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Portis was introduced first at Kaseya Center before Antetokounmpo addressed reporters later in the afternoon.

Heat president Pat Riley called the day the culmination of years of admiring Portis’ game and the pursuit of one of the NBA’s biggest stars.

Riley laughed when explaining why Portis will wear No. 95 with the Heat.

“It was great the other day to see how he came to that number because he drove all the way from Milwaukee on 95 down to Miami,” Riley said. “And I like that number because it reminds me of a double-double somewhere along the way.”

He also praised Portis’ versatility and toughness.

“I always loved his game, right out of Arkansas to Chicago to Washington, New York, Dallas, and finally Milwaukee,” Riley said. “Prototype power forward, very versatile... a hell of a player and we’re very fortunate to have him part of our organization.”

Portis, 31, enters his 12th NBA season after spending the past seven years with the Bucks. Last season, he averaged 13.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 48.8% from the field and 45.6% from 3-point range on 4.4 attempts per game.

The Heat is the fifth team of Portis’ NBA career. He previously played for the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, New York Knicks and Bucks.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Portis brings the physical style and versatility Miami targeted this offseason.

“We feel like we bring a physicality and an edge to our front court, and that’s something that we’ve always wanted,” Spoelstra said. “Everybody’s talking about you need to have some size in the front court and positional size. We think we’ve checked those boxes.”

Spoelstra called Portis “one of the best shooting bigs in the league” while also praising his rebounding, post play and defensive versatility.

Portis said joining the Heat fulfills a longtime dream.

“First and foremost, I just want to give a big shout out to the Heat organization for allowing me to be a part of this trade, allowing me to grace the culture,” Portis said. “I was born to be a Heat player, so it fits right in with me. My favorite team growing up, I just want to put that out there.”

He added that he prides himself on improving every offseason.

“Over time, as you grow in your career, you want to evolve your game each and every year,” Portis said.

Hours later, the spotlight shifted to Antetokounmpo, whose arrival represents one of the biggest acquisitions in franchise history.

Riley said adding another superstar continues the organization’s pursuit of championships.

“We got Giannis,” Riley said. “This is just part of who the Heat are in the pursuit of excellence, but you don’t win championships unless you have greatness on the court and on the bench.”

Spoelstra said he didn’t hesitate when Riley approached him about the possibility of coaching Antetokounmpo.

“A little while ago Pat called me into his office and he looked at me and he said, ‘Do you want to coach Giannis?’” Spoelstra said. “Yes. I didn’t ask why he asked the question. I didn’t ask how it could work. I just walked out of the office and let him and Andy (Elisburg) get to work.”

Spoelstra said Antetokounmpo’s competitiveness is what makes him special.

“He is a force of will, a force of nature, has an absolute will to win,” Spoelstra said. “On any given day or year, he can be the best on the planet.”

Antetokounmpo, 31, said he has long admired the Heat organization from afar.

“I’ve always had huge respect for the Miami Heat organization,” he said. “Around the league as players we speak, we talk, and you always hear about the Miami Heat culture — that guys work hard, guys are very disciplined, guys are very driven and guys are very selfless.”

The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player said he wanted a new challenge after spending 13 seasons in Milwaukee.

“I think I thrive under pressure,” Antetokounmpo said. “I think I need pressure at this time in my career. I think in order for me to go to the next level, I’ve got to get out of my comfort zone, and I feel like Miami was the place for me to be.”

He added that winning another championship remains his primary motivation.

“I’ve accomplished a lot of things in my career, but one of my goals is to win another championship,” he said. “I feel like this is the best route for me to do that.”

The seven-time All-NBA First Team selection, two-time MVP, 2021 NBA champion and Finals MVP, nine-time All-Star and 2020 Defensive Player of the Year said he is eager to team with center Bam Adebayo after years of battling him.

“With Bam I got 12 hours of sleep,” Antetokounmpo joked. “I had to be extra ready because I know he’ll play very, very hard.”

He said he believes the pair can anchor one of the league’s top defenses.

“It starts from me and Bam,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’m excited to compete with him. I’m excited to be on the same side with him.”

Antetokounmpo also explained why he changed his jersey number from No. 34, which he wore throughout his 13 seasons in Milwaukee, to No. 7 with the Heat.

Giannis asked about changing his number from 34 to 7.

He says if you add 3+4 it equals 7. His mom was born on the 7th. But he says the real reason he changed it was for the love and respect he has for Milwaukee.

“It was kind of like having closure mentally and emotionally.”

— Will Manso (@WillManso) July 16, 2026

He said the number carries personal significance because adding 3 and 4 equals 7 and his mother was born on the seventh day of the month. But he said the primary reason for the change was to honor his time with the Bucks.

“It was kind of like having closure mentally and emotionally,” Antetokounmpo said. “Out of love and respect for the previously organization that I spent 13 yeares with, I didn’t want to wear No. 34 anymore.”

Riley also acknowledged the difficulty of parting with several young players and draft assets to acquire Antetokounmpo but said the opportunity was too significant to pass up.

“We’re about now, and Giannis is about now too,” Riley said. “It’s not easy when you develop a lot of time and effort into development, but once you make it, you go full forward with it. We’re going for it all.”

With Antetokounmpo, Portis and Tim Hardaway Jr. joining a roster led by Adebayo, the Heat enter the 2026-27 season with renewed championship expectations.

LeBron returning to Miami?

Riley also appeared to tease that the Heat may not be done making moves.

When asked about his earlier comment that “we landed the plane, now there’s another one we have to land,” Riley smiled but declined to elaborate.

“The first thing to do is we landed a 747,” Riley said, referring to Antetokounmpo. “You want to characterize the other guy, you can go ahead and characterize it.”

Miami will hold its annual media day Sept. 28 at Kaseya Center before opening training camp on Sept. 29.

And don’t forget, you can watch Miami Heat games on Local 10 next season as WPLG Local 10 and the Heat announced a newly expanded media rights agreement, making Local 10 the home of HEAT basketball across South Florida! CLICK HERE for more information on how to watch!

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

The puzzled looks, shakes of the head and sagging shoulders said it all.

McIlroy was just 10 holes into his bid to win the British Open for the first time since 2014 and he was veering dangerously close to playing himself out of title contention.

Missing one putt from four feet wasn’t necessarily unusual. But doing it three times? In the space of four holes?

That trio of bewildering close-range mishaps — on Nos. 7, 8 and 10 — came either side of McIlroy driving the green to make birdie on the 415-yard No. 9. Go figure.

And it pretty much summed up the world No. 2’s wild late-afternoon ride in a 2-over 72 that included six bogeys and left him seven shots off the first-round lead, held surprisingly by 115th-ranked Jackson Suber on Thursday.

McIlroy arrived at the Open after a seventh-place finish at the Scottish Open, where he went viral by shouting “I’m so bad at golf” following a poor approach shot late in his final round.

The sixth player — and only European — to complete the career Grand Slam rarely hides his emotions and he cut a frustrated figure for most of his round Thursday, not least when he chipped through the green and into a bunker at the par-5 No. 17.

McIlroy managed to splash out to 8 feet while having one knee on the ground but a weakly struck par putt led to another dropped shot.

Making birdie at the tough last hole after a brilliant approach to 5 feet sparked shouts of “Rory, Rory” from spectators in the grandstands and at least gave him something to cling to.

He barely raised a smile, though, after plucking the ball out of the cup. One stat spoke volumes: he ranked 148th in putting in the 156-man field.

McIlroy is playing a reduced schedule in 2026 and this is just his sixth event since winning the Masters for the second straight year, which moved his total of major titles to six.

A win this week would tie him with Harry Vardon as the European player with most majors in men’s golf.

He already has plenty of work to do.

___

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

The firm’s enforcement chief said Kalshi contacted federal regulators about bets allegedly made about what the president would say in public addresses.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president is aware of the situation, which she described as “unfortunate” and “a disgrace.”

“The White House has extremely strict ethical guidelines with respect to issues like this,” Leavitt told reporters, saying the aide is on unpaid leave.

ABC News reported Thursday that Gabriel Perez, who has been operating Trump’s teleprompter since 2016, used his inside knowledge to win more than $100,000 betting on what the president would say in big speeches, including the State of the Union address earlier this year.

Robert Denault, Kalshi’s lawyer and head of enforcement, said on X that the “Kalshi surveillance team promptly flagged, investigated and referred these trades” to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission that has regulatory authority over such matters.

His statement did not name Perez.

“We have been assisting regulators on this matter and provided all evidence that we collected, as we do with any referral,” Denault added.

ABC based its report on multiple sources who have knowledge of the matter but spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the details.

The ABC report described suspicious activity on Kalshi’s “Mentions” market, in which users can place bets on what phrases and specific words might be used in public speeches. Kalshi recently began requiring users to disclose their place of employment, and the platform’s policy prohibits betting based on information that users gain because of their job.

Attention on members of the administration profiting from the presidency has reached all the way to Trump himself.

In his most recent disclosures, Trump reported making $1.2 billion from his crypto businesses in 2025, raking in profits while his investors suffered losses in marketplaces that Trump has sought to shield from tighter federal regulation.

Trump got more than $500 million from his World Liberty Financial business selling new crypto products, including “governance tokens,” according to the required annual disclosure report with the Office of Government Ethics. It also showed another crypto business, CIC Digital LLC, took in more than $600 million from sales of souvenir-type “meme” coins stamped with his face. Both the tokens and the coins have plunged in value since the sales.

The president has also profited from merchandising deals and high-dollar political and official events at his properties, significantly increasing his net worth since returning to power.

Trump’s aides have stood by his personal and family business practices.

“The president is abiding by all conflict-of-interest laws that are applicable to the president,” Leavitt said earlier this year. It’s “absurd for anyone to insinuate that this president is profiting off of the presidency.”

Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington framed the proposal as one last push to deliver for voters ahead of the midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. It advanced on a vote of 20-14.

"We are rallying to finish what we started when the American people sent us here,” said Arrington, R-Texas.

With Iran war funding makes up the bulk of the package, some $60 billion, Arrington acknowledged that people can debate “why we're there” in the overseas conflict. But he said the money is needed for basic supplies — "just the bombs, bullets and battlefield readiness for our men and women in uniform to finish the fight successfully and return home safely — that’s it."

The resolution, which sets out instructions for the various congressional committees to draw up proposals, also calls for $13 billion for Intelligence, $12 billion for Agriculture, and $10 billion for Administration, which handles voting and elections.

Speaker Johnson goes it alone, trying to push past Democrats

The proposal is the third budget reconciliation package Republicans in control of Congress have put forward this session to steamroll Trump's priorities past Democratic objections using a legislative procedure that allows for simple majority votes for passage.

It's the same process House Speaker Mike Johnson used to pass Trump's big tax cuts bill last year and to advance four years worth of Homeland Security funds after Democrats refused to fund the department following the deaths of Americans protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier this year.

Johnson is pushing the effort almost single-handedly, without full backing from his slim House Republican majority or the Senate. He held lengthy meetings with Trump this week at the White House and hosted a private session for Republicans at the president's Camp David retreat to hash out details.

But the 47-page package remains a long-shot effort — too meager for some, too costly for others — ahead of voting in the full House expected next week.

Key Republican Rep. Chip Roy, an influential member of the Freedom Caucus who has expressed reservations about the package, did not vote at the Budget Committee session, as his home state of Texas deals with flooding.

Democrats argue Americans are paying for Trump's plans

Democrats are ready to vote against the proposal, as they did Thursday during committee action.

Rep. Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania, the ranking Democrat on the Budget Committee, said the document, some 6,500 words, never once mentions the issue that's top of mind for many Americans: affordability.

“People know this is a failed presidency, and a failed Republican majority,” Boyle said.

Democrats offered more than a dozen amendments to the package during the hours-long Budget Committee session and raised questions about how the new spending will ultimately be paid for — either via budget cuts to other programs or by piling onto the nation's debt.

Boyle offered an amendment to reinstate the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that Republicans allowed to expire last year, leading to the fall government shutdown. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., sought to reinstate funding for food stamps under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., sought to shift funds that Republicans provided the Department of Homeland Security to offset costs elsewhere.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, blamed the high costs of living on the Iran war and said every time Americans open their refrigerators or go to the gas pump they “paying for a war that should never have been started.”

Senate pans House plan, leaving next steps uncertain

Next steps are highly volatile, as the House holds a rare Saturday pro forma session, which is a largely administrative meeting that will allow the resolution to be filed in time for consideration next week.

Johnson can only lose a few detractors on his side of the aisle as he relies on Republicans only, without Democrats, for passage.

But the resolution, which outlines budgetary instructions to the various committees — Armed Services, Agriculture, Intelligence and Administration — would also have to be agreed on by the Senate. Republican senators have largely panned the House effort, waiting to see if Johnson can heave it to passage.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., who is expected to take over the Senate Budget Committee after the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, has been a leading budget hawk concerned about the nation's rising deficits.

The House plans to have its committees work on bill text over the August recess and bring the whole package back to the floor for a final vote in the fall.

On Wednesday, immigrants-rights groups protested outside the federal jail protesting on behalf of those detained inside and their families.

Local 10 News first reported on issues at the facility, including an air conditioning outage in the middle of the scorching South Florida summer, a week prior.

A group of wives of detainees were among the protesters. Their husbands are part of a larger population of immigrants who were once held in the now shut-down “Alligator Alcatraz” detention facility in the Everglades.

“Changing the building did not change the suffering,” activist Arianne Betancourt said.

“They have to drink out of the sink,” another woman said. “There’s cockroaches.”

The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed to Local 10 News the building had an air conditioning problem, but it claims it was fixed.

Annett Uset Dumont said since speaking to us last week, she claims her husband was placed in something called “the hole.”

“This guy you see on my shirt, his name Daikel Dumont Rodriguez and he’s currently in the FDC up in solitary confinement because I decided to talk to the news,” she said. “The hole is in the 12th floor and is in isolation.”

An FBOP spokesperson confirmed “the hole” is slang for disciplinary segregation, but declined to elaborate saying that “for privacy, safety, and security reasons, we do not comment on the conditions of confinement for any incarcerated individual.”

Dumont’s husband never called Local 10 News directly, but others did.

Officials with the FBOP said detainees are allowed to call members of the news media.

They later sent an additional statement to Local 10 News, saying in part:

“While it is general BOP policy not to discuss anecdotal allegations, we want to provide transparency on an incident that we were recently notified of that occurred at the Federal Detention Center (FDC) Miami on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at approximately 11:50 a.m. Numerous inmates confronted multiple staff members in one of the housing units regarding some complaints they had. The inmates were agitated and confrontational. To isolate and contain the situation, the inmates were ordered to return to their cells. The inmates did not initially comply with these orders, which resulted in a couple of the inmates being removed from the area and secured in the Special Housing Unit pending an investigation. To gain compliance from the remaining inmates, staff deployed a spray of Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) into the air. The remaining inmates complied and returned to their cells. Subsequently, the unit returned to normal operations later that day. The matter is currently under investigation.

“Retaliation of any kind is not tolerated in our agency. Allegations of employee misconduct are taken seriously and, consistent with national policy, are referred for investigation if warranted. Incidents of potential criminal activity or misconduct inside BOP facilities are thoroughly investigated for potential administrative discipline or criminal prosecution. The BOP remains committed to ensuring the safety of our employees, inmates, and the public.

“Additionally, news media and members of the community may correspond with inmates in writing as discussed in BOP Program Statement 5265.14 “Correspondence” here https://www.bop.gov/policy/progstat/5265_014.pdf (see pages 17 and 18) and by telephone as explained in Program Statement 5264.08 “Inmate Telephone Regulations” here, ‘Inmates may submit telephone numbers for any person they choose, including numbers for courts, elected officials and members of the news media.’”

FBOP statement

According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, James Shepard was on his way to a “court-ordered drug class,” but was pulled over for driving on a suspended license, “a violation of the felony probation he was already serving for multiple burglaries and thefts,” and was taken into custody.

Authorities said while he didn’t have a valid driver’s license, Shepard, of Palm Coast, did have something called a “Whizzinator,” described by the sheriff’s office as “a bogus bladder of fake (we hope) urine wired to a heating pad with a faux pizzle to make it convincing.”

Video released by FCSO ― which can be viewed above ― shows Shepard whipping the “Whizzinator” from his pants and chucking in onto the floor of the cruiser and then claiming the item wasn’t his, authorities said.

The deputy was not pleased.

“James, I have you on video pulling out a pee bag and a dildo out of your pants, OK?” the deputy says. “I’m not stupid. I clean this car every day. I’m responsible for what is in this car. I would know if there’s a pee bag and a godd--- dildo in my car.”

In an agency Facebook post, Sheriff Rick Staly said that Shepard, whom he described as a “pee-brain dirtbag,” had already gotten “the deal of a lifetime, walking around on community control when he should have been sitting in a prison cell for almost a decade.”

“Shepard terrorized our home construction businesses and had stolen enough appliances to open an appliance store but was only sentenced to community control when his own sentencing scoresheet had him eligible for a minimum of 9 years in prison,” the sheriff said. “Now he has a stream of new charges after flushing away a second chance to turn his life around. Instead, he tried to trick the system. Now he needs to go to prison!”

That “stream of new charges” includes counts of driving without a valid license, violating his probation, defrauding a drug test and tampering with evidence, according to FCSO.

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The addition of the disturbance in the far eastern Atlantic was less a statement about its development potential than a simple nod to a healthy-looking tropical wave.

Models don’t show this one going anywhere in terms of development and by the weekend increasing wind shear and dry air will formally seal its fate.

Meanwhile closer into the U.S., forecast models continue to waffle over the development odds for an elongated area of low pressure that’s expected to form over the northeastern Gulf by late this weekend.

Models have only been mildly interested in this one and turned largely bearish again overnight.

As we’ve detailed in previous newsletters, the environment just isn’t in a configuration to promote much development into the early part of next week. The broad surface low will be accompanied by a mid- to upper-level low above, jet dynamics that aren’t conducive to tropical organization.

Additionally, a series of fast-moving jet stream dips beginning this weekend and persisting into early next week will ensure moderate to at times strong wind shear near the system.

Overall, the mix of wind shear and land interaction will significantly limit development potential and it’s unlikely this one clears the hurdles next week.

Heavy rain threat regardless for parts of west-central Florida

As we mentioned on Wednesday, regardless of development the disorganized low pressure will still bring the threat of heavy rains to parts of west-central Florida to start next week.

Models indicate periods of heavy rain beginning this weekend and ramping up across parts of west-central and northeastern Florida Sunday into Monday. Given the drought conditions in this part of Florida, this type of rain could be largely beneficial if spread out over a few days.

For now, the NWS only indicates a marginal risk of excessive rainfall from Sunday through early Tuesday for the middle tier of Florida. We’ll of course monitor the trends in the event the flood risk increases for next week.

Big outage for NOAA’s big hurricane-tracking satellite

The main operational weather satellite from NOAA that we use to continuously monitor the Atlantic basin during hurricane season – also the primary satellite used by meteorologists to monitor weather systems across the eastern part of the U.S. – encountered a mechanical issue late Wednesday and was turned off to troubleshoot the problem and protect the satellite from a wider system failure.

The last satellite image we received from GOES-19 was from 4:10 p.m. ET on July 15.

According to a satellite alert message issued by NOAA two hours after GOES-19 was placed in a safe hold on Wednesday, engineers are investigating the issue and working to recover the satellite. So far, no recovery timelines have been shared by the agency.

It’s worth noting that while NOAA does have satellite redundancy capabilities and can revert to its legacy (i.e., older) GOES-16 satellite to cover the Atlantic, getting this satellite in place and turned on would presumably take some time.

We rely heavily on GOES-19 for a multitude of critical satellite-derived products to investigate developing storms and to track and estimate the intensity of hurricanes.

The satellite data are also critical input to forecast models, and without GOES-19 data we should expect model forecast skill to temporarily drop.

While we have some overlap in the far western Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf, with GOES-19’s western counterpart GOES-18 and in the eastern Atlantic with the European Meteosat-12 satellite, neither satellite is optimized to give a clear picture of the entire Atlantic and the pictures we capture on their edges is of degraded quality.

We’ll keep you posted on the status of GOES-19 and this evolving story in the days ahead.

Update: As of Wednesday afternoon (July 16th), NOAA has resolved the earlier reported issue with GOES-19 and the satellite and all instruments are returning to normal operations. The recovery process is expected to be completed by Wednesday evening and satellite data began retransmitting as of 1:15 PM ET Wednesday, July 16th.

The rule, which goes into effect in September, also puts in place restrictions on when and how students may change their major or academic program.

Current rules give students significantly more flexibility. They are generally admitted to the U.S. for as long as it takes to complete the academic program, many of which are longer than four years by design.

Higher education leaders have opposed the rule, arguing the change creates an administrative burden for schools, universities and the federal government.

“This action is unnecessary and duplicative,” said Zuzana Wootson, deputy director of federal policy at the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, a nonprofit organization. “International students are already among the most closely monitored nonimmigrant populations in the U.S. and are subject to rigorous oversight by DHS and academic institutions.”

In a statement, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin described the rule as cracking down on a loophole that international students were exploiting by extending their studies.

“By implementing clear, finite limits on these visas, the United States is reclaiming its ability to properly screen, vet, and monitor individuals within our borders,” Mullin said. “This final rule ensures that foreign students remain focused on their primary purpose: completing their studies and returning home.”

The rule is the latest in a series of Trump administration crackdowns on international students. Last spring, widespread terminations of students' legal status sent students scrambling to hide or leave the country out of fear they would be detained for being in the U.S. illegally.

The federal government also imposed a requirement for visa applicants to share their social media handles, subjecting them to increased scrutiny. And travel bans affecting more than a dozen countries across Africa, the Middle East and Asia further limited international students' ability to obtain a visa and enter the U.S. for school.

The rule comes as international student enrollment is declining. The effects are most acutely felt at schools with small endowments and student bodies that enroll a large percentage of international students, who have been recruited from abroad. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid and, as a result, often pay full-price tuition.

Higher education leaders have warned the growing uncertainty could further drive international students elsewhere, with ripple effects throughout the workforce and the economy.

“At a time when global competition for talent is intensifying, this policy sends exactly the wrong message,” Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, an association that represents international education, said in a statement. “It tells the world’s brightest students and scholars that the United States is becoming less welcoming, less predictable, and less committed.”

___

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

The move announced Thursday would allow Wall Street trading firms and other institutions to get news from Truth Social contributors in milliseconds so they could profit off subsequent moves in stocks, bonds and interest rates. Called Truth PSI, it would mimic paid access at other platforms with one key difference: The most popular Truth Social poster is the president himself and, as the biggest shareholder of the public traded parent company, would directly benefit.

“He’s selling expedited, privileged access to information about what he is doing as president,” said Kathleen Clark of Washington University School of Law and an expert in government conflicts of interest rules. “It’s yet more brazen corruption, an improper exploitation of government power to enrich himself.”

The Trump family company declined to comment. Truth Social's public parent, Trump Media & Technology, did not immediately respond to emailed questions, including whether the president's posts will be excluded from the offering.

A press release suggested Trump would indeed be part of the offering, stating it would allow traders to see “the highest-ranking Truth Social accounts” ahead of others. The president has 12.9 million followers on the platform.

The release did not say how much customers would be charged.

In the past few months, Trump has announced decisions and musings on his platform including posts about the Iran war, tariffs and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement crackdown in U.S. cities. The Iran posts in particular are impactful because investors are worried that higher oil prices will continue to stoke inflation and possibly force the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.

The announcement comes as stock in Trump Media & Technology has plunged 70% since the president took office last year.

Trump Media said that it hopes start the service next month and that it has already signed up customers.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday rejected suggestions that Islamabad had abandoned efforts to bring Washington and Tehran back to the negotiating table after brokering an initial ceasefire agreement last month that has now collapsed.

“Let me dispel the impression that Pakistan has done hands up, and this is not the case,” ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said at a news conference, adding that the parties eventually "will have to come to the negotiating table to settle all outstanding issues.”

Even the top negotiators for Iran and the U.S. signaled they have not walked away from talks. In a podcast interview with Joe Rogan that aired Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance said the Trump administration is “not going to bomb and bomb and bomb” and noted that “you’ve got to actually be willing to talk and to try to figure out the problem.”

“We’re going try to use our military force as one of the many tools that we have to solve the problem,” Vance said, adding that “diplomacy is another tool.”

Mediators from countries that include Pakistan, Qatar and Egypt have been working to resume talks, according to regional officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive diplomacy. They noted that neither side has notified Pakistan that it was officially withdrawing or terminating the initial ceasefire agreement.

The backchannel efforts have been overshadowed by the escalating attacks, with the U.S. military on Thursday conducting strikes deeper into Iran and firing on a ship that the U.S. accused of trying to break its naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iran has retaliated by launching missiles and drones at U.S. allies in the region and warned that its attacks could grow to target “all the infrastructure in the region.”

The U.S. and Iran are in a delicate and potentially pivotal moment that “leaves open the possibility of moving up the escalation ladder,” said Naysan Rafati, senior Iran analyst at the Washington-based International Crisis Group.

The push is on for renewing negotiations

Andrabi, the spokesman for Pakistan’s foreign ministry, acknowledged that mediation between Iran and the U.S. had become increasingly difficult. But he said peace efforts remained alive.

“It can be put on the backburner, but it stays,” Andrabi said, adding that “whenever the parties exhaust the logic of escalation, the formula for peace is there.”

The regional officials involved in mediation attempts said efforts to salvage the deal to end the war were continuing this week. They acknowledged that the 60-day negotiating process spelled out in the interim deal has halted. But they said mediators have been working to persuade both sides to return to the negotiating table.

Officials say the key point of dispute is management of the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial energy shipping route that is Tehran’s greatest source of leverage. The language in the interim deal is vague. Iran claims it has the authority to arrange shipping transit through the strait, while the U.S. says the waterway is meant to be open to free passage and has tried to arrange an alternate shipping route along Oman’s coast.

In his interview with Rogan, Vance acknowledged that diplomacy might ultimately be the only way forward.

“I’m very frustrated by the Americans and frankly by people in other countries who are like, ‘You cannot negotiate with the Iranians,’” the vice president said. “Well, then what is your proposal to get people to stop shooting at ships in the Strait of Hormuz?”

Trump increases the threats and says Iran ‘better behave’

The fighting resumed over Iran’s unwillingness to allow oil tankers and other commercial vessels to navigate freely through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital Persian Gulf shipping route through which 20% of the world’s oil normally flows. Iran effectively choked off the usual stream of commerce by attacking commercial vessels that ignored its rules, disrupting world energy markets and driving up prices that could pose problems for Republicans in November’s midterm elections.

Asked by reporters in recent days if he is still open to negotiations, Trump has repeated his previous threats that Iran returning to the table is the only thing that can avoid U.S. attacks on civilian infrastructure like bridges and power plants. But the Republican president said he would not put a timeline on it.

“I don’t like giving deadlines, but they pretty much know, they know the story,” Trump said in Pennsylvania on Wednesday. “They better behave.”

Moments before, Iran’s parliament speaker and lead negotiator said the country is not declaring last month’s interim deal void. But Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Iran’s commitment depends on continued implementation by the United States. If Washington fails to honor its obligations, Iran would have no reason to remain bound by it, he argued.

The initial June 17 agreement called for a permanent end to hostilities and a reopening of the strait and started a 60-day negotiating clock to reach a final deal on the future of Iran’s nuclear program and other issues.

Qalibaf also suggested that Iran is not seeking to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed indefinitely. He said Tehran’s objective is to preserve what he called “Iranian arrangements” governing navigation through the waterway, while allowing the maximum safe passage of commercial shipping under those rules.

US is trying a naval blockade and more strikes to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — again

To stop Iran’s attacks on ships, Trump has stepped up military attacks and reinstituted an earlier Navy blockade of Iranian ports to inflict economic pain.

But it would be unrealistic to expect the U.S. to eliminate Iran’s ability to launch missiles and drones into the strait anytime soon, said Bradley Bowman, a former Army helicopter pilot and now a scholar at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a hawkish Washington think tank.

“Unfortunately, Iran only needs to hit a ship every now and then to create serious problems and dilemmas for insurers and ship captains and reduce the flow of traffic in the strait,” he said. “That reduced flow exerts significant economic and political pressure on Washington, especially as midterm elections approach. Iran understands the leverage it now has — and so does Trump.”

At the same time, Bowman and other experts are not convinced that more strikes and economic pressure will get Iran to negotiate.

“We’re doing things that have not affected Iranian behavior in the past,” said Mark Cancian, a retired Marine colonel and a senior defense adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “So why would it affect Iranian behavior now?”

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Amiri reported from New York, Magdy from Cairo and Ahmed from Islamabad. Associated Press writer Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

La conferencia de prensa de presentación de Portis está programada para las 12:30 p.m., seguida por la de Antetokounmpo a las 3 p.m.

Antetokounmpo llega a Miami después de 13 temporadas con los Bucks de Milwaukee, donde se consolidó como uno de los jugadores más destacados de la NBA.

El jugador de 31 años es dos veces Jugador Más Valioso (MVP) de la NBA, campeón de la NBA, Jugador Más Valioso de las Finales de la NBA, nueve veces All-Star y nueve veces seleccionado al Equipo All-NBA. También ganó el premio al Jugador Defensivo del Año de la liga en 2020 y es el líder histórico de los Bucks en puntos, rebotes, asistencias y bloqueos.

