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Now, for the first time in its 100-plus-year history, the legendary brand is expanding beyond California — and it has chosen Miami as its first destination.

Located on the ninth floor of the Gale Miami Hotel & Residences in downtown Miami, Yamashiro Miami brings the glamour of old Hollywood together with Japanese-inspired design, elevated cuisine, and immersive entertainment.

“This is our first expansion outside of the 100 years that we’ve been open in LA,” said Executive Chef Gustavo Montes. “The vision being capturing that beautiful dynasty of Yamashiro and reimagining it to the Miami market.”

The nearly 9,000-square-foot venue spans multiple levels and features sweeping views of the Miami skyline, lush Japanese-inspired gardens, and a design that feels more like an escape than a traditional restaurant. The space seamlessly blends Hollywood elegance with Japanese architecture, creating an atmosphere that’s both luxurious and welcoming.

While the brand’s history is rooted in Los Angeles — even making appearances in films such as Kill Bill — the Miami location offers a completely original culinary experience.

“This menu here in Miami is a one-off menu,” Montes explained. “It is a new interpretation of Yamashiro. We’re looking to showcase the best ingredients and the best techniques in the world. So we try to showcase everything for quality, freshness, and simplicity.”

The menu highlights a range of inventive dishes that combine Japanese influences with Miami flair. Among the standouts is the Katsusando, a toasted sandwich layered with aioli and finished with a touch of 24-karat gold — a nod to Miami’s love of luxury. Another signature dish is the black cod, marinated with citrus and miso before being finished in the oven and brushed with a delicate sauce.

Montes believes the city is the perfect place for Yamashiro’s next chapter.

“Being a Miami local, I’m kind of one-sided on this,” he said. “But I feel like Miami has become a new culinary capital of the world. We have done a lot to change the landscape of the scene.”

The restaurant’s cocktail program is equally ambitious. One of the most talked-about experiences is the signature martini cart, which rolls directly to guests’ tables and allows them to customize every aspect of their drink, from the spirit selection to specialty garnishes, including caviar.

“The inspiration behind this cart was to create an experience for our guests,” Montes said. “You have the option of having an extremely dirty martini, of making a kimchi martini, or going very classical.”

Beyond dining, Yamashiro is expanding its entertainment offerings with the recent opening of the 400 Vinyl Room, an upscale lounge inspired by Hollywood’s Golden Age. The intimate, 60-seat venue exclusively spins vinyl records and features a music program rooted in funk, soul, disco, and 1980s Latin sounds, with themed nights throughout the week.

Montes says the goal is simple: create a destination where guests can celebrate life’s successes while enjoying exceptional hospitality.

“You should definitely come out and enjoy the fruits of your labor,” he said. “Yamashiro is here to provide A1 hospitality with A1 food.”

Even for guests familiar with the original Los Angeles location, Yamashiro Miami offers a distinctly South Florida experience. And the restaurant’s growth isn’t slowing down. Coming soon, Yamashiro plans to open additional indoor dining space with seating for approximately 180 guests, further expanding its footprint in downtown Miami.

To make a reservation at Yamashiro Miami, click here.

Ahora, por primera vez en sus más de 100 años de historia, la legendaria marca se expande fuera de California y ha elegido a Miami como su primer destino.

Ubicado en el noveno piso del Gale Miami Hotel & Residences, en el centro de Miami, Yamashiro Miami combina el glamour del viejo Hollywood con diseño inspirado en Japón, gastronomía de alto nivel y entretenimiento inmersivo.

“Esta es nuestra primera expansión fuera de los 100 años que hemos estado abiertos en Los Ángeles”, dijo el chef ejecutivo Gustavo Montes. “La visión es capturar esa hermosa dinastía de Yamashiro y reinventarla para el mercado de Miami”.

El local, de casi 9,000 pies cuadrados, se extiende por varios niveles y ofrece amplias vistas del horizonte de Miami, exuberantes jardines inspirados en Japón y un diseño que se siente más como una escapada que como un restaurante tradicional. El espacio combina a la perfección la elegancia de Hollywood con la arquitectura japonesa, creando una atmósfera lujosa y acogedora.

Aunque la historia de la marca está arraigada en Los Ángeles e incluso ha aparecido en películas como Kill Bill, la ubicación de Miami ofrece una experiencia culinaria completamente original.

“Este menú aquí en Miami es un menú único”, explicó Montes. “Es una nueva interpretación de Yamashiro. Buscamos mostrar los mejores ingredientes y las mejores técnicas del mundo. Tratamos de destacar todo por su calidad, frescura y simplicidad”.

El menú destaca una variedad de platos innovadores que combinan influencias japonesas con el estilo de Miami. Entre los más destacados se encuentra el Katsusando, un sándwich tostado con alioli y terminado con un toque de oro de 24 quilates, un guiño al gusto de Miami por el lujo. Otro plato distintivo es el bacalao negro, marinado con cítricos y miso antes de terminarse en el horno y cubrirse con una delicada salsa.

Montes cree que la ciudad es el lugar perfecto para el próximo capítulo de Yamashiro.

“Como residente de Miami, quizá soy un poco parcial”, dijo. “Pero siento que Miami se ha convertido en una nueva capital culinaria del mundo. Hemos hecho mucho para cambiar el panorama de la escena gastronómica”.

El programa de cocteles del restaurante es igual de ambicioso. Una de las experiencias más comentadas es su carrito de martinis exclusivo, que se lleva directamente a las mesas y permite a los clientes personalizar cada aspecto de su bebida, desde la selección del licor hasta las guarniciones especiales, incluido el caviar.

“La inspiración detrás de este carrito fue crear una experiencia para nuestros invitados”, dijo Montes. “Tienes la opción de pedir un martini extremadamente seco, preparar un martini de kimchi o irte por algo muy clásico”.

Más allá de la gastronomía, Yamashiro está ampliando su oferta de entretenimiento con la reciente apertura de 400 Vinyl Room, un salón exclusivo inspirado en la época dorada de Hollywood. El íntimo espacio, con capacidad para 60 personas, reproduce exclusivamente discos de vinilo y cuenta con una programación musical basada en funk, soul, disco y sonidos latinos de la década de 1980, con noches temáticas durante toda la semana.

Montes afirma que el objetivo es simple: crear un destino donde los clientes puedan celebrar los éxitos de la vida mientras disfrutan de una hospitalidad excepcional.

“Definitivamente deberían venir a disfrutar los frutos de su trabajo”, dijo. “Yamashiro está aquí para ofrecer hospitalidad de primera y comida de primera”.

Incluso para los clientes familiarizados con la ubicación original de Los Ángeles, Yamashiro Miami ofrece una experiencia claramente del sur de Florida. Y el crecimiento del restaurante no se detiene. Próximamente, Yamashiro planea abrir espacio adicional para comedor interior con capacidad para aproximadamente 180 comensales, ampliando aún más su presencia en el centro de Miami.

Para hacer una reservación en Yamashiro Miami, haga clic aquí.

Ronald Ebrain Hernandez-Belisario, de 43 años y residente de Doral, enfrenta un cargo de agresión agravada contra un agente de la ley, bombero o funcionario.

Según un informe de arresto, la víctima, una especialista de control de estacionamiento de la Ciudad de Miami, trabajaba el jueves en el área del centro de Doral cuando observó un Honda gris estacionado en una zona de pago señalizada en la cuadra 8500 de Northwest 53rd Terrace.

La policía indicó que la especialista verificó la matrícula de Florida del vehículo y descubrió que no se había realizado el pago por el espacio de estacionamiento. Luego hizo contacto con Hernandez-Belisario, quien estaba sentado dentro del vehículo y aparentemente hablaba por teléfono, y le informó que debía pagar antes de abandonar el área, según las autoridades.

La policía señaló que la especialista regresó más tarde y encontró que el automóvil seguía allí y que Hernandez-Belisario aún no había pagado el estacionamiento.

Cuando ella comenzó a emitir la citación, Hernandez-Belisario presuntamente se marchó y golpeó a la especialista con el espejo lateral del pasajero del vehículo.

Según la policía, la especialista no sufrió heridas graves y rechazó recibir tratamiento médico.

Posteriormente, los investigadores localizaron a Hernandez-Belisario en una dirección de Doral asociada con el registro del vehículo. La policía indicó que la víctima lo identificó durante un procedimiento de identificación.

Después de ser informado de sus derechos, Hernandez-Belisario aceptó hablar con los investigadores, según el informe.

La policía indicó que Hernandez-Belisario les dijo a los agentes que no se dio cuenta de que estaba obligado a pagar por el estacionamiento mientras permanecía dentro del vehículo. También afirmó que salió del área apresuradamente, pero sostuvo que fue la especialista quien golpeó el espejo lateral del pasajero, según las autoridades.

De acuerdo con el informe, Hernandez-Belisario dijo a los investigadores que no estaba bajo la influencia de drogas ni alcohol en ese momento, aunque sí toma medicamentos para la ansiedad.

La policía indicó que el incidente fue captado por la cámara corporal de la víctima.

Hernandez-Belisario fue trasladado al Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight.

Hasta la mañana del viernes, el ciudadano venezolano permanecía detenido por el cargo de agresión agravada, además de una retención migratoria.

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Ronald Ebrain Hernandez-Belisario, 43, of Doral, faces a charge of aggravated battery on a police officer, firefighter or official.

According to an arrest report, the victim, a City of Miami parking enforcement specialist, was working in the downtown Doral area on Thursday when she noticed a gray Honda parked in a marked pay zone in the 8500 block of Northwest 53rd Terrace.

Police said the specialist ran the vehicle’s Florida tag and discovered that payment had not been made for the parking space. The specialist then made contact with Hernandez-Belisario, who was sitting inside the vehicle and appeared to be on a phone call, and informed him that payment was required before leaving the area, authorities said.

Police said the specialist later returned and found that the car was still there and Hernandez-Belisario had still not paid for parking.

As she began issuing a citation, Hernandez-Belisario allegedly drove away and struck the specialist with the vehicle’s passenger-side mirror.

The specialist was not seriously injured and declined medical treatment, according to police.

Investigators later located Hernandez-Belisario at a Doral address associated with the vehicle’s registration. Police said the victim identified him during a show-up identification procedure.

After being advised of his rights, Hernandez-Belisario agreed to speak with investigators, according to the report.

Police said Hernandez-Belisario told officers he did not realize he was required to pay for parking while remaining inside the vehicle. He also said he left the area in a hurry, but claimed the specialist struck his passenger-side mirror, authorities said.

According to the report, Hernandez-Belisario told investigators he was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time, but does take medication for anxiety.

Police said the incident was captured on the victim’s body-worn camera.

Hernandez-Belisario was transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

As of Friday morning, the Venezuelan national remained there on the aggravated battery charge as well as on an immigration hold.

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According to police, Raul Gabino Salvador, 88, was last seen driving his white Dodge Avenger with Florida tag JFQG08.

Police did not confirm the day he was last seen, but said he was wearing a gray polo shirt, black pants and black shoes.

Salvador is 5 feet tall and weighs about 140 pounds. He has white hair.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the Hialeah Police Department at 305-687-2525.

Según la policía, Raul Gabino Salvador, de 88 años, fue visto por última vez conduciendo su Dodge Avenger blanco con matrícula de Florida JFQG08.

La policía no confirmó el día en que fue visto por última vez, pero indicó que vestía una camisa tipo polo gris, pantalones negros y zapatos negros.

Salvador mide 5 pies de estatura y pesa aproximadamente 140 libras. Tiene el cabello blanco.

Cualquier persona con información sobre su paradero debe llamar al Departamento de Policía de Hialeah al 305-687-2525.

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The Broward Sheriff’s Office arrested Darrien Marquez Fleno in Dania Beach and booked him into jail on charges of traveling to meet a minor and transmission of harmful materials to a minor.

According to his arrest report, Hollywood police officers were called to a Family Dollar store on South Federal Highway on Oct. 17, 2025, and were told by two people there that a man, later identified as Fleno, was inside the store, trying to meet a teenage girl for sex.

Officers made contact with Fleno and he agreed to provide a statement to detectives and allow them to search his cellphone, the report stated. His statement to detectives was redacted from the publicly released report.

According to the report, detectives discovered that Fleno had been communicating with who he thought was a teenage girl, but was actually a man who is a member of an organization called New York Predhunters.

Detectives said the man agreed to send the phone used to send and receive text messages with Fleno to South Florida for authorities to review.

According to the report, throughout the text messages, the topic of age was discussed multiple times and at one point, Fleno stated that he wouldn’t want to be seen with the teen in public because people might question what an older man was doing with a teenage girl.

Detectives said Fleno believed the “teen” lived in West Palm Beach and made arrangements to stay overnight with her at a hotel in Hollywood.

Police said Fleno sent the “teen” explicit photos of himself and made multiple sexual comments about what he wanted to do with her at the hotel.

As of Friday morning, Fleno was being held at the Paul Rein Detention Facility on a $100,000 bond.

La Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Broward arrestó a Darrien Marquez Fleno en Dania Beach y lo ingresó en la cárcel acusado de viajar para encontrarse con un menor y de transmitir material perjudicial a un menor.

Según el informe de su detención, agentes de la policía de Hollywood fueron llamados a una tienda Family Dollar en South Federal Highway el 17 de octubre de 2025, y dos personas que se encontraban allí les dijeron que un hombre, posteriormente identificado como Fleno, estaba dentro de la tienda, tratando de encontrarse con una adolescente para tener relaciones sexuales.

Los agentes contactaron con Fleno, quien accedió a prestar declaración ante los detectives y a permitirles registrar su teléfono móvil, según consta en el informe. Su declaración a los detectives fue eliminada del informe publicado.

Según el informe, los detectives descubrieron que Fleno se había estado comunicando con quien creía que era una adolescente, pero que en realidad era un hombre miembro de una organización llamada New York Predhunters.

Los detectives dijeron que el hombre accedió a enviar el teléfono utilizado para enviar y recibir mensajes de texto con Fleno al sur de Florida para que las autoridades lo revisaran.

Según el informe, a lo largo de los mensajes de texto se habló varias veces del tema de la edad y, en un momento dado, Fleno afirmó que no quería que lo vieran con la adolescente en público porque la gente podría cuestionar qué hacía un hombre mayor con una chica adolescente.

Los detectives dijeron que Fleno creía que la “adolescente” vivía en West Palm Beach e hizo arreglos para pasar la noche con ella en un hotel de Hollywood.

La policía dijo que Fleno le envió a la “adolescente” fotos explícitas de sí mismo e hizo múltiples comentarios sexuales sobre lo que quería hacer con ella en el hotel.

Hasta el viernes por la mañana, Fleno permanecía detenido en el centro de detención Paul Rein bajo una fianza de 100.000 dólares.

En la primera vuelta de abril Keiko Fujimori, de Fuerza Popular, y Roberto Sánchez, de Juntos por el Perú, se elevaron por encima de más de una treintena de rivales, pero la suma de votos entre ambos no superó el 30%.

La conservadora Fujimori, hija del fallecido y condenado expresidente Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000), obtuvo 17,18% de los sufragios mientras el nacionalista Sánchez, aliado del exmandatario encarcelado Pedro Castillo (2021-2022), consiguió 12,03%.

“Hay un bolsón de indecisos... creo que es ahí donde los anti-voto en clave emocional van a jugarse el partido final”, dijo a The Associated Press el analista político Iván García.

Una encuesta de fines de mayo de la firma Ipsos Perú dio a Fujimori 38% de intención de voto y 35% a Sánchez, mientras quienes no se habían decidido por uno de ellos sumaron 27%. El margen de error del sondeo fue de 2,8 puntos porcentuales.

A su vez, ambos candidatos cosechan un alto nivel de rechazo: 40% de los encuestados dijo que no votaría por Fujimori y 38% que no lo haría por Sánchez.

La oposición a Fujimori está ligada a la herencia autoritaria y de corrupción del gobierno de su padre, mientras las objeciones a Sánchez apuntan al temor de su alianza con Castillo, percibido como corrupto y caótico. En la breve gestión de 16 meses de Castillo hubo más de 70 cambios ministeriales.

Fujimori busca otra vez el poder

La política de 51 años —que se postula por cuarta vez a la presidencia— afirma que en su eventual gestión habrá “orden” para las inversiones extranjeras y la seguridad interna, amenazada por el incremento de la delincuencia. En el último quinquenio se han quintuplicado las extorsiones y duplicado los asesinatos en el país.

En el único debate previo al balotaje Fujimori reivindicó el gobierno de su padre y prometió que vencerá a la criminalidad al igual que Alberto Fujimori derrotó al grupo terrorista Sendero Luminoso.

Afirmó que en su gobierno habrá “pollo más barato, balones de gas a precio accesible, fertilizantes a buen precio para tu cosecha, saber que saldrás a trabajar y volverás sano y salvo a tu casa”.

La candidata ha intentado matizar su imagen de “mano dura” con muestras de proximidad hacia antiguos rivales como el expresidente Pedro Kuczynski (2016-2018), quien la venció en los comicios de 2016.

Kuczynski renunció en 2018 en medio de pedidos de destitución y censuras a ministros claves impulsadas por el partido de Fujimori, quien luego le pidió disculpas por la inestabilidad generada durante su gestión.

“Sé que a lo largo de mi vida política he cometido errores, de ellos aprendí", aseguró la candidata durante el debate.

Qué propone Sánchez

El legislador, popular en el sector rural y el sur del país, ha intentado calmar la preocupación que genera su candidatura entre los inversionistas. El psicólogo de profesión ha repetido públicamente que no expropiará ningún activo de empresas transnacionales que extraen minerales o gas de Perú.

Durante el debate dijo que un eventual gobierno suyo estará abierto a “todas las banderas para generar trabajo y progreso”, pero destacó su apoyo a las inversiones de China como el tren bioceánico que busca conectar al estratégico puerto de Chancay, sobre el Pacífico, con la costa atlántica de Brasil.

Sánchez, de 57 años y quien viste un sombrero campesino de ala ancha que le regaló Castillo, también ha tomado distancia de un socio menor, el ultranacionalista Antauro Humala —exmilitar y hermano del encarcelado expresidente Ollanta Humala (2011-2016)— que propone aplicar la pena de muerte en casos de corrupción.

En declaraciones a The Associated Press dijo que buscará renegociar los contratos mineros de forma consensuada, incluido el de Las Bambas, una de las minas de cobre más grandes del mundo controlada por la estatal china Minmetals.

Las expectativas del mercado

En un documento emitido a inicios de esta semana la agencia de calificación crediticia Fitch Ratings sostuvo que una victoria de Fujimori “impulsaría la inversión privada y la ejecución de proyectos", mientras que si gana Sánchez “aumentaría la incertidumbre sobre impuestos, regalías, estabilidad contractual e intervención estatal”.

Sin embargo, destacó que “independientemente de quién gane” los problemas de gobernabilidad de Perú — que vio pasar ocho presidentes en una década — y la composición del Congreso bicameral, en el que ningún partido tiene mayoría, “limitarán la capacidad del próximo gobierno” para impulsar reformas claves, grandes planes mineros y obras de infraestructura cruciales para el crecimiento.

En el nuevo Senado, compuesto por 60 legisladores, se necesitan al menos 40 votos para destituir a un presidente. Según los expertos la única protegida contra una eventual remoción es Fujimori que posee 22 senadores, mientras Sánchez sólo tiene 14 y estará obligado a tejer alianzas con otras fuerzas políticas.

Para García, si gana Fujimori el Congreso “sería mucho más favorable”, pero si triunfa Sánchez “estaría afilando los cuchillos todas las semanas”.

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According to police, the shooting was reported at 4:53 a.m. in the 6700 block of Collins Avenue.

Police said officers arrived at the scene and found a man suffering from a gunshot wound.

Miami Beach Fire Department officials transported the victim to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition.

“Due to the investigation, northbound traffic on Collins Ave. has been shut down at 67th Street and diverted west to Harding Ave. and Indian Creek Drive,” a spokesperson for the police department told Local 10 News.

No other details were immediately released.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Miami Beach Police Department or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

Según la policía, la balacera fue reportada a las 4:53 a.m. en la cuadra 6700 de Collins Avenue.

La policía informó que los agentes llegaron al lugar y encontraron a un hombre con una herida de bala.

Funcionarios del Departamento de Bomberos de Miami Beach trasladaron a la víctima al Ryder Trauma Center del Hospital Jackson Memorial en estado crítico.

“Debido a la investigación, el tráfico en dirección norte por Collins Ave. ha sido cerrado a la altura de la calle 67 y desviado hacia el oeste por Harding Ave. e Indian Creek Drive”, dijo un portavoz del departamento de policía a Local 10 News.

No se divulgaron de inmediato más detalles.

Cualquier persona con información debe llamar al Departamento de Policía de Miami Beach o a Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers al 305-471-8477.

Las víctimas fueron identificadas por la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade como Ryan Charles Whiten, de 42 años; Melanie Lauren Hyer, de 46; y sus hijas biológicas, Savannah Whiten, de 11 años, y Sienna Whiten, de 8.

Según los investigadores, los detectives determinaron que Ryan Whiten era el padre biológico de Savannah y Sienna y compartía la crianza de las menores con Hyer. La investigación concluyó que él mató a los tres familiares antes de quitarse la vida.

Los registros muestran que Ryan Whiten y Hyer habían estado divorciados durante años.

Según los investigadores, agentes de la Policía de Doral respondieron el martes por la noche a una vivienda en la comunidad cerrada Doral Isles después de que un amigo de la familia, preocupado por su bienestar, solicitara una verificación.

Las autoridades informaron que los agentes ingresaron a la vivienda y encontraron a las cuatro personas fallecidas. La policía confirmó que todas presentaban heridas de arma blanca en sus cuerpos.

Mientras la investigación continúa, vecinos y padres de familia de la comunidad luchan por asimilar los asesinatos.

“Eso es una tragedia”, dijo Anderina Zerpa, quien vive cerca. “Es la peor pesadilla para un padre”.

Zerpa dijo que quedó atónita al enterarse de lo ocurrido tan cerca de su hogar.

“Vivo súper cerca de su casa y ni siquiera lo sabía”, agregó.

Entre quienes lamentan la pérdida se encuentra la alcaldesa de Doral, Christi Fraga, quien dijo que conocía personalmente a Hyer a través de la comunidad escolar de sus hijos.

“La veía casi todas las mañanas cuando dejaba a mi hijo en la escuela”, dijo Fraga.

Fraga describió a Hyer como una madre que trabajaba para unir a las familias.

“Fue ella quien creó el chat de todas las mamás para organizar almuerzos, reuniones y construir una comunidad alrededor de nuestros hijos”, agregó.

Fraga dijo que espera que la familia sea recordada por el impacto positivo que tuvo en quienes los rodeaban y no por las circunstancias de sus muertes.

“Queremos recordarlos por sus personalidades alegres, sus hermosas sonrisas y orar por sus almas, por sus familias y por todos los que los rodeaban y que se verán afectados por esto”, añadió.

Un representante de Downtown Doral Charter Schools confirmó previamente que Savannah y Sienna eran estudiantes de la escuela, donde se han puesto a disposición consejeros de duelo para estudiantes y personal.

Fraga también alentó a cualquier persona que esté experimentando violencia doméstica o problemas de salud mental a buscar ayuda.

Hay recursos disponibles a través del programa de servicios para víctimas de violencia doméstica de la Fiscalía Estatal de Miami-Dade y de la página de recursos de salud mental de la ciudad de Doral.

Los detectives de la Oficina de Homicidios de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade han asumido la investigación.

In Florida, the average price for regular gas is $4.47. With summer travel on the horizon, Local 10 and Tropical Financial Credit Union are teaming up to bring drivers some relief.

“Right now, a lot of people across South Florida are feeling the pressure of everyday expenses, and even something as routine as filling up the gas tank can create real stress,” said Richard Shaw, Tropical Financial Credit Union President & CEO. “We wanted to do something simple but meaningful to help lighten the load, which is why we partnered with Local 10 on this gas card giveaway.”

All you have to do to sign up is complete the contest form below to be eligible to win a $100 fuel gift card. The deadline to enter is Sunday, May 31, at 11:59 p.m.

From June 1 through June 5, we will give away $2,500 in fuel gift cards to 25 Local 10 viewers. The winners will be chosen at random and five will be announced each day during our 6 a.m. newscast.

Sign up today for a chance to receive your “Prize at the Pump.”

“Even a little relief can make a difference, and we want people to know we’re here for them,” added Shaw.

June 1 winners:

• Bernard Hardge
• Dawn Cochran
• Alicia Gomez
• Nathaniel Jackson
• Carolina Guerrero

June 2 winners:

• Carol Burns
• Raul Sobrino
• Erik Von Dyck
• Imani Scott
• Karol Geimer

June 3 winners:

• Judson Walker
• Michelle Galanter
• Alain Perez
• Tywana Greene
• Noris Milian-Carpintero

June 4 winners:

• Calvin Brown
• John Nigro
• Frederick Arbour
• Michelle Laing
• Gayle McKeen

June 5 winners:

• Bruce Johnson
• Cecile Krinski
• Tiffany Llaguno
• Katrina Shellman
• Stu lLind

Also, Trump said Thursday that federal housing finance regulator Bill Pulte, his pick for acting director of national intelligence, would not be his “permanent” choice for the critical security post following bipartisan pushback on Capitol Hill in recent days over Pulte’s lack of national security experience.

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Employers added 172,000 jobs last month as US job market shows resilience despite Iran war

The Labor Department reported Friday that job growth was down slightly last month from a revised 179,000 in April. The unemployment rate stayed at a low 4.3%

The job market has been recovering this year from a miserable 2025, so far shrugging off higher energy prices and increased economic uncertainty since the United States and Israel attacked Iran in late February.

Hiring has bounced back this year from a miserable 2025, showing unexpected strength in the face of economic uncertainty and painfully high energy prices caused by the Iran war.

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Trump looms large over upcoming primary elections in Washington, DC

The last time Washington, D.C., residents chose a new delegate to Congress and a new mayor in the same election, gas was $1.33 a gallon and George H.W. Bush was president.

This fall they’ll do it again — under starkly different circumstances.

As the city heads toward pivotal primaries this month to pick candidates for those roles, President Trump’s influence on the nation’s capital is shaping up as a major campaign issue. The fresh slate of candidates is weighing how best to approach Trump’s Republican administration and congressional control over the heavily Democratic city’s affairs.

