Kimberly Akimbo, which won five Tony Awards including Best Musical in 2023, follows a teenage girl who ages at an accelerated rate. The role of Kimberly is portrayed by Broadway veteran Ann Morrison.

Morrison said the production resonates because of its mix of comedy and emotional depth.

“It’s hilariously funny, but it’s also filled with heart and a beautiful message about life is short, so just enjoy the ride,” Morrison said.

The musical centers on Kimberly’s challenges navigating family dysfunction, friendships and identity while living with a rare condition that causes her body to age rapidly. Despite the heavy premise, the show emphasizes optimism and resilience.

Kimberly Akimbo is scheduled to run at the Broward Center through April 12. Click here for more information on how to purchase tickets.

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Residents along Northwest 181st Street and a lake saw waterspouts, furniture blown around, heavy rain, and downed tree limbs.

“I see stuff starting to fly around, and then it got bad, and I ran into the bathroom,” a resident said, adding that the commotion lasted less than 5 minutes.

The wind flipped a boat and damaged roofs. There were downed trees and some power disruptions.

Crews with the Florida Power & Light Company were out working in the neighborhood on Friday night.

Tips on what to do during a tornado

• Seek shelter in the interior room of a sturdy building and away from windows.
• Drive to the closest shelter.
• Cover your head

Source: The National Weather Service

For the Weather Authority’s live weather radar and hour-by-hour forecasts, visit this page.

Related stories

•  Flood watch in effect for South Florida, weather affecting local airports
• Beware of flooding, rip currents, traffic delays in South Florida

Local 10 News Assignment Editor Carson Merlo contributed to this report.

Brian Laoz was on the run after wounding two victims on Feb. 17 in the area of Southwest 266th Street and 138th Avenue when Leah Santos picked him up, according to a deputy’s arrest report.

On Feb. 23, Santos told Miami-Dade deputies that Laoz was her boyfriend, according to a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputy’s arrest report.

“She picked up [Laoz] the following morning after the shooting from a residence” and “traveled to a smoke shop to buy marijuana and rolling papers,” a deputy wrote, according to the report.

Santos also told deputies that she went home to the Three Lakes neighborhood to get bandages to help Laoz with his injured foot, they “went to a restaurant to get food,” and “she purchased a short-term rental,” according to the arrest report.

Santos said her parents called her to tell her that detectives were looking for her, so she left the Airbnb short-term rental in Kendall, and she drove back home to the Three Lakes neighborhood to meet with a detective, according to the report.

Santos “provided a false statement that she had not seen [Laoz] for a while and that they had previously ended their relationship” and “returned to the Airbnb where [Laoz] was,” according to the report.

Santos later convinced Laoz “to turn himself in” on Feb. 19, and after he did, they continued to communicate while he was behind bars, according to the report. Detectives reported listening to their jail calls on Feb. 22 and Feb. 25.

Laoz, who had told deputies the Feb. 17 shooting had been in self-defense, allegedly gave Santos tasks during the calls — including buying firearms parts for him, according to the report.

Deputies searched Santos’s home on Tuesday in the Three Lakes neighborhood and arrested her there at 5:30 p.m., according to the report.

Miami-Dade corrections booked Santos shortly after 9:10 p.m. on Tuesday at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, according to inmate records.

Santos faced charges of accessory after the fact, tampering with physical evidence, and knowingly providing false information to law enforcement during an investigation.

Related stories

• Miami-Dade gunman claims self-defense; detective reports video shows ‘premeditation’
• MDSO: 2 men arrive at hospital after being shot in southwest Miami-Dade

Rodrigo will do double duty as host and musical guest on May 2, marking her hosting debut and third time as musical guest, ahead of her new album, “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love.”

Damon, promoting Christopher Nolan's “The Odyssey,” will host the following week for the third time on May 9. Noah Kahan will perform as that show's musical guest, for the second time.

Ferrell, who leads Netflix's upcoming “The Hawk,” will host the 51st season finale on May 16 — his sixth time hosting. His musical guest will be McCartney, who will take the stage as musical guest for the fifth time.

Colman Domingo and musical guest Anitta are on tap this Saturday.

The NBC sketch comedy show airs at 11:30 p.m. Eastern and streams live on Peacock.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin made the remarks in the keynote address at a conference hosted by the Heartland Institute, a conservative think tank that rejects mainstream climate science and what it calls “climate alarmism.” Zeldin told the gathering that repeal of the 2009 “endangerment finding” reversed decades of unthinking adherence to liberal politicians and environmental groups about the dangers of climate change.

“Today is a day to celebrate. It is a day to celebrate vindication,″ said Zeldin, a former Republican congressman from New York who is widely believed to be under consideration for a possible promotion to attorney general, following Pam Bondi’s forced departure last week.

The EPA earlier this year revoked the endangerment finding, a scientific conclusion that for 16 years was the central basis for regulating planet-warming emissions from power plants, vehicles and other sources. The Trump administration argued the finding hurts industry and the economy and claimed the Obama and Biden administrations twisted science to determine that greenhouse gases are a public health risk.

Zeldin's prominent appearance at a conference hosted by a group deeply skeptical of the established science around climate change reflected the vast reversal that President Donald Trump's administration has carried out of traditional policies meant to protect the environment. The EPA has rolled back dozens of air and water protections and has said it does not have legal authority to regulate climate change.

“You were right there on the front lines against there being an endangerment finding in 2009,” Zeldin told the Heartland conference.

Environmentalists denounced Zeldin's appearance before the conservative group, accusing him of “rallying climate deniers” at a time when climate change is creating greater risks of extreme weather, including stronger hurricanes, more dangerous floods and more intense wildfires.

Zeldin’s speech “promotes disinformation” and amounts to doing the bidding of Heartland’s secretive donors, said Joe Bonfiglio, an executive with the Environmental Defense Fund.

“The Heartland Institute is not a serious scientific organization. It’s a disinformation factory,” Bonfiglio said. “Having the EPA administrator serve as their opening act isn’t just embarrassing — it’s a signal of how completely the Trump administration has abandoned its obligation to protect the public from pollution.”

An EPA spokeswoman brushed off the criticism, saying “the era of EPA as a vehicle for radical ideology is over.”

Zeldin speaks before a “wide variety of ideologically different groups and individuals to promote the agenda of the Trump EPA,” spokesman Carolyn Holran said.

Zeldin has returned the agency’s focus to fulfill its statutory obligations to protect human health and the environment, “backed by gold standard science, not doomsday models designed to scare the public into compliance,” she said in an email.

Heartland Institute President James Taylor hailed Zeldin’s speech and called Zeldin “the greatest EPA administrator ever.”

The 2009 endangerment finding determined that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare. The Obama-era finding is the legal underpinning of nearly all climate regulations under the Clean Air Act for motor vehicles, power plants and other pollution sources that are heating the planet.

The repeal eliminates all greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and trucks and could unleash a broader undoing of climate regulations on stationary sources such as power plants and oil and gas facilities, experts say. Legal challenges have been filed by nearly two dozen states, along with public health and environmental groups.

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According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, it’s not the first time Crystal Wilneshia White or co-owner Kerri Lisa Smith, both 38, have been accused of operating unlicensed post-op homes in the county.

Deputies said they first executed a search warrant at “Snatched N Curved,” located at 21480 SW 132nd Court, on March 17. They said they found eight recovering patients and two employees at the home.

They said another person who arrived with a patient claimed she was not an employee and was “visiting Crystal.”

Two days before White’s arrest, an Instagram post from the business warning of recovery homes “shutting down or facing serious legal consequences” due to “increasing regulations” proclaimed that the business is above-board.

“At Snatched N Curved, we want to be very clear: We do not operate like that, and we do not stand for that,” it states. “At the same time, we must operate legally, responsibly, and in full compliance with all regulations. We will not put our company, our team, or our families at risk.”

But deputies said “Snatched N Curved” was not, in fact, a licensed assisted living facility as required by state law.

The arrest report states that patients were paying in upwards of $300 per night, through Zelle, to Smith and Pierre to stay at the home and receive care. A review of the pair’s Zelle account showed that the two women had made $200,000, authorities said.

Investigators said Smith, also known as “Kerri Pierre,” was the “face” of the business and White is the registered director of the associated “SNG Concierge” company.

Deputies said they also snatched evidence from the garbage showing that “Snatched N Curved” was illegally dumping medical waste.

“Additionally, the defendant and co-defendant were previously arrested two separate times in 2023 for the unlicensed operation of two unlicensed post-cosmetic surgery ALFs at two different locations,” the arrest report states.

Deputies arrested White on Tuesday on six felony charges plus several misdemeanors, including organized fraud, operating an assisted living facility without a license and felony littering.

It appears a judge did not find probable cause on the organized fraud charge, ordering her released outright on that count, according to jail records. She was otherwise ordered to be held on an $8,300 bond.

White also faces a magistrate hold.

Según la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade, no es la primera vez que Crystal Wilneshia White o la copropietaria Kerri Lisa Smith, ambas de 38 años, han sido acusadas de operar casas de recuperación sin licencia en el condado.

Los agentes indicaron que ejecutaron por primera vez una orden de registro en “Snatched N Curved”, ubicada en el 21480 de la corte Southwest 132, el 17 de marzo. Señalaron que encontraron a ocho pacientes en recuperación y dos empleados en la vivienda.

Indicaron que otra persona que llegó con un paciente afirmó que no era empleada y que estaba “visitando a Crystal”.

Dos días antes del arresto de White, una publicación en Instagram del negocio advertía sobre casas de recuperación “cerrando o enfrentando graves consecuencias legales” debido al “aumento de regulaciones” y afirmaba que el negocio operaba correctamente.

“En Snatched N Curved, queremos ser muy claros: no operamos de esa manera y no apoyamos eso”, indica. “Al mismo tiempo, debemos operar legalmente, de manera responsable y en total cumplimiento con todas las regulaciones. No pondremos en riesgo a nuestra empresa, nuestro equipo ni nuestras familias”.

Pero los agentes indicaron que “Snatched N Curved” no era, de hecho, una instalación de vida asistida con licencia como exige la ley estatal.

El informe de arresto señala que los pacientes pagaban más de $300 USD por noche, a través de Zelle, a Smith y Pierre para alojarse en la vivienda y recibir atención. Una revisión de la cuenta de Zelle mostró que ambas mujeres habían obtenido $200,000 USD, según las autoridades.

Los investigadores indicaron que Smith, también conocida como “Kerri Pierre”, era la “cara” del negocio y que White es la directora registrada de la empresa asociada “SNG Concierge”.

Los agentes también indicaron que recuperaron evidencia de la basura que mostraba que “Snatched N Curved” desechaba residuos médicos de manera ilegal.

“Además, la acusada y la coacusada fueron arrestadas previamente en dos ocasiones separadas en 2023 por la operación sin licencia de dos instalaciones de vida asistida post cirugía cosmética en diferentes ubicaciones”, señala el informe de arresto.

Los agentes arrestaron a White el martes por seis cargos graves y varios delitos menores, incluidos fraude organizado, operar una instalación de vida asistida sin licencia y vertido ilegal grave.

Según los registros de la cárcel, al parecer un juez no encontró causa probable para el cargo de fraude organizado, ordenando su liberación por ese cargo. Por lo demás, se ordenó que permaneciera detenida con una fianza de $8,300 USD.

White también enfrenta una orden de detención de un magistrado.

The par-3 16th is famous for Woods hitting that pitch that made a U-turn at the top of the slope, hung on the edge of the cup and dropped during his 2005 victory. No eyes were on the beautiful Redbud shrub with its vibrant pink blooms.

The par-3 12th hole is associated with its name on the scorecard, “Golden Bell,” a yellow bloom native to Asia. Ask just about any player at the Masters if they've ever seen a Golden Bell and it's doubtful. It blooms in late winter. The Masters is golf's rite of spring.

“I’ve played the 12th enough. I’m sure I’ve seen one somewhere,” Rory McIlroy said.

Pebble Beach is the felicitous meeting of land and sea. Augusta National is the greatest garden in golf, because that's what it was before Bobby Jones went looking for land to build his golf course and found the 365-acre Fruitland Nurseries.

“Perfect! And to think this ground has been lying here all these years waiting for someone to come along and lay a golf course on it,” Jones said when he first laid eyes on the property.

He took out an option for $70,000.

Augusta National doesn't speak in numbers — from the size of the gallery to how fast the greens are running on the Stimpmeter — but the course is believe to have some 80,000 flowering plants and trees on its immaculate landscape.

The flora is such an integral part of Augusta National that each hole is named for a tree or a shrub that can be found on that hole.

“I know azalea is one of them,” Dustin Johnson said.

Good guess. It took him a few seconds to associate “Azalea” with the iconic par-5 13th, which has approximately 1,600 azalea bushes, many of them surrounding the back of the green.

Remarkably, Johnson knew the seventh hole was named, “Pampas,” a grass bush native to Argentina that grows about 12 feet high and blooms in late summer. The hole used to be 340 yards with no bunkers. Now it's 450 yards, straight and narrow and tough.

“Perfect name,” Johnson said, “because it is an ass of a hole.”

Johnson also knew there was a dogwood or two on the scorecard without knowing exactly where (Pink Dogwood for No. 2, White Dogwood for No. 11). And there's no shame in that.

Two-time champion Scottie Scheffler — the No. 1 player in the world, and with a degree from Texas in finance, not horticulture — paused under the live oak next to the clubhouse when asked how many plants he could name associated with each hole.

“Magnolia for 5?” he asked. He hit one of his purest shots on the fifth hole when he won in 2022. He didn't have to venture into the magnolia trees behind the tree.

He also named Azalea and Golden Bell — “I got more than I thought,” he said — but whiffed on Holly, the red-berry bushes found on both sides of the 18th tee.

McIlroy, the defending champion, has a greater appreciation of history and heritage than most golfers. He didn't think he could get the names on all 18 holes before rattling off Firethorn (15), Azalea, Golden Bell, Pink Dogwood ... and then he stumbled.

“White Dogwood, 10?” he said.

No. The 10th hole is Camelia, another one that typically blooms well before the Masters.

The beauty of Augusta National cannot be overstated, and its history of flora is rich. Fruitland Nurseries dates to 1858, a partnership between a Belgian baron named Louis Berckmans and his son, Prosper. They imported trees and plants from all over the world. The nursery ceased operations in 1918 after they died. What remained were a long row of magnolias that had been planted before the Civil War, and the azalea bush that Prosper Berckmans popularized.

A word about the famous azaleas at Augusta National.

No, the club's horticulture staff does not pack them in ice to keep the blooms from bursting before the Masters. There have been the occasional “green” Masters without many blooms, and that almost was the case this year. The blooms are fading but still colorful.

The staff will get to work two days after the Masters is over, fertilizing and pruning. And it takes great care — the azalea bushes are pruned by hand, a project that can take three months.

There is one palm tree at Augusta National, just to the right of the green on the par-3 fourth. The name of the hole later was changed from Palm to Flowering Crabapple with its red, pink and white blooms (they usually pop right after the Masters).

That tripped up Chris Gotterup, one of the 22 newcomers to the Masters this year.

“Is every hole named after a flower?" Gotterup said Monday. “Because we were playing 4 today. Is palm a flower?”

It all weaves together in a magnificent landscape, a deceptive beauty as the backdrop to intense pressure trying to win one of golf's grandest prizes. Jones might have summed it up best.

"Never was the iron gauntlet of challenge more skillfully concealed in velvet.”

___

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

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Deputies with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office identified the suspects as Maria Blasco Diaz, 64, and her husband, Antonio Diaz, 65.

According to an arrest report, the investigation began after longtime friends accused the couple of offering deeply discounted luxury watches, jewelry and cruise travel packages that were never delivered on July, 24, 2023.

Authorities said the scheme dates back to 2022, when Maria Blasco Diaz allegedly offered a 50% “friends and family” discount on Rolex watches through her husband, who worked at a jewelry store.

The report states that the victims and their relatives paid deposits for multiple watches, totaling nearly $139,000.

Investigators said Maria Blasco Diaz provided repeated excuses for delays, including claims the items were sent to the wrong store or held in “quality control.”

They said additional money was also collected for jewelry purchases and discounted cruise travel, including a trip scheduled for July 2023 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas.

In total, deputies said the victims paid more than $44,000 for travel-related expenses that were never secured.

As the departure date approached, they said Maria Blasco Diaz failed to provide travel documents and later claimed the bookings fell through because a contact at the cruise line had been “fired.”

She issued partial repayment checks that later bounced due to “insufficient funds,” according to the report, which stated Maria Blasco Diaz had written the checks from a newly opened account that bank officials confirmed was opened “with a minimal deposit” and that she “had not deposited any additional funds.”

The report states that the couple ultimately collected $200,259.85 and never provided the promised goods or services, nor refunded the money.

Detectives said Maria Blasco Diaz confessed to the crimes in an interview and claimed that her husband was not involved. Despite her confession, Antonio Diaz was also arrested.

Jail records show both suspects are facing charges including organized fraud of $50,000 or more, first-degree grand theft of over $100,000, uttering forged instruments, writing or issuing a worthless check of $150 or more, and theft from an elderly victim of more than $10,000 but less than $50,000.

The couple appeared in bond court Wednesday, where a judge set their bond at $35,000 each.

They were also ordered to have no contact with any of the victims and were given a Nebbia hold, which requires a defendant or defendants to prove the money or collateral used to pay a bail bond comes from a legitimate, legal source.

Anyone who believes they may have been scammed by the couple is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

Agentes de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade identificaron a los sospechosos como Maria Blasco Diaz, de 64 años, y su esposo, Antonio Diaz, de 65.

Según un informe de arresto, la investigación comenzó después de que amigos de larga data acusaran a la pareja de ofrecer relojes de lujo, joyas y paquetes de cruceros con grandes descuentos que nunca fueron entregados el 24 de julio de 2023.

Las autoridades indicaron que el esquema se remonta a 2022, cuando Maria Blasco Diaz presuntamente ofreció un descuento del 50% de “amigos y familia” en relojes Rolex a través de su esposo, quien trabajaba en una joyería.

El informe señala que las víctimas y sus familiares pagaron depósitos por múltiples relojes, con un total de casi $139,000 USD.

Los investigadores dijeron que Maria Blasco Diaz proporcionó excusas repetidas por los retrasos, incluyendo afirmaciones de que los artículos fueron enviados a la tienda equivocada o retenidos en “control de calidad”.

Indicaron que también se recolectó dinero adicional para compras de joyas y viajes en crucero con descuento, incluyendo un viaje programado para julio de 2023 a bordo del Odyssey of the Seas de Royal Caribbean.

En total, los agentes dijeron que las víctimas pagaron más de $44,000 USD en gastos relacionados con viajes que nunca fueron asegurados.

A medida que se acercaba la fecha de salida, indicaron que Maria Blasco Diaz no proporcionó documentos de viaje y luego afirmó que las reservas se cancelaron porque un contacto en la línea de cruceros había sido “despedido”.

Emitió cheques de reembolso parcial que luego rebotaron por “fondos insuficientes”, según el informe, que indica que Maria Blasco Diaz escribió los cheques desde una cuenta recién abierta que funcionarios del banco confirmaron fue abierta “con un depósito mínimo” y que “no había depositado fondos adicionales”.

El informe señala que la pareja finalmente obtuvo $200,259.85 USD y nunca proporcionó los bienes o servicios prometidos ni devolvió el dinero.

Los detectives dijeron que Maria Blasco Diaz confesó los delitos durante una entrevista y afirmó que su esposo no estaba involucrado. A pesar de su confesión, Antonio Diaz también fue arrestado.

Los registros de la cárcel muestran que ambos sospechosos enfrentan cargos que incluyen fraude organizado de $50,000 USD o más, hurto mayor en primer grado de más de $100,000 USD, uso de instrumentos falsificados, emisión de cheques sin fondos de $150 USD o más y robo a una víctima de edad avanzada de más de $10,000 USD pero menos de $50,000 USD.

La pareja compareció el miércoles ante un tribunal de fianzas, donde un juez fijó una fianza de $35,000 USD para cada uno.

También se les ordenó no tener contacto con ninguna de las víctimas y se les impuso una retención Nebbia, que requiere que el acusado o los acusados demuestren que el dinero o la garantía utilizada para pagar la fianza proviene de una fuente legítima y legal.

Cualquier persona que crea haber sido estafada por la pareja debe llamar a Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers al 305-471-8477.

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Investigators said Henao Knezevich was reported missing on Feb. 4, 2024, while living in Madrid. She and her husband, David Knezevich, also owned a home in Fort Lauderdale. They believe she was killed two days earlier.

Authorities say her remains may have been discarded along a route stretching from Madrid to Serbia, passing through Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia and Croatia.

Detectives said surveillance video shows Henao Knezevich entering her Madrid apartment building around 1:42 p.m. on Feb. 2, 2024. They said she later participated in a video call around 7 p.m. and sent her final text message to friends at about 10:01 p.m.

That same night, at about 9:27 p.m., David Knezevich, then 36, was seen on surveillance video entering the building wearing a motorcycle helmet and reflective vest, according to investigators.

Authorities say David Knezevich spray-painted the lobby camera before leaving with what they believe was a rolling suitcase containing her body. She has not been seen since, and investigators say all evidence indicates she is dead.

Investigators say he rented a dark blue 2019 Peugeot 308 in Belgrade, Serbia, on Jan. 29, 2024, and tinted its rear windows before driving to Madrid.

They allege that he stole multiple license plates along the way to conceal his movements and later returned to Serbia along the same route, where they believe he disposed of her remains.

David Knezevich, a Serbian-American who lived in Fort Lauderdale, was charged in the kidnapping and killing of his estranged wife.

Prosecutors said he falsely claimed to be in South Florida at the time of her disappearance, while court records point to financial disputes during divorce proceedings as a possible motive.

They said he was arrested in May 2024 at Miami International Airport and remained in federal custody awaiting trial.

During the investigation, authorities said David Knezevich died in jail by suicide.

They also said a necklace and journal belonging to Henao Knezevich were not found in her apartment and could be recognizable to someone who may have seen them.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI, the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov.

Los investigadores indicaron que Henao Knezevich fue reportada como desaparecida el 4 de febrero de 2024, mientras vivía en Madrid. Ella y su esposo, David Knezevich, también tenían una vivienda en Fort Lauderdale. Creen que fue asesinada dos días antes.

Las autoridades señalan que sus restos podrían haber sido abandonados a lo largo de una ruta que se extiende desde Madrid hasta Serbia, pasando por España, Francia, Italia, Eslovenia y Croacia.

Los detectives indicaron que un video de vigilancia muestra a Henao Knezevich entrando a su edificio de apartamentos en Madrid alrededor de la 1:42 p.m. del 2 de febrero de 2024. Señalaron que posteriormente participó en una videollamada alrededor de las 7 p.m. y envió su último mensaje de texto a amigos aproximadamente a las 10:01 p.m.

Esa misma noche, alrededor de las 9:27 p.m., David Knezevich, entonces de 36 años, fue visto en video de vigilancia entrando al edificio con un casco de motocicleta y un chaleco reflectante, según los investigadores.

Las autoridades indican que David Knezevich roció con pintura la cámara del vestíbulo antes de salir con lo que creen era una maleta con ruedas que contenía su cuerpo. No ha sido vista desde entonces, y los investigadores afirman que toda la evidencia indica que está muerta.

Los investigadores indicaron que él alquiló un Peugeot 308 azul oscuro modelo 2019 en Belgrado, Serbia, el 29 de enero de 2024, y que oscureció las ventanas traseras antes de conducir hasta Madrid.

Alegan que robó múltiples placas de matrícula en el camino para ocultar sus movimientos y que posteriormente regresó a Serbia por la misma ruta, donde creen que se deshizo de los restos.

David Knezevich, un serbio-estadounidense que residía en Fort Lauderdale, fue acusado del secuestro y asesinato de su esposa separada.

Los fiscales indicaron que él afirmó falsamente estar en el sur de Florida al momento de su desaparición, mientras que los registros judiciales apuntan a disputas financieras durante el proceso de divorcio como un posible motivo.

Señalaron que fue arrestado en mayo de 2024 en el Aeropuerto Internacional de Miami y permanecía bajo custodia federal a la espera de juicio.

Durante la investigación, las autoridades informaron que David Knezevich murió en la cárcel por suicidio.

También indicaron que un collar y un diario pertenecientes a Henao Knezevich no fueron encontrados en su apartamento y podrían ser reconocibles para alguien que los haya visto.

Cualquier persona con información debe comunicarse con el FBI, la embajada o consulado de Estados Unidos más cercano, llamar al 1-800-CALL-FBI o enviar una pista en tips.fbi.gov.

By giving the “core” designation to those players, their teams have exclusive negotiating rights which comes with a guaranteed one-year deal at the new supermax salary. That's more than five-times above the top salary they could earn in the last CBA.

Players can negotiate different terms to help their teams sign other players to fit under the new salary cap that's expected to be around $7 million.

Other players giving the “core” designation include Indiana's Kelsey Mitchell, Dallas' Arike Ogunbowale, Atlanta's Allisha Gray, Chicago's Ariel Atkins and Seattle's Ezi Magbegor.

Expansion franchises Portland and Toronto extended franchise tag offers to players. The Fire selected Bridget Carleton with the first pick in the draft last week and offered her the tag. The Tempo did the same for Marina Mabrey, who they took with the sixth pick.

The franchise tag is a way for a team to prevent a player from leaving in free agency without getting anything in return for them. The teams and players can also negotiate doing a sign-and-trade agreement for those players.

Starting in 2027, players can only be given the core designation twice and it can only be if they have less than seven years of experience in the league.

Teams were also able to send out reserved and restricted qualifying offers to players during this designation period, which began Monday. Negotiations will go from Wednesday to Friday with players able to start signing Saturday.

Training camp is scheduled to begin on April 19 with the first preseason games on April 25.

The start of free agency was delayed until this month because of a prolonged negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement that didn't get agreed to and ratified until late March. The long form contract is still being executed by both sides.

More than 80% of the league’s veteran players are free agents this year, as players had signed deals that expired at the end of last season to capitalize on higher salaries from the new CBA.

___

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

Hermanos gemelos y magnates de bienes raíces Alon y Oren Alexander aparecieron en un tribunal de Miami-Dade el viernes mientras sus padres lo observaban desde la galería. Los hermanos de 37 años de edad enfrentan cargos de delito grave estatal, incluyendo agresión sexual.

Los fiscales federales dicen que Oren y Alon Alexander, junto con su hermano mayor Tal, usaron su estatus, riqueza e influencia para atraer a “docenas” de mujeres a entornos aislados, donde fueron repetidamente drogadas, violadas y explotadas en el transcurso de más de una década.

El juez de Miami-Dade, Lody Jean, ratificó un acuerdo previo al juicio entre los fiscales y la defensa, otorgando la libertad bajo fianza bajo estrictas condiciones.

Oren Alexander está acusado en tres casos, mientras que Alon enfrenta un cargo. Cada uno debe pagar una fianza de $25,000 por caso, cumplir con el arresto domiciliario de nivel 3 con monitoreo GPS y entregar sus pasaportes. También están obligados a evitar el contacto con las presuntas víctimas.

Un juez federal también negó el viernes la libertad bajo fianza para Tal Alexander, citando preocupaciones sobre su posible riesgo de fuga.

Milton Williams Jr., abogado defensor de Tal Alexander, dijo que su cliente probablemente será trasladado al Centro de Detención Metropolitano en Nueva York, una instalación previamente asociada con casos de alto perfil como el de Sean “Diddy” Combs.

“La familia va en serio para apoyar a su hijo y demostrar que es inocente”, dijo Williams a Local 10 News.

“El gobierno ha cumplido con su carga en lo que respecta al riesgo de fuga”, dijo el juez durante la audiencia. Si bien reconoció que Alexander podría no representar un peligro significativo para la comunidad, el tribunal no encontró condiciones que pudieran mitigar completamente el riesgo de que huyera.

El juez enfatizó la solidez de las pruebas contra Alexander y señaló los “amplios recursos financieros” de su familia, que incluyen activos sustanciales. “En este momento, no sé si 115 millones de dólares son sustanciales para ellos, pero él tiene los recursos financieros para huir si así lo decide”, agregó el juez.

El tribunal desestimó el confinamiento domiciliario y el monitoreo por GPS como salvaguardas suficientes, afirmando que tales medidas “han demostrado en el pasado que no son infalibles”.

Oren Alexander enfrenta cargos de conspiración para cometer tráfico sexual y tráfico sexual que involucra a una víctima a través de la fuerza, fraude o coerción, en tres casos separados, mientras que Alon Alexander enfrenta un cargo de agresión sexual por parte de múltiples perpetradores.

En un acontecimiento significativo, ambas partes llegaron a un acuerdo sobre la libertad previa al juicio por los cargos estatales, que fue ratificado por el juez el viernes. Como parte del acuerdo, el padre de los hermanos, Schlomy Alexander, está poniendo una propiedad familiar, ubicada cerca de la cuadra 200 Bal Bay Drive en Bal Harbour, como garantía.

Los abogados defensores confirmaron que se espera que Ohad Fisherman, un amigo cercano de la familia que enfrenta un cargo de agresión sexual por parte de múltiples perpetradores en relación con un incidente de 2016 que involucró a los tres hermanos Alexander, se entregue la próxima semana después de regresar de su luna de miel en Japón.

A pesar del acuerdo de fianza, los hermanos Alexander permanecen bajo custodia, a la espera de ser transferidos a los Alguaciles de EE. UU. para enfrentar cargos federales de tráfico sexual. Los investigadores alegan que los Alexander, junto con su hermano mayor Tal, explotaron su riqueza e influencia para victimizar a las mujeres durante un período de 11 años.

Informe de las 9 a.m.

El fallo judicial del viernes se produce un día después de que Oren y Alon Alexander comparecieran en una sala del tribunal de Miami-Dade con chalecos verdes antisuicidio, donde la jueza Mindy Glazer les negó la libertad bajo fianza. Los fiscales citaron su acceso a aviones y yates privados como evidencia de riesgo de fuga.

“Este acusado tiene acceso a aviones privados, barcos privados; hay riesgo de fuga”, dijo la fiscal Natalie Snyder al tribunal. Glazer confirmó la decisión, declarando: “Debido a que se considera un delito peligroso, estoy obligado a retenerlo sin fianza”.

Los hermanos Alexander, cuyas batallas legales han atraído una atención significativa, permanecen en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight a pesar de una victoria de la corte estatal el jueves anterior que estableció un acuerdo de arresto domiciliario con condiciones.

Su abogado defensor, quien asistió a una audiencia en un tribunal federal el viernes, le dijo a Local 10 News que los hermanos permanecerán bajo custodia hasta al menos el lunes por la mañana. Se requiere una audiencia a las 10 a.m. en el Edificio de Justicia Richard E. Gerstein para confirmar la fianza vinculada a sus cargos estatales.

Dijo que el procedimiento de la corte estatal esta mañana fue una “victoria”, pero aún hay más por resolver.

Los cargos federales se ciernen sobre los hermanos.

El exfiscal estatal y federal David Weinstein indicó que es probable que los alguaciles federales tomen la custodia de la pareja de TGK en preparación para su caso federal. Sin embargo, el momento de la transferencia depende de cuándo esté programada su comparecencia inicial en el tribunal federal.

Lea el acuerdo de libertad previa al juicio de Oren y Alon Alexander en el documento a continuación (en inglés):

Twin brothers and real estate tycoons Alon and Oren Alexander appeared in a Miami-Dade courtroom Friday as their parents watched from the gallery. The 37-year-old brothers face state felony charges, including sexual battery.