La temporada pasada, Antetokounmpo promedió 29.8 puntos, 11.9 rebotes y 6.3 asistencias por partido, además de obtener otra selección al Primer Equipo All-NBA. Su llegada a Miami se produjo como parte de uno de los intercambios más importantes de la temporada baja en la NBA.

Portis, de 31 años, se reúne nuevamente con Antetokounmpo después de pasar las últimas siete temporadas con los Bucks.

El ala veterano iniciará su duodécima temporada en la NBA tras promediar 13.7 puntos, 6.4 rebotes y 1.6 asistencias por partido, con un 48.8% de efectividad en tiros de campo y un 45.6% en tiros de tres puntos con 4.4 intentos por partido la temporada pasada.

El Heat será el quinto equipo en la carrera de Portis en la NBA. Anteriormente jugó para los Bulls de Chicago, los Wizards de Washington, los Knicks de Nueva York y los Bucks.

Las presentaciones se realizan mientras Miami continúa reestructurando su plantilla tras una activa temporada baja centrada en la adquisición de Antetokounmpo, un movimiento que elevó de inmediato las expectativas de la franquicia de cara a la campaña 2026-27.

Por ahora, los aficionados del Heat en Miami ya imaginan lo que viene.

Y no lo olvide, la próxima temporada podrá ver los partidos del Heat de Miami por Local 10, ya que WPLG Local 10 y el Heat anunciaron un nuevo acuerdo ampliado de derechos de transmisión, convirtiendo a Local 10 en la casa del baloncesto del Heat en todo el sur de Florida. HAGA CLIC AQUÍ para obtener más información sobre cómo ver los partidos.

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

MLB said Thursday its 2027 season will start with a single game to be televised that night by Netflix. The teams have not been chosen.

Opening matchups include Cleveland at the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis at Cincinnati, the Chicago White Sox at Detroit, Texas at Houston, Minnesota at Kansas City, Atlanta at the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets at Miami, the Los Angeles Angels at Milwaukee, Toronto at the New York Yankees, the Athletics at Pittsburgh, Arizona at San Diego, Colorado at San Francisco, Boston at Seattle, Baltimore at Tampa Bay and Philadelphia at Washington.

Baseball’s labor contract expires Dec. 1 and a management lockout is expected. In 2022, an agreement wasn’t reached until March 10, causing opening day to be pushed back from March 31 to April 7.

Chicago’s Wrigley Field will host the All-Star Game on July 13 and a rivalry weekend will follow.

The regular season is scheduled to end Sept. 26.

The Athletics are scheduled to play most of their home games in West Sacramento, California, for the third straight season before moving to a new ballpark in Las Vegas. They will have a homestand at the Triple-A ballpark in Las Vegas starting May 31 against San Diego and Cincinnati.

With no labor contract in place for 2027, no international games are scheduled.

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

Kordy Clark, de 31 años y residente de Homestead, fue arrestado casi cinco meses después y enfrenta cargos que incluyen intento de asesinato.

Según el Departamento de Policía de Miami (MPD), la balacera del 23 de febrero ocurrió alrededor de las 7:45 p.m. en el área de Florida Avenue y Douglas Road.

Las autoridades informaron que respondieron a una alerta de ShotSpotter y encontraron casquillos de bala en Florida Avenue, pero no localizaron a la víctima, hasta que un hombre llegó al HCA Florida Mercy Hospital con una herida de bala.

La Policía dijo que, cuando los agentes llegaron a la habitación del hospital, la víctima les dijo: “Detectives, no vi ni escuché nada”, afirmando que no sabía quién le disparó ni por qué, y explicó que inmediatamente saltó un muro después de recibir el disparo.

Un testigo, cuyo vehículo fue alcanzado por una bala, dijo durante una entrevista con la Policía que un hombre, posteriormente identificado como Clark, se le acercó en una bicicleta mientras llevaba un arma, se bajó y preguntó: “¿Dónde está Biz? Lo va a pagar, o cualquiera que esté con él”.

Las autoridades dijeron que el testigo comenzó una discusión con Clark, “la cual fue observada por la víctima antes de salir del vehículo del testigo”.

Según un informe de arresto del MPD, la víctima salió del vehículo, sacó su propia arma y disparó una vez al aire. Las autoridades dijeron que Clark respondió disparando múltiples veces contra la víctima, hiriéndola en los glúteos mientras huía.

El testigo le dijo a la Policía que “después de la balacera, Clark parecía emocional y comenzó a llorar mientras volvía a subirse a su bicicleta, diciendo: “No fue mi intención hacerle eso””, señala el informe.

La Policía dijo que encontró a Clark en su casa y lo trasladó a Miami para interrogarlo el miércoles.

Según el informe, Clark primero afirmó que no conocía a la víctima, pero luego admitió que sí, diciendo “que se conocían desde hacía mucho tiempo y que habían asistido juntos a la escuela”.

El informe señala que Clark les dijo a los detectives que “anteriormente había mantenido relaciones sexuales con la hermana de la víctima y creía que las acusaciones en su contra podrían estar relacionadas con eso”.

“Clark continuó negando haber estado presente en la escena al momento de la balacera y no pudo proporcionar ninguna evidencia o información sobre su paradero o actividades durante el momento en que ocurrió el incidente”, concluyeron los detectives.

Además del cargo de intento de asesinato, la Policía arrestó a Clark por usar un arma de fuego durante la comisión de un delito grave y por disparar ilegalmente un arma de fuego.

Hasta la tarde del jueves, permanecía detenido sin derecho a fianza en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight.

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Kordy Clark, 31, of Homestead, was taken into custody nearly five months later, facing charges including attempted murder.

According to the Miami Police Department, the Feb. 23 shooting happened at around 7:45 p.m. in the area of Florida Avenue and Douglas Road.

Authorities said they responded to a ShotSpotter alert and found shell casings on Florida Avenue, but no victim ― until a man turned up at HCA Florida Mercy Hospital with a gunshot wound.

Police said when they showed up to his room, the victim said, “Detectives, I did not see or hear anything,” claiming he didn’t know who shot him or why, saying he immediately jumped a wall after being shot.

A witness, who had a bullet enter his car, said during a police interview that a man ― later identified as Clark ― came up to him on a bicycle while toting a gun, dismounted and asked, “Where’s Biz at? He’s going to get it, or anyone who’s with him.”

Authorities said the witness got into an argument, “which was observed by the victim prior to exiting the witness’ vehicle.”

According to an MPD arrest report, the victim got out of the car, took out his own gun and fired a round into the air. Authorities said Clark then fired multiple rounds at the victim, shooting him in the buttocks as he ran away.

The witness told police that “after the shooting, (Clark) appeared emotional and began crying as he got back onto his bicycle, stating, ‘I didn’t mean to do that to him,’” the report states.

Police said they found Clark at his home and took him back to Miami for questioning on Wednesday.

According to the report, Clark first claimed he didn’t know the victim, but then admitted that he did, saying “that they had known each other for a long time and that they had attended school together.”

The report states that Clark told detectives that “he had previously engaged in sexual relations with the victim’s sister and believed the allegations made against him could be related to that.”

“(Clark) continued to deny being present at the scene at the time of the shooting and was unable to provide any evidence or information regarding his whereabouts or activities during the time the incident occurred,” detectives concluded.

In addition to attempted murder, police arrested Clark on charges of using a firearm in the commission of a felony and unlawful discharge of a firearm.

As of Thursday afternoon, he was being held without bond in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

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Miami police identified the suspect in an arrest report as Marjorie Normil, of North Miami Beach.

Police said the incident happened around 4 p.m. near Northeast Miami Court and 78th Street.

According to the arrest report, a public service aide was flagged down by a witness who reported a woman had been stabbed.

Police said the victim was found bleeding from her face and neck area and told officers she had been stabbed.

They said Miami Fire Rescue medics then transported the victim to North Shore Medical Center for treatment.

The report states officers later located Normil near Northeast First Court and 78th Street, matching the description provided by witnesses.

Police said a witness told detectives he “overheard a commotion” outside his home and saw the victim and Normil arguing over money the victim was owed. The witness said he separated the two women and went back inside.

When he returned outside, the witness said he saw the victim “bleeding heavily from her face and neck area” and saw Normil flee southbound on Northeast 78th Street, according to the report.

Another witness told detectives he saw the two women talking before hearing an argument. He said the victim looked toward him and stated, “Candy cut me,” the report states.

That witness later identified Normil to police, according to investigators.

Detectives said they also interviewed the victim at the hospital.

According to the report, the victim told investigators she had been arguing with Normil about a stolen vehicle she did not want to be involved with.

The victim told police Normil stabbed her “approximately four to five times in the face and neck area,” The report states. Police said she later identified Normil as the person who stabbed her.

The report states Normil was read her Miranda rights and agreed to speak with detectives. Her statement was redacted from the publicly released report.

Jail records show she is facing one count of attempted second-degree murder with a deadly weapon.

As of Thursday afternoon, she was being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

The National Transportation Safety Board reports released Thursday describe the evidence and witness reports that support there having been a bird strike before the helicopter plummeted into the river on April 10, 2025. The reports were not final, so don't identify a definitive cause of the crash.

The Federal Aviation Administration has said that helicopters are especially vulnerable to bird strikes because they fly at low altitudes. Helicopter bird strikes are unusual, but they can be devastating.

The victims of last year’s accident included a Siemens business executive from Spain, his family and the pilot. Passengers Agustin Escobar, 49; his wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal, 39; and their three children, Victor, 4; Mercedes, 8; and Agustin, 10, all died. The pilot was Seankese Johnson, 36, a U.S. Navy veteran who received his commercial pilot’s license in 2023. The crash renewed safety concerns about the popular sightseeing flights and prompted New Jersey’s governor to ask for additional restrictions on nonessential helicopter flights.

Remains of several geese were found on the helicopter’s rotors and left horizontal stabilizer. One witness told the NTSB that just minutes before the crash a large flock of geese took flight in the area.

“The geese were big and there were many of them. When the helicopter went bang, I immediately thought it was a bird strike,” the witness told NTSB investigators.

The Smithsonian Institution’s Feather Identification Lab identified remains from different breeds of geese on the wreckage. Some of those birds average about three pounds. The remains also include female Canada Geese, which can average nearly eight pounds.

The NTSB has investigated 24 helicopter bird strike crashes in the past 25 years, including three fatal ones. Helicopter pilots are encouraged to try to avoid areas where birds are known to be present and fly slower to minimize the potential damage from an impact.

“Bird strikes continue to be a hazard in aviation and one that can be difficult to mitigate,” said aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti, who used to investigate crashes for both the NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration.

The “ miracle on the Hudson” highlighted the danger of bird strikes when a US Airways jet hit a flock of birds and lost power in both engines shortly after takeoff in 2009. Pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger was hailed as a hero after he landed the powerless plane in the Hudson River and all 155 people on board were rescued.

In last year’s crash, witnesses described seeing the helicopter’s tail and main rotor breaking away and smoke pouring from the spinning chopper before it slammed into the water.

The helicopter took off from a downtown heliport that afternoon and flew north along the Manhattan skyline before heading south toward the Statue of Liberty. Less than 18 minutes into the flight, parts of the aircraft were seen tumbling into the water.

Rescue boats circled the submerged aircraft within minutes of impact and recovered the bodies from the water. Later recovery crews hoisted the mangled Bell 206L-4 helicopter out of the river for investigators to examine.

New York Helicopter Tours shut down after the crash, and the FAA issued an emergency order to ground all the company’s flights after learning it had fired its operations director minutes after he had agreed to suspend flights during the investigation.

The FAA said at the time that it suspected the firing was retaliation for a safety decision.

The company’s director of operations, Jason Costello, agreed to voluntarily halt flights while the crash was being investigated. But 16 minutes after Costello sent an email to the FAA, the company’s chief executive officer sent a separate email to the agency saying he did not authorize the halt and that Costello was no longer an employee.

La Policía de Miami identificó a la sospechosa en un informe de arresto como Marjorie Normil, de North Miami Beach.

La Policía informó que el incidente ocurrió alrededor de las 4 p.m. cerca de Northeast Miami Court y 78th Street.

Según el informe de arresto, un asistente de servicio público fue alertado por un testigo que informó que una mujer había sido apuñalada.

La Policía dijo que la víctima fue encontrada sangrando del rostro y el cuello y les dijo a los agentes que había sido apuñalada.

Indicaron que paramédicos de Miami Fire Rescue trasladaron a la víctima al North Shore Medical Center para recibir tratamiento.

El informe señala que posteriormente los agentes localizaron a Normil cerca de Northeast First Court y 78th Street, ya que coincidía con la descripción proporcionada por los testigos.

La Policía dijo que un testigo les dijo a los detectives que “escuchó una conmoción” afuera de su casa y vio a la víctima y a Normil discutiendo por un dinero que le debían a la víctima. El testigo dijo que separó a las dos mujeres y regresó al interior de la vivienda.

Cuando volvió a salir, el testigo dijo que vio a la víctima “sangrando abundantemente del rostro y el cuello” y vio a Normil huir hacia el sur por Northeast 78th Street, según el informe.

Otro testigo les dijo a los detectives que vio a las dos mujeres conversando antes de escuchar una discusión. Dijo que la víctima lo miró y dijo: “Candy me cortó”, señala el informe.

Posteriormente, ese testigo identificó a Normil ante la Policía, según los investigadores.

Los detectives dijeron que también entrevistaron a la víctima en el hospital.

Según el informe, la víctima les dijo a los investigadores que había estado discutiendo con Normil por un vehículo robado con el que no quería verse involucrada.

La víctima le dijo a la Policía que Normil la apuñaló “aproximadamente de cuatro a cinco veces en el rostro y el cuello”, señala el informe. La Policía indicó que posteriormente identificó a Normil como la persona que la apuñaló.

El informe señala que a Normil se le leyeron sus derechos Miranda y aceptó hablar con los detectives. Su declaración fue censurada en la versión del informe divulgada públicamente.

Los registros de la cárcel muestran que enfrenta un cargo de intento de asesinato en segundo grado con un arma mortal.

Hasta la tarde del jueves, permanecía detenida sin derecho a fianza en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight.

Miles de personas en la región noreste de la isla enfrentarán periodos de racionamiento de 48 horas a partir del viernes, informó Luis González, presidente ejecutivo de la Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados de la isla.

El programa de racionamiento afectará a varias comunidades en las ciudades de Canovanas y Rio Grande, al tiempo que las temperaturas siguen aumentando.

“El agua simplemente no nos va a dar”, subrayó González y añadió que es probable que el racionamiento se extienda a otras zonas.

González atribuyó la situación a la falta de lluvia, aunque la escasez severa de agua comenzó a afectar a algunas de las zonas más pobladas de la isla meses antes que iniciara la sequía, y las autoridades aún no han identificado el problema.

Esos cortes llevaron al alcalde de San Juan a demandar a la Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados de la isla a finales de mayo, y la gobernadora Jenniffer González reconoció que la infraestructura de la agencia ha carecido de inversión y mantenimiento durante décadas.

Casi 40.000 clientes se quedaron sin agua el mes pasado, lo que llevó a González a activar la Guardia Nacional. Ese corte no estuvo relacionado con la sequía actual.

El Monitor de Sequía de Estados Unidos indica que el 14% de Puerto Rico se encuentra actualmente bajo una sequía severa y otro 59% bajo una sequía moderada, frente al 18% a finales de junio. Calcula que alrededor de 2,3 millones de personas, de los 3,2 millones de habitantes de Puerto Rico, viven actualmente en una región afectada por la sequía.

Sequías anteriores han obligado a Puerto Rico a implementar estrictas medidas de racionamiento. En 2016, unos 400.000 clientes del servicio público recibían agua sólo cada tercer día.

Quienes han sido afectados por la escasez de agua han organizado protestas, y un número creciente de legisladores exige respuestas.

“Lo que está ocurriendo con la Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados no puede atribuirse únicamente a la sequía", destacó el representante Domingo J. Torres. "Lo que estamos viendo es una gerencia que improvisa, que reacciona cuando la crisis ya está encima y que no ha sido capaz de presentar un plan claro para garantizar el acceso al agua potable”.

Torres presentó una solicitud formal el miércoles para obtener información, entre otras cosas, sobre qué medidas está tomando la autoridad de acueductos y alcantarillados para enfrentar la sequía y garantizar el acceso al agua potable.

Un portavoz de la agencia de acueductos y alcantarillados de Puerto Rico no respondió a una solicitud de comentarios.

Los legisladores también celebraron una audiencia pública esta semana sobre el impacto financiero de la escasez de agua en una isla con una tasa de pobreza de casi el 40%.

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

Keith Sonderling has already been on the job as acting secretary since April, when the White House announced that Lori Chavez-DeRemer would be leaving her post to take a job in the private sector. Her exit followed multiple allegations that she had abused her position's power.

The hearing Thursday lacked much of the vitriol and drama that has been part of some confirmation hearings during Trump's second term. Still, there were considerable policy disputes, including on the administration's efforts to administer various Department of Education grant programs within the Department of Labor.

Sonderling was a senior advisor at the department during Trump's first term and went on to serve as a Republican member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He also taught about the laws the department enforces as an adjunct professor at George Washington University. He returned to the department in Trump's second term and was confirmed as deputy secretary in March of last year.

“Few people have had the opportunity to experience the department from so many perspectives,” Sonderling told lawmakers.

Sonderling faced Democratic criticism

Sonderling is expected to be confirmed, but Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., made clear she was no fan of his work.

She noted that the department this year rescinded a Biden-era rule that expanded who can get overtime pay, which the department had estimated would provide an additional 4 million lower-paid salary workers with overtime protections. A federal judge had also blocked the rule during the final months of Joe Biden's presidency.

Murray also noted that the department was pursuing a new rule for determining whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor, which she said would let corporations classify workers as contractors so they can pay lesser wages — depriving workers of billions of dollars annually. She said the Labor Department also fired the vast majority of employees in the office that works to protect workers from discrimination by federal contractors.

“I fear any vote to confirm you is for more of the same: to strip overtime protections for our workers, to undercut our unions and to let giant corporations get away with robbery, literally,” Murray said.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla, said Sonderling was without a doubt qualified to serve as the next Labor secretary. He also said Sonderling has provided stability and steady leadership at the department since Chavez-DeRemer's abrupt departure.

“He is committed to making America the best place to get a job,” Scott said.

Lawmakers raised concerns about grants and the use of AI

One issue that came up repeatedly during the confirmation hearing was Democratic lawmakers' concerns that some Department of Education grant programs are being managed at Labor. That's been happening as Trump works to fulfill his campaign pledge to close the Department of Education entirely.

Sonderling said Department of Education staff have been detailed to his department and that they're making policy decisions. He said the Department of Labor is assisting them on the back end in dispersing funding. For example, he said $1.5 billion came to his department at midnight on July 1 and was disbursed within an hour or two.

"And the states love this,” Sonderling said.

Senators also expressed concern about what impact the growing use of artificial intelligence is having on the American worker.

Sonderling said the department is collecting information from companies and unions about AI usage. The Bureau of Labor Statistics will review that data and help the department steer job training money to the states more effectively.

Currently, he said there is a “gloom and doom narrative” about AI's impact on workers that he said is driven by consultants and the tech industry.

“What we believe we're going to see is that AI-impacted jobs can potentially make you more productive. It can make your workplaces safer, but we can't get that information yet," Sonderling said.

Sonderling also touted his work with Vice President JD Vance as part of a task force focused on preventing fraud. He said he's telling states to “verify first and pay later” when it comes to unemployment insurance claims. He said the department is working with the state of Alabama on a centralized verification system.

“They have some of the lowest fraud and improper payment rates in the country because they are verifying,” Sonderling said.

The verdict — believed to be the largest-ever against a gun dealer — was awarded by a jury Wednesday following a trial focused on whether the vendor, Husky Armory LLC, skirted federal regulations barring the sale of the gun-assembly kits to those under 21.

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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. Helplines outside the U.S. can be found at www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts.

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In a wrongful-death lawsuit, the family of Henry Willis said he was just 18 when he purchased the Glock G19 pistol “build kit” from Husky Armory's website in 2023. He assembled the handgun in his garage — telling his father it was a transistor radio — and used it to end his life six days later.

Everytown Law, which represented the family, said the $104.2 million payout was the largest ever reached against a gun seller, surpassing the $73 million settlement awarded to the families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting by the rifle-maker Remington.

It comes a little over a year after the Supreme Court upheld regulations enacted by the Biden administration that mandated serial numbers on the homemade weapons and required buyers to complete background checks and age verification.

Attorneys for Willis said Husky Armory had flouted each of those requirements.

Their website advertised the product as having “everything you need to build your own Glock style pistol from the comfort of your home,” noting the weapon could be assembled by “nearly anyone with a brain,” according to the lawsuit.

Inquiries to Husky Armory LLC and its owner, Cody Yurk, were not immediately returned. The company, which is based in Omaha, Nebraska, was not present for the trial, according to the family and their attorneys.

At a news conference Thursday, Willis’ mother, Laura Herp, described her son as a “kind, gentle child” who had struggled with mental health issues in the months leading up to his death.

“A child in crisis should never be able to access a deadly weapon,” Herp said. “Companies like Husky Armory thrive off selling to folks who shouldn’t have access to firearms, and they didn’t care who Henry was. They didn’t even bother showing up to the trial.”

A state court in Louisville had previously issued a default judgment against the vendor for failing to respond to the lawsuit. Following a two-day trial this week, a jury awarded $4.2 million in economic damages and $100 million in punitive damages to the family.

“This historic verdict sends a powerful message to ghost-gun sellers who set up businesses to profit by circumventing critical safeguards like background checks and age verification,” said Dana Mulhauser, an attorney for Everytown Law. “Henry should be home with his family today, and Laura deserved more time and opportunity to help her son heal.”

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Surveillance video shows Angelica Obando vandalizing the Ford F-150, and she said she used a rock and a napkin that she set on fire, according to a Miami police officer’s arrest report.

“She also stated that she did it out of anger, believing she would not get in trouble because she had previously purchased the vehicle for him. However, the vehicle is not under the defendant’s name nor the ex-boyfriend’s name,” a police officer wrote, according to the report.

Shortly after 12:45 a.m., Miami police officers responded to the Coco Cafe along Northwest Seventh Street, near 17th Court, in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood, according to a police report.

“A scene assessment revealed the Ford F-150 with scrapes or scratches all around, broken side mirrors, a broken right taillight, and a broken right rear passenger-side window,” a police officer wrote, according to the arrest report.

Obando said she had been in a relationship with the driver of the Ford F-150 for about seven years, tand he relationship had ended badly, according to the police officer’s report.

“She was upset because her ex had been stalking her by using other people to tell him her whereabouts,” a police officer wrote, according to the arrest report.

Police officers arrested Obando, also known as Angelica Odalys Obando-Mayorga, at 1:10 a.m. on Thursday at 1742 NW 7 St. after she caused more than $3,000 in damage to the Ford, according to the report.

Obando was at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on Thursday afternoon, according to Miami-Dade inmate records. She faced charges of second-degree felony arson and criminal mischief.

It halted work on major projects, and it's buying back leases, citing national security concerns. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum says a classified report from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proves offshore wind is a national security threat.

This comes against the backdrop of the Republican president's hatred of wind turbines and desire to boost fossil fuels for “energy dominance” in the global market. National lab estimates show that turbines installed along the U.S. coasts could provide more than enough power to cover the nation's annual electricity consumption.

Wind turbines interfere with radar, but that isn't a new problem. The Pentagon reviews wind farm construction plans and can deem areas off limits. There are upgrades to radar to mitigate turbine impacts.

Here’s what to know about the national security implications of offshore wind development:

Turbines’ spinning blades can create false targets on radar screens

Burgum says he’s worried about autonomous drones going through a wind tower field undetected because of radar interference. And, he said, the vibration of wind towers could affect undersea sonar.

Radar systems can be adjusted to raise the threshold for what's considered a detection but may miss actual targets consequently, according to the Department of Energy.

Kirk Lippold, a national security expert and former commander of the USS Cole, said radar operators are trained to differentiate a live track — anything from a boat or a submarine periscope to an inbound drone or missile — from clutter. If drones aren't detected before they reach a wind farm, “we have bigger national security issues,” he said.

Trump administration says there are new risks

According to the Department of Justice, defense officials gave the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management classified information in November 2025 detailing new national security risks from offshore wind projects.

BOEM halted construction on five big East Coast projects days before Christmas. Burgum said they had to address the rapid evolution of relevant adversary technologies and vulnerabilities created by these projects near East Coast cities. This came after courts blocked Trump's efforts to halt development through executive action.

Like the United States, Sweden is raising security concerns with offshore wind energy. Officials said Thursday they're approving two offshore wind farms while rejecting 11 others.

Green Power Sweden CEO Nils Grunditz said he questions why Sweden is scaling back its offshore wind plans when technological solutions for radar interference are used elsewhere in the region. Denmark has been a pioneer in wind energy since building the first offshore wind farm in 1991.

The UK government said in March it bought new air defense radars to mitigate against anomalies created by offshore wind farms, touting it as new technology that secures coexistence of air defense and offshore wind. The independent climate change think tank E3G said North Sea turbines can be a defense asset, for example by including surveillance and monitoring equipment.

Judges were not convinced by the Trump administration

Developers impacted by the construction freeze and states sued. The DOJ argued national security concerns are paramount and federal courts do not second-guess military officials’ assessment of these risks.

Federal judges reviewed the classified information and allowed all five wind farms to resume construction.

At the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Senior Judge Royce Lamberth expressed concern that the stated national security reasoning may have been “pretextual,” to mask the true motives for stopping offshore wind.

In putting a major wind farm for Rhode Island and Connecticut back on track in January, Lamberth said the government did not apply the newly discovered concerns specifically to that project, Revolution Wind, Burgum publicly criticized offshore wind around the time of the stop work order for reasons unrelated to national security, and BOEM waited to act until December on information it received in November.

The Pentagon is also holding up the development of onshore wind farms, and the administration has used emergency orders to keep fossil fuel plants online.

Meghan Greenfield, a partner at Jenner & Block LLP in Washington, said the administration is making a national security argument in so many different contexts, “it has caused increased skepticism by the courts.”

A retired Navy officer is suspicious of the administration's motives

In buying back offshore wind leases, the Interior Department cited national security concerns with the projects, including those off California. The Interior Department said Thursday there were serious national security risks that demanded immediate attention, and it won't let “reckless projects create higher utility costs, a weakened energy system and unnecessary harm to the environment.”

Retired U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Dennis McGinn knows the waters off California's shore well. He commanded the fleet responsible for naval operations across the eastern and northern Pacific Ocean. He said there's no “showstopping national security issue” that would invalidate years of analysis of the lease areas.

McGinn said he thinks the administration is maximizing the risks and costs of offshore wind while minimizing the benefits to justify pursuing more fossil fuels and “it doesn't pass commonsense tests.” Offshore wind produces electricity cleanly. Oil, coal and natural gas emit carbon pollution when burned.

McGinn, who served as an assistant secretary of the Navy, said that radar interference is a problem recognized early on and adequately addressed and that thousands of turbines are operating across Europe and Asia.

“National security and offshore wind are compatible, if it is done right, in the right locations,” he said.

Economist Diana Furchtgott-Roth disagrees. A distinguished fellow at the Energy Policy Research Foundation, Furchtgott-Roth said the defense issues have been known for decades, the military's views should be taken very seriously, the nation shouldn't be dependent on Chinese-made turbines, and gas, coal and nuclear provide affordable, reliable power. The administration is acting prudently, she said.

Members of Congress were briefed

Democratic U.S. Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island said he participated in a classified briefing months ago and didn't find the reasoning compelling. Reed, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is trying to include a measure in the defense bill that sets military policy to force a 180-day deadline for a military office known as the siting clearinghouse to evaluate wind projects and explain its conclusion.

“They have to be able to produce a thoughtful and thorough analysis which justifies their decision,” Reed said Wednesday. "That’s the way to go.”

Even with that step, Reed said, this administration finds many ways to stop things it doesn't like and he expects the campaign against wind energy to continue.

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

Un video de vigilancia muestra a Angelica Obando vandalizando la Ford F-150, y ella dijo que usó una piedra y una servilleta a la que le prendió fuego, según el informe de arresto de un agente de la Policía de Miami.

“Ella también declaró que lo hizo por enojo, creyendo que no tendría problemas porque anteriormente había comprado el vehículo para él. Sin embargo, el vehículo no está a nombre de la acusada ni de su ex novio”, escribió un agente de la Policía, según el informe.

Poco después de las 12:45 a.m., agentes de la Policía de Miami respondieron al Coco Cafe, ubicado sobre Northwest Seventh Street, cerca de 17th Court, en el vecindario de La Pequeña Habana, en Miami, según un informe policial.

“Una evaluación de la escena reveló que la Ford F-150 tenía raspaduras o rayones por todas partes, espejos laterales rotos, la luz trasera derecha rota y la ventana trasera derecha del lado del pasajero rota”, escribió un agente de la Policía, según el informe de arresto.

Obando dijo que mantuvo una relación con el conductor de la Ford F-150 durante aproximadamente siete años y que la relación terminó en malos términos, según el informe del agente.

“Ella estaba molesta porque su ex novio la había estado acosando al utilizar a otras personas para informarle dónde se encontraba”, escribió un agente de la Policía, según el informe de arresto.

