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According to an arrest report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened at about 9 a.m. on June 27 in the area of 166^th Street and Northeast Sixth Avenue.

Deputies said the victim, who is 65 or older and has medical issues, boarded the bus, which was nearly at capacity, and saw that a purse was sitting on one of the seats in the disabled persons section near the front of the bus.

The victim told deputies that she asked a woman, later identified by deputies as Shawntrell Cortez Rose, of Miami, to move her purse so she could sit down, but Rose didn’t acknowledge her.

Deputies said the victim claimed that she asked the driver for help, but was unsuccessful and other passengers then assisted her in asking Rose to remove her purse from the seat.

According to the report, Rose eventually acknowledged the victim and became “verbally abusive,” saying “f***ing Haitian people.”

The victim said the bus driver stopped the bus and Rose stomped on her leg and struck her in the face as the victim was sitting down before exiting the bus.

Deputies said the attack was captured on CCTV footage.

According to the report, deputies discovered Wednesday that Rose was in custody in Miami Beach on unrelated charges.

A detective responded to the Miami Beach Police Department headquarters to interview Rose, who acknowledged being on the bus that day and admitted to striking the victim, the report stated.

Rose was arrested on a charge of battery on a person 65 or older.

As of Thursday afternoon, she was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $3,500 bond.

Según un informe de arresto de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade, el incidente ocurrió alrededor de las 9 a.m. del 27 de junio, en el área de 166th Street y Northeast Sixth Avenue.

Los agentes informaron que la víctima, quien tiene 65 años o más y padece problemas de salud, abordó el autobús, que estaba casi lleno, y vio que había un bolso sobre uno de los asientos de la sección reservada para personas con discapacidad, cerca de la parte delantera del autobús.

La víctima dijo a los agentes que le pidió a una mujer, posteriormente identificada como Shawntrell Cortez Rose, de Miami, que moviera su bolso para poder sentarse, pero Rose no le respondió.

Los agentes indicaron que la víctima afirmó haber pedido ayuda al conductor, sin éxito, y que otros pasajeros la ayudaron a pedirle a Rose que retirara el bolso del asiento.

Según el informe, Rose finalmente respondió a la víctima y comenzó a insultarla verbalmente, diciendo: “malditos haitianos”.

La víctima dijo que el conductor detuvo el autobús y que Rose le pisó la pierna y la golpeó en el rostro mientras ella se sentaba, antes de bajar del autobús.

Los agentes informaron que la agresión quedó grabada por las cámaras de vigilancia.

Según el informe, el miércoles los agentes descubrieron que Rose estaba bajo custodia en Miami Beach por cargos no relacionados con este caso.

Un detective acudió a la sede del Departamento de Policía de Miami Beach para entrevistar a Rose, quien reconoció haber estado en el autobús ese día y admitió haber golpeado a la víctima, señala el informe.

Rose fue arrestada por un cargo de agresión contra una persona de 65 años o más.

Hasta la tarde del jueves, permanecía detenida en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight con una fianza de $3,500 USD.

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But, according to an arrest report, suspect Laura Elena Leyva made a serious miscalculation: She didn’t realize that the women had been there to deposit, rather than withdraw, money ― and didn’t even make off with enough cash to pay for a fast food meal nowadays.

Hialeah police said Leyva, 23, pulled into the Chase Bank branch at 1546 W. 49th St. soon after the victims arrived after midnight to deposit money.

Police said Leyva began following the two after they left and, while at the intersection of West 12th Avenue and 29th Street, drove alongside the victims and “asked them for assistance with jumper cables for her vehicle.”

Authorities said the women agreed to help out and they and Leyva pulled into the parking lot of the Presidente Supermarket at 1060 W. 29th St.

Police said Leyva got out of her car, went up to the victims’ window and pulled out a gun, demanding in Spanish that the two “relinquish the money they had withdrawn from the bank earlier.”

According to the report, the victim told Leyva, “Please don’t do this” and explained that she hadn’t withdrawn anything.

Police said the victim, “fearing for her life,” told Leyva she had money in the center console, grabbed the cash and handed it to her.

According to the arrest report, Leyva left with a paltry $8, having committed a felony that could land her in prison for life.

On top of that, records show she was out on bond for felony drug charges at the time of the crime.

Authorities said they were able to identify Leyva through surveillance footage and the victims later picked her out of a lineup.

Police said they surveilled Leyva on Wednesday and arrested her after a traffic stop at Northwest 35th Place and 103rd Street, just outside of the Hialeah city limits.

They said she invoked her right to remain silent.

Records show that Leyva was being held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with a bond listed as “to be set” as of Thursday afternoon.

Pero, según un informe de arresto, la sospechosa Laura Elena Leyva cometió un grave error de cálculo: no se dio cuenta de que las mujeres habían ido al banco a depositar dinero, y no a retirarlo, y ni siquiera logró llevarse suficiente efectivo para pagar una comida rápida hoy en día.

La policía de Hialeah informó que Leyva, de 23 años, llegó a la sucursal de Chase Bank ubicada en 1546 W. 49th St. poco después de que las víctimas arribaran pasada la medianoche para depositar dinero.

La policía indicó que Leyva comenzó a seguir a las dos mujeres después de que salieron del banco y, mientras circulaban por la intersección de West 12th Avenue y 29th Street, condujo junto a ellas y “les pidió ayuda con cables para pasar corriente a su vehículo”.

Las autoridades informaron que las mujeres aceptaron ayudarla y tanto ellas como Leyva se dirigieron al estacionamiento del supermercado Presidente ubicado en 1060 W. 29th St.

La policía indicó que Leyva bajó de su vehículo, se acercó a la ventana de las víctimas, sacó un arma y les exigió en español que “entregaran el dinero que habían retirado del banco anteriormente”.

Según el informe, la víctima le dijo a Leyva: “Por favor, no hagas esto”, y le explicó que no había retirado dinero.

La policía informó que la víctima, “temiendo por su vida”, le dijo a Leyva que tenía dinero en la consola central del vehículo, tomó el efectivo y se lo entregó.

Según el informe de arresto, Leyva huyó con apenas $8 USD, después de cometer un delito grave que podría llevarla a pasar el resto de su vida en prisión.

Además, los registros muestran que se encontraba en libertad bajo fianza por cargos graves relacionados con drogas al momento del delito.

Las autoridades informaron que lograron identificar a Leyva mediante videos de vigilancia y que posteriormente las víctimas la identificaron en una rueda de reconocimiento.

La policía indicó que mantuvo vigilancia sobre Leyva el miércoles y la arrestó tras detener su vehículo en Northwest 35th Place y 103rd Street, justo fuera de los límites de la ciudad de Hialeah.

Según las autoridades, Leyva ejerció su derecho a guardar silencio.

Los registros muestran que, hasta la tarde del jueves, Leyva permanecía detenida en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight con la fianza pendiente de ser fijada.

The social safety net program that financially supports more than 70 million people — mostly retirees but also those with disabilities — was at the center of a critical letter some Senate Democrats sent to Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano.

The New Deal-era program carries significant weight with voters, millions of whom rely on it, making talk of cutting benefits unpopular. Adding to the potency of the issue is the program's looming funding shortfall. Democrats and Republicans are competing this November for control of the narrowly divided House, with the Senate increasingly in play, injecting an incentive for both sides to press their advantages.

What's the Democrats' letter to Commissioner Bisignano about?

Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Ron Wyden of Oregon, along with Democratic colleagues, said in a letter to Bisignano this week that he used an “unsolicited” electronic message to Social Security recipients to push partisan and misleading statements about benefits stemming from the Republican president's signature legislation, his massive tax and spending cuts law.

“You are misusing official resources to heap praise on him,” the letter said.

The lawmakers said it's misleading to label the tax deductions for seniors in the legislation as a tax cut. (More on that in a minute.)

A copy of Bisignano's message obtained Thursday by The Associated Press shows the commissioner wrote that some 35 million seniors received an average of $7,500 in tax relief under Trump's legislation.

“Under the leadership of President Donald Trump, we are protecting and strengthening Social Security while providing world-class customer service,” Bisignano wrote.

It's unclear how many people received the commissioner's message.

The Social Security Administration on Thursday declined to respond to questions.

How did Trump's signature bill affect Social Security taxes?

Not directly. The legislation targeted seniors' income with a temporary benefit, not just Social Security.

While Trump campaigned in 2024 on eliminating taxes on Social Security income, the bill he signed into law in July 2025 falls short of that.

But it does provide some benefits.

For those age 65 or older, it offers a $6,000 deduction phasing out above the $75,000 annual income level for single filers. For couples, it's a $12,000 deduction phasing out above $150,000.

The deduction isn't permanent and is set to expire in 2028.

The midterm elections are key context

Control of Congress and with it the remainder of Trump's presidency are at stake in this year's electoral campaign, which is already underway.

Trump faces a historical trend in which the party in the White House typically loses seats in the midterm. He has been touting the benefits of his signature legislation, holding events in battlegrounds across the country, recently in Pennsylvania and Georgia, with one on Michigan coming up.

Democrats have been looking to blunt his messaging, and some have called for higher taxes on higher earners to help bolster the social safety net.

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

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

“In general, once you have an increase in costs, businesses are fast in increasing the price,” said Miguel Gomez, director of Cornell University’s Food Industry Management Program. But, he noted, "it takes more time to lower prices when the costs go down.”

Here's how higher oil prices could further impact consumers' wallets.

Drivers are paying more for gasoline at the pump

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

The average U.S. price for regular gasoline reached $4.09 a gallon Thursday, up 15 cents from a week ago, with drivers in most states now paying $4 or more, according to AAA.

“Given the typical lag along the oil industry’s supply chain, prices at the pump are poised to keep rising at least into next week,” said Pavel Molchanov, investment strategy analyst at Raymond James. But he noted that futures prices for oil delivered later this year and next year are lower, suggesting prices could fall once military action ends.

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

Pressure on gasoline prices could persist because fewer refineries are available to process crude than before the conflict. Refineries in the Middle East have been damaged, and Ukrainian attacks have damaged refineries in Russia.

Shoppers are paying more for a bag of groceries

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Retailers are noticing consumers pulling back

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

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

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

Back-to-school shoppers may face higher prices

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

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

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

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

Higher jet fuel costs lead to costlier flights

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The skepticism of Ukraine has been shared by other high profile conservative influencers, including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

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

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

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

Loomer did not respond to a request for comment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Colvin reported from New York.

The name of the Colorado Rockies' two-time All-Star catcher has been bandied about leading into the trade deadline on Aug. 3. He tries to keep his focus on launching fastballs out of the park, not conjecture away from the field.

“Looking at the stuff like that, it does more bad for you than good,” Goodman said Wednesday before an 8-0 loss to the Washington Nationals. “So there’s no point, because it’s all out of your control anyway. So, yeah, just try not to look at (the rumors).”

This has become a tight-knight bunch linked through losing seasons. Since Goodman made his major league debut on Aug. 27, 2023, the team has gone 156-305 — a .338 winning percentage. This version of the Rockies, though, is trending in an upward direction behind a new front office led by Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrnes. This squad, at 41-63, is two wins away from matching the total of last season (43-119).

“I definitely want to be a part of this place turning around,” said Goodman, a fourth-round pick in 2021 out of the University of Memphis. “We’ve made strides this year already. If you look at where we were at this point last year, I mean, we’re a lot better baseball team.

"Even our losses are a lot better losses, for the most part. It’s one-run games, two-run games. We’re in it late in the game. It’s just better baseball overall, and it’s been a lot more fun this year.”

Any trade offer certainly would figure to be significant to get the Rockies to deal away a catcher who hits for power. Goodman's not simply a Coors Field creation, either, with 18 of his 31 homers this season being hit away from the hitter friendly park.

His 31 homers already have matched his career high from a year ago when he made his first All-Star team and won the NL Silver Slugger award. He’s the fourth NL catcher to have 30-plus homers in consecutive seasons, joining Todd Hundley (1996-97) and Hall of Famers Mike Piazza (1995-2002) and Roy Campanella (1950-51).

Concerned that trade rumors could weigh on Goodman?

“I ain’t worried about Hunter Goodman,” said Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer, whose team opens a three-game series at Milwaukee on Friday. “He’s got his head on his shoulders. All these guys do. … All these guys that are in trade rumors — they’re bigger than that. They’re stronger than that.”

Rockies outfielder Mickey Moniak realizes this can be an anxious time for players. Moniak, the No. 1 overall pick by Philadelphia in 2016, has first-hand experience. He was dealt by the Phillies to the Los Angeles Angels for pitcher Noah Syndergaard as part of a deadline deal in 2022.

“I’ve learned over the years that whatever’s going to happen is going to happen,” said Moniak, who's hitting .279 with 16 homers and could be a target of teams in need of a left-handed bat. “Their job up there (in the front office) is to make the best decision for the club, what they see fit. Our job is to go out and play baseball.”

That's been Goodman's approach as he continues his power surge. Last Sunday, he had a three-homer game for the second time this season. He followed that up with a go-ahead solo home run in the eighth inning on Tuesday in a win over Washington.

“Just trusting in your routine,” said Goodman, who had 27 homers at the All-Star break, the most by an NL catcher since Hall of Famer Johnny Bench hit 28 in 1970. “Some days you’re seeing it well, and some days (pitchers) miss and give you good pitches to hit. You’re not going to get that every day in this league but on those days, if you can capitalize, it’s huge.”

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

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

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

The states argue putting conditions on congressionally appropriated funding violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution’s spending clause. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mind&Melody, una organización sin fines de lucro cofundada por la graduada de las Escuelas Públicas del condado Miami-Dade Cristina Rodríguez, utiliza música en vivo e interactiva para involucrar a niños y adultos con autismo, demencia, discapacidades intelectuales y otras afecciones neurológicas en entornos de atención médica y comunitarios.

La organización ahora atiende a más de 2,000 participantes al año en Florida, Nuevo México y Nueva York, reuniendo a músicos profesionales y estudiantes para crear música junto con los participantes, en lugar de tocar para ellos.

Rodríguez, graduada en 2011 de Coral Reef Senior High School, atribuye los orígenes de la organización a su paso por las Escuelas Públicas del condado Miami-Dade.

Cuando era estudiante de quinto grado en la Escuela Primaria Dr. Gilbert L. Porter, Rodríguez asistió a un programa de orquesta después de clases iniciado por el maestro de música Michael Erwin. Inicialmente esperaba tocar el violín, pero le asignaron el violonchelo, una decisión que, según ella, cambió el rumbo de su vida.

Rodríguez dijo que emigró a Estados Unidos desde Venezuela a los 7 años y que la música se convirtió en una forma de conectarse mientras aprendía inglés y se adaptaba a un nuevo país.

“Llegaba a casa después de la escuela, cerraba la puerta de mi habitación y practicaba durante horas sin darme cuenta de cuánto tiempo había pasado”, dijo en un comunicado de las Escuelas Públicas del condado Miami-Dade.

Rodríguez continuó estudiando música a través del programa especializado de música de Southwood Middle School antes de obtener uno de los cuatro puestos para violonchelo de primer año en Coral Reef Senior High School.

Mientras estudiaba en Coral Reef, Rodríguez desarrolló un interés por la relación entre la música y la neurociencia.

Dijo que sus pasantías en el Hospital Jackson Memorial y en The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis la introdujeron a la investigación neurológica y reforzaron su interés en cómo la música podía contribuir a la salud y el bienestar.

Ese interés evolucionó posteriormente mientras hacía trabajo voluntario en Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, anteriormente conocido como Miami Children’s Hospital, donde Rodríguez imaginó utilizar música interactiva para involucrar a los pacientes durante su tratamiento.

Ese concepto se convirtió en Mind&Melody, organización fundada para utilizar la música como una herramienta de comunicación, participación y conexión social para personas que enfrentan desafíos neurológicos y del desarrollo.

A diferencia de las presentaciones tradicionales, las sesiones de la organización sin fines de lucro alientan a los participantes a cantar, tocar instrumentos, moverse y crear música junto con los músicos, un enfoque diseñado para fomentar la interacción y la participación.

Desde entonces, la organización ha ampliado sus programas más allá de los hospitales hacia comunidades de atención para personas con problemas de memoria, escuelas, centros de rehabilitación y organizaciones comunitarias.

Recientemente, Rodríguez fue reconocida como una L’Oréal Paris Woman of Worth por su trabajo al frente de Mind&Melody, un premio que reconoce a mujeres que realizan contribuciones significativas a través de organizaciones sin fines de lucro.

Rodríguez dijo que el reconocimiento también destacó el papel que desempeñaron los educadores de las Escuelas Públicas del condado Miami-Dade en su desarrollo personal.

Actualmente, Mind&Melody continúa colaborando con proveedores de atención médica y organizaciones comunitarias para ampliar el acceso a programas de música interactiva para personas y familias afectadas por afecciones neurológicas y del desarrollo.

Haga clic aquí si desea obtener más información sobre la organización sin fines de lucro.

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Mind&Melody, a nonprofit co-founded by Miami-Dade schools graduate Cristina Rodriguez, uses live, interactive music to engage children and adults with autism, dementia, intellectual disabilities and other neurological conditions in healthcare and community settings.

The organization now serves more than 2,000 participants annually in Florida, New Mexico and New York, bringing together professional and student musicians to create music alongside participants rather than perform for them.

Rodriguez, a 2011 graduate of Coral Reef Senior High School, traces the organization’s origins back to her time in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

As a fifth-grade student at Dr. Gilbert L. Porter Elementary School, Rodriguez attended an after-school orchestra program started by music teacher Michael Erwin. Initially hoping to play the violin, she was assigned the cello instead — a decision she says changed the course of her life.

Rodriguez said she had immigrated to the United States from Venezuela at age 7 and said music became a way to connect while learning English and adapting to a new country.

“I would come home from school, close the door to my room, and practice for hours without noticing how much time had passed,” she said in a MDCPS news release.

Rodriguez continued studying music through Southwood Middle School’s music magnet program before earning one of four freshman cello positions at Coral Reef Senior High School.

While at Coral Reef, Rodriguez developed an interest in the relationship between music and neuroscience.

She said internships at Jackson Memorial Hospital and the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis introduced her to neurological research and reinforced her interest in how music could support health and well-being.

That interest later evolved while volunteering at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital formerly known as Miami Children’s Hospital, where Rodriguez envisioned using interactive music to engage patients during treatment.

The concept became Mind&Melody, which was founded to use music as a tool for communication, engagement and social connection for people facing neurological and developmental challenges.

Unlike traditional performances, the nonprofit’s sessions encourage participants to sing, play instruments, move and create music together with musicians, an approach designed to foster interaction and engagement.

The organization has since expanded its programming beyond hospitals into memory care communities, schools, rehabilitation centers and community organizations.

Rodriguez was recently recognized as a L’Oréal Paris Woman of Worth for her work leading Mind&Melody, an award that honors women making significant contributions through nonprofit organizations.

Rodriguez said the recognition also highlighted the role Miami-Dade County Public Schools educators played in her own development.

Today, Mind&Melody continues to partner with healthcare providers and community organizations to expand access to interactive music programs for individuals and families affected by neurological and developmental conditions.

Click here if you would like to learn more information about the nonprofit.

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Shannon Stork told deputies on Wednesday that she and the victim, who deputies described as a “roommate/partner,” were experiencing “personal issues” before the fire at 5225 NW 29 Ave.

Stork “admitted to trying to scare the victim by squeezing a bottle of isopropyl alcohol toward the victim, dousing the victim in the liquid, and holding a flame to the liquid and the victim’s skin, causing the burn injuries to the victim,” a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputy wrote, according to the arrest report.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel took Stork and the victim, who suffered upper body burns, to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, according to the deputy’s arrest report.

“The victim was initially conscious but was later intubated, which is how she remained until she ultimately succumbed to her injuries on Monday, March 18, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.,” a deputy wrote, according to the arrest report.

Stork initially claimed that the victim was using alcohol to clean a pair of shoes and then lit a cigarette and went on to provide different accounts, according to the report.

Investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives personnel “confirmed” that the version of events that Stork described was “not possible to recreate,” according to the report.

Deputies arrested Stork shortly after 3:50 p.m. on Wednesday, and corrections booked her shortly after 8:10 p.m. on Wednesday at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, records show.

Stork appeared in court before Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer on Thursday morning. She faced three charges in two new pending cases.

In a crack cocaine case, Stork faced a charge of possession of a controlled substance. Her bond was $2,500.

In a domestic violence case, Stork faced two charges: Second-degree murder and arson causing great bodily harm, according to court records. Glazer denied her bond and ordered pre-trial detention.

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A South Florida federal jury convicted Olushola Yusuf, 60, of Tampa, of conspiracy to illegally distribute drugs and five counts of illegal drug distribution on Wednesday. She‘s staring down the possibility of spending the rest of her life in federal prison.

Authorities said Yusuf owned Chans, located at 2092 N. University Drive, as well as Striderite Pharmacy ― legally Boots LLC ― at 7326 Royal Palm Blvd. in Margate.

At those stores, she dispensed “at least 326,079 pills” of the most powerful dose of the potent and addictive opiate to “nearly all her pharmacy customers,” many of whom drove long distances to get the drug filled, prosecutors said.

None of them had a medical need for the pain reliever, they said.

“Some customers paid as much as $1,300 a month in cash to Yusuf for the drugs. And some customers were drug dealers, who picked up oxycodone pills purportedly on behalf of dozens of patients at a time who were not present,“ a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice states. ”According to witnesses at trial, Yusuf kept the doors to her pharmacies locked during business hours, directing employees only to open the door for certain identified customers.”

Authorities said she continued these practices despite warnings from employees and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

“Olushola Yusuf did not simply ignore red flags. She built her business around them,” U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones said in the news release. “She knowingly flooded South Florida communities with more than 335,000 high-dose oxycodone pills, even after her employees and the DEA warned her about the dangers of her conduct.”

Yusuf, following her conviction, now faces the possibility of a 20-year sentence on each count: up to 120 years behind bars. She’s set to be sentenced on Oct. 14.

As of Thursday, she was being held in the Broward Sheriff’s Office’s Paul Rein Detention Facility in Pompano Beach on behalf of the U.S. Marshals Service, agency records show.

Authorities said a co-defendant, Saman Gimenez, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to illegally distribute drugs and is also scheduled to be sentenced in October.

Un jurado federal del sur de Florida declaró culpable el miércoles a Olushola Yusuf, de 60 años y residente de Tampa, por conspiración para distribuir drogas ilegalmente y cinco cargos de distribución ilegal de drogas. Ahora enfrenta la posibilidad de pasar el resto de su vida en una prisión federal.

Las autoridades informaron que Yusuf era propietaria de Chans Pharmacy, ubicada en 2092 N. University Drive, así como de Striderite Pharmacy, legalmente registrada como Boots LLC, en 7326 Royal Palm Blvd., en Margate.

En esos establecimientos, dispensó “al menos 326,079 pastillas” de la dosis más alta de este potente y adictivo opioide a “casi todos los clientes de sus farmacias”, muchos de los cuales recorrían largas distancias para obtener el medicamento, afirmaron los fiscales.

Según las autoridades, ninguno de ellos tenía una necesidad médica del analgésico.