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Federal prosecutors say Oren and Alon Alexander, along with their older brother Tal, used their status, wealth, and influence to lure “dozens” of women into isolated settings, where they were repeatedly drugged, raped, and exploited them over the course of more than a decade.

Miami-Dade Judge Lody Jean ratified a pretrial agreement between prosecutors and the defense, granting bail under strict conditions.

She ruled that both brothers must post a $25,000 bond per case, comply with Level 3 house arrest with GPS monitoring, and surrender their passports. They are also required to avoid contact with the alleged victims.

A federal judge also denied bond Friday for Tal Alexander, citing concerns over his potential risk of flight.

Milton Williams Jr., Tal Alexander’s defense attorney, said his client will likely be transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York, a facility previously associated with high-profile cases like Sean “Diddy” Combs.

“The family means business in supporting their son and proving he is innocent,” Williams to Local 10 News.

“The government has met their burden when it comes to risk of flight,” the judge said during the hearing. While acknowledging that Alexander might not pose a significant danger to the community, the court found no conditions that could fully mitigate the risk of him fleeing.

The judge emphasized the strength of the evidence against Alexander and noted his family’s “extensive financial resources,” which include substantial assets. “At this point, I am not aware whether $115 million is substantial for them, but he has the financial resources to flee if he chose to do so,” the judge added.

The court dismissed home confinement and GPS monitoring as sufficient safeguards, stating that such measures “have proven in the past to not be foolproof.”

Oren Alexander is facing charges of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and sex trafficking involving a victim through force, fraud, or coercion, in three separate cases, while Alon Alexander faces one count of sexual battery by multiple perpetrators.

In a significant development, both sides reached an agreement on pretrial release for the state charges, which was ratified by the judge on Friday. As part of the agreement, the brothers’ father, Schlomy Alexander, is putting up a family property — located near the 200 block Bal Bay Drive in Bal Harbour — as collateral.

Defense attorneys confirmed that Ohad Fisherman, a close family friend who is also facing one count of sexual battery by multiple perpetrators in connection with a 2016 incident involving the three Alexander brothers, is expected to surrender next week after returning from his honeymoon in Japan.

9 a.m. report

Miami-Dade prosecutors also confirmed that a warrant for Fisherman’s arrest has been quashed, but warned it will be reissued if he fails to appear as planned.

Despite the bail agreement for the state case, the brothers remain held under a federal detainer. They are not expected to leave custody due to pending federal charges, with a federal court hearing scheduled for 1 p.m.

Friday’s court ruling comes a day after Oren and Alon Alexander appeared in a Miami-Dade courtroom wearing green anti-suicide vests, where they were denied bond by Judge Mindy Glazer. Prosecutors cited their access to private planes and yachts as evidence of a flight risk.

“This defendant has access to private planes, private boats; he is a flight risk,” prosecutor Natalie Snyder told the court. Glazer affirmed the decision, stating, “Because it is considered a dangerous crime, I am required to hold you with no bond.”

The Alexander brothers, whose legal battles have drawn significant attention, remain at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center despite a state court victory earlier Thursday that established a house arrest agreement with conditions.

Their defense attorney, who attended a federal court hearing Friday, told Local 10 News that the brothers will remain in custody until at least Monday morning. A 10 a.m. hearing at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building is required to confirm the surety bond tied to their state charges.

He said state court proceeding this morning was a “win,” but there’s still more to resolve.

Federal charges loom large for the brothers.

Former state and federal prosecutor David Weinstein indicated that U.S. Marshals are likely to take custody of the pair from TGK in preparation for their federal case. However, the timing of the transfer depends on when their initial appearance in federal court is scheduled.

Tal Alexander, who appeared in Miami-Dade federal court Friday at 1 p.m. before Judge Lissette Reid wearing a beige inmate jumpsuit, sat alongside his defense team, including a New York attorney who questioned an FBI agent currently testifying in court.

Prosecutors allege Alexander conspired with his brothers from at least 2010 to 2021 to engage in a pattern of sexual violence, including the trafficking and rape of approximately 40 victims, some of whom were minors at the time.

The alleged assaults date back to when the brothers attended high school in Miami, with prosecutors referencing a yearbook comment they believe alludes to gang rape.

In court, an FBI agent described messages and social media posts prosecutors claim reveal the brothers’ methods.

Evidence includes a text from January 2024, in which Oren Alexander reportedly warned Tal:

”Start to think about your reputation. We are on the top of our game, and the only thing that can bring us down is some h-- complaining.”

Prosecutors said the brothers used promoters, dating apps, and chance encounters to lure victims. Multiple women reported being restrained, drugged, and sexually assaulted.

Prosecutors said a victim described being attacked in the Hamptons in 2011, waking up outside after being filmed by a camcorder. Another victim, allegedly assaulted in 2016, claimed she was incapacitated after receiving a drink and was raped while unable to move or speak.

The allegations also include a group chat where the brothers discussed “fees per bang” and referred to women as “fresh” acquisitions. Prosecutors argued the brothers were boastful about their crimes, using phrases like “running train,” which refers to gang rape.

Reid has yet to rule on whether Tal Alexander will remain detained. Defense attorneys have pushed back against the evidence, questioning its admissibility and context.

The parties agreed not to disclose the victims’ identities.

Watch Local 10 News at 4 p.m. or refresh this page for updates.

Read Oren and Alon Alexander’s pre-trial release agreement in the document below.

El novio y la novia, quienes asistían a Downtown Doral Charter Upper School, fueron identificados en un correo electrónico enviado a las familias por la directora de escuelas de Downtown Doral Charter Schools, la Sra. Acevedo-Isenberg, como Mateo Dávila, de 17 años, y Alessia Tucci, de 16.

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“Nuestra comunidad entera está de luto por esta pérdida inimaginable, y nuestros pensamientos y oraciones están con sus familias, amigos, nuestro profesorado y el personal de nuestra escuela primaria y, ciertamente, de nuestra escuela superior, donde actualmente estudiaban”, escribió Acevedo-Isenberg en el correo electrónico. “Ambos estudiantes amaban profundamente su escuela, sus maestros, sus entrenadores y sus compañeros, dejando un impacto duradero en todos los que los conocieron”.

Según la policía, los adolescentes viajaban en un sedán Kia cuando se salió de la vía y se estrelló contra un poste alrededor de las 6 p.m. en la avenida Northwest 87, cerca de la calle 54. No se especificó quién conducía.

El detective de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade, Argemis “AC” Colome, dijo que el vehículo se incendió tras el accidente.

El personal de Miami-Dade Fire Rescue declaró a ambos estudiantes muertos en el lugar.

Poco después del accidente, decenas de personas se reunieron en el sitio para lamentar a las víctimas.

“Fue como un gran impacto para todos porque puede suceder muy rápido”, dijo una estudiante llamada Alexandra a Local 10 News.

“Estaba en shock. No quería creerlo”, dijo otro estudiante, Ruben Abreu.

Abreu dijo que conoce a Dávila desde primer grado y que la noticia ha sido devastadora.

“Él era una persona muy alegre. Nunca dejaba que las cosas malas lo afectaran”, dijo Abreu.

Acevedo-Isenberg indicó en su correo electrónico que habrá consejeros de duelo disponibles en el campus en los próximos días para cualquier estudiante o miembro del personal que desee hablar con alguien.

“Reconocemos que esta noticia es difícil de procesar. Alentamos a los padres a hablar abiertamente con sus hijos y monitorear su bienestar. Si tiene preocupaciones sobre cómo su hijo está afrontando la situación, o si considera que necesita apoyo adicional, no dude en comunicarse con nuestro departamento de consejería”, dijo Acevedo-Isenberg. “Thank you, gracias, obrigada y merci. Nos unimos como familia Dolphin durante este momento difícil”.

Detectives de homicidios de tránsito de la MDSO investigan la causa del accidente fatal.

“Yeah, I look different, but, hey, everything about me is different. I’m happy. I’m successful,” he says. “My life is fantastic now. You want to know how I did it? All I had to do is stay completely away from my family.”

That's going to be very hard to do in Hulu's four-part return to “Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair,” which reunites one of the zaniest and chaotic families ever on prime time. The episodes premiere Friday.

Twenty years after the last episode aired, we learn that Malcolm — a nervous, sputtering Frankie Muniz — is now a father of a teen and desperate to shield her from his dysfunctional parents and siblings.

“I cannot go back to the way I was before and I’m not going to risk you,” Malcolm tells her. “You have to think of it like they’re the full moon and we’re werewolves.”

How the revival came about

Original series creator Linwood Boomer and his co-producer-wife, Tracy Katsky Boomer, batted ideas on how to get the gang back together for years. Both weren't willing to make just anything for a “shameless cash grab.”

Linwood Boomer recalls a light bulb went on when his wife wondered what would it be like if Malcolm had a daughter who was exactly like him. “I was just like, ‘Oh my God, that kid would be miserable,’” he says.

In addition to Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek are back as the barely-holding-it-together parents and Christopher Kennedy Masterson and Justin Berfield return as brothers Francis and Reese, respectively.

Newcomers include Keeley Karsten as Leah, Malcolm’s deeply empathic daughter, and Vaughan Murrae, Malcolm’s whip-smart youngest sibling, who we last saw as a baby. Caleb Ellsworth-Clark takes over the role of Dewey.

Director Ken Kwapis, one of the original directors of the show, was tapped to return and was impressed with how the old and new cast members handled the physical and emotional tasks.

“The original cast slipped back into their roles effortlessly. But equally important is they embraced the new members of the cast very quickly,” he says.

“There’s a performance level that some people have described as high octane. And so for the new members of the ensemble, they had to like, ‘OK, I’m going to step up and do it.’ And they all hit it out of the park.”

A comically accurate view of child-rearing

Malcolm may desperately want to keep his distance from his family, but the 40th wedding anniversary of his parents has a gravitational pull, putting everyone on a collision course, albeit a hysterical one.

“It’s hard to do a straight comedy right now because everything’s very serious in the world,” says Katsky Boomer. “It feels nice to just unleash good vibes so people can just take a breather.”

“Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair” joins a list of new and upcoming reboots and revivals from the late 1990s and early 2000s, including “Scrubs,” “King of the Hill,” “Prison Break,” “Baywatch” and “Phineas and Ferb.”

The Boomers credit Cranston for keeping the flame of a revival alive, staying in touch with the actors and crew. And he’s jumped back in boldly, despite becoming a huge star in the intervening years. In the first episode back, Cranston stands completely nude as Kaczmarek’s Lois shaves his back and nether regions.

“Malcolm in the Middle” originally aired on Fox and ended its seven-season run in 2006. It won seven Emmy Awards — including one for best writing for a comedy series — and currently streams on Hulu and on Hulu on Disney+, where the revival will also live.

Linwood Boomer based “Malcolm” on his own nutty family, and it struck a chord, depicting childhood as a constant power struggle — with bigger kids, teachers, parents and siblings. There were squabbles with a ferocity rare on TV, and it was funny because it was so grounded in truth. It was TV’s most comically accurate view of child-rearing since “Roseanne.”

“There was a line in the pilot I would say to myself all the time — ‘I want a better family!’ — and it turns out most families aren’t any better,” says Boomer.

Parental legacy

For the revival, the tables are turned. This time it's about being a parent and the legacy that we extend to our children. Malcolm's daughter is struggling in life and school, but her father's genetic toolkit only has belligerence, impulsiveness and thickheadedness, passed on by his on-screen parents.

“So much trauma, unfortunately, is the result of good people literally trying their best,” says Katsky Boomer. “You can understand it as you grow old enough to appreciate that your parents are human beings.”

Kwapis says the revival is painfully — and also hilariously — looking at how sometimes years go by and we're often in the same groove when it comes to family dynamics.

“You get to explore new things, but you also get to the explore the idea that some things — for better or for worse — just can’t change,” he says.

As for any future revisiting of this family, the husband-and-wife “Malcolm” team are noncommittal. “There are no plans. It was a really lovely experience,” says Linwood Boomer. Might there be more? “I can’t say no, but I also can’t say yeah,” he says.

The Bill Masterson Trophy has been awarded annually since 1968 to the player who “best exemplifies qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey.”

From the Florida Panthers, the PHWA Florida chapter selected veteran forward Brad Marchand as its nominee.

The five-member chapter was unanimous in its decision.

Marchand is playing in his second season with the Panthers after being acquired at last year’s Trade Deadline.

He made an immediate impact upon arrival, helping lead Florida to their second straight Stanley Cup victory last June while averaging a goal per game during the Final against the Edmonton Oilers.

This season, Marchand led the Panthers on and off the ice during an incredibly challenging and injury-plagued season for the defending champs.

Despite spending much of the year playing through injuries himself, Marchand led the Panthers in goals and points until his ailments began catching up to him, causing him to sporadically miss time before ultimately being ruled out for the season last month.

His impact was also felt away from the rink.

In October, one of Marchand’s best and oldest friends, JP MacCallum, lost his 10-year-old daughter Saleh to a battle with cancer.

With the team’s blessing, Marchand to a leave of absence from the Panthers to travel to his home of Halifax, Novia Scotia to be with the MacCallum family. During his time there, Marchand filled in as a guest head coach for the U-18 Marchand and Mill Co. Hunters, the youth hockey team that MacCallum is the head coach for.

The game also served as a fundraiser for the MacCallum family.

Marchand signed a six-year contract extension with the Panthers last summer. He finished this season with 27 goals and 54 points in 52 games.

Each of the NHL’s 32 teams will have a nominee for the Masterton Trophy. Members of the PHWA will vote on the nominees, and three finalists will be announced sometime during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Rothman was fired on Tuesday night in a unanimous vote by the board of regents following a roughly 30-minute closed-door discussion. Regents have not given a reason for firing Rothman, who was in the job for just under four years.

“Absolutely I was blindsided,” Rothman told the AP. He said he has still not been given a reason for his firing.

“I really don’t know,” Rothman said. “I asked for reasons why. They were not able to articulate any.”

But Rothman, who came to the job in 2022 after serving as chair and CEO of a Milwaukee-based law firm with more than 1,000 attorneys, said he is unlikely to file a lawsuit over his firing.

“We’ll have to see how circumstances develop,” Rothman said. “I don’t think it’s likely that I would go in that direction. That’s not who I am.”

The AP was the first to report on April 2 that the regents had asked Rothman, 66, to retire or resign or face being fired. Rothman said on Wednesday that he considered retiring, but since regents gave him no reason, he decided against it.

Regent President Amy Bogost said in a statement before the firing that the decision was “about the future” of the 13-university system, including the flagship Madison campus, that educates about 165,000 students.

“The Universities of Wisconsin must be led with a clear vision that both protects and strengthens our flagship, supports our comprehensive universities and ensures we are meeting the evolving needs of our students, workforce and communities across all 72 counties,” Bogost said.

She did not immediately return a message on Wednesday seeking comment.

Rothman did not criticize any regent by name, but he did express frustration generally with the board.

“For a board to be functional, it needs to be able to provide clarity to the management team,” he said. “Not 18 different voices with different opinions and pet projects. There has to be board leadership that is able to consolidate that, build a consensus and provide clear direction.”

Rothman said his performance objectives were not even discussed in his last review in August, which he said was “astonishing.”

Rothman spent his time as president lobbying Republican legislators to increase state aid for the system in the face of federal cuts, navigating free speech issues surrounding pro-Palestinian protests, and grappling with declining enrollment that has forced eight branch campuses to close. Overall enrollment across the system has remained steady under his leadership.

Rothman brokered a deal with Republicans in 2023 that called for freezing diversity hires and creating a position at UW-Madison focused on conservative thought in exchange for the Legislature releasing money for UW employee raises and tens of millions of dollars for construction projects across the system.

Rothman said Wednesday he didn't know if any of those particular issues contributed to his being fired, but conceded they could have.

“When you come in to affect change and you try to move an organization forward, you have to make difficult decisions,” Rothman said. “And when you make difficult decisions, you can upset some people."

Sen. Patrick Testin, the Republican president of the Wisconsin state Senate, called Rothman’s firing a “blatant partisan hatchet job.”

The state Senate’s committee that oversees higher education scheduled a hearing for Thursday for 10 regents whose appointments by Evers have yet to be confirmed. Testin called for the Senate to reject all 10, which would mean they could no longer serve as regents.

Rothman said he wasn’t going to speculate on why he was cut loose.

“I am disappointed with the board’s action, but I’m not angry,” he said. “This is not about retribution. I’m concerned about the future of the Universities of Wisconsin.”

El cambio en el marco regulatorio podría facilitar inversiones por más de 30.000 millones de dólares, según estimaciones del sector minero para la próxima década. El 70% estaría destinado a nuevos proyectos de cobre, oro y plata.

El proyecto, que ya fue aprobado por el Senado, apunta a “ordenar el marco normativo vigente, poner fin a interpretaciones arbitrarias y consolidar un esquema de federalismo ambiental plenamente compatible con la Constitución”, según el texto enviado por el Poder Ejecutivo al Congreso.

El país sudamericano había prohibido por ley en 2010 la exploración y explotación minera en glaciares y ambientes periglaciares, definidos como las áreas con suelos congelados que actúan como regulador del recurso hídrico.

El cambio más sustancial en la reforma propuesta por Milei es mantener esta protección sólo para glaciares y geoformas identificadas como portadores de “funciones hídricas específicas”, lo cual deberá ser determinado por cada provincia.

“Todo glaciar o geoforma incluido en el Inventario Nacional de Glaciares se considerará protegido hasta que la autoridad ambiental competente verifique que carece de funciones hídricas”, detalla el proyecto.

Según ese inventario, en Argentina hay 16.968 glaciares repartidos entre la Cordillera de los Andes y las Islas del Atlántico Sur que equivalen a una superficie de 8.484 kilómetros cuadrados.

Defender el agua

En una acción de protesta a primera hora de la mañana del miércoles activistas de Greenpeace colgaron un cartel gigante de un monumento frente al Congreso con la advertencia “Diputados: no traicionen a los argentinos. ¡La Ley de Glaciares no se toca!".

Especialistas en glaciología y ciencias relacionadas alertaron en una carta enviada a los legisladores que los glaciares están retrocediendo aceleradamente debido al cambio climático, lo cual ha provocado un aumento del 21% del nivel del mar en todo el planeta.

En este contexto los científicos consideraron que desproteger los glaciares podría comprometer las nacientes de agua de zonas áridas, perder reservas de agua que sostienen caudales en épocas críticas, aumentar la vulnerabilidad de las cuencas ante sequías prolongadas y afectar el caudal de cursos hídricos.

Organizaciones medioambientalistas convocaron a movilizarse al Congreso en contra de la reforma.

El gobierno de Milei, por su parte, apuesta a la minería para conseguir parte de los dólares necesarios para fortalecer sus reservas internacionales que le permitan afrontar sus abultados pagos de deuda. Sólo en 2026 el país deberá cancelar vencimientos de deuda por 20.000 millones de dólares.

Todo indica que el partido gobernante cuenta con los votos necesarios para avanzar en la reforma teniendo en cuenta que ya adelantaron su apoyo bloques opositores más dialoguistas y la mayoría de los gobernadores, incluso del peronismo opositor.

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The boyfriend and girlfriend, who attended Downtown Doral Charter Upper School, were identified in an email sent to families by Ms. Acevedo-Isenberg, Head of Schools at Downtown Doral Charter Schools, as Mateo Dávila, 17, and Alessia Tucci, 16.

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“Our entire community is mourning this unimaginable loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends, our faculty, and staff at our elementary school and certainly our upper school, where they currently attended,” Acevedo-Isenberg wrote in the email. “Both students deeply loved their school, their teachers, their coaches, and their peers, leaving a lasting impact on everyone who knew them.”

According to police, the teens were in a Kia sedan when it veered off the roadway and crashed into a pole at about 6 p.m. along Northwest 87th Avenue, near 54th Street. They did not specify who was driving.

Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Detective Argemis “AC” Colome said the car became engulfed in flames after the crash.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel pronounced both students dead at the scene.

Shortly after the crash, dozens gathered at the site to mourn the victims.

“It was, like, a big shock to everyone because it could happen so quickly,” a student named Alexandra told Local 10 News.

“I was in disbelief. I didn’t want to believe it,” another student, Ruben Abreu, said.

Abreu said he has known Dávila since first grade and the news of this has been heartbreaking.

“He was just a jolly person. He would never let, like, bad things bring him down,” Abreu said.

Acevedo-Isenberg said in her email that grief counselors will be available on campus in the coming days for any students or staff who want to speak with someone.

“We recognize that this news is difficult to process. We encourage parents to talk openly with their children and monitor their well-being. If you have concerns about how your child is coping, or if you feel they need additional support, please do not hesitate to contact our counseling department,” Acevedo-Isenberg said. “Thank, you, gracias, obrigada, and merci. We unite as a Dolphin family during this difficult time.”

MDSO traffic homicide detectives are investigating the cause of the fatal crash.

The Doha event had been set to open the season for track's elite series on May 8, as it typically has in recent years, but the postponement means Shanghai's meet on May 16 starts the series instead.

“In recent weeks, the Diamond League has been monitoring the situation in Doha, working in close coordination with meeting organizers, Qatari authorities and other stakeholders,” the Diamond League said in a statement on Wednesday, hours after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel.

“In the interests of athlete and spectator safety, a decision has now been taken to postpone the meeting. Should conditions allow, it will now be held on June 19.”

The change of date also means a change of venue. Temperatures in Qatar in June are typically higher, so the event moves to the Khalifa International Stadium, which is fitted with large cooling systems around the arena that were used when it hosted the 2019 world track and field championships.

Qatar has become a key host nation for global sports events in recent years and has had to postpone or cancel high-profile competitions since the United States and Israel began strikes on Iran in February.

The “Finalissima” soccer game between Argentina and Spain, which was due to be played in Qatar, was canceled last month and Qatar's motorcycle Grand Prix was rescheduled to November. Elsewhere in the region, Formula 1 races set for April in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been called off.

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

Las encuestas realizadas en los últimos meses han mostrado altos niveles de preocupación entre los peruanos por la delincuencia y la corrupción. En tanto, un relevamiento nacional realizado en 2025 por el estatal Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática encontró que 84% de los consultados en áreas urbanas dijo que temía ser víctima de algún delito en los siguientes 12 meses.

En el último quinquenio las denuncias por extorsión, un delito que ha provocado protestas y paralizaciones frecuentes del transporte público, se han quintuplicado; mientras los asesinatos se han duplicado, según datos oficiales.

“Subes al bus y tienes que sentarte lejos del chofer, no sabes si vas a llegar vivo a tu casa... los delincuentes pasan en moto, disparan, matan al chofer y también puedes morir”, relató el jubilado Raúl Zevallos, de 63 años.

En 2025 fueron asesinados 239 choferes del transporte público en Perú, de acuerdo con datos recopilados por el Observatorio del Crimen y la Violencia.

Según los expertos y la policía, la llegada en los últimos 10 años de organizaciones criminales extranjeras ha introducido al país nuevos métodos de violencia. También han influido el auge de la minería ilegal y el narcotráfico, que han creado zonas donde la presencia del Estado es casi inexistente.

Candelaria Lifoncio, de 46 años y madre de cuatro, relató cómo la violencia ha ido en aumento cada año en los exteriores de los locales de conciertos de cumbia donde vende cigarrillos. “Voy por todo Lima en las noches y dos veces me he salvado de que me caiga una bala”, dijo.

Delincuencia y corrupción

Harvey Colchado —un coronel de la policía retirado en 2024 luego que su grupo allanara la casa de la entonces presidenta Dina Boluarte (2022-2025)— dijo a AP que la causa de la expansión del crimen "es la corrupción en el poder”.

Colchado —que a lo largo de su trayectoria ha capturado a jefes criminales, narcotraficantes, integrantes del grupo terrorista Sendero Luminoso y a políticos poderosos— afirmó que es urgente una profunda reforma policial para eliminar a los agentes cooptados por los grupos violentos y aumentar el presupuesto para cada uno de los más de 70 departamentos de investigación criminal. “Ahora no tienen ni un sol”, dijo.

Sin ese financiamiento, añadió, los investigadores policiales no pueden pagar a informantes que son clave en la investigación moderna. También se necesita invertir en tecnología y programas informáticos para rastrear e interceptar llamadas telefónicas y comunicaciones por las redes sociales.

Desde su retiro Colchado ha incursionado en la política de la mano del nuevo partido Ahora Nación y se postula para diputado.

Analistas y otros partidos que participan en la contienda han afirmado que otra de las primeras tareas del próximo Legislativo debe ser la eliminación de las leyes que favorecen a los grupos criminales y que el saliente Congreso aprobó con votos de los partidos Fuerza Popular y Renovación Popular, que lucen como los favoritos.

Esas cuestionadas normas eliminaron la detención preliminar en delitos cometidos en flagrancia, elevaron los requisitos para confiscar bienes a delincuentes y dificultaron la colaboración eficaz y los allanamientos.

Keiko Fujimori, la candidata presidencial de Fuerza Popular, ha defendido estas leyes y afirma que buscan que los juicios sean más rápidos y justos.

Propuestas polémicas

Varios candidatos proponen retirar al país del Pacto de San José de Costa Rica para dejarlo afuera de la jurisdicción de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos para así poder instaurar la pena de muerte para violadores de menores de edad y sicarios y limitar la comida a los presos que dirijan delitos desde la cárcel. También sugieren la construcción de prisiones inspiradas en el Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo de El Salvador y hasta devolver a sus países a todos los venezolanos y colombianos indocumentados.

Fujimori promete retomar el control de las fronteras y cárceles con los militares, mientras Rafael López Aliaga —candidato de Renovación Popular—, anticipó que construirá una cárcel en la Amazonía donde las serpientes venenosas impedirán que los reos escapen.

El comediante Carlos Álvarez, del partido País para Todos, convocará a líderes de El Salvador, Dinamarca y Singapur para que vuelquen su experiencia en seguridad y Ricardo Belmont —del partido Obras y exalcalde de Lima— afirma que los puestos de auxilio rápido serán claves para atender a las víctimas de la delincuencia.

“Ya no puedes creerle a ninguno, nada va a cambiar”, se quejó Juan Gómez, un albañil de 53 años, mientras cargaba dos pesadas bolsas que contenían papas y arroz para alimentar a sus cinco hijos. “Vienen en moto, te ponen una pistola... miras a un lado y al otro y no hay ni un policía ¿Qué vas a hacer? Te dejas robar nomás”, culminó.

The NHL’s career goal-scoring leader announced his intentions in a clip of a pre-taped interview with Capitals radio broadcaster John Walton that aired Wednesday.

"We're going to make a decision in the summer," Ovechkin said, adding he needed to talk with his family, owner Ted Leonsis, president of hockey operations Brian MacLellan and general manager Chris Patrick.

Ovechkin said health would be the biggest factor: “I’m going to be 41 years old in September, so you just have to be smart about it.”

He has been peppered with questions for several months about whether he’ll retire or play a 22nd season in the league. Ovechkin's current contract expires June 30.

Washington will have just three games left after playing at Toronto on Wednesday night and faces an uphill climb to make the playoffs.

Monday was the one-year anniversary of the Russian superstar scoring his 895th goal at the New York Islanders, breaking Wayne Gretzky's record that seemed unapproachable until Ovechkin came along.

Ovechkin has since scored 33 more goals, 31 this season, to get to 928 in the regular season. On March 22, he scored No. 1,000 total in the NHL, counting goals in the playoffs.

He also holds records for the most power play goals with 331, game-winning goals with 141 and shots with 7,091 — and counting. Not just an offensive powerhouse, the 6-foot-3 winger has been a physical force and ranks third on the career hits list with 3,871.

The Capitals visit longtime Ovechkin rival and fellow face of the sport Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, then host them Sunday. The home finale in the nation's capital is sold out, with tickets going for way above face value in anticipation of it being the captain and franchise cornerstone's final game there.

They visit Columbus on Tuesday in what could be Ovechkin's final game in North America. He played his first career game in Washington against the Blue Jackets on Oct. 5, 2005.

Ovechkin, who is from Moscow, could opt to play one more season in the KHL, where he started as a professional when it was called the Russian Superleague. He played from 2001-05 and during the 2012-13 NHL lockout with Dynamo Moscow.

___

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

The look of incredulity that crossed his face was at once withering and comical.

“Have you played here?” Koepka replied.

“Not yet,” he was informed.

“Yeah,” Koepka said, “I could tell by the question.”

In fact, only two people have managed a round of 63 at the Masters, much less 59. Nick Price was the first to set the record four decades ago, and the most recent was Greg Norman, whose first-round 63 in 1996 came before his epic final-round collapse.

That remains the highest single-round scoring record of any of the major championships.

“I'm surprised that it has been that long,” said Justin Rose, who has twice shot 65, including the first round last year, which he paired with a final-round 66 that put him in a playoff that he lost to Rory McIlroy.

Rose also has shot 81 at Augusta National, by the way.

“There's so many great players capable of putting up that number,” Rose continued, reflecting on the longstanding record ahead of this year's tournament. “I think that the course lends itself most ideally to that score on a Sunday, but also if conditions allow, Sunday is kind of when the course is getting its most sort of maxed out, in terms of green speeds and firmness. So that kind of counteracts some of those more accessible hole locations that traditionally we see on Sunday.”

There's reason to believe the record could one day be matched, or even broken. For one thing, scores keep coming down, including in the majors. Branden Grace was the first to shoot 62 when he did it at the British Open in 2017, but four have matched him in the past three years at the U.S. Open and PGA Championship, where Shane Lowry and Xander Schauffele both shot 62 in 2024.

Then there's the fact that technology, physiology and just about every other “ology” has improved over the years. Players have been hitting the ball farther and just as accurately, and that has forced Augusta National to continually change to keep up.

Those changes are one reason, Rose said, that its current record still stands.

Subtle alterations have taken place around greens and bunkers, but the most noticeable changes are in sheer length. The course played to 6,925 yards when Norman shot the most recent 63. It will play to 7,565 when the first round begins on Thursday.

“I think that's a big thing, a lot of mid-irons into small targets. Wedges into small targets,” Rose said. “If you're on and it's your day, sure, you can make a lot of birdies. But you're also going to make a bogey or two quite easily.”

Anthony Kim set the single-round record for birdies at the Masters with 11 in 2009, but he also dropped enough shots to finish with a round of 65. So, birdies alone probably aren't enough to challenge Price and Norman; it would take an eagle or two as well.

That's possible. Four players have even eagled consecutive holes in the same round, including Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson.

It just isn't easy. Nothing is at Augusta National.

“The scores are always a little higher than you think they're going to be,” said 2023 British Open champion Brian Harman, who has just three rounds in the 60s — all 69s — in 20 competitive rounds at the Masters. "You know, when you come out here and you play, you feel like you can go shoot low numbers. It’s just not a lot of the low numbers out here.

“It’s a lot more of a grind than people think,” Harman said.

The second nine tends to play about a stroke more difficult than the first nine at Augusta National, thanks in part to water that comes into play through Amen Corner. But while seven players have gone out in 30, most recently Min Woo Lee in 2022, only two have come home in 29: Mark Calcavecchia in the final round in 1991 and David Toms in the final round in 1998.

In other words, going back to that question posed to Koepka of whether someone could ever shoot 59 at the Masters, it would take pairing the best first nine with the best second ever to do it.

“If I want to go play the member tees and maybe play like, 15 holes," said Koepka, a five-time major winner, "yeah, I could do that.”

___

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

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The 34-year-old rapper suffered non-life-threatening injuries during a shooting on Monday night in a valet area at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, according to the Seminole Police Department.