“It’s going to be a big sea change in city politics, no matter how the elections shake out,” said Amanda Huron, a professor at the University of the District of Columbia who teaches courses on D.C. history and politics. But Washington’s lack of full autonomy brings “all sorts of peculiarities around the city’s governance.”

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Trump says he will attend NBA Finals game in New York to root for his hometown Knicks

Trump, a longtime New York Knicks fan, said he plans to attend an NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden next week at the invitation of the team’s owner.

Describing himself as a “big fan” of the team and owner James Dolan, Trump said Thursday that he will be in the arena for at least one game next week. The NBA believes it would make him the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game.

“The answer is yes — he’s invited me, I’m going,” Trump said of Dolan’s invitation. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said he was eyeing Game 3 on Monday but didn’t rule out Game 4 on Wednesday. “Maybe I’ll do both.”

Trump, who is simultaneously contending with a war in Iran, strife in Congress and looming midterm elections, said he made sure to catch some of Game 1 on Wednesday as the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs and took a 1-0 lead in the series.

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Water begins refilling Reflecting Pool after Trump’s renovation to repaint it ‘American flag blue’

Water began refilling the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Thursday, Trump announced from the Oval Office.

Trump showed a video during an unrelated event with water bubbling into the freshly painted basin at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial.

“That’s clean, beautiful water,” the president said.

Live video showed water accumulating in the center of the basin, with workers and trucks still inside the pool.

Trump noted the work to paint the shallow basin a deep shade, which he calls “American flag blue,” was completed Wednesday. The administration said in a court filing that it was set to be filled with water no later than Sunday.

Trump also announced a plan to build a “promenade” that would allow pedestrians to walk from the back of the Lincoln Memorial to the Potomac River.

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Trump says Pulte won’t be his nominee for director of national intelligence

Trump said Thursday that federal housing finance regulator Bill Pulte, his pick for acting director of national intelligence, would not be his “permanent” choice for the critical security post.

The Republican president’s disclosure that he was ruling out installing Pulte in the position full-time came after bipartisan pushback on Capitol Hill in recent days over Pulte’s lack of national security experience. The position requires Senate confirmation, something that lawmakers indicated was unlikely if Pulte were the nominee.

“He’s not going to be permanent because, you know, I don’t think he’d want to be permanent,” Trump said while taking questions in the Oval Office after an event on coal. He called Pulte a “very smart guy” and said he may look at past elections that Trump claims, without credible evidence, were “rigged” against him.

Senate OKs $70B immigration bill after rejecting efforts to permanently ban Trump’s settlement fund

The Senate passed legislation to fund Trump’s immigration enforcement agencies early Friday, after weeks of delays and fierce backlash to an unrelated $1.776 billion settlement fund that threatened to derail the bill.

Senators voted 52-47 to pass the $70 billion legislation to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol for the next three years, through the end of Trump’s term, after Democrats had blocked the money for months. The bill will now head to the House, which is expected to take it up next week.

The final vote came just before 5 a.m., after Republicans narrowly defeated multiple attempts by members of both parties to add language to the bill that would permanently ban Trump’s settlement fund for allies who believe they’ve been politically persecuted.

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The tickets were “allocated at no charge (0 USD) due to a prior payment issue during the checkout process,” FIFA said in a statement Thursday.

“FIFA regrets the error and any inconvenience caused,” soccer's ruling body said. “The tickets requested by these fans remain reserved, and the affected fans have been invited to complete payment of the correct amount.”

It is the latest glitch in an often controversial World Cup ticketing program that the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey are investigating for possible violations of consumer protection laws.

The mispriced tickets were sold through the official World Cup site on May 21, FIFA said in an email message to buyers.

That date was more than three months after FIFA president Gianni Infantino said all 104 World Cup games had sold out.

Tickets are still being sold by FIFA for games at the World Cup which opens next Thursday in Mexico City. It is unclear if seats for games in less demand will drop in price under FIFA’s surge pricing model that has been controversial for fans.

FIFA also is operating its own resale platform — and taking 15% commission from both buyers and sellers — in order to cut out ticket dealers from the market. However, sales platforms such as Seat Geek were offering widespread availability Friday for many games.

Tickets for the 2026 World Cup are wildly more expensive than any previous edition, which FIFA has justified as helping earn billions of dollars it will give to member federations for developing the game globally.

FIFA took control of pricing and selling tickets as part of bringing World Cup operations in-house. The long-time model at previous editions was working with host nations’ local organizing committees.

When the soccer federations of the United States, Canada and Mexico won hosting rights in 2018, they promised to sell hundreds of thousands of tickets at $21 each for group-stage games.

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

The victims, all Nigeriens, were returning home from a religious festival in Mali when the truck stopped running more than 80 kilometers (49 miles) west of Assamaka, near the borders with Mali and Algeria, Niger's Agadez region governorate said in an online post late Thursday.

Two men survived after trekking more than 50 kilometers (31 miles) to a water source and then continuing to Assamaka, where they alerted authorities, the governorate said.

A delegation sent to the scene by the Agadez Region Governor Gen. Ibra Boulama Issa learned the truck had traveled for several days from the Malian town of Talhandek about 300 kilometers (187 miles) from the Nigerien border.

It was not immediately clear what led to the breakdown or how long the passengers waited.

“On the spot, the findings were particularly disturbing. Dozens of lifeless bodies were found under the immobile truck and in its surroundings,” the Agadez governorate said.

Photos published by the governorate showed bodies in the desert with pieces of clothing and other belongings scattered around.

“Deprived of water and unable to repair the vehicle despite the efforts of the driver, his apprentice and passengers, travelers found themselves trapped in the heart of a hostile environment where extreme temperatures and lack of supply points make survival extremely difficult,” the governorate said.

The 49 victims were buried in mass graves at the scene in what officials called a “particularly delicate and emotionally exhausting task” for the survivors.

Brendan Banfield, a former IRS law enforcement officer, claimed that he shot Joseph Ryan after he came across Ryan attacking his wife on the morning of Feb. 24, 2023. But prosecutors said Brendan Banfield and au pair Juliana Peres Magalhães set Ryan up in a scheme to get rid of Christine Banfield, a pediatric intensive care nurse.

Brendan Banfield faces the possibility of life in prison. In addition to murder, jurors in February convicted Banfield of child endangerment because the couple’s 4-year-old daughter was home during the killings.

During Banfield's trial, Magalhães testified that he had told her he wanted to marry her and have children with her, but he needed to “get rid of” his wife first. He didn’t want a divorce because “she would have more money than he would” and because he wanted custody of the couple’s daughter, said Magalhães, who was 21 when she started working for the Banfields in 2021.

Magalhães told jurors that she and Brendan Banfield had impersonated Christine Banfield on a website for sexual fetishes. They used the site to lure Ryan to the house in Herndon, Virginia, for a sexual encounter involving a knife and staged the scene to look as though they had shot a violent intruder.

Magalhães testified that on the day of the killings, she waited in a car outside the house with the Banfields' child. When Ryan arrived, she called Brendan Banfield, who was waiting at a nearby McDonald's. The pair took the child to the basement and then went to the bedroom, where they encountered Ryan. Brendan Banfield shot Ryan and then stabbed Christine Banfield with the knife Ryan had brought. When Magalhães saw Ryan moving, she fired a second shot that killed him.

Some media have dubbed the case the “au pair affair.” Magalhães pleaded guilty to manslaughter after agreeing to testify against Brendan Banfield. Magalhães was sentenced to 10 years in prison after Banfield's trial.

This fall they will do it again — under starkly different circumstances.

As the city heads toward pivotal primaries this month to pick candidates for those roles, President Donald Trump's influence on the nation's capital is shaping up as a major campaign issue. The fresh slate of candidates is weighing how best to approach Trump's Republican administration and congressional control over the heavily Democratic city's affairs.

“It’s going to be a big sea change in city politics, no matter how the elections shake out,” said Amanda Huron, a professor at the University of the District of Columbia who teaches courses on D.C. history and politics. But Washington’s lack of full autonomy brings “all sorts of peculiarities around the city’s governance.”

Since Trump returned to office last year, the National Guard is on an open-ended deployment as part of what he calls a crime-fighting mission. He is putting his personal imprint on the city’s storied landmarks. And major cuts to the federal workforce have compounded economic pressures on the capital, which has one of the country’s highest unemployment rates.

The city has long had a unique, if fraught, relationship with the federal government: While residents can vote for their local leaders, they are limited by Washington’s status as a federal district in how much influence they can actually have on the city’s affairs. That limited autonomy has been further squeezed under Trump and his federal law enforcement takeover, launched last year.

This fall, current council members Janeese Lewis George and Kenyan McDuffie are the frontrunners vying to replace Mayor Muriel Bowser, elected in 2014. The leading candidates in the race to succeed long-serving congressional Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton are Robert White Jr. and Brooke Pinto, also D.C. council members.

On June 16, primaries will be held for those roles, which in an overwhelmingly Democratic city usually dictate who will take the top spot come November.

Washington, and its elected officials, have limited autonomy

Washington, unlike other cities, does not control its fate.

What choices voters have is through a limited home rule agreement passed by Congress in 1973 that allowed residents to elect their local government leaders.

But Congress retains control over local affairs, including the approval of the budget and laws passed by the city council. Congressional members elected by voters from thousands of miles away routinely introduce measures to impact city affairs.

That has meant local leaders must balance pressures from their constituents with the demands of Congress and the administration — an act Bowser was forced to perform repeatedly.

During Trump's first term, she ordered the painting and naming of Black Lives Matter Plaza, just north of the White House, in 2020. Just months after Trump’s inauguration to his second term, she agreed to remove it in response to pressure from congressional Republicans.

That act, the decimation of the federal workforce by the Department of Government Efficiency and the surge by federal law enforcement and the National Guard into the city have emerged as central themes in the election season. Right now, about 3,500 troops are in the city — a number authorities say will climb to 5,000 as the country's 250th anniversary celebrations approach.

Trump has routinely said his intervention has made Washington “one of the safest" and most beautiful cities in the country, enjoying a historic drop in crime.

Candidates campaign on promise of resistance to Trump

George told The Associated Press that her top priority is addressing “the affordability crisis here in D.C., which the Trump administration has only made worse by unjustly firing federal employees en masse and militarizing our streets.”

McDuffie said his top priority is public safety as crime continues to be an issue. He has said he would add 1,000 police officers over four years, fully staff the 911 call center after years of chronic staffing shortages and take a public health approach to violence reduction.

“We cannot have an affordable city," he said, “without public safety as its foundation.”

Both said they would bolster the city’s legal defenses against federal overreach and said Bowser should have been less cooperative with federal authorities as they targeted members of the city's immigrant communities.

Alex Dodd, co-founder of Free DC, an activist group supporting city independence, said the organization endorsed George because of her willingness to be more aggressive in opposing Trump and congressional Republicans.

“When our leaders comply with this administration before being forced, they are giving this regime an enormous advantage,” he said.

Pat Wheeler, a native Washingtonian and communications consultant who served as a department head at Morgan State University, applauded Bowser for cooperating with the Trump administration on some aspects. She noted failure to do so could have sparked retribution and a loss of what little control city officials have.

“Trump can snap his finger and the whole Republican Congress will say, ‘Let’s put a federal control board over the mayor,’” she said.

Affordability and social issues also concerns

The D.C. delegate position is a nonvoting one, but it grants the nearly 700,000 people of the district, who have no other representation in Congress, a voice through speechmaking on the House floor and bill introduction.

But critics said the 88-year-old Norton was diminished during the second Trump administration and not visible enough in the fight against administration and congressional overreach on the city’s autonomy. She filed paperwork to end her campaign for reelection in January.

Norton, who has served 18 terms, has had a storied career. She and her predecessor, Walter Fauntroy Jr., both had national standing coming out of the civil rights era.

“Eleanor Holmes Norton is maybe one of the last major political figures who comes out of the civil rights movement,” said Matt Dallek, a political historian at The George Washington University. "It’s a real passing of the torch.”

The campaigns of candidates running to replace her have centered on local control, Trump and affordability. Frontrunners and council members Pinto and White have also engaged in personal skirmishes questioning the origins of campaign contributions and connections to Republicans.

Pinto told the AP her top priority for the city is self-governance, something that has “never been a true reality for the people of D.C.”

She said affordability for the middle-class and working families is another concern.

White's campaign has said he's “not willing to continue to see our tax dollars used to allow DC police to cooperate and conspire with federal agents to trample our constitutional rights and to terrorize our communities.”

Brenda Manley, a longtime resident of Ward 7, an area with a storied Black history across the Anacostia River, said the city was well managed despite the tensions with Trump. But she said she hoped all the candidates would spend more time on the campaign focusing on programs that are beneficial to all residents, like a tuition grant program championed by Norton or major strides made in education during Bowser's tenure.

“Those type of programs matter,” Manley said.

Dawa Sherpa was found Thursday crawling in the snowy slopes around the Khumbu Icefall, just above Everest base camp, a week after he went missing. The 57-year-old was flown to a Kathmandu and reunited with his family. He was being treated for frostbite, dehydration and problems in his thighs but was stable and recovering, HAMS Hospital said in a statement.

His family said they were upset that the search had not begun earlier and filed a police case against Dawa's employer, the Kathmandu-based Himalayan Traverse company, and a complaint at the Department of Tourism, which handles mountaineering in Nepal.

“Action needs to be taken by the mountaineering department. It was negligence of the company that resulted in so much delay in starting rescue,” Dawa's nephew, Karma Gelje Sherpa, said. “If he had been a foreign climber, rescue would definitely have been organized much faster and prompt, but he happened to be an old Nepali.”

Himalayan Traverse could not be immediately reached for comment Friday.

Dawa was last seen around May 29 descending the mountain, but he did not reach base camp even though two other foreign climbers who were with him did. They were among the last climbers on the mountain as the climbing season came to an end and the route was dismantled.

Dawa's last location was a spot called Yellow Band above the Camp 3, which is located at 7,200 meters (23,622 feet). The base camp is at 5,300 meters (17,388 feet).

Dawa was last seen with British climber Chris Thrall and a Polish climber identified by local media as Mariusz Chmielewski. Thrall said in his Instagram post that he had to help the Polish climber down the mountain because he was in bad shape and had frostbites.

“He (Dawa) had been in death zone for 19 hours and at that point, a decision was made that we needed to descent through the Icefall,” he said earlier this week, explaining why he did not go up the mountain to look for Dawa.

When helicopters were finally sent to look for him, they could not find him.

It was not clear why the men were on the mountain when authorities had removed the ladders on the path on May 29.

Dawa's family had already given up hope and they were on the second day of a funeral ritual, which lasts for several days.

The team that spotted him was part of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, which lays the ladders and ropes on the route at the start of each climbing season and then removes the equipment and cleans up the site after climbers have left.

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The filing asks the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the main human rights body of the African Union, to order Equatorial Guinea to immediately halt any further deportations, transfers or removals and improve detention conditions. It also asks the body to grant compensation to people who already have been returned to their home countries.

The case is being brought by several rights groups, including the Global Strategic Litigation Council coalition, on behalf of 14 African migrants deported from the U.S. to Equatorial Guinea between November 2025 and April 2026.

Advocates call it a landmark case

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights can issue decisions and urgent measures, as well as refer cases to the Africa Court on Human and Peoples' Rights but these orders are not binding. Nonetheless, advocates say this is a landmark case that could exercise pressure on governments of African countries who have taken in deportees from the U.S.

It is the first of its kind in the region involving people who had legal protection from removal but were still sent to countries where they face persecution, said Beatrice Njeri, the Global Strategic Litigation Council's regional litigator for Africa.

In March, the commission had already allowed a suit challenging the unlawful and prolonged detention of third country deportees in the African kingdom of Eswatini to proceed.

A month later, Eswatini’s Supreme Court ruled that four of the men sent there could finally meet with a lawyer after they were denied in-person legal counsel for nine months while held at a maximum-security prison.

Under a series of often-secret agreements, the Trump administration has deported thousands of people to nearly two dozen countries that are not their own, advocates say, all part of the broad U.S. crackdown on immigration. Immigration lawyers said the Trump administration uses deportations to third countries as a legal loophole to indirectly force asylum seekers back to their home countries.

Equatorial Guinea is one of at least eight other African nations that the U.S. has struck third-country deportation deals with.

Deportees returned to countries where they face persecution

Last week, Equatorial Guinea authorities transferred six deportees to their country of origin in eastern Africa, which lawyers say amount to “chain refoulement,” the indirect return of people to places where they face persecution, despite legal protections by courts in the United States.

The lawyers said the migrants face political, religious and ethnic persecution in their home countries, as well as violence based on sexual orientation. Some had previously been arrested or detained by police or military there, and many had experienced torture and sexual violence. All had previously been protected by U.S. immigration judges from being sent back to their home countries under federal immigration law.

Upon arrival in their home country, two of the deportees later fled to another country and have gone into hiding.

Three others were returned to Equatorial Guinea after their country of origin refused to admit them because they lacked valid travel documents and had not been notified of their arrival.

The migrants were then sent back to Equatorial Guinea, where they remain in legal limbo.

“They have effectively been rendered stateless,” said Bella Mosselmans, director of the Global Strategic Litigation Council, describing the process as a “a cycle of hell.”

Equatorial Guinea is a key U.S. partner despite rights concerns

Under an opaque $7.5 million deal with Washington, at least 32 people were deported from the U.S. to Equatorial Guinea, which the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jeanne Shaheen, has called “one of the most corrupt governments in the world.”

The Associated Press reported on the conditions of deportees who were forced back to their home countries. It also got exclusive access to a hotel turned into a prison for asylum seekers deported from the United States by Equatorial Guinea’s all-powerful president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.

Equatorial Guinea is one of the richest countries in Africa thanks to its oil resources. It is also rife with corruption and human rights abuses, according to U.S. officials.

There are virtually no critical voices in Equatorial Guinea, where the government has been accused by rights groups and the U.S. State Department of detaining, torturing and even killing those that dare to speak out.

The country's largest foreign investors are U.S. businesses, and its military receives funding for training from the U.S. government.

There’s barely time to rejoice. As Kemp raises his trophy for a picture, the charter boat’s captain rushes over and then drives a knifelike tool into the fish’s gas-filled bladder. The procedure, required by federal law, is intended to improve the fish’s chances of survival after release.

“Send it overboard,” orders the captain. And with that, Kemp's hopes of bringing the fish home to eat was lost.

Recreational fishermen like Kemp are pitched against commercial fishermen and environmentalists in a legal dispute that has halted what was expected to be the longest snapper season in years, reflecting broader tensions over the Trump administration's efforts to loosen fishing rules and deregulate the seas.

As part of those efforts, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in May exempted states from some restrictions under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the landmark law that guides fisheries management. But the decision was halted at the last minute by a federal judge in Washington who blocked the plan.

The Atlantic red snapper is known for both its fighting ability and popularity at the dinner table. After decades of overfishing, regulators in 2010 restricted recreational fishing to only a handful of days each year — when not banned altogether.

Starting last year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis led a charge with officials in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina to take over management of the recreational Atlantic snapper fishery, casting the effort as guaranteeing anglers’ “God-given right to fish.”

In May, NOAA issued special permits exempting the states from some legal requirements to protect fish. Instead of imposing wholesale fishing bans on bottom fishing each winter, as NOAA had proposed last year, the agency set up an Atlantic snapper season in four states ranging from 39 to 62 days, allowing anglers to keep one fish per day.

“We were excited,” said Kemp, who booked a charter to coincide with the season’s opening day.

Court battle pits recreational anglers against commercial fishermen

The conflict landed in court just before the season was about to begin May 22, and U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras issued an injunction based in part on environmental concerns. He relied on estimates from the nonprofit Ocean Conservancy suggesting recreational catches could reach up to 485,000 in Florida alone during the expanded season — 20 times the number of landed catch allowed.

Kemp learned about the judge's order from a text message sent by a friend while driving to the marina.

“Originally we thought it was a joke, given the severity,” said Kemp.

The ruling sparked immediate backlash. Florida wildlife officials denounced the decision as the work of a “rogue federal judge,” while some fishermen involved in the lawsuit reported receiving threats after DeSantis falsely accused them of trying to commandeer the quota all for themselves.

One of the plaintiffs, North Carolina fisherman Jeff Oden, said commercial fishermen are struggling to survive amid rising costs and competition from imported seafood. He worries that expanded recreational harvests could leave too few snapper available when the commercial season begins later this year.

“We’re vanishing,” Oden said. “You as a consumer, you’re the loser.”

Stock is rebounding but scientists urge caution

The dispute stems in part from disagreements over the health of the fishery. NOAA estimates that roughly one-quarter of released red snapper die, despite techniques designed to improve their survival like puncturing the bladder to reduce gases that build up in their bladder when pulled up, hindering them from returning to the ocean’s depths where they live.

Yet many fishermen argue the stock is thriving. Kemp’s group hooked about a dozen fish within 40 minutes of arriving to a reef off Florida’s coast.

“To be completely honest, we have never seen an unhealthy stock,” said Haley Stephens, who with her husband operates the Sea Spirit, a charter boat in Ponce Inlet, Florida.

Scientists counter that the abundance of younger fish is misleading and point to biological sampling that indicates most fish being caught haven’t reached the peak of their reproductive maturity.

“It’s tricky because this is a rebuilding fish stock,” said Meredith Moore, a program director at Ocean Conservancy. “So people out in the water are seeing more of the fish than they have seen in a long time, and so that gives them the sense that everything is great.”

NOAA declined to comment on the snapper dispute, citing ongoing litigation. However, it said that it is working with fisheries managers across the country “to better prioritize work around existing resources, explore efficiencies, and streamline operations” in accordance with the “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness” executive order signed last year by President Donald Trump.

The judge, in his ruling, faulted Florida and the other states for declining to provide their own harvest projections. Officials, however, argued that existing federal estimates were unreliable and would eventually be replaced with improved state-collected data.

Oden said he understands the frustrations of recreational anglers but believes everyone must share the burden of conservation.

“There’s only so many fish to go around,” he said.

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Wieffering reported from Washington. Serginho Roosblad contributed from Washington.

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Those killed have since been identified by MDSO as Ryan Charles Whiten, 42; Melanie Lauren Hyer, 46; and their biological daughters, Savannah Whiten, 11, and Sienna Whiten, 8.

According to investigators, detectives determined that Ryan Whiten co-parented the children with Hyer. Authorities said their investigation revealed that he killed the three family members before taking his own life.

Friends of Ryan Whiten and Hyer told Local 10 News that they had been divorced for years.

According to investigators, Doral police officers responded to a home in the gated Doral Isles community Tuesday night after a concerned family friend requested a welfare check.

Authorities said officers entered the home and found all four dead. Police confirmed they all had stab wounds on their bodies.

As the investigation continues, neighbors and parents in the community are struggling to come to terms with the killings.

“That is a tragedy,” said Anderina Zerpa, who lives nearby. “That is a worst nightmare for a parent.”

Zerpa said she was stunned to learn what happened so close to home.

“I live super close to their house and I didn’t even know,” she added.

Among those grieving is Doral Mayor Christi Fraga, who said she knew Hyer personally through their children’s school community.

“I said hi to her almost every morning (while) dropping off my child, my son,” Fraga said.

Fraga described Hyer as a parent who worked to bring families together.

“She’s the one that created the chat of all the moms to kind of go have lunches and stuff, and get together and build a community around our kids,” she added.

Fraga said she hopes the family is remembered for the positive impact they had on those around them rather than the circumstances of their deaths.

“We want to remember them by their bubbly personalities, their beautiful smiles and pray for their souls, pray for their families and for everyone that surrounded them that this will impact,” she added.

A representative for Downtown Doral Charter Schools previously confirmed that Savannah and Sienna were students at the school, where grief counselors have been made available to students and staff.

Loved ones are also focusing on remembering the victims’ lives.

Sandra Bermudez, CEO and founder of The Lucy Project, remembered Hyer as a dedicated mother who gave her time and energy to helping others.

“She fundraised and brought her energy,” Bermudez said of Hyde. “(She was) a mom that cared.”

Bermudez said Hyer was a real estate agent and supported South Florida nonprofit efforts, including literacy programs for children through The Lucy Project.

Her daughter Savannah also participated in the program and had dyslexia, according to those familiar with her involvement.

Virginia Talieh, a learning specialist who worked with Savannah and Sienna, told Local 10 News that she was expecting to work with both sisters in the summer.

“They had a wonderful contagious smile,” Talieh said. “Sienna was like a little Tasmanian devil, like all around all the places. Savannah was like a ray of sunshine. No child deserves anything like that.”

“I’ll miss them,” she added. “ I’ll miss them very much. I haven’t been able to delete them from my calendar for next week.”

Talieh says working with spelling tiles were one of Savannah’s favorite activities.

“She got a 100 percent on that spelling test after discovering the tiles,” Talieh added. “She came back with the tiles and I said, ‘You keep them. My present.’”

In the Doral neighborhood where the family lived, residents said they are grieving and planning to cancel a community event, choosing instead to gather in solidarity and reflection.

Fraga has also encouraged anyone experiencing domestic violence or mental health challenges to seek help.

Resources are available through the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office’s domestic violence services program and the city of Doral’s mental health resources webpage.

MDSO Homicide Bureau detectives have taken over the investigation.

Glasses cases, medicines and reclining chairs lay strewn around the burned-out shell of the home in Anguruwatota, a small town about 55 kilometers (34 miles) southeast of the capital, Colombo.

The surviving residents have been shifted to a nearby nursing home.

According to police, 71 people with mental illnesses were staying at the home at the time of the fire. Fifty of them were rescued by neighbors, firefighters and police, and seven were hospitalized.

On Friday, another person died of his injuries, a police officer at the police station at Anguruwatota said, speaking on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak to the media.

The director of the home has already been arrested on suspicion of causing deaths through negligence. He appeared before a court on Thursday and was ordered to be detained for a week while an investigation is underway.

Dhanuja Chathuranga, a 32-year-old employee at the home told the Associated Press that they suspect the fire was caused by an electric short circuit in a wire attached to a water pump.

“The fire initially caught a pile of mattresses and pillows and then quickly spread across the house,” he said, adding that they rescued the majority of the residents, but 10 people were caught in the fire and burned to death. Three others died later in the hospital.

Associated Press footage showed the building gutted with its charred furniture and equipment. Bodies lay nearby.