“Algunos clientes pagaban hasta $1,300 USD al mes en efectivo a Yusuf por los medicamentos. Algunos clientes eran traficantes de drogas que recogían pastillas de oxicodona supuestamente en nombre de decenas de pacientes que no estaban presentes”, señala un comunicado del Departamento de Justicia de Estados Unidos. “Según testigos que declararon durante el juicio, Yusuf mantenía las puertas de sus farmacias cerradas con llave durante el horario comercial e instruía a los empleados para que solo abrieran la puerta a determinados clientes identificados”.

Las autoridades indicaron que continuó con estas prácticas a pesar de las advertencias de sus empleados y de la Administración para el Control de Drogas (DEA).

“Olushola Yusuf no simplemente ignoró las señales de alerta. Construyó su negocio en torno a ellas”, dijo el fiscal federal Jason A. Reding Quiñones en el comunicado. “Inundó deliberadamente a las comunidades del sur de Florida con más de 335,000 pastillas de oxicodona de alta dosis, incluso después de que sus empleados y la DEA le advirtieran sobre los peligros de su conducta”.

Tras su condena, Yusuf enfrenta una posible pena de 20 años de prisión por cada cargo, para un máximo de hasta 120 años tras las rejas. Su sentencia está programada para el 14 de octubre.

Hasta el jueves, permanecía detenida en el Centro de Detención Paul Rein de la Oficina del Sheriff de Broward, en Pompano Beach, bajo custodia del Servicio de Alguaciles de Estados Unidos, según los registros de la agencia.

Las autoridades informaron que una coacusada, Saman Gimenez, se declaró culpable de conspiración para distribuir drogas ilegalmente y también será sentenciada en octubre.

Shannon Stork dijo a los agentes el miércoles que ella y la víctima, a quien describieron como su “compañera de vivienda/pareja”, estaban atravesando “problemas personales” antes del incendio ocurrido en el 5225 de Northwest 29th Avenue.

Stork “admitió que intentó asustar a la víctima apretando una botella de alcohol isopropílico hacia ella, rociándola con el líquido y acercando una llama al líquido y a la piel de la víctima, causándole las quemaduras”, escribió un agente de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade en el informe de arresto.

Personal de Miami-Dade Fire Rescue trasladó a Stork y a la víctima, quien sufrió quemaduras en la parte superior del cuerpo, al Centro de Trauma Ryder del Hospital Jackson Memorial, según el informe de arresto.

“La víctima estaba consciente inicialmente, pero posteriormente fue intubada, y permaneció en ese estado hasta que finalmente murió a causa de sus heridas el lunes 18 de marzo de 2024 a las 9:30 a.m.”, escribió un agente en el informe de arresto.

Inicialmente, Stork afirmó que la víctima estaba usando alcohol para limpiar un par de zapatos, luego encendió un cigarrillo y posteriormente ofreció diferentes versiones de lo ocurrido, según el informe.

Investigadores de la Oficina de Alcohol, Tabaco, Armas de Fuego y Explosivos (ATF) “confirmaron” que la versión de los hechos descrita por Stork “no era posible de recrear”, según el informe.

Los agentes arrestaron a Stork poco después de las 3:50 p.m. del miércoles, y fue ingresada poco después de las 8:10 p.m. de ese mismo día en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight, según muestran los registros.

El primer día de clases está programado para el 10 de agosto, y los líderes del distrito advierten a los conductores que enfrentarán una aplicación más estricta de la ley por rebasar un autobús mientras los estudiantes suben o bajan.

Se trata de una infracción que, según las autoridades, ocurre con demasiada frecuencia: un autobús escolar se detiene, despliega el brazo de alto, las luces comienzan a parpadear y algunos conductores continúan avanzando.

La presidenta de la Junta Escolar del condado Broward, Sarah Leonardi, dijo que las cámaras tienen como objetivo cambiar el comportamiento de los conductores y prevenir situaciones peligrosas.

“Estas cámaras están destinadas a disuadir la conducción peligrosa y a las personas que rebasan autobuses escolares en la vía”, dijo.

El miembro de la Junta Escolar del condado Broward, Allen Zeman, dijo que los conductores deben comprender la importancia de reducir la velocidad y cumplir con la ley.

“El mensaje para el condado Broward es muy claro: tómese su tiempo, salve una vida”, dijo.

Los miembros de la Junta Escolar del condado Broward, junto con el superintendente Howard Hepburn, presentaron el jueves el nuevo programa de seguridad para autobuses escolares.

“Para este programa habrá un período de gracia y advertencia de 30 días, a partir del inicio del año escolar, solo para asegurarnos de que todos los ciudadanos del condado Broward estén informados sobre este programa”, dijo Hepburn.

El período de advertencia finalizará el 9 de septiembre. Después de esa fecha, las autoridades escolares indicaron que los conductores que rebasen ilegalmente un autobús escolar detenido con el brazo de alto desplegado y las luces intermitentes podrían recibir una multa de $225 USD.

“Nuestros agentes de la policía escolar revisarán cuidadosamente cada infracción para asegurarse de que sea correcta antes de emitir las multas a quienes estén violando la ley”, agregó Hepburn.

La tecnología de cámaras con inteligencia artificial será instalada en los 1,300 autobuses escolares del condado Broward. Cada autobús contará con al menos ocho cámaras que grabarán desde múltiples ángulos cada vez que los estudiantes suban o bajen.

El sistema incluye una cámara panorámica con inteligencia artificial que ofrece una vista amplia del tráfico y funciona junto con cámaras de reconocimiento de matrículas para identificar las infracciones.

“Esto ofrece una vista aérea de todo el tráfico en todos los carriles y está sincronizado con las cámaras de lectura de matrículas”, dijo Steve Randazzo, de BusPatrol.

El equipo cuesta aproximadamente $10,000 USD por autobús. Los líderes del distrito afirmaron que los contribuyentes no pagarán el programa a través del presupuesto del distrito escolar.

“Ni un solo dólar sale del presupuesto del distrito escolar”, agregó Randazzo. “Para operar el programa, BusPatrol asume todos esos gastos”.

Se espera que el costo del programa sea cubierto con los ingresos provenientes de las multas. BusPatrol financió la instalación de las cámaras y utilizará la mayor parte de esos ingresos para cubrir los gastos asociados con el programa, incluidos los costos judiciales y el personal que revisa las infracciones.

De cada multa de $225 USD, $140 USD serán para BusPatrol, mientras que $85 USD se destinarán a las Escuelas Públicas del condado Broward para iniciativas adicionales de seguridad y el fortalecimiento de los protocolos de seguridad.

El distrito reportó 1,244 rebasamientos ilegales durante el año escolar 2025-26.

Los agentes de la policía escolar del condado Broward también revisarán las multas antes de que sean emitidas para asegurarse de que las infracciones sean correctas.

Los informes indican que los operadores de autobuses observaron 1,244 vehículos que rebasaron un autobús escolar mientras el brazo de alto estaba desplegado y el autobús estaba recogiendo o dejando estudiantes. Las autoridades señalaron que el total incluye incidentes relacionados con autobuses del distrito, así como de escuelas chárter y proveedores que transportan estudiantes.

Los líderes del distrito afirman que el objetivo no es emitir más multas, sino mantener seguros a los estudiantes.

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The first day of school is set for Aug. 10, and district leaders are warning drivers they will face tougher enforcement for passing a bus while students are getting on or off.

It is a violation officials say happens too often: A school bus comes to a stop, the stop arm extends, lights begin flashing and some drivers continue moving.

Broward County School Board Chair Sarah Leonardi said the cameras are intended to change driver behavior and prevent dangerous situations.

“These cameras are meant to deter dangerous driving, and people passing school buses on the road,” she said.

Broward County School Board member Allen Zeman said drivers need to understand the importance of slowing down and following the law.

“The message for Broward County is crystal clear: take your time, save a life,” he said.

Broward County School Board members, along with Superintendent Howard Hepburn, unveiled the new school bus safety program on Thursday.

“For this program, it’s going to be a 30-day grace period and warning, starting at the beginning of the school year just to make sure every citizen in Broward County is educated on this program,” Hepburn said.

The warning period ends Sept. 9. After that, school officials say drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus with its stop arm extended and lights flashing could receive a $225 citation.

“Our school police officers will be doing their due diligence and go through each infraction and reviewing it, just to make sure they are accurate, and issuing those infractions to folks who are violating the law,” Hepburn added.

The AI-powered camera technology will be installed on all 1,300 Broward County school buses. Each bus will have at least eight cameras recording from multiple angles whenever students are boarding or exiting.

The system includes an AI overview camera that provides a wider view of traffic and works with license plate recognition cameras to identify violations.

“This sort of gives a bird’s-eye view of all the traffic across all lanes and it’s synchronized with the license plate reading cameras,” said Steve Randazzo with BusPatrol.

The equipment costs about $10,000 per bus. District leaders said taxpayers will not pay for the program through the school district’s budget.

“Zero dollars comes out of the school district budget,” Randazzo added. “To operate the program, BusPatrol takes on all of those expenses.”

The cost of the program is expected to be covered through citation revenue. BusPatrol funded the camera installation and will use most of the revenue to cover expenses associated with the program, including court costs and personnel who review citations.

Of each $225 citation, $140 will go to BusPatrol, while $85 will go to Broward County Public Schools for additional safety initiatives and enhanced safety protocols.

The district reported 1,244 illegal passings during the 2025-26 school year.

Broward County school police officers will also review citations before they are issued to make sure violations are accurate.

The reports indicate that bus operators saw 1,244 vehicles pass a school bus while the stop arm was extended and the bus was either loading or unloading students. Officials say the total includes incidents involving district buses, as well as charter schools and vendors that transport students.

District leaders say the goal is not to write more tickets — it is to keep students safe.

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

Ugboaja was released several hours after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on June 28 while walking to Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen, a few miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.

Parish officials posting on social media brought attention to Ugboaja’s arrest, and Congress members ultimately intervened on the nun’s behalf.

Her attorney, Carlos Garcia, said Thursday that in 2019 an immigration judge denied her application for asylum but also granted her protection from removal because she was likely to face torture in Nigeria. Garcia said Ugboaja has complied with everything required of her and had permission to work in the U.S.

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

Lawyers and human rights groups have criticized the Trump administration’s third-country removal policy, which has faced legal challenges.

The Department of Homeland Security and ICE did not immediately respond to a request to comment on Ugboaja's case on Thursday and did not respond to requests for comment after her detention in June.

Ugboaja has a check-in with ICE set for next week, her lawyer noted.

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

President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown — including at sensitive sites such as houses of worship — has prompted faith leaders to adjust their response to church members who have become too afraid to attend. Some have encouraged online attendance, while others have offered help doing errands such as grocery shopping for people too fearful to leave their homes.

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Associated Press writer Jamie Stengle contributed to this report.

Anthony Guglielmi, a Secret Service spokesperson, said the security-team member faces an internal investigation and potential criminal inquiry over allegations involving compromised “operational and information security.”

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

The agency did not identify the person under investigation.

The Secret Service said the investigation is tied to a report from MS NOW last week saying that some Secret Service agents had privately expressed frustration over last-minute travel requests from Vance and his family.

Vance’s office referred questions to the Secret Service.

Vance and his wife, Usha, live in the vice president's residence at the U.S. Naval Observatory along with their young children.

On Sunday, the couple welcomed their fourth child, Alec Neel Vance, the first baby born to a sitting vice president in more than 150 years. He's joined by older siblings Ewan, 9; Vivek, 6; and Mirabel, 4.

British barrister Karim Khan has been accused of sexual misconduct with a female aide, as outlined by The Associated Press in a series of stories, allegations which he has steadfastly denied.

The saga has dragged on for more than two years and has had profound implications for the global tribunal, which is already under enormous pressure. Earlier this month, the United States, which has long criticized the court, announced a campaign aimed at dismantling the 24-year-old institution.

The 56-year-old Khan was formally removed from his duties at the ICC in June after the executive committee of the court’s oversight body found he had committed “serious breach of duty and serious misconduct” by engaging in a “sexual relationship ... (that) escalated over time” and tried to prevent the woman from pursuing her allegations, according to documents seen by The Associated Press. Khan disputes those findings.

Khan faces an unprecedented removal vote

Now his future lies in the hands of the 125 nations who make up the court's oversight body, the Assembly of States Parties, who are holding a special session in New York. It will culminate in a vote where a majority would need to support a resolution to oust him.

Khan will not be present at the closed-door meeting, as he is barred from entering the United States after being sanctioned by the Trump administration over the court’s investigation into Israeli officials for the military's conduct in the conflict in Gaza.

His lawyers have complained about his absence at the meeting. “We know of no court or tribunal in any proper and fair legal system that bars a person facing the gravest professional sanction from being heard,” Tayab Ali and Sareta Ashraph wrote in a letter to the ASP seen by the AP.

He goes into the vote banned from practicing law in his home country of the United Kingdom after being suspended by the British Bar Standards Board pending their own investigation into the allegations against him.

The outcome of the vote, which is secret, is unclear. The court’s host state of the Netherlands will vote for his removal, the country’s foreign minister Tom Berendsen wrote in a letter to parliament. The Netherlands is the only country to have publicly announced its position.

The Gaza investigation complicates the case

The allegations have become entwined with the court’s investigation into the war in Gaza. “Political considerations have been folded into this, especially as it is the first time a prosecutor has pursued warrants against a western ally,” Iva Vukusic, a researcher at Utrecht University who has been following the process, told the AP.

The court issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for crimes against humanity. That decision sparked considerable backlash, including multiple rounds of sanctions against Khan and other court staff by the Trump administration.

A divided court faces an uncertain future

The lengthy and complicated process has created huge divisions at the court at a time when the institution already is under tremendous strain. “There has been splintering over how the court has handled this,” Lucy Gaynor, a historian of international criminal tribunals at the University of Amsterdam, told the AP.

In April, a group of staff members within the prosecutor’s office sent a letter to the oversight body expressing serious concerns about Khan’s potential return, writing that his “leadership has been materially diminished.”

Last week, a group of Palestinian organizations issued a public letter expressing concerns about the investigation, including accusing the executive committee of “unwarranted political interference” and “subverting the disciplinary process.”

Should Khan be removed, his replacement will have to be elected later. His office is currently being run by his two deputy prosecutors.

Vukusic said that regardless of the outcome, “the court is going to walk away bruised and battered and wounded and less able to face the greater threats.”

El mandatario afirmó que, en los diálogos por separado, estableció la necesidad de “mayor presencia militar” de las fuerzas armadas peruanas y de las colombianas en la zona limítrofe con cada país. “La presencia de ellos en frontera va a ser crucial” para la seguridad interna de Ecuador, dijo en una entrevista con radio Centro, sin dar detalles.

El gobernante ecuatoriano ha reclamado mayor tareas de resguardo de militares colombianos en la frontera binacional y, para presionar por ello, a inicios de año desencadenó una guerra arancelaria que terminó hace poco, aunque sin mayor respuesta de su par Gustavo Petro, según señaló.

De acuerdo con la policía, el sector limítrofe con esos países es una fuente de inseguridad por la actividad de grupos de narcotráfico ligados a carteles internacionales que pasan grandes cantidades de narcóticos a Ecuador, al que han convertido en una plataforma de almacenamiento y exportación de droga a Estados Unidos, Europa y otras zonas del mundo. Ello también ha generado una ola de violencia interna en el país sudamericano.

Según informes de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas, un 80% de los narcóticos que llegan a suelo ecuatoriano provienen de Colombia y el resto de Perú.

John Reimberg, ministro del Interior, precisó en declaraciones a la radio Mariela que los países vecinos “quieren trabajar en conjunto de la línea de Ecuador” y anticipó que será un “combate de forma radical, más fuerte” en un trabajo coordinado entre las tres fuerzas armadas.

Colombia, según dijo, “por cuatro años dejó las puertas abiertas ... para que pasen todo lo que quieran pasar" y añadió que "eso se termina una vez que ingrese el nuevo gobierno".

Keiko Fujimori, quien asumirá la presidencia de Perú el próximo 28 de julio, y el próximo mandatario de Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, que será investido el 7 de agosto, mantienen afinidad política con el presidente ecuatoriano, de perfil conservador.

De la Espriella y Fujimori no se han referido a las conversaciones para llegar a acuerdos a las que aludió Noboa.

Pero durante su campaña electoral, la dirigente peruana dijo que durante su gobierno las fuerzas armadas usarán en la frontera con Ecuador drones y reconocimiento facial para combatir el sicariato, la trata de personas y la extorsión que golpean a los pequeños comerciantes.

De la Espriella, quien promete mano dura contra los ilegales, dijo en campaña que normalizaría las relaciones con Ecuador y culpó a Petro de tensarlas. Además, acordó con Estados Unidos unirse a la iniciativa “Escudo de las Américas” de la cual forman parte Ecuador y otros países latinoamericanos que buscan emprender acciones militares contra los cárteles del narcotráfico y las pandillas transnacionales.

Convenios energéticos

Acerca de los convenios en materia de energía, Noboa reveló que desde Colombia “podremos recibir hasta 380 megavatios adicionales” y precisó que además se ha fijado inicialmente "una tarifa binacional” de alrededor de 30 centavos el kilovatio/hora.

El miércoles la autoridad energética de Colombia confirmó que en los próximos días se reanudará la venta de electricidad a Ecuador, el cual está ingresando a la estación seca, por lo que la generación de las plantas hidroeléctricas, que aportan cerca del 75% de la electricidad, empieza a disminuir.

La venta de energía a Ecuador había sido suspendida a inicios de año en medio de diferencias entre los dos países que desencadenaron una guerra comercial con la imposición mutua de altos aranceles. Petro suspendió la venta de energía a Ecuador en respuesta a la imposición de aranceles de entre el 30% y 75% por parte de Noboa a las importaciones colombianas.

Posteriormente, la Comunidad Andina resolvió que los dos países eliminaran dichos aranceles, lo que terminaron haciendo. Aunque Ecuador levantó los impuestos, Noboa afirmó que la decisión obedeció a un acuerdo con el presidente electo de Colombia.

A finales del 2024 los ecuatorianos se vieron afectados por racionamientos de hasta 14 horas diarias debido a lo que los expertos consideraron la peor sequía en más de 60 años. Ecuador, según fuentes oficiales, registra este año un déficit de generación de al menos 800 megavatios.

Acerca de los acuerdos con Perú, el gobernante ecuatoriano señaló que el convenio es la provisión de gas "el cual será utilizado para tener mayor y más barata generación eléctrica” en Ecuador.

"De esa manera trabajamos verdaderamente en conjunto”, agregó Noboa.

———————-

En esta nota colaboraron Astrid Suárez desde Bogotá y Franklin Briceño desde Lima.

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The incident happened outside the Mobil at 16861 Miramar Parkway in Miramar.

According to police, first responders arrived to find a man who had suffered serious injuries and rushed him by helicopter to a nearby hospital.

That man was later pronounced dead, authorities said.

Workers at the gas station told Local 10 News the victim worked at their car wash and was likely closing at the time of the incident.

“So what we do know is that there was an altercation with two men, and one was stabbed,” Miramar police spokeswoman Janice McIntosh said.

Officers said the suspect fled after the stabbing, which led authorities to set up a perimeter in the area. Miramar Parkway was also closed for a period of time between Southwest 164th Avenue and 172nd Avenue.

Officers indicated they knew the identity of the suspect, but have yet to release it to the public.

“The police know who they are looking for, but they are still asking the public, if they see or hear anything suspicious to report it immediately, because he is still at large,“ McIntosh said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Miramar Police Department or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.

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The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said they took Gary Jackson into custody on Wednesday.

According to deputies, they were alerted to a Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources case regarding a victim stating that Jackson, who was doing business as Metal Roof Masters LLC, “presented her with a written contract totaling $14,000.00 to repair the entire roofing system” on Feb. 9.

Deputies said the victim made a payment of $7,800 to Jackson five days later, and a subpoena served to JP Morgan Chase Bank showed the check was deposited into Jackson’s account, which authorities said he was the sole authorized person to access the funds.

Over the course of several months, multiple attempts to contact Jackson were made via mail and phone, but deputies said he “has not made any attempt to reach a resolution or provide full restitution.”

Additionally, investigators said they searched the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board and the Miami-Dade County Construction Trades Qualifying Board and found that Jackson is not a licensed contractor under any state or county statutes or ordinances.

They did, however, determine through a search of the Florida Division of Corporation that Jackson was the owner of Metal Roof Masters LLC.

Deputies said the MDSO Special Predator Enforcement Team detained Jackson, and he was later taken to the Guilford Knight Correctional Center on charges of third-degree grand theft and engaging in contracting without a license.

As of Thursday afternoon, Jackson remains behind bars, with documents indicating that he was already out on felony bond at the time of his arrest.

The outbreak included 72 people as of Wednesday.

The Food and Drug Administration has not yet identified which products are linked to the illnesses. Officials also have not said where the cases are located. The Associated Press has asked the FDA for more information.

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

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water. When ingested, the parasite causes intestinal illness marked by “frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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

Food safety tips include washing hands with soap and water after using the bathroom and before handling food. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers don’t kill cyclospora, but soap and water are highly effective at doing so.

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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.

La Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade informó que arrestó a Gary Jackson el miércoles.

Según los agentes, fueron notificados sobre un caso del Departamento de Recursos Regulatorios y Económicos del condado Miami-Dade relacionado con una víctima que afirmó que Jackson, quien operaba bajo el nombre Metal Roof Masters LLC, “le presentó un contrato por escrito por un total de $14,000.00 USD para reparar todo el sistema del techo” el 9 de febrero.

Los agentes informaron que la víctima realizó un pago de $7,800 USD a Jackson cinco días después, y que una citación enviada a JP Morgan Chase Bank mostró que el cheque fue depositado en la cuenta de Jackson, a la que, según las autoridades, solo él tenía acceso autorizado.

Durante varios meses, se realizaron múltiples intentos de contactar a Jackson por correo y por teléfono, pero los agentes dijeron que “no ha hecho ningún intento por llegar a una resolución ni proporcionar una restitución completa”.

Además, los investigadores informaron que revisaron los registros de la Junta de Licencias de la Industria de la Construcción de Florida y de la Junta de Calificación de Oficios de la Construcción del condado Miami-Dade, y determinaron que Jackson no cuenta con licencia como contratista bajo ninguna ley estatal o normativa del condado.

Sin embargo, mediante una búsqueda en la División de Corporaciones de Florida, determinaron que Jackson era el propietario de Metal Roof Masters LLC.

Los agentes informaron que el Equipo Especial de Control de Depredadores de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade detuvo a Jackson, quien posteriormente fue trasladado al Centro Correccional Guilford Knight, donde enfrenta cargos por hurto mayor en tercer grado y por ejercer como contratista sin licencia.

Hasta la tarde del jueves, Jackson permanecía detenido, y los documentos indican que ya se encontraba en libertad bajo fianza por un delito grave al momento de su arresto.

El incidente ocurrió frente a la gasolinera Mobil ubicada en 16861 Miramar Parkway, en Miramar.

Según la policía, los equipos de emergencia llegaron y encontraron a un hombre con heridas graves, por lo que fue trasladado en helicóptero a un hospital cercano.

Posteriormente, las autoridades informaron que la víctima fue declarada muerta.