There was a fight before the shooting. Tione Jayden Merritt, better known as rapper Lil Tjay, was among two arrested, according to police.

Merritt, 24, faced charges of disorderly conduct and operating a vehicle without a valid license when he walked out of the Broward County Main Jail on Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale.

“Did he put his hands on you?” Local 10 News reporter Bridgette Matter asked him. “Hell naw,“ the rapper said. ”How many times I gotta tell you that ain’t nobody touch me?”

Migos rappers Quavo, Takeoff, and Offset split in 2022. Offset went solo, and Quavo and Takeoff formed duo, Unc & Phew. Takeoff was fatally shot months later in Houston, Texas.

Offset and Cardi B, who wed in 2017 and divorced in 2024, have three children together.

El rapero de 34 años sufrió heridas que no ponen en riesgo su vida durante una balacera ocurrida la noche del lunes en el área de valet del Seminole Hard Rock Casino en Hollywood, según el Departamento de Policía Seminole.

Hubo una pelea antes de la balacera. Tione Jayden Merritt, mejor conocido como el rapero Lil Tjay, estuvo entre dos personas arrestadas, según la policía.

Merritt, de 24 años, enfrentó cargos de alteración del orden público y conducir un vehículo sin una licencia válida cuando salió de la cárcel principal del condado Broward el martes en Fort Lauderdale.

“¿Te puso las manos encima?”, le preguntó la reportera de Local 10 News Bridgette Matter. “Claro que no”, respondió el rapero. “¿Cuántas veces tengo que decirte que nadie me tocó?”

Los raperos de Migos, Quavo, Takeoff y Offset, se separaron en 2022. Offset continuó como solista, y Quavo y Takeoff formaron el dúo Unc & Phew. Takeoff murió en una balacera meses después en Houston, Texas.

Offset y Cardi B, quienes se casaron en 2017 y se divorciaron en 2024, tienen tres hijos en común.

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According to Miami police, officers first responded to the building at 187 NW 57^th Ave. at about 4:20 a.m. Sunday after receiving a report about a suspicious person who looked like he was sharpening a knife before entering an apartment where people were arguing and naked.

Police said an officer made contact with both people inside the apartment, who claimed everything was fine.

But police say the same person who reported the first incident called 911 about an hour later, claiming two people were fighting and a person had been cut.

A nearby gas station employee then called 911, stating that a naked man covered in blood was at the GX gas station and was holding a knife.

According to an arrest report, officers responded to the gas station at 5688 W. Flagler St. and found the victim who had stab wounds to the chest.

Miami Fire Rescue transported him to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center.

According to the report, the victim told police that he had met the suspect, Frank Zaldivar-Santiesteba, 29, of Miami, a few days ago, and that he came to his apartment with a knife Sunday and told him, “God told me to come here and stab you.”

The victim said Zaldivar-Santiesteba then stabbed him and the two got into a tussle, at which time the victim was able to disarm the suspect and stab him back multiple times, authorities said.

According to the report, at about 9:15 a.m., officers were called to the area of Northwest 42^nd Avenue and Seventh Street about the suspect, who was bleeding “all over his body” and had a white blanket on his waist.

Police said Zaldivar-Santiesteba refused to identify himself.

He was also transported to JMH to be treated for his injuries.

Police said the victim sustained a laceration to the chest and a punctured lung.

According to the report, Zaldivar-Santiesteba later spoke with a detective at the hospital and said he did not want to provide details about the incident, other than that it was argument between him and his brother who he loves and “does not care what happens to him; only God can judge him.”

Police said they were able to identify Zaldivar-Santiesteba by his fingerprints.

He was arrested on an attempted murder charge.

As of Wednesday morning, Zaldivar-Santiesteba was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center without bond.

Según la policía de Miami, los agentes respondieron por primera vez al edificio en el 187 de la avenida Northwest 57 alrededor de las 4:20 a.m. del domingo tras recibir un reporte sobre una persona sospechosa que parecía estar afilando un cuchillo antes de entrar a un apartamento donde personas discutían y estaban desnudas.

La policía indicó que un agente hizo contacto con ambas personas dentro del apartamento, quienes afirmaron que todo estaba bien.

Pero la policía dijo que la misma persona que reportó el primer incidente llamó al 911 aproximadamente una hora después, alegando que dos personas estaban peleando y que una había sido cortada.

Un empleado de una gasolinera cercana luego llamó al 911, indicando que un hombre desnudo cubierto de sangre estaba en la gasolinera GX y sostenía un cuchillo.

Según un informe de arresto, los agentes respondieron a la gasolinera en el 5688 de W. Flagler St. y encontraron a la víctima con heridas de arma blanca en el pecho.

Miami Fire Rescue lo trasladó al Ryder Trauma Center del hospital Jackson Memorial.

De acuerdo con el informe, la víctima dijo a la policía que había conocido al sospechoso, Frank Zaldivar-Santiesteba, de 29 años y residente de Miami, unos días antes, y que este llegó a su apartamento con un cuchillo el domingo y le dijo: “Dios me dijo que viniera aquí a apuñalarte”.

La víctima dijo que Zaldivar-Santiesteba luego lo apuñaló y ambos forcejearon, momento en el que la víctima logró desarmar al sospechoso y apuñalarlo de vuelta varias veces, según las autoridades.

Según el informe, alrededor de las 9:15 a.m., los agentes fueron llamados al área de la avenida Northwest 42 y la calle Séptima por el sospechoso, quien estaba sangrando “por todo su cuerpo” y tenía una manta blanca en la cintura.

La policía indicó que Zaldivar-Santiesteba se negó a identificarse.

También fue trasladado al Jackson Memorial Hospital para recibir tratamiento por sus heridas.

La policía dijo que la víctima sufrió una laceración en el pecho y un pulmón perforado.

Según el informe, Zaldivar-Santiesteba posteriormente habló con un detective en el hospital y dijo que no quería proporcionar detalles sobre el incidente, más allá de que fue una discusión entre él y su hermano, a quien ama, y que “no le importa lo que le pase; solo Dios puede juzgarlo”.

La policía indicó que pudieron identificar a Zaldivar-Santiesteba mediante sus huellas dactilares.

Fue arrestado por un cargo de intento de asesinato.

Hasta la mañana del miércoles, Zaldivar-Santiesteba permanecía detenido en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight sin derecho a fianza.

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Call it cognition cardio — better known as “Ageless Grace.” It’s a workout designed to challenge the brain, as much as the body — and it’s sweeping the country.

“It was just stupid crazy. It was, like, fun,” said Barbara Malina, a longtime participant.

Simple movements quickly turn into multitasking drills — mixing numbers, sounds and gestures. Every motion carries a mental component, forcing participants to think while they also work out.

The program is found in 50 states and 34 countries — with classes all across South Florida.

Click here to find a class near you.

Many of the classes are free of charge for residents. Local 10 joined a group at the Helen B. Hoffman Library in Plantation.

“Everybody laughs all the time and everybody is nice and friendly,” said Ann, another longtime participant of the program.

For Ann, who is 86, it’s become more than just a workout and a way to socialize — it’s a family activity.

“This is my daughter. And she made me stop driving. She’s my daughter and I love her and it’s just, if I do something wrong, she’s right there to say, ‘Mom!’” Ann said, jokingly.

Her daughter, Janet, didn’t expect to join in — at least not at first.

“I thought, ‘Oh, let me sit here and watch so I could help her later, help her learn the numbers or whatever they were doing,’ and then I found out that - guess what - I need this too!” said Janet.

What starts as observation often turns into participation.

Tracey Gelb, an educator and trainer with Ageless Grace, says the program has expanded far beyond South Florida.

“It is for everybody, every age,” said Gelb. “And it’s fabulous. You’re going to have an unbelievable brain workout. You’re going to be surprised. You’re going to be challenged. It’s going to be like nothing you’ve ever done before.”

According the the program’s website, Ageless Grace activates all 5 functions of the brain:

• Strategic Planning
• Memory and Recall
• Analytical Thinking
• Creativity and Imagination
• Kinesthetic Learning

SMACK! We like to think of that as the sound of the neurons firing in the brain when we attempt to do something new.

Lana Gelb, a cognition and movement specialist and author of Everything You Need to Know About Your Brain, says the concept goes beyond traditional ideas of fitness.

For more information, visit https://goodvibesconsultants.com.

“Change your brain to change your life. People think that wellness is exercise. But it’s way more than that. I use to think that until 14 years ago,” Gelb said.

To submit an idea for What Connects Us, email whatconnectsus@wplg.com.

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Now, Bali Ramnarace says he is in parking purgatory while hoping to find a solution.

“I make a living by this truck,” he said. “Without this truck, I can’t do what I do for 45 years, the same ritual.”

While the trucks have changed over the years, they’ve always been parked in the same driveway.

That’s until recently, when the city informed Ramnarace, who is 75 years old, that the truck could no longer be parked there.

Officials said the truck violates an ordinance in place since 2019.

Now Ramnarace is facing mounting fines after receiving a citation from the city.

Due to pending litigation, city officials did not want to answer Local 10’s questions on camera, instead releasing the following statement:

“The purpose of the oversized commercial vehicle ordinance is to help ensure neighborhood streets remain safe and accessible for residents, pedestrians, and emergency vehicles. These standards are applied consistently throughout the community.”

Ramnarace said he doesn’t understand the sudden enforcement, saying he doesn’t cause any trouble, only works and keeps to himself.

“I want to keep on working, I’m strong,” he said.

While Ramnarace said he’s physically not the man he used to be, as his body doesn’t move quite as well as it once did, his hands still know how to fix things. It’s just more difficult for him to get around these days.

“This is more convenient for me to get in my truck and go, because sometimes I can’t lift too much heavy loads with this damaged foot,” he said.

Ramnarace believes a good resolution would be to allow him to park in his driveway, basically grandfathering him in to keep his parking spot.

Podríamos llamarlo cardio cognitivo , más conocido como " Gracia Eterna “. Es un entrenamiento diseñado para desafiar tanto al cerebro como al cuerpo, y está arrasando en todo el país.

“Fue una locura total. Fue muy divertido”, dijo Barbara Malina, participante desde hace mucho tiempo.

Los movimientos sencillos se transforman rápidamente en ejercicios multitarea, combinando números, sonidos y gestos. Cada movimiento conlleva un componente mental, obligando a los participantes a pensar mientras se ejercitan.

El programa está presente en los 50 estados y en 34 países, con clases en todo el sur de Florida.

Haz clic aquí para encontrar una clase cerca de ti.

Muchas de las clases son gratuitas para los residentes. El sindicato Local 10 se unió a un grupo en la biblioteca Helen B. Hoffman en Plantation.

“Todo el mundo se ríe todo el tiempo y todos son amables y simpáticos”, dijo Ann, otra participante veterana del programa.

Para Ann, que tiene 86 años, se ha convertido en algo más que un simple ejercicio y una forma de socializar: es una actividad familiar.

“Esta es mi hija. Y ella me hizo dejar de conducir. Es mi hija, la quiero mucho y, si hago algo mal, siempre está ahí para decirme: ‘¡Mamá!’”, dijo Ann en tono de broma.

Su hija, Janet, no esperaba participar, al menos no al principio.

“Pensé: ‘Oh, voy a sentarme aquí a observar para poder ayudarla después, ayudarla a aprender los números o lo que sea que estuvieran haciendo’, y luego descubrí que, ¿adivinen qué?, ¡yo también necesito esto!”, dijo Janet.

Lo que empieza como observación a menudo se convierte en participación.

Tracey Gelb , educadora y formadora de Ageless Grace, afirma que el programa se ha expandido mucho más allá del sur de Florida.

“Es para todos, de todas las edades”, dijo Gelb. “Y es fabuloso. Vas a tener un entrenamiento mental increíble. Te vas a sorprender. Te pondrá a prueba. Será algo que nunca antes has hecho”.

Según el sitio web del programa , Ageless Grace activa las 5 funciones del cerebro:

• Planificación estratégica
• Memoria y recuerdo
• Pensamiento analítico
• Creatividad e imaginación
• Aprendizaje cinestésico

¡ZAS! Nos gusta pensar que ese es el sonido de las neuronas activándose en el cerebro cuando intentamos hacer algo nuevo.

Lana Gelb, especialista en cognición y movimiento y autora de Todo lo que necesitas saber sobre tu cerebro , afirma que el concepto va más allá de las ideas tradicionales sobre el estado físico.

Para obtener más información, visite https://goodvibesconsultants.com.

“Cambia tu mente para cambiar tu vida. La gente piensa que el bienestar se reduce al ejercicio, pero es mucho más que eso. Yo también lo creía así hasta hace 14 años”, dijo Gelb.

Para enviar una idea para la sección “Lo que nos conecta”, envíe un correo electrónico a whatconnectsus@wplg.com.

Residentes a lo largo de la calle Northwest 181 y un lago reportaron trombas marinas, muebles arrastrados por el viento, lluvias intensas y ramas de árboles caídas.

“Veo cosas empezando a volar, y luego se puso peor, y corrí al baño”, dijo un residente, quien agregó que la situación duró menos de 5 minutos.

El viento volcó una embarcación y dañó techos. Hubo árboles caídos y algunas interrupciones eléctricas.

Equipos de la compañía Florida Power & Light trabajaban en el vecindario la noche del viernes.

Consejos sobre qué hacer durante un tornado

• Busque refugio en una habitación interior de un edificio sólido y lejos de las ventanas.
• Conduzca hasta el refugio más cercano.
• Cúbrete la cabeza

Fuente: Servicio Meteorológico Nacional

Para consultar el radar meteorológico en directo y las previsiones hora a hora de la Autoridad Meteorológica, visite esta página.

Historias relacionadas

•  Se mantiene la alerta por inundaciones en el sur de Florida; las condiciones meteorológicas están afectando a los aeropuertos locales.
• Tenga cuidado con las inundaciones, las corrientes de resaca y los retrasos en el tráfico en el sur de Florida.

Carson Merlo, editor de noticias de Local 10 News, contribuyó a este reportaje.

Here are takeaways from AP's story:

Forest clearing and unplanned growth in Oiapoque

Oiapoque's local economy depends largely on fishing, illegal gold mining and cross‑border visitors from neighboring French Guiana. Rapid, unplanned urban growth is already straining the city’s fragile infrastructure, residents say.

According to Tiago Vieira Araújo, an Oiapoque councilman, seven new neighborhoods have emerged, some of them in areas where pristine rainforest stood a year ago. Frequent complaints among locals include overcrowded schools and the city's only hospital operating at full capacity.

Renata Lod, a representative on Oiapoque’s Indigenous council, said that "Petrobras arrived in the city with strong political backing, promising progress as if we would go to sleep one way and wake up like Dubai.” The reality, she said, is a completely disorganized population growth and invasion of Indigenous lands.

For migrants like Reginaldo Nunes Fonseca, the hope of opportunity was enough to get them to move. He moved from the northeastern state of Maranhao after seeing a television report in Janauary about Petrobras getting license to do exploratory drilling.

There are fears of environmental impacts

Environmental groups warn that an oil spill could devastate fisheries and wetlands, while Indigenous leaders fear the project could endanger their lands and way of life.

Federal prosecutors also asked Brazil's environmental regulator to annul or suspend the environmental license, arguing that Petrobras’ studies are insufficient and that the company is concealing the full extent of the environmental impact. No ruling has been issued.

Petrobras said it conducted spill modeling to secure the license and has been deploying drifting devices to monitor ocean currents since it began exploration in October.

In January, Petrobras reported a drilling-fluid leak that briefly halted operations. IBAMA, the environmental regulator, fined the company 2.5 million reais ($470,500).

Pushing to phase out fossil fuels while promoting oil exploration

When Brazil hosted the annual U.N. climate summit, known as COP30, last year, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the country’s negotiators sought to advance a global road map for phasing out fossil fuels, which are the primary drivers of global warming.

However, the reality in places like Oiapoque highlights a broader dilemma for much of the developing world. Some countries, including Brazil, have committed to curb greenhouse gases emissions like carbon dioxide, which are released from the burning of oil and cause climate change. At the same time, many residents hope that revenues from fossil fuels lift their economies.

Expanding oil drilling to Amazon region, even in an offshore project like this one, also raises questions about Lula’s campaign pledge to protect the rainforest.

___

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.

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Several inches of rain and damaging winds impacted parts of the area Tuesday, and with more heavy rain around Wednesday, flooding is certainly possible.

A front just to our south will weaken and move farther south and away from us by the end of the week, so rain chances start coming down by later Thursday and Friday with a return to mostly sunny skies by the weekend.

It’ll become windy, however, so we’ll have to watch for a dangerous risk of rip currents if you have beach plans this weekend.

Highs are around 80 Wednesday and Thursday and then dip into the lower 80s by Friday and into the weekend. High pressure looks to keep it dry into most of next week with highs well into the 80s by then. In the meantime, keep the umbrellas handy and drive carefully on these wet roads.

CLICK HERE for the latest weather updates from Local 10’s Weather Authority.

Varias pulgadas de lluvia y vientos dañinos afectaron partes del área el martes, y con más lluvias intensas durante el miércoles, las inundaciones son posibles.

Un frente justo al sur de nuestra zona se debilitará y se moverá más hacia el sur y lejos de nosotros hacia el final de la semana, por lo que las probabilidades de lluvia comenzarán a disminuir para el jueves en la tarde y el viernes, con un regreso a cielos mayormente soleados para el fin de semana.

Sin embargo, se tornará ventoso, por lo que habrá que estar atentos a un riesgo peligroso de corrientes de resaca si tiene planes de ir a la playa este fin de semana.

Las temperaturas máximas estarán alrededor de los 80 grados el miércoles y jueves, y luego bajarán a los bajos 80 para el viernes y durante el fin de semana. Un sistema de alta presión mantendrá condiciones secas durante gran parte de la próxima semana, con máximas bien entrados los 80 grados para entonces. Mientras tanto, mantenga los paraguas a la mano y conduzca con precaución en estas carreteras mojadas.

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Nonprofits received a reassuring answer this week, however, from the century-old, Boston-based Liberty Mutual Insurance. The major insurer's nonprofit Liberty Mutual Foundation announced Wednesday the establishment of a $600 million endowment, a long-term source of funding that leaders promise will bring lasting resources and more responsive grantmaking.

“We all know that we live in really challenging times. And that is very true for our nonprofit partners as well,” Melanie Foley, the chair of the foundation's board, told the Associated Press. “We’ll be there to continue to support them, be as flexible as we can be, really listening to what they need.”

Endowments generally start with a set donation that is invested and allow foundations to increase their assets over time. Foley said Liberty Mutual Foundation had “matured” enough from its 2003 founding to necessitate “a permanent, self-sustaining" funding source. The Fortune 100 company is funding the endowment by transferring assets such as shares held within Liberty Mutual entities.

The move places Liberty Mutual's charitable arm among an influential subset of foundations with more than $100 million in assets. Partners should feel a “sense of security,” according to Foley. This new source will allow the foundation to increase grantmaking from its roughly $50 million baseline of recent years.

Foley emphasized that Wednesday's announcement isn't a response to recent developments in the sector. But the news arrives at a time of great instability for nonprofits. There's been a yearslong decline in the number of American donors, who make up the bulk of U.S. philanthropic funding. The Trump administration's attempts to freeze federal funds and cut social services grants have left many organizations without a once-reliable avenue for funding. Companies and philanthropies have reversed course on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts that often resulted in support for nonprofits serving vulnerable communities.

Those poised to benefit most from Liberty Mutual Foundation's endowment are Boston-area nonprofits addressing its focus on housing stability, workforce development and climate resiliency — areas where leaders believe they can leverage their expertise as a global property and casualty insurer. The foundation directed gifts to more than 500 nonprofits last year, according to a company spokesperson. Previous recipients include national nonprofits like the American Red Cross, local chapters of groups such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and community organizations serving homeless youth such as Bridge Over Troubled Waters.

Corporate foundations offer nonprofits a level of “rigor and relevance” when they align their purpose with the business' outcomes, according to Leah Battin, the manager of strategic advisory at Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose. A healthcare company might address social determinants of health such as pollution or nutrition with greater precision than a family or community foundation lacking in that background.

“They can take long-term views around ecosystems change that really benefit and draw from the expertise of the company,” she said.

With the new endowment, Foley said Liberty Mutual Foundation plans to provide more high impact grants over longer periods. She pointed to a recent program that provides nonprofit collaboratives with the time and resources to tackle complex challenges they can't handle alone. Its first year saw more than $9 million go toward more than a dozen partnerships addressing issues from workforce readiness to food security. A handful received three-year support, which Foley said represents the outer limits of their grant durations.

The foundation also intends to make spot grants similar to those coming out of COVID-19 aimed at remediating inflationary pressures, according to Foley. The idea, she said, is to be there when “the unexpected” happens.

“As things come up in the environment, we're gonna be there to think with our partners of how we are best suited to support them,” Foley said.

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Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.

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According to FHP, the crash occurred in the northbound lanes of the highway, just south of Oakland Park Boulevard.

Troopers said the car was heading north on the highway when, for unknown reasons, the driver ran off the road to the right, entered the outside grass shoulder and crashed into the billboard support post.

Troopers said the car then overturned and came to a final rest within the tree line.

The driver, whose identity has not yet been released, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Según la FHP, el accidente ocurrió en los carriles en dirección norte de la autopista, justo al sur de Oakland Park Boulevard.

Los agentes indicaron que el vehículo se desplazaba hacia el norte cuando, por razones desconocidas, el conductor se salió de la vía hacia la derecha, ingresó al hombrillo de césped y se estrelló contra el poste de soporte del cartel.

Las autoridades dijeron que el vehículo luego volcó y terminó detenido dentro de la línea de árboles.

El conductor, cuya identidad aún no ha sido revelada, fue declarado muerto en el lugar.

The rain meant he couldn't work on building his own house or do odd jobs for others in the area, but the weather wasn't the only thing holding him back. Like thousands of others who have moved to the small city of Oiapoque, in Brazil’s northern state of Amapa, Fonseca is waiting for an economic boom that may or may not come.

The area is experiencing a rush of migrants since Petrobras, Brazil’s state-run oil company, last year secured environmental licensing for offshore drilling in the Equatorial Margin near the mouth of the Amazon River, about 180 kilometers (112 miles) off Amapa’s coast.

“I thought, well, that’s good — the city is going to grow, there will be a lot of job opportunities," said Fonseca, who saw a television report about the licensing in January and decided to move from the northeastern state of Maranhao. "So I started calling friends and said: ‘I’m going there because here I’m unemployed and not doing anything.'”

Amapa is one of Brazil’s poorest and underdeveloped states. Oiapoque’s economy relies on fishing, illegal gold mining and visitors from neighboring French Guiana, who cross daily and spend euros, which hold their value better than the Brazilian real. While the prospect of economic opportunities is bringing hope, the impacts of unplanned urban growth in a city with already poor infrastructure are being felt.

The oil-fueled optimism highlights a broader dilemma for developing countries: how to curb their emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, which are released from the burning of oil and cause climate change, while relying on such revenue to transform local economies.

It also raises questions about President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's campaign commitment to protecting the environment. He has made stopping deforestation an important part of his government and last year Brazil hosted the U.N. climate summit known as COP30.

“We don’t want to pollute a single millimeter of water, but no one can stop us from lifting Amapa out of poverty if there is oil here,” Lula said last year during a visit to Amapa.

There is a surge of speculation ahead of drilling

On March 10, about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from Fonseca's home, Petrobras met with politicians, business owners and community leaders to present its operation plans.

Company representatives said drilling for an exploratory well began in October and would last about five months. If large quantities of oil are found and the company wants to begin extracting it, that would require further government permits, a process that can take months or even years.

Environmental and Indigenous groups have sued the Brazilian government and Petrobras to halt exploration, arguing the licensing process failed to properly consult traditional communities, underestimated spill risks and did not adequately assess climate impacts. Federal prosecutors also asked IBAMA to annul or suspend the environmental license, arguing that Petrobras’ studies are insufficient and that the company is concealing the full extent of the environmental impact. No ruling has been issued.

During the meeting, officials also said Oiapoque was serving mostly as a helicopter base for offshore crews, as it's the closest land point. Administrative operations related to the drilling were based out of Belem, a major city in the neighboring state of Para.

Despite open questions about future extraction and Oiapoque's limited role in Petrobras' operations, speculation has already reshaped the city.

The city’s population was 27,482 in 2022, according to census data, but a new count has yet to be taken, so it’s unclear how many people there are.

“In the past 18 months, Oiapoque has seen significant population growth," said Tiago Vieira Araújo, an Oiapoque councilman who stood up and voiced concerns during the meeting. "There are already seven new neighborhoods, and social problems have come with them.”

Urban infrastructure in Oiapoque is already precarious. Less than 2% of households have adequate sewage systems, and only 0.2% are on properly structured streets, according to Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics.

In the new settlements — known locally as “invasions” — conditions are worse. Residents have cleared public rainforest, creating informal plots and erecting makeshift homes. Freshly cut tree stumps, wooden stakes and rough shacks rise from mud and have only the basics: a kitchen, a bed and a rudimentary bathroom.

“We know it’s not right to clear the forest. Everyone knows it’s wrong,” Fonseca said. “But space is limited.”

Some locals see Dubai as a model for the area's development

Yuri Alesi, 34, a lawyer who advocates for land rights in new settlements and a former city councilman, is running for vice mayor in a special election set for April. He envisions Oiapoque as an “Amazonian Dubai,” fueled by oil revenues.

“Dubai is in the middle of a desert, an unlikely place to grow,” he said. “The industry that drove its development was oil.”

Brazil’s offshore Equatorial Margin, from the Suriname border to the country's northeast, is believed to hold significant oil and gas reserves. Preliminary estimates suggest they could hold up to 10 billion barrels, with a potential value of about 3.8 trillion reais ($719.7 billion). Alesi said royalties could generate roughly 100 million reais ($19 million) a month for Oiapoque, about the equivalent of the city's total goods and services produced each year, according to Brazil's statistics institute.

The Amazon, which is crucial to regulating the global climate because forests store carbon dioxide, is constantly under pressure from deforestation driven by agriculture, cattle ranching and mining. That pressure has been less intense in Amapa, where about 82% of the land remains forested, according to MapBiomas, a nonprofit that tracks land use.

The state’s isolation, bordered by rivers and the sea and lacking road connections to the rest of Brazil, has helped protect it from the deforestation seen in the southern Amazon.

Previous booms have not ended in prosperity

While some point to Dubai as a model for Oiapoque’s future, nearby cities that once benefited from oil offer a warning for Oiapoque.

Petrobras has explored oil and gas in the state of Coari, also part of the Amazon, since the 1980s. Yet the city ranks among Brazil’s poorest, with about 72% of its residents living in extreme poverty, according to a recent study by Agenda Publica, a nonprofit focused on public policy.

Other cities in Amapa have also seen boom and decline cycles tied to mining. Pedra Branca, about 280 miles from Oiapoque, grew between 2007 and 2014 during an iron ore boom.

Prosperity in Pedra Branca drew Selma Soares, 46, who moved from Maranhao to Amapa in 2008 and opened a grocery store.

In 2013, a collapse at a port operated by mining company Anglo American killed six workers and disrupted iron ore production. India’s Zamin Ferrous later took over the mine and suspended operations.

“People who had shopped with us for years struggled to eat,” Soares said.

In the past few years, she heard growing rumors that Oiapoque was booming. After visiting the city last year, she moved with her husband and son. The family now runs a small supermarket on the outskirts of town. Soares said many others have followed.

“People are waiting for drilling to begin,” she said. “They believe everything will improve.”

Amid enthusiasm there is also concern

At the river separating Oiapoque from French Guiana, a small port hums with boats linking Brazil, its neighbor and nearby communities. Green-and-yellow stickers read: “Oil yes! Development yes!,” a message promoted by local politicians.

Just 20 minutes away by boat, members of the Indigenous Galibi Kali’na community are wary. Some see economic opportunity, but leaders oppose exploration, warning of environmental risks and threats to their way of life.

“Petrobras arrived with strong political backing, promising progress as if we would go to sleep one way and wake up like Dubai,” said Renata Lod, a representative on Oiapoque’s Indigenous council. “But what we have actually seen is completely disorganized population growth, invasions of Indigenous lands."

Lod listed several frequent complaints among Oiapoque residents, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, including overcrowded schools and the city’s only hospital operating at full capacity.

There is also fear of potential oil spills.

“Most Indigenous lands are flooded wetlands. How do you clean a wetland? Once oil enters the rivers, there’s no way to remove it," Lod said.

An oil spill could quickly carry pollutants to nearby coasts and rivers, threatening ecosystems and communities that depend on fishing and mangroves. Petrobras said it conducted spill modeling to secure the environmental license and has been deploying drifting devices to monitor ocean currents since it began exploration in October.

In January, Petrobras reported a drilling-fluid leak that briefly halted operations. IBAMA, the environmental regulator, fined the company 2.5 million reais ($470,500).

At the community meeting, Petrobras officials sought to ease concerns, defending the safety of its operations. They also pointed to everyday items, from clothing to air conditioning, to underscore oil’s economic importance.

“People here see Petrobras as an economic remedy,” said Araújo, the city councilman. “But even a remedy has side effects. And we’re already experiencing the side effects before seeing any of the benefits.”

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Photographer Eraldo Peres and video journalist Felipe Campos Mello contributed to this report.

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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.

These days, growing congregations is very much on Isaacs' mind, as she's leading a movement to strengthen rural synagogues and Jewish communities around the country. They've reached dozens, and they're hoping for many more.

“Rural Jewish life is important for the Jewish people and it’s important for rural America,” Isaacs said. “Those people deserve to be served and shepherded.”

Isaacs is executive director of the Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College, a liberal arts school in Waterville, Maine. The center began a decade ago with a goal of supporting Jewish congregations that are far from big cities and it has grown to run programs for more than 60 communities in 22 states.

A little less than 2.4% of Americans are Jewish. Of those millions of people, one in eight lives outside a major urban area, and the center exists to help them thrive, Isaacs said.

The center's work is taking place at a vital time, as there are roughly 20% fewer synagogues in America than there were in 1990, according to data compiled by Alanna E. Cooper, a Jewish studies professor at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio. The trend is even more pronounced in rural America, where aging populations and the relocations of residents has hit congregations hard.

The outreach to rural synagogues is also happening as Jewish Americans confront a rising tide of antisemitism and violent attacks against Jewish communities. The Anti-Defamation League noted a nearly 900% increases in antisemitic incidents for the decade ending 2024. Some of the states with a high rate of incidents include largely rural states like Maine, New Hampshire and Wyoming, the ADL's report said.

The center's work can help reverse that trend, Isaacs said.

“You have more Jews that experience joy, who can locate strength, form connections with other Jews across the country and around the world,” Isaacs said. “In a world of rising antisemitism it's more and more important that Jewish communities are joyful, strong and connected.”

Since forming, the center has helped congregations from Maine to California, Montana and Texas.

From Maine to Montana

Isaacs is also the rabbi at Beth Israel, a century-old synagogue down the road from Colby that is the only one within 20 miles of the college. The synagogue has grown along with the center, but the Center for Small Town Jewish Life's work stretches far beyond Maine, she said.

And congregations that have relied on the center said its contributions are vital in a country where the Jewish population has overwhelmingly been urban since the early days of immigration. In Helena, Montana, Rebecca Stanfel, the executive director of the Montana Jewish Project, said the center was instrumental in helping bring together the relatively small Jewish community in her vast state.

Linking far-flung faith communities together is critically important in a place like Montana, Stanfel said.