Los agentes arrestaron a Obando, también conocida como Angelica Odalys Obando-Mayorga, a la 1:10 a.m. del jueves en el 1742 de NW 7 St., después de que causó más de $3,000 USD en daños a la Ford, según el informe.

Obando permanecía en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight la tarde del jueves, según los registros de reclusos de Miami-Dade. Enfrenta cargos por incendio provocado en segundo grado y daños criminales a la propiedad.

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Police said Christopher Jacob Smith, 57, opened fire on the victim’s Jeep while the victim’s son was in the vehicle. The victim suffered a minor graze wound on the shoulder and was treated at Broward Health Coral Springs.

Authorities said it happened just before 3:15 p.m. in the 400 block of Northwest 87th Terrace.

According to an arrest report from the Coral Springs Police Department, the victim said he and his son had returned from Miami and went to a woman’s house to check on her “because they were concerned about her well-being.”

Police said Smith was outside waiting with a gun to confront them. The report states that as the victim rolled up, Smith ”stepped into the roadway and yelled that his foot was trapped beneath one of the Jeep’s tires."

According to police, the victim “immediately attempted to place the Jeep into reverse to move the vehicle off” Smith’s foot, but instead of letting him do that, Smith “produced a handgun from his waistband, pointed it toward the occupied Jeep and fired the weapon.”

The victim told investigators that he immediately got out of the Jeep and ”fled southbound on foot in a zig-zag pattern to avoid being struck by additional gunfire."

“As he opened the driver’s door, he heard another gunshot,” the report states. “(The victim) stated that (Smith) continued firing additional rounds directly at him as he fled, causing him to fear for his life and believe (he) was attempting to kill him.”

The victim’s son ran out as well and followed his father, police said. At one point, Smith entered the vehicle, they said.

Investigators interviewed the woman, who said that Smith “had become increasingly jealous of her relationship with (the victim) and demanded that she choose between the two men,” according to the report.

She told police that Smith had wanted her to move to California with him, which she refused. According to police, she said that immediately before the victim pulled up, Smith pulled a gun “from the glove compartment of his pickup truck and exited the vehicle while armed to confront” him. They said surveillance video corroborated the account.

Smith, police said, made a statement “minimizing his actions” that “was not credible,” though it was redacted from the report.

Police arrested him on charges of attempted first-degree murder, shooting at or into an occupied vehicle, armed burglary and child abuse.

As of Thursday afternoon, Smith was being held in the Broward Main Jail with no listed bond.

La Policía informó que Christopher Jacob Smith, de 57 años, abrió fuego contra la Jeep de la víctima mientras el hijo de la víctima se encontraba dentro del vehículo. La víctima sufrió una herida de rozón en un hombro y fue atendida en Broward Health Coral Springs.

Las autoridades informaron que el incidente ocurrió poco antes de las 3:15 p.m. en la cuadra 400 de Northwest 87th Terrace.

Según un informe de arresto del Departamento de Policía de Coral Springs, la víctima dijo que él y su hijo habían regresado de Miami y fueron a la casa de una mujer para verificar cómo se encontraba “porque estaban preocupados por su bienestar”.

La Policía informó que Smith estaba afuera esperándolos con un arma para confrontarlos. El informe indica que, cuando la víctima llegó en el vehículo, Smith “entró en la vía y gritó que uno de sus pies había quedado atrapado debajo de una de las llantas de la Jeep”.

Según la Policía, la víctima “intentó de inmediato poner la Jeep en reversa para retirar el vehículo del pie” de Smith, pero en lugar de permitirle hacerlo, Smith “sacó una pistola de la cintura, la apuntó hacia la Jeep ocupada y disparó el arma”.

La víctima dijo a los investigadores que inmediatamente salió de la Jeep y “huyó hacia el sur a pie en un patrón de zigzag para evitar ser alcanzado por más disparos”.

“Cuando abrió la puerta del conductor, escuchó otro disparo”, señala el informe. “(La víctima) indicó que (Smith) continuó disparándole directamente mientras huía, lo que hizo que temiera por su vida y creyera que (Smith) intentaba matarlo”.

La Policía informó que el hijo de la víctima también salió corriendo del vehículo y siguió a su padre. En un momento, Smith entró al vehículo.

Los investigadores entrevistaron a la mujer, quien dijo que Smith “se había vuelto cada vez más celoso de su relación con la víctima y le exigía que eligiera entre los dos hombres”, según el informe.

Ella dijo a la Policía que Smith quería que se mudara con él a California, pero ella se negó. Según la Policía, la mujer dijo que, justo antes de que llegara la víctima, Smith sacó un arma “de la guantera de su camioneta y salió del vehículo armado para confrontarlo”. Las autoridades indicaron que un video de vigilancia corroboró esa versión.

La Policía informó que Smith hizo una declaración “restando importancia a sus acciones”, la cual “no era creíble”, aunque fue censurada en el informe.

La Policía lo arrestó por cargos de intento de asesinato en primer grado, disparar contra un vehículo ocupado, allanamiento con un arma y abuso infantil.

Hasta la tarde del jueves, Smith permanecía detenido en la cárcel principal de Broward sin derecho a fianza.

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It happened just after 2 a.m. along Northeast 22nd Street, west of Second Avenue, in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood.

According to the Miami Police Department, the victim was in a vehicle being driven by the suspect, identified as Orlando Jose Olivares, when they got into an argument after Olivares allegedly almost caused a collision.

The argument continued until they reached their home, when police said the victim told officers he saw Olivares walking toward him with what was described as a steel fence post.

According to an arrest form, “the victim told him to put the metal post down and fight like men” but instead, police said Olivares struck the victim in the elbow and head with the pole, causing the victim to fall to the ground, after which Olivares then “got on top of the victim in a full mount position” and continued to punch him “and at one point choking him from behind.”

Investigators said the victim’s wife recorded a portion of the altercation on her cell phone.

Olivares is facing a felony charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and as of Thursday afternoon was being held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with a bond listed as “to be set.”

El incidente ocurrió poco después de las 2 a.m. sobre Northeast 22nd Street, al oeste de Second Avenue, en el vecindario de Edgewater, en Miami.

Según el Departamento de Policía de Miami, la víctima viajaba en un vehículo conducido por el sospechoso, identificado como Orlando Jose Olivares, cuando ambos comenzaron a discutir después de que presuntamente Olivares estuvo a punto de provocar un choque.

La discusión continuó hasta que llegaron a la vivienda que compartían, donde la víctima dijo a los agentes que vio a Olivares acercarse con lo que fue descrito como un poste metálico de cerca.

Según el informe de arresto, “la víctima le dijo que dejara el poste de metal y peleara como un hombre”, pero, en lugar de hacerlo, la Policía informó que Olivares golpeó a la víctima en el codo y la cabeza con el tubo, provocando que cayera al suelo. Después de eso, Olivares “se colocó encima de la víctima en posición de monta completa” y continuó golpeándola “e incluso en un momento la estranguló por detrás”.

Los investigadores informaron que la esposa de la víctima grabó parte del altercado con su teléfono celular.

Olivares enfrenta un cargo grave de agresión agravada con un arma mortal y, hasta la tarde del jueves, permanecía detenido en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight con una fianza pendiente de ser fijada.

Equipos de Miami-Dade Fire Rescue respondieron al lugar en la rampa de acceso a la Turnpike cerca de Southwest 40th Street, donde los bomberos trabajaron para extinguir el incendio.

Sky 10 sobrevoló la escena alrededor de las 10:45 a.m., donde se observó un camión con remolque completamente calcinado mientras los bomberos continuaban rociándolo con agua. Aún podía verse humo ligero saliendo del vehículo.

Todos los carriles de la rampa de acceso permanecían cerrados mientras los equipos continuaban trabajando en el lugar.

No se reportaron personas heridas de inmediato y, por el momento, no estaba claro qué provocó el incendio.

The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. Burns has a $785,000 salary while in the major leagues this year and $198,173 in the unlikely event he is sent to the minors.

Burns' deal would run through the 2033 season and under the current labor contract covers three seasons of arbitration eligibility and the first two years after he would have been eligible for free agency. It does not include options or deferrals.

The 23-year old right-hander was selected to the All-Star Game this season for the first time, but did not participate after he tweaked his right groin during a July 8 game against Philadelphia when trying to field the throw home on a wild pitch during the second inning.

Burns is 11-1 in 18 starts this season, including 15 starts where he has allowed two runs or fewer. His wins are tied for second most in the majors and his 2.54 ERA is the sixth lowest. His 118 strikeouts are seventh in the National League.

His fastball has an average velocity of 97.8 mph along with an above-average slider, Burns is generating a 31.7% whiff rate on swings, seventh in the majors.

Burns is the third pitcher in club history with at least 11 wins and 118 strikeouts before the All-Star break, joining Edinson Volquez (2008) and Jim Maloney (1963).

The contract extension also continues the trend of teams signing their young stars early. The Reds' longtime NL Central rival, the St. Louis Cardinals, signed rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt to a $112.5 million, eight-year contract last week.

Burns was the second overall pick out of Wake Forest in the 2024 amateur draft. He went 7-3 with a 1.77 ERA in 13 starts in the Reds' farm system before being called up to the majors last June. He was 0-3 with a 4.57 ERA in 13 games, including eight starts, in his rookie season.

It is the largest guaranteed contract in the majors given to a pitcher with less than four years of service time and exceeds the previous high by 40% for someone with one year or more.

Burns is also the first pitcher to sign a contract worth at least $100 million prior to at least five years of service time to exclude club options.

The deal ties Homer Bailey's for the largest guarantee given to a Reds' pitcher and the third largest for any player in franchise history, only eclipsed by Joey Votto and Ken Griffey Jr.

Burns' first start after the All-Star break is scheduled for Tuesday at Seattle. After making the postseason last year, Cincinnati is in last place in the NL Central with a 43-52 mark and eight games out of a wild-card spot.

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This focus comes even as studies show that there are very few reported cases of such incidents in the U.S., especially compared to historically higher levels of far-right violence.

With sweeping statements about the “alarming rise” of political violence by the left, Rubio and other U.S. officials painted a dark image of the future if the “communists and Marxists” perpetrating these supposed acts are not defeated. He urged officials in attendance — mostly from European and Latin American countries — to unite to address the issue, which he says has been a “blind spot” in counterterrorism doctrine.

“So many people in positions of power have repeatedly dismissed acts of violence and even terrorism as legitimate forms of political expression, so long as they served a left-wing cause,” Rubio said in opening remarks. “A bomb planted by a neo-Nazi group was ‘a nefarious and murderous act of evil.’ It is, but a bomb planted by a Marxist revolutionary; well, that’s just merely a tragic excess of idealism.”

A report published last year by the Center for Strategic and International Studies found that left-wing terrorism attacks as of July 4, 2025, had surpassed those from the far right for the first time in more than 30 years. However, a closer look at the data reveals that the uptick reflects a very low starting level and a concurrent drop on the far right.

There was an average of 0.6 left-wing incidents annually from 1994 through 2000, compared with an average of 20.6 on the right, the report shows. From 2016 to 2024, there were an average of four per year on the left and 22.7 per year on the right. Those numbers had dropped dramatically on the right as of early July 2025, with only one incident. Meanwhile, there had been five from the left.

But the report’s authors note that right-wing terrorism could easily return to elevated levels and that it is important to fight terrorism on both sides of the political spectrum.

President Donald Trump and his allies have prioritized talking points against the far left ahead of the congressional elections this November. Trump has repeatedly stated that the Democratic Party’s ascendant left are communists who want to “completely destroy the traditional American way of life” and even engage in assassinations.

Vice President JD Vance has similarly called out communism as a political shift that is “something we haven’t seen in the U.S.” House Speaker Mike Johnson has decried “radical candidates” who are “self-described, self-identifying Marxists.”

For Rubio, his worldview on this issue has been largely shaped by his own history: he is the son of Cuban immigrants who arrived in Miami in May 1956, a few years before communist leader Fidel Castro rose to power in Havana. The former Florida senator said Thursday that it was that same government’s sprawling intelligence and ideological network that “helped to build the far left in our country and in our hemisphere.”

Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff and main architect of the administration’s immigration policy, followed Rubio’s remarks, aiming to drive home the immediacy of the perceived threats he saw to American institutions coming from the left, and what response is needed in return.

“If your civilization is your home, you must defend it with the same passion and force as if an enemy intruder is inside your own house where your family lives,” Miller said. “That is the level of dedication and urgency that is required.”

This ideological focus has repeatedly conflated democratic socialism — which often centers on securing universal healthcare, higher taxes on the wealthy and stricter corporate regulation — with communism, under which private ownership is largely eliminated.

It has only intensified in the last year, following the election of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani to become New York City mayor and several of his proteges who won their New York City congressional primaries last month, beating out incumbents.

One of the ways the administration has started to target left-wing efforts is through sanctions. In November, the State Department designated four antifa or anti-fascist groups in Europe as foreign terrorist organizations. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in his remarks Thursday that targeting these groups and entities’ financial networks is the best way to circumvent their efforts.

“We have spent decades developing the world’s most sophisticated financial counterterrorism capabilities, and now we are mobilizing some of the same tools that we have deployed against terrorists abroad to confront this emerging threat here at home,” he told the conference.

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Amiri reported from New York and Kinnard from Columbia, South Carolina. Associated Press writer Melissa Goldin in New York contributed to this report.

David Cummins, a former senior vice president at government contractor Serco, would take over an agency with roughly 60,000 employees responsible for security operations at more than 440 airports nationwide. He would inherit a TSA that has faced persistent staffing and morale challenges, particularly after this year’s record-long partial government shutdown left TSA employees working for weeks without pay. The funding lapse prompted thousands of officers to call out of work and about 1,100 to quit altogether, leading to long lines at some U.S. airports.

In his opening statement, Cummins pledged to prioritize front line TSA officers, saying his first task, if confirmed, would be to visit airports and reassure employees that he would “do everything in my power to protect and support them in the future.”

“The challenges ahead are significant,” Cummins told the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. “But the opportunities to transform the TSA on the eve of its 25th anniversary are even greater.”

The agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, was created in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to bring passenger screening under a single federal agency. But a program established a few years later also allows airports to use private contractors for screening operations under TSA oversight.

Democratic lawmakers and the union representing TSA officers have raised concerns that expanding the program, called the Screening Partnership Program, amounts to privatizing a core government security function and could undermine TSA employees.

Cummins rejected that characterization and defended the Trump administration’s plans to expand the program, saying it is not anti-worker and arguing that airports under the screening program were able to continue paying their employees during past government shutdowns.

“Some will suggest that the SPP is all about privatization and that it is anti-worker,” Cummins said. “I hold that it is in fact pro-worker to pay your employees, as the SPP airports did during the last shutdowns.”

Cummins said existing TSA employees would have the “right of first refusal” to take screening jobs at airports that join the program and said, “in our experience, all of them take the jobs and they stay there.”

He also said he supports legislation, including the bipartisan Keep America Flying Act, that would guarantee TSA employees receive pay during future funding lapses. He said there is “too much at stake” to leave the agency vulnerable to political brinkmanship.

Pressed by Democratic lawmakers about Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin's threats to pull Customs and Border Protection officers from some airports in so-called sanctuary cities, Cummins said he had not been briefed on any “near-term plans” to do so but acknowledged the impact politics can have on aviation security.

“What I would say is that we are in a very sort of politicized environment. We all need to recognize that aviation security is impaired oftentimes by politics,” Cummins said, adding that he would be candid with Congress if any such directive threatened TSA operations.

Cummins previously worked at Serco, which partners with federal, state and local agencies. A LinkedIn profile that has since been removed said he helped develop transportation technologies and was co-awarded a “dozen patents in transportation systems.” The profile also said he led operations planning for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

James Aren Duckett, 68, is scheduled to die at noon on July 28 at Florida State Prison near Starke, according to a death warrant signed Tuesday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Duckett was convicted of raping and drowning the girl while working as a police officer in a small central Florida city.

The execution for Dominick Anthony Occhicone, 80, was previously scheduled for 6 p.m. that same day. He was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend’s parents in 1986.

First executions on same day in more than 60 years

This is the first time Florida plans to execute two inmates on the same day since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty nationwide in 1976 after temporarily halting executions in 1972. According to Florida Department of Corrections records, Emmett C. Blake and Sie Dawson were executed for murder on May 12, 1964. The state records show multiple executions on a single day were more common in the past.

Duckett and Occhicone would become the 11th and 12th inmates to be executed in Florida this year if their deaths go as scheduled. Appeals in both cases will eventually go to the U.S. Supreme Court before any executions are performed.

According to court documents, Duckett was the only police officer on duty in Mascotte, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of Orlando, the night of May 11, 1987. Witnesses reported seeing Teresa McAbee getting into Duckett’s patrol car outside a convenience store that evening, and her mother reported her missing several hours later. Her body was found the next morning in a nearby lake. DNA from fluids and hair collected from the girl’s body were probable matches to Duckett, and fingerprints matching Duckett and the girl were recovered from his patrol car, investigators said.

In Occhicone’s case, authorities said he showed up the morning of June 10, 1986, at a home in Holiday, just north of Clearwater, where his former girlfriend was living with her parents and her two children. After the woman refused to speak with Occhicone, he left for about an hour and returned with a handgun, investigators said. Occhicone cut the exterior phone lines and then fatally shot Raymond and Martha Artzner as Occhicone’s former girlfriend fled with her daughter. Occhicone didn’t deny the shootings, but his attorneys argued during trial that the murders weren’t premeditated.

DeSantis oversaw a record 19 executions in 2025, more in a single year than any other Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. The previous high was eight executions set in 2014.

A short reprieve for Duckett ends

DeSantis previously signed a death warrant for Duckett in February, scheduling his execution for March 31. But the Florida Supreme Court issued a stay just days before the execution to allow for DNA testing of old evidence that couldn't be performed because of technological limitations at the time of the original trial. The results came back inconclusive, meaning that they did not exonerate Duckett or definitively connect him to the crime. Judges have allowed the jury verdict to stand, and Duckett's stay was lifted earlier this month.

Duckett's attorney, Mary Elizabeth Wells, released a statement calling the rescheduled execution shameful and claiming the state's handling of the DNA evidence is the reason for the inconclusive results.

“Mr. Duckett has consistently maintained his innocence,” the statement said. “The State’s duty is to ensure that justice is done, and not rush to kill in a case with such serious doubts over guilt. We are committed to seeking every avenue of relief for Mr. Duckett ahead of his scheduled July 28 execution so that the State of Florida does not execute an innocent man.”

The governor's office declined to comment on Duckett's case or these particular executions, but DeSantis has previously said that his goal is to bring justice to victims’ families who have waited decades for death sentences to be carried out.

“Some of these crimes were committed in the ’80s,” the governor said during a November 2025 news conference. “Justice delayed is justice denied. I felt I owed it to them to make sure this ran very smoothly. If I honestly thought someone was innocent, I would not pull the trigger.”

Occhione would be oldest to be executed in Florida

Occhicone would also become the state's oldest inmate to be executed.

On June 25, Florida executed 74-year-old Dusty Ray Spencer for the killing of his estranged wife. He was the oldest inmate executed in Florida until Tuesday, when Dennis Sochor — just a week older than Spencer — was put to death for killing a woman in the first hours of 1982 after meeting her at a New Year’s Eve party.

Occhicone also would become the second oldest prisoner known to be put to death in modern U.S. history after 83-year-old Walter Moody Jr. Moody was executed in Alabama in 2018 for killing a federal judge and a Black civil rights attorney during a wave of mail bombs in the South.

Florida executions are conducted via lethal injection using a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Department of Corrections.

Foro Penal, una prestigiosa organización civil que vigila los derechos de los privados de libertad en Venezuela, indicó el jueves en un comunicado que Sánchez fue excarcelado en la víspera.

Sánchez, de 66 años, fue detenido en septiembre de 2024 por el Servicio Bolivariano de Inteligencia Nacional (SEBIN) casi dos meses después de los comicios presidenciales del 28 de julio en los que el ahora depuesto mandatario Nicolás Maduro buscó la reelección para su tercer mandato y fue declarado ganador en un proceso electoral cuestionado por la oposición, Estados Unidos y varios gobiernos de la región.

Activistas de derechos humanos denunciaron repetidamente que el exlegislador había sido víctima de un arresto arbitrario y que estuvo desaparecido por meses, sin contacto con sus familiares y abogados.

El Comité de Familiares y Amigos por la Libertad de los Presos Políticos indicó en su cuenta en la red social X que la excarcelación de Sánchez “ocurre tras reiteradas denuncias sobre su crítico estado de salud, ya que es un paciente oncológico cuyas patologías se agravaron durante su reclusión”.

Sánchez estuvo en prisión anteriormente, entre 2007 y 2011, cuando fungía como secretario de Seguridad de la gobernación del estado Zulia, en manos del dirigente opositor Manuel Rosales.

En 2010, en medio de denuncias de irregularidades en el proceso, fue condenado a 19 años por “complicidad en homicidio, privación ilegítima de libertad” de un supuesto agente de inteligencia militar asesinado en una cárcel de Zulia. En 2011 recibió el beneficio de la libertad condicional tras ser diagnosticado con cáncer de próstata.

Según cifras de Foro Penal, 372 personas permanecen detenidas por motivaciones políticas en Venezuela.

La ley de amnistía fue sancionada el 19 de febrero, apenas 20 días después de que la presidenta encargada Delcy Rodríguez la presentara para potenciar la convivencia en el país. Rodríguez fue juramentada como presidenta en funciones el 5 de enero, dos días después de una audaz operación militar estadounidense que depuso y capturó a Maduro en Caracas y lo trasladó a Nueva York para enfrentar cargos de narcotráfico.

La ley se aplica a dirigentes opositores, sindicalistas, activistas de derechos humanos, estudiantes, académicos y periodistas, entre otros. Excluye, en tanto, a los condenados por homicidio, narcotráfico, violaciones graves de derechos humanos y rebelión militar.

Another defeat in the semifinals. Another defeat from a winning position.

The English media was predictably critical of coach Thomas Tuchel after Wednesday's 2-1 loss to Argentina.

“Same old story” read one headline. Another declared that “Tuchel just shrank."

Tuchel, a title-winning coach with Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, was hired to put a second star on England's jersey and end the decades-long wait for a first trophy since the World Cup in 1966.

The wait goes on.

Former England captain Gary Lineker raised the question about Tuchel's future, saying he was "brought in specifically to take us over line.”

“Is he the right man to take us forward? He just got it so wrong in the big moment," Lineker said on his Netflix show ‘The Rest is Football.’

Tuchel's predecessor, Gareth Southgate, was credited with making England fans fall back in love with the men's national team after years of underachievement. He reached back-to-back European Championship finals but ultimately fell short, with his supposed cautious approach said to have cost England in clutch matches.

Southgate's substitutions were criticized as well as his tactics when England relinquished leads against Croatia in the World Cup semifinals in 2018 and Italy in the final of the Euros three years later.

There was criticism of the English soccer federation's decision to turn to a German, but Tuchel, a Champions League winner, was supposed to be difference maker in those key moments.

Leading 1-0 going into the 85th minute and in a defensive shell, England saw its hopes shattered on Argentina goals from Enzo Fernandez and substitute Lautaro Martinez.

“It’s a real panic. You can’t go a goal up and then surrender the ball and surrender any opportunity of trying to get the second goal," former England captain Wayne Rooney told the BBC. ”I just think the decisions Thomas Tuchel made, and I think we have to be honest on this, have cost us tonight."

Lineker said Tuchel's tactics and substitutions after going 1-0 up “made zero sense to me.”

Tuchel, who signed a two-year contract extension ahead of the World Cup, stood by his decisions.

“As soon as you lose, you get criticized. It’s just what it is,” Tuchel said. "No one knows what would have happened if I had made different decisions so it makes no sense to engage in that and lose my head.

“I’m responsible for them. I took them, so I take the criticism. That’s just the way it is.”

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said shortly after the loss that it is “heartbreaking to be so close.”

“The players and Thomas gave it everything today and the squad, coaches and staff could not have worked harder during the tournament,” he said in a statement. “I would like to thank them all — and also give my heartfelt thanks to our wonderful fans here in the USA and at home. We felt your support every step of the way and we are all so disappointed not to go further.”

England will face France in the third-place game on Saturday in Miami.

Defeat to defending champion Argentina continued a pattern for the England men at the World Cup.

It has not beaten one of the traditional major nations at soccer's biggest tournament since the 1-0 win over Argentina in the group stage in 2002. Before that, England beat France in the group stage in 1982.

Knockout eliminations have come at the hands of Argentina and Germany on three occasions each, Brazil, Portugal and France. There was also the 2018 semifinals defeat to Croatia, a team that has never won a major trophy.

Tuchel, however, does not buy into the narrative that repeated failure is a specifically English problem.

“I love to see these things in a football matter and through football glasses. So first of all I always think it’s solvable on the football field,” he said. “I don’t believe so much in an English thing or in a curse or whatever or history repeating itself.”

Britain and Ireland are co-hosting Euro 2028.

"I have a contract until the home Euros, and I’m looking forward to that, even if right now it is difficult to look that far ahead,” Tuchel said.

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

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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

The driver had told police that he had the self-driving software turned on, but a report from the National Transportation Safety Board on Wednesday concluded that he had actually overridden that feature when he pushed hard on the pedal. Moments later the Tesla Model 3 raced down a residential street in Katy, Texas, at highway speeds, slammed into a brick home and killed a 76-year-old woman standing in the front room.

The crash last month drew national attention because Tesla CEO Elon Musk is seeking to reassure the public its self-driving feature is safe as he prepares to turn hundreds of thousands of Teslas already on the road into fully automatic vehicles and begin selling two-seated Cybercabs missing steering wheels and pedals.

The crash came two months after officials at a separate federal agency, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, announced it was elevating a 2024 investigation of the self-driving feature to new “engineering analysis” level, raising the possibility of a recall of 3.2 million Tesla vehicles.

That NHTSA probe was triggered by crashes where the self-driving feature failed to alert drivers to take control in fog and other poor visibility conditions.

The agency opened an investigation last year into 58 incidents in which Teslas reportedly violated traffic safety laws while using self-driving technology, leading to more than a dozen crashes and fires and nearly two dozen injuries.

Separate from the National Transportation Safety Board, NHTSA is also looking into the Tesla house crash in Texas, one of 46 “special crash” investigations of Tesla's self-driving or driver-assistance technology in the past decade, according to the agency’s records. In more than a dozen of those crashes, at least one person — a driver, passenger or pedestrian — was killed.

Tesla had originally called its driver assistance software Full Self-Driving, or FSD, but auto experts and regulators complained it was misleading because drivers must always keep their eyes on the road and be ready to take over at any time.

The company has since changed the name to Full Self-Driving (Supervised).

Video of the Katy, Texas, accident shows the Tesla traveling at more than 70 mph (112.65 kilometers per hour), jumping a curb then tearing across a lawn before crushing through a brick wall of a home. A woman standing feet away, Martha Avila, was found amid piles of crumbling plaster, split beams and bits of furniture and rushed to a hospital but died.

Sales of Tesla cars still haven't recovered fully from boycotts last year over Musk's far-right political stands, but the stock is rising anyway as he has successfully shifted attention away from the sales figures. He says they matter less now that the company is on the cusp of major technological advances, such as turning Teslas into hands-free vehicles and having its Optimus robots take over for humans for tasks at home and work.

Tesla stock has risen 22% in the past year and is currently trading at 170 times expected annual earnings compared to 20 for the S&P 500.

For its second-quarter financial results out next week, financial analysts surveyed by FactSet expect earnings per share will barely budge — 32 cents versus 33 cents a year earlier — continuing a sixth quarter streak of flat or falling profits.

The drug from Merck was OK'd on Thursday for patients with artery-clogging cholesterol that persists even after taking statins, the standard medications for cutting heart attack risk. Merck will market its pill under the brand name Lipfendra.

It's the first noninjectable medication that works by blocking a liver protein called PCSK9. That protein limits the body's ability to clear cholesterol from the blood, and biotech injectables targeting it have been available from Amgen and other drugmakers for more than a decade. But patient access has been stymied for years by high prices, insurance restrictions and limited prescribing by doctors.

Statins block some of the liver’s production of cholesterol and are the cornerstone of treatment. But even at the highest doses, many people need additional help lowering their LDL, or bad, cholesterol enough to meet medical guidelines.

Merck, which has headquarters in Rahway, New Jersey, won approval based on two studies in high-risk patients who added the company's pill to their standard treatment, including statins. In one study of 3,000 patients, those taking Lipfendra saw their levels of LDL cholesterol drop more than 55% after six months. In a second study, patients averaged a reduction of 59% compared with patients who received a dummy pill.

That benefit dropped only slightly over a year, and side effects — including dizziness and diarrhea — were similar between those taking the pill or a placebo, researchers found. One caveat: The pill must be taken on an empty stomach.

The FDA reviewed the drug under its program that promises ultra-fast reviews for promising medications that serve the public interest. The pathway was created by then-FDA chief Dr. Marty Makary, who resigned from the agency in May after months of pressure from drugmakers, patients and other outside groups.

Heart disease is the nation’s leading cause of death, and high LDL cholesterol, which causes plaque to build up in arteries, is a top risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. While an LDL level of 100 is considered fine for healthy people, doctors recommend lowering it to at least 70 once people develop high cholesterol or heart disease — and even lower for those at very high risk.