Local television channels showed image of firefighters, police and residents trying to contain the raging fire. Police and soldiers put those rescued on buses to be taken to a safe location.

Chathura Mihudum, director of the National Secretariat for Elders, said the facility was not registered as a nursing home and had been warned to follow laws and guidelines.

He said it was overcrowded with beds for just about 15 people in a space where 71 people were living.

Government officials had previously visited the institution and had instructed the management to follow laws, he said, without elaborating.

One thing they are unlikely to debate is the politics of many Southern Baptists, the vanguard of broader white conservative evangelical support for President Donald Trump.

Officials for the Southern Baptist Convention, the nation's largest Protestant denomination, say more than 11,000 church representatives have preregistered for the two-day meeting in Orlando.

Revisiting a ban on churches with women pastors

In the previous three annual meetings, a majority of representatives voted to amend the SBC constitution to ban churches with women in any pastoral role. But the measures failed to get a two-thirds supermajority in two consecutive years that is required to pass an amendment.

The denomination’s statement of belief, the Baptist Faith and Message, declares that the office of pastor is limited to men. While nonbinding on churches, this has prompted the SBC to expel some churches with women in leading pastoral roles. Now the focus is those who preach or serve in subordinate pastoral roles.

This year, an amendment proposed by Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, would exclude any church that acts “to affirm, appoint, or endorse a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor/elder/overseer, specifically preaching to the assembled congregation.”

Mohler noted the debate has consumed too much time and attention. “Clarity in the constitution would settle that,” he said.

The outgoing SBC president, Clint Pressley, supports the amendment, as do both candidates running to succeed him.

Another nonbinding resolution with similar language will be considered. It requires only a simple majority to pass.

As an association of independent congregations, the SBC can’t tell them what to do. But it can expel any church deemed not to be in “friendly cooperation.” The convention has ousted churches in recent years that appointed women to top pastoral positions or asserted the right to do so. But the status of churches with female assistant pastors is still debated.

On his own podcast, Mohler recently said it would even be a “problem” for a church podcast to include a woman answering questions about that week’s sermon.

Array of issues queued up for debate

That view drew pushback online, including from prominent Bible teacher Beth Moore, who left the SBC after she faced criticism for advocating for victims of sexual abuse and criticizing evangelical support for Trump despite such things as his crude sexual boasts.

“How in heaven’s name a woman discussing a sermon on a podcast could be objectionable to some is beyond me and what I believe to be beyond scripture,” she posted on X.

She added later: “Which has been the greater problem: women trying to become your senior pastors or pastors misusing or abusing women?”

Amy Sims, associate pastor of preschool and children at Sugarland Baptist Church in Sugarland, Texas, described a now-yearly contrast of preparing for vacation Bible school just as Southern Baptists are debating women's ministry.

“I preach. I teach. I disciple children and families,” she wrote on the independent site Baptist News Global. “I walk with parents through crises. I visit hospitals. I help lead people to faith in Christ. I perform baptisms. ... I serve now at a church that is beautifully supportive of my work and calling as a woman and pastor.”

Every June, Sims added, "there are those who seem determined to remind me they do not believe God could have called me to do the very work I am doing.”

Even as the convention's membership shrinks, the annual meeting serves as a bellwether for religious and political trends among evangelicals. And as is typical, the biggest attention will be on whether the already-conservative SBC decides to move further rightward.

The upcoming meeting follows the release of internal statistics showing a continuation of a nearly two-decade-long decline in membership. It’s down to 12.3 million, the lowest since 1973.

Southern Baptists have, however, seen a bump in baptisms. They consider this a key spiritual vital sign because it measures conversions, though the increase is not enough to stem the overall decline.

Southern Baptists will consider other policy statements. One proposed resolution calls for humane treatment of immigrants and rejecting nativistic and dehumanizing rhetoric while also affirming the government's responsibility for immigration enforcement.

Another denounces antisemitic violence and conspiracy theories, notably those arising since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. At the same time, the resolution affirms Southern Baptists' hope for Jews' conversion to Christianity.

In 1996, an SBC resolution called for the evangelization of Jews, prompting major Jewish leaders to call it a setback for interfaith relations.

Baptists' long ties to conservative politics

Beyond denominational politics, the majority-white SBC is a core part of the wider, predominately white evangelical constituency that has coalesced behind Trump. Prominent Southern Baptists say they see little change in that.

They like Trump’s official policy recognizing only two, biologically determined genders, though they worry about his administration’s moderation on abortion. Baptist leaders have largely supported his war against Iran, but were quick to move on from Trump’s posting in April of a social media meme they deemed to be blasphemous.

Trump won the support of about 8 in 10 white evangelical Christian voters in 2020 and 2024, according to AP VoteCast, a large voter survey.

About two-thirds of white born-again Protestants approved of Trump’s overall performance in April, compared to about one-third of U.S. adults overall. That’s according to survey findings from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Mohler said evangelicals were widely appalled at the Trump social-media meme depicting himself as a healing savior.

“You had the vast majority of evangelicals saying this is fundamentally wrong,” Mohler said. But that's “within the context of the fact that overwhelmingly evangelicals supported President Trump as president."

Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of the large First Baptist Church in Dallas and a longtime Trump supporter, said he appreciated that the president “had enough sensitivity to remove” the meme after the backlash.

Emphasizing that he was speaking for himself and not his church or the SBC, Jeffress added that he supported Trump's creation of a Religious Liberty Commission, where Jeffress testified about what he contended was unfair scrutiny of his church by the IRS.

Jeffress also supported Trump's decision to go to war against Iran, saying a president has “not only the right but the God-given duty to protect our nation.”

Mohler agreed, but sought to temper expectations. He said he supported past wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but now realizes that some of their objectives, such as nation-building, were not realistic. A just war needs “limited and honest aims,” he said.

Dwight McKissic, senior pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, has criticized fellow Southern Baptist leaders for both their political slant and their gender focus.

The Black pastor posted on X that the SBC and its theologians have been wrong about issues ranging from slavery and segregation to the mistreatment of sexual-abuse survivors.

“And now they expect us to just blindly trust them on gender theology and women in ministry issues?" McKissic wrote.

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

Six people were killed, Lebanon's state news agency reported. The warnings forced hundreds of families to flee the village of Anqoun and the area of Aarnaya, on the edge of the predominantly Christian village of Maghdoucheh, near the southern port city of Sidon.

The strikes came a day after the Hezbollah militant group rejected the latest ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese government, and demanded a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.

Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a strong ally of Hezbollah who has been acting as a mediator on behalf of the group, said that he accepts Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the areas south of the Litani River as long as it coincides with the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon. It was his first comment on the agreement reached in Washington this week.

The river, located about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border with Israel, forms the boundary of a 2006 U.N.-established buffer zone in which Hezbollah is banned. Israeli troops have currently pushed far past the Litani River into southern Lebanon.

Berri added in a statement that the ceasefire should be “complete and comprehensive” without any restrictions or conditions on land, at sea and in the air, and “without bulldozing and demolishing everything that exists.” He was referring to wide areas that have been demolished by Israeli troops.

Berri criticized the creation of “pilot zones” in the agreement as well as calls for a unilateral ceasefire by Hezbollah and its withdrawal from border areas south of the Litani River.

Lebanese and UN troops take positions in a village vacated by Israeli soldiers

The war in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have seized large swaths of the south since March 2, threatens efforts to end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a globally important conduit for oil, natural gas, fertilizer and other commodities. Iran has demanded that any lasting truce extend to Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces elections later this year, wants to press ahead with Israel’s offensive until Hezbollah no longer poses a threat.

Nearly three hours after Friday's evacuation warnings were issued by the Israeli military’s Arabic spokesperson, Israeli warplanes struck the villages, including Anqoun. About 2,500 people displaced by the fighting were sheltering in Anqoun, the Lebanese news agency NNA reported.

On Thursday, drone alert sirens had sounded in several border communities in northern Israel, including a town where Netanyahu had met earlier with local officials. The Israeli military later said the sirens were triggered by attempts to intercept several drones that hit near soldiers in southern Lebanon. No injuries were reported.

On Friday, U.N. peacekeepers and Lebanese troops were seen at an entrance of the village of Dibbine, near the town of Marjayoun, after Israeli forces withdrew following intense clashes with Hezbollah fighters.

The ceasefire agreement calls for Lebanon’s armed forces to take control of security zones in Lebanon from which the militants would be banned.

It was the first time Israeli troops pulled out from an area in southern Lebanon since the latest Israel-Hezbollah war began three months ago.

At the entrance of the village, dozens of homes were seen destroyed as a result of the clashes and airstrikes. A bulldozer for the peacekeeping force was opening the main road leading to Dibbine.

Israeli troops have seized around a fifth of Lebanon, pushing further into the country’s south than at any time since the end of Israel’s 1982-2000 occupation. The latest declared ceasefire came about through U.S.-brokered talks between Israel and Lebanon’s government, which accuses Hezbollah of dragging the country into war and had made efforts to disarm it before the latest hostilities.

On Thursday night, an airstrike in the southern city of Tyre killed three and wounded seven people, including three children and two women, the Health Ministry said.

More than 3,500 people have been killed in Lebanon since the war began. The fighting has killed at least 29 Israeli soldiers and three civilians.

____

Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.

The music stars will perform Dai Dai, the official song for the tournament, ahead of the opening game between co-host Mexico and South Africa on Thursday.

FIFA has planned opening ceremonies for each host nation, with curtain-raisers ahead of games in the United States and Canada as well.

World soccer’s governing body has revealed the line-up for the show in Mexico, which also includes Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná and Tyla. It said more artists would be announced for the ceremonies in the U.S. and Canada.

Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé headline in Toronto on June 12 ahead of Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Later that day Katy Perry, global pop star LISA, Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema, Brazilian pop artist Anitta, and hip-hop artist Future are performing in Los Angeles before the U.S. faces Paraguay.

The trio of shows is being created by Italian producer Marco Balich, who was behind the spectacular opening ceremony for this year’s Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Each show will be held about 90 minutes before kickoff.

Shakira is also among headliners performing at a Super Bowl-style halftime show for the World Cup final along with Madonna and boy band BTS.

Diana Ross performed at the opening ceremony in Chicago when the World Cup was last held in the U.S. in 1994 and famously missed a penalty kick as part of the show.

The song Dai Dai aims to raise $100 million in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.

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It also disclosed that his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, live in rent-controlled palace properties paid for by their uncle, King Charles III.

The National Audit Office report said Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor received income from renting out the cottages on the Royal Lodge estate, his home near Windsor Castle for more than 20 years. A lease for Royal Lodge signed in 2003 shows he paid only a nominal fee known as a “peppercorn rent” for the property, which included a 30-room mansion and eight cottages, three of which he was allowed to sublet.

The amount of income was not included in the report, an omission that Margaret Hodge, a Labour member of the House of Lords and former head of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, said was concerning.

“It’s shocking that the National Audit Office was not able to establish how much money Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor secured from the properties he let,” she said.

The audit office review was carried out at the request of lawmakers after Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his royal titles and evicted from Royal Lodge by his brother, the king, following revelations about his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mountbatten-Windsor moved earlier this year to the king’s Sandringham Estate in eastern England.

In February, the former prince, 66, was arrested and questioned by police about allegations of misconduct in public office. Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, and has not been charged.

The royals' housing arrangements

The audit office report shows that 11 working royals receive free housing within palaces in return for their official duties. They include the king and Queen Camilla, Prince William and his wife Catherine, and the king’s youngest brother, Prince Edward, and his wife Sophie.

William and Kate also have a family home near Windsor, for which they pay rent of 307,200 pounds (about $413,000) a year.

The rents on Eugenie’s cottage in Kensington Palace and Beatrice’s apartment in St. James’s Palace are set at a portion of open-market value that has ranged in recent years between 50% and 68%. Both rents are paid out of the Privy Purse, the monarch’s private funds.

The pair are not considered “working” royals who carry out public duties, and both have outside jobs.

Buckingham Palace said the audit office report “is in line with the royal household’s commitment to transparency. We hope that the findings will help correct, clarify or contextualize a number of points regarding royal properties.”

Critics of the monarchy cited the findings as evidence the royal family does not pay its way.

“It shows an absolute total contempt for the taxpayer, not only that Andrew was able to have a peppercorn rent for a gigantic property, but then to make potentially millions on the side from subletting properties,” said former Liberal Democrat lawmaker Norman Baker, a longtime critic of royal finances.

The prince's links to Epstein

Mountbatten-Windsor has featured in millions of pages of documents about Epstein released by the U.S. Department of Justice in January, showing how the wealthy financier used an international web of rich, powerful friends to gain influence and sexually exploit young women and girls.

British police are looking into claims that Mountbatten-Windsor sent confidential trade information to the disgraced financier when he served as U.K. trade envoy from 2001 to 2011. Detectives say they may broaden their investigation to include allegations of sexual misconduct and have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Mountbatten-Windsor has rarely been seen in public since he moved to the Sandringham Estate, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of London. He was photographed Thursday in a car with a large bruise on his face.

The Times of London said, without citing sources, that the bruise was the result of a “nonserious medical condition.”

Congolese authorities announced the new Ebola outbreak on May 15. At least 63 people have died from 381 confirmed cases, Congolese Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said late Thursday. Yet the outbreak has been challenged by skepticism, attacks on health workers and misinformation.

Vérité Johnson, a journalist and editorial secretary at the Radio Télévision Mont Bleu station in Bunia, the eastern Ituri province capital where the outbreak is concentrated, decided to produce a new program to combat rumors.

The radio show has emerged as a vital tool to win over some residents who have been unaware or skeptical about the facts of Bundibugyo.

The 45-minute program runs daily at 10 a.m., reminding people of the dangers and regularly featuring health specialists providing updates and answering questions. The show's jingles about the virus also play intermittently throughout the day and residents are able to call in with questions.

“So far, there’s still a layer of resistance within the population, and that’s where the media plays an important role,” Johnson said.

Resistance to protocols during public health emergencies is common in Congo, which is battling its 17th Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified there in 1976. There currently is no approved vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo type of Ebola, which has added another layer of fear.

Widespread rumors, often arising from fear and misinformation, discourage residents from adhering to health warnings or seeking medical help during an outbreak, health officials say. People often hear about a disease through the media as authorities and international partners scramble to contain the outbreak.

Unfounded rumors link Ebola to money

Some residents allege illnesses like Ebola are elevated by opportunists trying to profit.

“They don’t separate people who have Ebola from those who have the flu at the hospital. Given the manner in which people are treated, we deduce it is about money,” said Samson Gerson, 52-year-old Bunia resident and father of seven children. “I can never take the vaccine, I prefer to die because if the vaccine arrives, it can scare us even more.”

Analysts say some people in Congo have been receptive to disinformation due to mistrust of the healthcare system and because some local officials have not become actively involved in containing the disease.

“What is key is to involve the local actors at all levels. If we try to impose what we think is right to the community, we are running towards failure,” said Basile Rambaud, emergency programs director for Mercy Corps in Congo. “If people do not trust the response, they end up delaying to seek care, rejecting protective measures, or avoiding working with health teams, giving the virus more time to spread.”

Ituri province residents have launched at least three attacks against health centers, demanding the bodies of deceased patients. Some people who are believed to have Ebola left the centers during the attacks and health workers could not account for their whereabouts.

“We don’t even know what the body of a person who died of Ebola looks like, but we just see images and montages on our phone,” said Bunia resident Chantal Francine, who expressed doubts over the reported deaths.

Full scale of the outbreak is unknown

The virus has rapidly spread from an initial three health zones to 24, according to World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who said Wednesday that the virus “had a big start.”

Experts and WHO officials have warned the numbers might not reflect the true scale of the epidemic as weeks of testing for the wrong type caused a delay in containing the virus.

The outbreak has been worsened by an ongoing armed conflict between Congo's government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, as well as attacks by the Islamic State-affiliated group the Allied Democratic Force, which killed 16 people in Beni territory in North Kivu on Tuesday.

The attacks by both groups have caused massive displacement of people living in the conflict areas, officials said.

Despite the growing Bundibugyo outbreak and the conditions that are enabling the disease to spread, Johnson said Radio Télévision Mont Bleu continues providing residents with vital facts.

“Everyone is free to think what they want, but the information remains the same. The epidemic is here,” Johnson said.

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Adetayo reported from Lagos, Nigeria.

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The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The 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.

Opponents of drilling in the refuge's coastal plain have pointed to a lack of industry interest in the prior two sales held there and ongoing changes in Alaska’s arctic region due to climate change as proof the region should be off-limits to drilling. But supporters of drilling see the coastal plain, which is roughly the size of Delaware, as a potential untapped resource that could boost U.S. oil production and generate new revenue and jobs.

A coalition of conservation groups this spring sent a letter to leaders of 11 petroleum companies including major ConocoPhillips and Hilcorp, both major players in Alaska, urging them to not participate in the sale. The letter cited ongoing litigation over the leasing program, dating to President Donald Trump's first term, and warned of “financial, operational and reputational risks.”

The letters, signed by groups including The Wilderness Society, Sierra Club and Earthjustice, called the refuge a crown jewel in the country's public lands system and said there is strong support for protecting it, “making any action there especially visible and consequential.”

A spokesperson for ConocoPhillips Alaska, Megan Olson, said the company doesn't discuss its lease sale plans. A Hilcorp spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

The Trump administration has taken a keen interest in Alaska, and his tax and spending bill passed by Congress last year included provisions mandating lease sales in three regions of the state. In addition to the refuge's coastal plain, leases have also been offered in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and in Cook Inlet, an aging basin that's provided natural gas for Alaska's most populous region for decades.

There were no takers in the Cook Inlet auction in March. But there were hundreds of bids, including from major oil companies, for what was the first sale since 2019 in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska — despite pending litigation challenging the leasing program. The Trump administration has moved to open more lands to drilling in the reserve and roll back protections there. The petroleum reserve is where ConocoPhillips Alaska is developing the large Willow oil project.

On Alaska's vast, petroleum-rich North Slope, the major oil fields of Prudhoe Bay and Kuparuk lie between the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

A state corporation, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, currently holds leases in the refuge but there is no active drilling. The U.S. Geological Survey has estimated that the coastal plain could contain 4.25 billion to 11.8 billion barrels of recoverable oil, but there is limited information about the amount and quality of oil.

The coastal plain, bordering the Beaufort Sea in northeast Alaska, features rolling hills and tundra and provides habitat for wildlife including musk oxen and migratory birds. It is considered sacred by the Gwich'in, because the caribou herd they rely upon calve there. Leaders from Gwich’in villages near the refuge have vowed to continue fighting to prevent drilling there.

But some Alaska Native communities have embraced development and see it as essential to the regional economy.

Nagruk Harcharek, president and CEO of Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat, an advocacy group whose members include leaders from Alaska Native communities on the North Slope, said there’s a long history of balancing development with culturally important practices, such as subsistence hunting. Responsible development is a key part of self-determination, particularly for residents in Kaktovik, the only community within the refuge, who support drilling, he said.

Kaktovik residents hunt and fish on the coastal plain and “will be a big part of whatever project moves forward in making sure that all of those resources are protected and that their people are taken care of," he said.

It was somehow an even crazier finish than the series opener 48 hours earlier, when Vegas' Tomas Hertl scored the winner with 3:24 left. It's all tied up after the Hurricanes overcame a multigoal deficit in thrilling fashion.

Here is how it happened:

10:20 left in regulation

Down 2-0 after having almost nothing going offensively for the first two periods and much of the first half of the third, the Hurricanes hemmed the Golden Knights in their own end, getting three shots on net and testing goalie Carter Hart. Vegas iced the puck, and the crowd could sense the home team was buzzing.

"The building got going," captain Jordan Staal said. “Obviously, we just needed a spark.”

9:40 left

Logan Stankoven, who has been one of the Hurricanes' best players all postseason, took it upon himself to make a difference. He stole the puck from Rasmus Andersson behind the net, skated toward the crease and banked the puck in off defender Jeremy Lauzon.

“It’s tough to find goals,” Staal said. “We got a bounce. That’s kind of all it took.”

7:14 left

The momentum turned quickly, and the fourth line kept it going. William Carrier somehow stayed onside, and while getting tangled up with Lauzon, passed the puck to streaking linemate Mark Jankowski, who fired a shot past Hart to tie it.

“I didn’t have a lot of time, honestly," said Jankowski, who scored his first of the playoffs after having two called off. "Just got it on my stick, got my head up and just tried to give my best shot possible. Didn’t have a lot of thought behind it, honestly. Instinct half kicked in there.”

5:00 left

With Vegas forward Ivan Barbashev, a two-time Cup champion, around the net with room to maneuver, Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen stretched across the crease to get the paddle of his stick on the puck and keep it out. Players converged, and puck eventually went in the net and referee Jean Hebert immediately waved it off, announcing it was goalie interference because Andersen was pushed.

Golden Knights coach John Tortorella challenged that it was not. Officials and the NHL's on-site situation room quickly confirmed the call on the ice, putting the Hurricanes on the power play.

“I saw a loose puck in front of Freddie," Tortorella said. "Our player stabbed it, didn’t move the goalie and it goes through him into the other side. I’d challenge it 10 out of 10 times.”

4:35 left

Carolina's power play was 0 for 4 in the series to that point and 7 for 60 in the playoffs. Shayne Gostisbehere took a shot from the point, Staal redirected it in from just in front of Hart and Carolina had the lead for the first time all game.

"Just shooting pucks and finding ways to get it to the net," Staal said. “Just finding ways to get a good, quality shot.”

3:29 left

Jackson Blake interfered with Barbashev, putting Vegas on the power play. The Hurricanes' penalty kill got the job done, improving to 56 for 60, a 93.3% success rate.

1:21 left

Mere seconds after the power play expired and with Hart on the bench, pulled for an extra skater, Golden Knights captain Mark Stone tied it. The puck went off him, and Carolina's Jaccob Slavin knocked the puck into his own net.

3:56 into overtime

Hertl tripped Staal 3:17 into overtime, putting the Hurricanes back on the power play.

Gostisbehere found Seth Jarvis, who had struggled so much coach Rod Brind'Amour moved him down to the the third line. Jarvis ripped a one-timer past Hart to give his team a 4-3 win.

“It’s huge,” Jarvis said. “To be able to contribute to win and help the team out like that is nice, get the power play going even more after Jordo, follow his lead. Just keep this wave rolling now.”

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The ratification was widely expected and a walkout never seemed to be in the cards during drama-free negotiations, but the vote assures there will be no repeat of the 2023 actor and writer strikes that seriously shook the entertainment industry.

More than 90% of votes from members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists approved of the agreement, with about 19% of eligible voters casting ballots.

Like the Writers Guild of America, whose members approved their own contract on April 24, the actors’ new deal is for four years instead of the usual three, providing an extra layer of labor stability in the industry.

Actor Sean Astin, president of SAG-AFTRA, said in a statement that the contract “delivers meaningful gains in compensation, strengthens protections around artificial intelligence and digital identity, reinforces the long-term security of members’ benefit plans and recognizes the realities of how performers work today.”

The contract says AI performers must bring “significant additional value” over a live actor or a digital capture of them if producers are to use them. Union leaders say this and other provisions will keep use of AI actors minimal.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which negotiates for a coalition of Hollywood’s major studios, streamers and production companies, congratulated the union on the ratification.

“SAG-AFTRA’s leadership brought a genuine commitment to partnership, and together with the WGA agreement, these deals demonstrate what is possible when the industry works toward practical solutions,” the alliance said in a statement.

AMPTP negotiators have been in contract talks with the Directors Guild of America since May 11. The negotiations are the first under new DGA president Christopher Nolan. That contract is set to expire June 30.

Desde el estadio Monumental, el más grande de Perú, Fujimori, de 51 años y líder de Fuerza Popular, aseguró que gobernará solamente cinco años con un equipo ministerial que congregará a los mejores especialistas y recuperará “el orden” con respeto a la Constitución y al banco central para evitar la inflación.

La candidata, que postula por cuarta vez, dijo que si llega al poder defenderá la inversión privada en todos los niveles para cuidar “los puestos de trabajo” y el futuro de “nuestros hijos”. La hija del fallecido y condenado expresidente Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000) añadió que representa “la reconciliación” y el “progreso” entre peruanos, mientras su rival, el nacionalista Sánchez, busca “dividir” y es el símbolo del “retroceso”.

Desde un parque de Lima, Sánchez, un exministro de Comercio Exterior del encarcelado expresidente Pedro Castillo (2021-2022) y candidato de Juntos por el Perú, respondió a Fujimori y dijo que ella “se ha querido vender como la señora del orden” pero recordó que la bancada fujimorista impulsó varias normas conocidas como las “leyes procrimen” que favorecen a la criminalidad y dificultan el trabajo policial.

Según datos oficiales, la criminalidad ha avanzado el último quinquenio en Perú, en especial las extorsiones, que se han quintuplicado, y los asesinatos, que se han duplicado.

El psicólogo de 57 años y actual congresista añadió que si gobierna planteará a los socios comerciales de Perú “así sea China, el Reino Unido, Canadá, Australia” que traigan industria al país sudamericano para generar más puestos de trabajo.

“Vendemos pura materia prima”, se quejó. “La única forma posible de enriquecer la patria es dando justicia, paz social, derechos humanos, democracia y por eso que nos temen".

El viernes, tras el cierre de las campañas electorales, los candidatos no podrán realizar actividades proselitistas. Según las leyes de Perú tampoco se pueden difundir encuestas en el territorio durante la última semana. Los comicios son obligatorios bajo pena de multa de entre 7 y 32 dólares en caso de incumplimiento.

Las elecciones presidenciales de segunda vuelta en Perú se realizarán el domingo 7 de junio. Quien triunfe gobernará por cinco años desde el 28 de julio.

The EU-Western Balkans summit, being held in the Adriatic Sea coastal town of Tivat, brings together EU leaders including President Emmanuel Macron of France and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as well as the heads of candidate countries in the Balkans.

High on the agenda will be Montenegro's EU accession. The bloc has already formed a working group to draft an accession treaty for the country, a signal that membership is within reach.

Security was heavy across Montenegro after the National Security Agency said it had foiled a plot to disrupt the summit and had turned away 87 Serbian nationals after they arrived in Tivat on a chartered flight because they posed “a risk for internal and national security.”