“In Helena, we have no choice but to rely on volunteers. And if we want to have something like a seder, High Holidays, it's got to come from the community,” Stanfel said. “That is also a really important model for people outside rural America.”

A plan to help

The center assists congregations through three strategies designed to boost rural synagogues. One is Makom, a two-year mentorship program for rabbis earlier in their service to rural synagogues.

Another trains lay leaders to lead prayer and support congregations, which helps them thrive without a full-time rabbi. The third is board leadership coaching, which trains synagogue presidents and boards on how to manage small town Jewish institutions.

Rabbi Lisa Rappaport, who leads Congregation Beth Israel in Chico, California, was among the first to go through the Makom program. Rural rabbis often lead the only Jewish congregation in town, and that makes the work “special and it's beautiful and it's challenging,” she said.

Strengthening rural communities

The Makom fellowship program lifts up rural rabbis to that challenge, Rappaport said.

“We have felt very validated as rabbis in small communities that our work is as important,” she said.

In Waterville, volunteers ranging from Colby students to retirees were getting ready to host about 100 people for Passover. It might be a small community, but it's a strong and loving one, said Jeff Lovitz, a synagogue member, as he folded napkins.

“We've been here since the early ‘70s. Our kids went to Hebrew school here,” he said. “I think it’s important to have a Jewish community in Waterville.”

Two other assailants were wounded and captured during Tuesday’s shootout in the city's financial and business district, while two police officers sustained slight injuries, officials said.

Israel had withdrawn its diplomats from Turkey over security concerns and deteriorating relations with Ankara shortly after the start of the war in Gaza, and officials said the consulate was closed at the time of the attack.

Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci said one of the assailants had links to a group that he said “exploits religion,” without naming the organization.

The Islamic State group has carried out deadly attacks in Turkey in the past.

Anadolu Agency reported that security forces detained nine suspects in operations conducted in Istanbul as well as in the provinces of Konya and Kocaeli. They were being questioned along with the two injured assailants, the agency reported, without providing further details.

Cifti said the attackers had traveled from the city of Izmit, in Kocaeli province, in a rented car. The two wounded assailants are brothers, identified as Onur C. and Enes C. The first has a criminal record related to drugs.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned the attack and praised the Turkish authorities for preventing further violence.

Dozens of Downtown Doral Charter Upper School students said they were mourning their classmates: A teenage girl and a teenage boy.

Miami-Dade firefighters and Doral police officers responded to the crash at about 6 p.m., along Northwest 87th Avenue, near 54th Street.

Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Detective Argemis “AC” Colome released a statement.

“A sedan was traveling southbound on NW 87 Avenue when it veered off the roadway and struck a pole,” Colome wrote. “The vehicle subsequently became engulfed in flames.”

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel pronounced the two dead at the scene, according to M-DSO deputies and Doral police officers.

M-DSO traffic homicide detectives were investigating the cause of the fatal crash.

Local 10 News Assignment Editor Carson Merlo contributed to this report.

More in Miami-Dade: Beware of flooding, rip currents, traffic delays in South Florida

Location of the crash

The 19-year-old shortstop agreed to a nine-year, $140 million contract with the Pirates early Wednesday, less than a week after the former first-round pick made his major league debut.

The deal, the largest in club history, includes escalators that could raise the total value to $150 million.

Griffin's Pittsburgh teammates attended Wednesday's news conference to announce the deal.

“This week has been amazing, debut week, and then sitting here signing a contract, it’s been amazing,” Griffin said. “It’s one of the best weeks of my life. ... But it’ll be even better if we can get a win today.”

Pirates owner Bob Nutting said the nine-year contract reflects the team's commitment in winning this season and in the future.

“This is an important step for 2026 as we look at it right now, but obviously this is a long-term commitment,” Nutting said. “It’s a long-term statement of where we’re headed as an organization, where we are headed with this team. ... This obviously is an unusual and dramatic step for the Pittsburgh Pirates. So I’m excited, I hope our fans are excited, I hope the city is excited, I know the organization is excited.”

When asked why it was important to sign for nine years, Griffin said he sees the Pirates as a winning organization.

“I’m pumped to be a Pirate and be a part of this wonderful clubhouse,” Griffin said, looking at his teammates at the back of the room. “A lot of great talent back there and coaches and staff. Thank you all for being here to support me. Y’all made this transition to the big leagues super easy. And I’m just pumped to go compete. The goal is to win. The goal is to win a World Series. And I think we've got a great clubhouse to go do that. I’m pump to be part of it.”

The agreement comes less than 24 hours after general manager Ben Cherington said the “ingredients” were in place for a long-term pact.

The Pirates selected Griffin with the ninth overall pick in the 2024 amateur draft. He sprinted through the team's farm system, hitting .333 with 21 home runs, 94 RBIs and 65 stolen bases. He was one of the final cuts during spring training last month, and his stay at Triple-A Indianapolis was brief.

Pittsburgh called Griffin to the majors after just a week, and he has played well through his first handful of games. Griffin laced an RBI-double in his first big-league at bat against Baltimore last Friday, and added a pair of hits, including a two-run single, in a 7-1 win over San Diego on Tuesday night that helped the Pirates to their sixth win in seven games.

Griffin, who has said repeatedly he wants to stay in Pittsburgh for as long as possible, has impressed teammates with his maturity and his unique skillset.

Reigning NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes called Griffin “a big leaguer through and through,” though Griffin is doing his best to ignore the attention that has surrounded his arrival for a team that is trying to return to relevance and end a playoff drought that's now over a decade old.

“Just sticking to being myself, not trying to do too much,” Griffin said Tuesday night. "Just let the game tell me the situation. Compete one pitch at a time and let it all happen.”

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

U.S. President Donald Trump told PBS News Hour that Lebanon was not included in the deal because of the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group. When asked about Israel’s latest strikes, he said, “That’s a separate skirmish.” Israel had said the agreement does not extend to its war with the Iran-backed Hezbollah, although mediator Pakistan said it does.

The fleeting sense of relief among Lebanese after the ceasefire announcement turned into panic with what Israel’s military called its largest coordinated strike in the current war, hitting more than 100 Hezbollah targets within 10 minutes in Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley.

Black smoke towered over several parts of the seaside capital, where a huge number of people displaced by war have taken shelter. Explosions interrupted the honking of traffic on what had been a bustling, blue-sky afternoon. Ambulances raced toward open flames. Apartment buildings were struck.

Associated Press journalists saw charred bodies in vehicles and on the ground at one of Beirut’s busiest intersections in the central Corniche al Mazraa neighborhood, a mixed commercial and residential area. Using forklifts, rescue workers removed smoldering debris and sifted through ruins for survivors.

There was no sign of Hezbollah launching strikes against Israel in the first couple of hours after the attacks.

A deadly midday barrage

Central Beirut has been targeted before, but not by so many strikes at once and in the middle of the day. Israel had rarely struck central Beirut since the outbreak of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war on March 2 but has regularly struck southern and eastern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs.

Lebanon's Minister of Social Affairs, Haneed Sayed, in an interview with The Associated Press condemned Israel’s wide range of strikes, calling it a “very dangerous turning point.”

“These hits are now at the heart of Beirut … Half of the sheltered (internally displaced people) are in Beirut in this area,” she said, adding that she had just driven by areas hit.

She said Lebanon's government is ready to enter into negotiations with Israel for an end to hostilities, an offer that the Lebanese president previously made. Israel has not responded. “There are calls and efforts being made as we speak," Sayed said.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in a statement accused Israel of escalating at a moment when Lebanese officials were seeking to negotiate a solution, and of hitting civilian areas in “utter disregard for the principles of international law and international humanitarian law — principles it has, in any case, never respected.”

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called the Israeli attacks “barbaric.”

Israel's military said it had targeted missile launchers, command centers and intelligence infrastructure. It accused Hezbollah fighters of trying to “blend into” non-Shiite Muslim areas beyond their traditional strongholds.

Residents and local officials denied that the buildings hit were military sites.

“Look at these crimes,” said Mohammed Balouza, a member of Beirut’s municipal council, at the scene of a strike in Corniche al Mazraa. An apartment building behind a popular shop selling nuts and dried fruit had been hit. “This is a residential area. There is nothing (military) here.”

An Israeli warning and a defiant Hezbollah

As the smoke rose Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem that “his turn will come.” In 2024, Israel killed Hezbollah's previous leader, Hassan Nasrallah, with an airstrike.

Katz called Wednesday's strikes the largest blow against Hezbollah since the attack that caused pagers used by hundreds of its members to explode almost simultaneously in September 2024.

Before the new strikes, a Hezbollah official told the AP that the group was giving a chance for mediators to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon, but “we have not announced our adherence to the ceasefire since the Israelis are not adhering to it.” He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly.

The Hezbollah official said the group will not accept a return to the pre-March 2 status quo, when Israel carried out near-daily strikes in Lebanon despite a ceasefire being nominally in place since the last full-blown Israel-Hezbollah war ended in November 2024.

“We will not accept for the Israelis to continue behaving as they did before this war with regards to attacks,” he said.

Hezbollah had fired missiles across the border days after the United States and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, sparking a regional war. Israel responded with widespread bombardment of Lebanon and a ground invasion.

The Israeli military chief of staff, Lt Gen. Eyal Zamir, said the attacks are to protect Israel’s northern residents, who have come under heavy fire.

Since the war started and before Wednesday's attacks, Israeli airstrikes killed more than 1,530 people in Lebanon, including more than 100 women and 130 children. The Israeli military has said it has killed hundreds of Hezbollah fighters. More than 1 million people have been displaced in Lebanon.

Early Wednesday, after the Iran ceasefire was announced and before Israel struck, many displaced people sleeping in tents on the streets of Beirut and the coastal city of Sidon had begun packing their belongings in preparation to return home.

Families at a sprawling displacement camp on Beirut’s waterfront later expressed confusion and despair.

“We can’t take this anymore, sleeping in a tent, not showering, the uncertainty,” said Fadi Zaydan, 35. He and his parents had prepared to head back to the southern city of Nabatieh. Instead, they decided to wait things out in Sidon, a bit closer to home.

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Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre contributed. AP writers Hussein Mallah and Fadi Tawil in Beirut, Michelle Price in Washington and Melanie Lidman in Eilat, Israel, contributed.

Trump had suggested the U.S. may consider leaving the trans-Atlantic alliance after NATO member countries ignored his call to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping waterway, as Iran effectively shut it and sent gas prices soaring.

The Republican president's meeting with Rutte, with whom he had a warm relationship, comes as the U.S. and Iran late Tuesday agreed to a two-week ceasefire that includes the reopening of the strait. The nascent ceasefire was struck after Trump said he would strike Iran's power plants and bridges, threatening that “a whole civilization will die tonight."

The plan to reopen the strait is still cloudy and is expected to be a central focus of the Wednesday afternoon meeting with Rutte. The White House said the meeting was expected to be behind closed doors. In the Trump administration, though, that can change at the last minute, and meetings can be opened to the press.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio met separately with Rutte on Wednesday morning at the State Department ahead of the White House talks.

In a statement, the State Department said Rubio and Rutte had discussed the war with Iran, along with U.S. efforts to negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war and “increasing coordination and burden shifting with NATO allies.”

Congress in 2023 passed a law that prevents any U.S. president from pulling out of NATO without its approval. Trump has been a longtime critic of NATO and in his first term had suggested he had the authority on his own to leave the alliance, which was founded in 1949 to counter the Cold War threat posed to European security by the Soviet Union.

The crux of the commitment its 32 member countries make is a mutual defense agreement in which an attack on one is considered an attack on them all. The only time it has been activated was in 2001, to support the United States in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

Despite that, Trump has complained during his war of choice with Iran that NATO has shown it will not be there for the U.S.

Ahead of the meeting, Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, issued a statement Tuesday night in support of the alliance, noting that, “Following the September 11th attacks, NATO allies sent their young servicemembers to fight and die alongside America’s own in Afghanistan and Iraq.” McConnell, who sits on a committee overseeing defense spending, urged Trump to be “clear and consistent” and said it's not in America's interest to “spend more time nursing grudges with allies who share our interests than deterring adversaries who threaten us.”

If Rutte's meeting does not alleviate Trump's frustrations, it's unclear if the Trump administration would challenge the law barring a president from pulling out of NATO. When the law passed, it was championed by Trump's current secretary of state, Marco Rubio, who at the time was a senator from Florida.

The alliance was already rattled over the past year as Trump returned to power and reduced U.S. military support for Ukraine in the war against Russia and threatened to seize Greenland from ally Denmark.

But Trump's badgering of NATO intensified after the Iran war began at the end of February, with the president insisting that securing the Strait of Hormuz was not America's job but the responsibility of countries that depend on the flow of oil through it.

“Go to the strait and just take it,” Trump said last week.

Trump was also angered as NATO allies Spain and France forbade or restricted use of their airspace or joint military facilities for the U.S. in the Iran war. They and other nations, however, agreed to help with an international coalition to open the Strait of Hormuz when the conflict ends.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has been a particular source of Trump's frustration, was set to travel on Wednesday to the Gulf to support the ceasefire. The U.K. has been working on developing a post-conflict security plan for the strait, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil passes.

Trump has previously threatened to leave NATO and often said that he would abandon allies who don’t spend enough on their military budgets. Former NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, in his recent memoir, said he feared that Trump might walk away from the alliance in 2018, during his first term as president.

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Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Washington and Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report.

Para John Steinbeck, era la Carretera Madre que llevó a agricultores pobres desde la desesperación de las praderas asoladas por sequías hasta la soleada California. Para los indígenas estadounidenses a lo largo de la ruta, fue un impulso económico que también dejó cicatrices. Para los viajeros negros, ofreció refugio durante la segregación. Y para los aficionados a la música, era el lugar plasmado en grandes clásicos.

La Ruta 66 celebra su centenario este año. Pese a haber perdido hace décadas su condición de una de las principales arterias del país, personas de todo el mundo siguen acudiendo a ella para hacer quizá el viaje por carretera más emblemático de Estados Unidos y empaparse de sus luces de neón, sus moteles y atracciones kitsch, y su oferta culinaria.

Cada pueblo tiene su propia historia y su propia magia, comentó Sebastiaan de Boorder, un empresario neerlandés que, junto con su esposa, dio nueva vida al Aztec Motel en Seligman, Arizona.

“Es una parte esencial de la cultura y la historia estadounidenses. El aspecto histórico es una parte muy grande e importante de la cultura estadounidense, con su influencia y su carácter”, señaló sobre la carretera De Boorder.

El sueño

La Ruta 66, que recorre aproximadamente 2.400 millas (3.860 kilómetros) desde Chicago a través de Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Nuevo México y Arizona antes de terminar en Santa Mónica, California, se armó hace un siglo a partir de una colección de rutas comerciales de indígenas estadounidenses y viejos caminos de tierra con el objetivo de enlazar la región industrial en el centro norte de Estados Unidos con la costa del Pacífico.

El empresario de Oklahoma Cyrus Avery, conocido como el Padre de la Ruta 66, la veía como algo más que una forma de cruzar el país con eficiencia. Era una oportunidad para conectar el Estados Unidos rural y crear nuevos focos de comercio.

Avery sabía que el número 66 sería ideal para el marketing y podría quedar grabado en la mente de los conductores, y tenía razón: la Ruta 66 ha sido inmortalizada en películas, libros —entre ellos “Las uvas de la ira”, de Steinbeck, y “En el camino”, de Jack Kerouac— y canciones como “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66”, de Bobby Troup, que sirvió como himno del optimismo y la movilidad posteriores a la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

Oleadas migratorias

Desde su designación en noviembre de 1926 como una de las carreteras numeradas originales del país, la que en su día fue conocida como Calle Principal de Estados Unidos ha encarnado la promesa de prosperidad.

Se convirtió en una senda literal de esperanza para los migrantes que huían de granjas arrasadas por la sequía y de la pobreza en la década de 1930 y la Gran Depresión. Y durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial se utilizó para trasladar tropas, equipo y trabajadores hacia el Oeste.

El auge de la posguerra en las décadas de 1940 y 1950 fue la época dorada de la Ruta 66, al convertirse en una ruta vacacional popular. Los autos se volvieron más asequibles, aumentaron los ingresos disponibles y la gente empezó a perseguir la libertad en la carretera abierta.

“Por lo general, la gente tiene un sentido de aventura, un sentido de curiosidad. Y eso se puede encontrar en la Ruta 66. Esta es la carretera de los sueños”, afirmó el autor e historiador Jim Hinckley.

El salto a la fama

Los restaurantes de carretera y los moteles prosperaron, mientras emprendedores ingeniosos ideaban maneras de sacarles dinero a los automovilistas. Había fosas con serpientes de cascabel, tótems, puestos comerciales, cavernas donde supuestamente se reunían forajidos del Viejo Oeste, y maravillas de la ingeniería moderna como el reluciente arco de acero de St. Louis.

Se pintaban graneros con anuncios gigantescos, las vallas publicitarias tentaban con atracciones locales y el neón estaba por todas partes.

¿La guinda del pastel? La comida.

Había lugares para comprar y seguir, pero también para sentarse y saborear un pedazo de hogar. El Cozy Dog Drive In —famoso por sus hot dogs empanizados en un palo— ha cumplido ambas funciones desde 1949. Dentro del comedor en Springfield, Illinois, los viajeros cuentan historias de la vida en la carretera.

“El camino no estaría vivo sin las historias de todos los lugares a lo largo de él que lo mantuvieron en marcha de pueblo en pueblo”, sostuvo Josh Waldmire, propietario de tercera generación. “Simplemente sobrevivimos unos de otros. La carretera nos alimenta y, mientras devolvamos nuestros sentimientos y amor a la carretera, resonará con los viajeros y con las historias de la gente”.

Una carretera dividida

La Ruta 66 fue un impulso económico para las tribus indígenas estadounidenses a lo largo del trayecto. Pero aunque trajo turistas, también dejó cicatrices de expropiación por causa de utilidad pública en tierras tribales y perpetuó estereotipos.

Más de la mitad de la carretera atravesaba territorio indígena, y los letreros de los vendedores a menudo hacían referencias casuales a tipis y tocados de plumas: símbolos fácilmente apropiados para el marketing pero no siempre representativos de las culturas distintas que se encuentran a lo largo de la ruta.

En Laguna Pueblo, al oeste de Albuquerque, surgieron restaurantes y estaciones de servicio, algunas operadas por veteranos militares del pueblo que eran expertos en arreglar desde llantas pinchadas hasta radiadores averiados.

Las mujeres del pueblo también se adaptaron, convirtiendo vasijas de cerámica prácticas en obras de arte codiciadas por los turistas. El pan y los pasteles caseros sellaban el trato.

Los líderes de Laguna han considerado durante mucho tiempo la carretera —o he-ya-nhee’ en el idioma keres de la tribu— como “el corredor del comercio”, indicó el empresario y miembro tribal Ron Solimon. Aprovechando ese potencial, la tribu ha construido un imperio multimillonario de casinos, puestos de hamburguesas y otros negocios.

También había peligros a lo largo de la ruta, en particular durante la era de Jim Crow, cuando los viajeros negros tenían que depender de guías como el Green Book para encontrar alojamiento y servicios seguros.

“Especialmente para los viajes de larga distancia, la segregación era un hecho de la vida”, explicó Matthew Pearce, historiador estatal de la Oklahoma Historical Society. “Y por eso los automovilistas negros necesitaban saber un lugar seguro al que ir”.

La estación de servicio Threatt Filling Station, cerca de la comunidad de Luther, en el centro de Oklahoma, no figuraba en el Green Book, pero sí servía como refugio seguro entre dos “pueblos de puesta de sol”, donde las personas que no eran blancas debían irse antes del atardecer. La estación ofrecía barbacoa e incluso béisbol.

Edward Threatt, cuyos abuelos abrieron el establecimiento alrededor de 1933, recordó un programa de televisión sobre viajeros que disfrutaban en la 66, en referencia al clásico “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" (que podría traducirse como ”date el gusto en la ruta 66").

“En general, el viajero negro no se daba muchos gustos en la Ruta 66”, expresó. “Y si se daba alguno, no era del tipo que uno imaginaría”.

Una nueva dirección

La visión del presidente Dwight Eisenhower de un sistema moderno de autopistas interestatales finalmente llevó a que la Ruta 66 fuera retirada de su condición de carretera federal en 1985. Algunos pueblos a lo largo de la ruta murieron, y la tarea de preservar sus tramos de la famosa carretera recayó en gobiernos locales, sociedades históricas estatales y empresas privadas.

Una fuerza impulsora fue Angel Delgadillo, un barbero que presionó a la Legislatura de Arizona para que designara la carretera como ruta histórica. Salvó a Seligman de convertirse en un pueblo fantasma y fijó el estándar de preservación en otros lugares.

En Nuevo México se han conservado bocetos originales de letreros de neón, abundan los murales con temática de la Ruta 66 y desarrolladores en Albuquerque han restaurado alojamientos a lo largo del tramo urbano más largo de la carretera que aún permanece intacto.

En California todavía se puede recorrer más del 90% de la carretera. Cadillac Ranch, en el extremo norte de Texas, ofrece la oportunidad de pintar con aerosol autos medio enterrados. Y en el río Mississippi, los viajeros pueden caminar o ir en bicicleta por el viejo puente Chain of Rocks.

Más de 250 edificios, distritos y segmentos de carretera de la ruta están inscritos en el Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos. Pero no son sólo los ladrillos y el asfalto lo que alimenta la fascinación.

“Algunas de las cosas más interesantes y divertidas que les pasan a las personas cuando recorren la ruta es encontrarse con alguien que conocen o con algún hecho fortuito totalmente inesperado”, comentó el autor e historiador Jim Ross. “Y esa es una gran parte de la experiencia de la Ruta 66”.

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Los periodistas de The Associated Press John O’Connor en Springfield, Illinois, y Sean Murphy en Oklahoma City contribuyeron a este reportaje.

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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.

Information on which vehicles hold their value best isn’t readily accessible, but savvy shoppers can use it to pick a vehicle that depreciates less than average over the long haul. The car experts at Edmunds analyzed sales transaction data and compared the average transaction price of used 2023 model-year SUVs with their original manufacturer’s suggested retail price. From there, they identified the top two SUVs in five size categories that hold their value best. These rankings are specific to the 2023 model year but could also be seen as solid bets if you buy a new 2026 model.

Extra-small SUVs: Toyota Corolla Cross and Honda HR-V

The Toyota Corolla Cross is a subcompact SUV that excels as a practical and budget-friendly vehicle. It comes with many standard driver assist features and offers ample cargo space for its size. The Corolla Cross isn’t flashy, but it can’t be beat for value considering it’s worth 81.7% of its original value after three years of ownership.

Nipping at the heels of the Corolla Cross, the HR-V will also appeal to SUV shoppers who want a practical means of transportation. Edmunds praised the HR-V’s amount of passenger space and cargo volume but was underwhelmed by its slow acceleration.

Small SUVs: Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Honda CR-V

Among small SUVs, the Toyota RAV4 aces the fundamentals. It’s comfortable and roomy, and it’s available in a wide range of trim levels to suit varied budgets. Excellent performance in crash tests is another draw, as is great fuel economy. It all leads to the RAV4 Hybrid having a strong 81.4% residual value in our analysis.

Close behind is another very popular small SUV, the Honda CR-V. A smooth ride and easy-to-use tech features are just some of the CR-V’s positive attributes. Edmunds also singled out its easygoing driving nature, roomy cargo hold, and impressive fuel economy from its available hybrid powertrain.

Midsize SUVs: Toyota 4Runner and Ford Bronco

The Toyota 4Runner has a loyal following among those seeking an SUV with a rugged design and genuine off-road capability. Based on the Tacoma pickup, the midsize 4Runner still waves the flag for the traditional SUV fans who want real off-road performance. After three years, the 4Runner retains 83% of its value on average, the best of all SUVs mentioned in our article.

If you want a vehicle with an even more adventurous spirit but still maintains its value, check out the Ford Bronco. It has a retro-fueled design, incredible go-anywhere capability, and a seemingly endless options sheet.

Midsize three-row SUVs: Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Honda Pilot

The Toyota Highlander has been a popular three-row SUV for more than two decades. The current version continues to provide a comfortable driving experience and excellent fuel economy from the Highlander Hybrid version. The Highlander’s third-row seat is pretty small, but you’re not going to complain about the Highlander Hybrid’s residual value of 77% after three years.

Coming in second is the Honda Pilot. It also has an enviable reputation for providing ample space and cargo room for growing families. Its third-row seat is bigger than the Highlander’s, but Honda doesn’t currently offer a hybrid version of the Pilot.

Large three-row SUVs: Toyota Sequoia and Chevrolet Tahoe

The Toyota Sequoia is bound to appeal to SUV shoppers who need maximum room and crave strong performance. Its hybrid engine packs a punch and delivers plenty of passing power — even if fuel economy is about on par with most other large non-hybrid rivals. A residual value of 80% after three years adds reassurance that this large SUV won’t burn a giant hole in your wallet when you drive off the dealer lot.

Chevrolet’s Tahoe comes in second for large three-row SUVs that best maintain their value after three years. Thanks to its lineup of two stout V8 engines and a turbocharged diesel-powered six-cylinder, the Tahoe is ideal if you’re planning on towing a heavy trailer. The Tahoe also comes with Chevy’s latest technology features.

Edmunds says

An SUV of any shape or size is a major investment. Knowing the vehicle that’s caught your eye won’t plummet in value provides added peace of mind.

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This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds.

Nick Kurczewski is a contributor at Edmunds.

Resisting an early onslaught from PSG is key to Liverpool's chances of keeping the tie alive heading into the return leg at Anfield next week.

“PSG under (coach) Luis Enrique do not give you a second to have the ball comfortable on your feet,” Liverpool manager Arne Slot said. “It’s press, press, press every second of the game.”

When the two sides met last season in the round of 16, PSG advanced on penalties against six-time champion Liverpool following an intense battle. PSG carried the momentum from that victory all the way to a first Champions League title.

While Liverpool was arguably the pre-match favorite last year, it's a different story now. Slot's team is reeling from a crushing FA Cup loss and will be trophyless unless it wins the Champions League.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has yet to find his best form in his last season at the club, with only 10 goals in 35 games so far.

PSG has Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, midfielder Vitinha and flying winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in top form. Dembélé scored a scintillating volley against Toulouse in the French league on Friday and seems to be peaking at the right time.

However, PSG is still missing midfielder Fabián Ruiz with a knee injury and is without winger Bradley Barcola, who injured his ankle in the last-16 rout of Chelsea.

Liverpool striker Alexander Isak — the British-record signing for 125 million pounds ($170 million) — has recovered from injury and Slot said he will be on the bench at Parc des Princes.

Isak had surgery in December on a broken ankle and fibula.

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

Barcelona's hopes of ending an 11-year wait for another European Cup will largely rest on the performances of 18-year-old Lamine Yamal. The Spain playmaker has scored in three consecutive Champions League games and his 21 goals overall in all competitions this campaign leads his team.

Atletico for its part will look for inspiration from forward Antoine Griezmann. Atletico's all-time top scorer wants to end his stellar run with the club on a high note before the 35-year-old leaves for the MLS.

The Spanish rivals will have played five times in two months after next week’s second leg in Madrid.

Atletico edged Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semifinals in February before Hansi Flick's side got some revenge on Saturday when it won 2-1 away in the Spanish league to strengthen its league lead.

Barcelona is a five-time European champion, but Diego Simeone’s Atletico eliminated the Catalan club at the same stage both in 2014 and 2016 on the way to reaching the Champions League final.

Barcelona is aiming to reach the semifinals for a second straight year.

Atletico's bid to make its first semifinal appearance since 2017 will depend on its defense and a mix of attacking options which include Julián Álvarez, Ademola Lookman and Alexander Sorloth.

Marcus Rashford will likely start for Barcelona in place of the injured Raphinha.

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

Jasveen Sangha will be the third defendant sentenced of the five people who have pleaded guilty in connection with the 2023 overdose of the 54-year-old actor. His role as Chandler Bing on NBC's “Friends” in the 1990s and 2000s made him one of the biggest television stars of his era.

Sangha is the only one whose plea deal included an acknowledgment of causing Perry’s death, and is likely to get the stiffest sentence of the group by far.

Prosecutors are asking a federal judge in Los Angeles to sentence the 42-year-old Sangha to 15 years in prison. They cast her in court filings as a “Ketamine Queen” who had an elaborate drug operation catering to high-end clients to give herself a jet-setting lifestyle.

Sangha's attorneys said in their sentencing filing that the time she has spent in jail since her August 2024 indictment should be sufficient, and prosecutors' math on federal sentencing guidelines is “factually wrong.” They point to her lack of a previous criminal record and exemplary behavior as an inmate, as well as the unlikelihood she would return to a life of drug dealing.

Members of Perry’s family are expected to speak in court before the sentencing.

He was found dead in the hot tub at his Los Angeles home. The medical examiner ruled that ketamine, typically used as a surgical anesthetic, was the primary cause of death.

Perry, who had lifelong struggles with addiction, had been using the drug through his regular doctor as a legal off-label treatment for depression. But he wanted more than the doctor would give him. That at first led him to Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who admitted to illegally selling Perry ketamine and was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison after prosecutors asked for three years. And it later led Perry to Sangha, who sold him 25 vials of ketamine, including the fatal dose, for $6,000 in cash four days before his death, prosecutors said.

Another doctor, who admitted to providing Plasencia the ketamine he sold to Perry, was sentenced to eight months of home detention. Perry's assistant and his friend, who admitted acting as the actor's middlemen, are awaiting sentencing.

U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett has said she is seeking to calibrate how she sentences each of the five defendants to make sense as a whole.

In September, shortly before a scheduled trial, Sangha pleaded guilty to one count of using her home for drug distribution, three counts of distribution of ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. She also admitted to selling drugs to another man, 33-year-old Cody McLaury, who had no connection to Perry, before his overdose death in 2019.

The prosecution said that despite Sangha's plea, she continued drug dealing, showing her lack of remorse.

Their sentencing filing says that in 2020, when she learned that the ketamine she sold McLaury contributed to his death, “She didn’t care and kept selling.” In 2023, the filing says that when she learned she sold Perry the drugs that caused his death, “Her reaction was the same: she didn’t care and kept selling.”

A dual U.S.-U.K. citizen, Sangha moved from England to the U.S. at age 3, and when she was around age 10, her family settled in Southern California.

She didn't know her father but has said her grandfather and stepfather were essential male influences in her life. Both recently died and it has had a “profound effect” on her, the defense said.

She is very close to her mother and grandmother, who would provide her with stability if she were released, her lawyers said.

Sangha has a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Irvine, and a master's degree from Hult International Business School in England.

The defense used her biography to show she's an educated and otherwise upstanding citizen who made an aberrant mistake when she fell into selling drugs.

The prosecution said her life circumstances show she didn't act out of desperation, and that she freely chose to deal drugs to finance the posh lifestyle she wanted.

Sangha's lawyers said she has been a model inmate in jail, maintaining sobriety and organizing and leading Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

Redick and Vanderbilt repeatedly exchanged words in a visible, vocal argument after Redick called a timeout and removed Vanderbilt from the Lakers' game against Oklahoma City just 16 seconds into the second quarter.

Redick said the argument was caused by “just a confluence of things," declining to be specific about what Vanderbilt had done wrong.

“Nothing personal with him,” Redick added. "Normal stuff from my end. I think for all of us, being undermanned, we’ve got to scrap and claw. We’ve got to all be on the same page. We've got to be great teammates. We've got to all play hard. I called a timeout to get him out of the game, and he reacted.”