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

“The most powerful handgun in the world,” Clint Eastwood says with a mix of pleasure and malice as detective “Dirty Harry” takes aim at a bank robber. The 1971 movie made the hefty steel pistol an icon for generations of modern lawmen and outlaws alike.

Dirty Harry is a protector of everyday people, yet he’s shackled by powerful forces out of his control. This urge to stand up to perceived tyranny — by any means necessary — is so ingrained in our national identity that the right to bear arms was given the No. 2 spot in the Constitution’s Bill of Rights.

Eastwood's co-star was the Smith & Wesson Model 29, the first revolver to use powerful .44 caliber Magnum ammunition, which debuted in the mid-1950s. The American gunmaker has been in the revolver business since 1852.

Yet the long-barreled revolver has come a long way since the Wild West. Owning a gun, and having strong opinions about guns, are now high-voltage political issues.

For some, the obvious reason to keep a handgun is self-defense, home invasion, the fear of becoming a victim. (Rather than under his pillow, my father slept soundly with our guns in a secret compartment in the basement, but to each their own.)

The U.S. is infamous worldwide for our unique scourge of mass shootings with assault-style rifles. Yet when someone pulls the trigger, it's usually a handgun. According to a Pew Research Center analysis for 2024, 53% of gun homicides involved a handgun. Rifles accounted for 3%. The rest were other or unspecified types of guns.

That same year, more Americans killed themselves with guns than ever before. And if a woman's abusive partner has access to a gun, she is five times more likely to be killed, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

America is fascinated with guns. The world is watching.

They're soaking up the stories we tell about ourselves — in crime thrillers, police dramas, cowboy movies and blockbuster action flicks — and buying the guns, too. Nearly a quarter million handguns were “Made in the USA” and exported in 2023, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

More than half a century ago, Dirty Harry used his .44 to blast away the line between protector and vigilante. As a nation, we haven’t looked back.

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Part of a recurring series, “American Objects,” marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. For more American objects, click here. For more stories on the anniversary, click here.

Florida will begin the season with a four-game road trip that starts when the Carolina Hurricanes raise their Stanley Cup Championship banner on Sept. 29, followed by three games in California against the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings.

The Panthers will play their home opener on Oct. 10 against the Minnesota Wild.

Longtime goalie Sergei Bobrovsky will make his return to South Florida when the Toronto Maple Leafs visit Sunrise for the first time on March 6.

Florida will host two five-game homestands; one in late December during the holidays and the other in early March.

The full schedule can be found by clicking here.

Sen. Thom Tillis had indicated during Blanche’s confirmation hearing on Wednesday that he was leaning toward backing Blanche, who has been leading the department in an acting capacity since April. But after an Epstein accuser testified a day later, Tillis said he expects a meeting to occur before he’s “willing to vote out of this committee.”

Shortly after Tillis’ remarks, Blanche — who had been meeting with senators on Capitol Hill — told reporters he had tried to meet the Epstein accusers in a Senate office building but “it didn’t work out” and they were working to coordinate schedules. The Justice Department said later that the meeting was rescheduled for Thursday afternoon, adding: “He looks forward to their discussion.”

“The Department of Justice will always meet with victims or their representatives, and if those victims or their representatives have evidence that anybody committed a crime — whether it has to do with Jeffrey Epstein or anybody else — we will of course move forward and investigate and prosecute,” Blanche told reporters.

Epstein's case and the Justice Department's handling of millions of files related to his sex trafficking investigation have been a persistent political headache for the Trump administration.

After missteps by then-Attorney General Pam Bondi that enraged Trump's base, Blanche as deputy attorney general oversaw a massive review and release of millions of files related to the investigation into the disgraced financier with connections to wealthy and powerful people.

Without Tillis' support, Blanche's nomination won't make it through the Senate Judiciary Committee, which questioned Blanche for hours on Wednesday about the Epstein files as well as the creation of a fund to compensate Trump’s allies, a tax immunity deal for the president and a slew of other issues.

Another Republican on the committee who says he has not made up his mind whether to support Blanche — Sen. John Cornyn — conveyed concerns that the Trump administration has yet to commit in writing that the fund is dead and could therefore conceivably be resurrected.

One Epstein accuser, Dani Bensky, told lawmakers earlier Thursday that women harmed by Epstein repeatedly asked to meet with Blanche “through multiple channels and he never responded."

"We deserve to be heard directly, not dismissed and ignored,” Bensky said.

Blanche has pushed back on suggestions that the Justice Department has been dismissive of the late financier's accusers, saying Wednesday that officials have spoken with more than 30 representatives of the women over the course of its sweeping review of the files.

Blanche has also defended the department's staggered release of the Epstein files, a process beset by problems, including redaction errors that left exposed nude photos showing the faces of potential victims.

Blanche said during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday that he takes responsibility for mistakes that were made, but noted that department lawyers were given a "herculean task” to quickly review millions of files for release. Blanche said department lawyers took pains to protect the women involved, and quickly fixed any errors that were found.

“I am sorry that in about 1% of the documents mistakes were made,” Blanche said Wednesday. “But what I will say on top of that is we put tons of resources to rectifying those mistakes immediately, including pulling down documents within minutes of being informed that there were mistakes.”

The political firestorm over the Epstein files dogged the Trump administration for much of last year, with lawmakers eventually passing a measure that compelled the release of a massive trove of documents in the government’s possession related to its investigation.

The Justice Department began releasing the documents in late December, which included photos, call logs, grand jury testimony and interview transcripts. The release did little to tamp down skepticism from conspiracy theorists and online sleuths, who have long pushed allegations of a government cover-up, without evidence.

Estados Unidos anunció el miércoles un nuevo arancel del 25% sobre ciertas importaciones procedentes de Brasil, argumentando prácticas comerciales desleales de parte de la décima economía más grande del mundo.

Los aranceles, propuestos por primera vez el mes pasado, entrarán en vigor el 22 de julio. La orden exime algunos bienes que no se producen en Estados Unidos o que las autoridades temen que puedan interrumpir las cadenas de suministro, como el café, la carne de res, naranjas y jugo de naranja, así como componentes para aeronaves.

La oficina del presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emitió el miércoles un comunicado en el que refutó las acusaciones de Estados Unidos sobre las prácticas comerciales desleales. Afirmó que el 76% de las importaciones procedentes de Estados Unidos ingresaron a Brasil libres de aranceles en 2025, y afirmó que el gravamen promedio que se aplicó a los productos estadounidenses fue de apenas el 3,1%.

Añadió que ha tomado medidas para imponer aranceles recíprocos y otras contramedidas relacionadas con el comercio.

“Brasil iniciará de inmediato con los procedimientos necesarios para invocar los mecanismos previstos en la ley de reciprocidad ... y también llevará el asunto ante el mecanismo de solución de disputas de la Organización Mundial del Comercio”, señaló el comunicado.

EE.UU. tiene un sólido superávit comercial con Brasil

Estados Unidos ha mantenido durante varios años un enorme déficit comercial con el resto del mundo, y el presidente Donald Trump ha hecho mención de esas cifras para justificar sus aranceles.

Pero las importaciones brasileñas constituyen un objetivo inusual: Estados Unidos ha acumulado de manera persistente superávits comerciales con Brasil. Tan solo el año pasado, las exportaciones de Estados Unidos hacia Brasil superaron en casi 42.000 millones de dólares a las importaciones; sólo los superávits comerciales de Estados Unidos con Holanda y Reino Unido fueron más elevados.

El nuevo arancel aplica una presión en las exportaciones del país y aumenta la incertidumbre para las empresas de ambas naciones, afirmó la Confederación Nacional de la Industria de Brasil en un comunicado dado a conocer el jueves.

El gobierno de Trump impuso originalmente un arancel del 50% a las importaciones brasileñas en julio pasado. Mencionó lo que calificó como una “cacería de brujas” contra el expresidente Jair Bolsonaro. En ese momento, el exmandatario y aliado de Trump estaba siendo juzgado por un intento de golpe de Estado luego de su derrota electoral frente a Lula en 2022, del cual fue declarado culpable. Algunos de esos aranceles fueron revocados más tarde.

Trump, también acusó en ese momento a Brasil de prácticas comerciales desleales y dijo que había girado instrucciones al representante comercial de Estados Unidos, Jamieson Greer, para iniciar una investigación en virtud de la Sección 301 de la Ley de Comercio de 1974.

Como consecuencia, la oficina de Greer acusó a Brasil en junio de una aplicación laxa de medidas anticorrupción y aranceles injustos, entre otras cosas.

Lula se refirió explícitamente a estos antecedentes el miércoles, atribuyendo la más reciente ronda de aranceles a la familia Bolsonaro.

La oficina de Lula también afirmó: “Brasil no reconoce la legitimidad de investigaciones que no estén fundamentadas en las reglas multilaterales que rigen el comercio internacional”.

El secretario de Estado de Estados Unidos, Marco Rubio, señaló en la red social X en el que dio a conocer los aranceles que la medida era resultado de que Lula antepusiera “su propio ego por delante de un acuerdo” y por no negociar con Estados Unidos de buena fe.

El gobierno de Brasil rechazó esos señalamientos y sostuvo que “nunca se ha levantado de la mesa de negociación”.

Las elecciones en Brasil podrían verse afectadas

Es probable que la medida arancelaria incremente las tensiones entre ambos países de cara a las elecciones presidenciales de Brasil en octubre próximo, cuando se tiene previsto que Lula se enfrente al senador Flávio Bolsonaro, hijo de Jair Bolsonaro.

Flávio Bolsonaro republicó el comunicado de Rubio, y adjuntó el comentario: “Lula ya no está en condiciones de ser el presidente de Brasil. Estamos en un avión sin piloto”. Llamó a Lula “el Biden brasileño” y dijo que “es malhumorado, imprudente y se ha convertido en un peligro para nuestra nación”.

Los dos candidatos han intercambiado acusaciones en referencia a los impopulares aranceles de Estados Unidos, lo que deja entrever que consideran que su manejo será un factor clave en los próximos comicios.

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El periodista de Associated Press Paul Wiseman, en Washington, contribuyó con este despacho.

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

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Troopers said the tanker truck was traveling south on the Turnpike near Bird Road when the driver lost control.

They said the truck overturned and collided with the center median concrete barrier wall.

Authorities confirmed that the driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sky 10 flew over the scene around 10:45 a.m., where a heavily charred tractor-trailer as firefighters continued spraying water on it. Light smoke could still be seen rising from the vehicle.

The crash shut down the Florida Turnpike in both directions as authorities investigated. It was not immediately clear what caused the driver to lose control of the truck.

No other details about the truck driver or crash were immediately released.

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According to an arrest report from the Miami Police Department, Gerald Hollie, 36, was charged Wednesday in connection with the Feb. 5, 2021, killing of Tilkharri Harris.

Authorities said at approximately 10:27 a.m. that day, officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert near the 1500 block of Northwest 58th Street.

Upon arrival, police said they discovered Harris sitting in the driver’s seat of a Mercedes-Benz, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

An arrest report confirmed Harris’ home had also been struck several times in the hail of gunfire.

Authorities said first responders rushed Harris to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:06 a.m.

Investigators said they reviewed surveillance footage from the area which showed a newer model black Chevrolet Blazer with dark tints parked near the corner of Northwest 15th Avenue and Northwest 58th Street, just east of the victim’s home.

The vehicle arrived at approximately 7:53 a.m., hours before the shooting, and appeared to be lying in wait, authorities said.

Police said moments before the fatal shooting, the rear passenger window of the SUV was lowered, and the vehicle moved westbound on Northwest 58th Street.

Authorities confirmed that additional surveillance video footage later showed the Blazer stopping in front of Harris’ home.

The driver, who police identified as Terrance Martin, was armed with a dark-colored semi-automatic gun as he exited the vehicle and began firing in the direction of the victim, who was seated in his car, authorities said.

According to detectives, Martin stood on the floorboard of the Blazer and shot over the top of the vehicle, resting his left hand on the door frame as he continued firing.

After the shooting, police said Martin re-entered the SUV and fled westbound on Northwest 58th Street toward Northwest 17th Avenue. Surveillance footage indicated there were at least two other occupants inside the vehicle, suggesting a coordinated attack, according to investigators.

Forensic evidence tied vehicle to homicide

According to the report, the following day, investigators recovered the Chevrolet Blazer parked outside an apartment complex at 3330 N.W. 48th Terrace, where surveillance cameras had captured both Hollie and Terrance Martin, then 27, near the vehicle the day before the homicide.

Police said Martin matched the physical description of the gunman seen on surveillance video.

During a search of the SUV, detectives recovered a spent 7.62-caliber shell casing from the rear floorboard. According to forensic testing, the casing had been fired from the same weapon used in Harris’ killing.

Martin was arrested in October 2024 on charges of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, second-degree murder with a weapon, throwing or shooting a missile and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Witnesses provided new information

The investigation later produced additional witness statements that investigators say linked Hollie to the homicide.

According to his arrest report, a woman, who was arrested in 2024 on an accessory-after-the-fact charge, told detectives that both Martin and Hollie admitted they had shot and killed Harris. She told investigators Martin was driving the SUV while Hollie was the shooter.

In June, another witness gave a sworn statement to investigators.

According to police, the witness said Hollie, whom he knew as “GB” or “God Body,” contacted him shortly after the shooting and said, “We just killed TK,” referring to Harris by his nickname.

The witness told detectives Hollie asked him to clean out the SUV. The witness said he later removed spent 7.62-caliber and 9 mm shell casings from inside the vehicle before throwing them away, the report stated.

Investigators said those calibers were consistent with evidence recovered from the homicide scene.

According to the arrest report, the witness also told detectives the killing stemmed from an ongoing feud between members of the Wavy Navy gang and the 13th Avenue gang.

Hollie interviewed while jailed on unrelated charges

According to the arrest report, detectives interviewed Hollie Wednesday at the Metrowest Detention Center, where he was being held on unrelated charges.

The report states that Hollie waived his Miranda rights and acknowledged there had been an ongoing conflict between the rival gangs. He also identified himself and Martin in surveillance footage taken the day before the homicide, standing near the Chevrolet Blazer, authorities said.

When detectives asked whether he had ever been inside the SUV, Hollie responded, “Possibly, but I cannot recall,” according to the report.

Police said Hollie denied any involvement in Harris’ killing.

Hollie faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, shooting or throwing a deadly missile, possession of a concealed weapon by a violent career criminal and attempting to tamper with physical evidence.

A criminal records check showed Hollie has three prior felony convictions from 2008, including two counts of robbery with a firearm and one count of carjacking with a firearm, according to investigators.

As of Thursday afternoon, Hollie remained at the Metrowest Detention Center. His total bond in online jail records was listed as “to be set.”

Según un informe de arresto del Departamento de Policía de Miami, Gerald Hollie, de 36 años, fue acusado el miércoles en relación con el asesinato de Tilkharri Harris, ocurrido el 5 de febrero de 2021.

Las autoridades informaron que, aproximadamente a las 10:27 de la mañana de ese día, los agentes respondieron a una alerta del sistema ShotSpotter cerca de la cuadra 1500 de la calle Northwest 58th.

Al llegar, la policía declaró haber encontrado a Harris sentado en el asiento del conductor de un Mercedes-Benz, con múltiples heridas de bala.

Un informe policial confirmó que la casa de Harris también había sido alcanzada varias veces por la lluvia de disparos.

Las autoridades informaron que los servicios de emergencia trasladaron rápidamente a Harris al Hospital Jackson Memorial, donde fue declarado muerto a las 11:06 a. m.

Los investigadores dijeron que revisaron las imágenes de las cámaras de vigilancia de la zona, las cuales mostraban una camioneta Chevrolet Blazer negra, modelo reciente, con vidrios polarizados oscuros, estacionada cerca de la esquina de la Avenida Noroeste 15 y la Calle Noroeste 58, justo al este de la casa de la víctima.

Según las autoridades, el vehículo llegó aproximadamente a las 7:53 de la mañana, horas antes del tiroteo, y parecía estar esperando al acecho.

Según la policía, momentos antes del tiroteo mortal, la ventanilla trasera del SUV se bajó y el vehículo se movió hacia el oeste por la calle Northwest 58th.

Las autoridades confirmaron que posteriormente se vieron imágenes adicionales de las cámaras de vigilancia que mostraban al vehículo Blazer deteniéndose frente a la casa de Harris.

Según las autoridades, el conductor, identificado por la policía como Terrance Martin, estaba armado con una pistola semiautomática de color oscuro cuando salió del vehículo y comenzó a disparar en dirección a la víctima, que se encontraba sentada en su coche.

Según los detectives, Martin se paró en el piso del Blazer y disparó por encima del vehículo, apoyando su mano izquierda en el marco de la puerta mientras seguía disparando.

Tras el tiroteo, la policía informó que Martin volvió a entrar en la camioneta y huyó hacia el oeste por la calle Northwest 58th Street en dirección a la avenida Northwest 17th Avenue. Las imágenes de las cámaras de vigilancia indicaron que había al menos otros dos ocupantes dentro del vehículo, lo que sugiere un ataque coordinado, según los investigadores.

Las pruebas forenses vincularon el vehículo con el homicidio.

Según el informe, al día siguiente, los investigadores recuperaron el Chevrolet Blazer estacionado frente a un complejo de apartamentos en 3330 NW 48th Terrace, donde las cámaras de vigilancia habían captado a Hollie y a Terrance Martin, de 27 años en ese entonces, cerca del vehículo el día anterior al homicidio.

La policía indicó que Martin coincidía con la descripción física del pistolero que aparecía en el video de vigilancia.

Durante el registro del SUV, los detectives recuperaron un casquillo de bala de calibre 7.62 del piso trasero. Según las pruebas forenses, el casquillo había sido disparado con la misma arma utilizada en el asesinato de Harris.

Martin fue arrestado en octubre de 2024 acusado de asesinato en primer grado con arma mortal, asesinato en segundo grado con arma, lanzamiento o disparo de proyectil y posesión ilegal de un arma de fuego por parte de un delincuente convicto.

Los testigos proporcionaron nueva información.

Posteriormente, la investigación arrojó declaraciones adicionales de testigos que, según los investigadores, vinculaban a Hollie con el homicidio.

Según el informe de su arresto, una mujer, detenida en 2024 por complicidad posterior al hecho, declaró a los detectives que tanto Martin como Hollie admitieron haber disparado y matado a Harris. Según su testimonio, Martin conducía la camioneta mientras que Hollie era quien disparaba.

En junio, otro testigo prestó declaración bajo juramento ante los investigadores.

Según la policía, el testigo declaró que Hollie, a quien conocía como “GB” o “God Body”, se puso en contacto con él poco después del tiroteo y le dijo: “Acabamos de matar a TK”, refiriéndose a Harris por su apodo.

El testigo declaró a los detectives que Hollie le pidió que limpiara el SUV. Según el informe, el testigo afirmó que posteriormente extrajo casquillos de bala de calibre 7,62 y de 9 mm del interior del vehículo antes de tirarlos.

Los investigadores afirmaron que esos calibres coincidían con las pruebas recuperadas en el lugar del homicidio.

Según el informe de detención, el testigo también declaró a los detectives que el asesinato se debió a una disputa en curso entre miembros de la pandilla Wavy Navy y la pandilla de la 13.ª Avenida.

Hollie fue entrevistada mientras estaba encarcelada por cargos no relacionados.

Según el informe de detención, los detectives interrogaron a Hollie el miércoles en el Centro de Detención de Metrowest, donde se encontraba detenido por cargos no relacionados.

El informe indica que Hollie renunció a sus derechos Miranda y reconoció que existía un conflicto entre las pandillas rivales. También se identificó a sí mismo y a Martin en las imágenes de vigilancia grabadas el día anterior al homicidio, donde se les veía cerca del Chevrolet Blazer, según informaron las autoridades.

Cuando los detectives le preguntaron si alguna vez había estado dentro del SUV, Hollie respondió: “Posiblemente, pero no lo recuerdo”, según el informe.

La policía afirmó que Hollie negó cualquier implicación en el asesinato de Harris.

Hollie se enfrenta a cargos de asesinato en primer grado, intento de asesinato en segundo grado, disparar o lanzar un proyectil mortal, posesión de un arma oculta por parte de un delincuente violento reincidente e intento de manipulación de pruebas físicas.

Según los investigadores, una revisión de sus antecedentes penales reveló que Hollie tiene tres condenas previas por delitos graves que datan de 2008, incluyendo dos cargos de robo a mano armada y un cargo de robo de vehículo a mano armada.

Hasta el jueves por la tarde, Hollie permanecía en el Centro de Detención Metrowest. Su fianza total, según los registros penitenciarios en línea, figuraba como “por determinar”.

Según la Policía, un gran jurado acusó el miércoles a Gregory DaSilva, de 26 años, de tres cargos de asesinato premeditado en primer grado y un cargo de intento de asesinato en primer grado.

Los primeros homicidios fueron reportados la mañana del 30 de junio en un complejo de apartamentos ubicado en la cuadra 5300 de Northwest 19th Street.

Los investigadores dijeron que un agente fue abordado inicialmente por un hombre que informó que alguien armado con un cuchillo había intentado atacarlo.

Posteriormente, los agentes localizaron a DaSilva, quien coincidía con la descripción del atacante, pero la Policía informó que huyó hacia un vecindario residencial cercano.

Mientras los agentes buscaban en el área, los investigadores dijeron que recibieron una llamada al 911 sobre un hombre con aparentes heridas de arma blanca. Mientras recorrían el vecindario, los agentes confirmaron que encontraron a una segunda víctima de apuñalamiento.

La Policía informó que una víctima fue declarada muerta en el lugar, mientras que la otra murió después de ser trasladada a un hospital cercano.

Posteriormente, las víctimas fueron identificadas como Mesilien Pierre, de 36 años, y Wilford White, de 68. Vecinos dijeron que White utilizaba una silla de ruedas y no pudo escapar.

Según la Policía, los agentes respondieron a una vivienda cercana el 5 de julio tras recibir un reporte sobre un hombre de 51 años que fue encontrado muerto en el interior por un familiar.

La Policía identificó a la víctima como Jeffrey Standifer, quien, según indicó, también fue asesinado por DaSilva. No confirmó cómo murió Standifer.

Cualquier persona con información sobre las investigaciones de los tres homicidios debe llamar al Departamento de Policía de Lauderhill al 954-497-4700. También puede proporcionar información de forma anónima llamando a Broward Crime Stoppers al 954-493-8477.

Walker’s parents -- “Jordan’s Dad” and “Jordan’s Mom,” as known by their customized jerseys this week at the Home Run Derby — often obliged. Derek Walker and his 7 year old son were out in left field seats for an April series in 2010 when Braves slugger and future Gold Glove winner Jason Heyward made his debut.

Oh, for sure the younger Walker still cheered for Jones.

But to see a young Black star such as Heyward command the outfield the way Walker wanted to play, a new favorite player was born.

“As soon as Jason Heyward debuted,” Walker said. “I was like, oh yeah, that’s the guy. That’s who I want to be like.”

The significance of representation in the Black community was never lost on Walker.

So when Walker, a former St. Louis Cardinals' first-round pick once on the cusp of bust territory after several demotions over the last few seasons, had his breathtaking, breakthrough moment with a six-swing, six-homer rally past Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber to win the Derby, he hoped his star-making turn would inspire more young Black athletes to follow in his footsteps and choose baseball.

Just as he was inspired by Heyward.

“For Black kids, I want to kind of be a role model for them,” Walker said, “like he was for me.”

With each prodigious blast off his customized Iron Man bat, the 24-year-old Walker silenced the Philly boo birds clamoring for a home team Schwarber victory and shined in his coming-out party beyond the St. Louis bubble and to the entire baseball world.

He flashed the kind of swag that appealed to a younger generation much in the way Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. did in his heyday. Walker wore his Cardinals hat backward, chewed a big wad of bubble gum and reveled afterward in flashing his imitation Liberty Bell bling, the champions' chain presented by Ryan Howard.

None other than career home run leader Barry Bonds gave Walker his stamp of approval — “you got my trophy, too” — for winning the greatest Derby he's ever seen.

“That means the world to me,” Walker said.

Walker is among the scores of All-Star talents leading a modest uptick of Black baseball players in the major leagues. When Houston and Philadelphia played the 2022 World Series that featured no U.S-born Black players, Astros manager Dusty Baker noted, “It looks bad. But there is help on the way.”

They're here — with Walker as the All-Star weekend centerpiece.

“I think once kids see more people to look up to,” All-Star Nationals outfielder James Wood said, “the more kids will get back into baseball.”

Baseball has seen modest gains with Black baseball players

Take a look around the All-Star clubhouses and it was clear — while not at the pace perhaps MLB would like — Walker helped represent a new wave of emerging Black talent.

Three-time AL MVP and Yankees slugger Aaron Judge sat out with an injury, but Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams and outfielder James Wood, Cincinnati Reds ace Chase Burns and Braves catcher Drake Baldwin ushered in the next, young group of future Black stars. The game also featured Minnesota Twins veteran Byron Buxton.

“I feel like there's been like a little surge in getting more Black players in the game,” Wood said. “We've got four on our team right now. Last year at one point, we had five. I think you're seeing it come back.”

MLB said that 6.8% of players on opening day rosters, injured lists and the restricted list were Black, up from 6.2% at the start of the 2025 season and 6.0% at the beginning of 2024. This year’s 0.6% increase was the most in a season since a 0.7% rise from 2017 to 2018.

Twenty of the 64 Black players had been in MLB-sponsored programs such as the MLB Youth Academy, Breakthrough Series, DREAM Series, Nike RBI and the Hank Aaron Invitational.

MLB said the total included 22 players 25 or younger and eight older than 32. The average age of Black players was 27.8 and the overall average 29.25.

The 23-year-old Burns, 11-1 with a 2.54 ERA with the Reds, was proud to hear Walker champion a Black youth movement at the Derby.

“You don't see a lot of Black athletes in baseball,” Burns said. “I don't know why that it is. I think it's great for guys like me and him to strive to get Black athletes into the game of baseball, whether it's talking about it or doing stuff in the community. I think it's great he pointed it out.”

Walker hopes he can keep leading the way

The best chance, naturally, for Walker to serve as a role model for the next generation is to make sure he's not just a one-Derby wonder.

Walker has 22 home runs, leads baseball with 74 RBIs and is a solid 13th with an .886 OPS — Wood is second at .985 — for a Cardinals team in the NL wild-card hunt. The Cardinals are finally getting the production expected out of the right fielder they drafted with their first-round pick in 2020.

Walker, who signed out of high school after he had committed to Duke, skipped Triple-A and made the opening day roster as the youngest player in baseball in 2023 and tied Eddie Murray's under 21-rookie record with a 13-game hitting streak.

He was sent down later that season; was the 2024 opening day right fielder and demoted again with a .155 batting average. Walker suffered a variety of injuries in 2025 and played in just 111 games that suddenly put his future as a key Cardinals' contributor very much in doubt.

Leaning on the same convictions that made him believe he could overtake the mighty Schwarber in the Derby championship round, Walker said a day after his win he never wavered in his belief that he would blossom into an everyday player and All-Star with the Cardinals.

He tinkered with his swing during an extend rehab assignment last season and the results were on full display in Philadelphia with 12 home runs in the final round.

“When my swing's fluid and easy, that's when it's at it's best,” Walker said. “That's really what it is.”

Walker, who struck out in his lone at bat in the All-Star Game, earned a $1 million prize for winning the Derby, which is more than his 2026 salary of $799,400.

(Here's a fun fact: Walker has 49 career homers off 49 different pitchers.)

As for the backward hat, “I call it the Griffey because no one did it better than him."

No one did it better than Walker at the Derby.

He just hopes his win can be a launching pad for a next generation of Black athletes into the big leagues.

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

Garrett's performance helped him earn the honor of being named the top off-ball linebacker in the NFL by The Associated Press.

A panel of eight AP Pro Football Writers ranked the top five players at edge rusher, basing selections on current status entering the 2026 season. First-place votes were worth 10 points. Second- through fifth-place votes were worth 5, 3, 2 and 1 points.

Garrett got all eight first-place votes and won the voting with 80 points. Green Bay's Micah Parsons was the only other player named on all eight ballots and was second with 27 points. Houston's Will Anderson Jr. was third, Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt was fourth and Detroit's Aidan Hutchinson was fifth.

Brian Burns of the New York Giants, Baltimore's Trey Hendrickson, Las Vegas' Maxx Crosby, San Francisco's Nick Bosa and Jacksonville's Josh Hines-Allen also received votes.

1. Myles Garrett, Los Angeles Rams

Garrett won his second AP Defensive Player of the Year award last season and earned All-Pro honors for the fifth time after breaking the single-season sack record held by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. His 125 1/2 career sacks are the second-most to Reggie White among players in their first nine seasons in the NFL and Garrett is the only player with five straight seasons with at least 14 sacks.

Now after playing in only three playoff games in his career with the Browns, Garrett could have a chance to deliver in the postseason following the trade to the preseason Super Bowl favorite Rams.

2. Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers

Parsons was dealt from Dallas to Green Bay before last season and delivered 12 1/2 sacks in 14 games while earning his third career All-Pro honor. Parsons' season ended early following a torn ACL in Week 15 that is expected to sideline him for at least the start of this season.