“Lo que sabemos es que hubo un altercado entre dos hombres y uno de ellos fue apuñalado”, dijo Janice McIntosh, portavoz de la policía de Miramar.

Los agentes informaron que el sospechoso huyó después del apuñalamiento, lo que llevó a las autoridades a establecer un perímetro en el área. Miramar Parkway también fue cerrada durante un tiempo entre Southwest 164th Avenue y 172nd Avenue.

Los agentes indicaron que conocen la identidad del sospechoso, pero aún no la han divulgado al público.

“La policía sabe a quién está buscando, pero aún pide al público que, si ve o escucha algo sospechoso, lo reporte de inmediato, porque el sospechoso sigue prófugo”, dijo McIntosh.

Se exhorta a cualquier persona con información a comunicarse con el Departamento de Policía de Miramar o con Broward Crime Stoppers al 954-493-8477.

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Fabian Izaguirre Cepero, 26, is accused of lingering outside of the bedroom of a 12-year-old girl and touching himself outside of a home in Cutler Bay overnight on Monday. Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies took him into custody on Tuesday.

It wasn’t his first voyeurism allegation. In February 2025, Miami Beach police accused him of going into the Target at 1045 Fifth St. on South Beach and placing a phone on the floor of a dressing room to watch a woman try on bathing suits. That case remains pending.

Authorities said Izaguirre Cepero committed his latest crime while out on bond for 17 counts related to the possession of child sexual abuse material.

Police said that after his 2025 arrest in the Target case, investigators reviewing his phone for evidence stumbled upon more than a dozen images and videos of girls as young as “2 to 4 years old” being sexually abused.

The Miami-Dade judge ruled on Thursday that Tuesday’s arrest constituted a violation of his pre-trial release in that case, ordering he remain in jail pending its resolution.

As for the Cutler Bay case, another hearing is set in Miami-Dade court on Friday, as Izaguirre Cepero’s attorney argues that there is no probable cause for the voyeurism charge.

Fabian Izaguirre Cepero, de 26 años, está acusado de permanecer merodeando frente a la habitación de una niña de 12 años y tocarse los genitales frente a una vivienda en Cutler Bay durante la madrugada del lunes. Agentes de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade lo arrestaron el martes.

No era la primera vez que enfrentaba acusaciones de voyeurismo. En febrero de 2025, la policía de Miami Beach lo acusó de ingresar a la tienda Target ubicada en 1045 Fifth St., en South Beach, y colocar un teléfono en el piso de un probador para observar a una mujer mientras se probaba trajes de baño. Ese caso sigue pendiente.

Las autoridades informaron que Izaguirre Cepero cometió el delito más reciente mientras estaba en libertad bajo fianza por 17 cargos relacionados con la posesión de material de abuso sexual infantil.

La policía indicó que, tras su arresto en 2025 por el caso de Target, los investigadores que revisaban su teléfono en busca de evidencia encontraron más de una docena de imágenes y videos de niñas de entre “2 y 4 años” siendo víctimas de abuso sexual.

El juez de Miami-Dade determinó el jueves que el arresto del martes constituía una violación de las condiciones de su libertad previa al juicio en ese caso, por lo que ordenó que permanezca encarcelado hasta que se resuelva.

En cuanto al caso de Cutler Bay, otra audiencia está programada para el viernes en un tribunal de Miami-Dade, mientras el abogado de Izaguirre Cepero sostiene que no existe causa probable para el cargo de voyeurismo.

It was the 33-year-old Carapaz’s first stage win at this year’s race and second overall. He was not chased down by Pogacar because he is not considered a threat to win the Tour, and is in 10th spot.

“This is a wonderful victory,” Carapaz said. “I dedicate it to my family.”

After moving ahead about 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the summit, Carapaz raced clear. He patted each side of his head as he approached the finish line, and was 45 seconds ahead of Swiss rider Mauro Schmid and American Matteo Jorgenson.

“It’s been a special day. It took a lot of hard work,” said Carapaz, who failed to win with a similar breakaway earlier in this year’s race. “This is the most rewarding thing for me, knowing that the work I put in has paid off.”

Pogacar is chasing a third straight Tour title and fifth overall. The Slovenian star rolled over the line in a large group containing his closest rival Remco Evenepoel and Pogacar’s UAE Emirates XRG teammate Isaac Del Toro.

There was no change overall as Pogacar maintained his lead of 4 minutes, 32 seconds over the Belgian time trial star Evenepoel, the winner of two stages at this year's race, and 6:51 over the 22-year-old Mexican Del Toro in third overall.

Thursday's stage was the first of three straight days of Alpine climbs.

The 185-kilometer (115-mile) trek featured an early Category 1 climb — the second-hardest category — up Côte d'Engins, before ending with a Cat. 1 ascent to the Orcières-Merlette ski station.

After going over Engins, Jorgenson was in a small group at the front. They were then joined by Carapaz with Pogacar's yellow jersey group clearly hanging back.

“I think nobody would really commit,” said Pogacar, who has won four stages at this year's race.

Carapaz's stage could have ended when he had a near miss with a fan stood in the road, just swerving around him in time.

Heading into the final climb up Orcières-Merlette, Jorgenson and Schmid could not respond when Carapaz, who won the 2019 Giro d’Italia, attacked.

“This final climb was tough and suited my strengths well,” said Carapaz, whose other Tour stage win came in 2024. “This was a hard-fought victory, but just as tough as the first one. It gets harder every year to win here.”

Tough climbs ahead

Friday's 19th stage ends with a HC climb (the hardest category) up L'Alpe d’Huez, an iconic Tour climb and among the most famed in cycling.

Saturday's 20th and penultimate stage is brutal and could be epic. It features three HC climbs — Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Galibier and Col de Sarenne — and one Cat. 1 climb up Col du Télégraphe, before a hilly finish to L'Alpe d'Huez.

The race ends Sunday on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. ___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Según la policía de Margate, el choque con fuga fue reportado alrededor de las 2:50 a.m. en la cuadra 5400 de West Atlantic Boulevard.

La policía informó que la víctima, Gregory Bowman, de 59 años y residente de Margate, caminaba por la acera antes de bajar del borde de la acera y comenzar a cruzar West Atlantic Boulevard en dirección norte, cuando fue atropellado por una camioneta Dodge Ram 1500 azul modelo 2019 que circulaba hacia el este.

La policía indicó que el conductor, John Calvino Jr., de Coral Springs, huyó de la escena, pero fue localizado más tarde esa misma mañana en Hollywood.

Fue arrestado y enfrenta un cargo por abandonar la escena de un choque con resultado de muerte.

La policía de Margate pasó horas en la escena, cerca del centro comercial Lakewood, investigando las circunstancias que llevaron al choque.

Un video muestra múltiples unidades de la policía de Margate alineadas a lo largo de Atlantic Boulevard mientras los detectives investigaban.

Una parte de la vía permaneció cerrada durante varias horas mientras los agentes recopilaban evidencia y documentaban lo sucedido.

Otro video muestra al médico forense retirando el cuerpo de la víctima de la escena antes de que la vía fuera reabierta.

“Mi corazón está con él. Pero, como dije, para resumir, es una carretera muy transitada”, dijo un hombre que frecuenta el área.

La policía solicita a cualquier persona que haya presenciado el choque o tenga información relacionada con la investigación que llame al investigador de homicidios de tránsito, agente R. Calder, al 954-935-5309.

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According to Margate police, the hit-and-run crash was reported at about 2:50 a.m. in the 5400 block of West Atlantic Boulevard.

Police said the victim, Gregory Bowman, 59, of Margate, was walking on the sidewalk before he stepped off the curb and began crossing West Atlantic Boulevard, heading north, when he was struck by a blue 2019 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck that was heading east.

Police said the driver, John Calvino Jr., of Coral Springs, fled the scene but was located later in the morning in Hollywood.

He was arrested on a charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving a death.

Margate police spent hours at the scene near the Lakewood shopping center investigating the circumstances leading up to the crash.

Video shows multiple Margate police units lined up along Atlantic Boulevard as detectives investigated.

A portion of the roadway was shut down for several hours while officers gathered evidence and documented what happened.

Another video shows the medical examiner removing the victim’s body from the scene before the road was reopened.

“My heart goes out to him. But like I said, long story short, it’s a busy highway,” one man who frequents the area said.

Police are asking that anyone who witnessed the crash or has information related to the investigation calls Traffic Homicide Investigator Officer R. Calder at 954-935-5309.

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

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

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

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

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

Rushdie: Knife came ‘a millimeter from my brain'

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

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

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

Defense lawyer asks Rushdie about book's blowback

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

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

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

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

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

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

Matar may testify, lawyer says

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

___

Peltz reported from New York.

The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate rose to 6.58% from 6.55% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the average rate was 6.74%.

The rate has ticked higher three weeks in a row. Higher mortgage rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting homebuyers’ purchasing power. As rates rise, that can lead prospective home shoppers to delay buying a home, one reason U.S. home sales have been sluggish this year.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, often sought by borrowers refinancing a home loan, also rose this week. That average rate increased to 5.96% from 5.93% last week. A year ago, it was at 5.87%, Freddie Mac said.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation. They generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

Rates have been mostly rising this year as the conflict in Iran has driven crude oil prices sharply higher, stoking expectations of hotter inflation. That’s pushed up long-term bond yields relative to where they were before the conflict began in late February, causing mortgage rates to trend higher.

The 10-year Treasury yield was 4.7% at midday Thursday on the bond market, up from 4.57% a week ago. It was just 3.97% in late February, before the war broke out.

Rising oil prices as violence escalates in Iran are threatening to worsen inflation, just as it had begun to decelerate by more than economists expected. That in turn could push the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.

The central bank doesn’t set mortgage rates, but its decisions to raise or lower its short-term rate are watched closely by bond investors and can ultimately affect the yield on 10-year Treasurys.

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage is now the highest it’s been since Aug. 21, when it was at 6.58%. As recently as late February, the average rate dropped slightly below 6% for the first time since late 2022.

While average long-term mortgage rates remain lower than they were at this time last year, their upward trajectory has weighed on home sales this year. While seasonally adjusted sales of previously occupied U.S. homes were up 0.7% from January to June compared to the same period last year, they're still hovering close to a 4-million annual pace far short of the historic norm that is closer to 5.2-million.

The trend has extended the national housing market slump that began in 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes were essentially flat last year, stuck at a 30-year low.

As mortgage rates remain elevated, that will mean a slower summer housing market, said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS.

“It’s not just about rates for homebuyers, but rather the full financial picture of buying,” she said. “Home prices hit record highs this summer in many markets across the U.S. while higher gas prices and concerns about overall inflation rising have created more financial strain for would-be buyers.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trump, a baseball fan and New York native, has for years been closely associated with the New York Yankees, whose late, longtime owner George Steinbrenner was a close friend. But the president singled out the New York Mets at a rally in Georgia on Wednesday, when he praised the ownership of the local Atlanta Braves and slammed the Mets for their sky-high payroll and losing record.

Trump was joined on stage during that event by former Braves manager Brian Snitker, and Mike Plant, president and CEO of the Braves Development Company.

“I like baseball,” Trump said before adding, ”You know, the Mets have the highest salary in baseball, and they lose all the time. And I’m like, maybe we can steal this guy.”

“There are teams like that, where they never go down,” Trump said. “Then you have other teams — ‘We’re rebuilding.’ They’ve been rebuilding for years. I don’t want to mention teams ’cause I know all the owners. They’re all friends of mine.”

The club record fee for City eclipses the 100 million pounds ($139 million) it paid for Jack Grealish in 2021 and is among the biggest ever in the Premier League.

The 23-year-old Anderson has signed a five-year contract.

“City are one of the biggest clubs in the world and the squad they have is amazing — so strong in every position. As soon as I knew they wanted me, I was absolutely determined to make this move happen," Anderson said. “As a footballer, you want to test yourself at the highest level. Being at City means I have that opportunity."

Anderson is the first major signing by City since iconic manager Pep Guardiola stepped down at the end of last season. A new era is beginning under former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.

“Elliot is one of the outstanding young midfield talents in world football right now. He offers energy, outstanding work rate and an exceptional range of passing," said City director of football Hugo Viana. "His improvement in recent years has been really impressive and underlines his desire to be the best player he can be.

“At just 23, there is plenty of opportunity for development over the coming years and we feel he can become a complete midfielder. Manchester City is the best place for him to develop his game and keep improving, we are glad that he sees things the same way as we do."

Anderson began his career at Newcastle and joined Forest in 2024 where he went on to break into the England squad.

He was a key member of Thomas Tuchel's England squad that won bronze at the World Cup.

“As soon as I arrive in Manchester after a break, I will be doing everything I can to establish myself in the City team," he said. “It’s a club built to win trophies and compete at the very top of the game. That is exciting for any footballer."

England forward Morgan Rogers completed a move to Chelsea earlier this week for a reported 117 million pounds.

Sweden striker Alexander Isak's 125 million pounds (then $170 million) move to Liverpool from Newcastle last year remains the most expensive in British soccer.

___

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

___

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

La ayuda que llegó esta semana viene envuelta en una polémica por la histórica desconfianza política entre Cuba y Estados Unidos, y en un contexto de crisis en la isla que se agudizó por un cerco energético impuesto en enero por el presidente estadounidense Donald Trump que afectó a la población.

Cáritas inició el reparto de las cajas en parroquias y casas religiosas en los municipios de Bejucal y Alquízar, colindantes con La Habana, según un comunicado de esa organización de la Iglesia católica dedicada a la asistencia.

“Consiste en módulos de alimentos y aseo” y será destinado “a las familias cubanas más vulnerables”, señaló el comunicado.

Imágenes difundidas por la entidad mostraron personas descargando cajas de cartón marrones etiquetadas con la bandera de Estados Unidos, mientras otras con sudaderas de color blanco y el logo de Cáritas las entregaban a residentes luego de revisar listados y verificar sus documentos de identidad.

No se especificó qué parroquias serán beneficiadas. Intentos de The Associated Press por hablar con Cáritas resultaron infructuosos.

Un avión con 700 paquetes salió de Miami el martes, según el Departamento de Estado, que aseguró que el envío es el primero de un programa de 60 millones de dólares de un total de 100 millones previstos para entregar en los próximos meses.

Contenido de las cajas

Las cajas contienen alimentos para cubrir las necesidades de una familia por 10 días, explicó Cáritas.

Entre los productos hay arroz, frijoles, espaguetis, sal y azúcar morena; también latas de sardinas y de atún, y aceite. Además una lámpara solar, tabletas para purificación de agua, un cubo de plástico, barras de jabón, detergente, cepillo de dientes y toallas sanitarias.

Un comunicado del Ministerio de Comercio Exterior dijo que durante la recepción de la aeronave y junto a directivos de Cáritas estuvieron presentes autoridades, pero no informó su rango.

Otros antecedentes

Jeremy Lewin, funcionario del Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos para Asistencia Exterior, Asuntos Humanitarios y Libertad Religiosa, indicó que la alianza con la iglesia se basa en un programa que el año pasado entregó 9 millones de dólares en apoyo directo a la isla tras el huracán Melissa.

Estados Unidos reiteró en varias ocasiones su desconfianza en el proceso de donaciones, alegando que era manipulado por el gobierno cubano, al que suele acusar de ineficiente.

Lewin afirmó que, dado que sacerdotes locales y grupos católicos están distribuyendo la asistencia directamente, no habrá posibilidad de interferencia gubernamental.

Cuba por su parte, que autorizó que la ayuda entrara al país, cuestionó que Estados Unidos ofrezca esta cooperación humanitaria cuando es responsable de la asfixia económica mediante distintas sanciones y un cerco petrolero.

El bloqueo energético agudizó la crisis de un lustro en la isla y causó apagones de más de 20 horas, desabastecimiento de medicinas y alimentos, limitaciones al transporte vial y suspensión de vuelos.

Esta semana la cadena española Meliá —una histórica socia internacional de Cuba en el vital sector del turismo— anunció su retirada luego de recibir presiones de Estados Unidos. Igual sucedió con las operaciones de Visa y Mastercard, líneas aéreas y compañías con negocios industriales.

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FBI agents accuse Roger Ignacio Sanchez, 63, of distributing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children across “multiple chat rooms” in an unnamed application. He now faces two federal charges.

According to a federal criminal complaint, a law enforcement officer in another country ― later implied to be Switzerland ― reported to the FBI in April 2025 that he or she was tracking a user on the application later identified as Sanchez.

That summer, authorities said an undercover FBI agent saw Sanchez distributing images and videos of child rape and sexual abuse on the application, including one depicting a victim as young as 4.

According to the complaint, during a chat with the undercover FBI agent, Sanchez “indicated that he was sexually interested in both girls and boys ages 6 to 16, but noted that he has never sexually abused a child.”

Authorities said FBI agents in Albany, New York, through a Swiss legal attaché, were able to obtain “push token” information from the application that helped them identify Sanchez.

They said his account had been blocked in August as “in the course of deleting prohibited groups” on the application.

The complaint states that in March, agents began conducting surveillance at Sanchez’s home in the 18900 block of Northwest 85th Court in Miami-Dade’s unincorporated Palm Springs North area. They said they executed a search warrant there on Wednesday.

Authorities said after clearing the home of everyone inside, they saw a computer in Sanchez’s bedroom “with an application open with multiple open windows that depicted (child sexual abuse material)” and reviewed the computer to find that he was still distributing the illicit content.

Records show he appeared in Miami federal court later that afternoon on two counts related to the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material.

Sanchez posted a $250,000 personal surety bond, records show. He’s scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 12.

Agentes del FBI acusan a Roger Ignacio Sánchez, de 63 años, de distribuir imágenes y videos que muestran abuso sexual infantil en “múltiples salas de chat” de una aplicación cuyo nombre no fue revelado. Ahora enfrenta dos cargos federales.

Según una denuncia penal federal, un agente del orden de otro país, que posteriormente se da a entender que era Suiza, informó al FBI en abril de 2025 que estaba rastreando a un usuario de la aplicación que más tarde fue identificado como Sánchez.

Ese verano, las autoridades informaron que un agente encubierto del FBI observó a Sánchez distribuyendo imágenes y videos de violación y abuso sexual infantil en la aplicación, incluido uno que mostraba a una víctima de tan solo 4 años.

Según la denuncia, durante una conversación con el agente encubierto del FBI, Sánchez “indicó que tenía interés sexual tanto en niñas como en niños de entre 6 y 16 años, pero señaló que nunca ha abusado sexualmente de un menor”.

Las autoridades informaron que agentes del FBI en Albany, Nueva York, a través de un agregado jurídico en Suiza, lograron obtener información de “push token” de la aplicación que les ayudó a identificar a Sánchez.

Indicaron que su cuenta había sido bloqueada en agosto “como parte del proceso de eliminación de grupos prohibidos” en la aplicación.

La denuncia señala que, en marzo, los agentes comenzaron a realizar vigilancia en la vivienda de Sánchez, ubicada en la cuadra 18900 de Northwest 85th Court, en el área no incorporada de Palm Springs North, en Miami-Dade. Agregaron que ejecutaron una orden de allanamiento allí el miércoles.

Las autoridades informaron que, después de asegurar la vivienda y desalojar a todas las personas que se encontraban en su interior, observaron una computadora en la habitación de Sánchez “con una aplicación abierta y múltiples ventanas abiertas que mostraban material de abuso sexual infantil”, y revisaron el equipo, donde descubrieron que seguía distribuyendo el contenido ilícito.

Los registros muestran que compareció ante un tribunal federal de Miami esa misma tarde por dos cargos relacionados con la posesión y distribución de material de abuso sexual infantil.

Los registros indican que Sánchez pagó una fianza personal de $250,000 USD. Su lectura formal de cargos está programada para el 12 de agosto.

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

Trump described the pledge several months ago as “PR help" at a time when the broader social contract is being rewritten by AI, a technology that is evolving so quickly in its capabilities that governments are struggling over how to provide insight. He plans to discuss the expansion of the pledge at the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday.

“The president is ensuring the American people are never left footing the bill so private companies can benefit," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters before the president's remarks.

The White House said that nearly 200 additional stakeholders, including utilities, data center developers and governors, have committed to the pledge. The pledge would cover 80% of all power delivered to U.S. households and businesses.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Already, dozens of state legislatures or utility commissions have moved to put in place requirements that data centers pay the cost of their electricity, including new power plants or transmission system upgrades.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Associates Press writers Matthew Daly and Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pa., contributed.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales said he does not know the extent of the injury. He said Scourton will have an MRI exam.

“I don't want to speculate,” Canales said. “I'm hoping for the best.”

Scourton, a second-round draft pick in 2024 out of Texas A&M, went down on a wet field late in practice during team drills. Players immediately gathered around him on one knee.

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

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

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

Scourton had an outstanding rookie season for the Panthers, playing in 17 games with eight starts. He finished the season with 47 tackles, five sacks and nine quarterback hits while developing into a key starter for the NFL's 15th-ranked defense.

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

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

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

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

Canales said the team had enough players to go without Scourton if the injury is bad.

“We've got depth,” Canales said. “That's why we keep bringing in guys. ... If it comes to that (a serious injury) we have guys that we trust.”

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The suspect was identified in an arrest report as Eliezer Santana, of Coconut Creek. Jail records show he was arrested Wednesday by the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators accuse Santana of sexually battering the victim “upwards of 20 times between 2004-2005” while he was serving as a JROTC instructor and was “in a position of power and trust over the victim,” according to an arrest report.

Authorities said the incidents occurred in Miramar, Davie and Pembroke Pines.

According to the report, the victim told investigators that Santana began “grooming her” during 2004 and 2005 by telling her “how beautiful she looked” and that “she deserves someone who will care for her.”

The report states that while inside the JROTC office in Miramar, Santana would sit close to the victim until he became aroused before rubbing her thighs and shoulders while touching his penis over his clothing.

The victim told investigators she had sex with Santana on more than one occasion inside the JROTC office when no one else was present, according to the report.

She also claimed the abuse continued at an apartment complex parking lot within Sherman Circle in Miramar, including one incident in the backseat of a van, detectives said.

Santana’s arrest report redacts the name of the JROTC school where he worked.

Investigators said they interviewed a former coworker in May who told deputies he frequently saw the victim inside Santana’s office with the door closed but did not witness any sexual conduct.

According to authorities, another witness told deputies he filed a formal complaint with the school’s principal during the same time period alleging Santana was “speaking inappropriately” to another student and was “grooming her.”

The witness told investigators he “was assured that his concerns would be addressed and that the proper authorities would be notified, but police were never informed,” the report states.

Authorities said Santana was later permitted to transfer to Miami-Dade County and no longer worked for Broward Schools.

Court and jail records show Santana has also faced allegations in Miami-Dade County. Records indicate a 2004 case charged him with sexual battery by a person in familial or custodial authority involving a victim between the ages of 12 and 17.

In the current Broward case, records show Santana is facing one count of sexual battery by a person in custodial authority involving a victim between the ages of 12 and 18.

As of Thursday morning, he was being held without bond at the Broward County Main Jail.

El sospechoso fue identificado en un informe de arresto como Eliezer Santana, de Coconut Creek. Los registros de la cárcel muestran que fue arrestado el miércoles por la Oficina del Sheriff de Broward.