After Redick called the timeout, Vanderbilt approached him on the court. When Vanderbilt became demonstrative, Austin Reaves — who didn't play due to injury — stepped between his teammate and the head coach, along with assistant coach Nate McMillan.

Vanderbilt continued the discussion when Redick sat on the bench after the timeout, and Redick made a dismissive gesture in Vanderbilt’s direction that appeared to irritate Vanderbilt further.

Vanderbilt didn’t return to the game after being pulled, and he left the Lakers’ downtown arena without speaking to reporters.

Vanderbilt made his only shot and had two rebounds and a steal during his 4 1/2 minutes of play, but he also missed three consecutive free throws right before the first-quarter buzzer. The defensive specialist has played inconsistent minutes for Redick this season, struggling to bring his offensive game up to a level that would allow him to be a rotation regular.

Los Angeles faced the Thunder without NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Reaves, Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes due to injury, and the result was predictable: Oklahoma City routed the Lakers 123-87, sending them to their third consecutive loss after winning 13 of their previous 14.

The defeat was Los Angeles' first at home since Feb. 24, ending a 10-game winning streak. The Lakers (50-29) slipped a full game behind streaking Denver (51-28) for the third seed in the Western Conference playoff picture, while only the tiebreaker is keeping the Lakers above the surging Houston Rockets (50-29) in fifth for now.

Until Doncic and Reaves both were lost for the rest of the regular season — and probably longer — during the Lakers' blowout loss at Oklahoma City a week ago, they were surging toward a top-three seed with hopes of a significant playoff run. While Redick hasn't publicly given up on that chance, he acknowledged before the game that any attempt to play for better seeding “probably went out the window after the (first) OKC game.”

Redick didn't mince many words about his healthy players after the Lakers' lowest-scoring performance of the season — an effort that inexplicably included 17 missed free throws.

“We’ve got to find nine guys that are, like, all in on us fighting,” Redick said. “Whatever you’ve got to do to go out and fight and be all in on the team, we’ll find the nine guys. It’s a great opportunity for us over the next three games to find those guys.”

The coach said he called an earlier timeout to remove Rui Hachimura from the game because the forward “didn't do his job.”

Redick also said starting center Deandre Ayton has “had trouble catching the ball. We've had a bunch of plays for him. He's just had trouble catching the ball, and I don't know if that's the passing or him trying to get position. He just hasn't been able to catch the ball.”

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

The Panama Ports Company, a unit of Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings, said in a statement dated Tuesday that Maersk A/S had undermined a contract over the Hong Kong company's operations of ports at either end of the Panama Canal in order to pave the way for a new operator affiliated with Maersk to take over the Balboa terminal.

The company said the arbitration will be held in London, but didn't explain what remedy it was seeking. Company arbitration is a dispute resolution process in which a neutral third party decides corporate conflicts.

In February, Panama’s government seized control of the Balboa and Cristobal ports after the country’s Supreme Court declared earlier that a concession allowing the Panama Ports Company to run the ports was unconstitutional. The ruling drew backlash from China.

The Panamanian government later allowed subsidiaries of Maersk and the Mediterranean Shipping Company to take over operations at the two ports.

Panama Ports Company started arbitration proceedings against Panama in February. In late March, it expanded its claims, saying damages have escalated beyond $2 billion.

It said on Tuesday that its claim against Maersk is separate from its ongoing steps to hold Panama accountable for what it called “anti-contract and anti-investor conduct.”

Maersk said it does not believe it is liable for the claims and will address them “in the appropriate forum," without elaborating.

There was no immediate comment from Panama's government.

The legal actions could further complicate CK Hutchison's initial plan to sell the bulk of its dozens of global ports, including the two Panama ports, to a consortium that involved U.S. investment firm BlackRock in a $23 billion deal.

The sale plan, first announced in March 2025, pleased U.S. President Donald Trump, who has alleged Chinese interference with the critical shipping lane’s operations. But the planned sale apparently angered Beijing, and China's antitrust regulator last year said it would initiate a review of the deal.

The parties involved in the deal have since been looking for ways to move forward with the sale, including considering plans to add a Chinese investor to the consortium.

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Associated Press writer Alma Solís in Panama City contributed to this report.

“They think they’re invincible. They’re not,” Swalwell told a large crowd at a town hall in Sacramento, the state capital. He didn't specify how he'd advance those policies, which would likely face legal challenges.

The event kicked off a series of campaign functions he's planned around the state with less than a month to go until mail-in ballots go out to voters ahead of the June 2 primary. Swalwell, a Democrat, is among a crowded field of candidates jostling for advantage in a race in which a small margin could decide who advances to the November general election. The two highest vote-getters advance regardless of party, and Democrats are worried about a possible lock-out if no clear front-runner emerges.

Speaking to a friendly crowd, Swalwell painted himself as a “battle-tested” fighter in Congress against President Donald Trump. He served as House manager for Trump’s second impeachment trial and said he wants to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement and has supported taking away the agency's funding. Los Angeles was the target of one of the administration's first large-scale immigration sweeps last summer and the first place where it deployed the National Guard. The position comes after Swalwell faced accusations by some of his Democratic rivals for not taking a strong enough stance against the agency.

Positioning himself as a labor-friendly and progressive candidate, Swalwell said he wants to address ongoing state budget gaps with a new corporate tax and use state funding to pay for health care for low-income people, including immigrants. He also said he supports letting state employees work remotely, a contentious issue in Sacramento.

“I will root for the success of anyone who invests and does business in California, if they work with me to lift the wages of hard-working Californians and expand the benefits,” he said.

This year's election marks the first time since voters approved the state’s “ top two ” primary system more than a decade ago that there has been a governor’s race with no dominant candidate. Swalwell is considered among the leading candidates, alongside billionaire Tom Steyer and former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter on the Democratic side. Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host, won Trump's endorsement this week. Sheriff Chad Bianco is another prominent Republican in the contest.

Swalwell in recent weeks has emerged as a favorite target for fellow Democrats, who have accused him of failing to show up for votes in Congress and questioned whether he actually lives in California. On Tuesday, Swalwell again disputed those criticisms and said he's “not going to be distracted.”

An Iowa native who was elected in 2012 and represents a House district east of San Francisco, Swalwell ran a short-lived presidential campaign in 2019.

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited, hasn't endorsed anyone to replace him.

All sides have presented vastly different versions of the terms. Iran said the deal would allow it to formalize its new practice of charging ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said the U.S. would work with Iran to remove buried enriched uranium, though Iran did not confirm that.

Pakistan and others said fighting would pause in Lebanon, which Israel has invaded to fight Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Wednesday that the deal doesn’t cover fighting against Hezbollah. Israeli strikes hit several dense commercial and residential areas in central Beirut Wednesday afternoon without warning, killing dozens and wounding hundreds of people.

The ceasefire may formalize a system of charging fees in the Strait of Hormuz that Iran instituted — and give it a new source of revenue. Iranian attacks and threats deterred many commercial ships from passing through the waterway, through which 20% of all traded oil and natural gas passes in peacetime.

Here is the latest:

Kuwait says Iranian drones targeted power and water facilities

The country’s interior ministry said in a post on the social platform X that these strikes targeted oil facilities, three power and water desalination plants, resulting in “significant” material damage to generators, distilleries and fuel tanks.

Several fires also broke out at some locations, according to the ministry, which made no mention of whether there were casualties, but said that measures were taken to ensure the safety of workers and secure sites.

Arab League chief accuses Israel of undermining regional peace

Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned Israeli assaults on Lebanon, accusing Israel of “persistently seeking to sabotage” the ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran.

Aboul Gheit said in a statement posted on the social platform X that the “barbaric” Israeli military’s attacks on Lebanon violate international law, adding that Israel “continues to play an obstructive role to any understandings that may contribute to restoring stability” in the region.

He also called for the international community to pressure Israel to immediately halt its attacks on Lebanon.

Trump says Vance may not participate in Iran talks because of security concerns

The president told The New York Post in a brief interview that in-person talks about the Iran ceasefire would happen “very soon,” but he did not appear to offer or confirm details about when and where.

Pakistan is expected to host talks.

“We’ll have Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, JD —maybe JD, I don’t know. There’s a question of safety, security,” Trump said.

Vance’s office has not commented on whether he would participate in talks.

Lebanon’s president strongly condemns Israel for series of strikes

Lebanon’s president, Joseph Aoun, called the simultaneous attacks on Beirut and other areas “barbaric,” accusing Israel of committing a new massacre in the country.

In a message Wednesday, Aoun said Israel holds full responsibility, saying the continued pursuit of aggressive policies “will only lead to further tension and instability at a time when everyone is most in need of de-escalation.”

Israel carried out dozens of airstrikes during rush hour Wednesday that hit multiple residential areas in Beirut and other parts of the country.

Entire buildings were destroyed in neighborhoods in Beirut, while in other parts of the city dust and debris covered entire residential areas. Hours after the strikes, rescue workers continued combing through debris looking for survivors while hospitals were overwhelmed with the wounded, appealing for blood donations.

Iranian military says U.S. and Israel gave into Iran’s conditions

The Iranian military praised the country’s resilience against the U.S. and Israel, saying this ultimately “forced them to accept Iran’s proposed conditions and surrender” after the three sides agreed to a two-week ceasefire.

The Iranian military’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement cited by Iranian state-TV on Wednesday that “extremely heavy losses and casualties” were inflicted, showing that Iran can “put any enemy in place” and “force them to surrender and retreat.”

“With distrust toward the American and Zionist enemies, we monitor all their movements in the region, and in the event of another mistake by them, we will respond in a more destructive and deadlier manner than before,” read the statement.

The Iranian military said it would “smartly” manage the Strait of Hormuz, insisted it poses no threat to regional countries, reaffirmed support for Iran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance” and urged anti-war protesters to remain in the streets opposing further escalation.

Trump says Lebanon was ‘not included’ in ceasefire deal

The president, in a brief telephone interview with PBS News Hour, said Wednesday that Lebanon was not included “because of Hezbollah. They were not included in the deal. That’ll get taken care of, too. It’s all right.”

When asked about Israel continuing its strikes in Lebanon, he said, “It’s part of the deal — everyone knows that. That’s a separate skirmish.”

‘Italian soldiers in southern Lebanon are not to be touched’

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed indignation on Wednesday after a group of Italian soldiers traveling from southern Lebanon toward Beirut was blocked by warning shots fired by the Israeli military.

The incident, which damaged an Italian vehicle, happened during a massive Israeli air attack on southern Lebanon. No injuries were reported, and the convoy was forced to turn back. Tajani said he would demand an explanation from the Israeli ambassador to Italy.

“To reiterate, the Italian soldiers in southern Lebanon are not to be touched,’’ Tajani said. “We are deeply concerned about the repercussions of the entire crisis.’’

Italian soldiers comprise the second-largest contingent in the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon.

Pakistan’s prime minister urges restraint after reports of ceasefire violations

“I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire for two weeks, as agreed upon, so that diplomacy can take a lead role towards peaceful settlement of the conflict,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a post on the social platform X.

Sharif said violations of the ceasefire had been reported in a few places.

The appeal came hours after Sharif said Iran, the United States, and all parties had agreed to a two-week ceasefire, and that Pakistan is preparing to host talks between the two countries later this week.

Ceasefire brings relief but little hope

Iranians are welcoming a pause in U.S.-Israeli strikes while also worrying the war will bring lasting economic damage, half a dozen residents of the capital, Tehran, told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity for their safety.

“Everyone I’ve spoken with, it’s given them a new life,” a university student said of the truce. Many people had begun taking sleeping and anti-anxiety pills to get through nightly bombardment, he added.

Another resident, a woman in her forties, said U.S.-Israeli strikes had already done extensive damage to Iran’s industries and infrastructure.

“It doesn’t give me any hope because it’s just a two-week pause, and it’s not clear what will happen,” she said.

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Associated Press journalist Amir-Hussein Radjy contributed to this report.

China touts diplomatic efforts after helping bring Iran on board for ceasefire

In a post on the social platform X, the Chinese mission to the U.N. detailed its diplomatic efforts over the past month and highlighted various phone calls its foreign minister had made with its counterparts in the region, including with Iran and Israel, since March 1.

Beijing, Iran’s biggest trading partner and the United States’ most significant economic competitor, has spent the past several weeks pushing for a more prominent role in global affairs, including the unexpected role of mediator as the war in the Middle East spiraled into chaos.

On Tuesday, China joined Pakistan to work feverishly to head off a further escalation of the conflict and quietly pulled strings with Iran to find a pathway toward a ceasefire, according to two officials briefed on the matter who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

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Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.

Shipping firm cautious about prospects for strait transit

Danish shipping company Maersk says it’s “working with urgency” to obtain further clarity about prospects of commercial passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

The company said in a post on its website that “the ceasefire may create transit opportunities, but it does not yet provide full maritime certainty, and we need to understand all potential conditions attached.”

It added that “any decision to transit the Strait of Hormuz will be based on continuous risk assessments, close monitoring of the security situation, and available guidance from relevant authorities and partners.”

Graham seeks congressional review of any peace deal with Iran

Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of the biggest proponents of Trump’s military action in Iran, says he prefers a diplomatic solution, but that the “supposed negotiating document” that led to a ceasefire had “some troubling aspects.”

Graham said in a post on the social platform X that he looks forward to the architects of the proposal, including Vice President JD Vance and others, coming to Congress and explaining how the deal meets America’s national security objectives.

He says that all highly enriched uranium must be removed from Iran and handed over to the United States as part of a peace agreement.

“Allowing this regime to enrich in the future would be an affront to all those murdered by the regime since this war started and would be inconsistent with denying Iran a pathway toward a bomb in the future,” Graham said. “That is why I strongly support President Trump’s statement today: no enrichment for Iran.”

Graham said he wants a thorough congressional review process.

Rescuers look for survivors in Beirut following Israeli airstrikes

Using forklifts, Lebanese rescue workers were removing burned cars and debris that blocked a major thoroughfare in Beirut following Israeli strikes in the area.

Dozens of charred vehicles mixed with concrete and twisted metal filled an entire residential block. More than two hours after the strikes, rescuers sifted through the debris looking for survivors, as smoke continued to rise.

Associated Press journalists on the scene saw some bodies in parked vehicles at a traffic light and on the ground.

The intersection in Corniche al-Mazraa is one of the busiest in Beirut, leading to the city center and airport, the coast and the suburbs.

Pakistan PM says US, Iran delegations to arrive for talks after ceasefire

In a televised address to his Cabinet, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan played a key role in securing the pause in fighting, crediting his team, including Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, for sustained diplomatic engagement with U.S. and Iranian leaders.

He described the truce as a “first step” toward broader peace and expressed hope that the talks being held Friday in Islamabad would help turn the fragile ceasefire into a lasting resolution.

“The war has only been temporarily averted, but this is an important beginning,” Sharif said.

He did not specify who would represent the U.S. or Iran or when the delegations would arrive.

Saudi Arabia says it intercepted several drones

Saudi Arabia said Wednesday afternoon that it intercepted nine drones over the past few hours as the Gulf nation continues to deal with Iranian air attacks despite the announcement of a ceasefire in Iran.

Gulf Arab diplomat: Gulf countries fear Iran could emerge stronger from war

The diplomat says Arab countries in the region fear that sanctions on Iran will soon be lifted and Iran will collect fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has offered a 10-point ceasefire plan that includes both of these steps. It’s unclear whether they will be part of a final ceasefire, but Trump has described the proposal as a “workable base” for negotiations.

The diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss behind-the-scenes discussions between the Arab countries, says Gulf Arab countries are concerned a deal won’t take their security concerns into account, particularly freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait said Wednesday that movement through the strait must take place “without restrictions.”

The diplomat said the Gulf countries haven’t been invited to join ceasefire negotiations, even though they are touching “the core of our security.”

UN special envoy arrives in Iran as temporary ceasefire takes shape

Jean Arnault, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ personal envoy, landed in Iran hours after Washington and Tehran agreed to a temporary halt in hostilities despite contradicting views of what a final peace deal would look like.

“Acting on the Secretary-General’s instructions, he is visiting countries across the region to support all efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive and durable resolution to the conflict,” a U.N. spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday.

The envoy is scheduled to meet with Iranian officials to “hear their perspective on the way forward.”

Israeli military accuses Hezbollah of ‘scattering’ into civilian areas

Israeli military spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said Israel’s largest strike on Lebanon since March 1 came as the militant group attempts to “scatter” its operations to populated civilian areas.

“We are seeing them move in a more dispersed way and try to embed their operations behind civilians more and more,” Shoshani said Wednesday.

He added that Hezbollah was moving away from its traditional areas of influence, including southern Lebanon or the Dahiyeh suburb of Beirut, and into areas deeper within civilian populations, including downtown Beirut.

The military said the operation on Wednesday included 50 fighter jets, which launched 160 munitions at 100 targets in 10 minutes, causing widespread panic across the Lebanese capital during rush hour.

Oil prices plunge toward $90 a barrel and US stocks surge 2.7%

Stock markets are surging worldwide, and oil prices are plunging back toward $90 per barrel after President Donald Trump pulled back from his threat to force a “whole civilization” to die in the war with Iran.

The S&P 500 leaped 2.7% after Trump, Iran and Israel agreed to a two-week ceasefire, just hours before a deadline the U.S. president had set for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz and allow oil to flow freely again from the Persian Gulf to customers worldwide.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1,350 points, and the Nasdaq composite surged 3.4% following even bigger gains in European and Asian markets.

Morocco hopes US-Iran talks in Pakistan will bring durable peace and stability

Morocco on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire and backed upcoming negotiations in Pakistan, the foreign ministry said, adding it hopes the talks will serve “the higher interest of the brotherly Arab countries in the Gulf.”

The North African country, one of Washington’s closest allies in the region, also stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. Its closure has pushed fuel prices in the country up by more than 30%.

Hegseth says US could strike again if Iran does not hand over enriched uranium

The Pentagon chief did not offer any details about whether Iran had agreed to Trump’s statement that the U.S. would work with them to “dig up” the buried material.

However, Hegseth said Iran will “give it to us voluntarily,” or the U.S. might do “something like” its strikes last summer with Israel hitting Iran’s nuclear sites.

“We reserve that opportunity,” Hegseth said.

Drone attacks damage 3 power and water desalination plants in Kuwait

The defense ministry said 28 drones were fired at the oil-rich country on Wednesday morning, in what it described as a “large-scale series of Iranian attacks.”

Col. Saud Al-Atwan, the ministry spokesman, said the attacks, which came after the ceasefire announcement, reflect “clear determination to persist in targeting the country’s security and vital capabilities.”

US lays out stats of Iran strikes

Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said more than 13,000 targets have been struck in operations against Iran, destroying 80% of Iran’s air defense systems and attacking 90% of its weapons factories.

Caine told reporters at a Pentagon briefing that more than 90% of Iran’s regular naval fleet has been sunk, “including all major surface combatants” with 150 ships now “at the bottom of the ocean.”

Caine added that the operation included the consumption of “more than 6 million meals, and by my estimate, more than 950,000 gallons of coffee, 2 million energy drinks and a lot of nicotine.”

Hegseth: Iran ‘got lucky one time in 40 days’

“We own their skies,” Hegseth told reporters Wednesday, even though Iranian forces shot down two U.S. military jets on Friday.

Largely repeating his claims that Iran had been badly defeated, Hegseth said the U.S. and Israel had achieved a “capital ‘V’ military victory” and said Iran’s military no longer poses a significant threat to U.S. forces or the region.

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said U.S. strikes have significantly set back Iran’s military and defense industrial base, but also said the military would stand ready to resume strikes if the ceasefire fails.

Hegseth says US military has done its part ‘for now’

The Pentagon “for now, for now, has done its part,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday during a news conference. “We stand ready in the background to ensure Iran upholds every reasonable term.”

Hegseth praised the “bravery and sheer guts” of the U.S. military and said the operation had hobbled Iran’s regime. He said nobody makes a better deal than Trump.

Israel vows to continue striking Hezbollah

The Israeli military chief of staff said on Wednesday that Israel will continue to “utilize every operational opportunity” to strike Hezbollah after the military said it struck more than 100 targets within 10 minutes across Lebanon, the largest wave of strikes since March 1.

Lt Gen. Eyal Zamir said Israel will continue striking Hezbollah to protect Israel’s northern residents, who have come under heavy fire from Hezbollah. The Israeli strikes caused panic during Lebanon’s afternoon rush hour as plumes of black smoke rose over several neighborhoods across the capital.

Trump administration once again shifts the objectives for the war

Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a news conference at the Pentagon Wednesday that the U.S. military had three objectives in Iran: to destroy Iran’s ballistic missile and drone capabilities, to destroy its navy, and to destroy its defense industrial base.

The president and members of his administration have offered varying objectives throughout the 5 1/2-week war and have shifted them throughout, despite claiming they have not changed.

Trump has at times named five objectives, but has changed them.

Other objectives have included eliminating Iran’s air force, blocking Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon, cutting off support for its proxy groups and protecting allies in the Middle East.

Airstrikes repo

rted in Beirut

A series of Israeli airstrikes hit at least five different neighborhoods in the heart and along the coast of Beirut on Wednesday, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported.

The simultaneous strikes during rush hour caused panic around the capital.

French ex-detainees recount ‘hell’ in Iran’s prison

Two French former detainees in Iran who were allowed to return to France on Wednesday described years “under constant threat” in Tehran’s Evin prison, where many dissidents are held.

Cécile Kohler, 41, and Jacques Paris, 72, had been staying in French diplomatic premises in Tehran since their release in November after more than three years in detention on spying charges, which Paris called unfounded.

The two were received by President Emmanuel Macron in Paris hours after arriving. French authorities said the pair left Iran by road into neighboring Azerbaijan on Tuesday before flying to Paris.

Kohler thanked those who helped secure their release “from the hell of Evin, where we experienced daily horror,” adding: “We realize how narrowly we escaped, because it could have been much worse.”

“We were under constant threat,” Paris said. “We had no right to read or write. Whenever we left our cell, we were blindfolded.”

“We are not broken,” he added. “We will bear witness … and we will enjoy life again.”

White House says nothing final in plans for talks

The White House says “nothing is final” over plans for in-person talks over Iran.

In response to questions about whether U.S. Vice President JD Vance would be participating in U.S.-Iran talks expected to be held later this week in Pakistan, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement, “There are discussions about in person talks, but nothing is final until announced by the President or the White House.”

The vice president was in Hungary, where he was supporting. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of upcoming elections.

Iranians express cautious optimism about ceasefire

“As we have seen in Gaza and Lebanon, ceasefires have often been violated unilaterally. Hopefully, this time they will remain committed, the ceasefire will hold, and our people will stay steadfast until we achieve final results,” said Ezzat Papar, a Tehran resident.

“When dialogue and negotiation are possible, we should pursue our demands that way,” said Alireza Khoddami, a 60-year-old taxi driver in Tehran.

“How long have we been under sanctions, and what progress have we truly made? In my view, it is the people and the country who continue to suffer. This is a valuable opportunity. We are in a strong position and have the upper hand,” Khoddami said.

The dramatic shift in tenor came as intermediaries led by Pakistan worked feverishly to head off a further escalation. Even China, Iran's biggest trading partner and America's most significant economic competitor, quietly pulled strings to find a path toward a ceasefire, according to two officials briefed on the matter who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

“The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East,” Trump said in a social media post Tuesday announcing the temporary ceasefire. It came about 90 minutes before his deadline for Tehran to open the critical Strait of Hormuz or see its power plants and other critical infrastructure obliterated.

The president was to meet at the White House with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Wednesday, with the emerging plan to reopen the strait expected to be at the center of their talks. Trump has been angry that NATO member countries ignored his call to help reopen the vital waterway as gas prices soared during the war.

As the deadline neared, Democratic lawmakers decried Trump's threat to wipe away an entire civilization as “a moral failure." Pope Leo XIV warned that strikes against civilian infrastructure would violate international law and said the Republican president's comments were “truly unacceptable.”

In the end, Trump may have backed down because of a simple truth: Escalation could risk involving the United States in the sort of “forever war” that had bedeviled his predecessors in the White House and that he had vowed he would keep the U.S. out of if voters elected him again.

Controlling the strait would have been long and costly

As Trump boasted about U.S. and Israeli military success over the past six weeks, he appeared to be working from the premise that he could bomb Iran into capitulation.

Starting with the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the opening salvos, he seemed to discount that the Iranian leadership could opt for a long and bloody war.

The Islamic Republic over the past 47 years has shown it is willing to dig in, even when it appears to America to be working against its own self-interest.

The clerical leadership held Americans hostages for 444 days, from late 1979 to early 1981, at the cost of the country’s international standing. The mullahs allowed the Iran-Iraq war to go on for years, leaving hundreds of thousands dead. Iran stood by Hamas after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that ultimately defanged the Iran-backed group in Gaza as well as Hezbollah in Lebanon, and created the conditions that led to the collapse of Bashar Assad's government in Syria, an authoritarian rule supported by Tehran.

Iran's leadership exuded confidence that it could bog down the world's superpower in a costly and extended conflict even if it might not defeat the U.S. military.

Defense analysts largely agreed that the U.S. military could quickly take control of the narrow Persian Gulf waterway between Iran and Oman through which roughly 20% of the world's oil flows on any given day. But maintaining security over the strait would require a high-risk, resource-intensive operation that could be a yearslong American commitment.

Ben Connable, executive director of the nonprofit Battle Research Group, said securing the strait would require the U.S. military to maintain control of about 600 kilometers (373 miles) of Iranian territory, from Kish Island in the west to Bandar Abbas in the east, in order to stop Iran from firing missiles at passing ships. It is a mission that Connable said would likely require three U.S. infantry divisions, roughly 30,000 to 45,000 troops.

“This would be an indefinite operation — so, you know, think: be ready to do this for 20 years,” said Connable, a retired Marine Corps intelligence officer. “We didn't think we were going to be in Afghanistan for 20 years. We didn’t think we’re going to have to be in Vietnam as long as we were, or Iraq.”

The two-week ceasefire includes allowing both Iran and Oman to charge fees on ships transiting through Hormuz, a regional official said. The official said Iran would use the money it raised for reconstruction.

The world had considered the passage an international waterway and never paid tolls before. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said after the ceasefire was announced that Trump was effectively delivering “a history-changing win for Iran.”

Trump has a pattern of backing down from maximalist demands

Trump has repeatedly made maximalist demands throughout the first 15 months of his second White House term only to dial them back.

The president backed off many of the sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs he first announced in April 2025 after they caused markets to go haywire. During a January meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump insisted that he wanted the U.S. to take control of Greenland — only to switch course and abandon his threat to impose widespread tariffs on Europe to press his case.

The ceasefire announcement came after Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged Trump to extend his deadline to allow diplomacy to advance.

Two weeks has become Trump’s favorite interval to buy himself time when making major decisions on major policy issues. Last summer, the White House said he would decide about launching an initial bombing campaign against Iran within two weeks, only to have the president order airstrikes that he said “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program before that interval was up.

Vance played a bigger role close to the deadline

Trump’s deadline was nearing with no resolution in sight when Vice President JD Vance, who has long pushed for restraint in U.S. military intervention overseas, got roped into the conversation, according to an official from one of the mediating countries who was briefed on the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity to share sensitive diplomatic discussions.

Vance, who was traveling in Hungary in support of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán before upcoming elections, said Wednesday that the agreement with Iran was “a fragile truce.”

“I think if they negotiate in good faith, we will be able to find a deal. That’s a big if. And ultimately, it’s up to the Iranians how they negotiate. I hope they make the right decision,” he said.

The vice president did not address speculation about whether he would travel to Pakistan to participate in talks with Iran.

Vance’s office has not commented on that, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said Trump would be making the call. In a New York Post interview Wednesday, Trump said his envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner would be involved in talks, but that “there’s a question of safety, security” when it comes to Vance’s possible role.

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Amiri reported from New York. Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price in Washington, Justin Spike in Budapest and Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report.

Soler homered off López in the first inning, then was hit by a 96 mph fastball from the right-hander his next time up. In the fifth, Soler charged the mound after López threw a high-and-inside wild pitch that tipped off catcher Jonah Heim's mitt.

At first, López held up his hands as the two glared at each other before both started throwing punches.

“I asked him if everything was OK and the answer he gave me, I didn’t like it,” Soler said through a translator, according to MLB.com. “That’s why I went out there.”

The benches and bullpens emptied as players from both teams tried to separate the two. Atlanta manager Walt Weiss was among those who tackled Soler, the 2021 World Series MVP with the Braves.

“I love Soler. We were teammates here,” Weiss said. “But that’s a big man, and so I just felt I've gotta get him off his feet because he’s gonna hurt somebody. And so that was my instinct, just to get in there and get Jorge off his feet, yeah, because he was on a warpath.”

López was still holding the baseball when he landed a punch on Soler's batting helmet.

The two were teammates in Atlanta during the second half of the 2024 season.

“It’s just a shame, the situation and how things unfolded,” López said through a translator, according to MLB.com. “On my part, there was never any intent to hit him at any point. So, again, it’s just a shame.”

Atlanta led 4-2 when the fight occurred and went on to a 7-2 victory.

Soler's two-run shot in the first made him 14 for 23 with five homers and three doubles against López.

“Obviously, I have good numbers against him,” Soler said. “After the home run and getting hit by a pitch after that, and then he missed way too high and close to my head. At this level, you can’t miss like that.”

Weiss understood why Soler was mad.

“I know it didn’t look good because of Soler’s numbers against Lópey, and he hit a homer, he hit him. It didn’t look good," Weiss said. "Lópey’s not throwing at him. I don’t allow our pitchers to throw at people just because they can’t get ’em out. Our job is to get ’em out. But I understand why Soler got angry. And he’s a really mild-mannered guy. So, I think the switch flipped for him.

“There was no intent there. I just think that Lópey’s just overthrowing, because he’s had a hard time getting him out. But he’s certainly not trying to hit him,” Weiss added.

López pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing three hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.

“Obviously, guy’s got good numbers off López, and hits a homer his first at-bat. Gets drilled up high in the wrist his second at-bat and then third one takes a good swing and then throws the next one head-high. It wasn’t over his head but it was head-high coming in," Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said.

“I don’t blame Jorge one bit. He went out there and words were exchanged and Jorge went out,” Suzuki added. “You get thrown at your head, you have a family, your career, you know, it’s dangerous. I know it’s part of the game. I know it happens."

The Angels won 6-2 on Monday in the opener of the three-game series. Tuesday night's game was more eventful, to say the least.

“It gets your juices flowing a little bit, on both teams I’m sure," Weiss said. "So, as long as nobody gets hurt, it’s kind of a good time. But as long as nobody gets hurt. But yeah, I was proud of our guys the way we handled everything tonight.”

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

“Nah, not really,” Tatum said Tuesday following Boston's win over Charlotte. “I mean, yeah, I thought about it. Not, like, thrilled to go back and play there. Last time I played there, obviously, it was a traumatic experience for me."

The experience, of course, was when he was carried off the floor with a ruptured right Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the Celtics' Eastern Conference semifinals loss to the Knicks last season. It ended the six-time All-Star's season, and following surgery the next day thrust him into a nearly 10-month rehab.

It ended on March 6 with his season debut and a 15-game stretch since then that has him averaging over 20 points and 10 rebounds with the playoffs upcoming. But being back in New York for the first time since his injury still will come with some trepidation, he acknowledged.

“Obviously, at some point I knew I would have to get over that hurdle and play there again. So, it's going to have to be this Thursday," Tatum said.

Teammate Jaylen Brown said he thinks Tatum is in a good place.