Police issued lengthy and expansive road closures on Thursday and on the morning of the summit as delegations arrived and moved around. The closures resulted in hourslong halts to traffic in the coastal region and as far as the capital Podgorica, some 50 miles (80 kilometers) away.

Enlargement to boost economy and defense

Adding members to the bloc for more single market economic benefits and stronger security capabilities has gained increased urgency in recent years as the continent has faced a series of challenges, such as lopsided trade with China, migration pressures, the war in Ukraine and increasing hybrid threats from Russia.

The EU has signaled its commitment to expanding into the Western Balkans, where it has urged candidate countries such as Montenegro to carry out reforms like cutting corruption and shoring up democratic institutions — steps viewed as benefiting both the candidate nations and the EU as a whole.

“Enlargement means that we can win economically, become stronger politically, we can provide more security to our citizens,” said European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

In a post on X, Merz said the bloc wants the Western Balkan countries to join the EU “as quickly as possible.”

“The fact that we haven’t admitted any new members in 13 years also shows shortcomings of the EU,” he wrote. “We want to overcome those today.”

As wars rage in Ukraine, Iran and the Middle East, and Europe’s security has come under question with the United States viewed as less committed to its NATO allies, EU countries have pushed to boost their military capabilities to ward off future threats.

During a tour of countries in the Western Balkans this week, European Council President Antonio Costa, who is hosting the summit, has emphasized how serious the bloc is about enlarging.

Speaking in Serbia on Thursday after meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Costa said the EU would look for new ways to speed up the membership process for the Western Balkan candidate countries.

In times of “global geopolitical uncertainty and economic instability,” Costa said, enlarging the EU is “not just an opportunity. It is a geostrategic necessity for Europe.”

Many now aspire to join the bloc

Montenegro, a small, mountainous country that was once a part of Yugoslavia and which this week marked the 20th anniversary of its independence from a union with neighboring Serbia, is considered a front-runner ahead of the region’s other candidate countries of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo and North Macedonia.

After joining NATO in 2017, the country of 623,000 people is now set on fulfilling an ambitious agenda of becoming the 28th member of the EU in 2028. The motto “28 by 28” has even been inscribed on one of the planes of Montenegro’s national airline.

All 27 EU members must agree before each chapter can be opened, and then again for it to be closed. Ukraine and Moldova are also among about 10 countries aspiring to join the bloc, while Iceland will hold a referendum in August on whether to apply.

Serbian leader Vucic said he had high hopes for the summit and accession paths for Balkan countries after recently meeting with EU leaders like Merz and Macron.

“We will see a lot of progress of Western Balkan countries in the future. Of course, we need to do a lot of reforms," he said. "We are on our EU path.”

Von der Leyen too called for quickening the accession process.

“Enlargement is merits-based, but merits-based does not mean slow. We have to make the enlargement process faster and more credible,” she said in Tivat. “Enlargement means more security, more prosperity and a bigger place of Europe in the world.”

New rules to avoid growing pains

Faruk Bašić, a researcher at the Brussels Institute for Geopolitics, said the summit will likely result in a rapid movement for Montenegro to join the bloc in 2028. It will also likely see new safeguards to ensure member nations don’t break EU norms.

The summit will be the first to bring together EU leaders since the stunning defeat in April of Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s former Russia-friendly prime minister who, during his 16-year rule, flouted the EU’s standards on democracy and the rule of law and forged close ties with other autocrats.

Orbán's successor, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar, did not attend the summit in Tivat which would have been his first since winning the election. The press department for his center-right Tisza party did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

With the painful experience of Orbán’s democratic backsliding and historic use of the veto in the European Council, the EU is devising new ways to use financial penalties or restricted access to the single market to pressure incoming nations to carry out reforms and adapt to the bloc's standards, Bašić said.

“The EU is trying to find a way how to admit a country that isn’t fully ready to be admitted without losing the ability to hold it accountable after the fact,” he said, pointing to Ukraine’s accession bid as well as nations in the Western Balkans like Serbia and Kosovo.

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McNeil reported from Brussels.

They're the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco.

On game nights, they're called the Spurs Nuns.

New York has Ben Stiller, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan among its superfans; San Antonio has a group of nuns who wear Spurs jerseys over their habits. It's a relationship that goes back at least 20 years or so, and to the sisters it makes perfect sense.

“We’re serving the poor and the young," said Sr. Bernadette Mota, the director of the department of mission advancement for the Salesian Sisters. "And in order to reach the young where they’re at, you have to love what they love and then they’ll love who you love. So, we have that affinity with the Spurs because it gives us an avenue to do our mission with the young people that we serve.”

This tale started in a most unique way.

As the story goes, a couple decades ago, some of the retired sisters — who happened to be native Texans and big Spurs fans — would watch the games on television or listen on the radio, some even doing so while hospitalized. They would cheer for all the players, and for coach Gregg Popovich. But Popovich would sometimes seem a bit angry on the sidelines, prompting some of the sisters to reach out with letters.

“They would write to Coach Popovich and let him know when they thought he was he doing great and let him know when he lost his temper — but they were really supporting him," Mota said. "He's the one that actually responded back to them, thanking them for their support for him and for the Spurs. It was really just a very organic conversation that started all of this.”

Yes, it's true: The nuns would scold Pop for bad behavior.

“They would, in a nice way, in a very nice way," Mota said. “They’d be like, ‘Coach, you lost your temper there, come on, we’re praying for you, you can do better.’”

Popovich and the Spurs have kept a relationship with the sisters since. Popovich's late wife Erin, who died in 2018, also had close ties to the sisters and their work. It has been a mutually beneficial relationship; the Spurs love having the sisters at games, and the story of what the nuns do when they're not watching basketball has led to many people offering to help their mission.

“We’ve had a number of individual people reach out and they’ve been donating anywhere from $10 to $100 and we’ve had a few ones who have larger capacity reach out, too," Mota said. “All of this is divine providence, God’s gift, because we’re actually very much in need. Our mission, we rely on the generosity of people who are our partners and collaborators in our mission.”

The sisters aren't the only fan group that the Spurs have embraced. This season also brought the Jackals — a group that was envisioned by Wembanyama with hopes of simulating what happens in European soccer matches, with organized chants, drumming and the like throughout the game.

The nuns pray. The Jackals chant “Olé, Olé, Olé.”

Different approach, same intentions.

“I’ve known for years that the Spurs community had this strength in them,” Wembanyama said. “Now to finally see it being channeled into something organized and efficient and effective, it’s a great joy.”

Joy. That's the word the sisters use as well.

It was certainly noted by those around the Spurs that the sisters gave Luke Kornet a special blessing during the Western Conference finals and he came up with an incredible chasedown block midway through the fourth quarter of Game 7 in Oklahoma City, helping to ensure that San Antonio would win that game and earn this finals trip.

Divine intervention? Maybe.

It's also not lost on the sisters that Pope Leo XIV's prayer intention for June is on the value of sports and how they can promote peace and respect across the globe.

“I don’t know if his people who helped him out in terms of creating prayer intentions were also in tune with what’s going on with the sisters and the San Antonio Spurs," Mota said. "Maybe, maybe not. I have no idea. But I just thought it was pretty awesome that his prayer intention for June is for sports.”

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

Senators voted 52-47 to pass the $70 billion legislation to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol for the next three years, through the end of Trump’s term, after Democrats blocked the money for months. The bill will now head to the House, which is expected to take it up next week.

The final vote came just before 5 a.m., after Republicans narrowly defeated multiple attempts by members of both parties to add language to the bill that would permanently ban Trump’s settlement fund for allies who believe they've been politically persecuted.

Republicans cleared the last major hurdle overnight when they defeated an amendment proposed by one of their own members, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, that would have redirected payments from the settlement to members of law enforcement who were injured when a mob of Trump supporters seeking to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The amendments were a test of party unity that complicated what should have been an easy vote for Republicans who wanted to keep the focus on immigration enforcement in an election year. Instead, they spent almost a full day haggling among themselves over whether to block the settlement fund, even after acting Attorney General Todd Blanche had said earlier this week that it would not go forward.

“This would have been done several hours ago if we weren’t having to deal with some of the issues around the fund,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said shortly before midnight.

Thune himself has criticized the fund, which was part of a settlement that resolves Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns and has angered many of his GOP colleagues. But he has been pushing GOP senators for weeks to keep the bill focused on the funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol and to avoid adding new provisions that could complicate its passage in the House.

Still, a group of Republican senators pushed all day and into the night to block the fund’s payouts through legislation. That effort came after Trump, who has been at odds with the Senate in recent weeks, raised new doubts about the fund’s future on Wednesday when he told reporters that it is “very important” and said “I don’t know” whether it is dead or on hold.

The final 52-47 vote on the bill was nearly party line, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska the only Republican to oppose it. Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado missed the vote.

Senators push back multiple attempts to ban settlement fund

The first vote on Thursday morning, a Democratic effort to ban the settlement fund, was held open for several hours while Cassidy and two other Republican senators decided whether to support it. The Democratic motion was narrowly defeated when Cassidy eventually voted against it and the two other senators — Jon Husted of Ohio and Dan Sullivan of Alaska, both of whom are up for reelection this year — voted for it.

The Senate then rejected a second amendment from Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina that would also have banned the settlement fund but would have moved the money to a separate anti-fraud fund at the Department of Justice. Most Democrats voted against the amendment, guaranteeing its defeat, but more than 10 Republicans supported it.

Tillis said the fund is a political liability for the party.

“If Blanche says this is largely inoperative, why not use this moment to codify that?” Tillis said. “Otherwise, you’re exposing every one of our members who are in cycle to having to deal with this between today and Election Day, and that makes no sense for something that the DOJ says they’re not moving forward with.”

Cassidy's amendment to compensate the injured police officers was a pointed rebuke, as payouts from Trump's fund could have potentially gone to Trump supporters who beat police and attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6. Cassidy lost reelection last month after Trump endorsed a primary opponent.

He said that, despite Blanche's comments, the fund is still part of an active settlement and “absolutely can be used.”

The Senate rejected several other Democratic efforts to try to block or limit the fund, including amendments to ban payments to Jan. 6 defendants who injured law enforcement officers.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Republicans are now “leaving taxpayers to rely on nothing more than a promise from Donald Trump’s personal fixer. That is not accountability. That is a permission slip.”

ICE and Border Patrol money has been delayed for months

Enactment of the bill to fund ICE and the Border Patrol would end the blockade by Democrats who demanded policy changes after the fatal shootings of two protesters by federal agents in January.

Senate Republicans used a complicated procedural maneuver to get around the filibuster and pass the budget legislation with no Democratic votes. But it took weeks to get the bill to the Senate floor as Republicans navigated various obstacles to passage created by Trump and the White House — including a $1 billion proposal for White House security and Trump’s ballroom that they eventually scrapped and the fierce bipartisan backlash to the settlement fund.

Democrats say any funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security should place restraints on federal immigration authorities, including better identification for federal officers and more use of judicial warrants, among other asks.

After federal agents shot Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Trump agreed to a Democratic request that the Homeland Security bill be separated from a larger spending measure that became law. But bipartisan negotiations went nowhere, and the department funding lapsed in mid-February with no agreement on changes to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics.

Congress eventually funded the rest of DHS at the end of April with Democratic support, but ICE and Border Patrol have remained without regular funding.

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Associated Press writers Kevin Freking and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

Trading on Wall Street was mixed again early Friday as markets waited to comb through the latest U.S. jobs data for signs that the Iran war or AI are impacting companies' hiring.

Futures for the S&P 500 lost 0.5% before the opening bell, while futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged 0.1% higher, one day after hitting another all-time high. Nasdaq futures slumped 1% as AI stocks appeared poised to take a beating for the second straight day, though not enough to erase losses from earlier in the week.

Analysts are forecasting that the U.S. economy added 105,000 jobs last month, a solid figure by the labor market’s recent, diminished standards -- but down from 115,000 in April.

While some analysts fear that artificial intelligence will wipe out entry-level jobs, others argue that AI adoption has been more gradual than expected and has reduced hiring more than it has triggered layoffs.

Hiring has bounced back this year from a miserable 2025, showing unexpected resilience in the face of economic uncertainty and painfully high energy prices caused by the Iran war.

Higher oil prices raise the cost of just about everything and can make companies reluctant to hire, especially with no end to the Iran conflict in sight.

The price for benchmark U.S. crude was unchanged from a day earlier at about $93 a barrel. It was the same story for Brent crude, the international standard, which was trading close to $95 per barrel. It was approximately $70 per barrel before the war began in late February.

Oil prices remain elevated because the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway crucial for global oil and natural gas transport, remains effectively closed, and the war-caused energy shock is threatening to slow economic growth and fuel inflation in many countries.

American and Iranian negotiators reached a tentative deal last week to extend their ceasefire, but the agreement has not been finalized, as developments in Lebanon have cast doubt on prospects for a permanent end to the conflict.

Markets in Europe were broadly higher at midday with Britain’s FTSE 100 gaining 0.5%, Germany’s DAX up 0.2% and France’s CAC 40 adding 0.6%.

South Korea's Kospi sank 5.5% to 8,160.59. The index has roughly doubled in the past year, lifted by gains for big tech companies like SK Hynix, which lost 9.9%, and Samsung Electronics, which shed 6.4%.

Japan's Nikkei 225 slipped 1.3% to 66,588.12, with technology shares leading the decline, even as official data showed that Japan’s real wages rose for the fourth straight month. Chip equipment maker Tokyo Electron's shares fell 6.6%.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 1.2% to 24,961.95, while the Shanghai Composite index lost 0.7% to 4,027.74.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.7% to 8,625.10.

Taiwan’s Taiex gave up 1.3%, while India’s Sensex was down 0.3%.

His Vegas Golden Knights appeared to score with five minutes left in regulation, but referee Jean Hebert waved it off immediately, citing goaltender interference. Hebert announced that he and the other on-ice officials thought Ivan Barbashev pushed Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen to knock the puck into the net.

Tortorella after some deliberation decided to challenge the play, and it did not take long for officials and the on-site NHL situation room to stick with the call on the ice of no goal. The Hurricanes scored on the ensuing power play 25 seconds later and went on to win 4-3 in overtime to tie the series.

“I saw a loose puck in front of Freddie," Tortorella said. "Our player stabbed it, didn’t move the goalie and it goes through him into the other side. I’d challenge it 10 out of 10 times.”

It was purely a video review of goalie interference and had nothing to do with whether the whistle was blown before the puck crossed the goal line.

“The ruling on the play was goaltender interference,” executive vice president and director of officiating Stephen Walkom told a pool reporter. “He waved it (off) immediately. He believed that it was under the goalie, and the Vegas player went after the puck and interfered with the goalie and his ability to freeze the puck and waived it off immediately.”

Mark Jankowski had just tied it for the Hurricanes a few shifts earlier after Logan Stankoven started the comeback from down 2-0. On the opposing bench, Carolina players and coach Rod Brind'Amour were not sure how the review was going to go.

“Obviously, you’re hoping for the best,” center Sebsastian Aho said. “You can’t really control it. I didn’t have a really good view of it, so I had no clue. So, I was just hoping for the best.”

Brind'Amour decided not to challenge for goalie interference in Game 1 on Tuesday night because there were too many variables at play. His thinking turned out to be right again.

“It happened to us in I guess the first game: When it’s called a goal or no goal on the ice, it better be 100% to challenge it,” Brind'Amour said. “That’s the rule we go by. So, they called no goal on the ice, so that’s kind of how I think it worked out. I don’t know. I don’t know what the explanation is. It looked like he had it covered, and then all of a sudden it was in the net. I don’t know. I haven’t really looked at it. I was just happy that it went our way.”

Andersen went full extension to make a paddle save to deny Barbashev on the initial shot. A scrum ensued around the crease with players diving at the puck hoping to knock it in or keep it out.

“To me, it felt like a no goal,” Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal said. "Obviously, I’m on the other side, but I’m sure they have a different opinion. My gut was like, ‘Man, there’s no way.’ What an incredible effort my Freddie just staying with that one and finding a way to get a piece of that. I was flopping everywhere. I didn’t know what was going on. Freddy just stuck with it. The guy’s an absolute animal. That was a pretty crazy play and obviously a game-changer for us.”

The punishment for a failed coach's challenge is a two-minute minor penalty. Vegas was 4 for 4 on the penalty kill against Carolina's power play to that point in the series.

“I’m not sure how they go about their thought process, Brind'Amour said. “They’ve obviously killed all the penalties. That’s a big one.”

Staal made sure the Golden Knights didn't kill this one, tipping defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere's point shot in for just the Hurricanes' eighth power play goal of the playoffs. Seth Jarvis made it nine when he scored in overtime, though it may have never gotten to that point had Tortorella not challenged.

“You’d like to make them pay every time," Aho said. "It’s a big swing because the other option is going down a goal. But other than that, every time you get a power play, you’re trying to score. So, it’s not that different, but obviously it was a big swing.”

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The haul of Madagascar hissing cockroaches and dubia cockroaches, worth 200,000 Australian dollars ($142,000), was seized in May from a commercial breeder in the city of Bathurst in New South Wales state, according to Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water.

The Madagascar hissing species is one of the world’s biggest cockroaches, measuring 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 centimeters) in length. Photos released by the department showed a shiny, brown invertebrate larger than a person’s finger.

It's much bigger than the country's common Australian cockroach, which measures between 0.9 and 1.4 inches (2.3 and 3.6 centimeters) long. Cockroaches flourish in Australia due to its sub-tropical climates and the country is home to hundreds of species.

Bathurst snake catcher Stefanie Lesser told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that the larger exotic species were likely being sold as as a cost-effective reptile food because their large size meant fewer insects were needed. Officials urged pet owners to seek out crickets or wood roaches to feed their lizards instead.

Both Madagascar hissing and dubia cockroaches are illegal to import into Australia. They can’t be legally kept, bred or sold no matter how they were obtained, the department said in a statement.

Australia has strict biosecurity controls at its borders to protect its agriculture and horticulture sectors and native wildlife from pest infestations. Those smuggling in undeclared or illegal animal, insect or plant material can be fined thousands of dollars.

Exotic cockroaches “have not been subject to an environmental risk assessment” and they could spread disease or harm native wildlife, the statement said. Officials warned of prosecutions against those caught with the invertebrates.

A spokesperson said charges weren’t laid against the Bathurst breeder. The cockroaches seized would be euthanized, the department said.

Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal were facing off in the Champions League final, and by 9:20 a.m. — less than a half hour into the game — the patrons inside this crowded bar had already purchased $1,300 in alcohol.

“It’s just a better vibe when you’re a little buzzed,” said Madeline Guillen, 28, who was drinking a mimosa with friends. “That’s a big thing about sports. I think sports and drinking go hand-in-hand.”

Drinking alcohol while watching sports is common in many countries, and millions of soccer fans will be doing so this summer during the FIFA World Cup games in Mexico, Canada and the United States. But imbibing boozy drinks during what could be a sizzling June and July has some experts worried. They say mixing alcohol with extreme heat poses extra risks, especially people drinking excessively who may not be hydrating enough, staying cool, or have underlying health conditions.

Here's what to know about the science of extreme heat and drinking alcohol, plus tips from experts if you’re going to be drinking while watching soccer on a hot summer's day.

When summer, sports and booze collide

Climate change, caused by burning coal, oil and gas, is making heat deadlier worldwide, especially in the summer, and that's raising worries about soccer players and fans suffering heat stress during the games. Heat also influences how people drink alcohol and whether they end up in the hospital.

Various studies from around the world show that drinking alcohol peaks in the summer, and that people living in hotter climates are more likely to binge drink, according to a study from Mexico.

There is also sometimes a “hedonic effect” where people drink to ease the discomfort of feeling hot, said Nathan Morris, assistant professor in thermoregulation at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. “We drink alcohol, we feel good, and so it masks that normal drive to do something to cool yourself down,” which can lead to heat stress.

“Maybe we stay out in the heat longer. Maybe we drink less cold water. Maybe we’re less likely to use a fan or seek an air conditioned space,” he added. “I think that might be where we’re seeing more of the strain on the body.”

International research has also established links between heavy drinking and sports spectators. One paper from Australia found that participants self-reported consuming an average of five drinks in just over two hours while watching Australian football games. In a 2023 study, researchers found that higher temperatures resulted in more alcohol-related hospital visits in New York state.

Heat and alcohol, a riskier mix

Heat exhaustion happens when your body loses too much water and salt from excessive sweating. When the body can no longer cool itself, heat stroke occurs, which can cause confusion, loss of consciousness and even death. Heat combined with humidity — the kind of weather in host cities like Miami, Houston and Monterrey, Mexico — makes it harder for sweat to evaporate to cool the body.

Alcohol primarily affects the central nervous system — your body's master processing center responsible for your thoughts, feelings and movements. It can cause headaches, vomiting, dizziness, a loss of coordination and balance. It also makes you pee more.

When you combine fluid loss from sweating on a hot day with increased urination from drinking alcohol, it can lead to dehydration, which can make you feel the effects of drinking faster, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Additionally, studies show drinking on a hot day makes it less likely you'll wear sunscreen, and that alcohol reduces the amount of heat exposure needed to get sunburnt.

“If you put together hot weather, summer, crowd, during the World Cup, people are sweating more, so they’re losing liquids from their body," said Dr. Lorenzo Leggio, physician and scientist with the National Institutes of Health. “On top of that, you drink excessive amount of alcohol that is leading you to more urination."

When high temperatures are combined with drinking, it can have a “synergistic effect" that can cause symptoms including thirst, headaches and dizziness, he said.

Fabiano Amorim, associate professor at the University of New Mexico, has studied the effects of alcohol in hot environments among construction workers. He and other researchers found that if workers drank the night before, health markers including blood pressure, core and skin temperatures and heart rate were elevated, and their urine and sweat production were lower at work the next day.

“Alcohol on the previous night effects your ability to deal with heat and stresses your kidneys ... putting you in a higher risk of heat-related illness,” he said. Although World Cup fans won't be physically exerting themselves like construction workers, their findings still apply, Amorim said. Spectators could be in crowded places with limited air flow or exposed to the sun for hours.

“People are going to accumulate days of drinking,” he said. “They want to have fun, they come from one game to the other, they watch games, etc. It means there is a cumulative effect from one day to the other.”

The elderly, people with alcohol disorders, heart conditions and other chronic health issues are among the most vulnerable.

Tips for drinking safely when it's sizzling out

The best way to mitigate risks is to not drink at all, said Leggio. But if you're going to, eat a meal before, drink plenty of water, pick drinks with low concentrations of alcohol, and imbibe in moderation.

Before taking your first sip, Morris suggests taking regular precautions such as putting on a hat and sunscreen and ensuring you have other cold, non-alcoholic beverages at hand. Also, have a friend with you who can jump into action if you start feeling unwell. “Buddy systems are always really important with heat stress," he said.

Amorim recommends seeking shade, which can reduce heat stress on the human body between 25% and 35% throughout the day and can be 20 F to 45 F (11 C to 25 C) cooler than surfaces without it. He echoed to drink plenty of water and apply some on your skin to help cool you off. Eating cold slushies and popsicles are a good idea, too.

Leggio suggests being aware of early signals from your body.

“Feeling dizzy, feeling a little confused, having blurred vision, not being able to see well in your surrounding," he said. “And if you do feel any of these symptoms, ask for help right away.”

Medical staff will be stationed throughout the stadiums and at Fan Festivals.

Back at the bar in Los Angeles, Daniel Tran, 41, was calming his nerves with a cold beer Saturday morning while rooting for Arsenal. He plans to attend several World Cup games and Fan Festivals in L.A.

“If it's a really hot day, I’ll try to either hydrate the night before, make sure I get electrolytes, and also maybe not drink as much," he said, adding: “Pace yourself.”

There will be 104 games, after all.

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The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment

A slap shot from Carolina’s Nikolaj Ehlers hit McNabb square in the face just past the midway point of the first period. McNabb dropped his stick, went down to the ice and grabbed his nose as he skated immediately off and down the tunnel.

“It’s a scary play,' forward Brett Howden said. ”You never want to see that. Just hope he’s doing all right. We haven’t seen him yet but hope he’s doing OK."

McNabb did not return, and Vegas went the rest of the way with just five defensemen.

“You lose a guy like Nabber who logs heavy minutes, such a good teammate, plays the game so hard, it’s tough," captain Mark Stone said. "They battled as hard as they could.”

Coach John Tortorella said “they played well” and had no update when asked about McNabb’s condition after the Hurricanes’ overtime victory that tied the series.

McNabb was coming off the first three-assist performance of his NHL career in Game 1. He is one of three original Golden Knights players who have been around for the franchise's entire nine-year existence and are in the final for a third time.

“Any time you see that happen to a teammate, especially to a guy like Nabber who is a huge part of this team, a leader, it’s tough,” fellow D-man Noah Hanifin said. “It’s hard to see that happen to any guy on the ice. We’re just hoping for the best for him.”

The Golden Knights had their optimum, healthy lineup back for the series opener when Jeremy Lauzon returned from his injury. That did not last long.

Either Ben Hutton, a left-handed shooter, or Kaedan Korczak, who was playing in place of Lauzon, figures to play in Game 3 on Saturday if McNabb is unavailable.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

These rocky, remote outposts of Europe have struggled with the arrival of tens of thousands of mostly African migrants through some of the world's deadliest migration routes. Even as numbers decreased this year, especially in the Canaries, the issue continues to roil politics in these historically Catholic countries.

Many Catholics and migrants hope the upcoming papal trips will refocus attention on solidarity and support — and away from divisive political debate that is splitting the right in addition to pitting it against the left.

“Stuck in the middle are the migrants,” said the Most Rev. José Mazuelos, the bishop of Canarias, whose diocese includes several of the islands. “So the church says, ‘Let’s give them a face, because we’re talking about people, not numbers.’"

Among them is Eslim Jallow, 27. Dreaming of a more prosperous future, Jallow and his younger brother left Gambia and landed in the Canary Islands in 2023. At first, Jallow struggled to adapt, but he quickly learned Spanish, took courses and now earns a living as a programmer and web developer in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

“Perhaps the pope will change the way in which people here look at immigrants,” Jallow said. “Immigrants should be treated with dignity and respect, not ignored.”

Like most migrants arriving in the islands, he isn’t Catholic. But he feels that Leo “speaks for us, he reminds the world we are also human beings.”