Los investigadores acusan a Santana de violar a la víctima “más de 20 veces entre 2004 y 2005” mientras se desempeñaba como instructor de JROTC y se encontraba “en una posición de poder y confianza sobre la víctima”, según el informe de arresto.

Las autoridades informaron que los hechos ocurrieron en Miramar, Davie y Pembroke Pines.

Según el informe, la víctima dijo a los investigadores que Santana comenzó a “ganarse su confianza con fines de abuso” durante 2004 y 2005 al decirle “lo hermosa que se veía” y que “merecía a alguien que la cuidara”.

El informe señala que, mientras estaban dentro de la oficina de JROTC en Miramar, Santana se sentaba cerca de la víctima hasta excitarse, antes de frotarle los muslos y los hombros mientras se tocaba el pene por encima de la ropa.

La víctima dijo a los investigadores que tuvo relaciones sexuales con Santana en más de una ocasión dentro de la oficina de JROTC cuando no había nadie más presente, según el informe.

También afirmó que el abuso continuó en el estacionamiento de un complejo de apartamentos en Sherman Circle, en Miramar, incluido un incidente en el asiento trasero de una camioneta, dijeron los detectives.

El informe de arresto de Santana omite el nombre de la escuela de JROTC donde trabajaba.

Los investigadores informaron que entrevistaron en mayo a un ex compañero de trabajo, quien dijo a los agentes que con frecuencia veía a la víctima dentro de la oficina de Santana con la puerta cerrada, pero que no presenció ninguna conducta sexual.

Según las autoridades, otro testigo dijo a los agentes que presentó una denuncia formal ante el director de la escuela durante ese mismo período, en la que alegó que Santana “hablaba de manera inapropiada” con otra estudiante y estaba “ganándose su confianza con fines de abuso”.

El testigo dijo a los investigadores que “le aseguraron que sus preocupaciones serían atendidas y que se notificaría a las autoridades correspondientes, pero la policía nunca fue informada”, señala el informe.

Las autoridades indicaron que posteriormente se permitió a Santana trasladarse al condado Miami-Dade y que dejó de trabajar para las Escuelas de Broward.

Los registros judiciales y de la cárcel muestran que Santana también enfrentó acusaciones en el condado Miami-Dade. Los registros indican que en un caso de 2004 fue acusado de agresión sexual por una persona con autoridad familiar o de custodia contra una víctima de entre 12 y 17 años.

En el caso actual en Broward, los registros muestran que Santana enfrenta un cargo de agresión sexual por una persona con autoridad de custodia contra una víctima de entre 12 y 18 años.

Hasta la mañana del jueves, permanecía detenido sin derecho a fianza en la cárcel principal del condado Broward.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Studio Ghibli Fest, the long-running theatrical revivals of Ghibli movies, has taken on a special meaning for her, her 3-year-old daughter and her mother, Araceli. Every year, they go to see each Ghibli rerelease in theaters.

“Right when she sees the opening Totoro logo, she screams ‘Totoro!’” VanCleave, 34, says of her daughter. “Everyone in the theater started laughing, and I was like, ‘Oh, gosh, sorry.’”

Though the family discovered the Ghibli movies on HBO Max, the outings to their favorite theater in Austin, Texas, became a tradition. Earlier this month, when they went (again) to see Hayao Miyazaki’s 1988 anime classic, “My Neighbor Totoro,” they wore matching Totoro jammies.

“It’s been our thing,” says VanCleave. “Us three girls together.”

The passionate fandom Ghibli tends to inspire is well-documented. Yet the consistency of the Japanese animation studio’s films in theaters — years, even decades after their release — is without parallel in movies. Every year, longtime Ghibli fans as well as new, little ones, flock to cinemas.

Sporadically dated from June through October, Ghibli Fest has been running for a decade. Movies like “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Spirited Away” and “Ponyo” have become not occasional rereleases but practically theatrical mainstays. Ghibli Fest is more like an ongoing movie marathon: cinema's answer to Bob Dylan's Never Ending Tour.

And, remarkably, it keeps growing. When GKids, the North American distributor for Ghibli, and Fathom Entertainment launched Ghibli Fest in 2017, its five titles accounted for $5 million in ticket sales. But the festival’s biggest box-office years have been the last three — all after Ghibli titles became easy to stream on HBO Max in 2020.

“I’d be lying if I thought the program when we conceived it would be going as long as it has,” says Dave Jesteadt, GKids president. “It does defy conventional wisdom. We keep waiting for the year that people tire of going to the films, but that’s not what’s happening. Every single year, we see records being set. The grosses are going up, not down.”

Ghibli expands its footprint

The biggest year for Ghibli Fest was 2024, when 14 movies accounted for $16.4 million in sales. Last year, eight movies grossed $10.6 million. This year, both “Ponyo” and “My Neighbor Totoro” have already played for popular five-day stints.

Shannah Miller, vice president of marketing for Fathom, a company owned by the country's top theater chains, has watched demand keep expanding.

“When we started, I think our theatrical footprint was about 640 locations,” Miller says. “This year, we’re crossing over 1,100 locations. We started with two, maybe three playdates for a particular title, but due to fan demand, we have five-day runs for some titles.”

When GKids first got Ghibli library in 2011, the Japanese studio emphasized how important theatrical was to them. First GKids hosted retrospectives, mostly in major markets and at arthouses. But Ghibli Fest moved the movies into multiplexes where a new generation of kids might stop before a cardboard cutout of Kiki (from “Kiki’s Delivery Service”) or No Face (from “Spirited Away”) and wonder if there might be animated movie worlds beyond Disney.

“One of the worst things that can happen to classics is that they’re perceived as classics and kept in amber,” says Jesteadt. “We wanted to move to a nationwide celebration that really treated these as equivalent to any new Hollywood film.”

While North America moviegoing is up more than 10% this year, theaters have learned over the last decade that they can’t always depend on a steady stream of new Hollywood releases. There tend to be soft spots in the schedule, and early weekdays are always slow, anyhow.

Older movies have, increasingly, filled in the gaps. Ghibli Fest, though, predates more recent repertory trends. And the long-term effects have paid dividends, helping foster new Ghibli lovers. While an earlier generation might have been introduced first through Miyazaki’s 2001 masterpiece “Spirited Away,” GKids now sees younger moviegoers indoctrinated by “Ponyo” or “Howl’s Moving Castle.”

“When we introduced the catalog to streaming in 2020 for the first time, we thought, ‘OK, surely, this is maybe the moment,’” says Jesteadt. “But if anything, that just brought in a new audience that wanted to see these films in theaters for the first time.”

‘More fun than HBO Max’

This year’s fest continues with “Tales of Earthsea” (Aug. 8, 10), “Only Yesterday” (Aug. 9, 11), the 40th anniversary of the first Ghibli release, 1986’s “Castle in the Sky” (Aug. 22-26), a 4K remastered “Princess Mononoke” (Sept. 26-30) and finally a 25th anniversary for “Spirited Away” (Oct. 17-21).

While some of these movies are revived in other countries, Ghibli Fest is so far a strictly U.S.-based phenomenon.

“We are equally in awe of and proud of what we’re building and the opportunity to celebrate instead of all the doom and gloom, ‘Is theater dead?’ conversations,” Miller says. “We have a different story to tell with Studio Ghibli.”

Studio Ghibli is such a cultural powerhouse that there are countless opportunities to reconnect with its stories. The Academy Museum is hosting a new “Ponyo” exhibit. The composer Joe Hisaishi is touring the music of many of the films, including a seven-night residency at New York’s Radio City Music Hall in August.

But the movies, themselves, on the big screen, are the eternal flames of Ghibli. The screenings are places for Ghibli fans, new and old, to congregate and immerse themselves in the natural splendor of the films.

Angela Lector, 27, has attended “Howl’s Moving Castle” dressed as its hero, Sophie, and met Japanese film students at a showing of “Princess Mononoke,” a favorite from when she was a kid.

“Being in the theater is so much more fun than being on HBO Max,” says Lector. “Being in your home, you can make your own popcorn and cuddle up with your dog. But being in the theater you can actually talk to people you don’t know about the movie.”

Ghibli fans’ only gripes are usually that the festival doesn’t feature more deep cuts from the library. Lector would love to see 1984’s” pre-Ghibli “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” brought back.

“The Ghibli films are timeless. There’s something for everyone in them,” Lector says. “Everything feels human. No one is too powerful or too small.”

That can go for audience members, too. VanCleave recently noticed a classmate of her daughter’s wearing a bow like Kiki's.

“I saw her mom and asked about it. … she also had watched Ghibli movies at home,” VanCleave says. “So, we invited her to ‘Ponyo,’ and it was her first movie theater experience. It was cute. The two 3-year-olds shared a recliner.”

The deal was announced Thursday by general manager Don Waddell, who said "Jet is a high-character, talented and athletic goaltender who has become an important part of our hockey club. Our intent always was to get a deal done to ensure he remains a Blue Jacket and we are thrilled that we were able to do so.”

The 25-year-old Greaves finished 26-19-9 with a 2.60 goals-against average last season to become the fifth goaltender in franchise history to win 25 games in a season. He had two shutouts in 55 games. His .908 save percentage tied for sixth among NHL goaltenders.

In 76 career appearances, Greaves has a 36-28-11 record with a .913 save percentage and four shutouts. He made his NHL debut at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Greaves is a native of Cambridge, Ontario who made his international debut for Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Championships in Switzerland. He finished 6-2 in the tournament to tie for third in wins.

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Though naming it after him was not considered a compliment, Kiffin said he can see some value in the provision in a wide-ranging Senate bill that would fix the longstanding problem of college coaches bailing on their teams while the season is still going.

The lightning-rod LSU coach took his turn Thursday at SEC Media Days, where he ate up more than 16 of his 25 minutes behind the mic delivering an opening statement that included the revelation that he's given up social media.

That left time for four questions, the last of which was whether he felt he got a bad rap for his much-discussed and widely criticized move from Mississippi to LSU at the end of last season. That transaction turned him into a pariah in some places and, in Washington at least, the namesake for the part of the Protect College Sports Act that would forbid in-season coaching moves from school to school.

Without getting into what people thought of him, he said he did think the rule could be helpful.

“I guess (so), in that I hope that some way for future coaches, they’re not put in that situation,” Kiffin said. “In the NFL, you’re never put in that situation because of the calendar and because of the rules of movement within seasons. I do hope for future people, that’s fixed so that you’re not in that same predicament.”

Kiffin gives mea culpa for diversity statement in Vanity Fair story

There were other moments of introspection during the 51-year-old coach’s time with media in the most-anticipated news conference over four days of collecting preview material for a season that starts Sept. 3.

Kiffin, clearly prepared for the question, repeated earlier mea culpas when he conceded the headline-grabbing snippet from a Vanity Fair interview earlier this year — in which he said recruiting players to Oxford was more difficult than to Baton Rouge because there was a more diverse and less segregated feeling at LSU — was a mistake.

"I made a challenging decision and change," Kiffin explained. “I think as I look back to that, I thought I could find a way for everybody to understand. Now as I look back later on, that was never going to happen.”

While Kiffin's replacement at Ole Miss, Pete Golding, lit up Media Days a day earlier, calling his old boss “the ex” who never really goes away, Kiffin was interesting in a different, potentially more-scripted way.

In reflecting on the Vanity Fair interview, he noted how life is short and that he grew up with the notion that his dad and wrestler Hulk Hogan were the only people who would never die. Monte Kiffin, the football lifer coach whose reputation was cemented during his dozen years coaching defense in Tampa for the Buccaneers, died two summers ago. Hogan passed away a year ago Friday.

“It just made me reflect on, I can’t be so concerned about little things and what people say,” Kiffin said. “You've got to make decisions; you've got to go with them. You make really good decisions, and you make poor decisions. That was a poor usage of a term that I believe, just like many coaches that have been there before, was factual. But over the course of a long interview, was bad timing and bad usage of the word."

A social media cleanse leads to a new perspective

Kiffin also spent time discussing about how his son, Knox, urged him to get off social media, which he did in May, only to see a whole new world open up.

“Knox pushing me to do that, challenging me, allowed me to help other players, friends, coaches to say, 'Man, you should try this sometime, because once you remove something from your life, you start to realize how many other people are addicted to it or need it,'” Kiffin said.

Turns out, now is a great time for the coach to have quit social media.

Kiffin's flirtation with LSU and eventual decision to leave Ole Miss to sign a seven-year, $91 million contract with its rival upended the end of last regular season. The disruption included debates about Mississippi's prospects in the College Football Playoffs and whether the Rebels would be viewed, or seeded, differently coming into the postseason without their head coach.

The Kiffin move also picked at a decades-old scab that practically defines college sports: Why is it OK for coaches to do whatever they want and make millions while the players have guardrails around their every move?

Paying players helped resolve some, but not all, of that. Players also got something of a break with a recent change that gives those participating in the playoff a few extra days to decide to stay or go into the transfer portal.

Kiffin insisted that in the wake of his social-media cleanse, he's been so disconnected from the news of the day, or the moment, that he really wasn't aware of the rule named after him in Congress until being asked about it in the news conference.

He said it's good to see some changes that benefit players.

“Hopefully," he said, “in some way, they fix it for coaches, too.”

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The 214-208 vote requiring congressional approval for the war came just before the Senate narrowly rejected a similar resolution, 47-49. Though the votes forced by Democrats are largely symbolic, they are meant as a signal to the Republican president that his support on Capitol Hill is chipping away as the war drags on and lawmakers in both parties have questioned his administration’s endgame.

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

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

Joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes launched the war in late February. A tenuous ceasefire deal was reached in April, but Trump declared the ceasefire was “over” earlier this month.

Trump has insisted that continued U.S. attacks against Iran do not mean a return to war or long-term action. After the first House vote to halt the war in early June, he posted on social media that it was “unpatriotic” and “meaningless.”

A statement of administration policy issued by the White House on Thursday noted that the resolutions don't have the force of law and encouraged lawmakers to vote against them.

“The President has the Constitutional authority to defend the United States and our citizens from the danger posed by the Iranian regime,” the policy statement said. “This requires the ability to act decisively to ensure it never obtains a nuclear weapon.”

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

“We are in this new escalatory phase where Americans have been killed, and Americans are experiencing the rising costs — I think it’s important that people be held accountable,” said Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat who led the Senate effort on Thursday. “And this is a very unpopular war.”

Most Republicans vote to cede congressional powers

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

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

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

The service members who died made the ultimate sacrifice for “an illegal unauthorized war that the American people don’t want,” Meeks said.

Democrats said they would continue to force Republicans to vote on the issue.

“If Donald Trump won’t listen to the people and end this war then Congress must,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

Trump is watching Iran votes closely

Republicans on both sides of the Capitol know that voting against the war can have a political cost, even as many of them have privately questioned the Trump administration’s handling of the conflict.

In his post after the June House vote, Trump called the four Republicans who voted with Democrats “GRANDSTANDERS!” and said they should be “ashamed of themselves.”

“They would rather have our Country fail than give me another, of many, victories,” he said.

When the Senate passed a war powers resolution on Iran for the first time in June, Trump called the four Republicans who voted for it “losers" and then reprimanded them at a Senate GOP luncheon that he attended the next day.

Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of the Republicans who had voted with Democrats, said afterward that he had clashed with Trump over the issue. He said he told Trump directly that he needed to give more details to the public about the conflict.

“This was supposed to last four weeks. It’s lasted four months,” said Cassidy, who had just lost reelection in a primary after Trump endorsed one of his opponents. “Our original objectives have not been achieved.”

Trump argued back, Cassidy later told reporters, and he told the president that he wouldn’t change his vote until he got a briefing. The White House later relented, giving Cassidy a one-on-one meeting, and the Louisiana Republican changed his vote in a late-night do-over vote before the Senate left for a two-week recess.

Cassidy voted against the resolution again on Thursday.

Polling finds Americans disapprove of the war

Most Americans disapprove of the way Trump is handling the situation with Iran, according to recent polling. A Washington Post/Ipsos poll conducted in July found that few Americans think the war in Iran has been worth fighting, and most aren’t confident that the U.S. military action in Iran and negotiations to end the war will prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Only about two-thirds of Republicans approve of Trump’s handling of the situation in Iran, according to the poll. Most Republicans, about 6 in 10, think the war has been worth fighting and are confident that the military action and ensuing negotiations will prevent Iran from development nuclear weapons, but a sizable share — about one-third — are unconvinced.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said that if Congress can't force Trump to seek congressional authorization then lawmakers should block war funding. The House on Wednesday adopted a Republican-only $95 billion budget proposal, including money for the Iran war, but its future is uncertain in the Senate.

“He wants to break the law, fine, let him break the law, but we control the appropriations process, and that’s what we need to use,” Kaine said.

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Associated Press writers Steven Sloan and Amelia Thomson DeVeaux contributed to this report.

It hopes to announce the new Italy coach within the week, with the Azzurri still reeling after failing for a third straight time to qualify for the World Cup.

Former Italy and AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini was named as the federation’s new technical director at the start of the month and was present at a meeting with the Serie A clubs on Thursday, along with new FIGC president Giovanni Malagò and special advisor Leonardo.

“Honestly, today we can’t give news about what’s happening. You’ve identified one of our targets,” Maldini said when asked about Guardiola in a news conference after the meeting.

“We can’t hide that we also talked with Carlo Ancelotti before talking with Pep. Honestly, it seemed right to start with the best in the world, to see their general availability.”

Guardiola left Man City at the end of last season, bringing to a close a trophy-laden, 10-year spell in which he established City as a force in Europe and changed the face of English soccer.

The 55-year-old Guardiola has won 35 major titles across his coaching career including at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Maldini and Leonardo spent three days in Barcelona recently to speak with Guardiola about taking the Italy job.

“The best thing would be to announce the new coach this week, but even more to wait for the person we really want,” Maldini said. “So there’s urgency, but not so much inside us.”

Ancelotti signed a contract extension with Brazil in May through to the 2030 World Cup. But the five-time world champion just had one of its worst ever performances on soccer’s biggest stage as it was eliminated in the round of 16 after a 2-1 loss to Norway.

The 67-year-old Ancelotti has won league titles in Italy, England, France, Spain and Germany. He is also the only coach to have won the Champions League five times.

Four-time champion Italy missed out on a third straight World Cup after a playoff loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March, prompting the resignations of FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and coach Gennaro Gattuso.

Gattuso had taken over from the fired Luciano Spalletti only the previous June with the squad already flailing following a defeat at Norway in its opening qualifier.

Former Italy coaches Roberto Mancini — who led the Azzurri to the European Championship in 2021 — and Antonio Conte are also among the favorites to take charge of the national team. Andrea Pirlo, who helped Italy to the World Cup in 2006 as a player, is also reportedly in contention.

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

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It happened Wednesday night in the area of the Mobile gas station located at 16961 Miramar Pkwy.

“So what we do know is that there was an altercation with two men, and one was stabbed,” Miramar police spokeswoman Janice McIntosh said.

According to police, a man suffered serious injuries and was taken by helicopter to a nearby hospital.

That man was later pronounced deceased by doctors, police said.

Authorities said the subject in the stabbing took off, leading to police establishing a perimeter in the area while they searched for him.

Officers closed off Miramar Parkway in both directions between 164th Avenue and 172nd Avenue while processing the scene.

“The police know who they are looking for, but they are still asking the public, if they see or hear anything suspicious to report it immediately, because he is still at large,“ McIntosh said.

Police have not released the suspect’s identity.

Anyone with further information is asked to call the Miramar Police Department or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.

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Winds, even in gusts, mostly stayed below the tropical storm threshold (39 mph) over southern Louisiana as Bertha passed over and south of the state on Wednesday into early Thursday. The maximum wind gust reported at New Orleans International Airport was 39 mph at around 5 PM local time Wednesday as the center of Bertha slid just south of the city. A coastal station at the Mississippi River delta in lower Plaquemines Parish, where the muddy Mississippi splinters into the open Gulf, reported winds gusting to 40 mph shortly before 6 PM local time Wednesday.

But for the most part, aside from churned up seas and minor coastal flooding in low-lying spots at the immediate coast, Bertha caused little to no disruption as it breezed its way through southern Louisiana. The misty, intermittent rainfall near and north of Bertha’s center stayed light, and the north-central Gulf Coast saw rainfall totals of generally less than an inch over the past 24 to 36 hours.

What’s next for Bertha on its way to Texas

Hurricane hunters flying Bertha early Thursday found its center hugging the southwestern Louisiana coastline about 60 miles southeast of Lake Charles.

Bertha’s fragile center jumped slightly south overnight but remained well north of the large thunderstorm complex and heaviest rains closing in on the central Texas coast Thursday morning.

The displacement of weather to the south of Bertha’s center indicates persistent wind shear, which, as we discussed in Wednesday’s newsletter, will ride shotgun with Bertha as it approaches the upper Texas coast today. The upshot is Bertha will remain a low-grade tropical storm as it makes a second landfall near or south of Galveston by Thursday evening.

The primary threat remaining is localized heavy rainfall for South Texas (south of Bertha’s center), generally from just north of Corpus Christi southward into the lower Rio Grande Valley.

For the most part, models suggest only modest rainfall in the 1-to-3-inch range, which will limit the flash flood threat. For now, the National Weather Service has only a low risk (threat level 1 of 4) of localized flash flooding for areas of South Texas today.

Bertha will quickly disintegrate later today and on Friday as it moves farther inland over Texas.

Settling down into early August

The Atlantic basin should be on a post-Bertha hiatus into at least the first week of August, with no new development expected for the foreseeable future.

Los vientos, incluso en ráfagas, se mantuvieron mayormente por debajo del umbral de tormenta tropical (63 km/h) sobre el sur de Luisiana mientras Bertha pasaba por encima y al sur del estado entre el miércoles y la madrugada del jueves. La ráfaga máxima de viento registrada en el Aeropuerto Internacional de Nueva Orleans fue de 63 km/h alrededor de las 5 p. m. hora local del miércoles, cuando el centro de Bertha se desplazó justo al sur de la ciudad. Una estación costera en el delta del río Misisipi, en la parte baja de la parroquia de Plaquemines, donde el turbio Misisipi se ramifica en el Golfo de México, reportó vientos con ráfagas de hasta 64 km/h poco antes de las 6 p. m. hora local del miércoles.

Pero, en general, aparte del oleaje y las inundaciones costeras menores en zonas bajas cercanas a la costa, Bertha causó pocas o ninguna perturbación a su paso por el sur de Luisiana. Las lluvias intermitentes y con niebla cerca y al norte del centro de Bertha fueron ligeras, y en la costa centro-norte del Golfo se registraron precipitaciones generalmente inferiores a una pulgada en las últimas 24 a 36 horas.

¿Qué le depara el futuro a Bertha en su camino a Texas?

Los cazadores de huracanes que sobrevolaban Bertha a primera hora del jueves encontraron su centro bordeando la costa suroeste de Luisiana, a unos 96 kilómetros al sureste de Lake Charles.

El frágil centro de Bertha se desplazó ligeramente hacia el sur durante la noche, pero se mantuvo bastante al norte del gran complejo de tormentas eléctricas y de las lluvias más intensas que se acercaban a la costa central de Texas el jueves por la mañana.