“I think he's trending in the right direction,” Brown said. “Mentally, it could possibly be something. But that's what the teammates are there for. We got his back."

Coach Joe Mazzulla said the way Tatum has worked his way back into condition both physically and mentally are a testament to everything he's done since being helped off the court in New York last May.

“I think the entire process leading up from Day 1 with the surgery put him in position to be able to do that,” Mazzulla said. “Just how he approached the entire journey and the people he had around him kind of put him in position. I think where he's at now, it all goes together. How do you approach that day? How do you approach recovery? How he's approached every step of the way that he's taken. He did it with a lot of hard work and diligence. ... That kind of set him up to be where he is now."

And like it or not, it's brought him to perhaps the most important step in him feeling mentally back — returning to the site of the worst day of his basketball career.

“It's part of it,” Tatum said. "I decided to come back and play and I'm not necessarily, like, skipping certain games. I mean, I can't play back-to-backs right now. But, I decided to come back and play, so it's another game on the schedule.”

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

It was not clear if the strikes would scuttle the deal, which U.S. Vice President JD Vance called “fragile.”

Both the U.S. and Iran declared victory. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American and Israeli forces had achieved a “capital V military victory” and that the Iranian military no longer posed a significant threat to U.S. forces or the region. The Iranian military said the country forced Israel and the U.S. to accept its "proposed conditions and surrender.”

Even before the new attacks, much about the agreement was unclear as the sides presented vastly different visions of the terms.

— Iran said the deal would allow it to formalize its new practice of charging ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial transit lane for oil. But the details were not clear, nor was it known whether vessels would feel safe using the channel or whether ship traffic had resumed. It also was unclear whether any other country agreed to this condition.

— Pakistan, which helped to mediate the deal, and others said fighting would pause in Lebanon, where Israel has launched a ground invasion against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. Israel said it would not, and strikes hit Beirut on Wednesday.

— The fate of Iran's missile and nuclear programs — the elimination of which were major objectives for the U.S. and Israel in going to war — also remained unclear. Trump said the U.S. would work with Iran to remove buried enriched uranium, though Iran did not confirm that.

In the streets of Tehran, pro-government demonstrators screamed: “Death to America, death to Israel, death to compromisers!” after the ceasefire announcement and burned American and Israeli flags.

The chants underscored the anger animating hard-liners, who have been preparing for what many assumed would be an apocalyptic battle with the United States. Trump warned Tuesday that “a whole civilization will die tonight,” if a deal was not reached.

Ceasefire terms are murky

Trump initially said Iran proposed a “workable” 10-point plan that could help end the war the U.S. and Israel launched on Feb. 28. But when a version in Farsi emerged that indicated Iran would be allowed to continue enriching uranium — which is key to building a nuclear weapon — Trump called it fraudulent without elaborating.

Vance later said the deal was being misrepresented within Iran, though he did not offer details.

Iran’s demands for ending the war include a withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions, and the release of its frozen assets.

In his post Wednesday, Trump said: “We are, and will be, talking Tariff and Sanctions relief with Iran.”

It was not clear if other Western nations would agree to that, and the other points are likely nonstarters. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s personal envoy arrived in Iran for talks on “the way forward.”

Pakistan said talks to seek a permanent end to the war could begin in Islamabad as soon as Friday. Trump told The New York Post that in-person talks would happen “very soon."

Israel backed the U.S. ceasefire with Iran, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the deal does not cover fighting against Hezbollah. Trump told the “PBS News Hour” that Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire deal “because of Hezbollah.”

Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Israel will continue to “utilize every operational opportunity” to strike Hezbollah. The Israeli military said it struck more than 100 targets within 10 minutes Wednesday across Lebanon, the largest wave of strikes since March 1.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli attacks as “barbaric.” Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit accused Israel of “persistently seeking to sabotage” the Iran ceasefire deal.

Hezbollah has not confirmed if it will abide by the ceasefire, though the group has said it was open to giving mediators a chance to secure an agreement. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, said the group would not stop firing at Israel unless Israel agreed to do the same.

Iran and Oman will collect shipping fees in Strait of Hormuz

While Iran could not match the sophistication of U.S. and Israeli weaponry or their dominance in the air, its ability to control the Strait of Hormuz proved a tremendous strategic advantage. Iranian attacks and threats deterred many commercial ships from passing through the waterway, through which 20% of all traded oil and natural gas passes in peacetime.

That roiled the world economy and raised the pressure on Trump both at home and abroad to find a way out of the standoff.

The ceasefire may formalize a system of charging fees in the strait that Iran instituted — and give it a new source of revenue.

The plan allows for both Iran and Oman to charge ships, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations they were directly involved in. The official said Iran would use the money it raised for reconstruction.

That would upend decades of precedent treating the strait as an international waterway that was free to transit and will likely not be acceptable to the Gulf Arab states, which also need to rebuild after repeated Iranian attacks targeting their oil fields.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said passage through the strait would be allowed under Iranian military management, further clouding the picture of who would be allowed to transit the waterway.

News of the ceasefire sent stock markets surging worldwide, and oil prices plunged back toward $90 per barrel.

Iran’s nuclear and missile threats survive

U.S.-Israeli strikes have battered Iran and its leadership, but they have not entirely eliminated the threats posed by Tehran's nuclear program, its ballistic missiles or its support for regional proxies, like Hezbollah. The U.S. and Israel said addressing those threats was a key justification for going to war.

Trump said Wednesday that the U.S. would work with Iran to “dig up and remove” enriched uranium that was buried under joint U.S-Israeli strikes in June. He added that none of the material had been touched since. Any retrieval is expected to be an intensive undertaking.

There was no confirmation from Iran.

Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing Wednesday that the U.S. would do “something like” last June's joint strikes with Israel on Iranian nuclear sites if the country refuses to surrender its enriched uranium voluntarily.

Tehran insisted for years that its nuclear program was peaceful, although it enriched uranium up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels.

Iran referred to its nuclear program differently in two versions of the ceasefire plan that it released. The version in Farsi included the phrase “acceptance of enrichment” for its nuclear program. That phrase was missing in English versions shared by Iranian diplomats with journalists.

Airstrikes reported after ceasefire announcement

Shortly after the ceasefire announcement, Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates all issued warnings about incoming missiles from Iran. That fire stopped for a time, then hostilities appeared to restart.

An oil refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island came under attack, according to Iranian state television. The state broadcaster reported that no one was hurt but did not say who launched the attack. The island is home to one of the terminals that Iran uses to export oil and gas.

A short time later, the United Arab Emirates’ air defenses fired at an incoming Iranian missile barrage. Kuwait said Wednesday three power and water desalination plants were badly damaged after 28 Iranian drones were launched at the country. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted nine drones.

More than 1,900 people had been killed in Iran as of late March, but the government has not updated the war’s toll for days.

In Lebanon, where Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, more than 1,500 people have been killed. and 1 million people have been displaced. Eleven Israeli soldiers have died.

In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 23 have been reported dead in Israel, and 13 U.S. service members have been killed.

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Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Magdy from Cairo and Metz from Ramallah, West Bank. Associated Press writers Edie Lederer at the United Nations, Natalie Melzer in Jerusalem, Abby Sewell and Sarah El Deeb in Beirut, Mike Catalini in Trenton, N.J., and Michelle L. Price, Aamer Madhani and Joshua Bloak in Washington contributed to this report.

Valentina Orellana-Peralta was shopping for Christmas clothes with her mother at a Burlington store in the San Fernando Valley’s North Hollywood neighborhood on Dec. 23, 2021, when she was struck by a bullet that had gone through the dressing room wall.

Police were responding to calls for help after a man wielding a bike lock attacked two women in the building. As armed officers walked through the store, Officer William Dorsey Jones Jr. fired his rifle three times, killing the man and Orellana-Peralta.

The lawsuit filed by the girl's parents alleges wrongful death, negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

Her mother Soledad Peralta “felt her daughter’s body go limp and watched helplessly as her daughter died while still in her arms,” the lawsuit states.

It alleges that the LAPD failed to adequately train and supervise the responding officers and “fostered an environment that allowed and permitted this shooting to occur.”

“Valentina had her entire life in front of her, and it was taken in an instant due to reckless decisions made by the very people who were sworn to protect her," said Nick Rowley, who represents the family. “We intend to hold LAPD fully accountable for taking an innocent young woman’s life.”

The Los Angeles city attorney’s office, representing the LAPD, did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

The Los Angeles Police Commission, a civilian oversight board, ruled in 2022 that Jones was justified in firing once but that his two subsequent shots were out of policy. Then-Police Chief Michel Moore previously found in his own review that all three shots were unjustified.

Jones told the LAPD’s Use of Force Review Board that he believed someone inside the store was shooting people and mistook the bike lock the man was wielding for a gun. He said he thought a wall behind the man backed up against an exterior brick wall when in fact, the area contained the women’s dressing rooms.

Rowley recently secured a $30 million settlement from the city of San Diego for the killing of 16-year-old Konoa Wilson, one of the largest settlements in a police killing case in U.S. history. It surpassed the $27 million settlement that the city of Minneapolis agreed to pay in the lawsuit over the killing of George Floyd.

Rex Heuermann, 62, entered the pleas in a courtroom packed with reporters, police and victims’ relatives, some of whom wept as he detailed his crimes for the court. He will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole at a later date.

Heuermann's guilty pleas — to three counts of first-degree murder and four of intentional murder — bring finality to a case that bedeviled investigators, agonized victims’ relatives and tantalized a true-crime obsessed public for years. Although he wasn't charged in her death, he also admitted that he killed Karen Vergata in 1996.

Heuermann strangled the women, many of them sex workers, over a 17-year span and buried their remains in remote locations, including along an isolated beach highway across the bay from where he lived, authorities said.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney has scheduled a news conference for later Wednesday. He will be joined by victims’ family members and members of the Gilgo Beach Homicide Investigation Task Force, which cracked the case with the help of clues that included DNA lifted from a discarded pizza crust.

The investigation began in earnest in 2010 after police found numerous sets of human remains while searching for a missing woman along Long Island’s South Shore, setting off a search for a potential serial killer that attracted global interest and spawned a Hollywood movie.

A message seeking comment was left Tuesday for Heuermann’s lawyer, Michael Brown.

Major public interest

There has been intense interest in the case, and reporters, investigators and members of the public packed the hearing. Reporters and camera operators swarmed Heuermann's ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, and their daughter as they walked into the building.

“It’s a difficult day," said Robert Macedonio, an attorney for Ellerup. "No one can envision ever in their life standing here in a courthouse on a line surrounded by media having their ex-husband accused of seven, potentially eight homicides. It’s unimaginable. There’s no way to prepare for it.”

In the courtroom, about half the seats were blocked off for victims' family members and law enforcement officers.

Heuermann, wearing a black blazer and white button-down shirt, gave brief answers to Tierney, the prosecutor, when asked if he understood and agreed to the charges he was pleading guilty to. He never looked back at the packed courtroom gallery, keeping his gaze fixed straight ahead.

A shocking find

The Gilgo Beach investigation began in earnest in 2010 after police found numerous sets of human remains along a remote beach highway on Long Island’s South Shore, setting off a search for a potential serial killer that attracted global interest and spawned a Hollywood movie.

Investigators used DNA analysis and other evidence to identify victims. In some cases, they were able to connect them to remains found elsewhere on Long Island years earlier.

Remains of six victims — Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor and Megan Waterman — were found in the scrub along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach. The remains of another victim, Sandra Costilla, were found more than 60 miles (100 kilometers) away in the Hamptons.

Police also identified the remains of Vergata, which were found on Fire Island, more than 20 miles (32 kilometers) west, in 1996, and near Gilgo Beach in 2011.

But despite the attention, including a documentary series and the 2020 Netflix film, “Lost Girls,” the investigation dragged on for more than a decade, punctuated by fleeting leads and dashed hopes.

A fresh look yields results

In 2022, six weeks after a new police commissioner formed the Gilgo Beach task force, detectives identified Heuermann as a suspect by using a vehicle registration database to connect him to a pickup truck that a witness reported seeing when one of the victims disappeared in 2010.

Heuermann lived for decades in Massapequa Park, about a 25-minute drive across a causeway spanning South Oyster Bay to the sandy stretch where the women’s remains were found. Some of the victims were believed to have disappeared from that community and their cellphones were found to have pinged towers in the area, authorities said.

After the truck discovery, a grand jury authorized more than 300 subpoenas and search warrants, allowing the task force to dig in to Heuermann’s life.

Detectives collected billing records for burner phones he allegedly used to arrange meetings with the victims, retested DNA found with the bodies and scoured Heuermann’s internet search history, which showed that he had viewed violent torture pornography and exhibited an intense interest in the Gilgo Beach killings and the renewed investigation. Cellphone data showed Heuermann was in contact with some victims just before they disappeared, investigators said.

To obtain Heuermann’s DNA, a task force surveillance team tailed him in Manhattan, where he worked, and watched as he threw the remnants of his lunch — a box of partially eaten pizza crusts — into a sidewalk garbage can.

Investigators rushed in, grabbed the box, and sent it to the crime lab, which matched DNA from the crust to a male hair found on burlap used to restrain one of the victims. He was arrested in July 2023.

After Heuermann’s arrest, detectives spent more than 12 days searching his yard and home, where they found a basement vault that contained 279 weapons. On his computer, investigators said, they found what they described as a “blueprint” for the killings, including a series of checklists with reminders to limit noise, clean the bodies and destroy evidence.

Last year, a judge rejected Heuermann’s bid to exclude DNA evidence obtained through advanced techniques that prosecutors say proves he’s the killer.

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Marcelo reported from New York City.

The Mother Road, as author John Steinbeck dubbed it, has evolved over the years from an escape for poor farmers fleeing the devastating dust storms of the 1930s to perhaps the quintessential American road trip that’s still delivering kicks.

Although there have been faster and more direct routes between the nation’s second- and third-largest cities for some time, Route 66’s neon still burns brightly and its vintage signs beckon travelers to restored motor lodges, classic diners and roadside attractions.

Each stop turns the wheels of the imagination, leaving travelers to contemplate what life was like for the people and communities that have made the road hum over the years.

Illinois

Chicago has long been one of the country’s economic engines, with access to international waters and railroads that linked all corners of the country. In the 1920s, Oklahoma businessman Cyrus Avery, known as the Father of Route 66, knew it wouldn’t be long before automobiles would dominate the transportation landscape, and the Windy City would be the perfect place to start the journey he envisioned.

A member of the federal highway board appointed to map the U.S. highway system, Avery opted to go with the number 66. He knew those double digits were ripe for marketing and could be seared into the minds of motorists.

For some travelers, the journey is fueled more by the food than the scenery, and there’s plenty to choose from — slices of homemade pie, thick shakes, cheeseburgers and an assortment of fried delights.

The Cozy Dog Drive In in Springfield, the Illinois capital, is one of the many diners that sprang up along Route 66, and its breaded hot dogs on a stick have stood the test of time. Third-generation owner Josh Waldmire says the recipe is a secret.

Waldmire’s grandfather, Ed, saw the concoction’s potential as fast and convenient road food and developed a system for frying the dogs vertically.

Missouri

Route 66 has its share of twists and turns, and it’s no surprise that a highway famous for its quirky roadside attractions would cross the nation’s most famous river on one of the more peculiar bridges known to modern engineering.

As the road nears St. Louis, the mile-long (1.6-kilometer-long) Chain of Rocks Bridge hovers more than 60 feet (18 meters) above the Mississippi River.

Engineers eventually built a straighter, higher-speed option, and a poor resale market spared the original bridge from the scrap heap. Today it’s reserved for pedestrians and cyclists.

A median in Missouri is home to St. Robert Route 66 Neon Park, which features orphaned neon signs that once beckoned travelers to stop at certain sites and businesses along the highway. Often handcrafted, they weren’t only markers for motels, cafes and gas stations, but were also folk art and symbols of local culture.

Kansas

The Sunflower State hosts only a short stretch of Route 66, but it packs a punch with the Kan-O-Tex Service Station in Galena. A classic example of roadside fare, the station served as inspiration for the animated 2006 Pixar film “Cars.”

Director John Lasseter and his crew took road trips along the route, digging into history and looking for elements that could bring the project to life. It was in Galena where they spotted the old boom truck that served as the basis for the character Tow Mater. The plot wasn’t far off, as so many once bustling towns — like the fictional Radiator Springs — nearly faded away after being bypassed by an interstate.

Kansas also is home to the Brush Creek Bridge, otherwise known as the Rainbow Bridge. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of few remaining examples of the concrete arched bridges designed by James Barney Marsh.

Oklahoma

There was a real danger for some who traveled the road, particularly Black motorists passing through inhospitable and segregated areas during the Jim Crow era. The Green Book — a guide first published in 1936 by Victor Hugo Green — listed hotels, restaurants and gas stations that would serve Black customers.

The Threatt Filling Station near Luther wasn’t listed in The Green Book, but it was a safe haven — not only for getting fuel, but for barbecue and baseball. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was the only known Black-owned and operated gas station along Route 66.

Route 66 is littered with abandoned buildings and faded signs, but one example of the highway’s resilient spirit stands tall in Sapulpa, near Tulsa. The restored Tee Pee Drive-In Theater offers a step back into the 1950s, when the booming car culture helped spawn thousands of drive-in theaters nationwide.

Built in 1949, the drive-in officially opened in the spring of 1950 with a screening of John Wayne’s “Tycoon.” It was one of the few drive-ins at the time to have paved pathways. Over the years, it survived a tornado, a fire that destroyed the concession stand and break-ins before being shuttered for more than 20 years. It reopened in 2023.

Texas

Blink and you might miss it, but a stop at the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo is a must for any Route 66 journey. For decades, visitors have been spray-painting the 10 vintage Cadillacs at the site and mulling the transitory nature of time as Bruce Springsteen did in his 1980 song of the same name.

It’s not a ranch, but rather a public art installation created in 1974 by the art and architecture collective Ant Farm. At first, the cars — which were half-buried front-down at a 60-degree angle — were used for target practice. Others would scratch their initials into the metal. The spray painting started later.

Arrive in Adrian and you’re halfway through your trip. Steps from a white line marking the midpoint of Route 66 is the Midway Cafe, where the “ugly pies” are anything but.

If you’re still hungry, head back to Amarillo for a 72-ounce (2 kilogram) steak and all the sides at The Big Texan. If you can finish the meal in an hour or less, it's free.

New Mexico

More than half of Route 66 cuts through sovereign Native American lands, often tracing routes used by tribes long before settlers arrived. Much like the railroad in the 1800s, the highway opened the door to a new era of commerce, but it also fueled stereotypes about cultures along the way.

There are still faded and crumbling references to tipis and feathered headdresses at some stops along the historic highway. The symbols were easily appropriated for marketing by roadside vendors but weren't indicative of the separate and distinct Native American cultures in the area.

Today, tribes are telling their own stories and showcasing their creations, whether it be pottery, fruit pies or poems.

Albuquerque boasts the longest intact urban stretch of Route 66. Those 18 miles (29 kilometers) pass through several neighborhoods and business districts, from historic Old Town to Nob Hill.

Some of the old motor lodges and neon signs along what is now Central Avenue have been restored. Other signs are being reimagined using hubcaps, elaborate lowrider-inspired paint jobs and New Mexico’s classic yellow and red license plates in a nod to the car culture that is very much still alive in the city.

Arizona

Musician Jackson Browne was taking his own road trip in the early 1970s when his car left him stranded in Winslow. The experience inspired the lyrics to the Eagles’ hit “Take it Easy.” But it’s certainly not the only song that is a must-have for a Route 66 playlist.

Bobby Troup created a classic American road anthem in the 1940s with “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66.” Nat King Cole, Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones and Depeche Mode carried it through the decades, each covering the song with their own flair.

While standing on a corner in Winslow, don’t be surprised if someone saunters up with a guitar and starts strumming favorites from their own road trip playlist.

Before leaving the state, the one-time gold mining town of Oatman features a Wild West atmosphere, daily staged shootouts and beloved burros. Oatman was a destination along one of the original alignments of Route 66 via a treacherous path through the Black Mountains, but it was later bypassed as part of improvements made in the 1950s.

California

Once a desert oasis, Roy’s Motel & Café in Amboy is a quintessential Route 66 landmark. The towering neon sign is one of the most photographed spots along the road. Inside, foreign currency left by international visitors lines one wall. Across the street, a clothing post decorated with shoes, shirts and other items juts up from the desert floor.

This stretch of the highway through the Mojave Desert offers a special kind of solitude. The pavement gets rough in spots and the landscape takes charge, showing off Joshua trees, wide-open spaces and the remnants of ancient volcanic activity.

Much of the area is undeveloped, meaning it looks a lot like it would have when Route 66 was commissioned in 1926.

After making it through oft-congested Los Angeles, the iconic Santa Monica Pier marks the end of the line, and it’s nothing short of a perpetual party with a steady stream of spectators and performers. Although many stretches of Route 66 have lapsed into decay, the breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean are a reminder of the pursuits made possible by the road over the last century.

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Associated Press writers John O’Connor in Springfield, Illinois, and Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.

After a blast of guitar feedback, 22-year-old Kurt Cobain politely announced to the crowd at the small club called Dreamerz: “Hello, we're Nirvana. We're from Seattle.” With that, the band, then a quartet, launched into the riff-heavy first song, “School.”

Jacobs surreptitiously recorded the performance, documenting the fledgling band in raw, fiery form more than two years before Nirvana's global breakthrough with the album “Nevermind.”

Jacobs went on to record more than 10,000 concerts, with increasingly sophisticated equipment, over four decades in Chicago and other cities. Now a group of devoted volunteers in the U.S. and Europe is methodically cataloging, digitizing and uploading them one by one.

The growing Aadam Jacobs Collection is an internet treasure trove for music lovers, especially for fans of indie and punk rock during the 1980s through the early 2000s, when the scene blossomed and became mainstream. The collection features early-in-their-career performances from alternative and experimental artists like R.E.M., The Cure, The Pixies, The Replacements, Depeche Mode, Stereolab, Sonic Youth and Björk.

There's also a smattering of hip-hop, including a 1988 concert by rap pioneers Boogie Down Productions. Devotees of Phish were thrilled to discover that a previously uncirculated 1990 show by the jam band is included. And there are hundreds of sets by smaller artists who are unlikely to be known to even fans with the most obscure tastes.

All of it is slowly becoming available for streaming and free download at the nonprofit online repository Internet Archive, including that nascent Nirvana show recording, with the audio from Jacobs' cassette recorder cleaned up.

Jacobs' first recording was in 1984

By the time Jacobs sneaked his tape recorder into that Nirvana gig, he had been recording concerts for five years already. As a teen discovering music, Jacobs began taping songs off the radio.

“And I eventually met a fellow who said, ‘You can just take a tape recorder into a show with you, just sneak it in, record the show.’ And I thought, ‘Wow, that’s cool.’ So I got started,” Jacobs, now 59, recalled.

He doesn't remember offhand what that first concert was in 1984, but he taped it with a tiny Dictaphone-type device that he borrowed from his grandmother. A short time later, he bought the Sony Walkman-style tape recorder. When that broke, he briefly used his home console cassette machine stuffed in a backpack that a generous sound man let him plug in.

“I was using, at times, pretty lackluster equipment, simply because I had no money to buy anything better,” he said. Later, he moved on to digital audio tape, or DAT, and, as technology progressed, to solid-state digital recorders.

Jacobs doesn't consider himself obsessive or, as many call him, an archivist. He says he's just a music fan. He figured if he was going to attend a few concerts a week anyway, why not document them? In the early years, he contended with contentious club owners who tried to prevent him from taping. But they eventually relented as he became a fixture in the music scene, and many began letting the “taper guy” in for free.

Author Bob Mehr, who wrote about Jacobs in 2004 for the Chicago Reader, calls him one of the city's cultural institutions.

“He's a character. I think you have to be, to do what he does,” Mehr said. “But I think he proved over time that his intentions were really pure.”

After a local filmmaker made a documentary about Jacobs in 2023, a volunteer with the Internet Archive reached out to suggest his collection be preserved. “Before all the tapes started not working because of time, just disintegrating, I finally said yes,” he said.

Boxes stuffed with tapes

Once a month, Brian Emerick makes the trip from the Chicago suburbs to Jacobs' house in the city to pick up 10 or 20 boxes each stuffed with 50 or 100 tapes. Emerick's job is to transfer — in real time — the analog recordings to digital files that can be sent to other volunteers who mix and master the shows for upload to the archive. Emerick has a room devoted to his setup of outdated cassette and DAT decks.

“So many of the machines I find are broken. They’re trashed. And so I learned how to fix those, get them running again,” said Emerick. “Currently, I have 10 working cassette decks, and I run those all simultaneously.”

Emerick estimates he's digitized at least 5,500 tapes since late 2024 and that it will take another few years to complete the project. The digital files are claimed by a dozen or so volunteer-engineers in the U.S, U.K. and Germany who provide the metadata and clean up the audio. Among them is Neil deMause in Brooklyn, who said he's constantly impressed by the audio fidelity of the original tapes, especially considering Jacobs was using “weird RadioShack mics” and other primitive equipment.

“Especially after the first couple years, he's got it so dialed in that some of these recordings, on, like, crappy little cassette tapes from the early 90s, sound incredible,” deMause said.

Emerick pointed to a 1984 James Brown concert as a gem he discovered in the stacks.

Often, the hardest job is figuring out song titles. Occasionally, Jacobs kept helpful notes, but the volunteers frequently spend days consulting each other, searching and even reaching out to artists to make sure the setlists are accurately documented.

Jacobs said the majority of the artists he recorded are pleased to have their work preserved. As for copyright concerns, he's happy to remove recordings if requested, but added that only one or two musicians so far have asked that their material be taken down.

“I think that the general consensus is, it’s easier to say I’m sorry than to ask for permission,” he said. The Internet Archive declined to comment for this story. David Nimmer, a longtime copyright attorney who also teaches at the University of California, Los Angeles, said that under anti-bootlegging laws, the artists technically own the original compositions and live recordings. But since neither Jacobs nor the archive are profiting from the endeavor, lawsuits seem unlikely.

The Replacements, a foundational punk-alternative band, were so happy with Jacobs’ tape of a 1986 show that they mixed some of it in with a soundboard recording. They released it in 2023 as a live album as part of a box set produced by Mehr.

Jacobs stopped recording a few years ago as worsening health problems sapped his desire to go out and see concerts. But he still enjoys experiencing live music he finds online, much of it recorded by a new generation of fans.

“Since everybody’s got a cellphone, anybody can record a concert,” he said.

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This story was updated to correct the spelling of Jacobs in one instance.

To John Steinbeck, it was the Mother Road that led poor farmers from Dust Bowl desperation to sunny California. To Native Americans along the route, it was an economic boon that also left scars. To Black travelers, it offered sanctuary during segregation. And to music fans, it was the place to get their kicks.

Route 66 marks its 100th anniversary this year. Despite losing its status decades ago as one of the nation’s main arteries, people from around the world still flock to it to take perhaps the quintessential American road trip and soak in its neon lights, kitschy motels and attractions, and culinary offerings.

Each town has its own history and magic, said Sebastiaan de Boorder, a Dutch entrepreneur who, with his wife, breathed new life into The Aztec Motel in Seligman, Arizona.

“It's an essential part of American culture and history,” he said of the highway. “The historical aspect is just a very big important part of American culture, with its influence and its character.”

The dream

Route 66, which runs for roughly 2,400 miles (3,860 kilometers) from Chicago through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona before ending in Santa Monica, California, was stitched together a century ago from a collection of Native American trading routes and old dirt roads with the goal of linking the industrial Midwest to the Pacific coast.

Oklahoma businessman Cyrus Avery, known as the Father of Route 66, saw it as more than just a way to cross the country efficiently. It was a chance to connect rural America and create new pockets of commerce.

Avery knew the number 66 would be ripe for marketing and could be seared into drivers' minds, and he was right: Route 66 has been immortalized in movies, books, including Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath” and Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road,” and songs such as Bobby Troup's “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66,” which served as an anthem for post-World War II optimism and mobility.

Waves of migration

Since its November 1926 designation as one of the nation's original numbered highways, the onetime Main Street of America has embodied the promise of prosperity.

It became a literal path of hope for migrants escaping drought-ravaged farms and poverty during the 1930s Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. And during World War II, it was used to move troops, equipment and workers out West.

The postwar boom of the 1940s and 1950s were Route 66's heyday, as it became a popular vacation route. Cars became more affordable, disposable income increased, and people began chasing freedom on the open road.

“People generally have a sense of adventure, a sense curiosity. And you can find that on Route 66. This is the road of dreams,” author and historian Jim Hinckley said.

Going mainstream

Roadside diners and motels thrived, as crafty entrepreneurs dreamed up ways to part motorists from their money. There were rattlesnake pits, totem poles, trading posts, caverns where Old West outlaws purportedly hung out, and modern engineering marvels like St. Louis' gleaming steel arch.

Barns were painted with larger-than-life ads, billboards teased local attractions, and neon was everywhere.

The cherry on top? The food.

There were places to grab and go, but also to sit down and relish a slice of home. The Cozy Dog Drive In — famous for its breaded hot dogs on a stick — has fit both bills since 1949. Inside the dining room in Springfield, Illinois, travelers tell tales of life on the highway.

“The road wouldn’t be alive without the stories of all the places along it that kept it going from town to town,” third-generation owner Josh Waldmire said. “We just survive off each other. The road feeds us, and as long as we put our feelings and love back into the road, it will reverberate with the travelers and the stories of the people.”

A divided highway

Route 66 was an economic boon to the Native American tribes along the way. But although it brought tourists, it also left scars of eminent domain across tribal land and perpetuated stereotypes.

More than half of the highway crossed through Indian Country, and vendor signs often made casual references to tipis and feathered headdresses — symbols easily appropriated for marketing but not always representative of the distinct cultures found along the route.

At Laguna Pueblo west of Albuquerque, restaurants and service stations sprang up, some operated by military veterans from the pueblo who were masters at fixing everything from flat tires to busted radiators.

Pueblo women adapted too, turning utilitarian pottery vessels into works of art coveted by tourists. Homemade bread and pies sealed the deal.

Laguna leaders have long considered the road — or he-ya-nhee' in the tribe's language of Keres — as “the corridor of commerce,” said businessman and tribal member Ron Solimon. Capitalizing on that potential, the tribe has built a multimillion-dollar empire of casinos, burger stands and other businesses.

There were also dangers along the route, particularly during the Jim Crow era, when Black travelers had to rely on guides like the Green Book to find safe lodging and services.

“Especially for long-distance travel, segregation was a fact of life,” said Matthew Pearce, state historian for the Oklahoma Historical Society. “And so Black motorists needed to know a safe place to go.”

The Threatt Filling Station near the central Oklahoma community of Luther wasn't listed in the Green Book, but it did serve as a safe haven between two sundown towns, where people who weren't white needed to leave by sunset. The station offered barbecue and even baseball.

Edward Threatt, whose grandparents opened the station around 1933, recalled a TV program about travelers getting their kicks on 66. “By and large, the Black traveler didn’t get a lot of kicks on Route 66,” he said. “And if they got some kicks, it wasn’t the kind you would think of.”

A new direction

President Dwight Eisenhower’s vision for a modern interstate highway system eventually led to Route 66 being decommissioned as a federal highway in 1985. Some towns along the route died, and it fell to local governments, state historical societies, and private businesses to preserve their sections of the famed road.

A driving force was Angel Delgadillo, a barber who lobbied the Arizona Legislature to designate the road as a historic highway. He saved Seligman from turning into a ghost town and set the bar for preservation elsewhere.