The Catholic Church’s ministry to migrants

Advocating for migrants globally was a priority for Pope Francis. He went to Lampedusa in 2013 on his first pastoral visit outside Rome and, three years later on the Greek island of Lesbos, he brought back with him a dozen Syrian Muslim refugees.

Under Leo, the Catholic Church has continued to call for their humane treatment around the world, including decrying mass deportations in his home country, the United States.

“Pope Leo is signaling how important immigration is to him by doing these two trips early in his papacy,” said Michele Pistone, a Villanova University professor who leads its new center on immigration.

In the Canaries, Leo is expected at the port of Arguineguín, on the island of Gran Canaria, on June 11 to pay homage to thousands of migrants who died or disappeared en route. The next day, he will meet migrants at a camp on the island of Tenerife.

The archipelago has been the epicenter of a humanitarian crisis that in 2024 saw the arrival of nearly 47,000 migrants from North and West Africa, including several thousand unaccompanied minors.

Like Jallow, half of them landed in El Hierro island — nearly triple its population, said the Most Rev. Eloy Santiago, bishop of Tenerife, whose diocese includes that smaller island. Its resources were strained to a breaking point, even though most migrants only stayed a few days.

“If a boat arrives, the couple of local doctors have to go out running to take care of them, and then the local residents who had their medical appointments can’t have them,” Santiago said.

Catholic organizations are among those that aid migrants from the moment they step out of rickety, overcrowded boats.

Arrivals have slowed dramatically this year, in part due to stricter controls along the African coast. But the most challenging task remains — how to help those who arrived as minors, were entrusted to state care, and are thrown out into the streets when they turn 18, often with no job prospects and no support.

Jallow fears what will happen to his younger brother when he reaches adulthood next year. He’s been paralyzed from the neck down since he had an accident soon after arriving in the Canaries and lives in a Catholic hospital in Las Palmas.

Caya Suárez, secretary general for the Catholic charity Caritas in the Canaries, has seen firsthand how migrants coming of age on the islands are the most vulnerable.

“That’s a very bad moment, even though they’d been waiting for it with hope, because they see they are still stuck without alternatives,” she said.

Caritas tries to help the young adults find housing and jobs, she added. It’s also relocated a few young migrants to Madrid, a small village in the largely rural region of Galicia, and elsewhere on the mainland, with the help of parishes there even as the governments of other Spanish regions have been reluctant to take on underage migrants.

Spain’s migrant amnesty and continuing challenges

Many residents in the Canaries feel like they’ve been abandoned to cope with an unsolvable problem — how to stretch even farther resources for migrants who thought they’d be within reach of economic prosperity and free to travel across the European Union, and instead end up on the street, struggling to send remittances home but also to leave.

Compounded with the perception that national and European political institutions tend to see it as an exclusively “island problem,” the situation is generating a growing malaise even among generous islanders who have long been accustomed to migration to and from Latin America, the Canaries’ bishops said.

“The pope’s word can help so that in the middle of this fatigue, people can buck up again because they see they are supported,” said Santiago, who was born and ordained a priest on the islands.

At the national level, Spain’s Catholic Church also backed a new measure giving temporary residency permits to potentially more than half a million foreigners in the country illegally, many from Latin America.

They often work in hospitality, agriculture and eldercare, boosting the economy, according to the socialist government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez — and to the church.

“In the matter of immigration, the church’s position gets into a head-on collision with the position of the right,” said Pablo Simón, a political science professor at University Carlos III in Madrid.

That has created a rift between the church and far-right parties, like Vox in Spain, which has criticized the church on immigration, despite often couching its anti-migrant rhetoric in religious terms.

The Rev. Fernando Redondo, who leads the migration department of the Spanish bishops’ conference, said the church’s stance is in line with the Christian mandate to welcome the stranger. But he added it needs better understanding among the many faithful who believe migrants come to steal jobs or live off welfare.

“We have a big challenge, which is raising awareness among our faithful … that from the viewpoint of faith, to welcome a migrant person is to welcome Christ himself,” Redondo said. “Then, of course, there needs to be ways, proper social and political ways, so that migration doesn’t become a total mess.”

Hoping for words of reconciliation in the Canary Islands

In the Canaries, ordinary people have been on the frontlines of that often life-endangering chaos — fishermen who hand out drinking water to migrants on ramshackle rafts, sunbathers who run into the sea to help landing migrants, the volunteers who greet them in more than a dozen languages.

But they have also seen that integration can work, as in a small mountain village that was emptying out until a center for three dozen migrant children was opened, creating jobs and filling up the school — and the local church’s annual feast day procession.

That’s why many look forward to Leo bringing a simple but crucial message of reconciliation that focuses on the people impacted, not on the politics.

“The pope doesn’t support this slogan of ‘let’s go, open doors for the whole world here.’ Nobody supports that,” Mazuelos said. “When here comes a gentleman in a wooden boat after five days in the Atlantic, what are we supposed to do, kick him back? We’ve got to find a way to welcome him.”

___

Dell'Orto reported from Minneapolis.

___

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

The “60 Minutes” correspondent’s searing rebuke of CBS management this week, in which he questioned his bosses’ credentials and motives, may have ended in his firing, but amounted to the sort of mouthing-off that workplace peons typically only fantasize about.

“That’s the American dream — to be able to tell off your boss and walk out the door,” says Zach Tyra, a 40-year-old data analyst from Jones, Oklahoma, who found a kindred spirit in the newsman, recalling his own experience with a former boss he said was clueless. “I couldn’t do what Scott Pelley did because I didn’t have the safety net or the resources or the network that he has. I couldn’t tell my boss to stick it. I just had to sit there and eat it.”

Pelley's message may have been delivered in the measured baritone of someone polished by decades on the airwaves. But his backtalk stirred many who’ve felt the simmering rage of feeling a clueless boss was turning their days into a nightmare.

“It’s also kind of weird, like, Pelley isn’t some blue-collar hero. There’s a wide gap between, like, Pelley and your local everyday guy down at the hardware store,” Tyra says. “But I think everyone can relate to standing up for what they believe.”

A staff meeting that went deeply awry

Pelley's dressing-down came in a Monday staff meeting with the new executive producer of “60 Minutes,” Nick Bilton, brought aboard by Bari Weiss, who became CBS News’ editor-in-chief in October. The correspondent reportedly grilled Bilton about the firings last week of Bilton’s predecessor, Tanya Simon, and correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, accusing management of “murdering” the program, a revered cornerstone of TV journalism and a mainstay of Sunday nights for nearly six decades.

“She has no qualifications for her job,” Pelley said of Weiss, according to the media news site Status, which reported he then turned his ire at Bilton. “You have slender qualifications for this job.”

In firing Pelley, Bilton called his outburst an “ambush” of “remarkable incivility and contempt.” But, with Pelley becoming a proxy for the American worker, others cheered.

Parry Headrick, who runs a public relations firm in Boston, was immediately transported to his days as a young reporter at a small newspaper, where he had been carefully chronicling the trials of people who fell ill from what was believed to be exposure to toxic waste.

He had earned the trust of one family only to find editors plastered a headline on the story that reduced the sick child to a “toxic boy” and caused Headrick to lose all faith in his bosses. He screamed at the paper’s publisher and editor-in-chief before quitting.

“I lost my goddamn mind when they did that. And the story with Pelley resonated so hard specifically because of that,” says 57-year-old Headrick, who thinks many people can see Pelley’s point of view. “There exists in most Americans the desire to speak truth to power.”

That such an outburst arose in the news business may be no surprise; journalists pride themselves as a truth-to-power, voice-for-the-voiceless bunch. Staff meetings with reporters sassing editors are common, and in newsrooms everywhere, managers have been subjected to the type of tough questions they pay their people to ask others.

The threshold for dismissal varies from place to place

The line separating acceptable discourse with fireable offense is as different in each workplace as the settings themselves, whether a dive bar or diocesan chancery.

“In the real world, there are layers of politeness and cordiality that don’t really exist in journalism,” says Headrick, who cheered Pelley “pushing back on something larger.”

Clare Haynes had a middle-management role at a nonprofit when she had her Pelley moment two decades ago. She was three weeks into a job where she thought she’d been brought aboard to institute changes that would achieve an innovative work culture. But every suggestion she made was dismissed. Her boss said his boss wouldn’t buy the idea.

“Are you saying you’re too weak to ask?” she snapped. His mouth fell open. He stared at her silently for a full minute.

Haynes survived, lasting three more years at the firm, but things were never the same.

“I didn’t lose my job, but I paid the price, being seen as maverick,” says 55-year-old Haynes, of Royal Leamington Spa, England, who now runs a coaching firm that trains executives how to handle difficult workplace conversations.

Johan Konst was working at a Swedish media company when he felt pushed to the limit seven years ago. After years of high-stress, hard-selling days pushing advertising he didn’t believe in, he finally said his piece, delivering a blunt, profanity-dotted message to his boss.

He was promptly shown the door.

“It’s the best thing that ever happened to me,” says 34-year-old Konst, of Amsterdam, who walked away with a nice severance check. “At some point, this had to happen.”

___

Matt Sedensky can be reached at msedensky@ap.org and https://x.com/sedensky

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “The House of Mirth,” “The Custom of the Country” and other probing stories of New York society was living in Paris at the time and soon set out to help those imperiled by the clash between Allied and German forces. She set up a workroom for seamstresses and others who had lost their jobs, established hostels that aided thousands of refugees and even reported from the trenches for a series of dispatches that ran in the American periodical Scribner's Magazine.

But Wharton eventually — and inevitably — channeled her observations and experiences into fiction. She worked on a novel published after the war, “A Son at the Front,” and attempted a story about an affluent couple in the French countryside who decide that the war is going well enough that they can resume the social gatherings of the past. “The Men Who Saved the World” — unfinished and never before published — appears Friday in the new issue of The Strand Magazine, which has released rare works by Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway and many others.

“The boom of guns can be heard in the distance. A few young soldiers sit among the guests. And the hostess wants to know whether they might have dancing,” Strand Managing Editor Andrew Gulli writes in a brief introduction. “Wharton asks a question that is as relevant today as it was over a century ago: what is the cost of refusing to see the horrors beyond the softly curtained windows — and who pays it?”

Wharton had long scrutinized the rich from the inside. Born into a wealthy New York City family in 1862, she knew firsthand the manners and codes and traditions that she picked apart in her best known work. In “The Men Who Saved the World,” believed to be written in 1918, she shifts the narrative from the New York drawing rooms of her early fiction to a French chateau within miles of a battlefield.

The author had a deep affinity for France and French culture, which she regarded as “one of the greatest cultures in the world, perhaps the greatest culture,” Wharton scholar Julie Olin-Ammentorp wrote in an email, adding that she was unsure why the author never finished “The Men Who Saved the World.” The German attack stirred Wharton's conscience, and her imagination.

“The Men Who Saved the World” dramatizes the separation between civilian and military life, and what happens when they merge. It's told through the perspective of a young American nurse, Milly Arden, a guest at the home of Fred and Madge Upshall, who are preparing a dinner party in the same setting where they had once permitted an army surgeon to perform amputations. Arden finds herself seated next to a war hero, Capt. Sherman Wake, regarded by Mrs. Upshall as one of the “real people.” Capt. Wake proves eager to discuss the “catastrophic horror and waste” he has seen nearby.

“You hear the guns pretty distinctly here,” Wake tells Arden. "They must make the windows rattle when everything’s quiet, don’t they?”

“Yes, they do,” she responded, looking out on an orchid “which the cannonade had displaced just before dinner.”

Last weekend, his campaign wrestled with stories about sexually explicit messages that Platner sent to several women while he was married. Then on Thursday, The New York Times reported about his relationships with previous girlfriends. Some viewed him positively but others described him as volatile and insulting.

One woman said Platner twisted her arm during an argument and locked her in a room. Platner called that allegation untrue.

But with Maine's primary around the corner Tuesday and Democrats desperate to rally behind a candidate who can defeat Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November, there's been little sign of voters or political allies backing away from Platner, who has pitched himself as an imperfect person who has redeemed himself.

Some dismissed news of the text messages as a private matter, one that should be addressed solely by the married couple. Others argue that the need for Democrats to take back control of the U.S. Senate from Republicans is too important to cast aside imperfect candidates.

Yet they're also wrestling with the question of whether more controversial information surrounding Platner could come out ahead of the November election.

“I think a lot of people are afraid,” said Deb Dagnan, chair of Maine’s Piscataquis County Democrats. “They’re waiting for the other shoe to drop after he gets the nomination. Then what do we do?”

Key to the Senate

Platner is key to Democrats hopes' to take back the U.S. Senate this year. Yet he's been bedeviled by near-constant controversies involving his disclosure of a since-covered tattoo of a Nazi symbol, his history of inflammatory online comments and the texting revelations.

Nevertheless, Platner's most prominent supporters have continued to back the candidate, including Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Ruben Gallego. Platner is scheduled to appear in Bar Harbor Friday evening with progressive Rep. Ro Khanna of California, as well as Democratic candidates for U.S. House and governor, as a part of a “get out the vote” rally in the coastal resort town.

The event is taking place just days ahead of the state's June 9 primary election, where Platner is expected to secure the Democratic nomination. His top opponent, Gov. Janet Mills, suspended her campaign in late April.

He'll do so under reignited scrutiny amid reports that he and his wife, Amy Gertner, have had marital difficulties and sought counseling after he allegedly sent sexually explicit text messages to other women.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Gertner had told the campaign in August about the messages, which she had discovered on his phone last year, to make sure they weren’t a liability to the campaign. Platner’s campaign team reportedly decided that the texts were private and being handled by the couple, who were married in 2023.

Genevieve McDonald, a former campaign staffer for Platner, told The Associated Press that the candidate was “sexting multiple women while married” and that “the campaign tried to assess that as an election vulnerability.”

Shortly after the news came out, Platner posted a five-minute video taken by Gertner, who avoided speaking directly about her husband’s reported texts but dubbed the broader coverage as “gossip” and said “being married is hard.”

Voters worry that more scandals lurk

Gertner's emotional comments about working on her marriage have resonated with some women, who say they are shocked that a former campaign aide would betray someone's trust and the issue should remain between the couple.

“It’s none of my business as far as I’m concerned,” said Joanne Mason, a local Democratic leader from south-central Maine. “And I would hope that people wouldn’t judge any one person on their own private marriage.”

Valerie Tate, a Democrat from Belfast, described Gertner's honesty about trying to work on their mental health and marriage as admirable.

“That is not a scandal,” Tate wrote in an email. “That is integrity. Personal growth is not a disqualification from public life. For many of us, it is precisely what made us worthy of it.”

However, Tate conceded that her mind wasn’t fully at ease. With the public still learning about Platner’s past, there is a chance something could emerge as a dealbreaker for voters.

“Of course, there is that concern as there would be in any race with somebody we don’t know all the dramas and the journeys they’ve been on," she wrote. "Something could come out that would be disqualifying.”

Past controversies simmer

This isn’t the first time Platner has faced questions about his past. He had a tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol, which he had covered up after starting his campaign.

Platner has said he didn't realize the meaning of the tattoo. However, a former girlfriend told the Times he joked about it being a Nazi symbol and called it “my Totenkopf.”

There’s also been much attention on Platner's former Reddit posts, which were dismissive of military sexual assaults and used homophobic slurs, for which he has apologized.

Platner has never held elected office and has fashioned a straight-talking, progressive, populist-style campaign focusing on issues such as income inequality, lack of health care accessibility and the rising cost of housing. In return, he's attracted thousands at his rallies and campaign events and collected millions in campaign funds to further boost his messaging.

“People want somebody new,” said Paige Zeigler, a former Maine Democratic lawmaker and head of the Waldo County Democrats, on why Platner's staying power has remained strong. “They want somebody that they feel that they can embrace. And Platner is riding that wave.” ___

Kruesi reported from Providence, Rhode Island.

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Rogerio Miranda De Souza, 49, was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on Wednesday night on a new charge of indecent exposure, according to jail records.

South Miami police said the incident related to his latest arrest occurred May 11 and involved a different female victim.

According to an arrest report, the victim was driving south on U.S. 1 near the 5700 block of South Dixie Highway when De Souza drove his gray Tesla “extremely close” to the driver’s side of the woman’s vehicle, at which time she saw that he had his penis exposed and was stroking it.

Police said De Souza continued to follow the victim, even driving through a red light to catch up to the woman who was trying to get away from him.

According to the report, the victim eventually lost sight of De Souza near the 11400 block of South Dixie Highway.

Police said the victim remained there until Pinecrest police officers arrived, but they told her she would need to report the incident to South Miami police since the alleged incident occurred in their jurisdiction.

According to the report, the victim did not want to file a police report at the time, but decided to come forward after learning that De Souza had been arrested for a similar incident.

“She was frightened, she was scared. She did not want to come forward,” Detective Jackie Del Sol said. “She had actually seen it on the news and that’s what made her come forward. She had been involved in the same incident.”

Investigators said they were able to identify De Souza through the use of a license plate reader. Detectives later contacted his attorney, and De Souza surrendered to authorities Wednesday.

The arrest comes just weeks after De Souza appeared before a judge in a separate indecent exposure case.

In that incident, police said a woman reported being followed for nearly 30 minutes on May 15 after leaving a gym in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood. According to investigators, De Souza repeatedly drove around the woman’s vehicle, cut her off in traffic and, at one point, was seen touching himself while driving alongside her.

Police said the woman provided detectives with a license plate number that helped lead investigators to De Souza.

At the time of that arrest, detectives told Local 10 News they were investigating another case involving similar allegations. However, authorities have not confirmed whether the latest arrest is connected to that earlier investigation.

De Souza appeared in bond court Thursday morning and was ordered held on a $25,000 bond. If he posts bond, he will be placed on house arrest with a GPS monitor. He has also been ordered by a judge to stay away from the victims in both cases.

“Somebody had to step up and make a play,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said simply.

A shocking third-period comeback changed everything, both in getting the Hurricanes back in the Stanley Cup Final and setting the stage for Jarvis and that power-play unit to get a needed breakthrough moment.

Jarvis blasted a one-timer past Carter Hart on a power play at 3:56 of overtime to lift the Hurricanes past the Vegas Golden Knights. 4-3 on Thursday night. That ended a night that saw Carolina trail 2-0 entering the third period after looking outmatched through the second, rally with three unanswered goals, then regroup after giving up a tying goal late to force the OT.

Just as importantly, the Hurricanes went from staring at an 0-2 series deficit after losing twice at home to heading West for Game 3 on Saturday in a tied series after an abrupt turn of fortune.

The time was coming, the Hurricanes kept insisting, when their top-line guys and the power play would make big plays.

Turns out, they were right.

“This is exciting, this is what playoff hockey is all about," said Jarvis, who admitted the winning score was a “huge” weight off his shoulders. "It's tight games and momentum swings and you never really know what's going to happen next.”

Unexpected comeback

Indeed, Vegas' roster filled with Cup winners from 2023 looked every bit in control of this one. Yet the Hurricanes pulled off a comeback that will earn a spot in franchise lore alongside moments like the 2002 “Molson Miracle” at Montreal — when they rallied from a 3-0 hole entering the third before winning in 4-3 OT in Round 2 — or the 2009 first-round shocker at New Jersey when the Hurricanes scored twice in the final 80 seconds for another 4-3 win in Game 7.

It started with a tough effort by Logan Stankoven to beat Rasmus Andersson for a puck along the boards before coming behind the net to throw one off the skate of Jeremy Lauzon in the crease to slip by Hart for a life-infusing score at the 10:20 mark.

Mark Jankowski followed, coming when linemate William Carrier kept the entry alive while tussling with Lauzon and fed him for a score. This one stuck, coming after Jankowski had an overtime winner waved off in Game 2 of the first-round series against Ottawa and a second goal later waved off against Philadelphia for a goaltender-interference review on Carrier.

“It's nice to sit on the bench and look over and see they're not challenging it,” Jankowski said.

Even more surprising, the power play carried the Hurricanes home.

Jarvis, power play come through in clutch

Carolina's power play entered the night just 7 of 58 (12.1%) in the playoffs after ranking fourth in the regular season at 24.9%. But, that unit struck twice to change everything on Thursday night, first with captain Jordan Staal redirecting Shayne Gostisbehere's shot to beat Carter Hart from the top of the crease for a 3-2 lead with the man advantage.

Then, after Vegas got a tying goal off Mark Stone's skate with 1:21 left in regulation — coming when Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin knocking a loose rebound past Frederik Andersen into the net while clear the crease — Carolina came up with a rousing response in OT.

The fact it was Jarvis who got it only magnified the scope of the moment. The winning blast marked only the fourth goal of the playoffs for Jarvis, a top-line forward who led the team with 32 regular-season goals and played for Canada's silver-medalist team at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Brind'Amour had said multiple times in recent weeks that the Sebastian Aho-centered line featuring Jarvis and Andrei Svechnikov had largely played other top lines to even. The Hurricanes had rolled to a 12-1 record through the Eastern Conference playoffs while the Stankoven-centered second line or the third line featuring open-ice speedster Nikolaj Ehlers carried the scoring.

But Brind'Amour cautioned Wednesday: “We need them to get going.”

And after Vegas went ahead 2-0 on Brett Howden's second terrific individual effort, Brind'Amour swapped Jarvis with Jordan Martinook midway through the second period to put Jarvis alongside Ehlers and Staal — a move that led to an immediate goal for Jarvis in Game 2 of the second-round series against the Flyers.

This time, Jarvis buried the shot from the left circle off a feed from Gostisbehere up top. A crowd buzzing since the start of the third-period comeback erupted, with Jarvis skating toward the blue line and dropping to one knee to slide across the ice.

The win improved Carolina to 6-0 in overtime during the playoffs. That includes all four Game 2s in this postseason at home.

“It was desperation," Stankoven said. "I think we needed to try to get that split tonight."

___

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

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The most recognizable name on the list was Steak ‘n Shake in Sunrise, which was closed after inspectors found evidence of rodent activity.

Also in Sunrise, Luv’n Oven Ale House was shut down after inspectors documented roach activity and sanitation issues.

In Miami, Mi Lindo Ecuador was ordered closed with 37 violations, the highest total on this week’s list.

Miami Cafe in Miami Beach was shut down because of a sewage backup, while Denny’s in Coral Gables was ordered closed following a complaint inspection that uncovered multiple sanitation concerns.

All of the establishments were allowed to re-open after an ordered cleanup and re-inspection. No places in the Florida Keys were ordered shut.

**STEAK N’ SHAKE

12541 WEST SUNRISE BLVD.

SUNRISE

INSPECTION BASED ON COMPLAINT

ORDERED SHUT 5/18

3 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. Approximately 8 rodent droppings around CO2 tank on left corner of dry storage area next to office away from kitchen.”

**LUV’N OVEN ALE HOUSE

10033 SUNSET STRIP

SUNRISE

INSPECTION BASED ON COMPLAINT

ORDERED SHUT 5/19

6 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Approximately 3 live roaches around pipe under triple sinks in kitchen.”

“Dead roaches on premises. 1) 2 Dead roaches in container under continental reach in cooler in kitchen.”

“Accumulation of black mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine.”

**MI LINDO ECUADOR

8726 NW 26TH ST.

MIAMI

ORDERED SHUT 5/27

37 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed at hand wash sink located in dish washing area 2 live roaches crawling on utensils stored inside hand sink. . Observed approximately 10 + live roaches underneath shelf of food preparation tables all around kitchen area. Observed 3 live roaches inside oven. Observed one live roach on floor behind stove. Observed approximately 10 + live roaches on wooden Dollie’s used to store boxes of to go containers located inside kitchen.”

“Dead roaches on premises. Observed 10 + dead roaches all around kitchen area floors under cooking equipment.”

“Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Observed oven soiled, inside and outside, handles soiled.”

“Floor and wall junctures not coved in food ware washing areas or bathroom. Observed some areas of the kitchen missing the molding.”

“Floor not cleaned when the least amount of food is exposed. Observed floor underneath cooking equipment soiled with accumulated grease.”

“Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Shelves soiled with grease. Observed blender soiled.”

“Chlorine sanitizer used to sanitize clean in place equipment not at proper minimum strength. Do not use equipment not properly sanitized. Observed at bucket in the kitchen.”

“Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed at prep table the following items out of temperature: White rice 70 F, beef 70 F, plantain 77F.”

“Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed in chest freezer several raw items like meat, fish, vegetables next to each other in contact.”

“Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed employee touching different soiled surfaces in the kitchen area and did not washed hands after.”

“Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed at hand wash sink a tray with utensils stored inside.”

**MIAMI CAFE

1201 WASHINGTON AVE.

MIAMI BEACH

ORDERED SHUT 5/18

14 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Sewage/wastewater backing up through floor drains. Observed establishment open and serving food to the public while sewage backing up through floor drains at kitchen.”

“No currently certified food service manager on duty with four or more employees engaged in food preparation/handling.”

“No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees.”

**DENNY’S

1150 S. DIXIE HIGHWAY

CORAL GABLES

INSPECTION BASED ON COMPLAINT

ORDERED SHUT 5/18

8 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Dead flying insects on premises. Observed at lobby of establishment along all windows approximately 25+ dead flying insects on window sills/ledge of interior windows. Observed at cook line hood filter system, approximately 15+ dead flying insects attached to hood system.”

“Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed at kitchen prep area and dry storage area behind shelves and fixed equipment. Repeat Violation.”

“Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. Observed throughout kitchen area ceiling tiles drooping and peeling. Repeat Violation.”

“Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Observed at cook line soiled with grease build up. Repeat Violation.”

The event brought together leaders and stakeholders ahead of the World Cup, with thousands expected to travel to Miami to attend matches.

Organizers said safety will be a top priority as visitors arrive in the Magic City for the games.

The World Cup also highlights the power of diversity, with Miami serving as a fitting backdrop for one of the world’s biggest sporting events.

The 29-year-old Kupcho has four career LPGA Tour wins, but just one since 2022, when she earned her only major victory in The Chevron Championship at Mission Hills. She missed the cuts of her three previous U.S. Open starts, but charged ahead at Riviera with three straight birdies in her afternoon group before adding back-to-back birdies after the turn.

“I just really, really like the golf course,” Kupcho said. “It’s kind of a ball-striker’s paradise. Just hit it down the fairway, hit it on the green and make the putts.”

Play began under a heavy cloud cover at the 100-year-old country club in Pacific Palisades just two miles from the ocean, but the sun broke through around lunchtime as wind picked up. The conditions weren’t oppressive at any point, but the players realized Riviera’s setup presents a formidable challenge in any weather, and the scores reflected it.

