and Hungarian intelligence agencies as customers, according to a report from earlier this year from Citizen Lab, a group of researchers at the University of Toronto who investigate digital threats to civil society.

“A victory for Americans’ constitutional rights”

ATF said in a statement that it determined that the tool “does not meet our needs.” The agency said it is not using any other ad-tech-sourced services.

“ATF continually evaluates tools and techniques to enhance our investigations and ultimately reduce violent crime in American communities. We did conduct a pilot with Webloc to determine if it could improve our investigative capabilities,” an ATF spokesperson said in an email.

Wyden called ATF’s decision to abandon the software “a victory for Americans’ constitutional rights.”

“For years, I have warned that the government’s purchase of Americans’ location data from shady data brokers is an unacceptable end-run around the Fourth Amendment,” Wyden said in a statement. After Rep. Cloud and my staff informed the ATF about the legal and privacy quagmire surrounding adtech data, the agency did the right thing.”

Under questioning from Cloud, ATF Director Robert Cekada acknowledged in a congressional hearing in May that the agency had been buying geolocation data on American cell phones.

After the hearing, Wyden and Cloud’s office were briefed by ATF. In a joint press release, the two lawmakers said they learned ATF had conducted more than 300 warrantless searches using the tool — including more than 200 tied to active ATF cases.

In one instance involving suspected arson at a facility belonging to a U.S. defense contractor, both a prosecutor and a judge expressed concerns about the use of Webloc ad tech data, according to the two lawmakers. The agency “was ultimately forced to backtrack and obtain a traditional court order for bulk cellphone tower data” from cell carriers instead, Wyden and Cloud said in a release.

Webloc was originally made by an Israeli company called Cobwebs before it was bought and merged with a U.S. company called Penlink.

Penlink said in a statement that it is “proud to have a long-standing relationship with ATF that has enabled us to support its mission to protect America’s communities from violent crime involving the illegal use of firearms, explosives and arson.” The company added that it “looks forward to continuing our relationship in support of that mission.”

Practice continues in other government agencies

Other law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security continue to buy commercial geolocation data.

DHS issued a request for information to private industry in January asking about how commercially available advertising data might be used to assist in its deportation and law enforcement mission. And earlier this year, FBI director Kash Patel told the Senate: “We do purchase commercially available information that’s consistent with the constitution and the laws under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and it has led to some valuable intelligence for us.”

A bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Wyden, Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, Republican Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio, and Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California, have introduced a bill that would ban the practice of buying data without a judicial order.

The nonprofit expects children in northern Venezuela to need “urgent support” to access shelter, food, water, and healthcare.

The organization, which has been supporting programs in Venezuela since the 1980s, asked the public to help support the Children’s Emergency Fund.

For more information about how to make a financial donation to the fund, visit this page.

More ways to help

• Doral opens 4 aid drop-off locations
• Aid drop-off location opens in Homestead
• World Central Kitchen asks for donations for fresh meals
• Red Cross asks for Disaster Response Emergency Fund donations
• UN asks for donations for ‘underfunded’ program for kids
• World Vision asks for ‘disaster relief fund’ donations

Leer en español

Phil Ehr, a retired U.S. Navy commander who is running for congressional district 28, partnered with the local nonprofit Global Empowerment Mission to collect aid.

Ehr and his campaign team were welcoming donations at their office at 143 North Flagler Ave., near the Homestead City Hall.

The list of items needed included first aid kits; emergency gear such as flashlights, heavy-duty batteries, solar phone chargers, and work gloves; and baby care, such as diapers.

Ehr was also welcoming nonperishable foods, new sleeping bags, new inflatable mattresses, new backpacks, and new pillows.

Volunteers at the GEM warehouse were packing boxes of donations on Thursday afternoon to prepare deliveries.

For more information about how to make a financial donation to GEM, visit this page.

More ways to help

• Doral opens 4 aid drop-off locations
• Aid drop-off location opens in Homestead
• World Central Kitchen asks for donations for fresh meals
• Red Cross asks for Disaster Response Emergency Fund donations
• UN asks for donations for ‘underfunded’ program for kids
• World Vision asks for ‘disaster relief fund’ donations

Según la policía de Fort Lauderdale, el choque con fuga fue reportado alrededor de las 6:40 a.m. en la cuadra 2000 de Southeast 17th Street.

La policía dijo que la ciclista fue atropellada por un vehículo de color oscuro en los carriles en dirección este antes de que el conductor huyera de la escena.

La víctima fue trasladada al Broward Health Medical Center, donde murió, confirmaron las autoridades.

Investigadores de Homicidios de Tráfico se encuentran actualmente en la escena y los carriles en dirección este de Southeast 17th Street estarán cerrados durante la investigación, dijo la policía.

Cualquier persona con información sobre el choque o la identidad del conductor debe llamar a la policía de Fort Lauderdale o a Broward Crime Stoppers al 954-493-8477. Los llamantes pueden permanecer anónimos.

La presidenta interina Delcy Rodríguez anunció la nueva cifra de fallecidos la madrugada del viernes, rodeada de funcionarios del gobierno y militares, mientras daba la bienvenida a equipos de rescate provenientes de distintas partes del mundo.

Estos son los lugares en el sur de Florida que están recibiendo donaciones para las labores de ayuda.

Doral:

• La sede de GEM está abierta de 9 a.m. a 4 p.m., de lunes a viernes, en 1850 NW 84th Ave.
• El vestíbulo de la Oficina de la Supervisora de Elecciones del condado Miami-Dade está abierto de 8 a.m. a 5 p.m., de lunes a viernes, en 2700 NW 87th Ave.
• El Doral Legacy Park Community Center está abierto de 5 p.m. a 9 p.m., de lunes a viernes, y de 8 a.m. a 5 p.m. los sábados y domingos, en 11400 NW 82 St.
• El Arepazo está abierto las 24 horas, de lunes a domingo, en 10191 NW 58th St.

Entre las donaciones que se necesitan se incluyen equipos de emergencia, como linternas, baterías de alta capacidad, cargadores solares para teléfonos y guantes de trabajo; así como artículos para el cuidado de bebés, como pañales.

Coconut Creek:

Food For The Poor, ubicado en 6401 Lyons Road.

Se reciben donaciones de lunes a viernes de 8 a.m. a 5 p.m. y los sábados de 8 a.m. al mediodía.

Donaciones que se aceptan:

• Frutas: duraznos, piña, mango, peras y otras frutas enlatadas similares.

• Vegetales: tomates, zanahorias, papas, judías verdes, espinacas y vegetales mixtos enlatados.

• Proteínas: pollo, pavo, carne de res, pescado enlatados o carne deshidratada.

• Granos secos: arroz, frijoles, lentejas y guisantes.

• Cereales: trigo, harina de maíz, avena y pasta.

• Frutos secos, semillas y mantequillas de frutos secos: mantequilla de maní, mantequilla de almendra y mantequilla de semillas de girasol.

• Aceite vegetal: aceite para cocinar (vegetal, de canola o de girasol).

• Productos lácteos: leche en caja o en polvo y alternativas fortificadas de larga duración.

• Refrigerios listos para consumir: galletas nutritivas, barras energéticas o refrigerios fortificados.

• Artículos de higiene, como jabón, desodorante y toallas de baño.

• Lonas.

• Linternas solares.

• Mantas.

• Pañales para niños y adultos.

• Productos de higiene femenina.

• Libros de actividades y juegos para niños.

Historia relacionada: Doral abre cuatro centros de recepción de ayuda.

Más formas de ayudar.

• Se abre un punto de entrega de ayuda en Homestead.
• World Central Kitchen solicita donaciones para comidas frescas.
• Save The Children solicita donaciones para su fondo de emergencia.
• La Cruz Roja solicita donaciones para su Fondo de Emergencia para la Respuesta ante Desastres.
• La ONU solicita donaciones para un programa infantil que carece de fondos suficientes.
• World Vision solicita donaciones para su “fondo de ayuda en casos de desastre”.

In a social media post, Flightradar24 posted the flight path of the plane, a Sunward SA 60L Aurora, which took off from an airport about 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Beijing. It headed westward and ended just east of the East Third Ring Road shortly before 6 p.m. in local time. The flight data provider said the plane crashed into the CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, which rises more than 1,700 feet (528 meters), just east of a major ring road in a cluster of skyscrapers.

The 108-story CITIC tower, shaped like an ancient Chinese wine vessel, is one of the most recognizable skyscrapers in Beijing.

It wasn't immediately known what caused the crash in a city with strict airspace controls, including a recent ban on drones. Information on the pilot also was not immediately available. There was no immediate information on whether there were any on-ground casualties.

Chinese authorities have not issued a statement, nor has the crash been reported by state media. Social media posts about the crash have been scrubbed from China's walled-off internet, though footage has made its way outside of China's firewall and is circulating on overseas sites such as X.com.

Images and videos shared on social media appeared to show debris from a small aircraft near the skyscraper. While the images were consistent with the location, it was not possible to independently confirm their authenticity. One image of the wreckage shows a partial registration number of “B-12." The full registration number of the aircraft is B-12PP.

Photos by The Associated Press show what appears to be a hole in the glass facade on one side of the CITIC Tower.

A person working in the building told AP that an aircraft crashed into the skyscraper, and a fire alarm was triggered. The person spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation. Incidents such as crashes are considered sensitive by Chinese authorities.

A heavy police presence, as well as fire engines and ambulances were seen outside the building. Onlookers gathered to observe and take pictures, but police asked them to stop photographing and leave the area.

Last month, Beijing authorities enacted new curbs on its already tightly regulated airspace, effectively banning the sale and operation of consumer drones within the capital.

___

Associated Press writers Didi Tang in Washington and Josh Funk in Omaha, Neb. contributed.

Bland, de 38 años, habló con Local 10 News dos días después de que un juez la declarara no culpable por razón de insanidad en el asesinato de su bebé y en el intento de asesinato de su esposo y su hija adolescente.

Los investigadores dijeron que el incidente ocurrió el 23 de agosto de 2021 en una vivienda cerca de Northwest 99th Street y 30th Avenue, en el condado Miami-Dade. Indicaron que Bland fue acusada de ahogar a su bebé mientras afirmaba que intentaba bautizar a todas las personas que estaban en la casa.

Las autoridades confirmaron que el esposo de Bland, de 38 años, y su hija de 16 años fueron apuñalados durante el incidente y sobrevivieron. Los detectives dijeron que también encontraron a Bland con heridas de arma blanca que determinaron que se las había provocado ella misma.

Indicaron que otros cuatro niños, todos menores de 11 años, estaban dentro de la vivienda en ese momento, pero no resultaron heridos.

“Esto nos quitó mucho como familia y esa es la tranquilidad que siento”, dijo. “Esto no me devuelve a mi hija. No detiene el dolor”.

La madre de seis hijos fue declarada no culpable por razón de insanidad después de que los investigadores dijeron que escuchaba voces que le decían que Jesús estaba regresando.

Cuando le preguntaron si recordaba haber estado en el baño con su hija o si recordaba el ahogamiento, Bland respondió:

“Recuerdo haber visto a mi hijo, mi único hijo varón. No podía hablar. Recuerdo mirarlo a los ojos y decirle solo con la mirada que corriera, porque no podía hablar. Y fue como si él lo hubiera entendido”, dijo. “Me miró a los ojos y salió corriendo. Porque yo no entendía qué me estaba pasando, por qué estaba ocurriendo esto. Algo tenía el control de mí”.

También le preguntaron a Bland sobre un video de la cámara corporal en el que se le escucha decir a los paramédicos: “Sálvense. Dios está regresando”.

Las autoridades dijeron que Bland también intentó quitarse la vida.

Su abogado, Larry Handfield, afirmó que Bland era una buena madre y una veterana de la Marina que sufría una psicosis inducida por COVID-19.

“Desde el primer día en que fui contratado para representar a Precious Bland, después de investigar, porque hay mucho que aún no sabemos sobre el COVID, este fue uno de los primeros casos en el país que llegó a juicio utilizando el COVID-19 como defensa en un caso de asesinato”, dijo.

“Ambos médicos concluyeron que esto fue consecuencia del COVID, en primer lugar, y, en segundo lugar, que el COVID provocó el trastorno mental”, agregó Handfield.