In New Mexico, original sketches for neon signs have been preserved, Route 66-themed murals abound and developers in Albuquerque have restored motor lodges along the longest urban stretch of the road still intact.

More than 90% of the road is still drivable in California. Cadillac Ranch in the Texas Panhandle offers the chance to spray-paint half-buried cars. And at the Mississippi River, travelers can walk or bike across the old Chain of Rocks Bridge.

More than 250 of the route's buildings, districts and road segments are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. But it's more than bricks and asphalt that fuel the fascination.

“Some of the most interesting and fun things that happen to people when they travel the route is running into somebody they know or some happenstance thing that comes totally unexpected,” said author and historian Jim Ross. “And that's a great part of the Route 66 experience.”

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Associated Press writers John O'Connor in Springfield, Illinois, and Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.

Moments after the Avalanche beat the St. Louis Blues 3-1 on Tuesday night to clinch Central Division and top seed in the Western Conference, Bednar was already focusing on the next step toward the ultimate goal of a Stanley Cup.

“We’re not all the way there yet,” Bednar said. “You know, like the goal for us started with winning the division, the conference, we still need another win to get first overall. Like, we’d be crazy not to chase that at this point, right? It’s important, if you get to where you want to go, you might as well try and get your home ice, especially after a season like this.”

It is the third time in five seasons, and first since 2023, that the Avalanche finished as the top team in the conference. The team lost in the first round of the playoffs that season, but won the organization’s third Stanley Cup after finishing first in the Western Conference in 2022.

The Avalanche (51-16-10, 112 points) actually have a better record on the road with a 27-7-5 mark compared to a 24-9-5 record at Ball Arena. But goalie Scott Wedgewood said home ice in the playoffs is a big advantage.

“Just atmosphere, altitude … you’re in your own bed the night before,” Wedgewood said. “You know, you still got to perform. It doesn’t mean you win because you’re at home, but like I said in between rounds, you’re able to knock a team out in five or six, you’re home for that many more days.”

The Avalanche are also on the cusp of clinching the President’s Trophy, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record, which would give them home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

“Then obviously the fans, you get them going with a couple of hits, playoff hockey’s intense, and it’ll pay in your favor,” Wedgewood said.

Bednar would like to see consistency from the team through the final five games, noting that the Avalanche have been up and down over the last few games.

“We’ve proven that we can do it when we want to set our minds to it, which is really important,” Bednar said. “I don’t have to see it for 60 minutes for every game the rest of the way, but we need to see it enough to secure our goal and making sure everyone’s confident in the way we play.”

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

Roberts-Smith was awarded both the Victoria Cross and Medal of Gallantry for his service in Afghanistan and is only the second Australian veteran of the Afghanistan campaign to be charged with a war crime.

The charges follow a military report released in 2020 that found evidence that elite Australian Special Air Service and commando regiment troops unlawfully killed 39 Afghan prisoners, farmers and other noncombatants. Around 40,000 Australian military personnel served in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2021, of whom 41 were killed.

Veteran accused of 5 unlawful deaths

The allegations against Roberts-Smith relate to the deaths of five Afghan people who died in 2009 and 2012 while he served in Afghanistan as an elite SAS corporal. Police allege he either shot his victims or ordered a subordinate to shoot them in Uruzgan province where Australia's forces were based.

Police said he had been charged Tuesday with five counts of war crime murder. But the charges laid in court Wednesday were two counts of war crime murder and three counts of aiding or abetting a war crime murder. All charges carry the same potential maximum sentence of life in prison.

The charges allege Roberts-Smith killed and caused a subordinate to kill at Kakarak village on April 12, 2009. He allegedly caused a subordinate to kill at Darwan village on Sept. 11, 2012. He allegedly killed and caused a subordinate to kill at Syahchow village on Oct. 20, 2012.

Australian law defines war crime murder as the intentional killing in a context of armed conflict of a person who is not taking an active part in the hostilities, such as a civilian, prisoner of war or a wounded soldier.

Australian prime minister describes veteran's arrest as a ‘difficult time’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Roberts-Smith's arrest as a “difficult time” for the Australian Defense Force.

“We should give thanks every day for the men and women who wear our uniform, who are prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our nation, to keep our Australian way of life going forward. That doesn’t change,” Albanese told Sky News television.

“It’s important that this not be politicized, and I have no intention of commenting on what is a legal process,” Albanese added.

Opposition leader Angus Taylor called on the federal government, known as the Commonwealth of Australia, to pay for the legal defenses of all military personnel prosecuted for war crimes, including Roberts-Smith.

“It is an imperative that the Commonwealth provide anyone who’s prosecuted in this process, including Ben Roberts-Smith, with ... the financial support they need to defend themselves and to ensure that there is a fair trial,” Taylor told reporters. “The presumption of innocence is crucial.”

Former Australian prime minister pays tribute to troops

John Howard, who as Australia's then-prime minister first committed Australian troops to fight in Afghanistan in 2001, said Roberts-Smith's arrest would emotionally impact millions of Australians.

“This is a difficult issue for many, as it tests to the limits not only our respect for Australian values, but the deep and special reverence we have for those who put their lives on the line to keep us safe,” Howard said in a statement.

The Australian Special Air Service Association, which represents current and former members of the elite regiment, said some may be required to testify against former comrades. Others must defend themselves against “grave allegations.”

“These realities are deeply confronting for a close and enduring community,” the association said in a statement.

Roberts-Smith, 47, spent the night in jail after he was arrested at the Sydney Airport on Tuesday morning, and he did not appear in court either in person or by video link Wednesday.

His lawyers did not enter pleas to the charges or apply for his release on bail. The case was adjourned until June 4.

Civil court upholds similar allegations

A civil court has already found similar allegations against Roberts-Smith credible in a defamation suit he brought after newspapers published articles in 2018 accusing him of a range of war crimes. In 2023, a federal judge rejected Roberts-Smith’s claims and ruled that he likely killed four noncombatants unlawfully in 2009 and 2012.

But while the civil court found the war crimes allegations were mostly proven on a balance of probabilities, the war crime murder charges would have to be proved in a criminal court to a higher standard of beyond reasonable doubt.

Media magnate Kerry Stokes helped fund Roberts-Smith's civil court action. Roberts-Smith quit his job as a state manager of Stokes' Seven West Media in 2023 after losing the defamation case.

During his defamation trial, Roberts-Smith had testified that he had never killed an unarmed Afghan and denied ever committing a war crime. He claimed he has the victim of spiteful fellow soldiers' lies and of others' envy of his medals.

Roberts-Smith is the second Australian veteran of the Afghanistan campaign to be charged with a war crime.

Fellow veteran pleads not guilty to war crime allegation

Former SAS soldier Oliver Schulz has pleaded not guilty to a charge of war crime murder. He is accused of shooting Afghan man Dad Mohammad three times in the head in an Uruzgan province wheat field in 2012.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers said Schulz's trial is unlikely to be held before 2027.

In 2024, the government announced that several serving and former Australian military commanders had been stripped of medals over allegations of war crimes committed in Afghanistan.

Holding commanders to account for alleged misconduct of Australian special forces between 2005 and 2016 had been recommended in the war crime investigation report made public in 2020.

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Trump swerved to deescalate the war less than two hours before the deadline he set for Tehran to capitulate to a deal or face attacks on its bridges and power plants meant to destroy Iranian “civilization.”

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said it has accepted the ceasefire and that it would negotiate with the United States in Pakistan beginning Friday. Neither Iran nor the United States said when the ceasefire would begin, and attacks took place in Israel, Iran and across the Gulf region early Wednesday.

Israel backed the U.S. ceasefire with Iran but the deal doesn’t cover fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Wednesday.

His office said in the statement that Israel supported Trump’s decision to suspend strikes subject to Iran immediately opening the Strait of Hormuz and stopping all attacks on the U.S. Israel and countries in the region. His office said Israel also supports U.S. efforts to ensure Iran no longer poses a nuclear or missile threat.

The ceasefire calls for Israel and Hezbollah to halt fighting in Lebanon, according to the prime minister of Pakistan, which has been mediating talks.

The ceasefire process was clouded in uncertainty after Iran released different versions of the 10-point plan intended to be the basis for negotiations. The version in Farsi included the phrase “acceptance of enrichment” for its nuclear program. But for reasons that remain unclear, that phrase was missing in English versions shared by Iranian diplomats to journalists.

Trump initially had said Iran proposed a “workable” 10-point plan that could help end the war launched by the U.S. and Israel in February. But he later called it fraudulent, without elaborating. Trump has said ending Iran’s nuclear program entirely was a key point of the war.

Pro-government demonstrators in the streets of Iran’s capital screamed: “Death to America, death to Israel, death to compromisers!” after the ceasefire announcement Wednesday morning. They also burned American and Israeli flags in the street.

It shows the ongoing anger from hard-liners, who had been preparing for what many assumed would be an apocalyptical battle with the United States.

Iran and Oman to collect shipping fees in Strait of Hormuz

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said passage through the strait would be allowed under Iranian military management. It wasn’t immediately clear whether that meant Iran would completely loosen its chokehold on the waterway.

The plan allows for both Iran and Oman to charge fees on ships transiting through the strait, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations they were directly involved in. The official said Iran would use the money it raised for reconstruction.

In addition to control of the strait, Iran’s demands for ending the war include withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions and the release of its frozen assets.

Since the war began, Trump has repeatedly backed off deadlines just before they expire.

In doing so again Tuesday, Trump said in a social media post he had come to the decision “based on conversations” with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Gen. Asim Munir, Pakistan’s powerful army chief. Sharif, in a post on X hours earlier, urged Trump to extend his deadline by two weeks to allow diplomacy to advance. He used the same post to ask Iran to open the strait for two weeks.

“Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated,” Trump said.

There are concerns in Israel about the agreement, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak to the media. The person said Israel would like to achieve more.

Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium is still buried at enrichment sites. The program had been one of the main issues cited by both Israel and the U.S. in launching the war.

Earlier Trump threats raised alarms

“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” if a deal isn’t reached, Trump said in an online post Tuesday morning. But he also seemed to keep open the possibility of an off-ramp, saying that “maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen.”

Trump’s expansive threat did not seem to account for potential harm to civilians, prompting Democrats in Congress, some United Nations officials and scholars in military law to say such strikes would violate international law.

Tehran’s representative at the U.N., Amir-Saeid Iravani, said the threats “constitute incitement to war crimes and potentially genocide” and that Iran would “take immediate and proportionate reciprocal measures” if Trump launches devastating strikes.

The U.S. and Israel have battered Iran with attacks targeting its military capabilities, leadership and nuclear program. Iran has responded with a stream of strikes on Israel and Gulf Arab neighbors, causing regional chaos and outsized economic and political shock.

Late Tuesday, Pakistan’s prime minister urged Trump to extend his deadline by two weeks to allow diplomacy to advance. In a post on X, Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has been leading negotiations, also asked Iran to open up for two weeks the Strait of Hormuz.

China, which is Tehran’s biggest trade partner, encouraged the Iranians to find a way to a ceasefire as talks progressed, according to two officials who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Before the deadline, airstrikes hit two bridges and a train station, and the U.S. hit military infrastructure on Kharg Island, a key hub for Iranian oil production.

While Iran cannot match the sophistication of U.S. and Israeli weaponry or their dominance in the air, its chokehold on the strait since the war began in late February is roiling the world economy and raising the pressure on Trump both at home and abroad to find a way out of the standoff.

Airstrikes hit Iran, which fires on Saudi Arabia and Israel

Even as the ceasefire was announced, missile alerts continued in the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait early Wednesday, hinting at the chaos surrounding the diplomatic moves. A gas processing facility in Abu Dhabi was ablaze after incoming Iranian fire, officials said.

Israel was continuing its attacks on Iran, said an Israeli military official who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with military regulations. Iran also kept up fire on Israel.

The U.S. military has halted all offensive operations against Iran but continues defensive actions, said an official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive military operations.

Earlier Tuesday the Israeli military said it attacked an Iranian petrochemical site in Shiraz, the second day in a row it hit such a facility. The military later said it also struck bridges in several cities that were being used by Iranian forces to transport weapons and military equipment.

More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran since the war began, but the government has not updated the toll for days.

In Lebanon, where Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, more than 1,500 people have been killed. and more than 1 million people have been displaced. Eleven Israeli soldiers have died there.

In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 23 have been reported dead in Israel, and 13 U.S. service members have been killed.

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Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri at The United Nations; Aamer Madhani, Konstantin Toropin, Seung Min Kim, Michelle L. Price, Joshua Boak and Will Weissert in Washington; John Leicester in Paris; Nicole Winfield in Rome; Amir-Hussein Radjy in Cairo and Natalie Melzer in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

The S&P 500 leaped 2.3% after Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, less than 90 minutes before a deadline Trump had set for it to open the Strait of Hormuz and allow oil tankers to exit the Persian Gulf. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 1,165 points, or 2.5%, as of 11:45 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 2.8% higher following even bigger gains in European and Asian stock markets.

To be sure, stock prices are still below where they were before the war. And oil prices are still significantly higher because the threat remains that the war could continue and keep oil produced in the Persian Gulf area blocked in the Middle East.

Some of the euphoria that launched explosive moves for stock and oil prices early Wednesday faded as the morning progressed, and financial markets have been prone to sharp and sudden reversals because of deep uncertainty about what will happen next in the war.

“There is a reason to be optimistic, but it is still too early to tell, because, as you know, after all, it is Trump,” said Takashi Hiroki, chief strategist at MONEX.

So far in the war, Trump has set several deadlines for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, a main thoroughfare for oil to reach customers worldwide from the Persian Gulf, and has threatened big repercussions if Iran doesn’t, only to delay them.

It’s similar to a year ago, when Trump threatened stiff tariffs on imports from other countries on “Liberation Day.” After a couple delays, his administration eventually negotiated lower tariffs with many countries, though they were still higher than from before his second term. That led some investors to allege Trump “always chickens out,” or “TACO,” if financial markets show enough pain.

“Is it just kicking of the can down the road, moving the goalposts, TACO Tuesday, or whatever metaphor we’d like, to only to have tempers flare and bombs drop again?” Brian Jacobsen, chief economic strategist at Annex Wealth Management, asked about the two-week ceasefire with Iran. “Who knows? But it’s good enough for now to elicit a positive response from the markets.”

The price for a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude oil plunged 15.6% to $95.32 after almost dropping to $91 earlier in the morning.

Brent crude, the international standard, tumbled 13% to $95.12 per barrel. It had briefly topped $119 when worries about the war with Iran were at their highest, but it's still above its roughly $70 price from before the war.

The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline has already topped $4.16 in the United States, according to AAA. That’s up from less than $3 a couple days before the war began in late February. If oil prices stay high for a long time, it would push up the price of nearly everything that’s moved by truck, plane or boat.

The next moves for oil prices will likely depend on how many oil tankers can start exiting the Strait of Hormuz and how easy their passage is. Iran said the deal would allow it to formalize its new practice of charging ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, but the terms were not clear.

In Asia, where countries are more reliant on oil from the Middle East, South Korea’s Kospi stock index surged 6.9%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 leaped 5.4%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped 3.1%.

European stock indexes rose nearly as much. Germany’s DAX returned 4.7%, and France’s CAC 40 rallied 4.4%.

On Wall Street, companies with big fuel bills roared back to trim some of the sharp losses taken on worries about oil prices staying high.

United Airlines soared 10.3%, which could count as a decent year for the stock. It cut into its loss for the year that came into the day at 20.1%.

Delta Air Lines climbed 6.3% after it also reported stronger results for the latest quarter than analysts expected. CEO Ed Bastian said demand for flights remains strong, and it's making moves to make up for higher fuel bills. Delta on Tuesday became the latest airline to raise its fees for checking bags.

Cruise ship operator Carnival climbed 11%.

In the bond market, Treasury yields dropped as hopes built that easing oil prices could let the Federal Reserve resume its cuts to interest rates later this year.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.26% from 4.33% late Tuesday. That’s a notable move for the bond market, and lower Treasury yields give a boost to prices for stocks, bonds and all kinds of other investments. The drop should also ease some of the recent rise in rates for mortgages and other loans taken out by U.S. households and businesses.

When oil prices were screaming higher because of the war, some traders were betting on the possibility that the Fed would have to raise interest rates to keep a lid on inflation. Now, they're seeing a roughly 1-in-3 chance that the Fed could resume its cuts to rates in 2026, according to data from CME Group.

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AP journalists Yuri Kageyama, Matt Ott, Mayuko Ono and Jon Gambrell contributed to this report.

Miami police said they arrested Augustin Hernandez, 46, Rogelio Espina, 54, and Yoamil Napoles, 50, in connection with a robbery that occurred on Dec. 29, 2025, at a home in the 3100 block of Southwest Eighth Street.

Video shows a man struggling on the floor as the intruders overpower him before forcing their way into the home around 10 p.m., where police say they restrained a man and a woman with zip ties, assaulted them and demanded money.

Detectives said the suspects coerced one of the victims into opening a black safe containing about $400 in cash. The report also states that one of the suspects took gold jewelry from the victims.

They said the male victim reported being punched, having his mouth covered to prevent him from calling for help, and being tied up as he pleaded for officers to help him.

The woman said she was asleep when she was awakened by yelling, then struck, restrained and gagged, the report states.

Miami Fire Rescue evaluated both victims at the scene.

Investigators said the man suffered a broken nose and a laceration to the cheek, while the woman had a cut on her foot. Both declined to be taken to the hospital, according to the report.

Body camera video shows officers arriving at the scene and hearing distress inside the home before setting up a perimeter and ordering the trio to surrender.

“Hands up! Turn around,” officers are heard shouting in the video before the suspects were taken into custody.

Court records show all three men have remained at the Metrowest Detention Center without bond since Dec. 30. Arrest reports list Hernandez and Espina as homeless, while Napoles is listed as living in the city’s Grapeland Heights neighborhood.

Local 10 News spoke with the victims, who said they remain shaken but are relieved the suspects are behind bars as the case moves forward.

It is the third time in five seasons, and first since 2023, that the Avalanche finished as the top team in the conference.

Martin Necas also scored and Scott Wedgewood made 18 saves for Colorado, which has earned points in eight of its last 11 games.

Wedgewood was shaken up midway through the third period after Philip Broberg made contact with him after being tripped by Sam Malinski. Wedgewood was driven awkwardly into the post and stayed down for several minutes, but remained in the game.

Robert Thomas scored and Joel Hofer made 34 saves for the Blues, whose slim playoff hope took a hit with the loss.

Colorado outshot St. Louis 17-3 in the first period and had a two-goal lead as a result.

Nichushkin gave the Avalanche the lead with 3:49 left in the first and Necas made it 2-0 with 27.7 seconds left in the period, scoring off a feed from Nathan Mackinnon feed.

Nichushkin added to the Colorado advantage with a short-handed goal at the 1:40 mark of the second. It was Colorado's second short-handed goal of the season and first since November 8.

Thomas got the Blues on the board with 4:22 left in the second. It was the sixth goal in the last four games for Thomas, who had a hat trick against Colorado on Sunday.

Nicholas Roy returned to the Colorado lineup after missing seven games to an upper-body injury.

Up next

Avalanche: Hosts Calgary on Thursday night.

Blues: Host Winnipeg on Thursday night.

___

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

Bukele escribió el martes en su cuenta de la red social X que hace algún tiempo planteó una propuesta similar a la ex secretaria de Estado estadounidense, Hillary Clinton, tras sus críticas contra el sistema carcelario salvadoreño.

“Permítame entonces extenderle la misma invitación, con el mayor respeto”, indicó Bukele a su colega colombiano. “Si, como usted sostiene, en nuestro país existen ‘campos de concentración’, estaríamos frente a una situación que no admite términos medios, sino decisiones firmes en favor de la dignidad humana”.

"En ese espíritu, El Salvador está dispuesto a facilitar el traslado del 100% de su población carcelaria, todos, incluyendo los llamados presos políticos y cualquier otro caso que considere viole su política del ‘amor y la vida’”, agregó.

Petro aseguró la víspera en X que “tener un 36% de personas presas inocentes es un crimen contra la humanidad, se trata de campos de concentración de población civil, gente apresada porque tiene un tatuaje o es joven”.

Después de que en tan sólo un día de 2022 las pandillas asesinaron a 62 personas en todo El Salvador, el Congreso aprobó el 27 de marzo de 2022 el régimen de excepción a solicitud de Bukele para combatir a las pandillas, las cuales según las autoridades operaban en el 90% del territorio e impartían su propia justicia, extorsionaban y asesinaban a los que no pagaban.

El prolongado estado de excepción suspende derechos fundamentales, incluido el de ser informado de los motivos de la detención y el de tener acceso a un abogado. Además, las fuerzas de seguridad pueden intervenir las telecomunicaciones sin orden judicial y la detención sin audiencia se prolonga de 72 horas a 15 días.

Desde que entró en vigor la medida, las autoridades dicen haber capturado a 91.300 personas acusadas de pertenecer supuestamente a las pandillas o tener vínculos con estos grupos criminales. Bukele ha dicho que 8.000 personas que eran inocentes han sido liberadas.

Recientemente un grupo de juristas internacionales presentó ante la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH) un informe sobre supuestos crímenes de lesa humanidad cometidos en el marco del régimen de excepción impulsado por el gobierno de Bukele para combatir a las pandillas.

En el 2025, Bukele propuso un canje de prisioneros con Venezuela, sugiriendo que intercambiaría a un grupo de venezolanos deportados por Estados Unidos y que su gobierno mantenía encarcelados en el llamado Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) por quienes denominó “presos políticos” en Venezuela.

The rally was organized by the Federation of Cuban Women, a massive organization with close ties to the government and the Communist Party, to honor the late Vilma Espín, the federation’s founder, a guerrilla fighter and Raúl Castro’s wife.

The crowd that gathered at a park commemorating a 19th-century independence patriot waved Cuban flags, held signs that read “Down with the Blockade” and clutched pictures of Fidel Castro and Espín.

Deputy Prime Minister Inés María Chapman and Deputy Foreign Minister Josefina Vidal led the demonstration along with Mariela Castro, daughter of Espín and former President Raúl Castro.

“This policy of abuse has to stop,” Vidal told The Associated Press. “The Cuban people don’t deserve this. It’s the most comprehensive, all-encompassing, and longest-running system of coercive measures ever imposed against an entire country.”

Vidal, a key negotiator in a historic rapprochement between Cuba and the United States in 2014 under the administration of former U.S. President Barack Obama, added: “It subjects us to collective punishment, recognized as such under international law, and we couldn’t fail to be here.”

In early January, the U.S. attacked Venezuela and arrested its then-leader, disrupting critical oil shipments to Cuba. Later that month, Trump threatened tariffs against any country that sells or supplies oil to the island.

However, Trump said he didn’t mind when a Russian tanker carrying 730,000 barrels of crude oil arrived in Cuba last week, marking the island’s first oil shipment in three months. Russia has since said it would send a second tanker.

Cuba produces only 40% of the fuel it consumes, and the shortage has paralyzed the Caribbean nation, affecting its health system, public transportation and the production of goods and services, and deepened an economic crisis that has plagued the island for the past five years.

“I am here fighting for the people of Cuba,” said Leydys de la Cruz, a 57-year-old seamstress who joined Tuesday’s rally. “I would ask Trump to leave us in peace. The situation is very bad because of the blockade he’s imposed on us.”

Georgina Reyes, a 36-year-old IT technician, also pleaded with Trump: “I would tell him that we don’t hurt anyone. ... Please don’t hurt us.”

Trump has pressured for regime change in Cuba and threatened to take over the island while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio — the son of Cuban immigrants — has demanded the release of political prisoners and liberal economic reforms.

The U.S. and Cuban governments have confirmed talks, but the extent of those is unclear.

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

Reaves is out for the rest of the regular season after straining his oblique during the Lakers' blowout loss at Oklahoma City last Thursday. He was examined in Dallas, where the Lakers had subsequently traveled for their next game, by the Mavericks' medical team in a courtesy typically extended by home NBA teams to their visitors.

At the Lakers' practice in Dallas on Saturday, Redick claimed the Mavs' medical team “scanned the wrong area” and had to do two MRIs to identify Reaves' Grade 2 left oblique strain.

The Mavericks issued a statement to DLLS Sports on Tuesday saying their “medical team followed standard imaging protocols based on the information provided at the time. There was no error in the scan performed.”

When Redick was asked why he claimed otherwise before the Lakers hosted the Thunder on Tuesday, he was brief.

“Look, I think in the end, we got the image we needed,” Redick said. “Obviously very appreciative, because it’s happened throughout the season, whenever the home team is accommodating to us, just like we would be for them. And we’re going to move on.”

The Lakers also lost Luka Doncic for the rest of the regular season during that loss in Oklahoma City. The NBA's top scorer has a Grade 2 strain of his left hamstring.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Like “cozy maxxing,” it encourages engaging in self-care activities such as reading, journaling, and applying skin products while in bed.

“You spend a lot of time in your bed, some of which you are trying to be productive, and that is not productive for going to sleep,” said Chen, a staff physician in Sleep Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. "

Chen said self-care and bedtime routines need to be activated at the right place and time.

“Where you become drowsy should be outside of your bed, and in your bed, you just sleep,” Chen said.

Bedtime routines leading to good quality sleep are crucial to regulate the circadian rhythm, the body’s internal clock, according to Chen.

This applies especially to people who suffer sleep disordered breathing, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, parasomnia, circadian rhythm disorder, and central disorders of hypersomnia.

Sleep hygiene tips

• The goal is to have 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night.
• Set a fixed bedtime and wake-up time to help regulate the circadian rhythm.
• The routine should include self-care activities such as taking a bath, brushing your teeth, and skincare.
• The routine can include entertainment or leisurely screen-free activities away from the bedroom.
• Avoid consuming caffeine after lunchtime.
• Avoid alcohol in the evenings. It can make you sleepy, but it becomes stimulating after a few hours.
• Avoid nicotine in the evenings. It’s a stimulant.
• Have dinner three hours before bedtime.
• Avoid excessive screentime at night.
• Wearable trackers may be useful.
• A sleep machine with soothing sounds and heavy curtains may help mask noise.
• Keep electronic devices related to work out of the bedroom when possible.
• Use the Sleep by Cleveland Clinic app to assess your risk of sleep disorders.

Tips for ‘the power down hour’: A routine before heading to bed

• Journal to clear the mind
• Practice deep breathing and meditation
• Listen to calming music
• Cuddle with your pet
• Use aromatherapy to relax
• Wear comfortable sleepwear
• Make sure your bed is clean and inviting

Source: Harvard’s Improving Sleep and The National Sleep Foundation

La mina, ubicada en una zona del norte del país y considerada una de las más grandes de la región, quedó paralizada tras semanas de protestas que se extendieron por todo el país en rechazo a la actividad minera y a la extensión del contrato. Desde entonces, el sitio ha permanecido en lo que el gobierno llama un plan de preservación.

La decisión de efectuar esa actividad en la mina había sido aprobada y anunciada a inicios de este año en un discurso a la nación por el presidente de Panamá, Jose Raúl Mulino, a pesar de ser un tema controversial.

La resolución emitida por el Ministerio de Comercio e Industrias, divulgada en un comunicado el martes, se enmarca según las autoridades en la ejecución del Plan de Preservación y Gestión Segura (PGS), y responde a advertencias técnicas sobre el material aún expuesto en el sitio. Un informe del Ministerio de Ambiente identificó riesgos asociados al drenaje ácido, un fenómeno que, advirtió, puede afectar suelos y fuentes de agua si el mineral no es manejado adecuadamente.

Con base en esas evaluaciones se autorizó a la empresa a procesar el material en acopio —estimado en unas 38 millones de toneladas con diferentes concentraciones que contienen aproximadamente 70.000 toneladas de cobre recuperable— y trasladar el producto resultante fuera del país, se indicó.

First Quantum aseguró que esta actividad no constituye una reapertura de la mina y no involucrará nuevas perforaciones, voladuras, ni reactivación de operaciones mineras.

El gobierno indicó que la empresa será responsable de cubrir en su totalidad los costos y gastos asociados a la ejecución de las actividades establecidas en la resolución, sin que esto represente erogación alguna para el Estado. Agregó que una vez se obtenga el concentrado de cobre en condiciones de ser comercializado, “este estará sujeto al pago de las regalías correspondientes sobre el producto exportado”.

En un comunicado, el director ejecutivo de la compañía, Tristan Pascall, señaló que la aprobación permite avanzar en la gestión del material acumulado, particularmente en aspectos relacionados con el manejo del agua y los relaves. La empresa estima que el programa podría generar más de 1.000 empleos directos y requerirá una inversión aproximada de 250 millones de dólares, principalmente para reactivar inventarios y cadenas de suministro.

La empresa estima que los trabajos de preparación, incluyendo el restablecimiento de proveedores locales y la reposición de insumos, podrían tomar hasta tres meses antes de iniciar el procesamiento.

La mina ya exportó un material. En septiembre de 2025 se autorizó la exportación del concentrado de cobre que se encontraba almacenado y que había sido procesado antes del cierre. Esa operación generó ingresos totales por 334 millones de dólares, de los cuales el Estado de Panamá recibió cerca de 30 millones de dólares en regalías.

Mulino ha anticipado que en junio daría a conocer la decisión de su gobierno en cuanto al futuro de la mina, aunque ha adelantado que se estudia un modelo distinto al anterior que era un contrato ley que debía pasar por la aprobación de la Asamblea Nacional unicameral. Aseguró que en este nuevo modelo el país deberá obtener mejores regalías. El presidente también ha dicho que se está asesorando con expertos de Chile y el nuevo gobierno del país sudamericano, el mayor productor mudial de cobre.

The opinion said Customs and Border Protection officers have limited authority to cancel visas and can't do so for suspected smuggling of biological samples. The cancellation of Kseniia Petrova 's visa was arbitrary and capricious, U.S. District Court Judge Christina Reiss said in her written ruling.

“The undisputed facts reveal that Ms. Petrova’s visa was impermissibly canceled because of the frog embryo samples and for no other reason,” Reiss wrote.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which includes Customs and Border Protection, didn't immediately return an email message seeking comment.

In February last year, Petrova was returning from a vacation in France, where she had stopped at a lab specializing in splicing superfine sections of frog embryos and obtained a package of samples for research. She was questioned about the samples while passing through a customs checkpoint at Boston Logan International Airport.

After an interrogation, Petrova was told her visa was being canceled.

Petrova was briefly detained by immigration officials in Vermont, where she filed a petition seeking her release. She was later sent to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Louisiana.

She told The Associated Press in an interview last year that she did not realize the samples needed to be declared and was not trying to sneak anything into the country. Petrova has been back in her Harvard lab since January after successfully petitioning a court for the right to return to work, her attorney, Gregory Romanovsky, said.

Tuesday's ruling was an important step toward “correcting what should never have happened in the first place,” Romanovsky said in a statement.

Petrova’s case is being closely watched by the scientific community, with some fearing it could impact recruiting and retaining foreign scientists at U.S. universities.

Rivers' reason: grandkids.

And put simply, he sounds like someone who wants to spent more time with them.

“I won't answer that, but I have grandkids that I want to see,” Rivers told reporters when asked before the Bucks' game in Brooklyn about his future. "I'll put it that way. I'll let you figure it out from there."

The 64-year-old Rivers is going into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame this summer. Only Gregg Popovich, Don Nelson, Lenny Wilkens, Jerry Sloan and Pat Riley have more coaching wins than Rivers — who won the NBA title as a coach with Boston in 2008.