But Parsons has performed at a high level every year in the NFL and is the only player ever to start his career with five straight seasons with at least 12 sacks.

3. Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans

Anderson is the anchor of one of the NFL's top defenses and earned his first All-Pro honor last season when he had 12 sacks and 20 tackles for loss. He turned that performance into a three-year, $150 million contract extension in the offseason.

In three seasons with the Texans, the 24-year-old Anderson has piled up 30 sacks and 136 tackles, including 46 for loss. He also has 64 quarterback hits in his career and has forced four fumbles and recovered three.

4. T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers

Watt's production has dipped a bit in recent years but he still remains one of the game's top pass rushers. He had seven sacks in 14 games last season when he earned his eighth straight Pro Bowl bid.

He has led the NFL in sacks three times and has 115 for his career.

5. Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions

The No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft bounced back from an injury-shortened 2024 campaign to record a career high last season with 14 1/2 sacks to make his second Pro Bowl and be named a second-team All-Pro.

Hutchinson has 43 sacks, 100 quarterback hits, 44 tackles for loss and five INTs in 56 career games.

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

The league's first 84-game season since 1993-94 opens Sept. 29 as 32 teams will combine to play a total of 1,344 games. The season runs through Saturday, April 10, before the playoffs begin the following week.

The increase from an 82-game slate, which had been the standard since the mid-’90s, was agreed upon by team owners and players in the last round of talks on a collective bargaining agreement. The intent is to provide more space between the end of the Stanley Cup Final and the draft in late June before free agency commences July 1.

When the Panthers and Oilers went the distance in ’24, there were just three days between Game 7 on June 24 in South Florida and the first round of the draft on June 28 in Las Vegas.

After defeating Vegas to win the Stanley Cup, the Carolina Hurricanes will raise their second championship banner on Sept. 29 against Florida.

That opening night, featuring five games, matches the earliest start date in NHL history and is the first time the regular season begins in North America before October. The Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings played games in London on Sept. 29 and 30, 2007.

The most recent — and only other — September hockey outside of exhibitions came during the pandemic playoff bubble in 2020, culminating when Tampa Bay hoisted the Cup in an empty arena in Edmonton on Sept. 28.

Games to watch

Oct. 21: New Florida Panther Brady Tkachuk returns to Ottawa. The former Senators captain plays his first game against his old team since getting traded to Florida to play with his brother, Matthew. It did not end well in Canada's capital, from Brady bristling at his name being in rumors to asking out and then the team offering to take Tkachuk No. 7 jerseys fans wished to exchange.

Oct 25: Heritage Classic. The Montreal Canadiens visit the Winnipeg Jets in the return of outdoor hockey to Canada for the first time since 2023.

Dec. 21: Stanley Cup Final rematch: The Hurricanes return to the scene of their championship triumph to face the Golden Knights in Las Vegas. The two teams meet again in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Jan. 17.

Dec. 31: Winter Classic: Utah takes center stage outside, hosting the Colorado Avalanche in the Winter Classic in Salt Lake City.

Feb. 20: Jerry World hockey: The Dallas Stars host Vegas in at the Dallas Cowboys' stadium in Arlington, Texas.

April 4: Washington hosts Pittsburgh. Alex Ovechkin is back for a 22nd NHL season with the Capitals. If this is it for him at age 41 — and it very well may not be if he wants to shoot for 1,000 career goals — this would be the last regular-season game against Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the Penguins.

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

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According to police, a grand jury indicted Gregory DaSilva, 26, Wednesday on three counts of first-degree premeditated murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder.

The first killings were reported on the morning of June 30 at an apartment complex in the 5300 block of Northwest 19th Street.

Investigators said an officer was initially flagged down by a man who reported that someone armed with a knife had tried to attack him.

Officers then located DaSilva, who matched the description of the attacker, but police said he ran into a nearby residential neighborhood.

As officers searched the area, investigators said they received a 911 call about a man suffering from apparent stab wounds. While canvassing the neighborhood, officers confirmed that they found a second stabbing victim.

Police said one victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other died after being taken to a nearby hospital.

The victims were later identified as Mesilien Pierre, 36; and Wilford White, 68. Neighbors said White used a wheelchair and was unable to escape.

According to police, officers responded to a nearby home on July 5 after receiving a report about a 51-year-old man who was found dead inside by a family member.

Police identified the victim as Jeffrey Standifer, who they said had also been killed by DaSilva. They did not confirm how Standifer was killed.

Anyone with information about the investigations into the three killings is asked to call the Lauderhill Police Department at 954-497-4700. Anonymous tips can be made by calling Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.

Basabe está acusado de acosar sexualmente a dos ex empleados, el pasante Jacob Cutbirth y el asistente legislativo Nicholas Frevola.

Ambos hombres alegan haber sido víctimas de tocamientos inapropiados y otras conductas poco profesionales. Como evidencia se han presentado publicaciones en X, mensajes de texto y fotografías.

Basabe, quien no es abogado y nunca estudió Derecho, decidió representarse a sí mismo durante el juicio.

Esa decisión ha provocado algunos momentos complicados para Basabe, incluidos los del miércoles, mientras presentaba sus alegatos finales ante el jurado del condado Leon.

Tras varias conversaciones en privado entre las partes y el juez, se observó repetidamente a Basabe enviando mensajes de texto desde su teléfono celular, aparentemente para obtener información relacionada con el proceso, aunque en ocasiones sin éxito.

En un momento, Basabe dijo que accidentalmente borró una página completa de sus notas.

El caso ya fue entregado al jurado, que decidirá si Basabe es responsable en el juicio civil y cuál sería la compensación económica que correspondería a las presuntas víctimas.

Una parte de la audiencia del miércoles puede verse en el video a continuación:

La Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade (MDSO) identificó a los sospechosos como Karel Clavel-Beltran, de 46 años, de Hialeah; Alexis Franc Fernandez, de 63 años, de Tampa; y Miguel Nunez-Garcia, de 47 años, de Miami.

Según un comunicado de prensa de la MDSO, “Clavel-Beltran utilizó cámaras colocadas estratégicamente y audífonos para ayudar al Sr. Miguel Nunez-Garcia y al Sr. Alexis Fernandez a hacer trampa en el examen computarizado para obtener la licencia de conducir”.

El informe de arresto de Nunez-Garcia indica que había reprobado el examen en múltiples ocasiones antes de aprobarlo el miércoles. El informe señala que Nunez-Garcia no entiende inglés y que el examen se administra únicamente en inglés, de acuerdo con una ley que entró en vigor el 6 de febrero.

Según el informe, Nunez-Garcia admitió que llevaba puesta una camiseta tipo Polo color púrpura equipada con una “cámara de botón” y un audífono, mientras Clavel-Beltran le proporcionaba las respuestas del examen mientras lo presentaba en la oficina del recaudador de impuestos de Midway Crossings, ubicada en el 7795 W. Flagler St.

Las autoridades informaron que dijo haber pagado $600 USD a Clavel-Beltran por su ayuda.

Según un informe de arresto separado, Fernandez también presentó el examen el miércoles en la sede de Midway Crossings y fue visto por un oficial de cumplimiento del Departamento de Seguridad Vial y Vehículos Motorizados de Florida entrando a una camioneta blanca con una camiseta gris y luego saliendo del vehículo con una camiseta tipo Polo.

Los agentes dijeron que es una práctica común que las personas usen una camiseta tipo Polo para ocultar dispositivos de grabación durante los exámenes y luego cambien de ropa una vez que el examen ha terminado.

Según el informe, Fernandez fue detenido después del examen y tampoco podía entender inglés, a pesar de haber presentado el examen en ese idioma.

Los agentes dijeron que Fernandez admitió que Clavel-Beltran le proporcionó el audífono y la camiseta tipo Polo con la cámara de botón para ayudarlo a aprobar el examen, pero aun así reprobó porque no pudo escuchar a Clavel-Beltran a través del audífono.

Según el informe, Fernandez dijo que llevó una “gran cantidad de dinero en efectivo” para pagarle a Clavel-Beltran por sus servicios, pero fue detenido por un investigador antes de poder hacerlo.

Fernandez y Nunez-Garcia fueron arrestados por cargos de hacer trampa y uso ilegal de un dispositivo de comunicación.

Mientras tanto, Clavel-Beltran fue arrestado por cargos de esquema organizado para defraudar, hacer trampa, uso ilegal de un dispositivo de comunicación y proporcionar un nombre o identificación falsos después del arresto.

“Obtener una licencia de conducir es un privilegio que conlleva la responsabilidad de operar un vehículo de manera segura en nuestras carreteras”, indicó la MDSO en un comunicado. “Cuando alguien intenta hacer trampa en el proceso de evaluación, socava la integridad del sistema y pone en riesgo la seguridad de nuestra comunidad.

“La MDSO mantiene su compromiso de proteger la integridad del proceso de otorgamiento de licencias y garantizar que solo los conductores calificados obtengan el privilegio de ponerse al volante. No se tolerarán los intentos de obtener una licencia de conducir mediante fraude o engaño, y quienes intenten evadir la ley serán investigados y responsabilizados”.

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The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office identified the suspects as Karel Clavel-Beltran, 46, of Hialeah; Alexis Franc Fernandez, 63, of Tampa; and Miguel Nunez-Garcia, 47, of Miami.

According to an MDSO press release, “Clavel-Beltran used strategically placed cameras and earpieces to help Mr. Miguel Nunez-Garcia and Mr. Alexis Fernandez cheat on the computer-based driver license examination.”

Nunez-Garcia’s arrest report states that he had failed the exam multiple times before passing Wednesday. The report notes that Nunez-Garcia does not understand English and the test is solely administered in English following a law that took effect on Feb. 6.

According to the report, Nunez-Garcia admitted that he was wearing a purple Polo shirt equipped with a “button camera” and an earpiece as Clavel-Beltran provided him the answers to the exam while he took it at the Midway Crossings Tax Collector Office at 7795 W. Flagler St.

He said he paid Clavel-Beltran $600 for his assistance, authorities said.

According to a separate arrest report, Fernandez also took the exam Wednesday at the Midway Crossings location and was spotted by a Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles compliance officer entering a white truck in a gray T-shirt and then exiting the truck wearing a Polo shirt.

Deputies said it is common practice for people to wear a Polo shirt to hide recording devices during exams and then change their attire once the exam is completed.

According to the report, Fernandez was detained after the exam and he too could not understand English, despite taking the exam in English.

Deputies said Fernandez admitted that Clavel-Beltran provided him the earpiece and Polo shirt with the button camera to help him pass the exam, but he still failed because he was unable to hear Clavel-Beltran through the earpiece.

According to the report, Fernandez said he brought a “large amount of cash” with him to pay Clavel-Beltran for his services, but he was detained by an investigator before he could pay him.

Fernandez and Nunez-Garcia were arrested on charges of cheating and unlawful use of a communications device.

Clavel-Beltran, meanwhile, was arrested on charges of organized scheme to defraud, cheating, unlawful use of a communications device and providing a false name/ID after arrest.

“Obtaining a driver license is a privilege that comes with the responsibility of safely operating a vehicle on our roadways,” MDSO said in a statement. “When someone attempts to cheat the testing process, they undermine the integrity of the system and put the safety of our community at risk.

“MDSO remains committed to protecting the integrity of the licensing process and ensuring that only qualified drivers earn the privilege to get behind the wheel. Attempts to obtain a driver license through fraud or deception will not be tolerated, and those who try to circumvent the law will be investigated and held accountable.”

All three suspects appeared in bond court Thursday. Fernandez was granted a $5,000 bond. Clavel-Beltran and Nunez-Garcia, both of Cuba, will remain jailed on immigration holds for the time being.

Records show Clavel-Beltran also has an open warrant on a 2008 case in which he was charged with trafficking cannabis and grand theft.

Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez said more arrests could be coming as this investigation continues.

“When individuals attempt to cheat the testing process, they undermine the integrity of the system and put public safety at risk,” he said. “Fraud has no place in our offices or around our facilities, and anyone who attempts to obtain a government-issued credential through deception should expect to be held accountable.”

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Willard, 35, used a smoking device to stab a lover on May 16 in Broward County and a kitchen knife to stab another lover about two months later in Miami-Dade County, according to police officers.

“Ms. Willard is also currently on an ankle monitor for a domestic-related aggravated battery with a deadly weapon incident,” a Miami Gardens police officer wrote, according to an arrest report.

Willard, of Hollywood, had been arrested for domestic violence three times — going back to when she was 21 —in Broward, when police officers arrested her for domestic violence on May 16 in Sunrise and on Wednesday in Miami Gardens, records show.

Shortly before 1:40 a.m., on Wednesday, Miami Gardens police officers responded to a mobile home along Dorado Avenue, near Aledo Circle, according to a police officer’s arrest report.

The victim was “sitting in a chair in the back of the property. He had a puncture wound to the abdomen ... stated that he and Ms. Willard were arguing over her being unfaithful ... Willard grabbed a kitchen knife, with a white plastic handle, and stabbed him,” a police officer wrote, according to the arrest report.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel took the victim to the HCA Florida Aventura Hospital, where he underwent surgery and was able to talk to a detective hours later, according to a police report.

“He advised that Ms. Willard had been beating on him all day. He said she disrespects him in his own home by talking to the victim from her Broward case ... He said today, Ms. Willard punched him in the face several times and choked him. She gave him a bloody nose and knocked a tooth out. While he was in the bathroom cleaning his face from the blood, Ms. Willard stabbed him,” a police officer wrote, according to the arrest report.

Police officers searched the apartment and found the kitchen knife with the white handle on the kitchen table, after Willard told police officers that the victim had “stabbed himself,” according to the report.

“She advised that [the victim] gets aggressive when he drinks ... had been arrested in the past for domestic violence against her ... [they] have been in an on-and-off romantic relationship for over five years ... for the past two months they have been living together,” a police officer wrote, according to the arrest report.

On May 16, police officers responded to a house along Oakland Park Boulevard, near Northwest 94 Avenue in Sunrise, and accused Willard of aggravated battery with a deadly, records show.

“I observed blood on her hands ... she stated that she injured her hand while punching [the victim] and while using a smoking device to stab him ... she picked up a small black sharp object commonly used for smoking cannabis,” a Sunrise police officer wrote, according to the arrest report.

The victim said Willard “grabbed a small black object used for smoking marijuana from a brown desk located on the right side of the room and began stabbing him multiple times in the stomach area,” a police officer wrote, according to the report.

Police officers seized the device, identified Willard as “the primary aggressor,” arrested her, and took her to the Broward County Main Jail in Fort Lauderdale, where corrections booked her, records show.

Broward court records show prosecutors filed a case against Willard on May 18, and she faced a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. She was released on a $700 bond and was under an agreement to house arrest with an electronic monitor.

Miami-Dade court records show prosecutors filed a case against Willard on Thursday, and she faced charges of second-degree felony attempted murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. A judge ordered her pre-trial detention.

Broward County Circuit Judge Tim Bailey and Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Richard Hersch were presiding over the pending cases.

Según la Policía, Willard, de 35 años, utilizó un dispositivo para fumar para apuñalar a una pareja el 16 de mayo en el condado Broward y un cuchillo de cocina para apuñalar a otra pareja aproximadamente dos meses después en el condado Miami-Dade.

“La Sra. Willard también se encuentra actualmente bajo monitoreo electrónico por un caso de agresión agravada por violencia doméstica con un arma mortal”, escribió un agente de la Policía de Miami Gardens, según un informe de arresto.

Los registros muestran que Willard, residente de Hollywood, había sido arrestada por violencia doméstica en tres ocasiones desde que tenía 21 años. La Policía la arrestó por violencia doméstica el 16 de mayo en Sunrise y nuevamente el miércoles en Miami Gardens.

Poco antes de la 1:40 a.m. del miércoles, agentes de la Policía de Miami Gardens respondieron a una casa móvil ubicada en Dorado Avenue, cerca de Aledo Circle, según un informe de arresto.

“La víctima estaba sentada en una silla en la parte trasera de la propiedad. Tenía una herida punzante en el abdomen… indicó que él y la Sra. Willard estaban discutiendo por una infidelidad de ella… Willard tomó un cuchillo de cocina con mango plástico blanco y lo apuñaló”, escribió un agente en el informe de arresto.

Personal de Miami-Dade Fire Rescue trasladó a la víctima al Hospital HCA Florida Aventura, donde fue sometida a una cirugía y pudo hablar con un detective horas después, según un informe policial.

“Indicó que la Sra. Willard lo había estado golpeando durante todo el día. Dijo que ella le faltaba el respeto en su propia casa al hablar con la víctima de su caso en Broward… Dijo que ese día la Sra. Willard le dio varios puñetazos en la cara y lo estranguló. Le provocó una hemorragia nasal y le tumbó un diente. Mientras estaba en el baño limpiándose la sangre del rostro, la Sra. Willard lo apuñaló”, escribió un agente, según el informe de arresto.

Los agentes registraron la vivienda y encontraron el cuchillo de cocina con mango blanco sobre la mesa de la cocina, después de que Willard les dijera que la víctima “se había apuñalado a sí misma”, según el informe.

“Ella indicó que la víctima se pone agresiva cuando bebe… que había sido arrestado anteriormente por violencia doméstica en su contra… que ambos han mantenido una relación sentimental intermitente durante más de cinco años… y que durante los últimos dos meses habían estado viviendo juntos”, escribió un agente en el informe de arresto.

El 16 de mayo, agentes respondieron a una vivienda ubicada sobre Oakland Park Boulevard, cerca de Northwest 94 Avenue, en Sunrise, y acusaron a Willard de agresión agravada con un arma mortal, según muestran los registros.

“Observé sangre en sus manos… indicó que se lesionó la mano al golpear a la víctima y al usar un dispositivo para fumar para apuñalarlo… tomó un pequeño objeto negro con punta que comúnmente se utiliza para fumar cannabis”, escribió un agente de la Policía de Sunrise, según el informe de arresto.

La víctima dijo que Willard “tomó un pequeño objeto negro utilizado para fumar marihuana de un escritorio marrón ubicado al lado derecho de la habitación y comenzó a apuñalarlo varias veces en el área del estómago”, escribió un agente, según el informe.

Los agentes incautaron el dispositivo, identificaron a Willard como “la principal agresora”, la arrestaron y la trasladaron a la cárcel principal del condado Broward, en Fort Lauderdale, donde fue ingresada, según muestran los registros.

Los registros judiciales de Broward muestran que los fiscales presentaron un caso contra Willard el 18 de mayo, en el que enfrentaba un cargo de agresión agravada con un arma mortal. Fue liberada tras pagar una fianza de $700 USD y permanecía bajo arresto domiciliario con monitoreo electrónico.

Los registros judiciales de Miami-Dade muestran que los fiscales presentaron un caso contra Willard el jueves, en el que enfrenta cargos por intento de asesinato en segundo grado y agresión agravada con un arma mortal. Un juez ordenó que permaneciera detenida mientras espera juicio.

El juez del Tribunal de Circuito del condado Broward, Tim Bailey, y el juez del Tribunal de Circuito del condado Miami-Dade, Richard Hersch, presiden los casos pendientes.

The U.S. said on Wednesday it would impose a new 25% tariff on certain imports from Brazil, citing unfair trade practices by the world’s 10th-biggest economy.

Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira accused Trump administration officials of pressuring the South American nation to give American companies exclusive access to some sectors of its economy. He said Brazil has never left the negotiating table.

The tariffs, first proposed last month, will take effect July 22. The order exempts some goods that are not produced in the U.S. or that officials worry would disrupt supply chains — including coffee, beef, oranges and orange juice and aircraft components.

Brazil's government said the decision hits about 3,000 items, but is yet to decide whether and how it could retaliate with a law its Congress passed in 2025 in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

In a statement late Wednesday, the office of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva refuted the U.S. allegations of unfair trade practices. It said 76% of imports from the U.S. entered Brazil duty-free in 2025, and said the average tariff effectively applied to U.S. products was only 3.1%.

It said it has taken steps to impose reciprocal tariffs, along with other trade-related countermeasures, through its own law and through the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement mechanism.

Vieira said Rubio made statements that are “unacceptable, offensive to the Brazilian people and the Brazilian government” after the new tariffs were announced. Rubio said in a post on X that the tariffs were the result of Lula putting “his own ego ahead of making a deal” and not negotiating with the U.S. in good faith.

“Rubio launches a crude and arrogant attack on the Head of State of a friendly nation, who has personally sought to open channels for dialogue on several occasions," Vieira told a press conference in the capital, Brasilia. "What Secretary Rubio dismisses as ‘ego’ is, in fact, President Lula’s steadfast resolve to defend Brazil’s sovereignty and the interests of our businesses and workers.”

US has a robust trade surplus with Brazil

The United States has for years run a massive trade deficit with the rest of the world, and Trump has cited the lopsided trade numbers to justify his aggressive use of tariffs.

But Brazilian imports make an unusual target: The U.S. has persistently piled up trade surpluses with Brazil. Last year, in fact, U.S. exports to Brazil exceeded imports by nearly $42 billion; only the United States’ trade surpluses with the Netherlands and the United Kingdom were higher.

The new tariff puts pressure on national exports and increases insecurity for companies in both countries, Brazil’s National Confederation of Industry said in a statement Thursday.

The Trump administration first imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports last July. He cited what he called a “witch hunt” against former President Jair Bolsonaro. Trump's ally was on trial at the time for attempting a coup despite his 2022 electoral defeat to Lula and was later convicted. Some of those tariffs were later rescinded.

Trump at the time also accused Brazil of unfair trade practices and said he had directed U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to initiate an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

That led the office to charge Brazil with lax anti-corruption enforcement and unfair tariffs, among other things, in June. One of the targets of the investigation is Brazil's popular PIX payment system, which is run by the country's central bank and is overwhelmingly free of charge.

Scott Lincicome, a trade analyst at the libertarian Cato Institute, said the U.S. administration might have had a legitimate Section 301 case if it narrowly targeted Brazil’s restrictions on trade in digital services. Instead, it threw in a bunch of other allegations.

“It’s a pretty clear case of the administration simply finding an excuse and finding a law that allows them to impose the tariffs they want to impose,’’ Lincicome said.

Welber Barral, a trade lawyer and former Brazilian foreign trade secretary, said the move comes as his country's exports to the U.S. are now less than 10% of its total for the first time in two centuries.

“Brazil is diversifying to other destinations,” Barral said. “Brazil is negotiating with Canada through the Mercosur. Other deals will also come out as the American market closes.”

Brazil elections may be impacted

Brazilian officials have blamed the Bolsonaro family — the main political opponents of Lula — for the latest round of tariffs. The move was announced shortly after Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, a presidential hopeful in October's elections and son of the former president, visited Trump, Rubio and other U.S. officials in Washington in May.

Sen. Bolsonaro reposted Rubio’s statement, adding: “Lula is no longer fit to be the president of Brazil. We are on a plane without a pilot.” He also described Lula as “the Brazilian Biden” and said he “is grumpy, reckless, and has become a danger to our nation.”

Flávio Bolsonaro is expected to be confirmed as Lula's main election rival on July 25 at his Liberal Party's convention in Sao Paulo, though his bid has struggled to overcome the findings of a police investigation which showed he received millions of dollars from a disgraced banker to finance a movie about his father. He has denied any wrongdoing.

The two leading presidential candidates have previously traded barbs over their responses to the deeply unpopular U.S. tariffs, suggesting that they believe how they are perceived as handling them will be a key factor in the vote.

___

Savarese reported from Sao Paulo.

Paul Wiseman contributed to this report from Washington D.C.

___

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

Mateo Pulcini delivered an amusing response a few hours later.

After holing a 40-foot putt for birdie on the 18th green at Royal Birkdale, the 25-year-old amateur cupped both of his ears in a gesture to spectators that mimicked the celebration his countryman, Enzo Fernandez, produced after scoring Argentina's 85th-minute equalizing goal on Wednesday. Argentina went on to win 2-1 in the semifinals.

“I was pretty excited and that came to my mind,” he said, “and I did it.”

Pulcini stressed there were only “a few boos” on the first tee and that it was just a bit of fun.

“People are being great. Fans are being spectacular. They were cheering for me as well,” he said.

Asked what felt better — his putt on the 18th or seeing Fernandez's goal — Pulcini said: “Enzo’s goal, for sure.”

Pulcini is making his debut at the British Open after qualifying by winning the Latin American Amateur Championship in a playoff in Peru.

He shot 5-over 75 on Thursday.

___

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

There's still areas that need to be worked on, but it will take more than 20 games for everything to be cleaned up.

“We’ve seen great improvements on the very things that were broken,” the Minnesota Lynx coach said. “There was a level of impeding players and trying to cut off a screen. We don’t want the unnecessary physicality.”

The league put together a task force, which Reeve is on, in the offseason to help clean up some of the physicality in the game. The main point of emphasis was to help players' freedom of movement. Despite some hiccups early on, it has led to more offense as teams are averaging around 86 points a game — the highest ever. They are shooting nearly 45% from the field — also the best in league history.

So far this season there have been roughly 4 1/2 more fouls called per game with 75% of them being non-shooting fouls.

“I think it’s fair for our coaches and players to be able to say we’re happy and we think positive things are taking place, but still I disagree with the calls that are affecting our team tonight,” Monty McCutchen, who is the head of WNBA officials, told The Associated Press.

“I want coaches to remain advocates for their teams," McCutchen added. "We have gotten positive feedback that we’re on the right track. we’ll continue to work through specifics when we fail that task and we’ll continue to check in with the officiating task force to make sure that we’re aligned with the expectations.”

By no means are things perfect. Coaches and players have complained of inconsistencies between officiating crews. What might be called a foul in one half might not be deemed a foul at another point in the game. Obvious fouls are getting missed too.

“It’s never going to be perfect, but we’re trending in the right direction,” Reeve said. “We’ve put resources into this.”

Reeve recalled a play that she asked to be reviewed during her team's game against Dallas. The officials looked at the play and upgraded it to a flagrant.

The league is constantly reviewing plays. Alyssa Thomas’ punch to the throat of Caitlin Clark that was upgraded to a Flagrant-2 was one of four that the league reviewed that night and was the only one upgraded.

Common fouls aren’t the only thing on the rise. Both technical fouls and flagrant fouls are up too. There have been 124 technicals assessed this season (four more were rescinded). Last year there were 171 total. There have been 44 flagrants called this season as compared to 51 all of last year.

“I think they are doing a better job at reviewing hostile acts,” Reeve said. “We didn't ask for that, but if that's what it takes to clean it up (it's worth it).”

Not everyone is a fan of all the reviews. Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon said after a loss to Indiana last week that there were too many of them.

“It’s exhausting when they go to the review every time. I mean, these games are getting longer and longer. It’s encouraging more drama,” she said. “So, it’s like somebody gets hit, and it’s like take them to the hospital. And they jump up, and they’re fine. So I actually think it’s not just today. It’s across the league. There’s so many reviews.”

___

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

Es algo en lo que conviene pensar, mientras los precios de la gasolina se mantienen elevados durante el verano y añaden presión a la conducción diaria y a los viajes por carretera propios de la temporada.

En cambio, respetar los límites de velocidad señalizados puede ahorrar a los conductores millones de dólares en la gasolinera y eliminar millones de galones de combustible cada día, de acuerdo con un estudio publicado el jueves en la publicación Communications Sustainability de la revista Nature. Ese es combustible que, al quemarse, emite gases que calientan el planeta a la atmósfera. Para colmo, cambiar los hábitos de conducción ni siquiera añadiría un minuto completo al trayecto de un conductor.

Investigadores de la Universidad de Minnesota analizaron 120 millones de viajes en vehículo en todo Estados Unidos correspondientes a cuatro miércoles de 2021, utilizando datos de conducción sobre redes viales nacionales, límites de velocidad y datos de elevación del Servicio Geológico de Estados Unidos. El análisis incluyó carreteras con límites de velocidad de 45 mph (72 km/h) o más.

Más del 43% de los viajes estudiados incluyó al menos un episodio de exceso de velocidad, y los conductores pasaron casi el 12% de su tiempo de conducción yendo más rápido que el límite.

Hallaron que, si los conductores de vehículos convencionales de servicio ligero con motor de combustión interna realmente condujeran a los límites señalizados, se podría ahorrar un promedio de 22 millones de dólares según los costos del combustible de ese momento, 6,7 millones de galones de combustible y 57.000 toneladas métricas de dióxido de carbono cada día. Los investigadores indicaron que eso es comparable a sacar de circulación a unos 5,5 millones de vehículos de pasajeros.

Y aunque los conductores afirman que exceder la velocidad les ahorra tiempo, los investigadores concluyeron que en realidad no es así. Con una distancia diaria promedio de conducción de 46,03 kilómetros (28,6 millas), conducir al límite señalado o por debajo de él equivale a apenas unos 54 segundos más al día.

“Si su meta es recortar un minuto, entonces tiene que conducir rápido. Si su objetivo es llegar a su destino de manera segura y ahorrar combustible, entonces quizá conduzca más lento que el límite de velocidad”, explicó William Northrop, profesor de ingeniería mecánica en la Universidad de Minnesota y coautor del estudio.

La investigación consideró la eficiencia de los vehículos eléctricos a batería solo en California, dado el nivel de adopción de vehículos eléctricos en ese momento. Con base en el modelado de California, “encontramos que conducir más lento también es beneficioso para los vehículos eléctricos”, señaló.