El caso de Bland podría ser una de las primeras defensas exitosas en el país basadas en una psicosis relacionada con el COVID.

La fiscalía argumentó que la psicosis no era real, pero eso no fue suficiente para convencer al juez.

Después del veredicto, Bland dijo que estaba agradecida y lista para reconstruir su vida.

“Dios es bueno. Esto no me devuelve a mi hija. Estoy agradecida”, dijo. “Amo a mis hijos. Solo quiero volver a encaminar mi vida, junto a mi esposo y mis hijos, y seguir adelante”.

Local 10 le preguntó a Bland sobre su futuro con su familia y si confía en sí misma para estar cerca de sus hijos.

“Absolutamente, sin ninguna duda, y estoy segura de que mi familia también está muy atenta ahora”, dijo. “No es algo que ellos vayan a tomar a la ligera”.

Bland dice que asiste a terapia varias veces al mes y que está trabajando para reunirse nuevamente con sus hijos y su esposo.

The events include school supply giveaways, food bank drives, neighborhood door knockings and organizer trainings.

“Everything costs too damn much under Donald Trump and the Republicans,” Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in a statement.

Martin said party members planned “to reach, engage, register, and mobilize voters who will make the difference in races up and down the ballot.”

Two years ago, Democrats were the ones accused of being indifferent to Americans’ anger about rising prices. Now they're pointing the finger at Trump, who has downplayed the impact of lingering inflation.

He has described affordability concerns as a “hoax” and recently said, “I love the inflation” because he expects costs to drop as he tries to resolve his war with Iran.

About one-third of U.S. adults approve of how Trump is handling the economy, according to an AP-NORC poll from June. That’s down from the start of his second term, when 40% approved.

About 7 in 10 U.S. adults say the country’s economy is “poor,” according to an AP-NORC poll from June. That’s up from 65% in March, and underscores Americans’ ongoing unhappiness with the cost of living, which is being compounded by high gas prices due to the war in Iran.

Slightly more U.S. adults say the Democratic Party would do a better job than the Republican Party in handling inflation and the cost of living, according to a Marquette Law School/SSRS poll from May. Roughly one-third of U.S. adults — 35% — said the Democrats would do a better job, while 28% believe the Republicans would. Roughly one-third say the parties would be the same, or neither would be good.

This weekend's events vary by region.

In New Mexico, Gov. Michelle Luján Grisham will convene a training for 150 potential campaign staffers. Nevada’s statewide campaigns will knock on doors in rural and working class neighborhoods. Others will call voters in swing districts with competitive U.S. House races to talk about the rising price of gas.

Some events are geared toward directly helping voters to persuade them that Democrats are concerned about affordability.

For instance, the local party in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, plans to collect and distribute school supplies to poor families. And canvassers will fan out to discuss affordability issues in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The Republican National Committee dismissed the weekend's events.

“Despite being millions of dollars in debt, the DNC is choosing to throw pitiful pep rallies to distract from the fact they created the inflation crisis," said Delanie Bomar, an RNC spokeswoman. "Meanwhile, Republicans are hard at work fixing the economic mess Joe Biden and the Democrats created.”

Democrats hope that the events will show that their time in the political wilderness has made it more serious and effective at tackling kitchen table issues. But some fear their agenda may not be heard by voters in an increasingly fractured media environment.

“One of Donald Trump’s greatest strengths is that he’s so loud,” said Brian Derrick, a Democratic strategist. He said that events like the weekend’s itinerary help Democrats focus on an “Achilles’ heel” issue for Trump, “which right now is his lack of interest in addressing everyday costs for people.”

It's not the kind of reaction most veteran artists receive. “And I’m thinking, you know, 20 years is a long time to work for something. But when you see that … What’s the next 20 years look like?” he asks.

The rancher, rodeo competitor and onetime prison guard started his two-decade career playing honky tonks and dive bars. That led to slow and steady growth for the country traditionalist, but in the last few years, something has shifted. He landed his fifth career No. 1 song with “The Fall.” He was named entertainer of the year at the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards, the show's highest honor. That was a month after he headlined Stagecoach Music Festival. For an artist with legions of fans, it looked like he was accessing new heights.

“I feel like I’m closing a book and I’m opening another one and it’s all blank pages,” he says of this period. “Let's get to the next chapter."

On Friday, that new era began with the release of his album “Banks of the Trinity.”

Traveling to the ‘Banks of the Trinity’

It hasn't been an easy road. Last fall, Johnson had to cancel a bunch of tour dates after upper respiratory and sinus infections caused a burst eardrum that required surgery — an intimidating medical procedure for anyone, but especially nerve-wracking for a musician. “I was scared,” he said simply. But “in a roundabout way, it’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.”

It forced him to take three months off, which allowed him to be home during the birth of his son. It also rejuvenated his approach in the studio. Before the incident, he thought the album was complete. It was not: The additional time resulted in the inclusion of a few songs that now feel inextricable from the record: “Thank Somebody Country,” “Take Me Back (Leave Me There),” “Cricket on a Hook,” and the resilient “I Have” among them.

“What a blessing to have that kind of song fall in your lap when you’re kind of up against the ropes,” he says of the latter. “I mean, we thought we had the record done. It wasn’t done.”

A title track with real resonance

At the heart of “Banks of the Trinity” is its title track, which recalls Eagles' cover of “Seven Bridges Road” meets bluegrass and Southern gospel. Lyrically, it's an ode to Johnson's childhood. “I grew up on the banks of the Trinity (River.) Fishing for catfish, not so much out of pleasure or sport but for necessity to put food in the freezer. Deer season for me was not a trophy thing,” he said.

And while that track inspires a feeling of nostalgia within the listener, he doesn't consider this album a throwback collection. He says it's about showcasing his evolving sonic diversity. “The rest of the album for me is a musical journey from track one to track 16,” he said. “There’s a little bit of a flavor for everybody. It does kind of hit Motown. It does kind of hit Bluegrass. It does hit progressive country. It does it old country. It does a little rock here and there.”

It's the result of a new kind of freedom, one that is at least partially due to his recent accomplishments, including taking home the top prize at the ACM Awards. “I just did the thing that I’ve aspired to do in my career my entire life,” he says. “A really good place is a really good way to describe where I am.”

And now that the album is out, he's ready to take a breather. “I will be shirtless with no shoes on a beach at an undisclosed location,” he jokes about the days after record release. “'Cause I have already done all the prep work. I've been working on this album for two years. I’ve done all of the interviews. I’ve shook all the hands. Me and my wife and kids are gonna disappear for 10 days and I’m gonna become, I guess, every Kenny Chesney song ever.”

It's not a bad place to be.

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Bland, 38, spoke to Local 10 News two days after a judge found her not guilty by reason of insanity in the murder of her baby and the attempted murder of her husband and teenage daughter.

Investigators said the incident happened on Aug. 23, 2021, at a home near Northwest 99th Street and 30th Avenue in Miami-Dade County. They said Bland was accused of drowning her baby while claiming she was trying to baptize everyone in the home.

Authorities confirmed that Bland’s 38-year-old husband and 16-year-old daughter were stabbed during the incident and survived. Detectives said they also found Bland suffering from stab wounds that were determined to be self-inflicted.

They said four other children, all under the age of 11, were inside the home at the time but were not harmed.

“This took a lot from us as a family and that’s the goodness I feel,” she said. ”This doesn’t bring back my daughter. It doesn’t stop the pain."

The mother of six was found not guilty by reason of insanity after investigators said she was hearing voices telling her Jesus was coming back.

When asked if she remembered being in the bathroom with her daughter or remembered the drowning, Bland said:

“I remember seeing my son, my one and only son. I couldn’t speak. I remember looking in his eyes and just with my eyes just telling him, run, because I couldn’t speak. And it’s like he knew,” she said. “He looked in my eyes and he ran. Because I didn’t understand what was happening to me, like why this was happening. Something had control of me.”

Bland was also asked about body camera video showing her telling paramedics, “Save yourself. God is coming back.”

Authorities said Bland also tried to take her own life.

Her attorney, Larry Handfield, said Bland was a good mother and a Navy veteran who was suffering from COVID-19-induced psychosis.

“From the first day that I was hired to represent Precious Bland, having done the research, because there’s so much that we don’t know about COVID, and this was one of the first cases in the country to go to trial on COVID-19 to the defense of murder,” he said.

“Both doctors concluded that this was a result of COVID, number one, and number two, that COVID brought on the mental defect,” Handfield added.

Bland’s case may be one of the first successful COVID-related psychosis defenses in the country.

The prosecutor argued the psychosis was not real, but it was not enough to convince the judge.

After the verdict, Bland said she was thankful and ready to rebuild her life.

“God is good. This doesn’t bring back my daughter. I’m thankful,” she said. “I love my children. Just ready to get my life back together, my husband and my children -- just move forward.”

Local 10 asked Bland about her future with her family and whether she trusts herself around her children.

“Absolutely, without a doubt, and I’m sure that my family is very vigilant now as well,” she said. “It’s not something that you know, they would take lightly.”

Bland says she is in therapy several times a month and is working to be reunited with her children and husband.

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According to Fort Lauderdale police, the hit-and-run crash was reported at about 6:40 a.m. in the 2000 block of Southeast 17th Street.

Police said the bicyclist, who was identified 68-year-old Shelley Lewis, was struck by a dark-colored vehicle in the eastbound lanes before the driver fled the scene.

She was transported to Broward Health Medical Center, where she died, authorities confirmed.

Police identified the driver as 22-year-old Don Janea Smith and she was arrested Thursday afternoon.

Smith was arrested on charges of leaving the scene of accident involving death and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

She was booked into the Broward County Main Jail.

According to Lewis’ niece, Veronica Haines, Lewis was an avid bicyclist who stayed active and regularly enjoyed bicycling, tennis, golf, pickleball and ping pong.

She said her aunt spent her professional life in education, serving as head of special education at Mirror Lake Elementary School in Plantation after previously working at Sawgrass Elementary School in Sunrise.

After retiring, she often pet-sat for family and friends, Haines said.

According to Haines, Lewis lived near the Southeast 17th Street Causeway and frequently rode over the bridge to the beach, always wearing a helmet

She said family was everything to her beloved aunt.

Local 10 Assignment Desk editor Wilson Louis contributed to this report.

New York is 34-47 at the season's midpoint following a six-game losing streak, 15 games behind NL East-leading Atlanta and 9 1/2 games back of the NL’s last wild-card berth.

Mets owner Steve Cohen had high expectations for a team without a World Series title since 1986. New York opened the season with baseball’s highest payroll at $358 million and was projected to pay an additional $124 million in luxury tax.

“Our commitment to bringing our fans a championship-caliber team has not changed,” Cohen said in a statement. “There is no sugar-coating it: This season has been a disappointment and our fans deserve better than what we’ve delivered.”

Slowed by injuries to Francisco Lindor, Marcus Semien, Luis Robert Jr., Clay Holmes and Jorge Polanco, the Mets traded pitcher David Peterson to the Chicago Cubs on Thursday and could pivot to a selloff and retooling for the future.

Mendoza spent 15 seasons working for the Yankees, the last four as bench coach, before the Mets hired him to replace Buck Showalter after the 2023 season. While New York advanced to the NL Championship Series in 2024, it failed to reach the playoffs last year and is among the sport's biggest disappointments this season

Since starting last year 45-25, the Mets are 72-101. That left the team with a 206-199 record under Mendoza, who was in the final guaranteed season of a three-year contract. He was hired by the Mets a month after David Stearns joined New York as president of baseball operations.

After signing Juan Soto to a record $765 million, 15-year contract ahead of the 2025 season, Stearns made major roster changes last offseason. He allowed Pete Alonso to leave as a free agent and traded Brandon Nimmo, while bringing in Semien and Bo Bichette.

New York had a 12-game losing streak in April, its longest since 2002, and made six errors in the nightcap of Wednesday's doubleheader loss to the Chicago Cubs, their most in a game since 2014.

“Carlos has led the organization with passion and grace and is beloved by everyone who works with him on a daily basis,” Stearns said in a statement. “Carlos’ impact on our players, staff, and culture over the last three seasons has been transformative. Unfortunately, we know we are falling short and change is necessary to move forward.”

Green, a former major league infielder, joined the Mets in 2023 as senior vice president of baseball development and was given the title of interim manager for the rest of the season. He managed San Diego to a 274-366 record from 2016-19, finishing with sub-.500 records in all four seasons.