El desplazamiento de las condiciones meteorológicas al sur del centro de Bertha indica una cizalladura del viento persistente, que, como comentamos en el boletín del miércoles, acompañará a Bertha a medida que se acerque hoy a la costa norte de Texas. En consecuencia, Bertha seguirá siendo una tormenta tropical de baja intensidad cuando toque tierra por segunda vez cerca o al sur de Galveston el jueves por la noche.

La principal amenaza que persiste son las fuertes lluvias localizadas en el sur de Texas (al sur del centro de Bertha), generalmente desde el norte de Corpus Christi hacia el sur, en el valle inferior del Río Grande.

En general, los modelos predicen precipitaciones moderadas, de entre 2,5 y 7,5 cm, lo que limitará el riesgo de inundaciones repentinas. Por el momento, el Servicio Meteorológico Nacional ha clasificado el riesgo de inundaciones repentinas localizadas en algunas zonas del sur de Texas como bajo (nivel de amenaza 1 de 4).

Bertha se disipará rápidamente hoy mismo y el viernes a medida que se adentre en el interior de Texas.

Acomodándonos a principios de agosto

Se prevé que la cuenca del Atlántico permanezca en un periodo de calma tras el paso del huracán Bertha al menos hasta la primera semana de agosto, sin que se esperen nuevos acontecimientos en un futuro próximo.

The deal to create the nation's first transcontinental railroad has been divisive within the industry because it would concentrate so much market power in the hands of one company that would control more than 40% of all rail traffic and reduce the number of major freight railroads in the United States down to five. BNSF, CPKC and CSX railroads all strongly oppose the merger, but now Canadian National said it will support it after winning concessions from Union Pacific.

The U.S. Surface Transportation Board is just beginning to review the proposed $85 billion merger, but it has demanded more information from the railroads by the end of the month before it will move forward. Shippers have also lined up on both sides of the deal with some excited about the promises of faster cross-country deliveries while other companies mainly in the chemical and agriculture industries worry about the possibility of higher rates and service problems.

UP CEO Jim Vena said he believes these agreements with Canadian National will address many of the competitive concerns with the merger because CN will gain permission to be able to serve any customers that will see significantly reduced shipping options after the merger. And CN will take over Norfolk Southern's ownership of smaller railroads in St. Louis and Kansas City to ensure the merged railroad will never control the majority of those operations.

“This is truly more compelling today than we ever looked at it before,” Vena said Thursday as he discussed Union Pacific's second-quarter earnings. “We think we have a strong case.”

Both CN and UP will gain access to each other's tracks

Canadian National will also gain access to tracks between St. Louis and Kansas City where there was the most overlap between UP and NS, and CN will be able to use a key rail yard in Kansas City that will help that railroad compete better for business to and from Mexico. Union Pacific will get the ability to move more traffic around the congested tracks in Chicago.

“As the rail industry considers significant structural change, it is essential that customers continue to benefit from meaningful competition and choice,” CN President and CEO Tracy Robinson said.

Critics say the merger will hurt rail competition

But BNSF spokesperson Zak Andersen said these agreements show what can already be accomplished through cooperative agreements between railroads without all the disruptions of a merger that would leave many customers with fewer competitive shipping options.

"UP is required to demonstrate that the benefits it claims can only be achieved through a merger. Its own agreement with CN shows the opposite. The benefits UP highlights can be pursued today without a merger, and significant portions of the arrangement are not even contingent on merger approval,” Andersen said.

Rail shipping demand is up

Norfolk Southern CEO Mark George said that demand for rail shipping is up right now across much of the economy. That started after the Iran war began but became more widespread through the spring. But he said that if gas prices remain high long enough, it could hurt the consumer and the growth in shipping volume that both NS and UP reported Thursday could reverse.

The Surface Transportation Board will review the merger under a tough new standard it adopted in 2001 after a series of disastrous rail mergers in the 1990s that led to shipment delays of weeks or even months. These untested rules require any merger of the six largest railroads to be in the public interest and show that it will enhance competition. When the Surface Transportation Board approved the first major rail merger in more than two decades three years ago, it used a less stringent standard allowing Canadian Pacific’s $31 billion acquisition of Kansas City Southern.

Union Pacific CEO predicts approval

Vena remains optimistic the deal will get approved.

“The merger is going to close. It’s just too compelling for the country, but it would be a mistake for this deal not to close,” Vena said.

But critics have said the merger seems designed more to benefit Wall Street investors than the companies that rely on the railroads to ship their products and deliver the raw materials they need.

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According to deputies, Lissette Morazan Peralta, 52, and Bacilia Peralta Escobar, 85, were recovered in good health and have been reunited with their family.

Deputies said prior to being found, they had last been seen at about noon Tuesday, leaving a place in the 1300 block of Northwest 132^nd Street.

Deputies said neither woman had tried to contact relatives and they might have been in need of services. Their relation to each other was not released by authorities.

Further details surrounding the circumstances leading up to the two’s disappearance were not released by detectives.

It’s a question that has plagued the girl’s family and Fort Lauderdale police for nine years, since she disappeared when she was 15 years old.

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Now, detectives have turned to a psychic for help.

They pay her $1,500 dollars for a 90-day consultancy period and they may use her for other cases.

Many might call it hocus pocus and unconventional, but the family says they are desperate.

“Of course it’s unusual, but you know we are open to anything,” said Kristen Milhorn, Reeder’s aunt.

Milhorn believes someone in Fort Lauderdale knows what happened to the teen.

In the early morning hours of May 20, 2017, Reeder went for a walk and was never seen again.

Police found surveillance video of her walking down Davie Boulevard, and the next morning members family found clues in her bedroom indicating she had plans to come home, including $300 in cash and a candle burning.

“She was not a runaway,” said Milhorn.

Local 10 News spoke to Reeder’s parents one week after her disappearance. They had concerns she may have been trafficked.

Detectives discovered the last ping on her phone was at an apartment complex off Southwest 11th Court in Fort Lauderdale.

“Whatever happened there, we don’t know, that was the last ping on her phone,” said Milhorn.

Some of her last communications were to a man named Leonard Jennings, a convicted felon who lived in the complex.

Local 10 News’ Bridgette Matter followed up with Fort Lauderdale police regarding Jennings, and a spokesperson said, “We do consider Leonard Jennings a person of interest and question his involvement in Sophie’s disappearance.”

Jennings was interviewed after Reeder vanished, but he has never been arrested.

“He denied, of course, ever knowing her, but reality is they were texting each other, so he knew her,” said Milhorn.

Reeder’s family is still holding onto hope there will be a break in the case.

Authorities are offering a $25,000 reward for any information leading to Reeder.

FLPD says they are very much working the case and the investigation is active.

The police chief said the officer who fired the fatal shots Wednesday had been injured by the knife, and that another officer was hurt. None of the four officers who were detaining the man wore body cameras, but passersby recorded the confrontation on video, and accused the officers of overreacting.

A crowd soon converged on the intersection, marching and bringing signs and flowers to a candlelight vigil near the spot where blood spilled from the man. Some chanted “Arrest the cops!” and marched to the state Capitol, where they took the stage at a summer concert series, demanding the name of the officer and that he be held accountable. The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra canceled the show.

Some remained through the night at the shooting scene as police closed the surrounding blocks to traffic.

“I don't plan to leave anytime soon because it's important to hold this space,” said Ben Weger, pastor of Stoughton United Methodist Church, who planted his chair near where someone wrote “Sacred Ground” in chalk amid the flowers. Other messages included, “We saw the videos” and “no fascist police.”

“His life mattered,” the governor said in an online post. “We will continue to keep the loved ones and family of the individual who was killed in our hearts and prayers.”

Police urge people to remain calm as they release few details

“I want to take a moment to honestly and sincerely offer my heartfelt sympathies to his family for this loss,” Madison Police Chief John Patterson said at a news conference Wednesday. He said the man killed was in his 30s. Police didn’t release his name.

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

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

Patterson said police were responding to calls that someone was attempting to enter parked vehicles, and the suspect fled on a bike before the officers surrounded him. He either fell off his bike or was taken off his bike, and one of the four officers deployed a taser but failed to control him, Patterson said.

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

A neighborhood now accustomed to police shootings

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

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

“It’s really unbearable,” said Sabrina Thompson, who was crying at the impromptu memorial. “You can’t describe it.”

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

The chief acknowledged that the neighborhood “has experienced a lot of trauma” as he opened his news conference.

"I ask that everyone in our community please keep this particular neighborhood and the historical trauma, including today, in mind, and please take a moment to reflect and offer some support to one another,” the chief said.

Questions about race swiftly emerge

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

But Black advocacy groups in Madison quickly spoke out against the crime and said they believe the man was Black.

“Another Black man is dead on a Madison street, and our community watched him die before we even knew his name,” said Brandi Grayson, the head of the Madison-based Black community advocacy group Urban Triage. “That is the cruelty of state violence.”

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

The shooting quickly infused itself into the race for governor, with voting already under way in the Aug. 11 primary.

“I am horrified and devastated,” posted Francesca Hong, a Democrat running for governor who showed up at the scene just a few blocks from her campaign office.

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

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

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This story has been updated to correct a surname: it's Sabrina Thompson, not Thompsen.

Es una pregunta que ha atormentado a la familia de la joven y a la policía de Fort Lauderdale durante nueve años, desde que desapareció cuando tenía 15 años.

Ahora, los detectives recurrieron a una vidente en busca de ayuda.

Le pagan $1,500 USD por un período de consultoría de 90 días y podrían utilizar sus servicios en otros casos.

Muchos podrían considerar esta decisión como algo poco convencional, pero la familia asegura que está desesperada.

“Por supuesto que es algo inusual, pero estamos abiertos a cualquier cosa”, dijo Kristen Milhorn, tía de Reeder.

Milhorn cree que alguien en Fort Lauderdale sabe qué ocurrió con la adolescente.

En las primeras horas de la mañana del 20 de mayo de 2017, Reeder salió a caminar y nunca volvió a ser vista.

La policía encontró un video de vigilancia en el que se le observa caminando por Davie Boulevard, y a la mañana siguiente, familiares encontraron indicios en su habitación que indicaban que tenía planes de regresar a casa, incluidos $300 USD en efectivo y una vela encendida.

“Ella no se había escapado de casa”, dijo Milhorn.

Local 10 News habló con los padres de Reeder una semana después de su desaparición. Ellos expresaron su preocupación de que pudiera haber sido víctima de trata de personas.

Los detectives descubrieron que la última señal de su teléfono fue registrada en un complejo de apartamentos ubicado en Southwest 11th Court, en Fort Lauderdale.

“Lo que haya ocurrido allí, no lo sabemos. Esa fue la última señal de su teléfono”, dijo Milhorn.

Algunas de sus últimas comunicaciones fueron con un hombre llamado Leonard Jennings, un delincuente convicto que vivía en ese complejo.

Bridgette Matter, de Local 10 News, consultó a la policía de Fort Lauderdale sobre Jennings, y un portavoz respondió: “Consideramos a Leonard Jennings una persona de interés e investigamos su posible participación en la desaparición de Sophie”.

Jennings fue interrogado después de que Reeder desapareció, pero nunca ha sido arrestado.

“Él negó, por supuesto, haberla conocido, pero la realidad es que intercambiaban mensajes de texto, así que sí la conocía”, dijo Milhorn.

La familia de Reeder mantiene la esperanza de que haya un avance en el caso.

Las autoridades ofrecen una recompensa de $25,000 USD por cualquier información que conduzca al paradero de Reeder.

El Departamento de Policía de Fort Lauderdale informó que continúa trabajando activamente en el caso y que la investigación sigue en curso.

Starting this weekend, higher moisture moving in will give us a big return to the rainy season after a dry pause recently. Numerous thunderstorms will develop each afternoon into next week with much needed rainfall. Localized flooding will be possible in any slow moving downpours.

Ocurrió la noche del miércoles en el área de la gasolinera Mobil ubicada en 16961 Miramar Parkway.

“Lo que sabemos es que hubo un altercado entre dos hombres y uno de ellos fue apuñalado”, dijo Janice McIntosh, portavoz de la policía de Miramar.

Según la policía, un hombre sufrió heridas graves y fue trasladado en helicóptero a un hospital cercano.

Las autoridades informaron que el sospechoso del apuñalamiento huyó, lo que llevó a la policía a establecer un perímetro en el área mientras lo buscaban.

Los agentes cerraron Miramar Parkway en ambas direcciones entre la avenida 164 y la avenida 172 mientras procesaban la escena.

“La policía sabe a quién está buscando, pero aún pide al público que, si ve o escucha algo sospechoso, lo reporte de inmediato, porque el sospechoso sigue prófugo”, dijo McIntosh.

La policía no ha divulgado la identidad del sospechoso.

Cualquier persona con información adicional debe comunicarse con el Departamento de Policía de Miramar o con Broward Crime Stoppers al 954-493-8477.

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A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. extended the deadline for TPS to be revoked for Haitians in the U.S. until Monday, July 27, according to the Sun Sentinel.

The court denied a request from the Trump administration that would have ended TPS on Friday.

It is the second extension in as many weeks.

TPS was initially set to expire for Haitians living in the U.S. on July 10. That day, the Department of Homeland Security released a memo stating TPS would be extended to July 24.

At the time, DHS said the move was the result of active litigation.

The DHS claims Haiti is now safe enough to return to, while the United Nations and the U.S. State Department warn of frequent gang violence and kidnappings there.

Many South Florida Haitians work in hospitality and healthcare, and advocates have said that the loss of TPS will hit those industries hard, as they’re already dealing with staffing shortages.

Thamara Labrousse, with Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center in North Miami, told Local 10 that many Haitian TPS holders are facing a difficult choice and it’s even harder for parents with children.

“If you are a TPS holder with an American born child, you may have to consider if you are forced to go back to Haiti, not taking your child with you because it’s not safe and a lot of parents are struggling with that,” she said.

Labrousse said that if Haitians are ultimately forced to return, many won’t have homes or even basic services to return to.

“We don’t believe that there are enough even basic services in place to be able to accommodate that many people,” she said.

Like many other Haitians, one young father told Local 10 that his family home in Haiti has been destroyed and overtaken by gangs.

So he plans to keep working, cleaning restaurants in Miami until he has to go.

He says even if he loses his legal status, he doesn’t plan to return to Haiti.

Un tribunal federal de apelaciones en Washington, D.C., extendió hasta el lunes 27 de julio el plazo para revocar el TPS de los haitianos en Estados Unidos, según el Sun Sentinel.

El tribunal rechazó una solicitud de la administración del presidente Trump que habría puesto fin al TPS el viernes.

Es la segunda extensión en el mismo número de semanas.

Inicialmente, el TPS para los haitianos que viven en Estados Unidos estaba programado para vencer el 10 de julio. Ese día, el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) emitió un memorando en el que informó que el TPS se extendería hasta el 24 de julio.

En ese momento, el DHS indicó que la medida era resultado de un litigio en curso.

El DHS sostiene que Haití ahora es lo suficientemente seguro para que sus ciudadanos regresen, mientras que las Naciones Unidas y el Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos advierten sobre la frecuente violencia de pandillas y los secuestros en ese país.

Muchos haitianos del sur de Florida trabajan en los sectores de hotelería y salud, y defensores de la comunidad han señalado que la pérdida del TPS afectará gravemente a esas industrias, que ya enfrentan escasez de personal.

Thamara Labrousse, de Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center, en North Miami, dijo a Local 10 que muchos beneficiarios haitianos del TPS enfrentan una decisión difícil, y que la situación es aún más complicada para los padres con hijos.

“Si usted es beneficiario del TPS y tiene un hijo nacido en Estados Unidos, podría tener que considerar que, si lo obligan a regresar a Haití, no podrá llevarse a su hijo porque no es seguro, y muchos padres están lidiando con esa situación”, dijo.

Labrousse afirmó que, si finalmente los haitianos son obligados a regresar, muchos no tendrán viviendas ni siquiera servicios básicos a los cuales volver.

“No creemos que existan suficientes servicios básicos para poder atender a tantas personas”, dijo.

Como muchos otros haitianos, un joven padre dijo a Local 10 que la vivienda de su familia en Haití fue destruida y tomada por pandillas.

Por ello, planea seguir trabajando, limpiando restaurantes en Miami, hasta que tenga que irse.

Asegura que, incluso si pierde su estatus legal, no tiene planes de regresar a Haití.

Un video tomado en la escena muestra múltiples unidades de la policía de Margate alineadas a lo largo de Atlantic Boulevard mientras los detectives investigaban lo ocurrido.

Una parte de la vía permaneció cerrada durante varias horas mientras los agentes recopilaban evidencia y documentaban lo sucedido.

Otro video muestra al médico forense retirando el cuerpo de la víctima de la escena antes de que la vía fuera reabierta.

“Mi corazón está con él. Pero, como dije, para resumir, es una carretera muy transitada”, dijo un hombre que frecuenta el área.

La policía no divulgó de inmediato más detalles sobre el choque.

Según la Policía de Margate, el choque ocurrió en la cuadra 5400 de West Atlantic Boulevard.

La Policía informó que el sospechoso chocó su vehículo y luego huyó de la escena.

Según las autoridades, el sospechoso fue capturado poco tiempo después y se descubrió que tenía órdenes de arresto activas por cargos relacionados con narcóticos.

La identidad del sospechoso no fue divulgada de inmediato y no está claro si el choque involucró únicamente el vehículo del sospechoso.

El vehículo, un sedán plateado, ya fue remolcado de la escena.

Los registros de la cárcel muestran que Leonardo Daniel Rivas, de 42 años, fue arrestado el martes por un cargo de abuso infantil sin causar lesiones corporales graves.

Agentes de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade informaron que el niño asistía a su sesión diaria de terapia ocupacional en Florida Kids Therapy Medley, ubicada en el 13335 de Southwest 124th Street, el jueves, cuando Rivas, quien era su terapeuta ocupacional, “apretó las mejillas de la víctima” y le introdujo repetidamente en la boca un dispositivo de terapia del habla conocido como Whisper Phone, “cubriéndole la boca en varias ocasiones”.

Un informe de arresto indica que el niño se alteró, tras lo cual Rivas “comenzó a sujetar a la víctima con fuerza contra la silla” y “empujó firmemente hacia abajo las piernas de la víctima”.

Los investigadores informaron que el niño sufrió “numerosas abrasiones” en ambos omóplatos y en el pecho. Según el informe, fue atendido por sus lesiones en el Hospital de Niños Nicklaus.

Posteriormente, las autoridades arrestaron a Rivas, quien dijo a los investigadores que no quería hablar con ellos sin la presencia de un abogado, señala el informe.

Hasta la mañana del miércoles, Rivas permanecía detenido en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight, donde su fianza figuraba como “pendiente de fijarse”.

Local 10 solicitó una declaración a la clínica tras el arresto de Rivas.

Aunque la escena del choque ya fue despejada, el miércoles aún eran visibles los daños en el lugar donde, según los investigadores, el vehículo impactó la banca de la parada de autobús antes de chocar contra varios vehículos y detenerse.

Los investigadores también confirmaron que la conductora había chocado por alcance contra otro vehículo momentos antes del choque mortal.

Las autoridades divulgaron las llamadas al 911 realizadas minutos después de la colisión.

“Estoy en Federal, justo al norte de McNab Road, y hubo un accidente de tránsito realmente grave”, dijo una persona que llamó.

Otra persona describió lo ocurrido tras el choque.

“Acabo de ver un accidente realmente grave. Un carro se volcó. Ahora está sobre sus ruedas, pero se volcó”, dijo otra persona.

Según los investigadores, el BMW blanco chocó contra dos postes de concreto para alumbrado, un árbol, varios vehículos desocupados y arrancó de su base una banca de parada de autobús con techo.

Una persona que llamó al 911 expresó incertidumbre sobre las víctimas.

“No sé si el hombre sigue dentro del carro, si salió expulsado o si era alguien a quien atropelló en la maldita parada de autobús”, dijo.

Los agentes de la Oficina del Sheriff de Broward identificaron el miércoles a la conductora como Jo Ann Llera, de 47 años. Indicaron que ella iba al volante al momento del choque y que se espera que sobreviva.

Vecinos dijeron estar conmocionados al enterarse de que Llera estuvo involucrada en el choque mortal.

Los investigadores dijeron que la secuencia del choque comenzó poco antes de la 1:00 p.m. en la cuadra 500 de South Federal Highway, donde presuntamente Llera chocó por alcance a un Honda Accord. Las autoridades dijeron que luego rodeó ese vehículo y continuó aproximadamente cuatro cuadras antes de chocar.

Testigos describieron el sonido del impacto como una explosión.

“Fue como si explotara dinamita. Supimos de inmediato que algo andaba mal”, dijo un testigo. “Es horrible. Nunca había visto tantos daños en un solo carro. Uno siente mucho por la familia.”

Mientras Llera se recupera de sus heridas en el hospital, los testigos siguen preguntándose qué provocó la cadena de choques que terminó con la muerte de un hombre que esperaba en la parada de autobús.

La Oficina del Sheriff de Broward no ha divulgado la identidad de la víctima.

Las autoridades no han anunciado si Llera enfrentará cargos.

Fabian Izaguirre Cepero, de 26 años, está acusado de merodear fuera de la habitación de una niña de 12 años y de masturbarse frente a una casa en Cutler Bay la noche del lunes. Agentes de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade lo detuvieron el martes.

Según los agentes, todo comenzó alrededor de las 3 de la madrugada, cuando la niña corrió hacia su padre tras oír que llamaban a la ventana.

El padre de la niña vio entonces a Izaguirre Cepero exhibiéndose y masturbándose fuera de la ventana de la menor, según consta en el informe policial. Los detectives indicaron que Cepero “regresó a la residencia de la víctima en cinco ocasiones distintas”.

En febrero de 2025, la policía de Miami Beach lo acusó de entrar en la tienda Target ubicada en el número 1045 de la Quinta Calle en South Beach y colocar un teléfono en el suelo de un probador para observar a una mujer mientras se probaba trajes de baño.

En el momento de su última detención, los agentes señalaron que se encontraba en libertad bajo fianza por 17 cargos relacionados con la posesión de material de abuso sexual infantil.

Según un informe del Departamento de Policía de Miami Beach, los investigadores que revisaban su teléfono en busca de pruebas relacionadas con el caso de Target se toparon con más de una docena de imágenes y vídeos de niñas de tan solo “2 a 4 años” que estaban siendo abusadas sexualmente.

En cuanto a su último caso, Izaguirre Cepero debía comparecer ante un juez el miércoles por la mañana acusado de voyeurismo y exhibicionismo; la audiencia se programó posteriormente para la tarde del miércoles.

For more than five decades, Florida has required independent licensed motor vehicle dealers to carry a $25,000 surety bond intended to protect consumers when a dealership fails to meet its legal obligations.

The requirement is contained in Florida Statute 320.27(10), which requires licensed motor vehicle dealers to maintain the bond as a condition of doing business. The bond is designed to compensate consumers who suffer financial losses because of certain dealer violations, including failing to properly transfer ownership of a vehicle.

But while the cost of buying a car has increased dramatically since the law was enacted, the required bond amount has not.

Today, a South Florida woman’s experience and court records involving multiple consumers competing for the same dealer bond are raising new questions about whether the law still provides meaningful protection.