De manera interesante, el estudio encontró diferencias entre estados. Nevada registró una prevalencia elevada de ir rápido así como un alto excedente de velocidad. Hubo una alta prevalencia de recorridos rápidos en Florida, Georgia y Carolina del Norte, aunque esos estados no necesariamente mostraron exceso de velocidad. Montana, Wyoming, Idaho y Dakota del Sur presentaron tanto baja prevalencia de recorridos rápidos como bajo excedente de velocidad.

El costo de conducir más rápido

Conducir más rápido incrementa el uso de energía de un vehículo y las emisiones de su motor, además de reducir la eficiencia. Los motores de los vehículos se han vuelto cada vez más eficientes en las últimas décadas, incluso mientras los vehículos se han hecho más grandes y potentes. Pero los límites de velocidad también han aumentado desde que se implementó la Ley de Conservación de Energía en Carreteras de Emergencia, que estableció límites nacionales de 55 mph (88 kph) en medio de la crisis energética de la década de 1970.

Al considerar el costo promedio de la gasolina hoy y el mayor número de millas recorridas por los vehículos, eso aumenta a aproximadamente 26 millones de dólares y 7,2 millones de galones de combustible que los estadounidenses, en conjunto, podrían ahorrar cada día este año simplemente por no pisar el acelerador a fondo.

Una limitación de la investigación es que conducir más lento podría afectar los patrones de tráfico, lo que podría influir en la eficiencia.

Sin embargo, el tema es especialmente oportuno en momentos en que los conductores siguen siendo sensibles a los precios de la gasolina, mientras la guerra en Irán ha llevado el costo de un galón de combustible por encima de los 4 dólares este año. Expertos han señalado que hay varias maneras de mejorar el rendimiento de gasolina de un vehículo, incluida una tan simple como reducir la velocidad. Comprar menos combustible gracias a una mejor eficiencia podría influir en la demanda del mercado petrolero, lo que a su vez podría afectar los precios.

Rob Middleton, científico investigador asociado de ingeniería mecánica en la Universidad de Michigan que no participó en la investigación, comentó que el estudio estaba bien realizado. Pero también apuntó que el combustible ahorrado por conducir más despacio aún representa solo una fracción del consumo diario de gasolina en Estados Unidos, que es de alrededor de 375 millones de galones al día.

“Es un número grande, pero es una fracción pequeña”, manifestó Middleton. “Es una ganga solo en el sentido de que no le cuesta nada a nadie hacerlo”.

“La penetración de mercado de los vehículos eléctricos todavía es pequeña, así que seguimos necesitando combustible, seguimos necesitando vehículos a motor de combustión interna, y vamos a tenerlos por mucho tiempo”, añadió. “Las cosas que podemos hacer para que los nuevos sean mejores o para mejorar nuestro suministro de combustible, tenemos que hacerlas”.

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Alexa St. John es reportera de clima de AP. Sígala en X: @alexa_stjohn. Puede contactarla en ast.john@ap.org.

__________________________________

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

__________________________________

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

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Basabe is accused of sexually harassing two former staffers -- intern Jacob Cutbirth and legislative aide Nicholas Frevola.

Both men allege inappropriate touching and other unprofessional conduct. Tweets, texts messages and photos have all been presented as evidence.

On Wednesday afternoon, a jury found Basabe liable in the case.

Basabe, who is not a lawyer and who has never been to law school, elected to represent himself in the trial.

It’s a decision that has brought some rocky moments for Basabe, which included Wednesday while presenting his closing arguments before the Leon County jury.

After several sidebars, Basabe was constantly spotted texting on his cellphone, appearing to glean information for the proceedings, sometimes unsuccessfully.

At one point, Basabe said he accidentally deleted an entire page of his notes.

The jury reached their verdict after two hours of deliberation, awarding $450,000 in damages to his former staffers.

Basabe released a statement to Local 10 News after the verdict.

“I chose to defend myself because I am still naïve enough to believe that truth matters, that an ordinary citizen can stand in court, defend himself, and be judged on the facts. I believed representing myself was the right thing to do because I am innocent and because, before this civil trial, these allegations had already been the subject of four investigations and ethics proceedings that concluded without substantiating the misconduct alleged against me.

“Looking back, representing myself was a mistake. I underestimated how different civil litigation is from what most people believe. It operates under different standards, different procedures, and different rules. That is the lesson I take from today.

“This is a difficult time for me and my family, but their confidence in who I am has not changed. Neither has my determination.

“For now, I have no further comment on this matter.”

Florida State Rep. Fabian Basabe

A portion of Wednesday’s hearing can be seen in the video below:

Defending champion Tadej Pogacar avoided the crash and kept his significant overall lead over second-place Jonas Vingegaard after 12 stages.

It was Merlier’s third stage win on this year’s Tour and sixth of his career. Dutch rider Olav Kooij finished second and Jasper Philipsen of Belgium was third.

With riders fighting for position on the home straight, Colombian Fernando Gaviria went down after clipping the wheel of another cyclist and fell to his left, bringing Norwegian rider Soeren Waerenskjold — Wednesday's stage winner — down with him. Just behind them, four other riders had no room to swerve around them and flew over their handlebars.

None of the riders appeared seriously injured and, after a few minutes of recovery, Gaviria crossed the line with the help of a teammate. Gaviria's left knee was heavily bloodied and his left arm appeared hurt as he held it close to his body.

Four-time Tour champion Pogacar remains 3 minutes, 36 seconds ahead of two-time champion Vingegaard and 4:06 ahead of Remco Evenepoel in third place.

Pogacar had extended his overall lead Tuesday after another trademark attack in the 10th stage.

Stage 12 was a mostly flat 179-kilometer (111-mile) route starting from the Magny-Cours track, which once hosted Formula 1 races, and ending in Chalon-sur-Saône in eastern France.

Frenchman Baptiste Veistroffer forged ahead on his own until he was caught by a group of 14 riders heading into the last 30 kilometers. They were caught by the hard-chasing peloton soon after, and just before the third of three minor climbs.

With teams looking to place their sprinters into the best position to attack it was a nervy approach to the finish line.

Philipsen's Alpecin-Premier Tech team put three riders at the front to help him but they attacked too soon, as they did in previous stages, and Philipsen is still looking for his first victory at this year's race.

Merlier said having his wife and young son at the race “gave me a lot of motivation.”

"Winning for them is special,” Merlier said. “I managed to find the opening, I had to stay calm and wait. It was a finale and a finish that suited me very well.”

Friday's 13th stage is the longest of this year's race at 206 kilometers and features a sharp Category 1 climb — the second-hardest category in the Tour — toward the end.

The race concludes with its traditional finish in Paris on July 26. ___

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

The policy, known as “public charge,” appeared on Thursday in the Federal Register. It will be formally published on July 20 and take effect Sept. 18. Under the policy, applicants for green cards have to show they wouldn’t be burdens to the country or “public charges.”

The policy was first implemented in February 2020 as one of President Donald Trump’s moves to limit legal immigration during his first administration, but it was reversed after Democratic President Joe Biden came to power.

Its return comes when the Republican administration is implementing a hard-line policy to curb both illegal and legal immigration, and when the cost of healthcare and food is rising.

The federal government “is reaffirming the requirement of self-reliance, protecting public resources and ending policies that encouraged dependency on the backs of hard-working American taxpayers,” U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said in a post published on its X account.

“Under President Trump, USCIS is restoring the basic principle that immigrants must be able to support themselves," the post said.

While the administration’s crackdown on immigration has an increased focus on deportations and immigration enforcement in cities across the country and at borders and entry points, it has also taken actions that target legal immigrants and mixed-status families, in which the parents are foreign nationals with U.S.-born children.

The rule expands disqualification options

Federal law already requires those seeking permanent residency or legal status to demonstrate that they will not become a public charge. The Trump administration’s rule, however, broadens the grounds for disqualification.

The new rule does not describe or specify by name the benefits and programs that could be considered a public charge. Instead, it says that officers who would implement the policy will make “individualized, fact-specific public charge inadmissible determinations, based on a totality of the alien’s circumstances.”

It says that, “using good judgment and discretion, officers will more accurately assess an alien's likelihood at any time of becoming a public charge.”

The Trump administration first promoted the rule in 2018 as a way to ensure that only those who were self-sufficient came to the U.S. Immigrant rights advocates criticized it, saying it amounted to a “wealth test.” Public health experts said it would lead to worse health outcomes.

Manatt Health, a group that provides advice to state and federal governments, estimated the policy would have deterred as many as 26 million people from seeking healthcare, food, housing or other aid through programs for which they qualified under federal law. About half were U.S. citizens, mostly children or adults living in a mixed-status family, according to the group.

Experts also noted that most people who receive benefits from the government are already legal residents.

A 2020 study from the Migration Policy Institute said that while the “chilling effects” may be vast, the number of immigrants who could be deemed ineligible for legal permanent residence based on use of one of the public benefits under the rule was small.

The institute estimated that no more than 167,000 people — less than 1% of the 22.1 million noncitizens residing in the United States at that time — could be determined ineligible for a green card based on their current use of a listed benefit.

There were 22.8 million noncitizens living in the U.S. in 2023, according to the Census Bureau.

Critics say the rule creates fear in the community

Nongovernmental organizations said the policy generated confusion and fear and caused many immigrants and their U.S.-born relatives to decide not to apply for benefits and services to which they were entitled.

Immigrant advocates condemned the government’s decision to revive the “public charge” rule and expressed concern.

“This regulation is a direct assault on immigrant families, and a threat to our country’s health and economic security,” said Adriana Cadena, executive director at the Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition. “The Trump administration is basing immigration decisions on bias and politics, regardless of the resulting harm.”

Sarah Krieger, senior policy counsel at the National Immigration Law Center, said the rule would make immigrants afraid to go to the doctor, buy food at the grocery store and file taxes.

“With this new rule, they are sowing fear and chaos to ultimately reshape America into a country where only the few who are white and ultra-wealthy are welcome,” Krieger said. “The rule is not just deeply harmful, it also violates the law.”

The Memorandum of Understanding was supposed to halt all military operations and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global oil and gas. It also set the stage for further negotiations intended to lead to a permanent peace deal and an agreement on Iran's nuclear program within 60 days.

Here's a look at some of the main clauses of the agreement and the situation on the ground.

The fighting has resumed

THE DEAL: The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran and their allies in the current war by signing this MOU declare the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and undertake from now on not to initiate any war or any military operation against each other and to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other and ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon.

THE CURRENT SITUATION: The U.S. has launched days of airstrikes on Iran in response to its attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has fired back at Arab countries hosting American troops. A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah reached shortly after the Iran agreement has largely held despite renewed hostilities elsewhere in the region.

The Strait of Hormuz is largely closed

THE DEAL: Upon the signing of this MOU, the Islamic Republic of Iran will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days only from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa. The traffic of commercial vessels will immediately start and, considering the needs for removing the technical and military obstacles and demining by the Islamic Republic of Iran, will be instated within 30 days. The Islamic Republic of Iran will conduct dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz in discussion with other Persian Gulf littoral states in line with the applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz.

THE CURRENT SITUATION: This clause seems to have been the undoing of the deal. Iran says it gives it the right to manage traffic through the strait and potentially charge tolls after 60 days. The U.S. and others dispute that, saying the strait should be open to all without fees, as it was before the war. The U.S. has set up an alternative route along Oman's coast and outside of Iran's control. Iran's attacks on ships using that route triggered the renewed hostilities. Traffic through the strait rose after the deal was signed but remained far short of prewar levels and has plummeted in recent days as fighting has escalated.

The U.S. has reimposed its blockade

THE DEAL: Immediately upon the signing of this MOU, the United States of America will begin the removal of its naval blockade and any disturbances or impediments against the Islamic Republic of Iran and will fully end the naval blockade within 30 days. During this period, the traffic of vessels will be in proportion to the numbers of prewar traffic being restored by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America further undertakes to remove its forces from the proximity of the Islamic Republic of Iran within 30 days after the final deal.

THE CURRENT SITUATION: The U.S. this week restored its blockade on Iranian ports, citing Iran's attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. On Thursday, U.S. forces opened fire on a ship they said was trying to break the blockade.

Sanctions on Iranian oil exports have been restored

THE DEAL: The United States of America undertakes that immediately upon the signing of this MOU and until the termination of sanctions the U.S. Department of Treasury will issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives and all associated services including banking transactions, insurances, transportation, etc.

THE CURRENT SITUATION: The U.S. issued the waivers but then revoked them after Iran's attacks on shipping.

There's been no public sign of progress toward a final deal

THE DEAL: The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran commit to negotiating and achieving the final deal in maximum 60 days extendable with mutual consent … After signing this MOU and subject to the beginning of the implementation of paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 10 and 11 of this MOU, and the continuing implementation of these measures, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will start negotiations regarding the final deal exclusively on the other paragraphs.

THE CURRENT SITUATION: Negotiations were apparently paused during last week's funeral for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the opening U.S. and Israeli strikes. It's unclear if they have resumed, or if any progress has been made. The 60-day time frame suggests a mid-August deadline.

The nuclear dispute still seems as intractable as ever

THE DEAL: The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons. United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran have agreed to resolve the disposition of stockpile enriched material pursuant to a mechanism that will be mutually agreed upon in accordance with the schedule mentioned in Paragraph 7 with the minimum methodology to be downblending on site under the supervision of the IAEA. The two parties also agreed to discuss the issue of enrichment and other mutually agreed matters related to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear needs, based on a satisfactory framework being agreed upon in the final deal. The final deal will confirm the provisions of this paragraph.

THE CURRENT SITUATION: It's unclear if any progress has been made toward the highly ambitious goal of resolving the nuclear issue in 60 days. Iran has not publicly made any concessions while reiterating its longstanding position that its program is peaceful. It has refused to allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to visit bombed nuclear sites where its highly enriched uranium is believed to have been buried.

Other clauses also appear to be in limbo

The interim deal called for a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran as part of the final agreement, but it's still unclear where that money would come from. The U.S. pledged to lift all sanctions as part of the final accord, but U.S. officials have always said that is linked to progress on nuclear and other issues.

The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate rose to 6.55% from 6.49% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the average rate was 6.75%.

Higher mortgage rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting homebuyers’ purchasing power at a time when affordability challenges continue to sideline many aspiring homeowners.

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 war with 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 4.57% at midday Thursday on the bond market, up from 4.54% a week ago. It was just 3.97% in late February, before the war broke out.

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage is now the highest it's been since Aug. 28, when it was at 6.56%. As recently as late February, the average rate dropped slightly below 6% for the first time since late 2022.

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 5.93% from 5.82% last week. A year ago, it was at 5.92%, Freddie Mac said.

A report this week showing prices paid by consumers for gas, clothes and other goods cooled last month could help take pressure off the Federal Reserve, which is considering raising 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.

That cooler inflation reading “is a step in the right direction, but until mortgage rates actually follow suit, buyers will keep feeling the pinch of stubbornly high borrowing costs even as other conditions improve,” said Hannah Jones, senior economist at Realtor.com.

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.

And the latest monthly tally of home purchase transactions that have yet to be finalized points to potentially more sluggish home sales this summer.

Pending U.S. home sales fell 5.4% in June from the previous months and were down 0.3% from June last year, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday. There’s usually a month or two lag between a contract signing and when the sale is finalized, which makes pending home sales a near-term bellwether for the housing market.

Data on mortgage applications also signal that the upward trend in mortgage rates has given some would-be homebuyers reason to pause.

Mortgage applications, which include loans to buy a home or refinance an existing mortgage, fell 2.7% last week from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The pullback was driven mainly by a 7% drop in applications to buy a home.

That’s according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, who has been covering the incident since it occurred on Friday in Las Vegas.

Charania spoke to an NBA spokesperson, who told him, “After discussing with the players involved and the NBPA, everyone would prefer to move on from this unfortunate circumstance, and no further action will be taken by the league.”

Adebayo and Herro were teammates for seven years in Miami.

Herro was included as part of the trade that brought superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat.

In the wake of the trade, a fan released screenshots of direct messages with an account allegedly connected to Herro in which he criticized Adebayo’s play and questioned if he was worth the contract that he’d signed with Miami.

The altercation occurred after they were made public.

Neither the Heat nor Bucks have commented on the incident.

But the money dried up after the Supreme Court struck down the biggest and boldest of Trump’s tariffs in February.

The question now is: Can the president’s trade team make good on its promise to replace the lost revenue?

A deadline is approaching rapidly.

After the Supreme Court setback, the president turned first to Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose 10% tariffs globally. But Section 122 only authorizes tariffs for 150 days. Trump’s expire on July 24. Congress would have to extend those tariffs — something lawmakers are unlikely to do as the Nov. 3 midterm elections approach amid voter discontent over the high cost of living.

But the administration has more durable options: Section 301 of the same 1974 trade law permits the president to impose tariffs and other sanctions against countries found to engage in “unjustifiable,” “unreasonable” or “discriminatory” trade practices. Trump used Section 301 to impose big tariffs on China in his first term and is rolling them out again — as recently as late Wednesday when he announced 25% tariffs on some Brazilian imports, charging the world’s 11th-biggest economy with a host of unfair trade practices.

Trade attorneys and analysts are confident the tariff-happy Trump administration will manage to beat the clock and swap out Section 122 tariffs with bigger Section 301 tariffs by the July 24 deadline. “They’re going to raise the tariff wall again,’’ said trade lawyer Ryan Majerus, a partner at King & Spalding and a trade official in Trump's first administration and in President Joe Biden's.

Trump last year tested – and exceeded – the limits of his authority to impose import taxes, a power the U.S. Constitution gives Congress. He invoked the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to slap big tariffs on most of the world’s countries.

He justified the levies, which marked a stunning reversal of decades of U.S. policy in favor of lower tariffs and freer trade, by labeling America’s longstanding trade deficits a national emergency.

The Supreme Court didn’t buy it, ruling in February that the president couldn’t use the emergency powers law to impose tariffs at all. The legal defeat meant the administration had to send refunds to importers that had paid the levies.

As a result, tariffs have at least temporarily gone from a windfall to a drain on the Treasury.

Revenue from import taxes peaked at more than $31.4 billion last October. Then, after the Supreme Court ruling, it started dwindling – to $22 billion in both March and April. As refund checks went out faster than revenue from the Section 122 and other tariffs came in, the number turned negative: A small ($42 million) shortfall in May was followed by a whopping $25.6 billion loss in June.

Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have vowed to use other legal authorities to recoup the lost income.

Enter Section 301, which gives the president power to impose – and adjust – tariffs in response to other countries’ trade practices. But the administration must first check procedural boxes – collecting comments and holding hearings. There are no limits on Section 301 tariffs. They expire after four years but can be renewed.

So the president has flexibility in how he uses the Section 301 tariffs. Trump can still change them — after clearing procedural hurdles — but he can’t impose or move them up or down on a whim as he often did with the IEEPA tariffs. Uncertainty over Trump's tariff policy has vexed businesses, leaving them hesitant to make investments and decisions because they don't know what the trade rules are going to be.

A switch to rule-bound 301 tariffs would mean "there’s less uncertainty but not no uncertainty,’’ said Sarah Bianchi, a former U.S. trade official who is now chief strategist of international political affairs at the investment research firm Evercore ISI.

The Trump administration has turned to two big Section 301 investigations in its campaign to replace lost tariff revenue. One accuses 60 countries, accounting for 99% of U.S. imports, of failing to do enough to crack down on imports created by forced labor. The other is investigating whether 16 U.S. trading partners — including China, the European Union and Japan — are overproducing goods, driving down worldwide prices and putting American manufacturers at a disadvantage.

The administration has already decided what it wants to do about the forced labor issue. Invoking Section 301 last month, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer proposed tariffs — 10% on 16 countries and 12.5% on 44 — that are the same or slightly higher than the 10% Section 122 levies they would replace. But Greer's office is still receiving public comments on the proposed tariffs and has not imposed them yet.

Nathaniel Halvorson, a partner at the Baker McKenzie law firm and a former U.S. trade official, expects Greer’s office will manage to get the forced-labor levies in place in time so that there won’t be much, if any, “daylight’’ between them and the expiring Section 122 tariffs. “Really, they’re operating about as fast as legally possible,’’ he said.

The administration has not yet completed the other Section 301 investigation into alleged overproduction by 16 countries. Trade attorney Majerus expects the administration to propose more big tariffs in that case, likely in a month or two. He suspects they will be timed to take effect only after the midterm elections “for obvious reasons.’’

Trump, who has proudly called himself “Tariff Man,’’ has made it clear that he is seeking to bring back the big, worldwide import taxes he’d imposed in 2025. So the new 301 investigations look like a pretext to do that and might be vulnerable in court, Bianchi said.

“Section 301s have been pretty legally durable,” she said. “But no one has tried to use it to basically put in place universal tariffs. I think there will be legal challenges.’’

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According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, it happened outside of the Publix at 15771 SW 152nd St. in the unincorporated Country Walk area, near Miami Executive Airport.

An arrest report states that the victim told deputies he was involved in a road rage dispute with the man, later identified as Frank Domenech-Fernandez, on Southwest 157th Avenue.

The victim then told deputies he followed Domenech-Fernandez into the parking lot, where Domenech-Fernandez then approached the victim’s vehicle “holding what he believed to be a large stick in his hand,” according to an arrest form.

Authorities said Domenech-Fernandez then swung the item, which was later discovered to be an umbrella made out of “a steel aluminum material,” but the victim was able to move his vehicle out of the way, causing Domenech-Fernandez to strike his own vehicle instead.

Witness statements and surveillance video obtained by investigators corroborated the victim’s account of the incident, deputies said.

Domenech-Fernandez is now facing a felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

As of Thursday morning, he was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $5,000 bond.

Según la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade (MDSO), el incidente ocurrió frente al Publix ubicado en el 15771 de SW 152nd St., en el área no incorporada de Country Walk, cerca del Aeropuerto Ejecutivo de Miami.

Un informe de arresto indica que la víctima les dijo a los agentes que estuvo involucrada en una disputa de ira al volante con el hombre, posteriormente identificado como Frank Domenech-Fernandez, en Southwest 157th Avenue.

La víctima dijo a los agentes que siguió a Domenech-Fernandez hasta el estacionamiento, donde este se acercó a su vehículo “sosteniendo lo que creía que era un palo grande”, según el informe de arresto.

Las autoridades informaron que Domenech-Fernandez blandió el objeto, que posteriormente fue identificado como un paraguas fabricado con “material de acero y aluminio”, pero la víctima logró mover su vehículo para evitar el impacto, lo que provocó que Domenech-Fernandez golpeara su propio vehículo.

Los agentes dijeron que las declaraciones de los testigos y los videos de vigilancia obtenidos por los investigadores corroboraron la versión de la víctima sobre el incidente.

Domenech-Fernandez ahora enfrenta un cargo grave de agresión agravada con un arma mortal.

Hasta la mañana del jueves, permanecía detenido en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight con una fianza de $5,000 USD.

La presencia de esta perturbación en el extremo oriental del Atlántico no fue tanto una declaración sobre su potencial de desarrollo como un simple guiño a una onda tropical de aspecto saludable.

Los modelos no indican que este sistema vaya a desarrollarse, y para el fin de semana, el aumento de la cizalladura del viento y el aire seco sellarán definitivamente su destino.

Mientras tanto, más cerca de Estados Unidos, los modelos de pronóstico siguen sin ponerse de acuerdo sobre las probabilidades de desarrollo de una zona alargada de baja presión que se espera que se forme sobre el noreste del Golfo a finales de este fin de semana.

Los modelos solo han mostrado un interés moderado en este caso y, durante la noche, volvieron a adoptar una postura mayoritariamente bajista.

Como ya hemos detallado en boletines anteriores, las condiciones ambientales no favorecen un desarrollo significativo a principios de la próxima semana. La amplia baja presión en superficie estará acompañada por una baja presión en niveles medios y altos, con una dinámica de chorros que no propicia la organización tropical.

Además, una serie de descensos rápidos de la corriente en chorro que comenzarán este fin de semana y persistirán hasta principios de la próxima semana garantizarán una cizalladura del viento de moderada a, en ocasiones, fuerte cerca del sistema.

En general, la combinación de la cizalladura del viento y la interacción con el terreno limitará significativamente el potencial de desarrollo, y es poco probable que este proyecto supere los obstáculos la próxima semana.

Amenaza de fuertes lluvias en algunas zonas del centro-oeste de Florida.

Como ya mencionamos el miércoles, independientemente de su evolución, la desorganizada baja presión seguirá trayendo consigo la amenaza de fuertes lluvias a algunas zonas del centro-oeste de Florida a partir de la próxima semana.

Los modelos indican periodos de fuertes lluvias a partir de este fin de semana, que se intensificarán en algunas zonas del centro-oeste y noreste de Florida entre el domingo y el lunes. Dada la sequía que azota esta región, este tipo de lluvia podría ser muy beneficiosa si se distribuye a lo largo de varios días.

Por ahora, el Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (NWS) solo indica un riesgo marginal de lluvias excesivas desde el domingo hasta la madrugada del martes en la zona central de Florida. Por supuesto, estaremos atentos a la evolución de la situación en caso de que aumente el riesgo de inundaciones la próxima semana.

Gran interrupción en el funcionamiento del satélite principal de seguimiento de huracanes de la NOAA.

El principal satélite meteorológico operativo de la NOAA que utilizamos para monitorear continuamente la cuenca del Atlántico durante la temporada de huracanes, y que también es el satélite principal que utilizan los meteorólogos para monitorear los sistemas meteorológicos en la parte oriental de los Estados Unidos, experimentó un problema mecánico a última hora del miércoles y fue apagado para solucionar el problema y proteger al satélite de una falla mayor del sistema.

La última imagen satelital que recibimos del GOES-19 fue tomada a las 4:10 pm ET del 15 de julio.

Según un mensaje de alerta satelital emitido por la NOAA dos horas después de que el GOES-19 fuera puesto en reserva el miércoles, los ingenieros están investigando el problema y trabajando para recuperar el satélite. Hasta el momento, la agencia no ha proporcionado plazos estimados para la recuperación.

Cabe destacar que, si bien la NOAA cuenta con capacidad de redundancia satelital y puede recurrir a su satélite GOES-16 anterior (es decir, más antiguo) para cubrir el Atlántico, presumiblemente, la instalación y puesta en marcha de este satélite llevaría algún tiempo.

Dependemos en gran medida del GOES-19 para obtener multitud de productos satelitales cruciales que nos permiten investigar el desarrollo de tormentas y rastrear y estimar la intensidad de los huracanes.

Los datos satelitales también son un insumo fundamental para los modelos de pronóstico, y sin los datos del GOES-19, cabe esperar que la precisión de los pronósticos del modelo disminuya temporalmente.

Si bien existe cierta superposición en el extremo occidental del Atlántico, el Caribe y el Golfo con GOES-18, la contraparte occidental de GOES-19, y en el Atlántico oriental con el satélite europeo Meteosat-12, ninguno de los dos satélites está optimizado para ofrecer una imagen clara de todo el Atlántico, y las imágenes que capturamos en sus bordes son de calidad degradada.

Les mantendremos informados sobre el estado de GOES-19 y la evolución de esta noticia en los próximos días.

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In a 15-page federal criminal complaint, FBI agents said Zyaire Dontaevious Zamarion Wilkins, 21, of North Lauderdale, financed and procured the malware and then helped market the infected games, which were distributed on a “popular digital distribution software company.”

That company is not directly named in the complaint, but information contained within strongly suggests that it was the platform Steam, one of the largest of its kind.

Games identified in the complaint ― including BlockBlasters, Dashverse, Lunara and PirateFi ― were named in a plea for victim information in a “Steam malware investigation” by agents in FBI’s Seattle office. The case against Wilkins and others involved is being prosecuted in Seattle federal court and Steam’s parent company, Valve Corporation, is based in nearby Bellevue, Washington.

Agents said in the scheme, Wilkins and others “gained unauthorized access to approximately 80 cryptocurrency wallets and stole cryptocurrencies worth at least $220,000″ from May 2024 to this February by “launch(ing) eight games embedded with malware and infect(ing) the devices of approximately 8,000 individual customers.”

According to the complaint, Wilkins and others helped market the games on social media and messaging applications, including Discord, Telegram, X and LinkedIn and encouraged others to download them.

Additionally, agents said the conspirators targeted specific victims, using bots “to identify individuals with large cryptocurrency holdings and send them targeted messages” encouraging them to download the games.

“After their victims downloaded the games, the conspirators used the malware to access and steal private user data and credentials,” the complaint states. “(They) went through the stolen data and identify any information that could be used to access, without authorization, cryptocurrency accounts of others and steal cryptocurrencies from their victims.”

Wilkins, believed to be a student at the University of West Florida, used the handle “Sibel.eth” on the messaging app Signal, according to the complaint, which he used to communicate with the “primary developer” of the programs.

That person is not identified in the complaint.

Agents said after executing a search warrant on the primary developer’s home and seizing devices, they found chats with “Sibel.eth” on the encrypted messaging platform Signal showing a “high level of collaboration” between the two.

They said that the chats showed that Wilkins bought a “remote access trojan” program for $10,000.

The primary developer and Wilkins also “exchanged messages about a criminal scheme in which they would run ‘draining campaigns’ regarding cryptocurrency wallets” and the two discussed “tricking victims into authorizing transactions that instantly empty their wallets,” according to the complaint.