Green played four games for the Mets in 2009, his final big league appearances as a player. He became the fourth manager since Cohen bought the team from the Wilpon and Katz families after the 2020 season, following Luis Rojas, Showalter and Mendoza.

Mendoza is the third manager to lose his job since the season started. Boston's Alex Cora was replaced by Chad Tracy and Philadelphia's Rob Thomson by Don Mattingly.

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

One of four drones fired at the ship damaged its upper deck during the attack Thursday, but the ship was able to proceed, Trump said. The U.S. shot down the other drones, he said.

“We knocked down three of them. One of them, I guess — we didn’t miss it. Nobody saw it coming,” Trump said.

Trump did not say whether the U.S. will respond to the attack.

The British military said on Thursday that a container ship was hit a projectile off the coast of Oman, coming hours after Iran threatened vessels to stop using the route. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said no injuries were reported.

The development came during a fragile time for the U.S. and Iran as they work to negotiate a permanent end to the war. Iran has increasingly challenged the region and the U.S. over its control of the Strait of Hormuz, even with the current interim deal it reached with the U.S. last week.

The attack on the cargo ship happened while a United Nations maritime agency was beginning an operation to move stranded ships out of the strait this week, using an alternative route, hugging the shores of Oman rather than sailing through the central part of the strait.

The International Maritime Organization halted the evacuations after the attack and said on Friday they won’t resume until there are guarantees that the other ships won’t be attacked.

About 115 ships were able to move out of the strait in recent days, leaving about 500 still in the area, said Arsenio Dominguez, the agency’s secretary-general.

The opening of the alternative passage through the strait was expected to relieve pressure on the world economy and remove Iran’s main source of leverage in ongoing peace talks with the U.S.

The U.S. and Iran are still negotiating terms of the deal, including issues such as getting ships through the key strait and addressing the future of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Under the interim deal, the two sides have 60 days to work out the details.

Cargo ship attack poses a test for shipping

Shipping analysts said the drone strike cast a shadow over what had been a growing stream of trapped vessels finally leaving the Gulf and an increasing flow of tankers carrying crude oil.

“A week of widening commercial confidence in the Strait of Hormuz has hit its first significant test,” said marine data company Windward on X. It said that while the strait remains operationally open with 43 transits recorded after the incident, “the pace of normalization has slowed.”

On Wednesday before Thursday’s drone strike, 78 vessels transited the strait, the highest since the war began, although below the prewar averages of 130 or more per day.

At least two tankers reversed course while attempting to transit the strait on the U.N.-backed route near Oman after Iran insisted vessels use only the Teheran-approved routes, according to marine data and analytic firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence.

More than two dozen ships were still transiting the strait's southern route after the attack, Lloyd's said Friday.

Lebanon and Israel make a step toward peace

Ambassadors from Israel and Lebanon announced an agreement Friday described as a step toward peace following months of conflict between Israeli troops and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Nada Hamadeh, Lebanon's ambassador to the U.S., called the framework a move toward "enabling our people to go back to their land and allowing all Lebanese to live in peace, security, and prosperity.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the plan was a “great achievement” for Israel.

“The most important thing, first and foremost, is that Israel will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon,” he said, adding that they will stay until Hezbollah is disarmed and no longer poses a threat to Israel.

Missile warning startles Dubai

A missile warning in the United Arab Emirates caused by a technical glitch Friday underscored the ongoing tensions in the region and startled many across the city-state of Dubai.

A short time after the alert, the Emiratis said there was a telephone call between Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. It quoted Sheikh Abdullah as telling Araghchi that the UAE “emphasized the importance of full commitment” to the interim deal between Iran and the U.S.

“Serious diplomacy and responsible dialogue are the optimal path for addressing all regional and international crises,” it said.

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Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Ben Finley in Washington, David McHugh in Frankfurt, Germany, and John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, contributed to this report.

At Miami International Airport, Jose gripped his two boys’ hands on the way to the gate. He’s sending his 3-year-old, Ethan, and 6-year-old, Abel, to stay with family while he stays behind to work.

“I go out to work with the fear that one day the same thing could happen to me,” he said.

He doesn’t want his boys going through what happened to 3-year-old Christina. She was with her babysitter when her mother, then her father, were detained and later deported — leaving the toddler alone.

She’s not the only one.

Volunteers with South Florida’s Guatemalan-Maya Center have been organizing flights to reunite children with loved ones in Guatemala. As detentions and deportations spiked in South Florida, the calls about children being left alone kept coming.

“They’re leaving the only country they’ve ever known and they’re flying without their parents,” one volunteer said.

“A lot of this is happening because of 287-G that our local officials signed,” another added.

The youngest in the group is Angel. He’s 1. His grandmother, Magdalena, a cleaning lady whose husband was deported, came to the airport to self-deport — and helped keep an eye on Jose’s kids as he said his goodbyes.

“They’re my life,” he said.

The Guatemalan-Maya Center is covering the cost of these flights through public donations. So far, children have been flown to Guatemala, Colombia and El Salvador.

The proposal in Texas — which would mandate literary works such as Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations” alongside parables from the New Testament — has been closely followed by education observers who say it appears to be the first of its kind in the nation.

If approved by the Texas State Board of Education, which is controlled by Republicans, the reading list would take effect in 2030.

Texas, which educates roughly 1 in 10 of the nation’s public school students, has been at the forefront of a charge by conservatives to incorporate more religion into classrooms. The state already allows public schools to hire chaplains to counsel students, mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms and has approved an optional Bible-infused curriculum.

For months, critics have blasted both the push to require Bible readings and the state mandating what books are read by students, which are decisions typically left up to teachers. Teachers could still assign students other books to read on top of the required titles.

A focus on Christianity

Critics say the reading list lacks diversity, blurs the separation of church and state that is enshrined in the Constitution and leaves teachers and students with little room to decide what to read.

“Kids of all faith backgrounds and no faith are served by Texas schools and they should all feel welcome in Texas schools,” said Elva Mendoza, legislative communications associate for the progressive Texas Freedom Network. “But this is sending the message to children that one and only one religious text — a Christian one — is worthy of making this required reading list.”

Others have applauded the possibility of mandated Christian religious reading in public schools. Brooke Mazel, a retiree from Lubbock, encouraged the board to adopt biblical materials, saying her children and grandchildren grew up with “strong faith and family values.”

“America should celebrate our 250 years that started as a nation of unwavering Christian values,” Mazel said.

The board is also set to vote Friday on a social studies curriculum that links Bible stories with American history.

Texas may be a trailblazer

A state law passed in 2023 required a mandatory list of at least one literary work be taught in each grade level. The proposed new list contains around 200 texts, including Bible passages, essays and books, far in excess of that requirement.

Antero Garcia, president of the National Council of Teachers of English and a Stanford University professor, said he doesn’t know of any other state with a mandatory reading list that includes religious texts. Educators at the district and school level usually choose the texts their students will read, Garcia said.

Kasey Meehan, director of PEN America’s Freedom to Read program, agrees the move is “unique” to Texas.

Picture-book stories for elementary students including “David and Goliath” and “Daniel and the Lion’s Den” are on the required reading list. By fourth grade, students would encounter passages about Jesus in the New Testament.

By middle school, students would be expected to read several passages about Jesus, including passages from his most famous sermon, and another where he instructs people to cast aside earthly anxiety and seek the kingdom of God.

For high schoolers, the list requires the reading of specific Bible passages as supportive materials for literary works including works by Dickens and Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.”

Holding diversity in check

Such strict requirements amount to “almost de facto censorship,” Meehan said, comparing the list to book bans.

“It certainly leans ideologically more conservative,” she said. “It excludes a lot of diverse voices from the reading list.”

The list mandates that students reading Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar” also read a eulogy for President Ronald Reagan written by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a staunch conservative.

Frank Strong, an English and journalism teacher and co-founder of the student advocacy group Texas Freedom to Read, said diversity is not only important for students needing to see themselves in what they read but also as a way to learn about different cultures.

Many of the books on the reading list are not controversial, but Mendoza asks why books like “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” need to be required for kindergartners.

“Can’t our kindergarten teachers be trusted to choose board books?” Mendoza asks.

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Stengle reported from Dallas.

Newsom also said the U.S. government should own a stake in artificial intelligence companies. His proposals, outlined in a Substack post, aligns him with the Democratic Party's populist left, and he argued that urgent changes are needed to prevent the elite concentration of wealth and power from undermining democracy.

“It’s time for an economic reset for America,” Newsom wrote.

The governor announced his agenda a day after an influential health care union in California pledged to go forward with a ballot measure that would impose a one-time 5% tax on the assets of billionaires living in the state as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Newsom opposes that measure, as do many of the liberal interest groups that typically favor higher taxes. They fear it would drive billionaires out of California, eroding the state’s tax base over the long term for a one-time influx of cash. A technology mecca, California has more billionaires than any other state — a few hundred, by some estimates.

“You may not be able to pick up and move to Texas or Florida to shelter your income from taxation, but I promise you that billionaires can, and do,” Newsom wrote. “Wealth is movable, and it shops for the state with the lowest taxes. The fight belongs at the federal level, where this broken system was created in the first place.”

A minimum tax on large net worths

Newsom said the solution is a new national tax policy, rather than a state-by-state system. He proposed a minimum tax on anyone with a net worth above $100 million. He also wants to make it illegal for the wealthy to borrow against their stock portfolios to fund their luxury lifestyles tax free.

Newsom said there should be new rules for inheritance taxes, warning that “the transfer of wealth among the ultra-wealthy will lock in a permanent American aristocracy of inherited wealth.” And he wants to raise corporate tax rates to where they were before President Donald Trump’s first-term tax cut.

The need is especially urgent as artificial intelligence threatens to displace workers and further concentrate wealth, he wrote.

“We need to ensure every American owns a stake in the future being built by AI through a national public equity fund that takes a major stake in the new economy,” he wrote. "Simply, as artificial intelligence reshapes the country, every American should own a piece of the future it builds."

Revenue generated by his proposals could be used to retrain workers, fund universal child care, make college free and increase funding for health care.

‘Money buys influence’

Newsom, who has drawn attention as one of Trump's most high-profile political antagonists, is getting an early start on laying out a policy framework for his potential White House bid months before the midterm elections, which have typically marked the informal start of overt presidential campaigning.

The embrace of a wealth tax by Newsom, a moderate on tax policy despite his liberal reputation, signals a notable shift in the political landscape since Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren struggled to get traction in her 2020 campaign, which she largely centered around a 2% levy wealth tax.

Newsom portrayed the nation's tax code as a corrupt system built to help an elite few.

“Money buys influence, and influence rewrites the rules,” he wrote. “Those rewritten rules funnel even more wealth to the few. Under this weight, democracy itself starts to buckle.”

La región costera de La Guaira, al norte de Caracas, fue la más afectada, con decenas de edificios colapsados y donde se ha registrado la mayor cantidad de víctimas fatales. El principal aeropuerto venezolano, que se encuentra en esa región, permanece cerrado, lo que dificulta la llegada al país de ayuda internacional.

Los terremotos de 7,2 y 7,5 grados de magnitud del miércoles son los más fuertes registrados en el país sudamericano en más de un siglo.

Aquí los últimos acontecimientos registrados en Venezuela:

Voluntarios reparten ayuda a familias afectadas

Cientos de voluntarios trabajan sin descanso para recolectar suministros para las familias afectadas. Imágenes transmitidas por la televisión estatal mostraron a personas congregándose en plazas públicas y edificios gubernamentales para donar agua, papel higiénico, colchones, ropa, equipo médico y alimentos no perecederos. Iniciativas similares se han extendido por todo el país. En la ciudad de Bolívar voluntarios instalaron carpas en plazas públicas para recolectar suministros que serán enviados a Caracas, mientras las autoridades del estado occidental de Zulia abrieron centros de acopio para que los residentes donen ayuda.

El gobierno envió una flota de 26 camiones cargados con más de 2.600 toneladas de alimentos a La Guaira, informó el Ministerio del Interior en Instagram. Los suministros están destinados a casi 70 000 familias de ese estado costero, agregó.

En tanto, decenas de personas saquearon un supermercado dañado por los terremotos en Catia La Mar, constató The Associated Press.