Pamela Wright says she has spent nearly two years looking at a car she cannot legally drive.

The 74-year-old retired realtor purchased a used Mazda in June 2024 for just under $6,000. She bought it for her grandson after he graduated from high school and needed transportation to get to work.

The car remains parked in her driveway.

Not because it doesn’t run.

Because Wright says she never received the title.

“I cannot register the car. I cannot insure the car. I cannot drive the car,” Wright told Local 10 News. “I have no use for it more than it’s sitting in my driveway.”

Wright alleges Superior Car Sales repeatedly promised the paperwork would be corrected but never delivered the title before the dealership ultimately closed.

“I’m just like, ‘How can this happen?’” she said.

According to court records reviewed by Local 10, Wright is not alone.

A lawsuit filed by Hudson Insurance Company shows 11 consumers are asserting competing claims against the same $25,000 dealer bond issued for Superior Car Sales. Hudson filed the case, asking a judge to determine how the limited bond proceeds should be distributed among the competing claimants.

If the court were to divide the bond equally among all 11 claimants, each person would receive approximately $2,270, an amount far below what several consumers claim they lost.

Josh Feygin, a South Florida attorney whose practice includes representing consumers in disputes with automobile dealerships, says the law no longer reflects today’s marketplace.

“It’s definitely outdated at this point,” Feygin said. “When the average cost of a vehicle is much more than $25,000, it doesn’t make sense that there’s only a $25,000 pot to go after.”

Asked whether the current bond adequately protects consumers, Feygin offered a blunt assessment.

“No. More often than not, absolutely not,” he said.

Feygin said he has represented numerous consumers who obtained judgments against dealerships only to discover there was little or no money remaining in the dealer’s bond.

“I’ve had many times where clients have gotten judgments against car dealerships and went to apply against the bond, and there’s no more funds left in the bond,” Feygin said. “So yes, it happens quite often.”

Local 10 reviewed the legislative history of Florida Statute 320.27 and found the $25,000 bond requirement dates back to the 1970 legislative session.

Richard Nixon was president, gasoline averaged about 36 cents per gallon, and the average cost of a new vehicle was only a fraction of what consumers pay today.

Yet despite decades of inflation and rising vehicle prices, the amount of financial protection required by state law has remained exactly the same for 56 years.

Only the Florida Legislature has the authority to change the law.

To find out whether lawmakers believe the current bond still adequately protects consumers, Local 10 contacted legislators from both political parties representing South Florida.

Emails seeking comment were sent to Representatives Christine Hunschofsky, Fabian Basabe, Daryl Campbell, Kevin Chambliss, Chip LaMarca, Daniel Perez, Juan Carlos Porras, Mike Redondo, Felicia Simone Robinson and Marie Paule Woodson.

Local 10 also contacted Senators Brian Avila, Alexis Calatayud, Ileana Garcia, Tina Polsky, Jason Pizzo and Barbara Sharief.

Each was asked essentially the same question: Does Florida’s $25,000 dealer bond still provide adequate protection for consumers, or should lawmakers revisit the law?

Only two legislators responded.

State Rep. Dan Daley told Local 10 that his office is reviewing whether Florida’s current dealer bond law adequately protects consumers and plans to evaluate the issue before next year’s legislative session.

State Rep. Daryl Campbell said he didn’t know enough about the issue to comment.

The remaining lawmakers did not respond before publication.

Local 10 also contacted the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the agency responsible for licensing motor vehicle dealers and enforcing dealer laws.

The department was asked whether it has ever recommended increasing the $25,000 bond amount, whether it believes the current law adequately protects consumers and whether it has proposed legislative changes to modernize the requirement.

Despite four separate requests for information dating back to June 2, the department did not answer those questions before publication.

Meanwhile, Wright says she continues searching for answers.

“I call the State of Florida and the Attorney General’s Office,” she said. “They tell me there is nothing they can do for me.”

“All they do is just send me around in circles,” she added.

Wright believes Florida’s elected leaders should take another look at the law.

“The politicians should do better,” she said. “The governor needs to step in. The Attorney General’s Office. It don’t make no sense.”

For Wright, the issue is a car that has sat in her driveway for nearly two years.

For Florida lawmakers, the question is much broader.

Has a consumer protection law written in 1970—and unchanged since then—kept pace with the realities of buying a car in 2026?

That is a question only the Florida Legislature can answer.

The Norway soccer federation said Thursday its board of directors will consider filing the complaint at its next meeting, likely on Aug. 6.

“We need our leader in FIFA to say that this was an error,” Norwegian federation president Lise Klaveness told London daily The Times in an interview published Thursday.

After Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino, a one-game ban for Balogun’s red-card tackle against Bosnia-Herzegovina was deferred so he could play against Belgium with a quarterfinals place at stake.

Belgium beat the U.S. 4-1 after a chaotic 36 hours at the World Cup. The Belgium players were seemingly fired up by one of the all-time controversies in tournament history.

Trump called the referee’s red card for Balogun after video review a “horrible” call and took credit for getting FIFA to review what should routinely have been a one-game ban.

“We all know that this verdict was influenced from external forces and did not have the proper process,” Klaveness told The Times of the FIFA ruling that was unprecedented in the past 60 years at World Cups.

“When you bend a rule like this, you’re on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk,” said the former Women’s World Cup player for Norway, who is an elected member of European soccer body UEFA’s executive committee.

Soccer's conscience

Klaveness is a lawyer and judge who has positioned the Norwegian federation as a conscience in world soccer since her election in 2022.

“It is a worry for the game when you compromise fundamental rules of the game,” she said Thursday about not enforcing Balogun's ban.

Norway previously joined a London-based NGO’s complaint to the FIFA ethics committee alleging Infantino breached a statutory duty of political neutrality, including by creating a peace prize to award to Trump at the World Cup draw in December.

The close personal and political ties between Trump and Infantino include the U.S. president believing the soccer official could be a good pick as next secretary general of the United Nations, the New York Post reported this week.

Olympics complaint

The human rights NGO, FairSquare, also has filed an ethics complaint about the Balogun incident to the International Olympic Committee, where Infantino is an elected member, about breaching its rules on political neutrality.

FIFA and the IOC rarely acknowledge or provide updates on potential cases before their ethics bodies.

The independence of FIFA’s process to handle complaints alleging unethical conduct has been questioned since the lead investigator and judge both were replaced in 2017, in the second year of Infantino’s presidency.

FIFA has yet to publish documents explaining how its disciplinary judges reached verdicts about Balogun or other World Cup players.

___

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

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits in the week ending July 18 declined by 22,000 to 187,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That's the fewest number of weekly applications since the week ending Sept. 6, 1969, according to Labor Department data.

It's also well below the 215,000 new applications forecast by analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet.

Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered a proxy for layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the U.S. job market.

Despite surging oil prices resulting from the U.S.'s military attack on Iran, the American job market remains healthy and layoffs historically low. However, analysts say a prolonged war and higher than normal energy costs could eventually chip away at that, forcing companies to reduce costs by lowering head counts.

“The economic crisis caused by the energy supply shock is not over yet,” said Carl Weinberg, chief economist at High Frequency Trading. “But the labor market has yet to show any sign of wear and tear from the surge in oil prices.”

The price for a barrel of U.S. crude surged nearly 5% early Thursday to more than $91. That's the highest level in about six weeks. Gas prices in the U.S. are also back up above $4 a gallon on average. That not only squeezes consumers' budgets, but also hits businesses hard, especially those which are heavily dependent on fuel.

In its expansive June jobs report earlier this month, the government reported that employers pulled back on hiring, adding only 57,000 jobs. That’s less than half the previous month’s total and a sign that companies remain cautious about adding to their head counts. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.2% from 4.3% in May, though that decline is mostly because many out-of-work people gave up looking for jobs and were no longer counted as unemployed.

June’s tepid hiring comes after a relative surge in job gains the previous three months, countering concerns that the war in Iran could trip up an already wobbly labor market.

Weekly jobless aid applications have stabilized in a range mostly between 200,000 and 250,000 since the U.S. economy emerged from the pandemic recession. However, hiring began slowing about two years ago and tapered further in 2025 due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, his purge of the federal workforce and the lingering effects of high interest rates meant to control inflation.

Among the companies that have trimmed their workforce recently are Verizon, UPS, Amazon, Disney, Starbucks and Walmart.

Earlier this month Microsoft said it was cutting 4,800 jobs, about 2.1% of its global workforce, including a large number of workers at its Xbox video game business.

Thursday’s layoffs data showed that the four-week moving average of weekly jobless claims, which adjusts for volatility, fell by 7,250 to 207,500.

The total number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the previous week ending July 11 was down by 2,000 to just under 1.8 million, also a historically healthy figure.

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

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

A day earlier, the House adopted a Republican-only $95 billion budget proposal in a long-shot effort to fund the Iran war and other White House priorities, despite objections from Democrats and a few GOP holdouts. The Senate must now reach an agreement for it to pass.

Here's the latest:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

White House says Trump is losing patience with Thune

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

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

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

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

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

Trump administration to announce new tariffs on Thursday

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

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

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

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

Tate brothers won’t get help from the White House

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trump is taking his next Cabinet meeting on the road

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vance’s office referred questions to the Secret Service.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

House again passes resolution seeking to halt military action in Iran

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Trump has talked up his push to extend the Abraham Accords

The project formalized commercial and diplomatic ties between Israel and a trio of Arab nations. Trump has talked up the accords as key to his plan for bringing long-term stability to the Middle East.

But the aftermath of Israel’s war in Gaza and the nearly 5-month-old U.S. and Israel war against Iran have complicated Trump’s push to expand the accords.

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

Houthi attacks are a ‘double whammy’ on oil shipments

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

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

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

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

Brent oil’s price briefly tops $100 a barrel as stocks fall on Wall Street

Brent crude oil briefly topped $100 a barrel for the first time since May as increased fighting in the Middle East threatens to slow the global flow of crude.

Wall Street, meanwhile, is sinking early Thursday with sharp drops for two of its most influential stocks, Alphabet and Tesla.

The S&P 500 dropped 1.1% in early trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average pulled back 415 points, and the Nasdaq composite lost 1.7%.

Stocks sank under the pressure of rising oil prices, which raise costs for many businesses and divert their customers’ dollars away to pay higher prices for fuel.

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Saudi nuclear deal is expected to last 30 years and involve US firms in program’s development

It could allow for the building of a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia following a joint U.S.-Saudi study, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

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

The agreement doesn’t include the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Additional Protocol, which would allow for more monitoring, inspections and verification, according to a second person familiar with the decision.

— Collin Binkley and Aamer Madhani

House Republican accuses Smith of lying about Trump probe and refers him for possible prosecution

A key Republican lawmaker says he believes special counsel Jack Smith may have lied to Congress while testifying about his investigation of Trump and the Justice Department should consider prosecuting him. Lawyers for Smith deny the allegation and say he testified truthfully.

Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, referred Smith to the Justice Department on allegations he made false statements during closed-door testimony about whether he had obtained records of lawmakers while investigating Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss.

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

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Alberto Barbera, the festival's artistic director, unveiled the lineup Thursday for the 83rd edition of the festival, the first of many in a busy fall film season that culminates in the Hollywood awards showdown. Like the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, the selection is lighter on Hollywood studio films than in years past.

“Wild Horse Nine,” starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell as CIA agents in Chile before the 1973 coup, is among the higher-profile titles playing in competition. It will play alongside “Primetime,” in which Pattinson stars as “To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hansen. The broader slate has anticipated documentaries like Alex Gibney's “Musk,” a sweeping portrait of the billionaire, and Julia Loktev’s “My Undesirable Friends: Part II — Exile,” which follows Russian independent journalists after they leave the country. Similar to the first part, it runs 355 minutes.

The festival's main competition includes a diverse array of international and American films, like Werner Herzog’s “Bucking Fastard,” in which sisters Rooney and Kate Mara play identical twins.

Also on the program are Florian Zeller’s thriller “Bunker,” with Bardem and Cruz playing a married couple, Lee Chang-dong’s “Possible Love,” Stéphane Brizé’s “A Good Little Soldier” and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Look Back,” a coming-of-age story about two girls who dream of being manga artists. Casey Affleck will be in competition for the first time with “Company,” starring Nick Nolte and Ben Mendelsohn. Nanni Moretti also returns for the first time since 1989.

Notable documentary premieres out of competition include “Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger,” Barbara Kopple’s “Union Town,” Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin's “Everest: The Other Side,” Luca Guadagnino’s seven-hour Bernardo Bertolucci film “Joie de Vivre,” Wim Wenders' look at architect Peter Zumthor, Russell Crowe’s autobiographical musical concert movie, “What Love Builds,” and Laura Poitras’s short about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis, “They're Here,” which she co-directed with Rachel Lauren Mueller.

Barbera said he expects Noel and Liam Gallagher to attend on behalf of the Oasis film, which was directed by Steven Knight and will be in theaters on Sept. 11.

The festival is set to open on Sept. 2 with Danny Boyle’s “Ink,” an adaptation of James Graham’s stage play which dramatizes the rise of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch. “Ink” is also playing in the main competition and in the running for awards such as the Golden Lion, a prize that is decided upon by a jury led this year by filmmaker and actor Maggie Gyllenhaal. Other jurors include filmmakers like Kaouther Ben Hania, Johnnie To and Shahrbanoo Sadat, and composer Daniel Blumberg.

Gyllenhaal has a film playing as well: a Marilyn Monroe-inspired short, “Flesh Impact,” in which Dakota Johnson and Ellen Burstyn “give body and voice to the myth of Marilyn,” Barbera said. The 93-year-old Burstyn will also get a lifetime achievement award from the festival.

Venice has in the last 15 years proved a desirable launching pad for Oscar hopefuls, even if not everything breaks through. Last year’s edition had plenty of star power in the lineup, with Julia Roberts, George Clooney and Dwayne Johnson movies among the splashy premieres. But the glow of the festival moment was short-lived: The films, “After the Hunt,” “Jay Kelly” and “The Smashing Machine,” were neither triumphant with audiences in theaters (“Jay Kelly” was a Netflix release) nor with awards voters.

Still, there’s usually a best picture nominee in the slate: Last year there were two in “Frankenstein” and “Bugonia.”

This year won’t be bereft of a Clooney moment either: The Venice regular is getting a lifetime achievement award.

Juan Jairo Coronilla Durán, 28, died July 14 after authorities said he darted across a busy road in St. Augustine and into the path of a truck. His death was the third in roughly a week involving encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, following fatal shootings in Texas and Maine.

Coronilla Durán traveled from his hometown of San Luis de la Paz, in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, to Atlanta to visit family and friends, according to Isaret Jeffers, founder of Colectivo Arbol, a farmworkers advocacy group. He had stayed in Georgia for three weeks before traveling to Florida’s east coast to enjoy the beaches, Jeffers said Tuesday.

U.S. authorities have not publicly identified the man, but a Mexico official confirmed his name. Jeffers said Yezzika Alamilla, the man’s wife, told them he had been visiting the U.S. on a tourist visa.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday about whether Coronilla Durán had a valid visa.

Authorities say he ran from immigration officers

Coronilla Durán was one of four people in a vehicle that stopped in a gas station parking lot before 7 a.m. on the day he died. The four fled on foot during an encounter with agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations, with one darting across a busy road into the path of the semi, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

It is unclear what prompted the encounter and what happened to the vehicle’s other three occupants.

The Highway Patrol and DHS have not provided additional details, citing the ongoing investigation.

Advocacy group says his wife sought help

Alamilla called Colectivo Arbol, which provides legal advice and assistance to farmworkers in Central Florida, the day after her husband died, Jeffers said. She was seeking help to travel from Mexico and repatriate her husband’s remains. The organization bought her a plane ticket and put her up for three days, until Monday, she said. The Mexican consulate has been helping her since.

“His wife said he was there on a tourist visa. She didn’t understand what was happening,” Jeffers said. “He didn’t come to work; he wasn’t working. He was here as a tourist.”

Alamilla “thinks he was very afraid, and that’s why he ran away,” Jeffers said.

His remains will be repatriated

According to information provided by the widow, Coronilla Durán “had been in the United States for only a very short time (and) had a tourist visa,” said Susana Guerra Vallejo, the undersecretary for assistance to migrants and mobility issues for the Mexican state of Guanajuato.

She said that Alamilla would be able to see the body of her husband at the Florida funeral home.

Coronilla Durán’s body will be transported to Mexico on a commercial flight from Orlando, Guerra Vallejo told The Associated Press. He will be buried in his hometown of San Luis de la Paz, a farming community in Guanajuato that is about 160 miles (260 kilometers) northwest of Mexico City, she said.

Coronilla Durán and Alamilla had two children, a 7-month-old girl and a 7-year-old boy, Jeffers said.

Coronilla Durán’s death was at least the 10th involving encounters with immigration agents since President Donald Trump launched his mass deportation campaign last year.

The Mexican government said it had asked state attorneys general in the U.S. to review the deaths of migrants in ICE custody or during raids for possible criminal prosecution.

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Sánchez reported from Mexico City. Associated Press reporter Maria Verza contributed from Mexico City.

The central bank for the 21 countries that use the euro currency left its benchmark rate unchanged at 2.25% following a quarter-point hike at its previous meeting June 11. That increase was aimed at dampening the impact on consumer prices from higher oil prices due to the US-Iran war and subsequent interruption of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Analysts say the bank may simply be taking a pause to gather more information amid swings in oil prices, which fell after announcement of a ceasefire but then rose again when the ceasefire agreement collapsed and fighting resumed. Economists are pointing toward the bank's Sept. 10 meeting as a possibility for another rate increase.

“Uncertainty remains high and the full inflationary impact of the energy shock has yet to play out," ECB President Christine Lagarde said at a post-decision news conference. "We are therefore closely monitoring the intensity and duration of the shock, as well as its indirect and second round effects...the longer energy prices stay high, the more likely they are to drive up broader inflation.”

Lagarde said the bank is making decisions meeting by meeting based on incoming data and has not committed to any particular path for rates.

Lagarde also faced a question about whether she would commit to serving out her full, eight-year term which ends in October 2027.

Asked for a “yes or no” response, she said: “You know, I hate to be boxed in in any particular circumstances."

She added that “you are not going to see the back of me before 2027” and that “when there clouds on the horizon, the captain stays on the ship, and this captain is staying on this ship as long as there are clouds on the horizon.”

Rate hikes combat inflation by raising the cost of credit for buying things, from new houses to new factories. That cools demand for goods and eases pressure on prices. Inflation in the eurozone ran at an annual 2.8% in June, down from 3.2% in May.

International benchmark Brent crude rose to $100 Thursday, the first time in two months, after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, potentially widening the conflict in and around Iran.

Brent spiked 7% after Iranian-backed Houthis launched the attacks near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, raising doubts about Saudi Arabia’s ability to ship oil through the Red Sea instead of the Strait of Hormuz.

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

Trump’s social media post a day later asserting that the agreement was subject to the Saudis joining the accords was unexpected and almost certain to make finalizing the deal complicated. The accords expanded the number of Arab and Muslim-majority nations with diplomatic ties with Israel. Getting Saudi Arabia to join would be a monumental diplomatic achievement.

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

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

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

The Saudis have previously made clear that normalizing relations with Israel would first require the establishment of a clear path for Palestinian statehood. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the idea of Palestinian statehood as being untenable for his country's security.

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

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

President has sought to build on the 2020 accords

Trump has sought to build on the 2020 accords, which also formalized commercial ties between Israel and some Arab and Muslim-majority nations. Saudi Arabia is the most important Arab power in the Middle East, and Trump believes the kingdom joining the accords is critical to establishing long-term stability in the region.

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

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

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

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

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

Administration says deal is good for US firms

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

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

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

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

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

Deal faces early scrutiny from Congress, Israel and nuclear experts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Multiple agencies had made sustained and coordinated rescue efforts in the four days since a gas explosion ripped through the tunnel. Following the recovery of all the missing employees, teams carried out a final inspection of the tunnel, the state government of Sikkim said in a statement.

The blast occurred Monday at the 500-megawatt Teesta Hydroelectric Project about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the state capital Gangtok in the Himalayan state.

A buildup of methane gas triggered the explosion, trapping dozens of workers underground. Rescue efforts were hampered by the toxic gas inside, officials said.

The government said it formed a high-level committee to investigate the disaster and recommend safeguards against to prevent such accidents in the future.

Construction accidents are not uncommon in India, where rapid infrastructure growth often collides with fragile geology, construction lapses, extreme weather and safety standards.

The Teesta River basin, where the hydropower project is being built, lies in a seismically active region marked by young, fragile rock formations riddled with fractures and underground pockets that can trap ancient gases. Seismic activity and unpredictable underground conditions make tunnel projects especially risky in the region, according to experts.

A February explosion in a coal mine in neighboring Meghalaya state killed 18 workers. A tunnel section collapsed in 2023 in northern Uttarakhand state, trapping 41 workers for 17 days before they were rescued.

If you’ve considered bike commuting but assumed you needed expensive gear and to be in excellent physical shape, or worried about arriving at work disheveled or smelly, there are ways to overcome those hurdles. Cycling can be a healthy, enjoyable and affordable way to a job site, especially at a time of elevated gasoline prices.

“It’s such a great, practical invention that I became enamored with as a little kid, and I find it just as valuable as a 72-year-old,” Roper, owner of the Hopleaf Bar and restaurant, said.

Below, experienced cyclists and bike safety advocates share tips on how to get started and arrive safely at your destination while still looking reasonably workplace-presentable.

You don't have to buy fancy equipment to commute by bike

Some cyclists splash out on pricey gear such as foldable bikes, premium padded shorts and waterproof bags. Specialty cycling equipment can be fun, but you can spend less and still have a great ride. If you don't want to purchase a bicycle, consider a bike-sharing program that rents two-wheelers for short rides.

Natalie Frank, 22, didn't have extra cash when she graduated from college and landed a job as a software engineer in the Boston office of technology company Topsort. She asked her friends if anyone had a bicycle they no longer wanted, and a free road bike was hers a few weeks later.

If the tires need air, she fills them using free pumps located in city parks.

“My commute costs zero dollars. That’s crazy,” Frank said.

Wash up and switch outfits to look presentable after a ride

Many cyclists reach their workplaces a few minutes early to freshen up and change into work clothes. Some bike commuters leave a spare set at their desks. Like many others, Frank carries clothing in a backpack along with her laptop.

Ellie Dannenberg, 37, a University of Denver math professor, commutes in gym clothes and carries a work outfit in panniers, which are storage bags and baskets that attach to a bicycle. She stashes a pair of work shoes in her office.

“Investing in pannier bags is a really great thing to do, especially for the commute to work when you probably don’t want to show up super sweaty,” Dannenberg said. “Backpacks are heavy, they’re more uncomfortable, and then you end up with a sweaty back when you get there.”

On Denver's wetter days, Dannenberg wears rain pants and a waterproof jacket that fits over her helmet.

Some office buildings have showers for washing up, but many don't. Keeping body wipes, rinse-free cleanser or deodorant at work can help you feel polished.

Use helmets and positioning to protect yourself on roads

Cyclists and safety advocates strongly recommend wearing a helmet to protect your head in case of a crash. Wearing bright colors or reflective vests and attaching lights and reflectors to the bicycle improves visibility.