Milwaukee came into the season with championship aspirations, built again around perennial All-Star and former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and further bolstered by the acquisition of Myles Turner in free agency last summer. But injuries doomed Milwaukee; the Bucks started 8-5, then lost seven consecutive games to fall under .500 and that's where they stayed the rest of the way.

They haven't been a top-eight team in the Eastern Conference since mid-November, wound up fielding trade offers for Antetokounmpo in February — ultimately deciding to keep him, at least for now — and now are embroiled in a war of words with their best player. He says he wants to play even though the Bucks are out of the playoff picture; the team has kept him out citing injuries.

Antetokounmpo has appeared in 36 games this season, by far the fewest of his 13-year career. The constant speculation about his future in Milwaukee has grated on Rivers for some time, prompting him to say last week that it has been bothersome to incessantly have to deal with questions about the relationship between Antetokounmpo and the franchise.

“The tough part about all this is I’m in the middle when I have nothing to do with it,” Rivers said Friday. “Coaches don’t decide any of this. But, the problem with our league is the coaches are the ones sitting out front and we have to sit here and answer this stuff. And I think there are two sides to this. I will tell you that.”

Antetokounmpo's future with the team is certain to be a major topic in the offseason. And now, Rivers' will be as well.

He sounded somewhat reflective last week when formally announced as a Hall inductee.

“Without the players that I’ve coached, without the coaches that I’ve coached with, I wouldn’t be here,” Rivers said when announced as part of this year’s Hall class. “None of us live in isolation. We all live and breathe with other people, and other people help us get to places we are.”

Rivers joined the Bucks midway through the 2023-24 season. He has a number of interests outside of coaching, would likely be a sought-after broadcaster — he's done TV work before — if he steps down from coaching, and indicated that it's difficult to not be present around young grandchildren.

"I have seven grandkids now and they're all 8 years and under," Rivers said. “And it kills me every time I miss grandparents' day with each one of them in school. And it's probably time to go see them more. So, I'll let you figure out the rest.”

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Miami-Dade and Broward counties can expect overnight low temperatures near the 70s.

Wednesday will be partly cloudy with the likelihood of more storms, particularly during the afternoon and early evening.

Localized flooding is possible. Temperatures are expected to be seasonable with highs forecast in the low 80s.

15

(fifteen)

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In coastal and metropolitan Miami-Dade and Broward counties, there was a rip current statement in effect until 8 p.m., and a flood watch in effect until 10 p.m.

By 5:30 p.m., in Miami-Dade, Cutler Bay had gotten 2.44 inches of rain, Kendall had 1.81 inches, and Coral Gables had 1.47 inches.

There was a multi-vehicle crash on the MacArthur Causeway’s westbound lanes from Miami Beach to Downtown Miami.

Storms were impacting traffic in the Doral area on the Florida Turnpike and the Palmetto Expressway. There were also delays on Krome Avenue.

By 5:30 p.m., in Broward, Davie had 1.27 inches of rain, and Fort Lauderdale had .46.

Once the sun goes down, the rain chance will drop off. There will be more showers and storms on Wednesday in South Florida.

For the Weather Authority’s live weather radar and hour-by-hour forecasts, visit this page.

For the Traffic Team’s map with live updates, visit this page.

Related story: Flood watch in effect for South Florida, weather affecting local airports

Related posts

This thunderstorm produced a 73mph wind gust just east of Port Miami this afternoon pic.twitter.com/QhVyWjCpwN

— Brandon Orr (@BrandonOrrWPLG) April 7, 2026

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said several missiles lifted off from North Korea’s eastern coastal Wonsan area on Wednesday morning and flew about 240 kilometers (150 miles) each in a direction toward the North’s eastern waters.

It said an additional North Korean ballistic missile fired later Wednesday traveled more than 700 kilometers off the North’s east coast. Japan’s Defense Ministry said it assesses that the missile fell in waters outside the country’s exclusive economic zone.

South Korea’s military said it maintains a readiness to repel any provocations by North Korea under a solid military alliance with the United States. It earlier said it detected the launch of an unidentified projectile from North Korea’s capital region on Tuesday.

South Korean media reported the projectile, also likely a ballistic missile, disappeared from South Korean military radars after displaying an abnormal development in the initial launch stage. This indicated the launch ended in failure, according to the reports.

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement that the North Korean launches had not posed any immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to allies.

The back-to-back launches came after North Korea made it clear that it has no intentions of improving ties with South Korea, whose liberal government has steadfastly expressed its hopes to restore long-dormant dialogue.

South Korea would always remain North Korea's “most hostile enemy state,” Jang Kum Chol, first vice minister at Pyongyang’s Foreign Ministry, said on Tuesday. He derided South Korea as “world-startling fools” engaged in wishful thinking over a recent statement by Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

After South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret over alleged civilian drone flights into North Korea, Kim Yo Jong on Monday praised him for what she called honesty and courage, but reiterated a threat to retaliate if such flights recur. South Korean officials responded by describing Kim’s statement as meaningful progress in relations.

Jang said her statement was intended as a warning. He cited Kim Yo Jong as calling South Korea “the dogs affected by mange that blindly bark to the tune of neighboring dogs” as she criticized it for recently co-sponsoring of a U.N. resolution on the North’s purported human rights violations.

North Korea has refused to return to talks with South Korea and the U.S. and pushed to expand its nuclear arsenal since Kim Jong Un’s diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. North Korea has instead sought to strengthen ties with Russia, China and other countries embroiled in confrontations with the U.S. Last September, Kim Jong Un traveled to Beijing to attend a military parade alongside other foreign leaders and held his first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in six years.

North Korean media reported on Wednesday that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit North Korea on Thursday for a two-day trip.

Earlier this week, North Korea said Kim Jong Un had observed a test of an upgraded solid-fuel engine for weapons and called it a significant development boosting his country’s strategic military arsenal.

Missiles with built-in solid propellants are easier to move and conceal their launches than liquid-fuel weapons, which in general must be fueled before liftoffs and cannot last long.

South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers Monday the engine test was likely related to an effort to build a more powerful solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile that can carry multiple nuclear warheads, according to lawmakers who attended the meeting.

Experts say North Korea wants multi-warhead missiles to penetrate U.S. missile defenses, but they doubt Pyongyang has mastered the technology needed to acquire such a weapon.

— AP journalists Mari Yamaguchi and Mayuko Ono contributed from Tokyo.

The 87-year-old country star, who is known for his topical satire, fell late last month, according to the statement released on his X account. He will need to wear a neck brace for about a month.

“He remains fully mobile & in good spirits," the statement said.

Stevens' decades-long recording career has included such hits as the Grammy-winning “Everything Is Beautiful" as well as the zany “The Streak," which captured the mid-1970s craze for running naked in public.

Born Harold Ray Ragsdale, Stevens's music was also known for its social commentary. In 1961, he recorded “Jeremiah Peabody’s Poly Unsaturated Quick Dissolving Fast Acting Pleasant Tasting Green and Purple Pills,” which made fun of the advertising industry.

His latest album is expected to be released Friday on Curb Records.

In July, Stevens suffered a mild heart attack and had heart surgery, according to a post on his X account. His performances at his CabaRay Showroom in Nashville, Tennessee, were canceled for the rest of the month as he recovered.

Slotkin, a potential Democratic 2028 presidential contender, peppered five Iowa voters with questions about divisiveness in U.S. politics and issues affecting their communities. She also wanted to know what the voters would look for if they could “build a candidate in a test tube" and why they chose Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024.

“What would have gotten you to actually consider a Democrat?” Slotkin asked as the discussion winded down.

She hadn’t told them yet she was one.

The conversation was one of many Slotkin is having ahead of this fall’s crucial midterm elections. They are a way for the Midwestern Democrat to hear what it might take for the party to win back parts of the country like Iowa, which swung from backing President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 to Trump in the last three elections.

Slotkin on Tuesday described a Democratic Party that has forgotten about the middle of the country, has spent too much time rehashing old fights and lacks coordination in delivering a strong counter to Trump.

“I’m pretty clear-eyed about the problems,” Slotkin told The Associated Press in an interview. “I’m interested in being a part of the next generation who’s going to rehab the Democratic brand.”

Slotkin's sit down with Trump voters in Iowa Tuesday, and a town hall in Ohio Wednesday, was organized by a PAC dedicated to reshaping the party, Majority Democrats. But for Slotkin, the stops in red and purple states also are opportunities for the former CIA analyst to introduce herself to voters outside her home state, many of whom — like those gathered for Tuesday’s lunch — don’t know who she is or what she stands for.

Slotkin was elected to the Senate in 2024 after serving three terms in the U.S. House. She was among six Democrats in Congress with military or national security backgrounds who in a video last year urged U.S. military members to resist “illegal orders.” Trump accused the lawmakers of sedition punishable by death, and the video prompted a Justice Department investigation.

Slotkin said Tuesday that they made the video “for moments exactly like this,” shortly before Trump paused for two weeks his threat to take out Iran’s “whole civilization.”

Democrats want to flip House seats in Iowa

Later Tuesday, Slotkin’s schedule included headlining a fundraiser and a county party dinner. She also held a health care-focused town hall with Iowa state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, a Democrat looking to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn in one of the most competitive House seats in the country.

She shared some of the same themes to the friendly faces in Des Moines as she did earlier with the Trump voters, lamenting that politics is so divisive and describing the bipartisan disappointment over the health care system that she hears across the country.

But she put a finer point on her own views to the Democratic audiences, saying that the U.S. needs a public health insurance option for people of any age and giving advice on how to convince voters that supporting a Democrat is in their best interest.

“I want to win in November," Slotkin told an applauding audience. “That means being honest about where the Democratic Party needs to go.”

“The debate is not between progressive and moderate," she said. "It’s fight or flight.”

Slotkin shies away from answer on 2028

Visiting Iowa used to hold more obvious significance for Democrats before the party shook up the early presidential nominating calendar last cycle, bumping Iowa from its place as the first state to weigh in on the nominations. The state party in 2024 did away with the traditional, quirky caucuses that have historically been the first contest for both parties.

Now Iowa Democrats are among those pitching their state should go first in 2028; Michigan is also vying for the first Midwest slot. But it's still months before the Democratic National Committee will decide the order.

Slotkin is one of many prominent Democrats eyeing a potential 2028 run that have been visiting swing states and those that have traditionally been important in the nominating process.

“I'm not announcing anything,” Slotkin said Tuesday, and even joked about Iowa and Michigan's “cage match" for the early position.

The ambition didn't get past Ed Klavins, a Trump voter who participated in the focus group.

“She’s trying to figure out what she can do differently to have a better chance of getting reelected and maybe higher office,” said Klavins, a retiree from Urbandale, Iowa, who didn’t know Slotkin was the guest for Tuesday’s focus group lunch and said he was paid $200, plus lunch, to be there.

Klavins wants politicians on both sides of the aisle that challenge their party’s status quo. He told Slotkin that he wants a candidate who doesn’t pander to what they think voters want. He voted for Trump and thinks he’s succeeding in putting national security first, like closing the U.S.-Mexico border and eliminating the threat Iran poses to national security.

But Slotkin showing up to listen “makes her a little more genuine in my eyes,” he said. “I like her.”

Four astronauts were on their way back home to Earth after flying over the moon and sending more than 50 gigabytes of data they collected.

Mission Control in Houston arranged a historic call between the Canadian and American astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft and the French and American astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

“It truly emphasized how alike we are, how the same thing keeps every single person on planet Earth alive,” Astronaut Christina Koch told ISS Crew-12 commander Jessica Meir about the view from inside Orion.

Koch also talked about “the funny and practical” from how to eat" to “how to do silly things with water” and “how to flip around.”

On Monday, minutes before the Artemis II mission’s Orion spacecraft shattered Apollo 13’s 1970 distance record, a camera recorded a flying jar of Nutella hazelnut spread. The free ad went viral.

The astronauts on the Artemis II mission are set to return to Earth on Friday in the Pacific.

The Artemis III mission will have a lunar lander go around the Earth’s orbit in 2027, and the Artemis IV mission will have two astronauts land on the moon in 2028.

Interactive graphic on the mission

Related stories

• Artemis II astronauts make long-distance call to the space station as they head home from the moon
• Artemis II astronauts channel Apollo 8 with a striking Earthset photo

Well, sort of.

The Dolphins joined the Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tennessee Titans as teams with a first-year head coach to kick-start the first phase of voluntary offseason workouts on Tuesday.

Head coach Jeff Hafley met with reporters for about half an hour at the Baptist Health Training Complex.

In the NFL offseason program, Phase 1 is very limited and focused strictly on conditioning.

Coaches aren’t allowed to hold on-field team drills or football-specific practices.

Players aren’t allowed to wear football pads or helmets.

Hafley mentioned early in the media availability that running back De’Von Achane did not report.

Achane is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is due for an extension.

“I’m not going to dive into those thoughts right now. That’s all like, honestly, that’s part of the business,” Hafley said. “It’s part of what every team goes through in those situations and they’ll work it out.”

Achane is coming off a career-high 2025 season, in which he earned his first Pro Bowl after rushing for 1,350 yards and eight touchdowns - tying his rookie-year total in 2023 - and averaging a league-best 5.7 yards per touch.

Hafley was also asked about quarterback Malik Willis, whom the Dolphins signed to a three-year, $67.5 million deal, including $45 million in guaranteed money.

“Yeah, I had a great conversation with him yesterday, he came to office. I said, don’t change who you are. I said, don’t put any extra pressure on yourself. You’ve earned the right to be here and have this opportunity, and you’ve done that by doing all the things the right way - don’t change that,” Hafley said.

The Dolphins are banking on Willis, who replaces Tua Tagovailoa after six seasons with the team.

Tagovailoa signed a one-year deal to join the Atlanta Falcons.

Other notable offseason dates are the voluntary minicamp April 21–23, OTA workouts May 18–19, May 21, May 26–27, May 29, June 8–9, June 11, and mandatory minicamp June 2–3.

You can watch Hafley’s full media conference below.

That person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Mendoza hasn't made his plans public.

The draft will take place in Pittsburgh starting April 23, and many top players will be there to receive congratulations and a hug from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. But players, even those who are drafted first, sometimes prefer to watch from a different location.

Defensive end Travon Walker in 2022 and quarterback Trevor Lawrence in 2021 were the two most recent top picks to watch from afar.

Raiders officials have signaled they would like to ease Mendoza into the starting lineup without expressly saying they will draft the player who won the Heisman Trophy and led Indiana to the national championship.

Las Vegas signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins last week likely with the idea of him starting while Mendoza watches and learns from the sideline. Cousins is in Las Vegas for offseason workouts.

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

Beginning Wednesday, most domestic and short-haul international passengers will pay $45 to check one bag, $55 for a second and $200 for a third, according to Delta. That’s an increase of $10 on each of the first two bags and $50 on the third.

The move follows similar announcements from United Airlines and JetBlue, both of which raised baggage fees last week.

“These updates are part of Delta’s ongoing review of pricing across its business and reflect the impact of evolving global conditions and industry dynamics,” the carrier said in a statement. It marks Delta’s first increase to checked baggage fees on domestic routes in two years.

Delta said complimentary bags will still be available to customers in premium cabins, active-duty military personnel, eligible co-branded credit card holders and members of certain loyalty tiers. Fees for long-haul international flights are not affected.

CEO Ed Bastian told investors last month that the jump in jet fuel prices had already added about $400 million to Delta’s operating expenses since the conflict began on Feb. 28. Executives at United and American Airlines reported similar figures.

Delta is scheduled to report its first-quarter earnings on Wednesday, kicking off the earnings season for U.S. airlines, which could offer travelers an early gauge of how rising jet fuel prices may affect them.

Airlines around the world have been grappling with volatile oil markets as fighting near the Strait of Hormuz disrupts global supplies. Roughly a fifth of the world’s oil typically passes through the narrow water way, and the threat to that chokepoint is pushing up the price of jet fuel, which is refined from crude.

Fuel typically ranks as the second-largest expense for airlines after labor.

The average price for a gallon of jet fuel in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York was $4.81 on Tuesday, up from $2.50 the day before the war started, according to Argus Media. The energy market intelligence company’s U.S. Jet Fuel Index tracks average prices across those major hubs.

In addition to raising ticket prices, analysts say U.S. carriers are likely to lean more on ancillary fees to offset the higher expenses, while many non-U.S. carriers are responding by adding or increasing fuel surcharges.

Southwest Airlines announced Tuesday that starting April 20 passengers will only be able to carry one charger on their planes, and they won't be allowed to put it in the overhead bin or in their checked luggage. The airline already requires passengers to keep their chargers in the open while they are using them, so flight attendants can act quickly if they start to overheat.

The new Southwest rule goes even further than the limit of two chargers per passenger that the International Civil Aviation Organization recommended last month. But the airline says it isn't going to aggressively enforce the policy by searching bags and confiscating chargers. Instead, Southwest's Vice President of Safety and Security Dave Hunt said the airline will stress this to travelers when they book their flights and arrive at the airport while explaining the potential dangers.

That alone might be a big help because most people don't seem to be aware of the risks, said Jeff Marootian, who is CEO of UL Standards & Engagement, which establishes the guidelines for the makers of these chargers and other electronic devices.

“A huge part of the concern here is seeing that number of incidents continue to increase, correlating, of course, to the number of devices that people are bringing on planes,” he said.

The Federal Aviation Administration said more lithium battery incidents are reported every year and hit 97 in 2025 as everyone carries more re-chargable devices like phones, iPads, laptops and these portable chargers. Marootian said that his organization hears about two incidents every week, and reported a 42% increase in the number of incidents involving portable chargers in 2025.

One of the worst happened in January 2025 when a devastating fire aboard an Air Busan plane waiting to take off from an airport in South Korea forced the evacuation of all 176 people aboard before the fire burned through the plane's roof.

Flight attendants have fire-resistant bags and insulated gloves to put overheating devices into to contain any potential blaze. Southwest’s Hunt said the airline’s new rule will “strengthen our ability to contain and mitigate lithium battery incidents, including reducing the risk of battery fires.”

To help make the rule workable for passengers, Southwest plans to equip all of its planes with in-seat power by the middle of next year.

Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo, who flew for United Airlines for 37 years, said he thinks Southwest's new policy is a positive step to reduce the risk. Even though the number of fires is small compared to the roughly 100,000 flights every day around the globe, the potential consequences of a battery fire can be disastrous.

“It can turn into something very serious very quickly,” Arroyo said.

The world is watching as the president’s 8 p.m. deadline approaches, and here in South Florida, members of the Iranian community are keeping a close eye on developments.

Many are reacting to recent sharp words from Trump, who posted on social media, doubling down on his ultimatum for Iran to end its blockage of Gulf oil.

For some in the community, it marks an important moment, but it also comes with mixed emotions, including concern, frustration and hope.

Local 10 News spoke with Orusha Ashrafi, a community activist in South Florida’s Iranian community who has organized rallies and demonstrations in the past. He said tonight could be a critical turning point.

“It’s a real threat. President Trump is not joking, he’s not bluffing, he’s a real man,” Ashrafi said. “If he says something, he can do it, but we are hoping, as we saw when he says something he does something else. The last time he gave them a timeline, he extended the timeline.”

He has been vocal about the direction of Iran well before recent U.S. military involvement in the region.

The Texas Rangers are also helping look into allegations of neglect, according to the Texas Department of Safety, although the scope of the state’s elite investigations unit was not immediately clear.

The investigations underscore the hurdles facing Camp Mystic as it pushes ahead with reopening plans over the outrage of the families of the 25 girls and two teenage counselors who died in the July 4 floods. More than 850 families have signed up to return to the Christian, all-girls camp this summer if it is allowed to reopen a portion of the camp that did not flood.

The Department of State Health Services said that since February, the agency has received “hundreds of complaints regarding Camp Mystic’s operations in the summer of 2025” alleging violations of state laws governing youth camps. The agency said it asked for help from state police.

The Texas Department of Public Safety said the Texas Rangers joined an “investigation regarding complaints of neglect” during the flood. Neither agency released details. The camp did not evacuate and was hit hard when the river rose from 14 feet (4.2 meters) to 29.5 feet (9 meters) within 60 minutes before dawn.

A letter sent Tuesday from the health agency to the camp owners informed them of the agency’s investigation, but made no mention of the Texas Rangers being involved.

Lawyers for the families of the girls who were killed and the Camp Mystic owners did not immediately respond to email messages requesting comment.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called the Texas Rangers’ involvement a “criminal investigation” and said the state should not grant the camp a license to reopen until that probe and another one by state lawmakers are complete.

“I urge you to prioritize safety and do everything in your power to ensure Camp Mystic and/or their operators are not allowed to operate until the facts are in,” Patrick wrote in a letter Tuesday to the head of the health agency.

Families of several of the girls who died have sued the camp’s operators, arguing that camp officials failed to take necessary steps to protect the campers as life-threatening floodwaters approached. A district judge last month ordered the camp owners to preserve damaged cabins and other parts of the grounds in the flooded area as the lawsuits proceed.

The body of one of the campers killed, 8-year old Cile Steward, has not yet been recovered. DPS officials said the search for the girl continues.

Richard Eastland, one of the camp owners, was also killed. All told, the destructive flooding killed at least 136 people along a several-mile stretch of the river, raising questions about how things went so terribly wrong.

___

This story has been corrected to show that Richard Eastland, not Edward Eastland, was killed in the flooding.

“Cade is gonna have surgery,” Counsell said before the Cubs game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. “He’s gonna miss the rest of the year.”

The exact procedure, whether it will be a full Tommy John reconstruction or an internal brace repair, won’t be determined until surgeons go into the elbow. Horton visited renowned elbow specialist Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday.

No surgery date has been set.

The announcement confirms what Cubs fans feared when Horton walked off the mound in Cleveland on April 3, after just 17 pitches. His velocity had dropped from 96 mph in the first inning to 93.8 mph on his final pitch before he waved toward the dugout.

It will be the 24-year-old right-hander’s second elbow reconstruction surgery. He had Tommy John surgery as a freshman at Oklahoma in 2021. He was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 draft and broke through in the majors last season with an 11-4 record and a 2.67 ERA in 118 innings. He finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting. In his 2026 debut, Horton held Washington to two runs in 6 1/3 innings just one week before the injury.

The blow is particularly tough because the Cubs are already without ace Justin Steele, who is recovering from his own UCL surgery and is not expected back until late May at the earliest. With Matthew Boyd also on the injured list, the Cubs will lean on Colin Rea and Javier Assad in the rotation. Rea stepped up in a similar role last season, posting a 3.95 ERA across 27 starts after Steele went down.

“Colin’s going to be asked to pitch more innings out of the bullpen, and then somebody’s going to take Colin’s bullpen innings," Counsell said. "That’s how it’s going to be addressed on paper. But it’s not all on Colin. ... We all have to just do our part.”

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Ahora, Bali Ramnarace dice que está en un “purgatorio de estacionamiento” mientras espera encontrar una solución.

“Me gano la vida con este camión”, dijo. “Sin este camión, no puedo hacer lo que he hecho durante 45 años, el mismo ritual”.

Aunque los camiones han cambiado con los años, siempre han estado estacionados en la misma entrada.

Eso fue hasta hace poco, cuando la ciudad informó a Ramnarace, de 75 años, que el camión ya no podía estacionarse allí.

Los funcionarios dijeron que el camión viola una ordenanza vigente desde 2019.

Ahora Ramnarace enfrenta multas acumuladas tras recibir una citación de la ciudad.

Debido a un litigio pendiente, los funcionarios de la ciudad no quisieron responder a las preguntas de Local 10 en cámara, y en su lugar emitieron el siguiente comunicado:

“El propósito de la ordenanza sobre vehículos comerciales de gran tamaño es ayudar a garantizar que las calles del vecindario permanezcan seguras y accesibles para los residentes, peatones y vehículos de emergencia. Estas normas se aplican de manera consistente en toda la comunidad”.

Ramnarace dijo que no entiende la repentina aplicación de la norma, y asegura que no causa problemas, solo trabaja y se mantiene al margen.

“Quiero seguir trabajando, estoy fuerte”, dijo.

Aunque Ramnarace señaló que físicamente ya no es el hombre que solía ser, ya que su cuerpo no se mueve tan bien como antes, sus manos aún saben cómo reparar cosas, aunque ahora le resulta más difícil movilizarse.

“Esto es más conveniente para mí para subirme a mi camión e irme, porque a veces no puedo levantar cargas muy pesadas con este pie lesionado”, dijo.

Ramnarace cree que una buena solución sería permitirle estacionar en su entrada, básicamente respetando su derecho adquirido a mantener su lugar de estacionamiento.

The case of Nigel Max Edge had been scheduled for a Brunswick County court hearing in which the local prosecutor was slated to reveal whether he intended to seek the death penalty. But District Attorney Jon David said in a news release that part of the case was set aside because questions about Edge's “capacity to proceed” were raised by multiple mental health professionals.

“The defense has presented evaluations from two experts, and this office requested an independent evaluation by a state forensic examiner,” David said. “All three evaluations conclude that Mr. Edge currently lacks the capacity to proceed to trial.”

Superior Court Judge Jason Disbrow ordered that Edge be transferred to Cherry Hospital, a state psychiatric facility in Goldsboro, David said.

David said the state’s mental expert found that Edge “may be restored to capacity through appropriate treatment, including medication and counseling.” Voicemail and email seeking comment were left for Edge's public defender, Matthew Geoffrion.

Authorities allege Edge, 41, piloted a small motorboat up to a dockside cocktail bar in Southport last Sept. 27 and opened fire with a short-barreled semiautomatic rifle. Three people were killed, and several others were injured.

Edge, who faces additional charges, was serving with an elite sniper unit in Iraq when he was shot four times, including once in the head. Friends and family say he has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and still has a bullet lodged in his brain.

Tuesday’s action has “the practical effect of suspending further litigation unless and until the defendant’s capacity is restored,” David said, adding the state could still seek the death penalty “should the facts and law warrant this designation.”

Edge will remain in custody during treatment, which David said would be for an “indeterminate” amount of time.

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Deputies with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said the suspect, Andrea Houston, was arrested Monday.

According to investigators, the incident occurred on Dec. 27 at McDonald’s, located at 18295 S. Dixie Highway, in the county’s Palmetto Bay area.

Authorities said Houston became upset while at the drive-thru window, believing items were missing from her order. However, the employee told her the order was complete and that she would have to pay for any additional items.

They said the situation escalated when Houston grabbed a piece of wood from inside her vehicle, began yelling at the employee, and threatened to hit him.

Investigators said she then “tapped the victim in the face” with the piece of wood through the drive-thru window before fleeing.

They said the area where the employee was working is not open to the public and is designated for employees only.

A witness recorded the incident and provided the vehicle’s license plate, which investigators later determined was registered to Houston. The victim later identified her in a photographic lineup, deputies said.

They said Houston has prior convictions, including felony battery and battery on a law enforcement officer, firefighter or corrections officer.

Houston’s arrest report states that she was taken into custody Monday after deputies conducted a traffic stop along South Dixie Highway.

During the arrest, deputies said she resisted by tensing her arms and moving her body, making it difficult to detain her.

After being taken into custody, Houston told deputies she is “always under the influence of narcotics” due to medications she takes, according to the report.

Jail records show Houston is facing one count each of burglary with assault or battery and resisting an officer without violence to his person.

As of Tuesday afternoon, she was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where her bond was set at $8,000.

She was also placed on house arrest and ordered to stay away from the victim and the McDonald’s where the incident took place.

Agentes de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade indicaron que la sospechosa, Andrea Houston, fue arrestada el lunes.

Según los investigadores, el incidente ocurrió el 27 de diciembre en un McDonald’s ubicado en el 18295 de South Dixie Highway, en el área de Palmetto Bay.

Las autoridades señalaron que Houston se molestó en la ventanilla de autoservicio al creer que faltaban artículos en su pedido. Sin embargo, el empleado le indicó que la orden estaba completa y que debía pagar por cualquier producto adicional.

Indicaron que la situación escaló cuando Houston tomó un pedazo de madera dentro de su vehículo, comenzó a gritarle al empleado y lo amenazó con golpearlo.

Los investigadores dijeron que luego “tocó a la víctima en la cara” con el pedazo de madera a través de la ventanilla antes de huir.

Señalaron que el área donde trabajaba el empleado no está abierta al público y está designada solo para empleados.

Un testigo grabó el incidente y proporcionó la placa del vehículo, que posteriormente se determinó estaba registrada a nombre de Houston. La víctima luego la identificó en una rueda fotográfica, indicaron los agentes.

Las autoridades dijeron que Houston tiene antecedentes, incluyendo agresión grave y agresión contra un agente del orden, bombero o funcionario correccional.

El informe de arresto indica que fue detenida el lunes tras una parada de tráfico en South Dixie Highway.

Durante el arresto, los agentes dijeron que se resistió tensando los brazos y moviendo el cuerpo, lo que dificultó su detención.

Tras ser puesta bajo custodia, Houston dijo a los agentes que está “siempre bajo la influencia de narcóticos” debido a medicamentos que toma, según el informe.

Registros carcelarios muestran que enfrenta un cargo de allanamiento con agresión y otro por resistirse a un agente sin violencia.

Hasta la tarde del martes, permanecía detenida en el Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, con una fianza fijada en $8,000 USD.

También fue puesta bajo arresto domiciliario y se le ordenó mantenerse alejada de la víctima y del McDonald’s donde ocurrió el incidente.

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After more than two decades of having BSO run the county fire department, commissioners are looking at managing fire and emergency medical services on their own.

BSO took over the former Broward County Fire Rescue ― and separate airport and port fire departments ― in 2003, becoming Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue.

The county is looking at bringing on a consulting firm to study a plan to bring the fire rescue service back into the fold. Commissioners were set to vote on a measure to do that on Tuesday.

Commissioner Lamar Fisher sponsored the proposal.

“It is time to really look at the detail of what it would look like to bring them back to Broward County,” Commissioner Lamar Fisher said. “I think it is cost savings number one, but obviously public safety is number one to the board itself and we want to make sure that we provide the best safety to our residents and our visitors here in Broward County.”

Fisher added that Sheriff Gregory Tony has been granted funds for pay raises, hiring, resources and new equipment. He said it’s imperative that the county look at more cost-effective ways to serve the public.

“(Tony) has the right to do whatever they want to with that money so it is frustrating to us at then end of the day but that is his will to do so,” Fisher said. “By bringing (fire rescue) back, we have full control and full transparency to the constituents that we serve.”

Unlike many Florida sheriff’s offices, which have large, populated unincorporated areas to patrol by default, the vast majority of BSO’s policing and firefighting work are done in cities that pay for the agency’s services in lieu of having in-house departments.

But after losing the policing contract in Pembroke Park and the policing and firefighting contracts in Deerfield Beach ― with Pompano Beach mulling a BSO breakup of its own ― the same county agenda item puts another one of BSO’s prominent roles in the crosshairs: airport and port policing.

A consulting firm could “study the feasibility of establishing” county-run police departments at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades, both owned by the county, to replace BSO.

Fisher said the new agency or agencies would have “the same coverage, the same police opportunities, the same comfort” as BSO.

“But at the end of the day, we have got to look at this to make sure that this is prudent for us as a county,” Fisher said.

Commissioners emphasized that Tuesday’s vote would not be to replace firefighting or police services ― just one to study the matter.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Broward Sheriff’s Office said, in part, “For more than 22 years, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue has been a cornerstone of public safety in Broward County by saving lives, easing suffering and protecting property.”

It continued, “Through high-quality fire and emergency services, crews respond 24/7 to protect residents and visitors across Broward County when it matters the most.”