Muertos ascienden a 920, hay 3.360 heridos

En conferencia de prensa, el presidente de Asamblea Nacional de Venezuela, Jorge Rodríguez, informa que la cifra muertos en los terremotos ascendió a 920 y que hay 3.360 heridos.

Agregó que "hasta el actual momento tenemos más de 4.000 personas damnificadas... 383 edificaciones afectadas de manera total o importante", en su mayoría en La Guaira.

A su vez informó que más de 800 voluntarios ya han llegado al país, en su mayoría procedentes de Estados Unidos y México, pero también de El Salvador, Suiza, Colombia, España, Ecuador, República Dominicana y Panamá.

Llega primer equipo de ayuda de EEUU

El primer envío aéreo de ayuda humanitaria estadounidense ha llegado a Venezuela para apoyar a dos equipos especializados de búsqueda y rescate urbano que se espera que arriben pronto al país, informó la Embajada de Estados Unidos en Caracas en su cuenta en X.

Cada equipo estará integrado por unos 80 especialistas entre bomberos, médicos e ingenieros estructurales, así como por 12 perros entrenados para detectar sobrevivientes en edificios derrumbados.

Asimismo, el ejército estadounidense enviará tres aviones de carga con rescatistas y equipo, además de otras aeronaves, según un comunicado del Comando Sur de Estados Unidos, que supervisa las operaciones militares en Sudamérica.

El comando militar también indicó que tres helicópteros del ejército estadounidense, con base en Honduras, se dirigen a Venezuela para ayudar en el traslado de personas y suministros.

Misión humanitaria de Brasil lista para partir

Unos 40 brasileños se preparan para partir del aeropuerto de Guarulhos, en Sao Paulo, a bordo de una aeronave militar que transporta equipos y suministros como parte de una misión humanitaria anunciada por el presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Miembros de la agencia de protección civil, bomberos y personal con equipos de escaneo capaces de localizar teléfonos celulares y otros dispositivos que pueden ayudar a identificar a personas atrapadas abordaron el avión de la Fuerza Aérea Brasileña.

Armin Braun, responsable de la misión de asistencia de Brasil a Venezuela, declaró que la primera etapa consistirá en la búsqueda de personas que puedan seguir con vida bajo los escombros.

“El mayor desafío es el tiempo: preparar toda la logística, llegar con la suficiente rapidez para operar con eficacia y, al mismo tiempo, poder realizar actividades de búsqueda y rescate”, afirmó Braun.

Campamento improvisado en Catia La Mar

En Catia La Mar, una comunidad contigua al Aeropuerto Internacional Simón Bolívar, la gente rodeó una camioneta civil que repartía pan y agua y un soldado tuvo que intervenir para permitir que el vehículo se retirara del lugar. La gente había convertido el estacionamiento de una farmacia en un refugio improvisado instalando lonas, hamacas y tiendas de campaña.

Vecinos desesperados de La Guaira piden ayuda

Cuando un gran deslizamiento de tierra azotó el estado de La Guaira en 1999, cobrándose la vida de más de 10.000 personas, Dalia Ramírez fue arrastrada por la inundación y, milagrosamente, logró sobrevivir.

Veintisiete años después este estado costero vuelve a ser una zona de desastre tras dos terremotos consecutivos, en los que el hijo de Dalia, su esposa y sus dos nietos quedaron bajo un edificio residencial financiado por el gobierno que quedó reducido a escombros.

“Tengo un dolor que no lo voy a superar nunca. Le digo a mi hijo que hasta el último suspiro lo voy a tener presente. No se lo deseo a ninguna madre este dolor que estoy pasando", dijo Ramírez a The Associated Press.

Los residentes del sector conocido como Playa Los Cocos están furiosos y desesperados.

“Hacemos un llamado al gobierno, a los países del mundo, que nos ayuden. Aquí se necesitan máquinas, la fuerza humana no va a dar abasto, no pueden hombres mover esas estructuras”, dijo a AP Nazareth Jiménez. Su hermano, su cuñada y sus sobrinos están bajo los escombros.

“Auxilio por favor ayúdennos, ahí hay familias vivas todavía. Aquí no ha pasado nada, todo está igual, no han removido nada. ¿Dónde están las ayudas? No las veo”, se quejó la mujer.

México coordina envío de más asistencia basado en su experiencia

La presidenta mexicana Claudia Sheinbaum hablará con Delcy Rodríguez para coordinar el envío de más apoyo a Venezuela. “Actuar tan rápido tiene dos principios o dos acciones que se han desarrollado en México. La primera es la solidaridad... y lo segundo la preparación”, dijo Sheinbaum durante su conferencia matutina.

La mexicana recordó que el plan de emergencia que se diseñó después del terremoto de 1985 en México, en el que murieron al menos 12.000 personas porque las autoridades tardaron mucho en actuar, implica la movilización no sólo de equipos especializados sino de todos los militares. “Es la única acción del gobierno donde no requieren una orden superior para poder actuar”, explicó.

Grupos de rescate se dirigen hacia La Guaira

En la principal carretera de Venezuela caravanas de fuerzas estatales, personal de servicios de emergencia, camiones volquete y maquinaria pesada se dirigen hacia la zona de la tragedia. Una camioneta civil que transporta colchones tenía las ventanas marcadas con el letrero “Ayuda de Trujillo”.

Bomberos del estado de Táchira, fronterizo con Colombia, están entre los desplegados para las labores de búsqueda y rescate en el estado costero de La Guaira.

El general Antonio Briceño informó que 45 bomberos y un perro entrenado llamado “Rescate” viajaron durante la noche y esperaban llegar a las zonas afectadas.

“Llevamos palas, picos, herramientas hidráulicas y agua potable que se necesitan en el lugar”, dijo Briceño. “Por lo general, siempre se maneja 48-72 horas para conseguir (rescatar) personas con vida”, agregó.

Se actualiza cifra de víctimas

La presidenta encargada Delcy Rodríguez informa que la cifra de muertos ascendió a 589, con 2.980 heridos, durante un anuncio rodeada de funcionarios gubernamentales y militares en La Guaira.

Agrega que como La Guaira ha sido el más afectado por los sismos, “hemos tomado la decisión de militarizar el estado” para que los militares puedan desplazarse, despejar las vías y encargarse de la distribución de alimentos y agua.

“Nuestra Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana, sus distintos componentes, están en el territorio del estado... para atender esta coyuntura tan dura que afecta a nuestro pueblo”, agregó.

Llega la ayuda de España

El Equipo de Emergencia y Respuesta Inmediata de la Comunidad de Madrid (ERICAM) llega a Venezuela para participar en la búsqueda de sobrevivientes. La unidad, compuesta por 40 personas y dos perros, se desplazará a las zonas designadas por las autoridades venezolanas y también colaborará en el control de los edificios derrumbados y la remoción de escombros.

El Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores español informó que 99 ciudadanos españoles se encuentran desaparecidos a consecuencia de los terremotos y cuatro han fallecido. Nueve ciudadanos portugueses han muerto, según el Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de Portugal.

They had been engaged in intensive talks through the night, attempting to halt what appeared to be a spiral back into all-out war, a diplomat briefed on the talks said.

The scene on the runway encapsulated the tumultuous diplomatic process, led by Pakistan and Qatar, that led to last week's deal to end a war that destabilized the Middle East and damaged the world economy.

It was one of several moments in which social media threats or actual hostilities threatened to reignite the war. Negotiations on implementing the deal face similar challenges, including violence in Lebanon and threats over the Strait of Hormuz.

This account of the behind-the-scenes diplomacy leading to the interim deal is based on Associated Press interviews with three Pakistani officials, two regional officials and the diplomat. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive closed-door talks.

In response to a request for comment on its role, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred the AP to previous public statements and said Pakistan will continue mediating. The White House declined to comment. Representatives of Qatar and Iran did not respond to requests for comment.

Mediators averted a crisis after Trump threatened strikes

On the same day as the scene on the runway, U.S. President Donald Trump had once again threatened military action, saying the U.S. would hit Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT” and take “total control” of its oil and gas industry.

Regional players launched a desperate push to convince Trump to give diplomacy another chance. Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, spoke directly with Trump and urged him to hold off on more strikes because the deal was close, the diplomat said.

The efforts paid off. Trump announced that he had canceled the planned strikes. Days later, Washington and Tehran signed an agreement to end the conflict sparked by the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran in February.

The deal aimed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for oil and gas that Iran shut down at the start of the conflict, and lift a U.S. blockade to allow Iran to export oil. It set a 60-day deadline for negotiating a broader agreement on Iran's disputed nuclear program to include further economic relief for Tehran.

Pakistan had quickly emerged as the chief mediator

Previous U.S.-Iran negotiations had been facilitated by Oman and Qatar, but they had come under fire early in the war as Iran lashed out at Gulf countries, many of which host American forces.

Pakistan had not often mediated high-stakes diplomacy, but it borders Iran and has good relations with Tehran and Washington.

The negotiating team used a secure system to relay messages between Iranian and U.S. officials. Staff were warned that leaking information could lead to a life sentence, one of the Pakistani officials said.

Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, played a key role and had a direct line to Trump, officials said.

“As the U.S.-Iran war began to drag on and both parties became keen to strike a deal, Munir’s unique network across Washington and Tehran became valuable,” said Charles Lyons-Jones, an Australian former diplomat who worked in Pakistan and is now a research fellow at the Lowy Institute in Australia.

A truce was reached in April. Days later, U.S. and Iranian representatives met in Islamabad for their first high-level talks in years.

Trump later said of the ceasefire, “I wouldn’t have really been in favor of it, but we did it as a favor to Pakistan, who are terrific people.”

Qatar stepped in as the ceasefire was shaken

Within weeks, prospects of a permanent end to the war appeared to be slipping.

Qatar had said it would not mediate while under fire from Iran, but in mid-May, with strikes on the Gulf country halted, both sides reached out asking Doha to help break the deadlock, the diplomat said.

Qatar had plenty of recent experience, having played a key role alongside Egypt in negotiating the Gaza ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages.

Working alongside Pakistan, Qatari officials began quietly traveling to Tehran.

Egypt's spy chief, Hassan Rashad, meanwhile opened a line of communication with Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, the head of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, who is in touch with Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, one of the regional officials said. Khamenei has been in deep hiding since the start of the war.

The two regional officials said Egypt and Turkey played a major role in keeping a number of Gulf countries — including Saudi Arabia — from joining the war.

Iran wanted to delay discussing the fate of its highly enriched uranium, the regional officials said.

But mediators convinced it to include a commitment to dilute the stockpile in the draft text in response to U.S. promises to waive sanctions on oil sales and gradually unfreeze billions in Iranian assets.

The sides also compromised on financial relief for Iran, which initially demanded at least $500 billion in reparations, one of the regional officials said. Iran finally agreed to $300 billion in pledged investments linked to a final deal, though it's unclear who would provide that funding.

Fighting in Lebanon repeatedly threatened the deal

The Tehran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah had launched missiles into Israel in response to the initial attack on Iran. Israel responded with a blistering aerial bombardment of Lebanon and a ground invasion.

Iran’s stance throughout the talks, which was opposed by Israel and initially the U.S., was that any deal must include a Lebanon ceasefire, and language was put into the draft.

On June 7, Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsen Naqvi was in Tehran to deliver a message bound for Khamenei, urging him to accept the deal.

On that day, Israel struck Beirut, and Iran retaliated by firing missiles at Israel. The U.S. and Iran then traded strikes, culminating in the June 11 episode on the tarmac.

After that averted crisis, negotiations moved quickly. Trump announced on June 13 that a deal would be signed the following day. Qatari mediators returned to the Iranian capital for 17 hours of what the diplomat described as intensive negotiations.

As they appeared to be nearing a successful conclusion, Israel struck Beirut again on June 14, crossing what Iran had described as a red line.

Qatari mediators sought to convince Iran that retaliating “would only play into the hands of the deal’s opponents,” the diplomat said, adding that heading off the Iranian strikes was what “got the deal over the line.”

At Iran's demand, a pledge to ensure Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity was added to the memorandum. Iran says it requires Israel to withdraw from Lebanon, something Israel still refuses to do.

On June 17, the Memorandum of Understanding was signed.