The entire field managed just one eagle in the first round — Allisen Corpuz holed out from 86 yards on the 17th.

Mexico’s Gaby Lopez and Japan's Hinako Shibuno joined South Korea's Hyunjo Yoo, Ina Yoon and Minji Kang in the group at 68. Lopez made five birdies in her first eight holes and was the only player to get to 6 under, but she fell back with three bogeys.

Kupcho gained 4.27 strokes on her approach shots to lead the field in the first round, highlighted by a gorgeous 133-yard shot inside a foot on the second hole. She doesn't normally do extensive pre-tournament research on courses despite the encouragement of her parents, but she came down to Riviera on a scouting trip when the LPGA Tour stopped 13 miles away in Tarzana two months ago.

“When I showed up this week, it was just like I knew where everything was,” Kupcho said. “I knew what I was doing. So I think it actually helped. Parents are always right, right?”

The 33-year-old Kim has played pretty well in sprawling Los Angeles this season: At that JM Eagle LA Championship held at El Caballero in April, she led after the second and third rounds — leading by eight strokes at one point — before blowing a three-stroke lead over the final eight holes and losing a playoff to Australia’s Hannah Green.

“This course is really famous in the world, so I’m very happy to play here this week,” said Kim, who also got a head start on Riviera in practice last weekend. “Also, the course is not easy. Every hole is putting me to the test.”

Kim birdied her first two holes, but her round didn’t pick up steam until the final four holes, when she made three consecutive birdies — including two exceptional approach shots and a 29-foot birdie putt — before drilling another 29-foot par putt to end it.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda made a rough start at 2 over, struggling off the tee. She also couldn't get used to a new pair of shoes sent to her this week Nike and LeBron James, a Korda fan who is becoming an avid golfer himself.

Korda started the day in the new shoes, but changed playing the first six holes — although she said they didn't affect her play.

“It wasn’t a great day,” Korda said. “I hit it really good Monday through Wednesday, so I have honestly no idea where this came from. So I’m going to go to the range.”

Aphrodite Deng, a 16-year-old amateur, was in contention for the lead before playing two late holes at 3 over and carding a 70.

Deng was born in Canada to Chinese parents before growing up in New Jersey and eventually settling in Florida. A competitive child figure skater for several years before the COVID-19 pandemic, Deng took up golf only seven years ago, but won the U.S. Girls’ Junior last year.

___

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

His trip will be the latest in a series of steps by China to reinforce its close ties with its nuclear-armed neighbor. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reached out to Russia in recent years, notably by sending troops and conventional weapons to support its war against Ukraine.

But in the past year, Kim has likewise been trying to improve ties with China, the North’s biggest trading partner and provider of aid.

“As North Korea builds closer ties with Russia, China seeks to use Xi’s trip to reassert its influence over Pyongyang and safeguard its strategic interests in northeast Asia,” said William Yang, an analyst for the International Crisis Group.

Xi will make a state visit from Monday to Tuesday, Chinese and North Korean state media said in brief dispatches. His last visit was in June 2019.

The trip will serve to advance ties and strengthen regional peace and stability, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday.

“The traditional friendly and cooperative relations between China and the DPRK have continued to develop in a sound and stable manner, bringing tangible benefits to both countries and their peoples,” spokeswoman Mao Ning said, using the abbreviation for North Korea's full name.

The trip is coming just a few weeks after Xi hosted U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in quick succession in Beijing.

North Korea's nuclear weapons program has long been a major concern for the United States, which opposes it. The U.N. has imposed economic sanctions on North Korea because of its nuclear and missile development.

The announcement of the trip came a day after North Korea unveiled a new facility to produce the material for nuclear bombs. It is believed to be a uranium enrichment plant, though North Korea has not confirmed that.

During a visit to the plant, Kim announced plans to bolster the country’s nuclear forces “at an exponential rate.” Experts say the plant’s disclosure implies that Kim was eager to cement his country’s status as a nuclear weapons state ahead of Xi’s visit.

The experts say Kim wants international recognition as a nuclear state so he can demand the lifting of the sanctions. They say Kim would ultimately push for arms reductions talks with the U.S. to win concessions in return for a partial surrender of his country's nuclear capability.

Kim has been focusing on expanding his nuclear arsenal since his high-stakes diplomacy with Trump collapsed in 2019.

Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to restore diplomacy with Kim, but the North Korean leader has said the U.S. must first drop its demand for North Korea to denuclearize as a precondition for talks.

Analysts will be watching to see what if anything China says during Xi's visit about calls for North Korea’s denuclearization.

Xi and Kim met in Beijing in September and pledged mutual support and enhanced cooperation. Kim was in the Chinese capital to attend a Chinese military parade alongside other foreign leaders including Putin.

Russia and China, both veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council, have previously frustrated efforts by the U.S. and others to toughen international sanctions on North Korea, despite its banned weapons tests.

At their meeting in Beijing last month, Putin and Xi expressed their opposition to “foreign policy isolation, economic sanctions, military pressure and other methods of creating threats to the security” of North Korea, according to a statement from the Kremlin.

Embracing the ideas of a “new Cold War” and a multipolar world, Kim has pushed for a more assertive foreign policy by expanding ties with countries locked in confrontation with the United States.

The trip abroad is a relatively rare one for Xi, who has curtailed his international travel sharply since the COVID-19 pandemic. His last overseas visit was to South Korea last fall for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, where he met Trump.

___

Kim reported from Seoul, South Korea. Associated Press writer Simina Mistreanu contributed from Taipei, Taiwan.

Nearly 5 million, actually. New social media followers, that is.

The New Zealand defender met the influencer and content creator from Argentina on Wednesday after Scarsini — known as “El Scarso” — asked his fans last week to help kick up support for the soccer standout while calling him the “least-known” player at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico based on his small social media following.

Well, since that request, the 32-year-old Payne went from just under 5,000 followers on Instagram to more than 5 million, making him a viral sensation.

Scarsini watched Payne's New Zealand squad — known as the All Whites — lose 4-0 to Haiti in a friendly in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Tuesday night. The next morning, the social media influencer met Payne at the team hotel in Boca Raton.

“My friend!” Scarsini shouted as he walked through a door and saw Payne. “How are you?”

“I'm good, bro, yourself?” asked a smiling Payne as he gave him a big hug. “Lovely to meet you.”

Payne also said, “Cómo estás?” — Spanish for “How are you?” — and then jokingly told Scarsini that's basically the extent of his Spanish vocabulary.

Payne thanked Scarsini “for everything” and described the entire experience as “very crazy.”

“I didn't know what to feel, you know, because it's so foreign to me," Payne said. "Still processing, but it's amazing. And I appreciate you doing it for me, you know?”

Scarsini asked Payne what it's like to have this huge boost in fame happen just before the World Cup begins.

“It’s obviously good for myself and New Zealand football, too," Payne said. "It puts a light on us, which is a positive thing, but at the same time, for me, I don’t change. I’m still the person I am. I just keep trying to do what I do, which is play football and trying to perform for my country.”

Scarsini said Payne should visit him in Argentina someday, and he would also one day go to New Zealand. Payne then gave him an All Whites jersey with his No. 2 on it and signed it before the two posed for photos and hugged again.

New Zealand opens its Group G play at the World Cup against Iran on June 15 in Inglewood, California. Belgium and Egypt are also in the group. New Zealand, playing at the World Cup for the third time after qualifying in 1982 and 2010, has yet to win a match.

—-

AP Sports Writer Steve McMorran in Wellington, New Zealand, contributed to this report.

—-

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

Lyndsey Fifield told The New York Times that Platner, a Democrat, never hit or punched her, but the incidents left her shaken and afraid. Fifield, a conservative activist, told the Times she dated Platner for about two years, starting in 2013 when he was a student at George Washington University following his military service.

Her claims were published as part of a Times report on Platner's relationships with previous girlfriends, some of whom viewed him positively and others who described him as sometimes insulting, volatile or unfaithful.

Another woman, Jenny Racicot, who said she dated Platner on and off between 2019 and 2021, also told The Times about behavior that upset her. She said Platner once came to her house drunk in 2021 after she asked him not to come over. Racicot, a Maine Democrat, said his behavior was “reckless” and “unsettling.”

Platner, an oyster farmer and combat veteran who is favored to win Tuesday’s Democratic primary, denied being violent in a statement to the Associated Press. The Times said in its report that he declined to be interviewed for their story.

“Throughout this campaign, I’ve been open about what was a very dark period of my life where I struggled with undiagnosed PTSD, too often self medicated with alcohol, and was a far from perfect boyfriend. I take responsibility for all of that, and wish I had been better,” the statement said. “Any characterization beyond that is false, and I believe, politically motivated. I’m not proud of who I was then, but I am proud of the work I’ve done since, and the movement we are building in Maine.”

Attempts by The Associated Press to reach Fifield and Racicot were not successful.

Platner, 41, has filled theaters around Maine with his booming voice and progressive politics. He has no experience in elected office, but has fashioned a campaign focused on working-class issues such as the high costs of housing and healthcare. His anticipated run against Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November is key to Democrats' hopes to take back the Senate.

Fifield said that when they drank and argued, he could be rough, including one episode where he twisted her arm behind her back, shoved her into a bedroom and held the door closed from the other side so she couldn't get out.

“It hurt,” she told the paper, adding: “It didn’t cause an injury, it didn’t break my arm.”

In an appearance on MS NOW Thursday evening, Platner told host Chris Hayes that Fifield’s account of being pushed into a room is false. He said the accusations were coming from someone who was “politically motivated.”

“There are things in this that I absolutely will take responsibility for and have been speaking about openly for months,” Platner said. “But those serious allegations are just not true.”

Fifield insisted in her interview with the Times that her allegations were not politically motivated.

Days ago, Platner had to confront public revelations that he exchanged sexually explicit text messages with several women while he was married.

Platner has also had to answer questions about a skull tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol, which he said he didn’t realize until he was several weeks into the campaign. He later had it covered up with a different design. Platner has said he didn’t realize the meaning of the tattoo.

However, Fifield told the Times that he joked about it being a Nazi symbol and called it “my Totenkopf.”

Platner, in his MS NOW interview, again denied knowing the meaning of his tattoo.

High-profile backers of Platner, including independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, stood by the candidate in the wake of those allegations. No prominent Democrats immediately came forward Thursday to rescind endorsements of Platner.

U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat who is scheduled to appear at a campaign event with Platner in Maine on Friday, called the behavior described in the Times as “wrong and toxic,” but added, "Graham has acknowledged that and sought redemption. The people of Maine deserve a senator who is going to stand up to the billionaire class, against genocide, and for the working class.”

There’s also been much attention on Platner's past posts on the social media site Reddit, which were dismissive of military sexual assaults and used homophobic slurs, for which he has apologized.

Platner’s campaign weathered those earlier revelations in what had been considered one of the most competitive Democratic primaries before Gov. Janet Mills dropped out of the race in late April due to a lack of campaign funds.

___

Associated Press writers Kimberlee Kruesi in Providence, Rhode Island, and Joey Cappelletti in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

Bondi, who served as the 37th attorney general of Florida, also said that to her “knowledge” the Justice Department had released all of the files related to the child sex offender.

Blanche “was in charge of the process and the entire release of the Epstein files,” Bondi said during her testimony on May 29 after lawmakers subpoenaed her.

Democrats expressed opposition after President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he wants Blanche, 51, a former federal prosecutor and defense attorney, to remain the attorney general.

Trump fired Bondi on April 2, as she faced criticism over her contentious testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 11.

On April 28, Blanche announced an indictment against former FBI Director James Comey over an “86 47″ social media post.

On May 19, Blanche issued an addendum to Trump’s May 18 settlement with the Internal Revenue Service to protect Trump and his family.

On May 27, Bondi announced that she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had undergone surgery in April.

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• Trump says Pulte won’t be his nominee for director of national intelligence
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The three others are Cuba’s First Lady Lis Cuesta Peraza, Díaz-Canel’s stepson Manuel Anido Cuesta, who lives in Madrid, and Raúl Castro’s grandson Raul Alejandro Castro Calis.

“The aggressiveness and perversity of the Yankee government will clash with our determination to confront the worst scenarios and resist the imperialist onslaught,” Díaz-Canel wrote on Thursday evening on X.

At the White House, President Donald Trump talked about his plan to intervene in Cuba, which he said had collapsed without support from Venezuela.

“We will take care of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and as soon as that’s done on our way back, we will take care of it,” Trump said on Thursday afternoon.

The list of entities includes Amistur Cuba S.A., a travel agency based in Havana and established in 1996, and Minera La Victoria, a company established in 2020 for the mining of other non-ferrous metal ores.

“The regime in Havana has recruited, trained and backed violent Marxist and third-worldist movements across our hemisphere and beyond. Today, we are targeting the network that enables and funds Cuba’s subversive and radical operations,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement published on X.

The list also includes the Instituto Cubano de Amistad con Los Pueblos and the Comités de Defensa de la Revolución, both established in 1960 and based in Havana’s Vedado area.

The Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba, or MINFAR, established in 1959, was also sanctioned.

“Anyone providing services to these sanctioned actors is at risk of sanctions themselves,” Rubio said. “Foreign banks and other companies that provide services to these entities should freeze those activities.”

At the United Nations, Ambassador Mike Waltz demanded that the Cuban regime make “immediate” economic and political reforms.

“We are asking very simple things: Open the economy, free political prisoners, stop treating private citizens as a threat, and stop blaming America for the misery produced by Havana and its failed policies,” Waltz said.

Trump talks about Cuba

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• Trump says Pulte won’t be his nominee for director of national intelligence
• Trump says he will attend NBA Finals game in New York to root for his hometown Knicks
• Kennedy Center moves to erase Trump references after judge said they were illegally added
• Planning commission seeks more details on Trump’s planned 250-foot arch near the Lincoln Memorial
• Water begins refilling Reflecting Pool after Trump’s renovation to repaint it ‘American flag blue’
• Supreme Court sides with Trump administration on federal regulation of telecom companies
• President Trump says he will nominate Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general
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Wyndham Clark, coming off a victory in the Byron Nelson, U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun, Tommy Fleetwood and the Ryan Gerard were each at 5-under 67, among only 22 players who broke par at Muirfield Village.

Scheffler was poised to be among them until a bad wedge led to a careless bogey on the 14th, and what he thought was a great shot on the 16th bounced into the water for double bogey.

He walked 96 yards to the drop area with his palms upward when they weren't slapping his thigh, all the while seeking answers from caddie Ted Scott that neither of them had. “I don't think you understand how frustrating that is," he said to Scott, who replied quietly with the obvious answer. “I do,” the caddie said.

Six of the seven players who broke 70 started before 10 a.m. and missed out on the swirling wind on a hot, clear day that made the greens even firmer than they already were.

The exception was Gerard, who had quite the wild ride. He had a 3 on a par 5 and followed that with a 5 on a par 3. He had five straight birdies on the back nine and only five pars on his scorecard for the entire round. It added to a 67, which was all that mattered.

“The small misses often lead to big punishments at this golf course,” Gerard said “I don’t think we aimed at a flag stick on the back nine and shot 5 under. You’re picking small targets around either the edge of a bunker or a rake or some guy wearing a bright-colored shirt in the background or a TV tower or whatever it might be.”

Fleetwood's 67 was his lowest round in his fifth time playing the Memorial, and this wasn't the way he would have drawn it up. He was solid off the tee, not so much from the fairway. Fleetwood hit only seven greens and still played bogey-free.

“I got the most out of the round, totally. I got away with a couple of poor misses. Hit the pin a couple of times when it was going past. ... Shot 5 under, so it couldn't have been that bad. I was just getting a little frustrated at the end not being able to execute the iron shots that I wanted to.”

Nick Taylor wasted a good start with a double bogey on the par-5 seventh and a bogey on the next hole, only to played bogey-free on the tough back nine and finishing with one of only seven birdies on the the 18th hole.

Justin Rose and Sam Burns were at 69.

Scheffler provided the entertainment, even it didn't feel all that entertaining to him. He had changed clubs on the ninth, took the longer one and still was short. He changed clubs three times from the fairway on the par-5 11th and came up short. And then the water ball on the 16th was the capper.

What followed was a stream of frustrating lines: “I never thought that was in the water. ... I don't know what to do. ... I absolutely flushed a 7-iron and we get the wind wrong and I'm in the water. ... I'm hitting good shots and dropping from hazards.”

So when he was asked after signing for his 73 if he had any fun at any point, Scheffler gave a half-laugh as he rubbed his chin and said, “Not that I can recall at the moment.”

The 17th was kind of fun. From a fairway bunker, 182 yards to a tucked pin in the front right, Scheffler hit 7-iron to the collar 15 feet away and chipped in for birdie.

“See, that's the thing that can be so frustrating about golf,” Scheffler said. "I striped one on the hole before that and I end up in the water. That one I kind of hit thin, and you get a good bounce and I end up on the fringe and I chip in.

“Yeah, what a game,” he said. “I felt like I didn't get anything out of the round, all of a sudden you get a lucky bounce and you're like, ‘OK, well, I'm going to try to smile.' It's still hard.”

He did smile as he headed to the wind, late enough in the afternoon the wind was starting to calm. He also realized his score wasn't all that bad compared with other players from the afternoon.

It was tough all over for just about everyone. Patrick Cantlay was 3 over through holes and recovered for a 70. Rory McIlroy overcame an early double bogey to go 3 under the rest of the way for a 71. Aaron Rai played alongside Scheffler in his first start since winning the PGA Championship and shot 73.

___

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

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James “Weston” Higginbotham, a junior at Auburn University who was studying environmental engineering, didn’t return to the hotel where he was staying in Kyoto.

Surveillance video showed him at a train station in Yamashina, the eastern gateway to Kyoto, according to his mother’s regular Facebook posts.

“It’s not unusual for Weston to blow off steam, going to the woods, and just exploring. That’s his happy place. I’m thinking … he’s just off in the woods, and he got lost,” his mother, Nancy Higginbotham, told CNN.

A typhoon impacted the area on June 2. The FBI, the Kyoto Prefectural Police, and volunteers were involved in the massive search, which also included K-9 dogs and helicopters.

At Asbury United Methodist Church in Birmingham, Robert Holt, the student’s grandfather, told WVTM-TV on Thursday that the Spain Park High School graduate had recently completed an Ironman triathlon.

“Weston” was last seen wearing a white “Save the Bees” T-shirt with two bumblebees, light lavender corduroy pants, and black-and-white Adidas sneakers.

The area where we believe Weston is missing has ample water and limited berries. There is still hope.

“The police will reconvene tomorrow to come up with another plan to include watching additional CCTV footage to follow up on another lead. They are also deploying a smaller team to the forest,” his mother wrote on Thursday on Facebook.

Related social media posts

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Castillo, 42, who is replacing former Chief Edwin Lopez, starts his new job on June 15, before a formal swearing-in ceremony on June 17, according to the city’s announcement.

Doral Mayor Christi Fraga released a statement saying Castillo will be “combining proactive policing, modern technology, and meaningful community engagement to drive real results.”

Fraga announced Lopez’s departure on May 11 after his hire as Miami’s new police chief to lead over 1,100 sworn police officers. Doral has about 190 sworn police officers.

In a statement, Zeida Sardiñas, Doral’s city manager, described Castillo as “a respected law enforcement leader in our region who understands our community and has worked alongside our department through prior collaboration.”

Castillo started his career with the Miami Springs Police Department as a public service aide in 2009. The Florida International University graduate moved up the ranks and was promoted to chief on Jan. 1, 2025.

Miami Springs, a city department with more than 45 sworn police officers, had yet to announce Castillo’s replacement.

Related stories

• Doral offers police chief job to current Miami Springs Police Chief Matthew Castillo
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This is a developing story.

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Thomas Pauken II is set to be sentenced Sept. 1 in a U.S. District Court and he faces up to 10 years in jail, the department said. He writes under the name Tom McGregor to distance himself from his father with the same name, who was a former chairman of the Texas Republican Party in the 1990s and ran for governor more than a decade ago.

It is the latest in a string of cases that the federal government has brought against people suspected of working for the Chinese government without proper disclosure.

Eileen Wang, a former mayor of Arcadia, California, agreed in May to plead guilty to acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government. She was accused of doing the bidding of Chinese officials, including sharing articles favorable to Beijing.

Linda Sun, a former aide to New York governors, was accused of selling her influence to the Chinese government. Sun pleaded not guilty to charges that she failed to register as an agent of a foreign government, conspired with her husband to launder money and helped people commit visa fraud to enter the U.S. illegally. A December trial ended in a mistrial when a federal jury could not reach a unanimous verdict.

Charles Burnham, Pauken’s defense lawyer, said in a statement that, by his guilty plea, Pauken “has accepted responsibility for working as an agent of the People’s Republic of China without first completing certain required U.S. Government forms.”

Burnham said Pauken had hoped his work would “promote peaceful relations and advance the cause of religious freedom in China.”

Pauken was arrested in February after arriving in Washington from China. He met with someone who had sought a job in the Trump administration to provide that person with a SIM card and offer $10,000 to write reports to be read by Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to the affidavit.

He appeared to see himself as a middleman between Chinese agents and “human resources" who could provide classified information to Beijing, according to the affidavit. His lawyer didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

Since at least 2019, Pauken had been working with Chinese agents, including “Cathy,” who he believed to be working for China's security apparatus. Between 2019 and 2025, Pauken received $100,000 for the reports he provided to Cathy, in addition to paid trips to the U.S., the affidavit says. Cathy told him the reports were to be read by Xi.

Pauken was stopped by Customs and Border Protection agents when he returned to the U.S. in January 2025. In interviews with CBP and FBI agents, Pauken said he was meeting a person who was seeking a job in the Trump administration and would provide that person with a Samsung phone and a laptop computer. He said he was “80% sure” that person, if hired by the new administration, would provide classified information to Beijing, according to the affidavit.

U.S. agents let Pauken go and instructed him to carry on with his plans. Pauken's contact said in an interview that Pauken asked for open-source information but also indicated his clients in China frequently asked for more secretive information. That person indicated having no intention of working with Pauken, the affidavit said.

A year later, Pauken returned to the U.S. to make another pitch to this person, with whom Pauken had reconnected over a possible commercial oil deal, according to the affidavit. They met at a Washington restaurant on Feb. 23 and again two days later at a hotel, where the FBI monitored the meeting.

Pauken gave the person a SIM card and proposed the $10,000 bonus for providing Cathy with weekly reports that would “influence policy and be read by Xi Jinping,” the affidavit says.

Database checks showed that Pauken did not register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act or notify the U.S. attorney general that he was acting as an agent for China, the affidavit says.

The Justice Department said Pauken also sold reports to a group of Chinese individuals from the central city of Wuhan, who sought information about technology and the Justice Department and wanted Pauken to find an expert to help them engage in cyberespionage.

The ruling came weeks before Aaron Spencer, who will be on the November ballot, had been set to face a jury on a second-degree murder charge. He won a March primary over the local three-term sheriff whose office had arrested Spencer in Lonoke County, which has roughly 76,000 residents and is heavily Republican.

Spencer’s attorneys do not deny that he shot and killed Michael Fosler in 2024, saying he did so to protect his child. Special Circuit Court Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. granted a motion by Spencer's attorney to dismiss the charge over a dash camera memory card that may have captured the shooting and was lost by law enforcement.

“The court finds that conduct by law enforcement was so egregious that dismissal of this case is warranted,” Wilson wrote.

At the time of the shooting, Fosler, 67, was out on bond after being charged with dozens of sexual offenses against Spencer’s then-13-year-old daughter.

Court documents show on the night of the shooting, Spencer had woken up to find his daughter missing, and later found the girl in the passenger seat of a vehicle Fosler was driving. Spencer forced Fosler’s truck off the road and, after an altercation, called 911 to report he had shot the man.

Prosecutors said Spencer planned the killing and that he could have called police while pursuing Fosler. But Spencer pleaded not guilty and maintained he acted to protect his child from a predator.

Spencer’s attorney, Erin Cassinelli, said she is thankful for the court’s decision.

“No member of this family should ever again be forced to walk into a courtroom and relive this horror,” she said in a statement. “This father should have never been charged for protecting his child.”

Spencer said he is grateful this chapter is over and that his focus is now on his family and returning to normal life.

“There’s still work to do in Lonoke County, and I’m more committed to it than ever,” he said in a statement. “Together we can build a safer and stronger Lonoke County.”

Lonoke County Prosecuting Attorney Chuck Graham did not return messages Thursday seeking comment on the decision.

The Associated Press typically does not identify sex abuse victims, but Spencer has made his daughter’s experience with the criminal justice system a central part of his campaign for sheriff, pledging to establish a dedicated team to combat sex crimes against children.

Spencer's attorneys filed the motion seeking to have the case dismissed, contending that video and audio of the dash camera from Fosler's truck may have contained evidence that would have cleared Spencer of any wrongdoing. According to court records, a detective with the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office removed the dash camera from the truck when responding to the scene of the shooting.

But the camera's internal settings were not preserved and the battery of the camera was allowed to drain, and as a result the camera went back to its default settings. When the camera was sent to the attorney general's office for a forensic exam, the memory card that was in it when it was collected from the truck was missing. The detective who collected the camera later admitted that it was not logged into evidence right away, but was instead stored in his personal office rather than the evidence room, according to court records.

Wilson replaced the original judge handling the murder case in January after the Arkansas Supreme Court removed Judge Barbara Elmore from the case, finding she had issued an overly broad gag order that violated Spencer's First Amendment rights.

—-

Boone reported from Boise, Idaho. Associated Press reporter Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed.

How long the government can withstand the economic strain -- and what it will ultimately take for it to make changes -- remains unclear.

The communist island is seeing an exodus of international companies. Hotels, along with Visa and Mastercard, are shuttering operations as they rush to meet an end-of-week deadline to avoid sanctions threatened by the Trump administration.

The latest economic blow targets Grupo de Administración Empresarial, known as GAESA.

“GAESA is an economic conglomerate created by Raul Castro while Fidel was still alive,” said Cuba analyst Andy Gomez.

The U.S. government believes the conglomerate controls billions of dollars in assets. It was created in the 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union and is run by the Cuban military apparatus.

“So the purpose of GAESA was to lift the economy not just for the government but for the nation,” Gomez said.