Authorities said they were to identify “Sibel.eth” as Wilkins by tracing cryptocurrency payments sent from the scheme’s Bitcoin wallet to Bitrefill, an online service which was used to purchase over 150 digital gift cards that were predominantly for Uber Eats.

An FBI subpoena to Uber revealed that those cards were linked to an account that had deliveries at Wilkins’ UWF addresses as well as at Wilkins’ home in South Florida.

Agents said they executed a search warrant at Wilkins’ North Lauderdale home last Wednesday. He “refused to speak with law enforcement,” they said.

According to the complaint, investigators seized multiple devices as well as “three cryptocurrency wallet seed phrases.”

“One of the seed phrases is for a Monero wallet, an anonymity-enhanced cryptocurrency frequently used by criminals that is difficult to trace between source and destination,” an agent wrote in the complaint. “Based on my training and experience, I know that cybercriminals use Monero to enhance anonymity and the difficulty in cryptocurrency transaction attribution for law enforcement.”

A review of Wilkins’ crypto transaction history showed he sent or received $382,000, according to the complaint.

Following his arrest, Wilkins faces a charge of conspiracy to obtain information by computer for private financial gain, a charge that could land him in prison for up to a decade.

Federal court records didn’t provide a timeline on Wednesday morning as to if or when Wilkins could be extradited to Washington state.

Those records did show that Wilkins was scheduled to appear in Fort Lauderdale federal court on Wednesday morning.

Local 10 News contacted a spokesperson for Valve Corporation on Wednesday morning seeking comment about the case and Steam’s security measures. As of the publication of this article, we were awaiting a response.

Officials in many cities urged residents to stay inside or wear masks outside as air quality reached unhealthy to hazardous levels, meaning it's unhealthy for anyone, regardless of health conditions. The smoke is coming from fires that are burning primarily in Canada but also in northern Minnesota. A lingering high pressure system has trapped the smoke close to the ground, said Steven Freitag, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Detroit, where air quality was among the worst in the world for major cities.

“Sure enough, it arrived in force here and it’s really pretty extreme levels,” said Freitag, who noted that visibility in some areas was reduced to a half mile.

“It’s scary,” Omar Mitchell, 50, said as he looked he looked to the sky. He wore a mask while walking to his restaurant in Detroit. “You don’t know necessarily what the side effects may be. That’s days or months later.”

Microscopic particles can lodge deep in the lungs and enter the bloodstream, leading to heart and lung problems and contributing to other long-term health issues.

The air stinks and sky glows yellow in some places

All of Michigan and much of Minnesota were under a hazardous air quality alert. In the Chicago area, air quality ranged from very unhealthy to hazardous.

National Weather Service meteorologist Jake Petr said even if winds from the northwest clear skies as expected later this week, the smoky air could keep returning until the fires are out. That could take months, until it snows in Canada and northern Minnesota, officials have said.

“Anytime we have something that could bring air from that region until the fires are over, it could conceivably dip back into the area,” Petr said.

Bill Ostrowski, 76, wore a mask as he walked through downtown Chicago, where wildfire smoke shrouded skyscrapers. “It stinks. It’s not a good sign when you wake up in the morning and you can smell the air,” said Ostrowski.

In St. Paul, Minnesota, the sky was “glowing yellow,” said Brent Williams, head of the soil, water and climate department at the University of Minnesota. The area “could be looking at weeks to months of continued smoke and flare-ups off and on as the winds blow in different directions,” he said.

A study published this year found that long-term exposure to tiny particles from wildfire smoke contributed to an average of 24,100 deaths a year in the lower 48 states. Long-term exposure can make existing health problems worse and lead to a range of chronic and deadly issues, including respiratory illness, cardiovascular and neurological diseases, and premature death.

New York City cancels activities and hands out masks

In the New York City area, a thick haze tinged the morning sky in orange and yellow and partly obscured Manhattan’s skyline.

City officials opened cooling centers as health officials urged New Yorkers to limit strenuous and prolonged outdoor activities. The city’s schools, parks and other agencies moved activities indoors, rescheduled events and adjusted operations. State officials distributed tens of thousands of face masks at transit hubs and other major locations.

Gwen Moseley, 65, was among the first patrons at Rosedale Library in Queens to take advantage of the free masks, saying she’s on the road much of the day working as a therapist for children with autism.

“Who wants to be breathing this? It’s not healthy,” Moseley said as she waited to meet a young client. “When I’m out walking, I can feel the scratchiness in my throat.”

Smoke eased a bit but was expected to thicken again by late afternoon or evening, possibly lasting overnight, weather service meteorologist Maureen Hastings said. She said it might move south for a while on Friday, but return at night.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation warned that there was a potential for temporary spikes of “very unhealthy” air quality from Buffalo in the state's western corner to Rochester by Lake Ontario, Syracuse in the central region, down to the greater New York City area.

Philadelphia officials urged people to avoid strenuous activity and stay inside or wear N95 or KN95 masks outside.

“Today is not the day to start your marathon training plan,” said Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson, the city's public health commissioner.

Minnesota fires are spreading

In Minnesota, forest rangers on Thursday combed a remote wilderness area for anyone who might still be there days after wildfires led to its closure.

Officials closed the Boundary Waters along the U.S.-Canada border on Tuesday. At the time, 6,000 to 10,000 people were inside, but Superior National Forest staff estimated Wednesday that they’d reached 90% of them, said Karen Harrison, a spokesperson for state and federal agencies involved in the response.

She said Thursday that smoke is making it difficult for helicopters to fly, and fires are spreading despite firefighting efforts.

“There will be fire on the landscape until fall, and some fire will be burning until snow cover,” Harrison said.

The Royal Canadian Air Force successfully evacuated 11 Minnesota teenagers and four staff members Wednesday from wildfires in an Ontario provincial park about 175 miles (282 kilometers) north of the Minnesota border.

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Webber reported from Fenton, Michigan. Associated Press reporters Ed White in Detroit, Jacqueline GaNun in Lansing, Michigan, and Cybele Mayes-Osterman in Chicago contributed to this report.

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Lockwood was cited for “Will There Ever Be Another You,” a dark and comic novel about a woman's breakdown amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Sentences and passages flash us with beauty or leave us reeling with laughter," the judges' citation reads in part. "There is so much pain in the book and yet there is no self-pity, instead there is a marvelous self-awareness as to how ridiculous it is to be human.”

The Hudson prize was established in 2024 by his mother, Sanchia Semere, and is administered by the publisher McSweeney's. Hudson, who died in 2023 at age 52, was known and admired for such fiction as “Dear Mr. President,” for his work as an editor at large at McSweeney's and for his years as a teacher at Yonsei University in Korea, among other schools.

Lockwood's other books include “Priestdaddy,” winner in 2018 of the James Thurber Prize for American Humor, and the novel “No One Is Talking About This,” shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2021. In a statement Thursday, Lockwood noted that she felt a kinship with Hudson, even though they never met.

“He was a truly generous literary citizen with a rich trajectory: a writer of funny, gut-punching stories, an inventive novelist, a cheerleader for others,” she said. “He was a Marine, like my brother, and a teacher in South Korea, in the same neighborhood where my husband grew up.”

It is something to think about as gas prices stay elevated throughout the summer months and add pain to day-to-day driving and seasonal road tripping.

Instead, abiding by posted speed limits can save U.S. drivers millions of dollars at the gas pump and eliminate millions of gallons of fuel each day, according to a study published Thursday in the Nature journal Communications Sustainability. That is fuel that, when burned, emits planet-warming gases into the atmosphere. To top it all off, changing driving habits wouldn't even add a full minute to a driver's commute.

University of Minnesota researchers analyzed 120 million vehicle trips across the United States from four Wednesdays in 2021 using driving data on national road networks, speed limits and U.S. Geological Survey elevation data. The analysis included roads with speed limits of 45 mph (72 kph) and higher.

More than 43% of the studied trips included at least one instance of speeding, and drivers spent nearly 12% of their driving time going faster than the speed limit.

They found that if drivers of light-duty, conventional internal combustion engine vehicles actually drove at posted speed limits, it could save an average of $22 million, based on fuel costs at the time, 6.7 million gallons of fuel and 57,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide every day. The researchers said that is comparable to taking about 5.5 million passenger vehicles off the road.

And while drivers say that speeding saves them precious time, researchers found that is not really the case. With an average daily driving distance of 28.6 miles (46.03 kilometers), driving at or below the posted limit corresponds only to about 54 seconds longer per day.

“If your goal is to shave one minute off your time, then you’ve got to drive fast. If your objective is to get to your destination safely and to save fuel, then you might drive slower than the speed limit,” said William Northrop, mechanical engineering professor at the University of Minnesota and study co-author.

The research considered battery-electric vehicle efficiency only in California given the level of EV adoption in the U.S. at that time. Based on the California modeling, “We find that driving slower is beneficial for EVs as well,” he said.

Interestingly, the study found differences among states. Nevada saw elevated speeding prevalence as well as high speed excess. There was high speeding prevalence in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, though those states did not necessarily exhibit high speed excess. Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and South Dakota showed both low speeding prevalence and speed excess.

The cost of faster driving today

Driving faster increases a vehicle’s energy use and the emissions from its engine, as well as reduces efficiency. Vehicle engines have become increasingly more efficient over the past several decades even as vehicles have gotten bigger and more powerful. But speed limits have also climbed since the Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act was implemented, which mandated 55 mph national speed limits amid the 1970s energy crisis.

Accounting for the average cost of gas today and more vehicle miles traveled, that increases to roughly $26 million and 7.2 million gallons of fuel that Americans collectively could save each day this year just by not putting the pedal to the metal.

One limitation of the research is that slower driving could impact traffic patterns, which could play a role in efficiency.

However, it is especially timely as U.S. drivers remain price-sensitive to volatile gas prices as the war in Iran has sent the cost for a gallon of fuel above $4 this year. Experts have said there are a number of ways to improve one’s gas mileage, including something as simple as slowing down. Less fuel needing to be purchased because of better efficiency could influence oil market demand, which in turn could impact pricing.

Rob Middleton, associate research scientist of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan who was not involved in the research, said the study was well-done. But he also noted that the fuel saved from driving more slowly still only represents a fraction of daily gasoline consumption in the U.S., which is about 375 million gallons daily.

“It’s a big number, but it’s a small fraction,” Middleton said. “This is a ‘freebie’ in that it doesn’t really cost anyone anything to do.”

“The market penetration of selling EVs is still small, so we still need fuel, we still need ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles, we’re still going to have them for a very long time,” he added. “Things that we can do to either make the new ones better or to improve our fuel supply, we need to do.”

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Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn. Reach her at ast.john@ap.org.

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According to the Pembroke Pines Police Department, Irving Steele, 33, was behind the wheel of a vehicle that crashed near a Dunkin’ at 9801 Pines Blvd.

Police said Steele took off after the crash, but officers were able to take him into custody following a brief chase.

He is now facing charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving damage, fleeing or eluding, driving with a suspended license and resisting or obstructing an officer without violence.

As of Thursday morning, Steele remained behind bars at the Broward Main Jail.

Según el Departamento de Policía de Pembroke Pines, Irving Steele, de 33 años, conducía el vehículo que chocó cerca de un Dunkin’ ubicado en el 9801 de Pines Blvd.

La Policía informó que Steele huyó después del choque, pero los agentes lograron detenerlo tras una breve persecución.

Ahora enfrenta cargos por abandonar la escena de un choque con daños materiales, huir o evadir a las autoridades, conducir con la licencia suspendida y resistirse u obstruir a un agente sin violencia.

Hasta la mañana del jueves, Steele permanecía detenido en la cárcel principal de Broward.

The move, backed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other top officials, aligns with the advice of many online influencers and podcasters, including men’s health gurus who tout the hormone as a way to boost muscle and energy. On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the military would begin screening for low testosterone and offering the hormone as a way to help troops operate at their “absolute best.”

The notion of testosterone as an all-purpose elixir for strength and vitality is not supported by the science. But medical experts say a decade of new research has bolstered the case for testosterone's benefits for sexual health while allaying concerns about its impact on the heart.

“Many providers have been trained for years that these were real issues, and they were scared to get a testosterone reading from a patient or offer them testosterone therapy,” said Dr. Justin Dubin, a urologist at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute.

Last year, the Food and Drug Administration removed a bold safety warning about possible heart risks with testosterone pills, gels, injections and patches, based on recent data that showed no increase in those problems.

Last month, the agency proposed rewriting prescribing instructions to clear the way for using testosterone against age-related symptoms, such as low libido and erectile dysfunction. Currently the label emphasizes that the hormone is only approved for abnormally low testosterone levels caused by serious medical conditions or injury.

But experts who prescribe the drug say those patients are a small segment of people seeking help.

“The majority of people we see in our office are regular men complaining of these common symptoms because they're dramatically affecting their quality of life,” said Dr. Helen Bernie, a urologist and director of sexual health at Indiana University.

Testosterone use has evolved over decades

Testosterone was first approved in the 1950s to treat hypogonadism, a condition defined by low testosterone levels caused by medical problems affecting the testes or other organs.

Testosterone declines naturally with age and can effect sexual function, mood, bone density and other measures. The question of how to diagnose and treat men with those issues has long been debated by researchers.

“These symptoms overlap with symptoms of human aging in men, so there’s a high risk of misdiagnosis and that’s led to the controversy” said Dr. Shalender Bhasin, of Harvard Medical School, who has co-authored several recent testosterone studies and guidelines.

Bhasin says increased willingness to prescribe testosterone reflects growing acceptance of the seriousness of men's sexual health problems, beginning with the introduction of Viagra for erectile dysfunction in the 1990s.

Bhasin helped write the Endocrine Society’s current guidelines for testosterone, which recommend discussing testosterone with men who have documented symptoms and two blood test results confirming low hormone levels. One recent study by Michigan researchers found that just 12% of men getting a prescription met that criteria.

Prescriptions previously soared, despite little evidence

The potential for overprescribing testosterone is real and helped lead to current restrictions.

In the early 2010s, drugmakers spent millions on TV ads for gels, patches and other products promising relief from “low T,” including a laundry list of symptoms like fatigue, muscle loss, brain fog and weight gain.

By 2013, the drugs were generating more than $2 billion in sales annually, despite lacking FDA approval for most of the issues described. Doctors remain free to prescribe drugs off-label, or for unapproved uses, and many men today continue taking testosterone because they believe it improves energy, mood and appearance.

In 2015, the FDA hit drugmakers with a double whammy: They had to clarify that their drugs weren’t approved for routine problems and also add a boxed warning about possible heart risks.

FDA scrutiny led to new research

The FDA now says updated data warrants relaxing the restrictions.

An FDA-mandated study published in 2023 followed 5,000 men with a history of heart disease, with half receiving daily testosterone gel and the other half getting a sham drug. After two years there was no difference in heart attack, stroke and related problems between the two groups.

A series of studies by the National Institutes of Health also clarified the benefits of the hormone. Results from nearly 800 older men showed testosterone therapy improved erectile dysfunction, libido and other sexual measures and had a small effect on mood. There was little or no improvement in other measures like fatigue, memory or overall well-being.

The recent testosterone studies are the largest ever conducted, but Bhasin — who helped lead both efforts — says more research is needed on longer-term effects.

“I think FDA’s label changes are very welcome and they are bringing us a big step forward," said Bhasin, who also co-authored the Endocrine Society's guidelines. "But I think there’s a lot more to be done to better define the safety and efficacy.”

In recent comments submitted to the FDA, the Endocrine Society recommended studies of 15 to 20 years to assess conditions that evolve slowly, including prostate cancer, which remains a concern when prescribing testosterone.

Some men should not get testosterone

Experts agree that men who are hoping to have children in the near future shouldn’t take the hormone. Getting testosterone from a pill or gel shuts off the body’s natural process for making the hormone.

“It can stop the signal from your brain to your testicles to make testosterone, and so you stop making sperm,” Dubin said. “That can compromise fertility.”

Most guidelines also recommend careful consideration for men who have had prostate cancer or are at risk of the disease, given lingering questions about whether hormone therapy hastens tumor growth. But guidelines may soon change.

The FDA has proposed new language that would only suggest that men whose prostate cancer has spread to other parts of the body should avoid testosterone.

Be wary of online promotions

Dietary supplements promoted online to boost testosterone should be avoided because they aren't FDA approved and probably don’t work.

FDA-approved testosterone drugs come in a variety of forms. Gels and pills generally need to be used daily. Injections, patches and implantable pellets can last for weeks or several months.

Many of these medications are available through telehealth services, though accessing them that way can have risks.

A 2022 paper by Dubin found that only 1 in 7 online prescribing companies asked basic screening questions, including whether men planned to have children. And most of the companies did not have a testing threshold for whether patients actually had low testosterone.

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

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Deputies said they responded Monday to a home near the 6100 block of Southwest 18th Street in Miramar.

During the investigation, deputies determined the incident was connected to a separate domestic dispute involving the same victim and multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Miramar Police Department and the Hollywood Police Department.

According to the report, the victim told deputies she and Romario Martin had been married for two years and share one child. Three additional children who were not related to both parties were also inside the home during the domestic incident.

The victim told deputies she and Martin argued after she called him to ask where he was after he had left the home because their infant son had “spilled water throughout the residence,” according to the report.

The report states that Martin returned to the home and another argument followed, prompting the victim to leave with her infant and the other three children.

Deputies said the victim told them she was driving westbound near the 4000 block of West Hallandale Beach Boulevard approaching U.S. 441 when she noticed Martin following directly behind her in a 2019 Land Rover Velar.

“The victim then advised the defendant intentionally accelerated toward her vehicle and struck the rear passenger side bumper one time with his vehicle while the victim and the 4 minor children were occupants of the vehicle,” deputies wrote in the report.

According to the report, both the victim and Martin left the scene. Martin was later located and detained by HPD officers near Southwest 63rd Avenue and Pembroke Road.

Deputies said Martin made a confession, but the statement was fully redacted from his publicly released report.

Jail records show Martin is facing 10 counts of aggravated domestic battery with a deadly weapon, four counts of child abuse without great bodily harm and four additional domestic battery charges.

As of Thursday morning, Martin was being held without bond at the Broward Main Jail and had also been placed on an immigration hold.

Los agentes informaron que respondieron el lunes a una vivienda cerca de la cuadra 6100 de Southwest 18th Street, en Miramar.

Durante la investigación, los agentes determinaron que el incidente estaba relacionado con una disputa doméstica ocurrida por separado que involucraba a la misma víctima y a varias agencias del orden público, incluidos el Departamento de Policía de Miramar y el Departamento de Policía de Hollywood.

Según el informe, la víctima les dijo a los agentes que ella y Romario Martin habían estado casados durante dos años y tienen un hijo en común. Otros tres menores, que no eran hijos de ambos, también se encontraban en la vivienda durante el incidente de violencia doméstica.

La víctima dijo a los agentes que discutió con Martin después de llamarlo para preguntarle dónde estaba tras haber salido de la casa porque su hijo bebé había “derramado agua por toda la vivienda”, según el informe.

El informe indica que Martin regresó a la vivienda y ocurrió otra discusión, lo que llevó a la víctima a marcharse con su hijo bebé y los otros tres menores.

Los agentes dijeron que la víctima les informó que conducía hacia el oeste cerca de la cuadra 4000 de West Hallandale Beach Boulevard, aproximándose a la U.S. 441, cuando notó que Martin la seguía directamente detrás en una Land Rover Velar modelo 2019.

“La víctima indicó que el acusado aceleró intencionalmente hacia su vehículo y golpeó una vez el parachoques trasero del lado del pasajero con su vehículo mientras la víctima y los cuatro menores ocupaban el vehículo”, escribieron los agentes en el informe.

Según el informe, tanto la víctima como Martin abandonaron el lugar. Martin fue localizado posteriormente y detenido por agentes del Departamento de Policía de Hollywood cerca de Southwest 63rd Avenue y Pembroke Road.

Los agentes informaron que Martin hizo una confesión, pero la declaración fue completamente censurada en el informe divulgado públicamente.

Los registros de la cárcel muestran que Martin enfrenta 10 cargos de agresión agravada por violencia doméstica con un arma mortal, cuatro cargos de abuso infantil sin causar lesiones corporales graves y otros cuatro cargos de agresión por violencia doméstica.

Hasta la mañana del jueves, Martin permanecía detenido sin derecho a fianza en la cárcel principal de Broward y además tenía una retención migratoria.

El conservador De la Espriella se posesionará el 7 de agosto, sucediendo al progresista Gustavo Petro, quien rompió relaciones diplomáticas con Israel en 2024 como protesta por el “genocidio” en la Franja de Gaza, el cual comparó con las acciones de la Alemania nazi.

Bajo el gobierno de Petro, Colombia apoyó el caso de Sudáfrica contra Israel ante la Corte Internacional de Justicia, máximo tribunal de la ONU, en el que lo acusó de “genocidio” contra los palestinos en Gaza. Israel ha negado rotundamente las acusaciones y ha señalado a Sudáfrica de actuar como el brazo legal del grupo miliciano palestino Hamás.

El rompimiento de relaciones con Israel ha significado para el país sudamericano cambiar de proveedores en materia de seguridad, dado que sus Fuerzas Armadas utilizan aviones de combate y fusiles de fabricación israelí para combatir a los cárteles de la droga y a los grupos rebeldes.

De la Espriella, apoyado por el presidente estadounidense Donald Trump, ha dado prioridad al afianzamiento de la cooperación con Estados Unidos y al restablecimiento de la relación con Israel en su política exterior.

“La relación histórica que el gobierno de Petro rompió de manera unilateral volverá a fortalecerse. Colombia recuperará sus aliados, su palabra diplomática y su lugar como socio confiable en el mundo”, indicó De la Espriella en un comunicado.

El canciller designado Omar Bula se reunió la víspera en Washington con el ministro de Exteriores de Israel, Gideon Saar, para acordar la hoja de ruta de la restauración “plena e inmediata de las relaciones diplomáticas y económicas” a partir del 7 de agosto, agregó el comunicado.

El plan incluye el nombramiento de embajadores, la eliminación recíproca de visas y la apertura de la embajada de Colombia en Jerusalén, indicaron ambas partes.

Tras romper relaciones diplomáticas con Israel, Colombia anunció que abriría una embajada en Ramala, Cisjordania, un territorio palestino ocupado por Israel, y luego Petro designó un embajador en territorio palestino.

Petro se ha mostrado en desacuerdo con los anuncios de De la Espriella para retomar las relaciones con Israel. “Quien apoya un genocidio será genocida en su propio país”, advirtió la víspera en X.

La transición de gobierno ha generado tensión política en Colombia, luego de que Petro desconociera la victoria electoral de De la Espriella y señalara como vencedor a Iván Cepeda, su aliado político, alegando un presunto fraude en el que señala de participar a empresas de “inteligencia privadas israelíes”.

Guy Pearce plays Murdoch and Jack O’Connell plays Lamb in the film about how they turned the paper into Britain’s most influential tabloid. Claire Foy also co-stars.

“Long before Fox News, click bait, and Truth Social; decades before Twitter, Facebook, Google (and) Only Fans, these (two) men created a new tabloid which against all the odds became the biggest selling newspaper in the world,” Boyle said in a statement. The paper, he added, "challenged the establishment and remade our world for the modern era.”

Boyle said it was a huge honor to be selected, noting that, “I’ve been to the Biennale many times, but this is my baptism at the film festival.”

“Ink” will be playing in competition at the 83rd edition of the festival, which kicks off on September 2. The full slate of films vying for the Golden Lion is expected to be revealed next week.

The play opened in London in 2017, and went to Broadway in 2019, where it was nominated for, and won, multiple Tony Awards.

“I started writing this way before Trump, way before Brexit,” Graham told The Associated Press in 2017. “But I knew I wanted to capture what was clearly in the air about populism."

One of the few smokers in golf, Brown went through “seven or eight" cigarettes during his 4-under 66 that gave him the clubhouse lead midway through the first round at Royal Birkdale on Thursday.

After weeks of sunshine in this northwest corner of England, the fairways here are baked and parched — making them a potential fire hazard from discarded cigarettes.

“I’ve been making sure that they’re out,” the 31-year-old Englishman said reassuringly.

Not that he sounds too proud of a habit that makes him stand out on the circuit, but which he feels is needed to relieve some stress.

“Sorry, Mum,” he said with a cheeky smile.

The burly and bearded Brown is an interesting character, not least because of the 10 tattoos on his body — three of which are of little birds — and his YouTube channel called “BeersForeBogeys” which has around 4,000 subscribers.

Brown first came into widespread consciousness in golf in 2024 when, as the world No. 272, he shot a 6-under 65 for the outright first-round lead in his British Open debut at Royal Troon.

His name — one he shares with the author of “The Da Vinci Code” — was a headline writer’s dream and his dry humor proved popular, too. Brown was tied for second place heading into the final round at Troon and wound up in a tie for 10th.

That experience taught him he could compete with the best players in the world.

“I feel like I’m a better player now to what I was back then, two years ago,” he said. “So we’ll see.”

Brown arrived at the Open with no form from his first year on the PGA Tour — he missed the cut in his last four events — but has immediately taken to the Birkdale links.

He made seven birdies, including three straight around the turn, after being 1 over after seven holes.

“Today a few putts dropped, which was nice to see,” Brown said, “because I’ve not seen that for a while.

"(Hopefully), I’m in a sort of similar area on the leaderboard come Sunday."

That might mean continuing to have a smoke during his rounds.

“There might be a big drop off by Sunday if I’m not allowed," he said.

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

Con un estrecho margen, la cámara alta votó cada uno de los artículos previstos en la iniciativa en un debate que se alargó por 12 horas de hasta casi las 3 de la madrugada debido a las discrepancias entre los senadores.

“Hoy es un día importante para Chile", dijo el ministro de Hacienda, Jorge Quiroz, tras la votación. "Chile necesita crecer y este proyecto lo hace posible”.

Mientras el oficialismo ve el proyecto como un medio para captar más inversiones, generar empleo e impulsar una maltrecha economía que nunca se recuperó del todo del golpe de la pandemia de COVID-19, la oposición considera que favorece sólo a los más ricos y denuncia la flexibilización de reglas tributarias y ambientales que podrían afectar el desarrollo del país.

La discusión del proyecto se produce en momentos en que Chile vive un estancamiento económico, con una caída del Producto Interno Bruto de 0,5% en el primer trimestre del año y varios meses consecutivos con cifras negativas en la actividad económica. Además, el país registró una tasa de desempleo de 9,4% en el trimestre móvil entre marzo y mayo, la cifra más alta desde junio de 2021.

Kast, un abogado conservador de 60 años, asumió el poder en marzo bajo la promesa de poner en marcha un gobierno de emergencia y arreglar la golpeada economía chilena. Su asunción supuso el giro más pronunciado de Chile hacia la derecha desde la dictadura militar (1973-1990) y también la defensa de una política económica de tintes neoliberales que propone una drástica reducción del Estado y mayor autonomía a la iniciativa privada.

“Lo que había antes era neoliberalismo corregido con subvenciones y otros elementos", expresó el analista político Gilberto Aranda. “Ahora, básicamente lo que ha centrado los esfuerzos presidenciales es una profundización y un retorno a ese modelo neoliberal ortodoxo de los finales de los años 70, principios de los 80”.

Uno de los debates más encarnizados de la madrugada fue precisamente sobre la exención de contribuciones así como las indemnizaciones a las que podrán acceder las empresas que vean rechazados sus proyectos por temas ambientales. Con 26 votos a favor y 24 en contra, finalmente se aprobó una rebaja gradual de los impuestos para grandes empresas, desde el 27% actual hasta el 23% a ser alcanzado en 2029.

Por la misma cantidad de votos se aprobó el artículo que prevé la restitución de gastos a las empresas cuyos proyectos hayan sido revocados por cuestiones ambientales, lo que desató críticas de diversos senadores de oposición que calificaron la medida de irregular y anticiparon que recurrirán al Tribunal Constitucional.

"Lo que ha hecho la derecha es entregar una amnistía tributaria”, dijo la senadora Yasna Provoste, del Partido Demócrata Cristiano.

Dentro de las normas aprobadas también se encuentran un nuevo régimen tributario para las inversiones y la exención del pago de contribuciones para adultos mayores propietarios de su primera vivienda, entre otras.

Pese al aval de los senadores el proyecto deberá volver ahora a la Cámara de Diputados, que había dado su visto bueno a fines de mayo, ya que una serie de nuevas indicaciones fueron incorporadas a la iniciativa, como la norma de derecho al olvido financiero, que obliga a eliminar de los registros financieros las deudas prescritas o extinguidas tras cinco años.

La cámara baja deberá pronunciarse sobre todas las modificaciones introducidas por el Senado, en lo que se prevé será una de las etapas más complejas de la tramitación tras la estrecha votación del jueves. En caso de que cualquiera de los cambios sea rechazado, el proceso podría alargarse por varios meses más, ya que en este caso se conformaría una comisión bicameral para solventar las discrepancias.

El Departamento de Defensa de Estados Unidos ha pagado $3 millones USD en compensación al personal estadounidense afectado por la misteriosa condición conocida como Síndrome de La Habana, realizando el primer pago bajo la Ley de La Habana de 2021.