Talks in Switzerland have resumed after a delay

The U.S. and Iran are now working on a final nuclear agreement with an August deadline. Those talks were delayed by two days — again because of ongoing violence in Lebanon, the diplomat said.

Iran “viewed (the Lebanon ceasefire) as point number one, and if you can’t abide by point number one, then why should we discuss two, three, four?” the diplomat said.

The U.S. and Iran pushed Israel and Hezbollah to agree to a new truce, and the talks in Switzerland went forward on Sunday, focusing on creating a mechanism to solidify the ceasefire in Lebanon.

Trump and Iranian officials have continued to fire off tough public statements, and the Iranians briefly paused the talks in Switzerland after what they said was an insulting message from Trump.

But the diplomat described the atmosphere in Switzerland as “quite positive,” with U.S. and Iranian officials having coffee together during breaks.

____

Sewell reported from Beirut, Magdy from Cairo and Castillo from Beijing.

He did not identify the ship; however, the British military said Thursday that a vessel was hit by a projectile off Oman. This comes at a fragile time, as the U.S. and Iran are negotiating an interim peace deal.

“Nobody saw it coming,” Trump later told a gathering of Christian conservatives, adding, “You can’t do that stuff.”

Trump also threatened a 100% tariff on imports from any nation that taxes digital services from U.S. companies, specifically singling out Europe. His post on social media said those nations are considering “imminent” taxes, and that the tariff would override any previously negotiated trade agreements.

Here's the latest:

Trump says Venezuelans are now ‘dancing in the streets’

The president celebrated the U.S. military mission he ordered to capture Venezuelan leaderNicolás Maduro.

He brought up the South American nation happily before interrupting himself to reference the back-to-back earthquakes that have devastated Caracas.

“By the way, we’re helping Venezuela” after the “tremendous” natural disaster, Trump said, before resuming his original thought on U.S. actions there.

“We’ve had a great relationship” since the mission to depose Maduro, he said. “Was a one-day war.”

He said oil processed since the action has “paid for the war many times over” and boosted Venezuela’s economy.

Trump said the earthquake “was terrible” but that, otherwise, “the people are happy; they’re dancing in the streets.”

Trump says ‘nobody saw’ drone that hit cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz

Describing the U.S. response to a drone strike that Trump blamed on Iran, the president said one got through unnoticed and struck a ship on Thursday.

“We knocked down three of them. One of them, I guess — we didn’t miss it. Nobody saw it coming,” Trump said on Friday.

He made the comment after remarking that Iran still has “some capability, not much.”

“You can’t do that stuff,” he added. Earlier on Friday he called the strike a violation of the ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States.

Trump says Zohran Mamdani’s housing efforts will tank New York City

The New York City mayor “seems like a nice guy” but his push to make rent more affordable will backfire, the president insists.

“These buildings will soon turn into ghettos and slums,” Trump says, suggesting landlords won’t get enough revenue to take care of their properties. Trump argued, “It will be third world.”

Trump was referring to the city’s Rent Guidelines Board approving a citywide rent freeze for certain lease renewals beginning this fall. It affects nearly a million rent-stabilized apartments and helps fulfill one of Mamdani’s signature campaign promises to make housing more affordable.

Trump warns that the left’s election victories is a movement that ‘isn’t stopping with New York’

The president said the election results this week show that “the Democrat Party is in big trouble.”

He also described the winners as not “social democrats” but “hardcore, godless communists.”

Trump bashes Alaska Sen. Murkowski for opposing his bill to create stricter ID standards for voters

The president used his speech to the Faith & Freedom Coalition to attack a Republican lawmaker who has opposed his SAVE America Act.

“We have a few Republicans that are fighting it — Lisa Murkowski of Alaska,” Trump said. “You should call her and tell her to get on the ball. She’ll never win another election. I can tell you.”

The crowd, in support of Trump, booed the mention of Murkowski’s name.

Murkowski has said that the bill being championed by Trump could undermine state oversight of elections. She said the required proof of U.S. citizenship could deny legitimate voters the chance to cast their ballots or mandate states to change their driver’s licenses to conform to Trump’s interests.

Trump credits his presidencies with returning God to America

The president claimed that “religion is back in our country, bigger and stronger than it has been in many, many years.”

He referred generally to “all of these reports” he’s read suggesting religious practice is “going up.”

He ticked through steps his administration has taken, including establishing a White House Faith Office and ending what he described as persecution of Christians by the government. He also took credit for restoring Christmas.

And he insisted none of that would have happened if the 2016 and 2024 elections were won by Democrats. He described Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration as “so bad” and “so evil.”

Biden is a practicing Catholic who regular attended Mass while in office. Trump does not regularly attended services.

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Secretary of State Marco Rubio along with ambassadors from Israel and Lebanon announced a framework agreement Friday that was described as a first step toward peace following months of conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The officials did not share details on the agreement that was signed by Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, and Nada Hamadeh, ambassador of Lebanon to the United States.

Evangelical group founder touts Trump’s conservative record

In introducing Trump at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference, founder Ralph Reed sought to remind the audience of the president’s conservative track record.

“This is a man who, alone among all the leaders that we have had, gave us the most conservative Supreme Court in over a century,” Reed said.

He also noted Trump’s efforts to lower taxes and move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

Evangelicals are a crucial part of Trump’s political coalition. Reed noted that the president has spoken to the group 10 times.

“I want to thank Ralph for the introduction,” Trump said as he took the stage. “Thank you to all of the true American patriots of Faith and Freedom Coalition. You’ve been with me from the beginning.”

Trump returns to hotel where correspondents’ dinner was held

The president on Friday appeared at an event at the Washington Hilton, where two months earlier he was rushed from the hotel when a gunman charged at the ballroom during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

Trump was speaking on Friday to a gathering of Christian conservatives at the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s annual conference, where he’s made previous appearances.

Security at the event was tighter than in the past, including officers in tactical gear stationed right outside the ballroom doors.

Trump says communism is ‘the most serious threat to our Country since its existence’ but says ‘I’d be the Greatest Communist in History’

The president wrote in a post on social media that his speech Friday afternoon to conservative Christians would include a warning about communism.

Trump and Republicans have been seizing on election wins by candidates endorsed by New York City’s democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

“Communism is very easy to sell. I’d be the Greatest Communist in History. I’d give free rent, free houses, free food, everything is free,” Trump wrote in his lengthy post.

But, he said, after a few years, the country “would fail.”

Man is charged with obstruction of justice in connection with White House UFC attack plot

An eighth person has been arrested in connection with what authorities say was a planned attack on Trump’s UFC cage-fighting show at the White House earlier this month.

Law enforcement disrupted the plan a few days before the June 14 event, officials say.

Authorities say Alexander Iniguez Mercado of Chicago was an administrator of Signal messaging groups with members who are accused of plotting the attack. When an FBI agent called Mercado on June 13 and asked whether he planned to travel to Washington D.C. to help with an attack, Mercado denied it, the indictment says. He then deleted the Signal app from his phone, prosecutors allege.

Mercado, 20, is charged with obstruction of justice. It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf and phone numbers for relatives could not immediately be located.

Trump threatens a 100% tax on European imports if countries tax digital services

Trump took aim at European countries that he said are discussing “imminent” implementation of taxes on American companies.

“Please let this statement serve to represent that any Country that imposes such a Tax will immediately be met with a 100% TARIFF on any and all Goods sent to the United States of America,” Trump wrote in a post Friday on social media.

He added that the new tax would supersede any previously negotiated trade deals. Trump said the penalty would apply to any country that moves forward with such a tax, but he singled out European nations in his post.

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Trump blames Iran for a drone strike on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz

The president called the alleged strike a “foolish violation” of the ceasefire agreement with the U.S.

Trump said one drone hit the upper deck of the ship and “damage was done,” but the ship was able to proceed. He added that the U.S. shot down three other drones.

His post on social media did not identify the ship or the time of the strike, but on Thursday the British military said a vessel was hit by a projectile off the coast of Oman.

It comes during a fragile time for the U.S. and Iran as they work to negotiate a permanent end to the war.

Bolton also agreed to pay a fine of $2.25 million

He can withdraw his guilty plea if the judge imposes a longer prison sentence or a larger fine.

Bolton must pay half of the fine within five days of his plea and the balance within 90 days. He agreed to forfeit his retirement pay for his federal service. The plea deal also requires him to submit to a debriefing with federal intelligence officials and perform up to 100 hours of community service.

After a prosecutor read aloud a summary of his offenses, Bolton agreed it was accurate.

“I’m sorry for it,” he told the judge.

Defense attorney Abbe Lowell said Bolton “did what real leaders do” by pleading guilty.

Other Trump adversaries have been charged with federal crimes during his second term

While some of those cases have collapsed under judicial scrutiny and amid claims of political retribution, Bolton didn’t mount a vigorous defense against his charges before cutting a deal.

FBI agents searched Bolton’s Maryland home and Washington, D.C., office last August, but the investigation began before Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.

Bolton was charged with 18 counts of either retaining or disseminating classified information

That included diary-like notes he shared with relatives as he wrote a memoir about his career in government.

Bolton served for more than a year in Trump’s first administration before getting pushed out in 2019. He later published a book called “The Room Where It Happened” that presented an unflattering portrait of Trump’s leadership.

The Trump administration fought unsuccessfully to block the book’s release, claiming it contained classified information that could jeopardize national security. Trump derided Bolton as a “crazy” warmonger who would have led the country into “World War Six.”

Bolton’s indictment focused on notes he shared with his wife and daughter rather than the contents of his book. After sending one document, Bolton wrote in a message to his relatives, “None of which we talk about!!!” In response, one of his relatives wrote, “Shhhhh,” prosecutors said.

Ex-national security adviser John Bolton pleads guilty to illegally retaining classified information

Former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton pleaded guilty Friday to illegally retaining classified information, sealing a deal with federal prosecutors that could allow him to avoid a prison term.

Bolton, who became an outspoken critic of Trump after serving in the Republican’s first administration, is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 28 by U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Bolton pleaded guilty to a single count of illegally retaining classified information. His plea agreement with the Justice Department may enable him to avoid time behind bars, but the judge ultimately will decide his punishment.

The plea agreement recommends capping any prison sentence at five years but the judge isn’t bound by that part of the deal.

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DNC plans weekend of events to focus on affordability concerns

The Democratic National Committee is organizing hundreds of community events across the country this weekend in hopes of harnessing the same concerns about affordability that Trump capitalized on to return to the White House.

The events include school supply giveaways, food bank drives, neighborhood door knockings and organizer trainings.

“Everything costs too damn much under Donald Trump and the Republicans,” Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in a statement.

Martin said party members planned “to reach, engage, register, and mobilize voters who will make the difference in races up and down the ballot.”

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Touring Trump’s Washington: How the president is putting his imprint on the nation’s capital

The United States is celebrating its 250th year. And what better way to mark that anniversary than with an American summer staple — a trip to the nation’s capital.

But visitors to Washington will find that the city is undergoing tremendous change, courtesy of Trump’s takeover makeover.

Since returning to office 17 months ago, Trump has demonstrated a continuing fixation with the District of Columbia. The Republican president has slapped his image and name on buildings, torn down storied structures, altered others, started massive construction projects and deployed armed military personnel.

The traditional tourist sights remain. But with slight detours, an open mind and a critical eye, the ambitious walker can see all the ways the president has pushed to remake the capital.

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988’s LGBTQ+ hotline to relaunch this year. But the group that helped start it might be excluded

The Trump administration is moving to restart the specialized LGBTQ+ option for youth who contact the 988 crisis intervention hotline, but the group that helped pioneer the idea is being shut out.

The Trevor Project, the leading nonprofit for suicide prevention in LGBTQ+ young people, may not be allowed to offer the service it had helped develop for the 988 Lifeline just a few years ago.

The 988 hotline, which has been dubbed the 911 for mental health emergencies, is credited with reducing teen and young adult suicide deaths. It offers specialized options for certain groups, such as veterans and Spanish speakers, but in July the Trump administration stopped offering the “press 3” option for LGBTQ+ youth with a month’s notice.

The administration said it ended the service because the funding ran out. It’s now working to bring it back by the end of the year because Congress directed officials to allocate $33 million toward LGBTQ+-specific interventions for youth.

However, The Trevor Project might not be allowed to offer the services it developed and specializes in.