Critics argue it evolved into something else.

“They own the tourist sector, they own mining, they own the gas stations. They own everything. So you have people literally starving, a power grid that hasn’t been maintained in 10 years, and yet you have this military government sitting on these assets,” said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Gomez said he sees only one path forward.

“I see for them no way out but sitting down and negotiating with the United States,” Gomez said. “Now I say negotiate.”

But Gomez warned that any such process would take time.

“This cannot be done overnight,” he said.

“There is no Delcy Rodriguez in Cuba,” Gomez added.

Amid the worsening social and economic fallout, Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Oscar Perez Oliva Fraga, the grandnephew of Fidel and Raul Castro, is reportedly seeking business investments from Russia.

Panic welled up. His excitement at soon being back at recess with his Florida classmates fell away. Would the government take her away again?

This was not his first trauma. In 2018, when he was just 3 years old, Ederson was taken from his mother’s arms at the U.S.-Mexico border under the first Trump administration’s family separation policy and kept apart from her in a government facility for months. They were finally reunited after lawyers intervened. Then, in June of last year, he and his mother were separated a second time, despite legal protections meant to keep them and families like theirs together.

He later joined his mother in Guatemala. After a destitute, torturous 11 months in the indigenous highlands, Ederson’s family was allowed to return to Florida last week, following a federal judge’s order that the government had acted illegally.

Now, eight years after President Donald Trump’s forcible border separations came to an official halt following global outrage, an Associated Press investigation has found that the government has re-separated dozens of children from their families, despite a landmark legal settlement meant to keep them together. Some of their parents have been locked in immigration detention facilities for months, others deported back to their home countries after being taken from their families once again. In some cases, immigration officials conducting interior arrests deported people despite discovering they were legally off limits for removal, according to emails obtained by AP.

“Not only has the government refused to acknowledge the horror of the initial separations during Trump I, but it is now detaining and deporting these same families,” said Lee Gelernt, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union and lead counsel in the lawsuit that ended the policy. “These children have suffered enough without re-traumatizing them.”

Trump successfully ran for reelection on an anti-immigration platform. Under his second term, the administration has vowed to deport more than 1 million people per year. Federal agents have been plucking people from their communities so swiftly that, according to the Brookings Institution, now the parents of tens of thousands of children have been detained.

This time, family separations often look different from Trump’s first term. In 2018, Ederson and other children at the border were taken from their parents, who were detained separately and overwhelmingly charged criminally with illegal entry. Then, the government was unable to reunite them for months because adults and children’s information was kept in different computer systems. A judge barred the government from separating most families at the border and ordered the government to bring the families back together after the ACLU filed a class action lawsuit. Later, a court settlement banned most family separations to deter immigration until December 2031.

Today, if parents are arrested or deported under the president’s push for mass deportations, they are being made to choose whether to leave their children behind in the United States.

“DHS complies with all court orders, even as radical NGOs shop for the most favorable forum and activist judges seek to thwart our operations,” acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, said in response to AP requests for comment about the government’s policies toward separated families.

Government attorneys have argued in recent court filings that there are no legal restrictions on “the government’s statutory authority to execute orders of removal.” Bis added that enforcing immigration law was “not optional,” and that “every removal of an illegal alien helps restore order and reinforce the rule of law.”

Ederson’s family recently was allowed to return, but their status is still on shaky ground.

Separated at the border, then again in Florida

After being taken from his mother, Mirsy Maricela Alva López, and confined to a government shelter in Arizona as a toddler for four and a half months, Ederson barely recognized her once they were reunited, she said. Vivid nightmares haunted him throughout his time in elementary school, where he learned to read in English in classrooms amid lush lawns and palm trees less than 10 miles from Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Winter White House.

Once a federal judge approved a settlement to the class action suit under the Biden administration, Ederson’s family and those like his got legal status to stay in the U.S., with pathways for residency and asylum, and his mother got a work permit. And after months of mental health services to address his ongoing fear that his mother would never return, in early June last year — about five months after the beginning of Trump’s second administration and the president’s resumed anti-immigration push — his therapist finally said he had made so much progress he could put his weekly sessions on pause.

Two weeks later, Alva López was stopped by federal agents as she and co-workers were en route to a landscaping job near Mar-a-Lago. The agents, wearing brown uniforms, never gave a reason for the stop or identified themselves before transferring Alva López to two Florida jails, then to ICE custody in Louisiana, and finally to a plane full of shackled deportees heading to Guatemala City, she said.

“I felt the very same thing I went through the first time,” Alva López said, weeping. “I was living it all over again.”

Alva López was separated from Ederson and his older sister, Briseidy, for a week, and not given the chance to speak with an immigration official about her status or legal protections, said Kelly Kribs, an attorney with the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, which has supported Alva López’s family’s return to the U.S.

When she finally managed to call Ederson and Briseidy, they couldn’t stop sobbing. Alva López said she asked her sister to buy airplane tickets to send them to Guatemala City. She met them the next day at the airport and traveled with them nine more hours down highways and rutted roads to reach San Martín Cuchumatán, a hamlet in the highlands where the children were born.

The three of them shared a tiny bedroom with a dusty floor with Alva López’s parents and brother in an adobe brick home with a sheet metal roof, nothing like the leafy cul-de-sacs of South Florida. The school, where all lessons are in Spanish, was a mile’s walk, and none of the children in town spoke English, Ederson said.

Instead of clocking in to trim the gardens of West Palm Beach estates, each day Alva López fed the chickens and ducks in a small coop behind the house, washed the family’s laundry by hand and cooked meals on an open fire.

And Ederson was back to waking up at night fearing his future. At Northmore Elementary School, he had been doing well in fifth grade. In Guatemala, he repeated fourth grade, this time in Spanish, and was quizzed on the history and culture of a country he barely knew. His friendships weren’t as close as in West Palm Beach. Sometimes when he felt sad, he watched the school’s old online videos to see his old friends.

“We used to play and chat. Sometimes they would help me when I didn’t understand the lesson, and I would help them with math,” he said, fighting back tears. “I have very few friends here.”

Ederson still doesn’t want to talk about the separations, and he can’t stop asking his mother why she went to work that day. But he is clear on one thing: he never wants to be apart from his mother again.

‘Lasting, excruciating harm’

In late 2017, immigration officials began forcibly separating parents and children at the U.S.-Mexico border, under a policy championed by Stephen Miller, Trump’s then-senior policy advisor who is now White House deputy chief of staff. After advocates got word, the ACLU filed a lawsuit in February 2018 to halt the practice called Ms. L v. U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement, on behalf of a Congolese mother the Trump administration separated from her 7-year-old daughter for four months. It later became a class action suit.

It wasn’t until thousands of families were torn apart that a judge ordered the government to end separations, saying it caused “lasting, excruciating harm.” According to the ACLU’s most recent accounting, the number of separated parents and children, and their impacted family members covered by the settlement is far greater than had been previously reported — over 11,800 — and because the government deported so many people before the practice was banned, the full scope may never be known. The ACLU also provided AP with new information surrounding Ms. L class members who have been detained and deported during the second Trump administration, including that dozens of children were re-separated. Legal filings in the Ms. L case and other immigration attorneys working with separated families also detailed the re-separations of children.

Under a 2023 settlement agreement signed by the Biden administration, Ms. L class members — including separated parents, children and other close relatives — received special legal protections, pathways toward asylum and access to attorneys, work permits and support services. And over eight years, advocates and attorneys have been trying to help the families reunite and recover, traveling to the Guatemala rainforest and remote Honduran villages to inform class members of their rights, and offering them to apply for everything from humanitarian parole to work authorization permits to psychological counseling, benefits meant “to prevent any ongoing harm caused by the initial separation,” according to the settlement.

That changed when Trump began his second term. Support for separated families was never encoded by an act of Congress, and soon it started shrinking.

First, funding for legal services temporarily ended. Instead, the Trump administration said it would charge families $1,000 each to enter or stay in the country. Then, attorneys said, some parents were told to appear for more frequent ICE check-ins, and ordered to wear ankle monitors to record their movements. Many class members lost access to counseling.

By late last year, emails show the government had deported some protected family members even after being told by the ACLU that they were off limits as protected Ms. L class members.

Seven days before Christmas, ACLU attorney Natalie Behr wrote an urgent email to Department of Justice contacts, saying her team had learned that a protected relative was once again in ICE custody.

“We ask that you tell us why we were not notified of this class member’s detention within 24 hours. … this class member should not be removed,” Behr wrote.

A Washington DOJ trial attorney emailed back, saying he would ask ICE. ACLU attorneys followed up.

By the day after Christmas, it was already too late. He had been deported.

The problem is still surfacing. While the government is required by judge’s orders to immediately tell the ACLU when Ms. L class members are detained and to return re-separated families who have been deported, the Trump administration only disclosed in April that it had deported another protected person to Guatemala back in September, court filings show.

The same thing nearly happened to one of Alva López’s neighbors, who was picked up in West Palm Beach a few months after her deportation. The father also had done landscaping near Mar-a-Lago and had been separated at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2017 from his daughter. Under the first Trump administration, he was swiftly returned to Guatemala. As ACLU attorneys and government lawyers hashed out what separated families were due, he came back to Florida in 2021 to reunite with his children, one of whom had been released after spending months in a government detention facility.

In October, the government locked him up, first in Alligator Alcatraz, an immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, then inside Camp East Montana in Texas, Kribs said.

At Camp East Montana, he was fed moldy food with worms, berated by guards and learned that a fellow detainee died after being mistreated by ICE officials, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of government reprisal. ICE said the detainee died after experiencing “on-site medical distress,” and the El Paso medical examiner’s office later ruled the detainee experienced “asphyxia due to neck and torso compression.” Christmas and New Year’s Eve came and went, and by January he found it hard to keep up his hopes when his children called.

The ACLU filed a motion about Ms. L parents being detained, and the father was released from government detention in April. While he’s grateful to be back home in Florida with his children, he told AP he feels like he is still being tracked through his ankle monitor and the ICE check-ins he’s required to do every two weeks. His children still worry he won’t be there when they get out of school, he said.

Bis said DHS could impose conditions on parole, including electronic monitoring, regular reporting requirements, and even detention.”

‘A place where we can all be safe’

Sinri Baltazar, a mother from Honduras who was first separated from her then-5-year-old daughter in 2018, also was allowed under a judge’s order in April to return to Louisiana with her three children, including her youngest, a U.S. citizen.

It has not been easy. Baltazar, a member of the Afro-indigenous Garifuna community that faces discrimination in Honduras, was deported with her children last year after she said immigration officials told her to sign a document they said would permit her to keep her family together — only if they all left. Back in New Orleans, she said she was grateful her children could seek a better life, but they have been struggling to get by while living with an acquaintance from church.

“The only thing my children say is that they want to be home, in their own house,” Baltazar said. “I’m just trying to get us to a place where we can all be safe, and I hope for that for all the other families.”

As deportations have risen in the last year and a half, attorneys say separated families have become increasingly fearful about filling out government paperwork and many don’t know they can apply for asylum, a key benefit of the settlement that expires in December. The administration also hasn’t said whether it will extend a current, trimmed-back legal services contract for families that ends in August. Another deadline is looming as well: thousands of separated families need to request for any pending removal orders to be cancelled by December, or lose their ability to stay in the U.S. legally.

“There was never enough funding to keep up with the need,” said Anilú Chadwick, an attorney and senior director at the legal nonprofit Together & Free, which she said has supported 15 families that have been re-separated, including Baltazar’s. “Now we have to see if the government awards a new contract, and I gotta say as someone who has been on the clock to find and locate services, that is not enough time even in the best of circumstances.”

For separated families who are waiting for loved ones to be released from detention, or for paperwork to return to the U.S., however, time has been moving at a glacial pace.

Ever since Alva López was deported back to Guatemala nearly a year ago, she checked her phone each morning for word of when she and her children could return. Money started drying up. The children began forgetting their English slang. Briseidy, now 14, worried she would drift away from her American friends. Finally, two weeks ago, there was news: the government would bring her and her children back to Florida on an American Airlines flight, under a judge’s order.

The puppies she had bought Ederson to lighten his mood had died, and there were few friends and relatives to say goodbye to. So she packed up the siblings and their few possessions, their clothes now loose on their frames after losing weight since returning to Todos Santos Cuchumatán.

And finally, in the last week of May, passports and travel documents in hand, the family flew to Miami. Ederson said it felt like a miracle. But soon after landing, immigration officials pulled Alva López in for questioning, taking her photo and fingerprints all over again and re-examining every document she held. Their stay in the U.S. may be short. An immigration official granted her just two weeks’ humanitarian parole.

The government declined to comment specifically on Alva López’s case.

“I still haven’t told the children” about the two weeks’ parole, Alva López said the first day she woke up back in the family’s old neighborhood in West Palm Beach. “They’re going to worry that the same thing will happen again,” she said.

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Burke reported from San Francisco. Pérez reported from San Martín Cuchumatán, Guatemala. AP photographer Rebecca Blackwell in Miami contributed reporting.

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Contact AP’s global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org or https://www.ap.org/tips/

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County Chief Operating Officer Jimmy Morales and PortMiami Director Hydi Webb have resigned, the mayor’s office announced in a news release.

It comes one week after residents on Fisher Island sued a developer, asking a court to stop it from selling the fuel bunker without their written consent, claiming it’s in violation of a previous agreement.

They also argue that the county’s threat of eminent domain is unconstitutional. A separate federal lawsuit is also making its way through the court system.

“I think there is no way that the county should overpay for that land,” Jim Ferraro, the chairman of the Fisher Island Community Association, said in an interview with Local 10 News. “It was a confidential, exclusive mediation that the buyers are attempting now to parlay into some massive payday which is really unconscionable.”

The mayor’s office said the changes aren’t related to the lawsuit. Morales, in a retirement letter sent to Levine Cava via email and shared with Local 10 News, referenced the fuel depot issue.

“I acknowledge that you and I have a difference of opinion with respect to the purchase and sale transaction of the port fuel facility on Fisher Island,” Morales wrote. “Nine months ago, you tasked me and PortMiami staff to accomplish two things: (1) permanently securing fuel for our cruise and cargo stakeholders at PortMiami and (2) negotiating a financial transaction that PortMiami could afford, that would not require any taxpayer funding and that would preserve the creditworthiness of the Port.

“I firmly believe that the proposed agreement that we have reached with the current owners of the fuel facility accomplishes those goals.”

Full resignation letter:

Webb’s letter wasn’t immediately made available as of Thursday afternoon.

In a statement, Levine Cava said in part that she is “deeply grateful” to Morales and Webb “for their extraordinary service to Miami-Dade County and our residents.”

“Their leadership, integrity, and dedication have helped make our county stronger,” she said.

Local 10 News has reached out to the developer seeking comment.

Chief Utilities and Regulatory Services Officer Roy Coley has been promoted to the position of deputy mayor, where he will oversee a number of county departments and facilities, including the airport and seaport.

Deputy Port Director Frederick Wong will serve as PortMiami’s interim director.

Read the lawsuit:

249080291 Complaint by Chris Gothner

They had — and lost — home-court advantage in Round 1 against Portland, before recovering to win the series. In Round 2 against Minnesota, the same thing happened. In the Western Conference finals against Oklahoma City, they trailed 2-1 before finding a way to oust the defending champion Thunder in seven games.

And now, the finals. They had home-court advantage and lost it in Game 1 against the New York Knicks. Adversity, hello again.

“We’ve been consistent in that regard,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said Thursday as his team prepares for Game 2 on Friday night. “I think one thing we have learned in our three series is that series are long. Games are long. Things shift quickly, whether that’s health, who’s playing well or hot, quote-unquote, at the time. Teams at this stage typically have shown the ability to evolve on the fly and improve within a series.”

That's what will be required if the Spurs are going to head to New York with this series knotted at a game apiece.

They shot poorly in Game 1 (36%), extremely poorly from 3-point range (26%, missing 32 of 43 tries), had 16 assists (nowhere near enough), got outscored in the paint 50-42 and couldn't hold a 14-point third-quarter lead. The Knicks deserve credit for creating a whole lot of those issues, but the Spurs know they're capable of much better play.

“I think the reason we lost that game isn’t even technical (or) tactical,” Spurs star Victor Wembanyama said. “We need to approach the game with a better mental state. We just need to play our game. We just need to be normal.”

Normal?

“‘Normal’ means trusting each other, trusting the basketball gods, trusting the game plan, executing, and not relying on talent so much to make shots or to save the day,” Wembanyama said. “We’ve been playing a certain way all season. We’ve been successful this way. There’s no reason to change the day the finals start.”

It was easy for the Spurs to find areas to clean up.

For the Knicks these days, that's considerably tougher.

They're 12-0 in their last 12 games, the third team to do that in a single postseason. The other two — San Antonio in 1999 and Golden State in 2017 — were NBA champions. The Knicks are certainly playing like a championship-capable team, but star guard Jalen Brunson insists that New York can't subscribe to any sort of thinking that suggests the job is done and a parade is inevitable.

“It’s all about just getting better every single day, keep chipping away, keep chipping away, being 1% better,” said Brunson, who led all scorers with 30 points in his finals debut Wednesday. “When you take steps back, how can you improve? ... Having that mentality and focus and approach I think allows us to still be students of the game and still find ways to learn, even through wins, and I think we need to continue to do that.”

The Knicks were coming off their second nine-day break between series — an unintended consequence of sweeping Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference semifinals and Cleveland in the East finals — and handled it just fine.

But New York's Mikal Bridges knows Game 2 will be better.

“I don’t think our Game 1s, even though we won, have been great at all,” Bridges said. “It’s tough to assimilate the emotional aspect, how physical it’s going to be when you’re in practice every day, besides being in those games. It’s tough. ... Now, we kind of got a rhythm. We've got to be better and I know we will be Game 2.”

The Spurs hope they will as well.

It's not must-win time for San Antonio, but going to New York in a 2-0 hole would make the challenge of winning the finals considerably more daunting. The Spurs have handled all the adversity that has come their way so far in the playoffs, and now have to answer that bell again.

“It’s very reassuring,” Wembanyama said. “We know we’re not here by chance. We’ve been through some weird — what do you call it? — weird situations, whatever. Yes, it’s reassuring to know that these guys, the 18 guys we got, are built this way. They are resilient.”

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

This Sunday is Cancer Survivors Day, and a South Florida educator is sharing her story of survival, resilience and hope — one she says shows how attitude can be just as important as medicine.

Mary Suppe has spent more than two decades educating children in South Florida classrooms.

The 58-year-old says she loves teaching her second graders, but now she is offering a different kind of lesson.

“You cannot go cry in the corner,” she said. “You may want to do that, but you can’t give up and you can’t go cry in the corner.”

Suppe was first diagnosed with melanoma and later learned the cancer had spread to her brain.

“It wasn’t until five years later that I woke up with a headache and my vision was not right,” she said.

Suppe calls herself a survivor and says her outlook played a major role alongside cutting-edge treatment in her recovery.

“You have to believe that you’re going to get better,” she said. “You can do this!”

Dr. Atif Hussein of the Memorial Cancer Institute said science is only one part of the treatment process.

“It’s a long journey. There are ups and downs. Positive attitude matters a lot,” Hussein said.

Suppe also credits her family, faith and community support during her treatment.

“I have a strong faith background,” she said. “All the prayers, I know, made a difference. I had everyone in the community praying for me.”

Hussein said he often sees differences in outcomes tied to mindset and support systems.

“I can see two patients — the same stage, the same cancer in two rooms and I leave one room saying ‘my God, this person isn’t going to do great,’” he said. “And then I go to the other room and say, ‘oh my God, this person is going to do great!’ Positive attitude, support system, having someone with them, faith helps, praying helps.”

Today, Suppe is a grandmother enjoying time with four generations of her family.

“I am very, very, very blessed,” she said.

Suppe was diagnosed with brain cancer 20 years ago.

She participated in one of the early clinical trials for immunotherapy, in which medications are used to supercharge the immune system to attack cancer cells.

Today, she shows no signs of cancer.

North Miami Beach police said Norvys Colmenares Zambrano, 46, was seen on video using multiple debit cards at the ATM at the CVS Pharmacy at 1825 NE 185th St. on May 22.

Police said they got the tip from a man who reported that his debit card data had been used without his authorization to make five withdrawals from the ATM.

Police said Colmenares used a deliberate and organized method. Video showed him handling the debit or credit cards, removing and reinserting cards from a wallet that appeared to contain separate sections designated for cards that had already been attempted and cards yet to be used.

Authorities said he was living with Janckeily Guerra Machado, 29, and a child in a northwest Miami-Dade apartment.

Police said they found a card skimming device with a pinhole camera used on ATMs or register terminals to steal account numbers and PINS sitting right on their kitchen counter.

Detectives also say they found 143 credit, gift and prepaid cards, including 132 that had been re-encoded.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security also got involved: The pair are Venezuelan nationals who entered the U.S. illegally.

Anyone who thinks they may have been victimized by Colmenares or Guerra is asked to call North Miami Beach Police.

Police took both into custody on multiple charges Tuesday. The couple remained behind bars Thursday afternoon on an immigration hold.

Describing himself as a “big fan” of the team and owner James Dolan, Trump said Thursday that he will be in the arena for at least one game next week. The NBA believes it would make him the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game.

“The answer is yes — he’s invited me, I’m going,” Trump said of Dolan's invitation. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said he was eyeing Game 3 on Monday but didn't rule out Game 4 on Wednesday. “Maybe I'll do both.”

Trump, who is simultaneously contending with a war in Iran, strife in Congress and looming midterm elections, said he made sure to catch some of Game 1 on Wednesday as the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs and took a 1-0 lead in the series.

“I missed the middle because I talk to generals all night long now, but I watched that end of the game and they were dominant,” Trump said. “Really amazing.”

Asked about his plans for next week, Trump went on to offer his own game recap, giving nothing but praise for the Knicks. Taking questions after an event on his administration's efforts to promote the U.S. coal industry, Trump said it “wasn't looking good” for the Knicks early on but commended them for holding back Victor Wembanyama, the towering Spurs center.

“I say, how do you guard this guy? He's 7-foot-5 and he’s got a great shot, right? But they find a way to do it. They're really great.”

The NBA said it believes no other sitting president has attended an NBA Finals game. Earlier Thursday, Commissioner Adam Silver said some former presidents had attended. He recalled Trump as a Knicks fan long before his political career.

“Donald Trump, before he ever ran for office, he was a big Knicks fan,” Silver said. “I was there at many Knicks games with him in the old days. He attended many of our drafts when they used to take place at Madison Square Garden."

Silver reiterated a message he conveyed Wednesday amid reports that Trump might attend — that sports can be unifying, even in deeply divided political times.

“We can emphasize what we have in common, not what pulls us apart,” Silver said. “We’re seeing that in New York and I think President Trump is very much a New Yorker, and I’m thrilled that yet another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knick team.”

The commissioner acknowledged that Trump’s presence will require extra security in and around Madison Square Garden. That would almost certainly mean longer transit times and logistical issues for fans.

“I think the fans are very understanding of that,” Silver said. “I think they recognize that it adds to the bigness of the event."

___

AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in San Antonio contributed to this report.

Tradition is known for having issues with feral hogs, which is why trapper Jay with Treasure Coast Wildlife Trappers set up a hog trap equipped with a camera to monitor activity.

Instead of hogs, the camera captured a black bear.

Jay showed where the bear was spotted, in the backyards of homes along Southwest Lake Fern Circle in Tradition.

Early Sunday morning, the camera alerted him that something was at the trap.

He checked the footage.

“And we’re like, ‘Oh my God. There’s a bear by the trap,’” Jay said.

The footage showed an adult black bear.

The bear first appeared around 2 a.m. Three hours later, at nearly 5 a.m., it was still in the area and had become curious about the camera.

Neighbors also took an interest in the unexpected visitor.

“Pretty interesting, to say the least,” resident Rachel Murray said with a laugh.

“We got a lot of critters in the backyard. This is our first bear,” resident Bob Lopopolo said.

The bear returned Monday morning.

Once again, it visited the trap, checked out the camera and remained in the area for hours.

Bear sightings in the neighborhood are rare. Jay said anyone who encounters a bear should keep their distance.

“What you want to do at that point is make loud noises. You want to kind of haze the bear. You want that bear to be afraid of humans,” he said.

Even if residents do not see the bear, Jay said they should remain cautious.

“Just keep your eye out. Be safe. When you’re out there, make sure you have a flashlight at night, you have your dogs on a leash and that you stay vigilant,” he said.

The trapper said the most recent sighting occurred several days ago, and the bear has not returned since. He hopes the animal has moved on but is encouraging residents to stay vigilant in case it wanders back.

What left the Knicks star nearly stumped was determining what he would deem worthy of spending $7,500 to go see.

“That’s a good question,” Brunson said Thursday. He paused for a few seconds before delivering his answer: “A live Michael Jackson performance.”

Thriller, indeed.

From Bay Ridge to the Bronx and beyond, the Big Apple has gone nuts for the Knicks.

The team is not only in the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years, New York is riding a 12-0 roll after rallying from a 14-point second-half deficit in a 105-95 win at San Antonio in Game 1 on Wednesday night. Game 2 is Friday night in San Antonio before the series shifts to New York on Monday.

It seems as if the entire city is on board. There were the thousands who filled Madison Square Garden to watch the game on the big screen, only to be matched by the thousands more celebrating outside in the shadow of the Empire State Building lit up in the Knicks' blue and orange.

The MTA — the city's transit authority — got into the spirit by painting several subway stops around the arena in Knicks colors. And Mayor Zohran Mamdani even signed an executive order temporarily lifting children's bedtime hours.

“Knicks in Four!” chants erupted shortly after midnight, as fans climbed light posts and even on an ambulance outside of MSG.

Similar scenes were captured at a free watch party in Central Park, and across the five boroughs.

At a bar in Brooklyn, fans spilled out onto the outside sidewalk to watch the game on the TV inside. At a pizzeria a few doors down, fans gathered around a flat screen TV someone erected in the trunk of a car.

All of this for a chance to be a part of what could be history 53 years in the making, since Willis Reed and company last brought an NBA title to what was and evidently remains a basketball-mad metropolis. The buzz in the city has overwhelmed much talk of the World Cup, which opens in a week.

“Honestly, I just feel grateful to be here and experience the New York Knicks, doing what we haven’t done in a long time,” Owen Odigie said, celebrating the Game 1 win inside Madison Square Garden. “It’s special. It’s beautiful.”