El Síndrome de La Habana apareció por primera vez en 2016, cuando diplomáticos y oficiales de inteligencia estadounidenses en La Habana, Cuba, reportaron síntomas inusuales, incluidos intensa presión en la cabeza, mareos, náuseas, alteraciones auditivas y problemas de memoria.

Actualización del 14 de julio: Nuevas sanciones de EE.UU. aumentan la presión sobre la economía controlada por los militares en Cuba

Estados Unidos impuso el lunes nuevas sanciones dirigidas a empresas controladas por GAESA, el conglomerado económico militar de Cuba, así como a algunas de las brigadas militares responsables de reprimir protestas como las que vimos el otro día.

¿Cuánto tiempo más podrá resistir el gobierno cubano? Continúa llegando información a funcionarios estadounidenses que indica que hay sectores dentro del gobierno cubano cada vez más preocupados por cuánto tiempo podrán sobrevivir sin negociar con el gobierno de Estados Unidos antes de enfrentar un colapso total de su sistema.

Actualización del 10 de julio: ¿Tiene el nieto de Raúl Castro plena autoridad para negociar por el gobierno cubano?

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

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

Actualización del 8 de julio: Las Naciones Unidas no tienen derecho legal para levantar el embargo de EE.UU. a Cuba

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

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

Actualización del 6 de julio: Nieto de Raúl Castro dice que Cuba está dispuesta a negociar con EE.UU.

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

Sabemos que Cuba ha estado vendiendo algunos de sus activos, incluidos algunos pertenecientes al conglomerado económico militar GAESA, durante las últimas semanas. El intento de Cuba por atraer inversión extranjera no ha despertado mucho interés debido al temor de perder el dinero invertido.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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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.

They are the Juárez Cartel, on the border with Texas, and Los Viagras, a criminal group from the western state of Michoacán. The Federal Register, the U.S. government's gazette, published the designation on Thursday.

They joined six other Mexican criminal organizations that the U.S. considers terrorist groups, including the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Gangs in other Latin American countries, including Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador and El Salvador, also have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump began to extend the terrorist label to Latin American cartels in February 2025 to allow U.S. authorities to take more aggressive action against them or against anyone who the U.S. sees as aiding the groups.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that both criminal groups either have committed terrorist acts or pose a serious risk of committing acts that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States.

The measure represents a further increase in pressure on Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration following the indictment of 10 current and former officials from the state of Sinaloa for alleged ties to the Sinaloa Cartel, as well as the controversies about U.S. operations in Mexico.

Higher pressure on the Texas border

Juarez Cartel is one of Mexico’s oldest drug trafficking organizations, which for decades has controlled a key crossing point in the central part of the Mexico-U.S. border: Ciudad Juárez, across from El Paso, Texas.

Both its founder, Amado Carrillo Fuentes — known as “El Señor de los Cielos” for smuggling massive drug shipments by light aircraft in the 1990s — and the brothers and sons who succeeded him, turned the trafficking of tons of drugs into a multimillion-dollar business. Despite the arrests of many of its leaders, the cartel and its allied gangs maintained control of a vast infrastructure for smuggling illegal shipments into the U.S..

According to Mexican analyst David Saucedo, the designation is key to enabling the United States to take more decisive action along the border, where two other groups both located at the eastern end of the border with Texas — the Gulf Cartel and the Northeast Cartel — were declared terrorist organizations in February 2025.

The US again targets Michoacan

Los Viagras is a local cartel in the western state of Michoacan, which is already home to two other criminal groups designated as terrorist organizations: Cárteles Unidos and La Nueva Familia Michoacana.

Los Viagras emerged following the 2013–2014 armed uprising led by farmers who succeeded in driving out many of the old cartels, only to see them replaced by new ones.

The cartel is led by Nicolás Sierra Santana, who faces a formal indictment in the District of Columbia for conspiracy to traffic drugs, filed in June 2025. The State Department is offering a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture.

The group has shifted its loyalties and alliances to consolidate its regional control of the territory through extortion. It also produces synthetic drugs, which sells to other cartels that traffic them into the United States.

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring an area in the northeastern Gulf with a 20% chance of development into a tropical depression or tropical storm. The environment will make it difficult to develop, but either way it is more of a rainmaker for the northern half of Florida through the coastal Carolinas.

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According to PBSO, deputies responded around 1:40 p.m. to the 15000 block of Jackson Road for a welfare check.

When deputies arrived, they encountered the man holding a shotgun, authorities said. Investigators said he raised the weapon and pointed it at deputies. One deputy fired, striking the suspect.

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue medics took the suspect to a local hospital for treatment.

Investigators with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office responded to the scene. FDLE is leading the investigation.

The investigation remains ongoing, and charges are pending against the suspect.

Según la PBSO, los agentes respondieron alrededor de la 1:40 p.m. a la cuadra 15000 de Jackson Road para realizar una verificación de bienestar.

Cuando los agentes llegaron, encontraron al hombre sosteniendo una escopeta, informaron las autoridades. Los investigadores dijeron que levantó el arma y la apuntó contra los agentes. Un agente disparó e hirió al sospechoso.

Paramédicos de Palm Beach County Fire Rescue trasladaron al sospechoso a un hospital local para recibir tratamiento.

Investigadores del Departamento de Cumplimiento de la Ley de Florida (FDLE) y de la Fiscalía Estatal respondieron al lugar. El FDLE está a cargo de la investigación.

La investigación continúa en curso y el sospechoso enfrenta cargos pendientes.

Netflix said Thursday that it will release “14th” later this year. The film will mark a return to nonfiction for DuVernay, the filmmaker of “Selma” and “Origin,” and a follow-up to DuVernay's 2016 film “13th,” her examination of the legacy of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery.

The 14th Amendment has been a prominent target of Trump's. On the first day of his second term, he signed an executive order that would have heavily restricted birthright citizenship as protected by the amendment. In June, the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s order by a 6-3 vote.

The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868 during Reconstruction states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” The constitutional amendment nullified the 1857 Supreme Court decision Dred Scott v. Sandford, which had held that those descended from slaves couldn't be citizens.

DuVernay said her film will detail how the 14th Amendment became “a permanent argument.” It will feature politicians, historians and cultural voices.

“If ‘13th’ asked who gets caged, then ‘14th’ asks who gets counted,” DuVernay said in a statement. “This is not a film about the past tense of freedom. I’m not interested in asking you to look back. The film asks what kind of country is being written beneath our feet now … while we’re busy believing the stories we’ve all been told.”

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the court, upheld the protections of the amendment, which makes a citizen of anyone born in the country, with very limited exceptions.

“Citizenship, then and now, was the right to have rights — to freely participate in our political community. The Framers of the Fourteenth Amendment extended that promise to ‘every free-born person in this land,’” wrote Roberts. “We keep that promise today.”

Trump has vowed to continue to contest the Supreme Court's ruling. Following the decision, he wrote on Truth Social: “This miscarriage of justice will destroy America if they don’t change their absolutely insane decision.”

Verstappen has yet to commit to staying with Red Bull for next year after he was linked to McLaren and suggested he'd consider leaving F1.

“I don’t want to go here, say yes, and no, and this and that about my future. I said already many times that if there was something new I would say it myself,” the four-time world champion said Thursday.

‘Open and transparent’ with Mekies

Mekies is marking a year in charge of the team after replacing longtime boss Christian Horner midway through 2025, and Verstappen had warm words for him.

“It’s been really good. I get on very well with Laurent. We speak a lot on track, but also off track," he said. "I think the relationship that he has also within the team is great.

"Everything for me feels very positive and I think it’s always nice when you can discuss a lot of things with your team boss. So from that sense, yeah, very happy. It’s all very open and transparent.”

After faults with the rotating rear wing pitched Verstappen into the barriers at high speed two weeks running in Austria and Britain, Red Bull is reverting back to an old wing design for Belgium this week.

“It’s quite obvious, no, why? So we’ll go back on the old one and then see whenever the latest or new one is ready again to be used for us,” Verstappen said.

He crashed out of the British Grand Prix and delivered an expletive-laden rant at the car over the radio before branding it “dangerous” to drive.

A history of uncertainty

It's the third year running that Verstappen has kept his future open, only to recommit to Red Bull halfway through the season. Last year, he didn't pledge to stay with the team until the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 31.

He has been part of Red Bull's racing program since childhood and has a contract through 2028, though it includes clauses potentially allowing an earlier exit.

This time, a reported meeting between Verstappen's management and McLaren fueled the speculation of what would have been a blockbuster move. McLaren has also signed Verstappen's longtime engineer and confidant GianPiero Lambiase as its “chief racing officer” in future.

However, McLaren chief executive Zak Brown seemed to rule out a move when he said the team's current drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were “not going anywhere.”

It wasn't even certain Verstappen would stay in F1 after he publicly considered leaving the series earlier this year. Verstappen has been the most vocal critic of the reliance on electrical power in the 2026-specification cars, which he says are not fun to drive and promote artificial overtaking.

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Fires burning in one state can make the air worse several states away, and wildfires in Canada can send smoke into U.S. cities.

Here’s what to know about taking precautions against poor air quality due to wildfires.

What counts as bad air?

The Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality Index converts all pollutant levels into a single number. The lower the number, the better.

Anything below 50 is classified as “healthy.” Fifty to 100 is “moderate,” while 100 to 150 is unhealthy for “sensitive groups,” and anything above 150 is bad for everyone.

Sensitive groups include people with asthma, lung disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, said Dr. Sanjay Sethi, chief of the division of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at the University at Buffalo medical school.

“If you have heart or lung problems, then you’ve got to be definitely more careful,” Sethi said. “I would either avoid going outside or wear an N95 or at least a dust mask.”

Is my air unhealthy?

Sometimes the air is bad enough to see or smell the smoke. Even if you don't see the pollution, it can be unhealthy to breathe.

The EPA maintains a website with up-to-date, regional air quality information. PurpleAir, a company that sells air quality sensors and publishes real-time air quality data, has a citizen scientist air quality monitoring network with a more granular map of street-by-street air quality readings.

The best way to get indoor air quality readings is to buy a monitor, said Joseph Allen, director of Harvard University's Healthy Buildings Program.

“You can find these low-cost, indoor air quality monitors just about everywhere online now. They don’t cost all that much anymore,” he said.

What if I have to go outside?

For most people, going outside for just a short time won't have a negative long-term impact, said Sethi.

Wearing an N95 mask, which became common during the coronavirus pandemic, will help filter out the pollution.

“N95 is going to get rid of 90-95% of the particles,” said Jennifer Stowell, a research scientist at Boston University’s Center for Climate and Health. “If you have access to a mask that has a respirator-type attachment to it, then that’s the very best.”

If you must be outside and you experience symptoms, experts say you should head indoors or elsewhere with better air quality. Even if you are healthy, it’s good to take precautions.

“If you start wheezing, which is like this whistling sound of the chest, or if you’re feeling short of breath, that’s definitely more concerning,” Sethi said.

How do I make my air cleaner?

Close the windows and turn on the air conditioner, if you have one, setting it to circulate the indoor air. Use blankets to cover cracks that allow outside air into your home, such as under doors.

Finally, swapping the air conditioner's filter for a MERV 13 filter can help, but ensure it's installed correctly.

“If you happen to have access to an air purifier, even if it’s just a room air purifier, try to keep it running and in the room that you’re doing most of your activities in,” said Stowell.

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Wells is a former reporter for The Associated Press.

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

Con estas designaciones suman ocho las organizaciones delictivas mexicanas consideradas terroristas —entre ellas destacan el Cártel de Sinaloa y el de Jalisco Nueva Generación—, una etiqueta que el presidente Donald Trump extendió a los cárteles latinoamericanos a partir de febrero de 2025 y que permite a las autoridades estadounideses acciones más agresivas contra ellos o contra cualquiera que, a su juicio, les preste apoyo.

Según argumentó el secretario de Estado Marco Rubio al solicitar la designación, ambos grupos criminales han cometido actos terroristas o hay un serio riesgo de que los cometan y amenacen "la seguridad de los ciudadanos estadounidenses, la seguridad nacional, la política exterior o la economía de Estados Unidos”.

La medida supone un nuevo incremento en la presión al gobierno de Claudia Sheinbaum después de la acusación contra una decena de funcionarios y exfuncionarios del estado de Sinaloa por presuntos vínculos con el Cártel de Sinaloa y de las evidencias de que agentes estadounidenses estaban operando en México, como se supo cuando miembros de la CIA murieron en el norte del país.

Presión en la frontera con Texas

El Cartel de Juárez es una de las organizaciones de narcotráfico más antiguas de México que ha controlado durante décadas un cruce clave del centro de la frontera mexico-estadounidense: Ciudad Juárez, vecina de El Paso, Texas.

Tanto su fundador, Amado Carrillo Fuentes —conocido como “El Señor de los Cielos” por cruzar enormes cargamentos de droga en avionetas en los años 90— como los hermanos e hijos que le sucedieron hicieron del trasiego de toneladas de droga un negocio millonario. Pese a las detenciones de muchos de sus líderes, el cártel y sus células o bandas aliadas mantienen el control de una importante infraestructura para introducir cargamentos ilegales en territorio estadounidense.

Para el analista mexicano David Saucedo su designación es clave para que Estados Unidos pueda llevar a cabo acciones más contundentes en la frontera donde otros dos grupos, el Cártel del Golfo y el del Noreste, ambos en el extremo oriental de la franja limítrofe con Texas, fueron designados terroristas en febrero de 2025.

Michoacán, de nuevo en la mira con Los Viagras

Los Viagras es un cártel local del estado occidental de Michoacán que ya tiene otros dos grupos criminales designados como terroristas: Cárteles Unidos y La Nueva Familia Michoacana.

Los Viagras surgieron después del levantamiento armado de las autodefensas en 2013 y 2014 que lograron expulsar a muchos de los antiguos cárteles de esa región, sólo para ver cómo eran sustituidos por otros nuevos poco después.

El grupo está liderado por Nicolás Sierra Santana, contra quien pesa desde junio de 2025 una acusación en el Distrito de Columbia por conspiración para el tráfico de drogas. El Departamento de Estado ofrece una recompensa de cinco millones de dólares por información que facilite su captura.

Los Viagras se han caracterizado por cambiar de lealtades y alianzas —en un tiempo fueron socios de Cárteles Unidos— para afianzar el control regional del territorio. Sus negocios clave son la extorsión, con la que intimidan a todo tipo de productores y comerciantes, y la producción de drogas sintéticas que luego venden a otros cárteles que los mueven hacia Estados Unidos.

Clothed in jail garb and shackled, Tycen Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio, and Chandler Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, entered the pleas before U.S. District Court Judge Edmund Sargus Jr. in Ohio, where the case has been consolidated. They and the other six defendants are each charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder a federal government official.

Sargus scheduled their trial to begin Sept. 14.

It remains unclear from the court record how close the would-be attackers were to being able to carry out the plan they are alleged to have hatched.

Scaggs' attorney, Eric Brehm, said in a statement that his office is only in the early stages of reviewing the case, “but one issue is already clear: there appears to be a significant disconnect between the severity of the alleged offenses and Mr. Scaggs' naivety, lack of sophistication, and judgment.” The first charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison; the second could mean prison for life.

In detailing the group’s July 9 indictments last week, U.S. Attorney Dominick Gerace II was asked how close the alleged plot came to fruition.

“What would have happened or could have happened, that's never going to be clear, because, thank God, there was an intervention here and this thing was disrupted,” he said. “But, in my view, when I look at what's been alleged there, it seems pretty likely that someone or multiple people were driving to Washington, D.C., to do something.”

Proper's lawyer, Joseph Patituce, said his legal team is waiting for the government to produce its evidence for review.

“Mr. Proper is a young 19-year-old man who, despite that youth, recognizes how serious these allegations are,” he said in a statement. “It is important for the public to remember that an indictment is simply the vehicle by which the government puts a citizen on notice of criminal charges and that Mr. Proper is protected by the presumption of innocence that is enshrined in our Constitution.”

According to the indictment, the plot began in May. Members of the group — citing grievances about government corruption, water-guzzling data centers and the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files — began amassing money, firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical equipment, communications equipment and other items.

The attack was planned to take place at the cage-fighting show dubbed UFC Freedom 250, which was held on the South Lawn of the White House to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary. Law enforcement officials said they learned of the possible threat four days before the event was scheduled to take place.

One of the defendants told investigators that they planned to fly explosive-laden drones into the event and then shoot panicked crowd members as they fled, according to a federal affidavit.

The Justice Department announced charges against seven people from across the country last month, including from Ohio, Missouri, Washington, Nebraska and California. Officials said the suspects harbored fringe conspiracy theories and hoped the attack would destabilize the government.

Four alleged conspirators charged in Missouri, Nebraska and California the weekend of the event and two more charged about a week later in Washington and Missouri are still in the process of being moved to Ohio to face charges. They are likely to be tried as a group.

Scaggs was arrested separately later, but was brought to Ohio ahead of the other out-of-state defendants.

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It’s called Coupr: an AI-powered tablet attached to the shopping cart that is designed to act as your personal shopping assistant.

Julian Janna created the system mainly in an effort to solve the never-ending frustrations with shopping.

“Someone might be shopping for their family, someone might be shopping for a barbecue, so we just want to make a personalized experience for each shopper,” said Janna. “I see this as my mom giving my dad a list of things to get and my dad’s like, ‘I have no idea where any of this is.’ That’s exactly it.”

Milam’s Market is on the forefront of this tech movement and it turns out, it’s not that hard to use. You can just grab and go or even upload your list and it pops up on the tablet.

The app gives you a real-time map of where you are in the store and, if you’re unsure of what item to buy, Coupr can help with that as well by answering concept questions.

Milam’s says this is all an effort to help customers. The app is in its beta phase now but the response has been positive.

“Because it tells us the customers are interested, they’re willing to give something a chance,” said Milam’s Market Chief Administrative Officer Chad Milam. “What we see with the data is that we see customers returning to use it time and time again.”

Los agentes arrestaron a Heihachiro Nakashima, de 33 años, por tres cargos de agresión lasciva y obscena luego de que se entregara voluntariamente el martes. Según la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Miami-Dade (MDSO), Nakashima trabajaba en la Palm Glades Preparatory Academy, una escuela autónoma ubicada en 22655 SW 112th Ave. en el área no incorporada de Princeton del condado.

Según la orden judicial del MDSO, la relación con la niña de 15 años escaló hasta convertirse en encuentros sexuales después de comenzar con mensajes de texto en los que Nakashima “asumió un rol paternal”, diciéndole “frecuentemente” a la víctima “que la amaba”, lo que ella interpretó como algo “platónico” y proveniente de una “figura paterna”.

Según los agentes, esos encuentros tuvieron lugar en el apartamento de Nakashima, cerca del centro comercial Dadeland Mall, y en un momento dado, Nakashima expresó su deseo de tener una relación de “noviazgo” con la adolescente.

El miércoles, la jueza Mindy Glazer del condado de Miami-Dade fijó una fianza de $15,000 dólares para Nakashima ante el tribunal. Su abogado argumentó que su cliente no tenía antecedentes penales y no existía riesgo de fuga.

También estará sujeto a arresto domiciliario con GPS y Glazer le ordenó que se mantuviera alejado de la denunciante.

En una carta dirigida a las familias, en la que hacía referencia a las “noticias recientes” sobre el arresto de Nakashima, los administradores de Palm Glades dijeron, entre otras cosas:

Entendemos que situaciones como esta puedan generar preguntas e inquietudes. La escuela está cooperando con las autoridades. Por el momento, no podemos brindar más detalles. Queremos que sepan que la seguridad y el bienestar de nuestros estudiantes y personal siguen siendo nuestra máxima prioridad. Continuamos siguiendo todos los protocolos de seguridad exigidos por la ley estatal y nos comprometemos a fomentar un ambiente escolar de apoyo donde estudiantes y personal se sientan cómodos al reportar sus inquietudes. Animamos a todos los estudiantes a hablar con un adulto de confianza si ven o experimentan algo que les haga sentir inseguros o incómodos.

Carta dirigida a las familias

Los agentes pidieron a cualquier persona que tenga información sobre el caso que llame a Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers al 305-471-8477.

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On Wednesday, a Miami-Dade County judge ruled that Precious Bland, 38, will not be institutionalized.

The case dates back to the summer of 2021, when Bland maintained that COVID-19 was to blame for her actions, claiming that the virus caused a temporary psychosis.

Investigators said she was trying to baptize her family after hearing voices in her head telling her Jesus is coming back.

During the hearing, three psychologists agreed that Bland does not need to be hospitalized, but that she should continue receiving mental health treatment.

Bland was calm when she left the courtroom Wednesday morning while her attorney stopped to speak to the media.

“She was found not guilty on all counts, but she still has to live with the fact and circumstances of something that happened that was beyond her control, that changed her dream life into a nightmare, and that’s going to be forever,” said defense attorney Larry Handfield.

Bland, who already spent several years behind bars, is focused on rebuilding her life, Handfield said.

It meant needing a 3:30 a.m. alarm.

It also meant missing one of his country’s biggest ever soccer matches.

Baldwin said he didn’t watch England’s agonizing 2-1 loss to Argentina in the men’s World Cup semifinals, a match that started at 8 p.m. on Wednesday. He was dozing until waking up 55 minutes into the game and discovering England was leading 1-0. He fell asleep and woke up again around midnight, to be informed by his wife that England lost.

More important to Baldwin was making a good start to his fourth appearance at the Open — and first at Birkdale.

He said the opening shot — an iron that split the middle of the parched fairway and was approved by a cheering crowd in a full grandstand under early morning sunshine — was “terrifying” and “overwhelming.”

“But,” added Baldwin, who shot 2-over 72, “it’s something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

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

Police said Yasmany Aguiar-Gonzalez, 39, voluntarily surrendered to authorities.

The investigation began after FedEx reported missing shipments in November.

Detectives said surveillance video showed a FedEx truck making an unauthorized stop in Pinecrest, where a Dodge pickup driven by Aguiar-Gonzalez pulled up behind it for what investigators described as a back-to-back cargo transfer.

“During the investigation, detectives reviewed GPS data, surveillance footage and telephone records. According to the investigation, surveillance footage captured a FedEx driver in a FedEx truck -- they were meeting with a Dodge pickup in a Pinecrest location,” Medley police spokesperson Andres Oviedo said.

Authorities said phone records also showed contact between the FedEx driver and Aguiar-Gonzalez at the time of the stop.

Last month, police arrested the FedEx driver, Michael Turro-Cabrera.

After learning about that arrest, Aguiar-Gonzalez decided to turn himself in, according to his attorney.

“The minute that my client found out that they were looking for him, we immediately called the detective. We set up a time and a place to surrender him, and he came in voluntarily on his own free will to surrender,” defense attorney Salvedo Jauregui said.

Investigators have not said whether the stolen Apple products have been recovered.

Police said they hope the arrests send a clear message.

“We want to let everyone know that if you’re going to do cargo theft, don’t do it in Medley,” Oviedo said.

The incidents involved “elevated airborne radioactive contamination” inside the Koeberg Power Station, on South Africa's west coast, when there was a loss of power to ventilation units during maintenance work, the National Nuclear Regulator said, adding there was no danger to the public.

It said the three separate contamination events on June 30, July 2 and July 7 were contained inside the station.

Workers inside the power station who may have been exposed were screened and recorded radioactive contamination below the radioactivity a person is exposed to when they have a dental X-ray, the NNR said.

The regulator said that while it was conducting further inspections the recent events “did not meet the criteria for classification as a nuclear or radiological incident or emergency and did not result in any off-site radiological consequences.”

The Koeberg plant is located around 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of South Africa's second biggest city, Cape Town. It is Africa's only commercial nuclear power station and was commissioned in the 1980s during apartheid. It has two reactors which generate around 5% of South Africa's electricity, and is operated by the national electricity company, Eskom.

Its reactors were recently granted 20-year life extensions, clearing them to be operational until after 2040.

South Africa has plans to expend its commercial nuclear capability with new stations to support its unreliable and polluting energy supply, which is struggling to provide for a growing population and heavily based on burning coal.

Other countries are also turning more towards nuclear power to meet skyrocketing energy demands despite long-held safety fears from opponents of nuclear power citing disasters like Chernobyl and, more recently, Fukushima in Japan.

Several other African nations are advancing their own commercial nuclear plans, including Egypt, which is building its first nuclear power station with four large Russian reactors that it hopes will be operational around 2030 and generate around 10% of the country's electricity, according to the World Nuclear Association.

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AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa

But the report, released by the Commerce Department on Thursday, showed consumers' continued resilience despite ongoing economic uncertainty as they bought cars and took advantage of summer sales events.

Retail sales rose 0.2% in June, after being up a revised 1% in May, according to the report.

Outside of gas stations, retail sales rose a solid 0.7%, according to the report.

The government figures aren't adjusted for inflation so last month's decline in gas prices pulled down gas station sales and thus the overall retail sales figure.

Business at gas stations fell 5.3% last month. Meanwhile, sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers rose 1.9%, helped by aggressive manufacturers' incentives, according to the report.

Elsewhere, shoppers were selective in their buying, given their worries about the economy and fading benefits of generous government tax benefits, which propelled spending earlier in the spring.

Business at clothing and accessories stores as well as at miscellaneous retailers both posted small declines, And sales at retailers that sell big-ticket items were mixed, with business at furniture and home furnishings merchants flat, while electronics and appliance stores showing a small increase for June.

World Cup boost

Among the bright spots: online sales rose 1.9%, fueled by spending surrounding Amazon's Prime Day event, which was held from June 23 through June 26. Business at sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and book stores was up 1.3%, likely helped by spending around the World Cup tournament.

The data offers only a snapshot of consumer spending and doesn’t include activities like travel and hotel stays. The lone services category – restaurants – registered a slim 0.1% increase.

The so-called control group—which excludes food services, autos, building materials and gas station sales and is used to calculate economic growth—rose a solid 0.5%.

The report comes as U.S. inflation cooled last month as the cost of gas, clothes, and used cars fell, offering some relief to consumers, while underlying price pressures also slowed more than anticipated.

Gas prices fell to $3.94 per gallon on Thursday, down from $4.04 a month ago, according to motor club AAA.

“Falling fuel prices weighed on headline sales data, but a smaller bill at the pump was a source of relief for consumers and provided at least a little more cushion in household spending budgets,” Jim Baird, chief investment officer with Plante Moran Financial Advisors, wrote in a report published Thursday.

But Baird noted the June report suggests consumers are “perhaps taking a more discerning approach to where they’re spending and how they’re prioritizing their choices.”

The Labor Department said Tuesday that consumer prices dropped 0.4% from May to June, the largest monthly drop in four years, after increasing 0.5% in the previous month. On a yearly basis, inflation declined to 3.5%, down from a year-over-year gain of 4.2% in May and lower than many economists expected.

Muted impact at the gas pump

The core inflation figures suggest that the gas price spike from the Iran war, while it pushed up airfares and some other costs, hasn’t so far led to broad-based, sustained inflation, according to economists. But the United States renewed attacks on Iran and President Donald Trump announced a new blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for about one-fifth of the world’s oil. The increase threatens to unravel at least some of the progress that occurred last month.

Next month, major retailers including Walmart, Target and Macy’s, are slated to announce their second-quarter earnings results, which will offer some insight into shopping behavior.

A report last month from the Conference Board showed that Americans’ attitudes toward the economy improved slightly this month as gas prices declined, but their outlook is still mostly negative by historical standards.

Sara Williamson, a 27-year-old software support engineer in Raleigh, North Carolina, said that over the last year or so, she’s more conscious of how she spends her money. She feels financially secure given her stable job, but increasing costs of food and gas are making her pull back on frivolous spending.

“I shop less overall as a hobby,” she said.

Williamson noted that at the supermarket, she avoids buying pre-cut fruits like cantaloupe, which tend to be more expensive than buying the whole cantaloupe, to save money, and is careful about buying clothing for herself.

Brian Reynolds, CEO and founder of Just For Teens, a skincare collection aimed at preteens and teens, noted that his low-price products, which include $5 pimple patches, are aimed at families on a budget and are in the sweet spot of retailing right now.

By October, his brand will be expanded to 10,000 Dollar General stores, up from about 4,000 late last year. He said sales have been decent so far, but he expects that business will see more of a momentum for the back-to-school selling season.

“There’s a lot of space for products that are everyday essentials that are value-priced,” he said.

“It’s passion that people (don’t) understand. It’s Argentina passion,” fan Robert Caluvio said.

The excitement even reached the skies. On an American Airlines flight from Miami International Airport to Buenos Aires, passengers erupted in cheers after the pilot announced Argentina’s semifinal win.

Back on the ground, fans made their way across the John F. Kennedy Causeway to Manolo, a popular gathering spot for Argentina supporters in Miami Beach, where celebrations continued along Collins Avenue.

“It’s great. We’re going for Sunday next,” a man named Juan said.

With music playing and fans chanting, the excitement spread through the crowd.

“This was not just a game. This was something that we had to do, had to play. We had to win for all the people,” one fan said.

The victory sent Argentina to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, uniting supporters eager to see their team compete for another title.

“It’s beautiful. It’s energy, it’s passion that we Argentinians have in soccer. This is unbelievable,” fan Javier Astrada said.

Lionel Messi remained a major part of the celebration for fans in South Florida.

“He knew that Miami was the place to unite all the Latin people and American people to bring soccer to the American people,” Caluvio said.

Argentina will face Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday at 3 p.m. in New Jersey.