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Supreme Court’s ruling to end protections for Haitian, Syrian immigrants could have broader impact

The reach of the Supreme Court’s decision allowing Trump’s administration to end temporary legal protections for Haitian and Syrian immigrants may extend to many other countries.

Thursday´s decision directly applies to about 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians, but may be a sign of what´s in store for nearly 1.3 million people from 17 countries on Temporary Protected Status. Many have lived and worked in the United States for decades and have American children.

The decision exposes TPS holders from Haiti and Syria to potential detention and deportation. It could also pave the way for hundreds of thousands of other beneficiaries with pending asylum claims or other immigration relief to be forced to leave the country.

People of all nationalities whose TPS was ended by the Trump administration have filed dozens of lawsuits. Many of these cases are still ongoing, and judges will closely examine the Supreme Court’s decision.

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Reflecting Pool liner was cut with a sharp knife or razor, National Park Service says

A liner along the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was cut with a sharp knife or razor this month, causing damage to the foam sealant installed as part of a $16 million rehabilitation project, a top official at the National Park Service says.

The U.S. Park Police responded June 9 to a complaint by the park service, said Frank Lands, deputy director of operations for the park service. Lands made the statement in a court document filed late Wednesday as part of a lawsuit filed by a nonprofit organization to halt the Trump administration’s work on the project.

His statement does not say when exactly the damage occurred or whether it was a suspected case of vandalism and does not identify anyone who might have been involved.

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Vance, an admirer of Richard Nixon, says Watergate would be ‘a 12-hour news story’ today

Vice President JD Vance on Thursday said the Watergate scandal that brought down President Richard Nixon would have been a blip in today’s news cycle, and he drew parallels between Nixon and President Donald Trump — arguing that both were targeted by “deep state” forces.

Vance described his admiration for Nixon during a conversation at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California. Widely expected to be a presidential contender in 2028, Vance spoke at the library while promoting his new book, “Communion.”

After talking about the book and his faith journey, Vance shifted to Nixon, saying the legacy of the 37th president is “enjoying a bit of a renaissance.”

“If Watergate happened tomorrow, it would be like a 12-hour news story. The idea that it would have taken down a presidency is crazy,” Vance said.

He went on: “If you look at the story of how the deep state took down Richard Nixon, it’s not all that different from what the same groups of people, the same institutions tried to do to Donald Trump in the first Trump administration.”

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Federal judge halts Trump’s election executive order seeking to create a federal voter list

A federal judge on Thursday halted President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to create a federal voter list and limit who can receive a mail ballot.

U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani sided with a coalition of nearly two dozen states that challenged the Republican president’s order in granting a summary judgment. Her ruling applies to this year’s midterm election cycle.

Plaintiffs argued in two lawsuits, both filed in federal court in Boston, that Trump’s order should be found unconstitutional because the states and Congress, not the president, have the power to set election rules.

It was the second ruling in as many days against executive orders Trump has signed seeking oversight of the nation’s elections. A separate ruling Wednesday prohibited an executive order he had signed last year that would have required people to show documents proving their citizenship when registering to vote.

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Black is the 16th person to appear before the committee as part of their broader investigation into the web of wealth and influence around Epstein. Before entering the closed-door deposition, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., the House committee chairman, told reporters he believed it might be the most “groundbreaking" yet.

“This could be a pretty significant deposition as we try to get answers,” said Comer.

Black is the co-founder and former chief executive of the private equity firm Apollo Global Management. He stepped down in 2021 amid fallout over his ties to Epstein.

Black maintained Friday that he was not aware of Epstein's “nefarious activity” until 2019 and that he paid Epstein for legitimate purposes, in part due to his “unrivaled network of relationships” with influential figures.

“I knew Jekyll. I didn’t know Hyde,” said Black.

Black was featured prominently in the Epstein files

Black is mentioned repeatedly in files that the Department of Justice has released related to the Epstein investigation. He also appears in a collection of birthday messages sent to Epstein that were released by the House committee last year, including a poem attributed to him that refers to “Blond, Red or Brunette, spread out geographically.”

A 2021 review commissioned by Apollo found that Black paid Epstein $158 million from 2012 to 2017, after Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor. The review said the payments were for “bona fide tax, estate planning and other related services.”

“I gave Epstein a second chance, as did many others. I wish I had not,” Black said.

Epstein was indicted in July 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. The Justice Department alleged that Epstein created a vast network of girls, some as young as 14, for him to sexually abuse between 2002 and 2005. He died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial.

Comer said earlier this year that Epstein’s former accountant, Richard Kahn, told lawmakers in his testimony that Epstein received significant sums of money from a number of high-profile individuals, including Black.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., this month referred findings from a nearly four-year investigation into Black to the House committee. In a statement, Wyden said, “Epstein even appears to have acted as a middleman for Black to pay women on Black’s behalf.”

Black broadly denied the allegations in his opening statement, calling them “rank speculation.”

“I have never abused a woman. I have never been with an underage woman. I have never engaged in sex trafficking. I have never paid Epstein for access to women. I was never blackmailed by Epstein.”

Many high-profile figures have been summoned to testify about Epstein

Other figures to have appeared for the investigation include former Democratic President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, former Attorney General Pam Bondi and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

Gates testified earlier this month and said he had made a “grave error in judgment” by meeting with Epstein.

Black said Epstein's network included SpaceX founder Elon Musk, Google co-founder Sergey Brin and Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal and Palantir.

Democrats on the House committee have pushed Republicans to seek testimony from President Donald Trump, a Republican who had his own yearslong relationship with Epstein. Republicans have refused, saying they have not come across any evidence that Trump did anything wrong during his well-documented friendship with Epstein.

Comer has said he has been in touch with the Justice Department about acting Attorney General Todd Blanche coming in for questioning soon.

Bondi, in her testimony, stressed that Blanche had overseen the chaotic release of the federal Epstein files, which included the unintentional release of victim information.

Dusty Ray Spencer, 74, was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison in Raiford. Spencer was convicted of murdering his wife in Orange County in 1992.

Ahead of the execution, the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops appealed to DeSantis to commute Spencer’s sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The bishops argued that the death penalty is unjust and unnecessary, saying society can be protected without taking an inmate’s life.

The execution comes as Florida continues an unprecedented pace of carrying out death sentences. The state’s execution rate has increased sharply since 2023, when DeSantis signed legislation allowing juries to recommend a death sentence with an 8-4 vote instead of requiring a unanimous decision.

Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski said the growing number of executions is troubling and reiterated the Catholic Church’s longstanding opposition to capital punishment.

“Most of the rest of the world has foregone the use of capital punishment,” Wenski said. “And I think we would be better if we did as well because an eye for an eye will just end up making everybody blind.”

Florida carried out a record 19 executions in 2025 and now leads the nation in the number of executions performed so far this year.

Church leaders say they will continue urging the governor to commute future death sentences to life without parole before additional executions are scheduled.

Based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, the musical adaptation tells the sweeping story of Celie, a young woman who overcomes immense hardship in the American South.

The production brings the story to life through music and powerful performances, highlighting themes of resilience, redemption and the power of love.

For the cast, bringing the iconic narrative to a South Florida audience is both an honor and a profound responsibility.

At the Notre Dame Haiti Catholic Church in Miami Thursday night, parishioners said their thoughts are with family members in Haiti as news of the ruling spread and sparked concern across the community.

Marie Baptist, a Miami resident originally from Haiti, said some of her family members are on TPS status and described growing fear about what comes next.

“Find a way to, I guess, go backward and if you can stay ... they cannot stay, they cannot stay. You know what I mean?” she said. “But the thing is like, where are they going to go?”

The ruling has spread quickly through the local community, with some people applying for asylum while others remain in process and uncertain of their status.

Rev. Reginald Jean-Mary, of Notre Dame Haiti Catholic Church, said many parishioners have come to him, unsure of what to do or what will happen next.

“Well, it was a big shock, a big surprise for us, especially when I woke up this morning and the news came, so I was really heartbroken and very disappointed,” he said.

There are more than 160,000 Haitians living in South Florida, and many are hoping the ruling will not ultimately take effect. One community member said the U.S. is supposed to be a friend of Haiti, adding that if that is true, “who needs enemies.”

Dusty Ray Spencer was pronounced dead at 6:10 p.m. followinga three-drug injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. Spencer was convicted of the 1992 stabbing death of his wife Karen.

The curtain to the death chamber went up promptly at the 6 p.m. execution time and the warden asked Spencer if he had any statement as he lay strapped to a metal table with an IV inserted in his arm.

“Sorry, sorry to the family. Into thy hands I commit my spirit and my soul. I’m on my way, Lord. I’m on my way. Amen,” Spencer said, a spiritual adviser nearby at the foot of the table.

Immediately after his words, the lethal drugs began flowing and, after a few minutes of labored breathing, Spencer ceased all movements.

The warden then shook Spencer and shouted his name several times, but there was no response. Several more minutes elapsed before a medic was called in to check Spencer’s vital signs, and the inmate was declared dead.

Alex Lanfranconi, in the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis, told The Associated Press in a text message that there were no complications. He had no immediate response to further phone and text messages seeking comment about the ages of the inmate executed Thursday and the next facing execution.

The family of the victim released no statement.

Florida Department of Correction records dating to 1924 show the oldest inmates previously executed by the state were both 72 — Samuel Lee Smithers on Oct. 14, 2025, for the 1996 killings of two women; and R. Charlie Gifford on Feb. 21, 1951, for the 1950 shooting death of a state lawmaker, Charles Schuh Jr.

Another 74-year-old Florida inmate, Dennis Sochor, is scheduled to be executed on July 14. Socor was convicted of killing a woman just hours into 1982 after meeting her at a New Year’s Eve party.

Nationwide, the oldest person ever executed in modern times was Walter Leroy Moody Jr., 83, who was put to death in Alabama in 2018 for sending mail bombs during a wave of Southern terror, killing a federal judge and a Black civil rights attorney.

Thursday’s execution was the ninth in Florida this year after a record 19 executions in 2025. DeSantis, a Republican, oversaw more executions in a single year in 2025 than any other Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. The previous record was eight executions set in 2014.

Court records show Spencer was arrested after choking and threatening to kill Karen Spencer in December 1991. While in jail, Dusty Ray Spencer called his wife and warned her that when he got out, he was going to finish what he had started.

On Jan. 18, 1992, Spencer beat his wife’s teenage son with a clothes iron when the boy tried to stop Spencer from attacking his mother, officials said. Then about a week later, the son responded to a commotion outside their home and found Spencer hitting his mother in the head with a brick, according to officials.

Court records show the teen tried to shoot Spencer with a rifle, but the gun misfired. Spencer threatened the teen with a knife, and the boy ran away to get help. When police arrived, they found Karen Spencer dead with several stab wounds to the chest.

Spencer was initially sentenced to death in 1992 after being convicted of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and aggravated battery. In 1994, the Florida Supreme Court ordered his new sentencing after finding that the trial court had mishandled evaluating aggravating and mitigating circumstances. Spencer was resentenced to death the next year, and subsequent appeals were denied.

Last week, the state Supreme Court rejected Spencer’s appeals. His attorneys had argued that he had health issues such as liver disease that posed a heightened risk of pain and suffering. They also argued that executing him at his advanced age would constitute cruel and unusual punishment.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a final appeal earlier Thursday without comment.

All Florida executions are carried out by the lethal injection of a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Department of Corrections.

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Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut.

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• George Pino found not guilty on both counts in boat crash trial
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Although President Donald Trump already achieved one of his top political goals with Cassidy’s defeat, Saturday’s runoff could further demonstrate his ongoing influence in Republican primaries as he tries to populate the halls of Congress with loyalists for his final two years in office. The seat is not a top target among Democrats looking to win back control of the chamber in November.

Republican U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming are the finalists for Cassidy’s now-open U.S. Senate seat. Trump encouraged Letlow to challenge Cassidy in the primary and endorsed her before she entered the race in January. Letlow took office in 2021 in a special election to replace her husband, Luke Letlow, who died from COVID-19 in 2020 before taking office. Fleming served in Congress for eight years leading up to Trump’s first term. He ran for U.S. Senate in 2016 but failed to make the runoff. Republican John Kennedy won the seat.

In the May 16 primary, Letlow placed first with about 45% of the vote, short of the majority required to avoid Saturday’s runoff. Fleming placed second with 28% of the vote, just ahead of Cassidy with about 25%.