Roper wears a yellow-green helmet and has front and rear lights that flash. “You really can't fail to see me,” he said.

To ensure you’re seen when traveling on smaller roads without bike lanes, ride in the middle of the lane, and if you’re at a stop light, go to the front of the traffic, Dannenberg suggested.

Watch out for black ice in the winter. “If you’re running late and there’s ice on the road, it’s worth it to slow down around the corners,” Dannenberg added.

The League of American Bicyclists has videos on its website covering traffic safety and hand signals, which cyclists can use to communicate when they’re turning or stopping.

New riders may want to find a biking companion who can point out safer, less congested routes.

“It’s nice to have a buddy if you know someone who’s commuting by bike in the vicinity that you’re going,” said Alison Dewey, education director at The League of American Bicyclists. “Maybe the most enjoyable route is just going another half-mile in this direction and getting on a trail instead of a more direct way. Someone who’s more experienced might know that.”

Some riders prefer electric bikes with a pedal-assist feature that provides a boost when they want to keep pace with traffic. After stopping at intersections, e-bikes help cyclists get going again, Dewey said.

Watch out for obstacles and swinging car doors to stay safe

When riding next to parked cars, leave space between yourself and those vehicles so you don't get “doored” — a common cycling collision that happens when someone opens a car door in a moving rider's path.

The League of American Bicyclists recommends staying four feet away from parked cars, even if it means positioning yourself outside of a marked bike lane. “It’s more important to be out of the ‘door zone’ than to be in the bike lane,” Dewey said.

Scan parked cars to see if anyone's inside, and if you notice a driver or passenger, move over, because you don't want to be next to that door when it opens, Dewey said.

If you do get into a crash with a car, call the police, gather information to identify the driver and don't hesitate to get medical treatment, advised Daniel Flanzig, a lawyer who is board president of the New York Bicycling Coalition, a nonprofit which advocates for bicycle-friendly policies.

“Be vigilant when you’re riding,” he said. “Things can come at you as a cyclist. Whether it’s a car or a pothole or a road defect, there’s a lot of hazards out there that we have to keep our head on the swivel for.”

Savor the exhilaration of riding outside

Starting the day with outdoor exercise helps many riders show up to work refreshed and energized.

“Biking is genuinely probably one of the best parts of my day. I get to listen to music. I get to be by myself. I get to think,” Frank said. “Biking feels like it’s reclaiming some of the autonomy of my day, like the joy and whimsy of moving around, especially in the city."

Dewey, 52, enjoys views of the Potomac River as she pedals 16 miles to work.

“It brings me a lot of happiness to just ride,” Dewey said. “Being outside is just always good for my emotional health. And honestly, I like being under my own power.”

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Share your stories and questions about workplace wellness at cbussewitz@ap.org. Follow AP’s Be Well coverage, focusing on wellness, fitness, diet and mental health at https://apnews.com/hub/be-well

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It happened at approximately 1:53 p.m. Wednesday along the 800 block of Northwest 10th Terrace.

According to police, responding officers arrived to the scene and found one man who had been shot.

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue medics rushed the man to Broward Health Medical Center with injuries that were considered to be life-threatening, police said.

Investigators said the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident between two people.

Police said there was nobody in custody, but their investigation remains active and ongoing.

Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this report.

The incident happened last month in Miami Gardens, and when police responded to the scene, they said they discovered millions of dollars in drugs and cash.

The hearing was for Anthony Gordon and his girlfriend Danette Young, who have been in jail for more than a month after a reported home invasion robbery at their Miami Gardens home.

Gordon and Young claimed to be the victims on that day, but when police arrived, they said they uncovered a record-setting seizure of $1.3 million in cash and illegal drugs with a street value of roughly $5 million.

Attorneys for both argued in court that just because there were drugs present in the home, it did not prove their clients were in possession of the drugs.

The couple is currently being held without bond on a long list of drug-related felonies.

Their attorneys tried to convince the court to set a bond and allow for their release, but in the end, the evidence presented – photos of cash, multiple weapons and drugs – may have been overwhelming.

The judge ultimately ruled the couple would remain behind bars without bond.

It happened on Sunday afternoon along North Miami Avenue, near Fifth Street, in downtown Miami ― and it was all caught on surveillance camera.

Local 10 News spoke to the victim, Aiden Chappell, who said he met a man who claimed that he wanted to buy his $4,000 Sony video camera.

“I was meeting this guy off of Facebook Marketplace. He ended up taking my camera, testing it out and while he was testing it out, he ended up running off with it,” said Chappell.

Seconds later, the man sprinted across the street with the camera in hand without paying a dime.

Instead of jumping into a waiting getaway car with a driver behind the wheel, Chappell said the man got into a driverless Waymo.

It’s a twist Chappell said he never saw coming.

“It surprised me,” he said. “It never would be something that I think, ‘Hey, I got to be aware of a Waymo in the middle of the street here.’”

Now detectives with the Miami Police Department are actively working to identify the man who committed this theft.

“We have a good communication with Waymo, so we are going to contact them and get information on who this offender was,” said Officer Mike Vega, an MPD spokesperson.

As more people buy and sell expensive items online, police say where you meet to conduct transactions can make all the difference.

“Go to your local police station,” said Vega. “We know that the victim lives close to our police station. All he has to do is go there, go to our main lobby, and say, ‘I’m just here to sell something to someone from the internet,’ and we allow them to make their transaction there.”

For Chappell, who is a content creator, the stolen camera wasn’t just an expensive piece of equipment, it’s a tool he depends on to make a living.

“It’s a big part of my livelihood,” he said. “It’s a big loss, which is why I’m trying to do everything I can to figure out the situation and kind of get a handle.”

Chappell has created a GoFundMe page in the wake of the theft.

Thamara Labrousse, with Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center in North Miami, says many Haitians are facing a tough choice, one even harder for those with children.

“If you are a TPS holder with an American born child, you may have to consider if you are forced to go back to Haiti, not taking your child with you because it’s not safe and a lot of parents are struggling with that,” Labrousse said.

Labrousse says if Haitians are forced to go back, there may not be a place for them to go to.

“We don’t believe that there are enough even basic services in place to be able to accommodate that many people,” she said.

A young Haitian father living in South Florida told Local 10 News’ Christian De La Rosa that his family home in Haiti was destroyed and overtaken by gangs in his neighborhood.

He said he plans to keep cleaning restaurants for work in Miami until he is let go and stressed he’s not going back to Haiti, even if he loses his legal status.

“He would rather hide instead of going to face what possibly can happen to him in Haiti,” said Labrousse.

This past Monday, the U.S. Department of State issued a 100-page report entitled “Cuba: The Capital of 21^st Century Communism” that outlined why Cuba is a national security threat not only to the U.S., but to the entire world. The Cuban government reacted at once and not only criticized the report but blamed Secretary of State Marco Rubio with threatening the island nation.

On Wednesday at a press conference in the Philippines, Rubio, when asked by a reporter what the U.S. plan was for Cuba, used a much more diplomatic tone and said the U.S. is still willing to negotiate with Cuba.

Washington continues to send mixed signals as to what will be done with Cuba. What we do know is that the strategy used in Venezuela did not bring about regime change.

July 21 update: First humanitarian aid from US will arrive in Cuba

Today, the first humanitarian aid will arrive in Cuba as part of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s offer to help the Cuban people as they experience the worst economic situation since the early 1990’s. Today’s cargo includes 700 hygiene kits and 700 food items to be distributed directly to the Cuban people by Catholic Relief Services Caritas Cuba and other faith-based organizations.

Secretary Rubio wants to let the Cuban people clearly know that the U.S. stands behind them and is willing to continue to help them as part of the U.S. commitment of $100 million in humanitarian aid.

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July 20 update: Cuba releases artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara

This past Saturday, Cuba released artist and opposition leader Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara after serving five years in jail. Otero Alcantara was one of the leaders of the San Isidro movement that led to large protests across the island nation five years ago.

Upon arriving in Miami, Otero Alcantara thanked the Cuban American community for its support and asked Cuba to release all political prisoners in jail.

July 16 update: US Department of Defense pays $3 million to US personnel affected by Havana Syndrome

The U.S. Department of Defense has paid $3 million in compensation to U.S. personnel affected by the mysterious condition known as Havana Syndrome, making the first payment under the 2021 Havana Act.

Havana Syndrome first appeared in 2016 when U.S. diplomats and intelligence officers in Havana, Cuba reported unusual symptoms, including intense head pressure, dizziness, nausea, hearing disturbances and memory problems.

July 14 update: New U.S. sanctions increase pressure on Cuba’s military-run economy

The United States on Monday introduced new sanctions targeting companies controlled by GAESA, Cuba’s military economic conglomerate, as well as some of the military brigades responsible for suppressing protests like the ones we saw the other day.

How much longer can the Cuban government hold on? Information continues to reach U.S. officials indicating that there are sectors within the Cuban government that are increasingly concerned about how much longer they can survive without negotiating with the U.S. government before facing a complete collapse of their system.

July 10 update: Does Raul Castro’s grandson have the full authority to negotiate for the Cuban government?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The hack could pressure companies to improve containment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The disclosure renews calls for more regulation

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

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

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

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

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

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

It was the latest major crackdown on Big Tech by Brussels, which has led the world in reining in some of the world’s largest companies from Silicon Valley to Beijing.

It has done so despite the risk of incurring the wrath of President Donald Trump, who has lashed out at the 27-nation bloc’s digital regulations amid a broader campaign against Europe: imposing high tariffs, making threats to seize Greenland from Denmark by force, and rattling trust within the NATO military alliance.

In the past, Trump has threatened retaliation if American tech companies are penalized.

Google had recently lost its appeal of a $4.5 billion antitrust fine imposed by the EU for throttling competition and reducing consumer choice through the dominance of its mobile Android operating system.

The European Commission, the bloc's executive branch and highest antitrust enforcer, said it was acting in the interest of consumers after an investigation of Google.

“The best products should succeed because they’re better, not because they’re owned by the company running the search engine. And European consumers have a right to be told by app developers where to sign up to the best offers, even when the app store owner does not get a cut,” said Teresa Ribera, the commission's Executive Vice President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition.

Google’s President of Global Affairs Kent Walker blasted the fine as “product degradation driven by a small group of self-serving complainants” that will have a negative impact on European businesses and consumers.

He said that the EU’s Digital Markets Act forces Google “to strip away real-time search features Europeans love — like instant pricing and direct availability for hotels, flights, and restaurants — and dismantle safety protections on Google Play.”

The EU describes the world’s seven tech giants — Amazon, Apple, Google parent Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft and TikTok owner ByteDance — as “gatekeepers” that control access for consumers.

“In the EU, businesses have the right to compete fairly. Gatekeepers have the obligation to ensure a level playing field and consumers the right to choose for cheaper alternative offers,” European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said. Alphabet reported $403 billion in revenue in 2025.

The French Football Federation said in a statement on Thursday that its president Philippe Diallo will name the coach at a news conference at the headquarters in Paris.

The 54-year-old Zidane has not coached since leaving Real Madrid in 2021. The midfield great coached Madrid to three straight Champions League titles from 2016-18.

Deschamps was in charge of France for 14 years and stepped down after the World Cup, where Les Bleus lost in the semifinals to Spain.

France won the World Cup under Deschamps in 2018 and lost the final on penalties in 2022. Les Bleus also lost the European Championship final on home soil in 2016.

Zinedine was France's playmaker when it won the 1998 World Cup, scoring twice in the final in a 3-0 win against Brazil, and starred two years later when France won the European Championship. He won the men’s Ballon d’Or in 1998.

Zidane played 108 games for France scoring 31 goals, including a deft Panenka-style penalty in the 2006 World Cup final, which Les Bleus lost after he was sent off in extra time for headbutting Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the chest.

France's next games are away to Turkey in the Nations League on Sept. 25, followed by a match in Belgium three days later. France then faces Italy at the Stade de France on Oct. 2.

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

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Local authorities said the fire in a forest near the town of Lège-Cap Ferret, southwest of Bordeaux, spread over more than 31 square kilometers (12 square miles), though no injuries have been reported.

The prefect, or head of the surrounding Gironde region, Sophie Brocas, said some 700 firefighters have been deployed, including forces sent from the Paris region. The fire came within 300 meters (980 feet) of the first homes in Lège, and water bombers were being used.

Later in the day, the prefect's office said the wildfire had not yet been brought under control but remained contained to the north of Lège.

More than 10,000 people, including tourists staying at holiday camps and campgrounds, were moved to safety overnight, along with more than 1,000 residents living in residential areas along the forest edge. Authorities later evacuated the village of Claouey, including residents staying at several campsites, as a precautionary measure. Brocas said the evacuation involved 8,800 people.

Several municipalities have opened reception and respite centers for evacuees, the prefecture said.

Southern Europe has seen multiple large fires this summer. Scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, making the region more vulnerable to wildfires.

Following a succession of heat waves that started even before the summer, wildfires have raged across France, devastating large swaths of land amid record temperatures and dry weather. Plants and vegetation are under severe water stress, adding to the danger of fires.

According to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, more than 12,500 wildfires have broken out since the beginning of the year, and almost 44,000 hectares have already burned.

Wildfires in Spain and Italy

Elsewhere in Europe, wildfires continued to rage across Sicily on Thursday, a day after a firefighter was killed during operations to put out a blaze in Caltanissetta, the national fire department said.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella sent a note of condolences to the family and colleagues of the firefighter, Alessandro Marchì, who was a department head.

In Spain, firefighters battled multiple blazes amid a heat wave with the worst temperatures expected to reach 44 C (111 F) in the southeast. A fire near Alcalá de Henares near Madrid caused the high-speed train service between the capital and Barcelona to be briefly suspended Thursday.

Meanwhile, firefighters in the province of Guadalajara continued to extinguish a week-old fire that is the second-largest on record for the country with 320 square kilometers (123 square miles) burned. Other fires raged across central Spain, including one near Toledo that destroyed some 20 homes and triggered evacuations.

Should the trend continue, it would push the annual homicide rate to the lowest levels in over a century once final numbers are released at the end of the year.

The report, released Thursday, tracked 13 crimes and recorded drops in nine of those categories, including carjackings, residential burglary and aggravated assaults. There was a small jump in shoplifting, domestic violence incidents, sexual assaults and drug offenses over the same period between 2025 and 2026, the report showed.

Experts say the broadly positive changes are exceeding expectations, improving on baseline crime rates from before 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought historic surges in violence.

Democrats and Republicans across the country have tried to capitalize on the positive developments during a competitive midterm election year. But the trends documented in the report carry through in cities with leadership across the political spectrum.

That suggests the most significant factors contributing to the improvements are taking place nationwide and are not specific to a single local public safety measure, said Adam Gelb, the president and CEO of the Council on Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan think tank for criminal justice policy and research.

“Murder and other crime rates are falling across the map in cities with different political leadership, different housing and economic conditions, different policing and prosecution and violence reduction strategies and different levels of federal enforcement activity,” Gelb said.

The council collects data from police departments and other law enforcement sources. Some of the report categories include data from as many as 36 cities, while others include fewer cities in their totals because of tracking gaps or differences in definitions for specific crimes.

Notably, Gelb said that a significant number of violent crimes were less deadly: There was a 23% drop in the lethality of the crimes committed, which is measured by the share of serious violent crime that is fatal.

Many of the non-violent crimes tracked in the report also saw declines, including a 13% drop in residential burglaries year over year and a 50% drop in burglaries compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. At the same time, reported shoplifting bucked the trends of other property crimes, showing a 5% increase. And while there was a small increase in drug offenses, those were still lower than pre-pandemic levels.

Roughly a third of the 30 sampled cities defied average homicide rate declines across the country, recording an increase in deadly violence from the first half of 2025 to the same period in 2026. That includes Norfolk, Virginia, which saw a 64% increase in homicides, and San Francisco, which saw a 55% increase. The number of cities that saw a longer-term increase was far smaller: Only Norfolk, Austin, Pittsburgh and Minneapolis experienced more homicides in 2026 than in the same period in 2019.

There are many factors that could impact why a location sees increases or decreases in certain crimes when another doesn't, according to John Roman, director of the Center on Public Safety and Justice at the National Opinion Research Center from the University of Chicago.

Roman said that conservative politicians affiliated with President Donald Trump will point to intensified immigration crackdowns and the deployment of the National Guard in cities like Los Angeles and Memphis, whereas liberal politicians might point to former Democratic President Joe Biden's public safety legislation that strengthened background checks on firearm sales.

But ultimately, Roman said, the best explanations transcend specific administrations. That ranges from decreased drug usage and therefore fewer purchases from illegal markets, which are often linked to violence, to an influx of federal funding for localities after the pandemic that was spent on social programming.

Those programs, Roman said, often funded jobs like teachers and social workers who primarily work with “young people who are the highest risk of violence and victimization.”

While both Gelb and Roman concurred that there wasn't a single reason, Gelb said the outcomes should be studied for future insights and celebrated.

“This is one of the most significant public safety developments in decades. It means lives are being saved, families are spared trauma and communities are regaining stability,” Gelb said.

India’s “Cockroach” protests began more than a month ago over alleged leaks in some of the country’s most competitive entrance exams for medical colleges and government jobs. The movement has since expanded beyond exam grievances, drawing professionals and families while channeling broader frustration.

Thursday’s demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site in New Delhi, followed overnight clashes in which police used tear gas and batons to disperse crowds, the second such confrontation this week.

On Monday, thousands of protesters had defied restrictions and marched toward Parliament before police broke up the demonstration with tear gas and batons.

Protesters regrouped by Thursday morning, returning to the protest site despite roadblocks, while authorities suspended Delhi Metro services at 16 stations across central New Delhi in an effort to limit access to the demonstrations.

Modi tries to contain protest fallout

The issue of exam leaks has become a powerful symbol of frustration for millions of young Indians. Protesters are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, examination system reforms and compensation for families of students who died by suicide after exam paper leaks.

Facing mounting pressure, Modi addressed the issue publicly for the first time Thursday, announcing fast-track courts to handle examination paper leak cases. Fast-track courts are special courts created to speed up cases in India’s notoriously slow justice system.

“Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth!,” Modi wrote on X.

The announcement failed to calm protesters, who said Modi was not addressing their demands for accountability and reform.

“Rather than providing solution which is convenient for him, he should work toward a solution which is convenient for the nation and set an example,” law student Daksh Bhargava said.

Cockroach party stays true to satirical origins

Leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party, which launched the protest movement, said they would not end the demonstrations until the education minister resigned. Staying true to the movement’s tongue-in-cheek style, its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, responded by posting a meme of Pradhan captioned, “Hi, my name is Nothing.”

The Cockroach movement began as online satire campaign in May and moved to the streets in June through smaller protests across cities. It gained momentum after prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the demonstration and began a hunger strike that has lasted more than three weeks. Police forcibly transferred Wangchuk to a hospital over the weekend.

Protests reflect rising youth anger

For many young Indians, the protests have become one of the few visible expressions of dissent in a country where demonstrations against Modi’s government have led to a broader crackdown on activists, opposition figures and public protests.

The movement’s rapid growth beyond student groups reflects wider frustration among young Indians and echoes a broader trend across South Asia, where young people have driven anti-government movements in recent years.

The movement also has gained a following among Indians of all ages over concerns about government accountability, unemployment and economic opportunity.

Opposition parties have backed the protests, using the issue to challenge the government in Parliament. Demonstrations and solidarity events have been held in other Indian cities, reflecting how the movement has spread beyond the capital.

India has one of the world’s youngest populations, with millions entering a labor market that has struggled to create enough secure, well-paying jobs. Despite years of rapid economic growth, many young people say their prospects have not improved.

As one of the country’s largest voting blocs, India’s youth could also become an increasingly important political force ahead of future elections.

Bertha se encontraba a unos 160 kilómetros (100 millas) al este de Galveston, Texas, a última hora de la mañana del jueves, mientras avanzaba lentamente hacia el oeste, informó el Centro Nacional de Huracanes. Aún con vientos máximos sostenidos de 72 km/h (45 mph), estaba prevista a seguir siendo una tormenta tropical hasta tocar tierra más tarde en el día.

No se han reportado muertes ni daños significativos desde que Bertha se formó el lunes en el Golfo de México al sur del Panhandle de Florida. La tormenta provocó algunas inundaciones costeras cuando su centro tocó tierra por primera vez el miércoles en Luisiana al suroeste de Nueva Orleans, pero sus lluvias más intensas se mantuvieron sobre las aguas del Golfo.

Una advertencia de tormenta tropical seguía vigente el jueves a lo largo de la costa del Golfo de México desde Morgan City, Luisiana, hasta Sargent, Texas. El centro de huracanes indicó que Bertha aún podría causar hasta 0,6 metros (2 pies) de marejada ciclónica a lo largo de la costa y provocar inundaciones repentinas aisladas por lluvias intensas en la costa y el sur de Texas.

El centro de huracanes indicó que los vientos con fuerza de tormenta tropical llegaban hasta a 260 kilómetros (160 millas) del centro del sistema. Aun así, los expertos vaticinan que la tormenta se debilitará rápidamente después de tocar tierra y se disipará tierra adentro en Texas para el viernes.

En Galveston, funcionarios locales instaron a los residentes a prepararse para un “día ventoso” y asegurar cualquier objeto al aire libre que pudiera convertirse en un proyectil al ser levantado por el viento.

“Aunque no se pronostican impactos significativos, algunas tormentas con ráfagas podrían atravesar la isla a lo largo del día”, declaró la Oficina de Manejo de Emergencias de Galveston en Facebook el jueves.

Mientras la tormenta se acercaba a Luisiana el miércoles, había niños chapoteando en las aguas crecidas mientras los curiosos observaban la marejada en el estuario del lago Pontchartrain. Los residentes cortaban el césped incluso mientras las calles se iban llenando de agua.

Los fuertes vendavales a principios de la semana derribaron un letrero de Waffle House sobre un automóvil en Panama City Beach, Florida. El fuerte oleaje y la amenaza de corrientes de resaca habían motivado advertencias en las playas de la costa del Golfo de México para que los nadadores se mantuvieran fuera del agua.

Bertha es la segunda tormenta tropical de la temporada de huracanes del Atlántico. La tormenta tropical Arthur, en junio, llevó fuertes lluvias al sureste de Estados Unidos.

En el océano Pacífico oriental, el huracán Fausto se desplazaba lejos de tierra. El huracán estaba a más de 1.600 kilómetros (1.000 millas) al oeste-suroeste del extremo sur de Baja California, con vientos máximos sostenidos de 130 km/h (80 mph).

El centro de huracanes indicó que el oleaje generado por Fausto podría causar fuerte oleaje y corrientes de resaca potencialmente mortales en partes del sur de California.

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Bynum reportó desde Savannah, Georgia.

__________________________________

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Houthi attacks are a ‘double whammy’ on oil shipments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Both sides dig in over Strait of Hormuz

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

In response to Iran’s attacks, the U.S. began the widening campaign of strikes across Iran and restored a naval blockade of Iran's ports.

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

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

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

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

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

Jordan said its military had intercepted three missiles early Thursday, with a fourth falling in an empty area, while six drones were intercepted Wednesday night. Bahrain’s Interior Ministry posted on X that sirens had sounded and urged the public to remain calm and head to a safe area.