Letlow led in small, mostly rural parishes across the state, with outright majorities in parishes in northeastern Louisiana and along the Mississippi border. Fleming mostly placed a distant second across the state. He performed best in northwestern Louisiana, with leads in nine rural parishes, but not in Caddo, home to Shreveport, where he finished a close second behind Letlow.

Cassidy was the top vote-getter in the state’s three most populous parishes, including Orleans Parish where he led Letlow by almost a three-to-one margin. But he barely outperformed Letlow in East Baton Rouge and Jefferson parishes.

The president’s endorsees have generally had a strong winning record at the ballot box, but his recent picks for governor of Iowa and Georgia lost their primaries. Trump endorsed South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette for governor ahead of the primary, but after she was forced to a runoff in a close vote, he announced he was backing both her and her opponent, state Attorney General Alan Wilson, who won the nomination on Tuesday.

Trump has reissued his endorsement of Letlow several times since January, including most recently in mid-June. He has not also endorsed Fleming.

Louisiana Democrats will also finalize their U.S. Senate nominee, with farmer Jamie Davis and Navy veteran Gary Crockett competing in the runoff.

Other primary runoffs on the ballot include Republican contests for Public Service Commission and state board of education, where incumbent board member and former Republican U.S. Rep. Joseph Cao faces a challenge from educator and business owner Ellie Schroder.

Primaries for U.S. House were were postponed to November after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the state’s current congressional map, which includes a majority Black district that favors Democrats. Although the state had previously adopted a new primary system for congressional races, the postponed U.S. House races will revert to using an “open” or “ jungle ” primary system where candidates run on the same ballot regardless of party.

Here are some of the key facts about the election and data points the AP Decision Team will monitor as the votes are tallied:

When do polls close?

Polls close at 8 p.m. CT, which is 9 p.m. ET.

What’s on the ballot?

The Associated Press will provide vote results and declare winners in primary runoffs for U.S. Senate, state Public Service Commission and state school board.

Who gets to vote?

Registered party members may vote only in their own party’s primary runoffs. In other words, Democrats can’t vote in a Republican runoff or vice versa. Independent or unaffiliated voters who voted in a party’s primary on May 16 may only vote in that same party’s runoff. Independent or unaffiliated voters who did not vote in a partisan primary on May 16 may vote in either party’s runoff.

How many voters are there?

As of June 1, there were about 3 million registered voters in Louisiana. Registered Democrats and Republicans numbered about 1.1 million each, with registered Democrats at a slight advantage. About 819,000 voters were not registered with any party. The remainder were registered with other parties.

How many people actually vote?

About 832,000 Louisianans participated in the May 16 primary, or about 28% of registered voters. This includes about 347,000 registered Democrats and about 336,000 registered Republicans.

In 2022 when the state still used “open” or “jungle” primary rules for certain contests, turnout fell from 1.4 million in the November primary to about 439,000 in the December runoff, or about 47% of registered voters to about 14%.

How much of the vote is cast early or by absentee ballot?

About 33% of Democratic primary votes and about 31% of Republican primary votes in the May 16 primaries were cast early in-person or by mail.

As of Thursday, about 82,000 ballots from Republicans and about 61,000 ballots from Democrats had already been cast in Saturday’s runoffs.

When are early and absentee votes released?

Results from early and absentee voting are usually released by each parish in the first vote update.

How long does vote-counting usually take?

In the May 16 primary, the AP first reported results at 9:02 p.m. ET, or two minutes after polls closed. By 10:46 p.m. ET, more than 90% of the total vote had been counted. The last vote update of the night was at 1:30 a.m. ET with about 99.9% of total votes counted.

When will the AP declare a winner?

The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow a trailing candidate to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.

How do recounts work?

There are no automatic recounts in Louisiana, but a candidate may request and pay for a recount of absentee and early votes. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is subject to a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

Are we there yet?

As of Saturday, there will be 129 days until the Nov. 3 general election and the Louisiana congressional primaries, and 168 days until the Louisiana congressional general election on Dec. 12.

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Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2026 election at https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/.

The museum is opening Planet Soccer, a new 3,000-square-foot outdoor exhibit designed to introduce children to the sport through hands-on play.

“This exhibit was created to introduce children to the world of soccer,” said Deborah Spiegelman, CEO of the Miami Children’s Museum.

The exhibit blends soccer with a space-themed environment, allowing children to kick, shoot, climb and explore while building confidence, coordination and teamwork through interactive challenges.

“We have Kick Canyon where kids can practice their kicking, and then we have Planet Plinko, which is an exciting game where kids learn about the different planets in our galaxy,” Spiegelman said.

The exhibit also features a dedicated area for younger children, making the experience accessible for visitors of all ages.

“We wanted a new and vibrant outdoor area for kids that was fun. What’s the greatest trend in Miami right now that everybody’s into? Football, or as we call it, soccer,” Spiegelman added.

While Planet Soccer is the museum’s newest attraction, it joins more than a dozen exhibits designed to keep children active and engaged throughout the summer.

“Families should come out to the Miami Children’s Museum and experience our galleries and come learn about soccer in an interactive, exciting way,” Spiegelman said.

Planet Soccer opens to the public Saturday as World Cup excitement continues to grow across South Florida.

Click here for more information on how you can purchase tickets.

The Trevor Project, the leading nonprofit for suicide prevention in LGBTQ+ young people, may not be allowed to offer the service it had helped develop for the 988 Lifeline just a few years ago.

The 988 hotline, which has been dubbed the 911 for mental health emergencies, is credited with reducing teen and young adult suicide deaths. It offers specialized options for certain groups, such as veterans and Spanish speakers, but in July the Trump administration stopped offering the “press 3” option for LGBTQ+ youth with a month’s notice.

The administration said it ended the service because the funding ran out. It is now working to bring it back by the end of the year because Congress directed officials to allocate $33 million toward LGBTQ+-specific interventions for youth.

However, The Trevor Project might not be allowed to offer the services it developed and specializes in.

Dr. Christine Yu Moutier, chief medical officer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, said it “would not make sense” to keep The Trevor Project ineligible to help and it is a “long-standing, high-quality and trusted resource” to LGBTQ+ people.

The development is the latest in what’s become a chaotic chapter for the service for LGBTQ+ youth, who attempt suicide at higher rates than the general population. Leaving The Trevor Project out is raising concerns about the relaunched service, especially given the Trump administration's broader attempt to unravel protections for transgender and non-binary Americans at a time when more of them are reaching out in crisis.

“The Trump administration never should have shut down the ‘press 3’ option and put young Americans at further risk," said Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who has led a bipartisan push to restore the service. She called on the president to restore the service "without needless limitations and with the most qualified, experienced people answering the phone calls and text messages from these vulnerable young people.”

The Trevor Project handled the bulk of 988's LGBTQ+ youth services

The lifeline's specialized service allowed people to press 3, text “PRIDE” or use online chat to reach counselors who were specially trained to work with LGBTQ+ young people.

The umbrella of services broadly called the “Press 3” option fielded 1.6 million contacts while it was in operation, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The Trevor Project handled about half of the program's traffic.

When it canceled the “Press 3” option, federal officials said LGBTQ+ youth could still get help through 988’s general services, but it would “no longer silo” the services “to focus on serving all help seekers," including LGBTQ+ youth.

The relaunch of ‘Press 3’ may not include The Trevor Project

Now, the nonprofit that administers the 988 service, Vibrant Emotional Health, has called for applications to manage the return of the “Press 3” lines.

But applications are limited to crisis centers that are “current and active” members of the 988 network. The Trevor Project is not currently active — only because the administration canceled the service it specialized in.

The six other crisis centers that worked on the LGBTQ+ youth program are active in the 988 network. They work with the general population as well as LGBTQ+ people. Only The Trevor Project had a specific mission to serve LGBTQ+ youth.

“This troubling development indicates a dangerous step toward degrading the clinical standards to serve high risk groups that the ‘press 3’ specialized services were founded on,” said Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, in a statement to the AP.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services did not directly respond to questions about The Trevor Project’s eligibility, saying that the department is working with Vibrant to restore the service by the end of the year as directed by Congress.

Moutier said other crisis centers are providing high-quality care for LGBTQ+ youth. LGBTQ+ young people who are often marginalized and bullied need “psychological safety” because they don't always trust institutions to help them. She said it's too soon to say she's worried about the relaunch, but how it is brought back is just as important as the fact that it is.

“I think there's the potential for great good, and some harm as well,” she said.

Concerns shroud relaunch of the “Press 3” option

Even though the service itself may be restored, how it will operate is unclear — and LGBTQ+ advocates are concerned, in part because the Trump administration has indicated that its anti-transgender policies will influence how the program relaunches.

This month, a SAMHSA leader wrote to Illinois Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi that the agency needed to assess the “most appropriate approach” to restart the service while complying with a Trump executive order that targets the rights of transgender people, claiming “gender ideology extremism” is a threat to women and declaring there are only two sexes.

The Trevor Project's Black worries that the next iteration of 988's LGBTQ+ youth services “may exclude transgender and nonbinary youth entirely.” The organization still independently runs its own 24-7 crisis line for LGBTQ+ young people.

Studies have shown that LGBTQ+ youth are at higher risk of suicide, including a 2024 analysis by the CDC that found 26% transgender and gender-questioning students attempted suicide in the past year. That’s compared with 5% of cisgender male and 11% of cisgender female students.

“While anti-LGBTQ+ politics may be altering the very purpose of this lifeline created to help save young LGBTQ+ lives, it is critical to make clear that politics has no place in suicide prevention,” Black said.

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

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The victim’s brother confronted the attacker in the 4700 block of Northwest 183rd Street, according to the Miami Gardens Police Department.

The attacker had fired at the victim’s brother and at a man who intervened when “an unidentified armed individual” fired at the attacker, according to Diana Delgado, a spokeswoman for the MGPD.

The attacker, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, fled to a CVS, and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel took him to the hospital, according to Delgado.

The suspect’s identity has not yet been released.

Local 10 News Assignment Editor Carson Merlo contributed to this report.

At about 8:45 p.m., the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a traffic crash involving a pedestrian in the area of 89th Place and West Flagler Street.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue medics transported the victim to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital in critical condition. He was later pronounced dead.

The driver, also a man, stayed at the scene following the crash, authorities confirmed.

The MDSO Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating the accident. Officials said there is no further information at this time.

Flagler Street, between Fontainebleau Boulevard and 92nd Avenue, was closed during the investigation, but all lanes have since reopened.

🚨 TRAFFIC ALERT 🚨

Due to police activity, Flagler Street between Fountainbleau Boulevard and 92 Avenue is closed. Please avoid the area, expect delays, and use alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/FgGKbtLjlU

— Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (@MiamiDade_SO) June 26, 2026

Video from Monday night’s game at loanDepot Park showed Jonah in the stands, watching longingly as the pup next to him got fed a hot dog. The clip spread quickly online, and the Marlins put out a call to track down Jonah and his owner for a royal day at the stadium.

Turns out, his owner says Jonah gives that look all the time.

The 6-year-old pup, rescued in Aruba, has since gotten his hot dog. But those who know him best say his real favorite food is ice cream.

Hours after Paris police authorities said they wanted the event canceled, the French athletics federation (FFA) confirmed that it would take place on Sunday at Charlety Stadium, in agreement with the police prefecture.

Citing the exceptional heat that has affected Paris since June 21, the police prefecture had asked organizers of the meet, and other events scheduled this weekend including a music festival and a Pride march, to cancel.

The prefecture said it would be forced to comply with the order if they didn’t agree voluntarily as emergency services needed to concentrate their efforts on protecting the most vulnerable people.

Noah Lyle, Femke Bol and Mondo Duplantis are among the athletes expected to compete in Paris.

The FFA, which organizes the meet, said it would be staged in “an adapted format designed to ensure the safety of all participants.”

Only competitions involving professional athletes will be held, with all other activities cancelled.

“Since the beginning of this extreme weather event, the French Athletics Federation has been closely monitoring the situation in constant coordination with government authorities. The safety of athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials, spectators and all staff involved remains our highest priority,” the FFA said.

Among the measures put in place to mitigate the effects of the heat, the FFA cited delaying the opening of the stadium gates to the public, reinforcing medical and emergency services and providing additional drinking water stations and shaded areas.