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

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

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

Bertha was located about 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of Galveston, Texas, late Thursday morning as it crept westward, the National Hurricane Center said. Still packing sustained winds of 45 mph (72 kph), it was expected to remain a tropical storm until moving onshore later in the day.

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

A tropical storm warning remained in effect Thursday along the Gulf Coast from Morgan City, Louisiana, to Sargent, Texas. The hurricane center said Bertha could still cause up to 2 feet (0.6 meters) of storm surge along the coast and trigger isolated flash flooding from heavy rains in coastal and south Texas.

Tropical storm force winds on Thursday extended as far as 160 miles (260 kilometers) from the storm’s center, the hurricane center said. Still, forecasters expected the storm to weaken rapidly after moving onshore and dissipate over inland Texas by Friday.

In Galveston, local officials urged residents to brace for a “windy day” and secure any outdoor objects that might become airborne projectiles.

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

As the storm approached Louisiana on Wednesday, children splashed in the floodwaters as onlookers watched the surge at the Lake Pontchartrain estuary. Residents mowed their lawns even as streets filled up with water.

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

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

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

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

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Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia.

The handover took place late Wednesday during a meeting with FBI Director Kash Patel at Prabowo’s residence in the Indonesian capital Jakarta. Patel arrived in Jakarta shortly after talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet concerning joint efforts to combat international online scam operations that cheat victims out of billions of dollars annually.

The exchange underscored growing cooperation between Indonesia and the U.S. in recovering stolen cultural heritage and returning the items to the country of origin, Indonesia Culture Minister Fadli Zon said.

The artifacts from Papua are part of the cultural heritage of the Dani and Asmat tribes and Lake Sentani communities. They were repatriated through cooperation between Indonesia’s Culture Ministry and the FBI after provenance research established the objects had been smuggled out of Indonesia, Zon said.

“These are very valuable objects because this repatriation process is part of our effort to restore our cultural sovereignty,” Zon said, adding that the artifacts will be displayed at Indonesia’s National Museum.

Images from Indonesia's Presidential Secretariat show several polished stone ax heads and ceremonial objects traditionally associated with Papuan societies.

Traditional Papuan stone axes were more than utilitarian tools. Among highland communities such as the Dani, they historically served as symbols of wealth and status, were exchanged in marriage and ceremonial transactions and were often passed down as treasured ancestral heirlooms, the Culture Ministry said.

The return is the latest in a series of efforts by U.S. authorities to recover and repatriate Southeast Asian cultural property that was trafficked through international antiquities networks, the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta said in a statement.

Earlier this month, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton announced the return of two bronze, Buddhist sculptures depicting Avalokiteshvara from the eighth century, the embassy said.

During a repatriation ceremony at the Indonesian Consulate on July 10, Clayton said U.S. authorities would continue working with Homeland Security Investigations to combat illicit trafficking in cultural property and return stolen artworks to their origin countries.

The sculptures were stolen from Indonesian archaeological sites and sold to an American collector by the late antiquities dealer Douglas Latchford. The sculptures were among 34 Southeast Asian antiquities voluntarily relinquished by the collector in 2021 after investigators determined they had been looted.

The Indonesian sculptures were removed decades ago by organized looters before entering the international art market through Latchford, a Bangkok-based dealer who was indicted by U.S. authorities in 2019 for allegedly orchestrating a large-scale trafficking scheme involving antiquities looted from Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries. The case was later dismissed following his death, the U.S. embassy said.

The FBI has previously assisted Indonesia in recovering stolen cultural objects, including bronze statues and artifacts from historical and archaeological sites, according to Zon, who expressed hope that the cooperation on cultural repatriation and restitution would continue.

Indonesia has intensified efforts in recent years to track down cultural treasures scattered abroad through colonial-era collecting, theft and illicit trafficking, including from the Netherlands, which colonized Indonesia for centuries.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner noted the timely white ibis in his welcoming remarks, joking with the crowd that it wouldn't be an event in Brisbane without the appearance of a “bin chicken,” as the bird is colloquially known.

There's a small, humorous push locally for the ibis to become a mascot for the Brisbane Games rather than one of Australia's more widely known native animals such as the kangaroo or the koala.

Schrinner didn't miss a beat and the bird moved off before the big digital Omega clock officially started counting down Thursday in the downtown Queen Street mall.

That was a matter of hours after the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority published revamped designs for the National Aquatic Center that will host Olympic events.

A ticking timeline

The new clock put even more emphasis on the diminishing time for construction for the Olympics, with no major works yet underway on the 3.6 billion Australian dollar ($2.6 billion) main stadium almost five years after Brisbane was awarded rights to the Summer Games.

Andrew Liveris, president of the Brisbane 2032 organizing committee, said there's no cause for panic.

“Six years is perfectly fine in construction, even under stress conditions,” he said. “I’m very confident that the contingencies are built (in) to allow that to happen.”

Liveris said he briefed IOC president Kirsty Coventry as recently as Monday in New York, in the wake of the World Cup final.

“We had a long conversation about timelines, venues, sports, and we’re confident it’s not 6 minutes to midnight,” he said.

The International Olympic Committee last year backed the Queensland government’s revised venue plan after several false starts, saying the Brisbane Games were “on the right path.”

There are still groups opposed to building major sports venues in the downtown parklands, and more general concern over rising costs of staging the Games.

GIICA, the coordination authority, only took over possession of the Victoria Park site for the 63,000-seat main stadium last month, after police removed protesters.

Questions over aquatic center revamp

It won't get control of the nearby site for the aquatic venue until September. Organizers haven't revealed if the temporary Olympic capacity — initially projected to be 25,000 — for the aquatic center had been scaled down to avoid cost blowouts.

Whatever that temporary capacity is, Schrinner said the legacy outcome — a permanent 8,000-seat venue — would be “fantastic.”

The Queensland state government, which is the major backer of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games with support from the federal and local governments, sent the original concept for the aquatics venue back to planning for budgetary reasons.

The Queensland “government is doing the responsible thing, in these conditions and changing costs,” Schrinner said. “You have to make adjustments to the plan, and that’s exactly what’s happening, it’s a responsible thing to do.”

More than a dozen new sports venues are in the pipeline, including a contentious rowing center in Rockhampton, a coastal city in Central Queensland. Critics argue the impact of tidal flow and crocodile habitat in the Fitzroy River make it unsuitable to host Olympic events.

Liveris said all venues were still going through validation reporting, including rowing.

“Right now we’ve had no red lights and some very good greens, and a couple of yellows,” he said. “And they’re being worked on for later this year.”

Liveris said he was preparing a revised “bottom-up budget” to present early next year, after the IOC has finalized the sports program.

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

The S&P 500 sank 1.3% and is heading toward its first back-to-back weekly loss since March. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 537 points, or 1%, as of 12:50 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 2.2% lower.

Stocks fell under the pressure of rising oil prices, which raise costs for businesses and erode their customers’ ability to spend. The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, jumped 7.1% to $100.74.

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

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

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

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

The European Central Bank held its main interest rates steady at its meeting Thursday. But traders are banking on a nearly 38% chance the Fed will hike the federal funds rate at its meeting next week. That's up from the nearly 12% probability seen a week ago, according to data from CME Group.

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

Higher oil prices pushed the yield of the 10-year Treasury up to 4.70% from 4.67% late Wednesday and from just 3.97% before the war with Iran began. That’s a significant increase, and it’s already brought long-term U.S. mortgage rates to their highest levels in nearly a year.

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

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

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

Southwest Airlines lost 4.4%, even though it also reported better profit and revenue than analysts expected. It wrung more profit out of each $1 of its revenue during the spring, even with higher fuel prices.

One of the heaviest weights on the U.S. stock market was Tesla, which tumbled 14% after Elon Musk’s electric-vehicle company reported a weaker profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Because it’s one of the largest stocks in the S&P 500 by market value, its stock has more influence on the index than nearly every other.

One of the few that’s larger is Alphabet, and its stock fell 6.7% even though the parent company of Google delivered stronger profit and revenue than analysts expected.

Investors seemed to focus instead on how much Alphabet said it’s set to spend on artificial-intelligence investments. Alphabet raised its forecast for capital spending over the full year after its investments last quarter doubled to nearly $45 billion from a year earlier.

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

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

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

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

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

The investment coincides with the team announcing it has reached a long-term extension on a stadium naming rights deal Thursday with Bank of America.

The additional investment in the 30-year-old downtown stadium brings the total cost of renovations to $1.3 billion.

The project is expected to be completed by 2030.

The Panthers released new stadium renderings highlighting enhancements and a broader vision of what is referred to as the new “Charlotte corridor,” which includes a 4,400-seat music venue designed to help make the city a more attractive year-round weekend destination.

“The long-term extension with Bank of America reflects the strength of our partnership and our shared commitment to the Carolinas,” Tepper, the owner and chairman of Tepper Sports & Entertainment (TSE), said in a release. “For over three decades, Bank of America Stadium has helped create lasting memories for our fans and we’re excited for them to see what’s ahead. Our goal is to create experiences that enhance the passion and energy of the region while transforming this corridor into a weekend destination for world-class sports, entertainment and community events.”

Bank of America Stadium is currently home to the Major League Soccer’s Charlotte FC, as well as the Panthers.

It regularly hosts concerts as well as the Atlantic Coast Conference football championship, the Duke's Mayo Bowl and, most recently, a soccer match between the United States and Senegal which served as a precursor to the World Cup.

So, what about a first-ever Super Bowl in Charlotte?

When asked directly if the Panthers are considering submitting a bid to host a first-ever Super Bowl in Charlotte, team president and TSE CEO Kristi Coleman replied, “We would love to get a Super Bowl. ... I think doing projects like this help you get it. It for sure helps your resume.”

Of course, there are other factors that go into ultimately landing the NFL’s biggest event, including number of hotels and other infrastructure.

“Does this guarantee (a Super Bowl)? No. But does this help? Yes,” Coleman said.

Who is paying for the additional renovations?

The additional renovations are privately funded with no additional taxpayer money required.

TSE will pay for any overage costs and ongoing maintenance associated with the project.

The city of Charlotte originally contributed $650 million to the project in 2024 with TSE adding the additional $150 million, bringing the original cost of stadium renovations to $800 million after Tepper decided to remain in the stadium rather than build a new one.

What's going to be new at the stadium?

The entire stadium and its surroundings are being reimagined.

Renderings released Thursday showcase expanded indoor-outdoor gathering spaces across all levels, a 500-level social patio with sweeping views of Uptown Charlotte. There will also be larger and more dynamic scoreboards and displays and improved audio.

Seating options have been upgraded with premium offerings including technology designed to create a more connected and personalized experience.

When finished, the entire exterior of the stadium will look completely different to Panthers fans with a fresh, modern, open-air look that includes a signature illuminated crown for the Queen City skyline.

The black metal gates that surround portions of the stadium will be removed, creating a more welcoming park-style setting.

The renderings also include expanded retail and food and beverage options, increased restroom capacity, and flexible event spaces that will support game days while serving community, corporate and other special events during the offseason.

Included in what Panthers officials now call the “corridor” is the new entertainment venue outside of the North gate.

The goal: Making Charlotte a weekend destination

Coleman said the goal of everyone involved has been to bring Tepper’s vision to life.

Over the past few years the Panthers have brought some of the team’s fans to opposing cities to see what they like about other stadiums. They have also listened to suggestions and criticisms from existing permanent seat license holders about the game day experience in Charlotte.

“Our fans from Raleigh or Charleston and other places would say ‘we want this to be a weekend destination, not just for Sundays,’” Coleman said.

The need for music was high on the fans' wish list, Coleman said.

Such was the impetus for the building of the entertainment venue that will host 80 to 100 concerts and events during the year, as well as provide enhanced hospitality on NFL game days.

“So now people can come on a Friday and go to a concert, go to a soccer match on Saturday and then stay for a Panthers game on Sunday,” Coleman said. “That was really the vision.”

Coleman said the renovations have something everyone throughout the stadium can benefit from whether sitting in the lower bowl, upper bowl or luxury suites.

“I'm so excited that every fan will experience something different," Coleman said.

Charlotte Mayor Rob Harrington called the project an investment in Charlotte’s future “preserving an iconic venue, enhancing the fan experience, and ensuring Bank of America Stadium continues to create unforgettable memories while giving visitors countless reasons to return to our city for years to come.”

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

About 10 attackers opened fire and threw pipe bombs at soldiers at a security check point near a residential area in Narathiwat province Wednesday evening before fleeing, according to the regional Internal Security Operations Command. It said six civilians were injured during the attack, including a 10-year-old boy who remains hospitalized in stable condition.

Photos released by authorities showed a group identified as the attackers, dressed in black clothing and hats and riding on the back of a black pickup truck. Security officials said the truck was later found abandoned and set on fire about 21 kilometers (13 miles) away from the scene.

They said the attackers had stolen three AK-47 rifles, three bullet proof vests and three mobile phones from the soldiers, who were members of the country's paramilitary Ranger force, which operates as an auxiliary to the regular army and is usually deployed in border regions.

Narathiwat, along with Yala and Pattani, are Thailand’s southernmost provinces and are the only ones with Muslim majorities in the predominantly Buddhist nation. Since 2004, the provinces have been the site of a Muslim separatist insurgency that killed thousands.

Muslim residents have long complained of being treated like second-class citizens in Thailand, and separatist movements have been periodically active for decades. Heavy-handed crackdowns have fueled the discontent. Fighting continues to this day, but at a lower level.

The Internal Security Operations Command Region 4, which oversees security operations in southern Thailand, vowed in a Facebook post to “expedite the investigation and search for the perpetrators with the best efforts.”

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul condemned the attack, saying it was a “terrorist attack that clearly aimed at killing government officials, and a serious threat to national security,” according to government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek.

Footage aired by public broadcaster Thai PBS showed homes and properties of residents nearby were also damaged. One home had damage to its roof, windows and doors, while a motorcycle parked outside the house was destroyed. Another home had bullet holes scattered across its metal front gate.

But with barely three months until November's contest, the perceived threat to rural life, ranchland and dwindling water supplies could become a defining issue for her long-shot challenge to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, dividing conservative rural areas that have traditionally served as a counterweight to Democrats' urban strongholds.

The backlash to energy-guzzling server warehouses is also shaping other statewide campaigns from Arizona to Ohio to New York, and even giving Democrats a glimmer of hope in Texas, where Republicans have dominated for three decades.

“There is this little issue that I recently started hearing about that I wanted to tell you about, in case you don’t know,” Hinojosa quipped to a Democratic Party-organized crowd of about 160 seated on fold-out chairs at an Amarillo social club in Texas' panhandle. “It’s this issue of data centers.”

The crowd booed, and she went on: “They are owned by the richest men in the world. We’re all footing the bill. There are no rules. It is the wild west of data centers.”

The fast growth of massive data centers has already upended races for local offices across the country, often uniting conservatives and liberals in revolting against projects in their midst.

People don't like the secrecy surrounding the projects or the prospect of air, noise, water and light pollution. They fear electric bills going up, wells going dry and losing open space, farmland or forest.

Now the ripple effects have spread to top-of-the-ticket races, where incumbents and challengers are trying to show that they hear an angry electorate.

In Ohio, Democratic nominee Sherrod Brown aired a television advertisement attacking Republican U.S. Sen. John Husted as the "face of data centers in Ohio" as people gather signatures for a statewide referendum to outright ban their construction.

In Wisconsin, a Democratic candidate for governor, Francesca Hong, is pledging to “tax the rich, fund our schools and stop AI data centers” as she campaigns for her party's nomination in a crowded primary.

In Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro is facing heat from some voters who feel like he's been too welcoming to tech behemoths. Sam Burleigh, a Democrat whose rural community is fighting off data center projects, accused Shapiro of “allowing these data centers to come in and take over acres and acres of prime farmland.”

Texas is fertile ground for data centers

Any political unrest may be felt most acutely in Texas.

The state is poised to overtake northern Virginia as the largest global data center market by 2030, according to a report by commercial real estate giant JLL. It has lots of land, lots of energy and a friendly regulatory environment under Republican leadership.

In rural west Texas and its panhandle, gargantuan data centers are under construction, including one near Amarillo touted as the world's largest. Some come with designs for natural gas-fired turbines to power them.

Rumors are flying about others popping up — Google, which is building four data centers in northwest Texas, sponsored moderated conversations with officials and business elite in Lubbock and Amarillo in recent weeks — and it is sowing an outcry across small cities, tiny towns and sprawling ranches where people vote overwhelmingly Republican.

Google says its investments are advancing American innovation, fortifying cybersecurity and boosting energy capacity, while President Donald Trump has made data centers a top priority to help the U.S. compete against China for AI superiority.

But tech giants and developers can be secretive about their plans, making it impossible to know what will be built or what sort of pollution they'll create, critics say. Some worry that data centers will destroy rural Texas' low cost of living and sully sunsets and sweeping views that stretch toward the horizon.

Others say construction and an influx of workers are already causing havoc for ranchers and towns, driving up rents, snapping up farmland, illuminating the night sky, clogging roads and turning parts of rural Texas into industrial zones.

Opposition crosses a partisan divide

Democrats are prominent among the data center critics, but so are Republicans, including Texas' sitting agriculture commissioner, Sid Miller. They say there are many more Republicans who are quieter because they fear publicly opposing their governor and party.

“They're upset with Greg Abbott,” said Suzanne Bellsnyder, a former Republican activist from Spearman who writes a syndicated column that advocates for rural Texas. “Whether that translates into voting against him, I don't know.”

Abbott has aggressively advocated for big projects in Texas and, in November, he helped make Google's announcement of a $40 billion investment there, saying “Texas is the epicenter of AI development.”

Compounding that, Texas counties don't have zoning authority — precisely the local land planning authority that communities around the country are increasingly using to fight off data centers.

Abbott seems to recognize that data centers are dividing his base. In recent weeks, he ordered regulators to take steps to ensure Texans weren't paying higher electricity bills because of data centers and promised to push a legislative agenda next year to impose regulations on data centers.

At an East Texas campaign stop, Abbott said that includes taking away the state's billion-dollar-plus-per-year tax break and preventing data centers from being built in “rural Texas neighborhoods.”

Hinojosa and others derided Abbott's words about “rural Texas neighborhoods” as meaningless — "doublespeak that makes no sense to anyone," Hinojosa said — and lacking urgency or seriousness.

“Now we have this gold rush of data centers in our communities," Hinojosa said in an interview, adding that “people want a say, and I think that’s fair.”

As governor, she said she'd block a permit for a data center if it wasn't a good deal for Texans or residents hadn't gotten a say in the matter.

Abbott tries to soothe concerns

Abbott's campaign season turnabout on data centers doesn't seem to have soothed many.

Of great concern is the prospect that data centers will consume massive amounts of water and worsen drought conditions for ranchers and farmers in a state where water shortages already crippled the sugar cane industry.

“Oh, I guarantee you, it's on everybody's mind,” said Giles Dalby, a cattle rancher and a Republican county commissioner in west Texas.

Dalby, who raises Angus and Brangus cattle on ranchland that's been in his family for 125 years, pointed to fast-growing cities where water authorities have had to go to greater lengths to procure water, including the “water wars” between San Antonio and ranchers several years ago.

Texas is increasingly steamrolling over landowner rights in the quest for public water, Dalby said, and that could mean that data centers get in line ahead of ranchers when shortages or rationing worsen.

Clayton Tucker, a rancher and the Democratic nominee for state agriculture commissioner, said his campaign events are consumed by talk of data centers. It doesn't matter whether he's meeting with Democrats or Republicans.

“This is the most cross-partisan issue I’ve ever seen in my life,” Tucker said.

Meanwhile, protest groups are springing up, including one in Lubbock that is led by Republicans. The founders, Stephen Sanders and Hallie Bertrand, like some other Republican opponents of data centers, say it's possible or even certain they won't vote for Abbott, although they may not necessarily vote for Hinojosa.

There is still time for Abbott to push through major legislation before the election and “be a hero,” Sanders said.

The big question is whether enough rural voters will turn against Abbott to give Hinojosa a shot. It’s hard to tell, Bertrand said, especially when some know nothing about the issue.

“They'll just hit that button, Republican all the way down,” Bertrand said. "But I think it’s a step towards something that we have not seen in Texas in a long time, with people on the right switching to the left. Or scooting a little closer to the middle, maybe."

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Follow Marc Levy at http://twitter.com/timelywriter

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

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

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

Victims and survivors describe the impact of the attacks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The proposed sentence sparks fury

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Defense attorney says Boelter has remorse

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

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

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

Boelter pretended to be a police officer to gain access

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

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

Boelter had already visited the Hoffmans' home that night, shooting and critically injuring the senator and his wife, according to police and court documents. Court documents said Boelter also went to two other lawmakers' houses that night, including Bahner's, but was scared away by a police officer in one instance, and no one was home at the other address.

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

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

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Lauer reported from Philadelphia.

In the first of several votes, the panel of Food and Drug Administration experts narrowly voted 8-6 in favor of broadening access to a chemical called BPC-157, one of the most popular peptides among longevity and wellness influencers. One panel member abstained from voting.

The two-day meeting has the backing of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has described himself as a “big fan” of peptides and vowed to overturn FDA restrictions put in place under President Joe Biden.

The vote on BPC-157 reflected the unusual makeup of the panel. Before the meeting, more than a half-dozen people with connections to the peptide industry were added to the panel, including doctors, pharmacists or consultants who work with the chemicals.

All those experts voted in favor of allowing specialty pharmacies to produce their own formulations of BPC-157 for patients.

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

The vote came despite a highly critical review of the peptide from FDA’s staff scientists, who said there was little data suggesting BPC-157 is effective for medical use.

The panel is scheduled to take similar votes Thursday and Friday on six other popular peptides, recommending whether they should be added to a list of substances that are safe for compounding by pharmacies. The votes aren’t binding and the FDA has periodically bucked the recommendations of its outside experts.

FDA scientists remain unconvinced of peptide safety and benefits

In recent years, the FDA has warned Americans about the risks of injecting peptides like BPC-157 and TB-500, another compound set for review Thursday. Both are considered doping substances by international sports authorities.

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

FDA convened this week’s meeting to discuss seven unapproved peptides that are under review for various medical conditions, including ulcerative colitis, migraines and opioid addiction. FDA’s staff reviewers said before the meeting they couldn’t find strong evidence to support any of those uses.

Social media platforms are brimming with testimonials from people claiming the substances helped them build muscle, recover from injuries or look younger. BPC-157 is among the most popular peptides sold online and via compounding pharmacies. It’s been cited by podcaster Joe Rogan who says it helped him treat a muscle injury.

But FDA scientists said they could find little data on the medical use of BPC-157 and raised concerns about risks of contamination, allergic reactions and quality control.

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

Even determining which form of the drug should be used was unclear to regulators, since BPC-157 is not recognized as an official pharmaceutical ingredient in the U.S.

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

Peptide supporters push FDA for easier access

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

During a public comment period, the panel heard from more than 20 speakers — including doctors, lawyers and peptide entrepreneurs — urging that BPC-157 and other substances be made more widely available.

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

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

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

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

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

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