The average temperature recorded at 30 weather stations by the Meteo France weather agency on Thursday reached 30 degrees C (86F) again, matching the record for the hottest day nationwide set the previous day.

More than three-quarters of France has been placed under a red weather alert for the first time.

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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

But visitors to Washington will find that the city is undergoing tremendous change, courtesy of President Donald Trump’s takeover makeover.

Since returning to office 17 months ago, Trump has demonstrated a continuing fixation with the District of Columbia. The Republican president has slapped his image and name on buildings, torn down storied structures, altered others, started massive construction projects and deployed armed military personnel.

The traditional tourist sights remain. But with slight detours, an open mind and a critical eye, the ambitious walker can see all the ways the president has pushed to remake the capital.

On the eve of the United States' birthday, take a trip with The Associated Press across a changing Washington.

First stop: An indefinite National Guard deployment

We start our tour at Union Station and Metro Center, the city’s main transit hubs. Notice the Greco-Roman architecture of the former, the Brutalist design of the latter. Now see the ongoing, indefinite deployment of armed National Guard troops there and in many other parts of the city.

National Guard members from the district and several states have been in the city since August 2025, deployed under an emergency order issued by Trump in what he called a bid to fight crime. Trump has portrayed the deployment as a lifeline for the city. They will be here for most, if not all, of 2026 and are expected to number 5,000 this summer.

It's not the first time the military has deployed to the capital. Troops were in Washington throughout the Civil War, to quell riots after Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1968 assassination and, famously, hours into the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

But in Trump's Washington, Guardsmen at street corners and metro stations have become an increasingly normal part of the city’s scenery.

And no one knows when they will leave.

Second stop: Scars left by DOGE

Exit Union Station, take in the view of the Capitol and turn right down Pennsylvania Avenue. There sits a building now synonymous with the Department of Government Efficiency, the Trump administration's effort to shrink the federal government.

The U.S. Agency for International Development was the first major federal agency targeted by then-DOGE leader Elon Musk in the remake of the federal government, when cost-cutting measures prompted the terminations of tens of thousands of workers. USAID spent billions on humanitarian aid worldwide and was credited with saving millions of lives over time.

By eliminating 90% of foreign aid contracts, the Trump administration effectively cut some $60 billion in funding.

After workers cleared their desks in February 2025, the USAID offices on Pennsylvania Avenue were repurposed for other government uses.

The shuttering of the agency also contributed to a massive increase in unemployment in the region where about one-fifth of the workforce lives.

Many workers still ask: When their lives were upended, what was saved?

Third stop: Trump's image staring down

Walking south along any of the numbered streets leads to Constitution Avenue and the National Mall. Banners bearing Trump's image have adorned the facades of several government buildings over the past 17 months — an uncommon practice for a sitting American president and a highly literal sign of his imprint upon the city.

At the Department of the Interior, his image has equal billing with George Washington on similar banners proclaiming “America's First” and “America First.”

A mile away, Trump's face glowers from the storied Department of Justice building, a physical display of Trump's efforts to exert power over the law enforcement agency that once investigated him. It's also a striking symbol of the erosion of the department’s tradition of independence from White House control, as the president pushes to prosecute his political adversaries.

Next up: The Reflecting Pool painted ‘American flag blue’

Westward toward the Lincoln Memorial sits the recently repainted Reflecting Pool.

The site has always been a must-see on any tourist's checklist. But the Reflecting Pool, the scene of historic marches and protests, today also symbolizes Trump's drive to change Washington.

Trump called the area “filthy” and had workers paint it in a color he has called “American flag blue.” A Washington-based nonprofit that tried to block the move said it undermined the somber tone of the area, which sits near the memorials to Lincoln and to the Vietnam and Korean wars.

Since the makeover, the pool has been fraught with problems, from runaway algae growth to dead ducks and a torn lining. Authorities say vandals have been responsible for some of the problems and arrests have been made. The National Park Service said the liner was intentionally cut with a sharp razor or knife.

A walk over the Memorial Bridge across the Potomac River leads directly to the proposed future site of Trump's 20-story, gold-adorned triumphal arch. Although embroiled in a court battle, like a number of his projects, the arch has been approved by a key federal agency and survey work has begun at the site.

In a city meticulously planned and rich with the symbolism that defines the nation, new construction can unsettle the carefully crafted balance.

The arch, when built, will break up the intentionally designed symbolic sightline between Arlington House, once the home of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, and the Lincoln Memorial, which symbolized the reunification of a divided nation following the Civil War.

Just ahead: The Trump-Kennedy Center

Visible from the site is the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts — known for much of this year as the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center.

Congress named the performing arts venue as a living memorial to Kennedy in 1964, the year after he was assassinated. A law explicitly prohibits its board of trustees from making the center into a memorial to anyone else, and from putting another person’s name on the building’s exterior.

A court decision eventually stripped the center of Trump's name, but a tarp remains there, obscuring the change.

Trump also added his name to the U.S. Institute of Peace, part of a broader series of tributes that has been largely unprecedented for a sitting, living president.

In the middle of it all: A significantly changed White House

No tour would be complete without 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. — the White House. There, gazers can look at the construction site formerly known as the East Wing. It's now the president's ballroom-in-waiting as the courts and Congress battle over whether to build it.

The White House has said the $400 million cost would be paid by private donors, but public money — around $1 billion for the entire White House complex, including the ballroom — would be used for security measures. The proposed building has also expanded to a size larger than the rest of the White House. Trump argues the ballroom is necessary for security reasons, and amplified that assertion after the attack on the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in April.

Not viewable on the tour: the area formerly known as the Rose Garden. Planted by then-first lady Jackie Kennedy, it has been paved over into a patio.

Last stop: Black Lives Matter Plaza no more

Directly north, across Pennsylvania Avenue, is the area of town formerly known as Black Lives Matter Plaza. During Trump's first term, a more defiant Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered the painting and naming of the area as a remembrance of the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police.

BLM Plaza became a magnet point for years of political activism. Hundreds of protests started, ended or rallied there.

The plaza came down in March 2025 at Bowser’s direction, spurred by threats from Congress to hold the city’s funding. The decision served as an acknowledgment of a major shift in tone under Trump.

That's the tour, folks. Please enjoy your stay.

Governments, nonprofits and members of the Venezuelan diaspora around the world are mobilizing to respond after the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes. Help is needed for search and rescue efforts, emergency shelter for displaced families and emergency health care, followed by safe water and sanitation, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Humanitarian organizations will face many challenges, including airport closures and the need for fast-tracked visas for aid workers, said Michael Capponi, president of Global Empowerment Mission (GEM).

“No single organization can meet all the needs alone,” he said. “Collaboration across governments and NGOs is critical to ensuring we cover all ground efficiently and swiftly.”

Here are some of the responding organizations you can support. The nonprofit evaluator Charity Navigator recommends donors avoid fraudulent fundraising campaigns by assessing whether an organization has a history of working on the specific type of disaster and in the affected region, and if it is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

How to help those affected by the Venezuela earthquakes

Global Empowerment Mission: The Doral, Florida-based humanitarian relief organization is collaborating with its long-term partner We Love Foundation, which supports Venezuelans. GEM immediately began packing emergency supplies for shipment Thursday to Caracas, where it has set up a distribution hub. GEM has responded in Venezuela before, including in 2018 and 2019.

CORE: The humanitarian nonprofit is deploying personnel and partnering with The Wayuu Taya Foundation, a nonprofit that supports Indigenous Wayuu communities in Venezuela and Colombia and who has staff on the ground in Caracas. They aim to support impacted families with food, drinking water, hygiene kits and other critical resources. CORE was founded after the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Direct Relief: The California-based medical humanitarian organization is funding the deployment of a team from Spanish Bomberos Unidos Sin Fronteras (BUSF) to assist search-and-rescue efforts, and is poised to send medical supplies to local healthcare partners as needed. Direct Relief has responded to multiple earthquakes, including the 2023 disaster in Syria and Turkey.

International Red Cross: Despite experiencing damage to its own headquarters, the Venezuelan Red Cross' nationwide network of hospitals and clinics remains active and continues to deliver care. Rescue teams are supporting evacuation and search efforts as well as mobilizing prepositioned relief supplies. Red Cross Societies in Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras and Argentina — countries home to large Venezuelan communities — have activated services to restore family links and help people find news of their loved ones.

Children's Bereavement Center/Lift from Loss: The Miami-based group offers free bereavement counseling to children and adults. It is offering free online support in Spanish and English to those impacted in Venezuela and in the diaspora. Those seeking support can sign up online.

Airlink: The global humanitarian organization helps facilitate transport and logistics for other nonprofits needing to send relief and personnel to disasters worldwide. It will mobilize airlines and logistics companies to send search-and-rescue teams, medical responders and supplies to Venezuela.

World Central Kitchen: The nonprofit founded by Chef José Andrés is mobilizing to serve hot meals to affected families and first responders as quickly as possible. WCK has led multiple responses in Venezuela, most recently in 2024 when families in the state of Sucre were displaced by Hurricane Beryl.

Catholic Relief Services: The international aid agency of the U.S. Catholic Church is working with local partner Caritas Venezuela to deliver emergency shelter, food, water and medical care to impacted families.

Global Impact: The philanthropy adviser and intermediary has set up a Venezuela Earthquakes Response fund that will funnel aid to multiple vetted organizations, including UNICEF USA and Save the Children, which has had a team in Venezuela since 2019.

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Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.

The comedian and filmmaker has been awaiting the milestone. Earlier this year, Judd Apatow titled his retrospective documentary on him: “Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!”

“I was born to make people laugh,” Brooks says in the film. “So, I do that.”

Brooks was born Melvin Kaminsky in Brooklyn, New York, on June 28, 1926. After serving in the Army during World War II and performing in the Borscht Belt, Sid Caesar hired him as a writer. On his “Show of Shows,” Brooks met Carl Reiner, who'd remain a lifelong friend and with whom he created the “2000 Year Old Man” sketches.

Reiner would pepper Brooks' ancient man with questions about what Jesus was like. “Jesus … yes, yes,” Brooks would answer. “Thin lad. Wore sandals. Always walked around with 12 other guys.”

Brooks went to make classic comedies like “The Producers,” “Blazing Saddles,” “Young Frankenstein” and “High Anxiety.” It all started, Brooks told The Associated Press in 2021, with his childhood in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

“I wanted to keep the party going. I wanted to keep the happiness and joy and explosions of laughter going into a dour part of our lives, not our childhood anymore,” Brooks recalled. “I was once interviewed and the guy said, ‘What was the happiest part of your life? Was it winning the Academy Award? Was it marrying Anne Bancroft?’ I said no, not at all. It was my childhood. From about 4 or 5 to 9, it was the most exciting, happiest, joyous life that anyone could experience.

“The guy said, 'What happened at 9?’ I said, 'Homework.'”

Even now, Brooks hasn't retired. In April, Brooks submitted a video message to Eddie Murphy to honor him for his AFI life achievement award. In May, he announced that he was donating thousands of his documents and photographs to the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York.

“I’ve always been proud to say that I make people laugh for a living,” Brooks said then in a statement. “So, knowing that my work will have a home at comedy’s national archive and continue making people laugh leaves me with a deep sense of pride.”

To mark the occasion of Brooks' centennial, the American Film Institute on Friday named 1974's “Blazing Saddles” the funniest film of all time. It has previously ranked sixth on its list of 100 greatest movies. Brooks' film displaced “Some Like It Hot” — which Brooks had long held wasn't as funny as his movies — from the top spot.

“He’s right!,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and chief executive. “We’re happy to right this wrong as Mel celebrates his centennial. It’s good to be the king, and may he live to be a 2,000 year old man. Happy birthday, Mel!”

Brooks has sometimes made mortality a joke, too. In a 1980s sketch, he created a coin-operated gravestone for himself that played a videotaped message. It began: “I was Mel Brooks, one of the funniest little Jews to walk the Earth.”

When asked in that AP 2021 interview if he thought much about death, Brooks said no.

“I gave up after 60 thinking about it because if I did, I’d be thinking about it all the time. So I don’t think about it much. When and if it happens it’s going to be a sad day — for everybody but me,” Brooks said, laughing.

“I enjoy living,” he added. “I’d like to do it as long as I can.”