Knicks forward Karl-Anthony Towns could feel the Big Apple energy some 1,800 miles away in San Antonio following Game 1.

“You feel the energy in the city, the grit, the grind, the hard work you’ve got to put in to make it in the city,” said Towns, who hails from New Jersey. “I think we reflect all our fans ... when we step on that court with a Knicks jersey.”

Knicks fans even made their presence felt in San Antonio, beyond the familiar celebrities of Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan, Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller and more. The crowd in San Antonio was made up of an estimated 20% Knicks fans, some of whom made their voices heard in yelling, “Let’s go, Knicks,” during the national anthem.

In reality, given the soaring prices at home, it was reasonably cheaper for Knicks fans to make the trip to San Antonio, even when taking into account flight and lodging costs. Tickets for Game 1 started at around $750 on the secondary market.

Spurs guard Julian Champagnie — a native New Yorker — wasn’t surprised to see the Knicks contingent.

“I kind of expected that,” Champagnie said. “I’m from New York. I know how New York fans travel and stuff like that, so I kind of expected that.”

Towns said he couldn't be more appreciative of the love being shown by Knicks fans. But he said he also prays for the New York police officers tasked with keeping people safe amid the frenzy.

“All those men and women out there that are not only protecting everybody ... they are huge fans of the Knicks and support the Knicks fans in their ability to show how much they love the Knicks and being as lenient as possible without causing chaos,” Towns said. "So, shout-out to the men and women of the NYPD.”

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Wawrow reported from Buffalo, New York, and Reynolds from San Antonio.

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

Rogerio Miranda De Souza, de 49 años, fue ingresado la noche del miércoles en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight por un nuevo cargo de exhibicionismo indecente, según los registros carcelarios.

La policía de South Miami informó que el incidente más reciente ocurrió el 23 de mayo a lo largo de la U.S. 1 cerca de Southwest 104th Street e involucró a una víctima diferente.

Los investigadores dijeron que pudieron identificar a De Souza mediante el uso de un lector de matrículas. Posteriormente, los detectives contactaron a su abogado y De Souza se entregó a las autoridades el miércoles.

El arresto ocurre apenas semanas después de que De Souza compareciera ante un juez en un caso separado de exhibicionismo indecente.

En ese incidente, la policía dijo que una mujer denunció haber sido seguida durante casi 30 minutos después de salir de un gimnasio en el vecindario Brickell de Miami. Según los investigadores, De Souza condujo repetidamente alrededor del vehículo de la mujer, le cerró el paso en el tráfico y, en un momento, fue visto tocándose mientras conducía junto a ella.

La policía indicó que la mujer proporcionó a los detectives un número de matrícula que ayudó a los investigadores a identificar a De Souza.

En el momento de ese arresto, los detectives dijeron a Local 10 News que estaban investigando otro caso con acusaciones similares. Sin embargo, las autoridades no han confirmado si el arresto más reciente está relacionado con esa investigación anterior.

De Souza permanecía bajo custodia la mañana del jueves y se esperaba que compareciera más tarde ese día ante un tribunal de fianzas.

La policía aún no ha divulgado detalles adicionales sobre el segundo caso.

“You all had the opportunity to honor fallen soldiers or children who lost their lives,” said Courteney Ross, Floyd’s girlfriend and who was visibly emotional through “tears of outrage.” “Instead, you took precious time to purposefully hurt everyone who loved Floyd. And every other family who has lost a loved one to the police. ”

Valerie Castile, the mother of Philando Castile, a 32-year-old school cafeteria worker who was shot and killed by a Minnesota police officer in 2016, echoed what Ross said, calling the act “the most hurtful thing you can do.”

“You give a moment of silence to a murderer? Come on," Castile said.

The two women were among those who spoke at a news conference organized by Twin Cities Coalition For Justice.

What happened in Minnesota over the weekend

The Minnesota Republican Party nominating convention held a moment of silence last weekend for Chauvin.

When the action became public knowledge, it triggered intense backlash.

Racial justice groups, civil rights advocates and Democratic public officials swiftly condemned party officials, accusing them of blindly supporting law enforcement and disrespecting Floyd and his family.

Chauvin has been in federal prison since 2021, after he was convicted of murdering Floyd six years ago. Cellphone video of Chauvin putting his knee on Floyd's neck for over 9 minutes despite Floyd's pleas of “I can't breathe" sparked the numerous racial reckoning protests that dominated the latter half of 2020.

On the one-year anniversary of Floyd's death, people knelt in a moment of silence at the site, symbolizing the 9 minutes and 29 seconds Floyd was pinned down.

A delegate at the Minnesota GOP gathering in Duluth on Saturday proposed acknowledging Chauvin, according to reports from local news outlets. It occurred days after the sixth anniversary of Floyd's death.

“The moment of silent prayer was a spontaneous motion brought forward from the convention floor. It was not part of the official convention program, it was not proposed by Convention Chairman Danny Nadeau, and it was not a statement from party leadership,” the Minnesota Republican Party said in a statement.

A spokesperson for the Minnesota GOP did not immediately return an email Thursday seeking additional comment.

The impact of honoring a police officer — and not the person killed

Castile said it didn't matter if only one person participated, it was still hurtful.

“I am proud of the ones who did not do the moment of silence,” she said. “Those that did, they should be reprimanded in some fashion.”

Ross urged those Republicans who did not take part to hold their peers accountable.

“I’m speaking to the few of you that thought it was wrong. Please stand up," Ross said. “You are public servants.”

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who led the state's prosecution of Chauvin, said in a statement this week he was “heartbroken and frankly shocked" by the prayer.

“This decision dishonors the memory of George Floyd and wounds his loved ones all over again. As the lead prosecutor whose team presented this case to a jury of twelve Minnesotans and then prevailed at every step of the appeals process, I am deeply troubled by what this says about the state of our politics," Ellison said.

Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, the attorneys who represented Floyd's family in a wrongful death lawsuit, were left “sickened by this lack of respect." They also demanded the Minnesota GOP retract their moment of silence and apologize to Floyd's family.

“The audacity of the Minnesota Republican Party to honor an individual who has both been convicted by a jury of his peers for the murder of a fellow human being, while at the same time (violating) a professional oath to protect and serve his community, is disgusting,” they said in a statement.

Reached via text message on Thursday, Floyd’s New York-based brother, Terrence Floyd, said he was “glad to see people are still fighting with us for complete justice.”

How some conservatives support police officers

The moment of silence for Chauvin fits a pattern of flashpoints when conservatives reacted to police violence with “back the blue” initiatives. Long before 2020, when George Floyd's murder catalyzed the largest racial justice demonstrations since the Civil Rights Movement, some officers were symbols of “law and order” or anti-Black Lives Matter sentiment.

For example in 2014, after Darren Wilson — the former Ferguson, Missouri, police officer who is white — fatally shot 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was Black, a GoFundMe website raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the officer’s family and legal defense. The amount dwarfed the total raised for Brown’s family. Wilson ultimately did not face criminal charges or federal civil rights offenses.

Officers in the high-profile cases in which police killed Laquan McDonald in Chicago and Eric Garner in New York also drew sizable support from law enforcement unions that recast the criminal prosecution or discipline of officers as unjust and politically motivated.

Although legal outcomes vary a lot in these cases, most prominent examples of support for officers charged in killings do not result in overturned convictions.

___ Associated Press editor Aaron Morrison in New York City contributed to this report.

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The woman was swimming on Wednesday in the area of Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park at 6503 North Ocean Drive, according to Deanna Bettineschi, a spokeswoman for the HPD.

“Detectives have identified the female and are working to make next of kin notifications,” Bettineschi wrote in a statement on Thursday afternoon.

Hollywood police officers responded to a 911 call at about 8 p.m. on Wednesday after witnesses saw the body, east of the North Boardwalk and south of the Hollywood North Beach Park.

“We saw two fishermen and then what looked like a body on the beach ... We saw them drag her up ... it was disheartening,” Gianluca Fiore, a witness, told Local 10 News on Thursday morning.

There were Hollywood police officers on and off the beach late into the night, near North Surf Road, between New Mexico and Thomas streets.

The Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office was conducting an autopsy. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation investigators worked with Hollywood detectives, and their investigation was ongoing on Thursday afternoon, according to Bettineschi.

Detectives asked anyone with information about the case to call 954-764-4357 or 954-967-4567, or Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477 to remain anonymous.

Related reports

• Police: Body washes ashore on Hollywood Beach
• Hollywood detectives investigate woman’s death after her body washes ashore

Location

La mujer se encontraba nadando el miércoles en el área del Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, ubicado en 6503 North Ocean Drive, según Deanna Bettineschi, portavoz de la Policía de Hollywood.

“Los detectives han identificado a la mujer y están trabajando para notificar a sus familiares más cercanos”, escribió Bettineschi en un comunicado el jueves por la tarde.

Agentes de la Policía de Hollywood respondieron a una llamada al 911 alrededor de las 8 p.m. del miércoles después de que testigos observaran el cuerpo al este del North Boardwalk y al sur de Hollywood North Beach Park.

“Vimos a dos pescadores y luego lo que parecía ser un cuerpo en la playa… Vimos cómo la arrastraban hacia la orilla… fue desalentador”, dijo Gianluca Fiore, un testigo, a Local 10 News el jueves por la mañana.

Agentes de la Policía de Hollywood permanecieron dentro y fuera de la playa hasta altas horas de la noche cerca de North Surf Road, entre las calles New Mexico y Thomas.

La Oficina del Médico Forense del Condado Broward realizaba una autopsia. Investigadores de la Comisión de Conservación de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de Florida trabajaban junto con detectives de Hollywood, y la investigación continuaba el jueves por la tarde, según Bettineschi.

Los detectives solicitaron a cualquier persona con información sobre el caso que llame al 954-764-4357 o al 954-967-4567, o a Broward County Crime Stoppers al 954-493-8477 para permanecer en el anonimato.

Reportes relacionados

Policía: Cuerpo aparece en la orilla de Hollywood Beach

Detectives de Hollywood investigan muerte de mujer tras aparecer su cuerpo en la orilla

Ubicación.

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From fan festivals in downtown Miami to Hard Rock Stadium — temporarily branded “Miami Stadium” for the tournament — to Miami Beach, where oversized soccer balls now dot the coastline, local leaders say the region is gearing up for what they expect will be a major economic boost.

Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner said the city is preparing for a wave of international visitors and major events tied to the tournament.

“We’re anticipating (a) $1.3 billion economic impact,” Meiner said.

He pointed to planned programming across the city, including entertainment and viewing events designed to draw fans throughout the tournament period.

“We have activations, we have watch parties, we have a launch concert that’s going to be taking place here,” Meiner said.

Miami Beach, which he noted is home to a significant share of Miami-Dade County’s hotel inventory, is positioning itself as a central hub for visiting fans.

“The first four months of the year so far, we’re the number one hotel room rate in the nation, and it’s only going to continue with something like the FIFA games coming,” Meiner said.

Local businesses are also preparing for increased demand, with some already seeing ripple effects ahead of the tournament.

Economist Pamela Fuertes said the scale of the event places it in rare company when compared to other major sporting events.

“The Super Bowl runs for eight days and the economic impact of the Super Bowl is $500 million,” Fuertes said.

“It’s like a Super Bowl for 45 days straight,” said Philip Cardona, of PulseEleven.com.

At the FIFA store on Lincoln Road, members of the Cardona family said the global spotlight is already translating into increased visibility and business growth.

The family said their work in youth soccer technology has expanded as FIFA’s presence in South Florida grows.

“We’re now getting visibility from across the country and overseas,” said Cardona.

While officials highlight the potential upside, they also acknowledge the challenges that come with hosting an event of this magnitude.

In Miami-Dade County alone, officials estimate roughly $46 million in operational costs, along with logistical concerns tied to transportation, crowd management and public space access.

Economist Pamela Fuertes said coordination between agencies will be key as the region prepares for the influx of visitors.

“In terms of Miami International Airport, in terms of our public transportation system, in terms of how are we going to keep our public spaces open and friendly, and I think Miami has really stepped up,” she said.

Despite the challenges, she said the long-term impact of the tournament could extend beyond tourism and immediate spending.

“It’ll be an accelerator, and a true economic catalyst for our community, Fuertes added. ”Not only will we be able to showcase our beautiful community, but we will also be able to really show the world what Miami has to offer."

Officials across the region continue to ramp up preparations as South Florida moves closer to hosting one of the largest sporting events in the world.

Desde festivales para aficionados en el centro de Miami hasta el Hard Rock Stadium —que será temporalmente denominado “Miami Stadium” durante el torneo— y Miami Beach, donde enormes balones de fútbol ya adornan la costa, los líderes locales afirman que la región se está preparando para lo que esperan sea un importante impulso económico.

El alcalde de Miami Beach, Steven Meiner, dijo que la ciudad se prepara para una ola de visitantes internacionales y grandes eventos vinculados al torneo.

“Estamos anticipando un impacto económico de $1.3 mil millones USD”, dijo Meiner.

Destacó la programación prevista en toda la ciudad, incluyendo eventos de entretenimiento y actividades para ver los partidos diseñadas para atraer aficionados durante todo el torneo.

“Tendremos activaciones, fiestas para ver los partidos y un concierto de lanzamiento que se llevará a cabo aquí”, dijo Meiner.

Miami Beach, que según señaló alberga una parte significativa de la capacidad hotelera del condado Miami-Dade, se está posicionando como un centro principal para los aficionados visitantes.

“Durante los primeros cuatro meses del año hemos tenido la tarifa hotelera número uno del país, y eso solo continuará con algo como los partidos de la FIFA”, afirmó Meiner.

Los negocios locales también se están preparando para una mayor demanda y algunos ya están observando efectos positivos antes del torneo.

La economista Pamela Fuertes señaló que la magnitud del evento lo coloca en una categoría muy exclusiva cuando se compara con otros grandes eventos deportivos.

“El Super Bowl dura ocho días y su impacto económico es de $500 millones USD”, dijo Fuertes.

“Es como un Super Bowl durante 45 días seguidos”, dijo Philip Cardona, de PulseEleven.com.

En la tienda de la FIFA en Lincoln Road, miembros de la familia Cardona dijeron que la atención mundial ya se está traduciendo en mayor visibilidad y crecimiento para sus negocios.

La familia indicó que su trabajo en tecnología para el fútbol juvenil se ha expandido a medida que crece la presencia de la FIFA en el sur de Florida.

“Ahora estamos obteniendo visibilidad en todo el país y también en el extranjero”, dijo Cardona.

Si bien los funcionarios destacan el potencial beneficio económico, también reconocen los desafíos que implica organizar un evento de esta magnitud.

Solo en el condado Miami-Dade, las autoridades estiman aproximadamente $46 millones USD en costos operativos, además de preocupaciones logísticas relacionadas con el transporte, el manejo de multitudes y el acceso a espacios públicos.

La economista Pamela Fuertes dijo que la coordinación entre las distintas agencias será fundamental mientras la región se prepara para la llegada masiva de visitantes.

“En términos del Aeropuerto Internacional de Miami, de nuestro sistema de transporte público y de cómo vamos a mantener nuestros espacios públicos abiertos y accesibles, creo que Miami realmente ha dado un paso al frente”, dijo.

A pesar de los desafíos, señaló que el impacto a largo plazo del torneo podría extenderse más allá del turismo y del gasto inmediato.

“Será un acelerador y un verdadero catalizador económico para nuestra comunidad”, agregó Fuertes. “No solo podremos mostrar nuestra hermosa comunidad, sino también demostrar al mundo todo lo que Miami tiene para ofrecer”.

Los funcionarios de toda la región continúan intensificando los preparativos mientras el sur de Florida se acerca a ser sede de uno de los eventos deportivos más grandes del mundo.

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Natasha Ethel Bagley, 49, of Hialeah, described in court records as a “career criminal,” is facing several new felonies following an arrest on Wednesday.

According to the Miami Springs Police Department, Bagley’s latest attack happened just before 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Sleep Inn at 105 Fairway Drive.

Investigators said Bagley became “irate” at the rideshare driver, working for the company Alto on behalf of Uber, and “began making verbal threats.”

“Upon entering the carport of the hotel, Bagley got out of the Uber and began kicking the rear right passenger door of the vehicle,” an MSPD arrest report states. “(She) proceeded to forcibly remove the weather seal of the door.”

Police said the driver got out “and attempted to stop her from causing further damage,” but she instead “reached back into the rear right passenger floorboard, and grabbed (his) medium-sized, metal Yeti water bottle and began swinging it at (his) head with her right hand.”

Authorities said in fear for his life, he retreated to the door of the hotel. According to the report, she then ran towards the driver’s side door of the Kia EV9, sat down inside and “began forcibly removing the turn signal and windshield wiper lever off the steering wheel.”

The report states Bagley then threw the components on the ground and closed the driver’s side door, slamming it on the driver’s arm as he tried, unsuccessfully, to stop her from taking off with the SUV with his iPhone still inside.

Staff members, who told police Bagley was staying at the hotel, called police on Wednesday to tell them that she had returned. Police then responded and took her into custody on charges of carjacking, aggravated assault with a weapon, criminal mischief, grand theft and battery.

She’s now back in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and being held without bond as of Thursday.

It should be familiar confines for Bagley, who has an extensive history of arrests in Miami-Dade County.

Court records show in 2020, she pleaded guilty to burglary with assault or battery, strong-armed robbery and criminal mischief in connection with the aforementioned Burger King case, stemming from an incident on April 2, 2019.

Officers with what was then the Miami-Dade Police Department said Bagley, then 42, and another woman, identified as 27-year-old Genesis Peguero, went into the drive-thru at the chain’s location at 18240 S. Dixie Highway in the unincorporated West Perrine area and demanded free fries.

Authorities said an employee denied them the fries and the two went into the restaurant shortly after asking which employee called one of them a “b----.”

Police said Peguero jumped over the counter, prompting the manager to come out. Police said Peguero demanded the manager open the register and give her money and threatened to “hit her over the face” with a pistol and eventually grabbed the manager’s phone and punched her. Bagley joined in, hitting and kicking the manager, police said.

Records show Peguero, now 34, also took a plea in the case, receiving probation.

Natasha Ethel Bagley, de 49 años y residente de Hialeah, descrita en documentos judiciales como una “delincuente habitual”, enfrenta varios nuevos cargos graves tras su arresto el miércoles.

Según el Departamento de Policía de Miami Springs, el más reciente ataque de Bagley ocurrió poco antes de las 6 p.m. del martes en el hotel Sleep Inn, ubicado en 105 Fairway Drive.

Los investigadores indicaron que Bagley se puso “furiosa” con el conductor de transporte por aplicación, quien trabajaba para la empresa Alto en nombre de Uber, y “comenzó a proferir amenazas verbales”.

“Al ingresar al área techada para vehículos del hotel, Bagley salió del Uber y comenzó a patear la puerta trasera derecha del vehículo”, señala un informe de arresto de la Policía de Miami Springs. “(Ella) procedió a arrancar por la fuerza el sello de goma de la puerta”.

La policía informó que el conductor salió del vehículo “e intentó evitar que causara más daños”, pero Bagley “metió la mano en el área del piso trasero derecho, tomó la botella de agua Yeti metálica de tamaño mediano de la víctima y comenzó a balancearla hacia su cabeza con la mano derecha”.

Las autoridades indicaron que, temiendo por su vida, el conductor retrocedió hacia la entrada del hotel. Según el informe, Bagley luego corrió hacia la puerta del conductor de la Kia EV9, se sentó dentro y “comenzó a arrancar por la fuerza la palanca de las direccionales y la palanca de los limpiaparabrisas del volante”.

El informe indica que Bagley lanzó las piezas al suelo y cerró la puerta del conductor, golpeando el brazo del conductor cuando este intentaba, sin éxito, impedir que escapara con la camioneta mientras su iPhone aún permanecía dentro.

Empleados del hotel, quienes informaron a la policía que Bagley se hospedaba allí, llamaron a las autoridades el miércoles para informar que había regresado. Los agentes respondieron al lugar y la arrestaron por cargos de robo de vehículo, agresión agravada con arma, daños criminales, hurto mayor y agresión física.

Ahora se encuentra nuevamente en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight y permanecía detenida sin derecho a fianza hasta el jueves.

El entorno carcelario no le resulta desconocido a Bagley, quien tiene un amplio historial de arrestos en el condado Miami-Dade.

Los registros judiciales muestran que en 2020 se declaró culpable de robo con allanamiento y agresión, robo por fuerza física y daños criminales en relación con el caso de Burger King mencionado anteriormente, derivado de un incidente ocurrido el 2 de abril de 2019.

Agentes de lo que entonces era el Departamento de Policía de Miami-Dade informaron que Bagley, quien tenía 42 años en ese momento, y otra mujer identificada como Genesis Peguero, de 27 años, acudieron al autoservicio del restaurante ubicado en 18240 S. Dixie Highway, en el área no incorporada de West Perrine, y exigieron papas fritas gratis.

Las autoridades indicaron que un empleado les negó las papas fritas y que ambas ingresaron al restaurante poco después para preguntar cuál empleado había llamado a una de ellas “perra”.

La policía informó que Peguero saltó el mostrador, lo que provocó que la gerente saliera de la oficina. Según las autoridades, Peguero exigió que la gerente abriera la caja registradora y le entregara dinero, amenazando con “golpearla en la cara” con una pistola. Posteriormente le arrebató el teléfono celular y la golpeó.

La policía indicó que Bagley también participó en la agresión, golpeando y pateando a la gerente.

Los registros muestran que Peguero, ahora de 34 años, también llegó a un acuerdo judicial en el caso y recibió libertad condicional.

Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center’s vice president of public relations, said in a statement to The Associated Press that “we are complying with the court’s order while evaluating all legal options to preserve this revitalization and recognize President Trump’s leadership.”

In a Thursday memo to staff from the Kennedy Center's Office of General Counsel, the institution's lawyers said email signatures, letterhead and other documents must reflect the name as “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts" or “Kennedy Center.”

The changes, the memo said, must be completed by June 12.

In a May 29 decision, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper also blocked the administration from closing the cultural and arts venue for major renovations that had been planned to start in July.

Hours after the ruling, Trump said he was backing away from the revamp and making arrangements to relinquish control to Congress of what, until the Republican president’s second term, had been known as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The next day, Trump on social media branded Cooper as “an anti Trump Hater” and predicted that the performing arts center that he wanted to shutter for a two-year overhaul will “soon be closed, probably never to open again.”

Clearly angered by his latest legal setback, he said it was “impossible for me to be treated fairly,” tying Cooper’s ruling to earlier losses, including the Supreme Court’s rejection in February of his sweeping tariffs.

The removal marked a setback in the president’s second-term plans to remake many of Washington’s landmarks — and add new ones.

On Thursday, his administration said renovations had been completed on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, painting the bottom what Trump has called “American flag blue.” The White House East Wing was demolished to build a large ballroom, and Trump plans to build an arch between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

___

Associated Press writer Hillel Italie in New York contributed to this report. Kinnard reported from Columbia, S.C.

Most members of the federal agency that approves construction on federal land voted in favor Thursday of seeking more information from the Department of the Interior, which submitted the application for the 250-foot arch planned between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

The vote came after nearly three hours of public comment from about 20 members of the public, some representing historic and architectural organizations, and most of whom expressed concerns about the arch that is one of several projects the Republican president is pursuing to leave his imprint on Washington.

Preliminary surveys and testing of the arch site began last month, and other approvals are underway. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts — which only oversees designs and has no role in the actual construction or funding of the arch or any other project it considers — has approved the arch’s design, a key step in the project’s process but one that has no immediate bearing on the construction timeline.

For now, the National Capital Planning Commission is seeking more information justifying the proposed height of the towering arch, as well as additional details about lighting, management of storm water and how traffic and parking would be regulated for visitors.

Will Scharf, who has served as Trump’s White House staff secretary, heads the commission and acknowledged the applicant “has some homework to do,” Scharf said, suggesting more information on how it would appear from other monuments in the Washington area. But, Scharf said ultimately, this year's 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence "is as good an opportunity as any to add something to Washington, D.C., that will hopefully stand the test of time.

Stuart Levenbach, Trump appointee and commission vice chairman, said the proposed site represented “one of the few locations” in the area where such an “iconic civic monument could be appropriate," although he added that “it’s reasonable to consider whether a significant architectural statement belongs in such a location."

Commission received 1,700 public comments, most opposing the arch

Many of those contacting the commission about the arch ahead of Thursday’s meeting voiced concerns about its massive scale, obstruction of the city’s skyline, and safety in the heavily trafficked area. Some of the comments called it a “waste of taxpayer money,” while others said it was Trump's “vanity project” or a “disgusting and disrespectful move by a man who wants to be king.”

Dozens of people were signed up to speak during Thursday’s meeting, many of whom have spoken against the project at previous meetings, and represented organizations like the National Parks Conservation Association, National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Society of Architectural Historians.

Several, including Gary Langston, a military veteran, opposed the arch on grounds that it is too big, needed congressional approval or would disrupt the sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House at Arlington National Cemetery that was created to symbolize reunification after the Civil War.

“What’s required here, if anything, is a solemn memorial rather than a monument,” Langston said.

Trump has asserted that he doesn’t need congressional approval because he’s building it on federal land.

Suggestions on the arch design

The arch would stand 250 feet tall (76 meters) from its base to a torch held aloft by a Lady Liberty-like figure on top of the structure, flanked by two gilded eagles. But four lions, envisioned as guarding the base, have been removed. The phrases “One Nation Under God” and “Liberty and Justice for All” would be inscribed in gold lettering atop either side of the monument, and both east- and west-facing sides would feature text of the Pledge of Allegiance.

A public observation deck on top would provide 360-degree views of the region. The arch would have an exterior made of granite.

Critics have argued that the arch would dominate the skyline and disrupt carefully designed views between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. It would be more than twice as tall as the Lincoln Memorial, which is 99 feet (30 meters), and close to half the height of the Washington Monument, at about 555 feet (169 meters).

One of the public commenters on Thursday had some suggestions. Shady Migally, an architect in California, suggested that any arch project should be more creative than a new take on Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, submitting an alternative design just as tall as the administration’s proposal but with less dense lateral columns and a higher inner archway that, according to online renderings, shows more visibility between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

Trump had said last year that the arch could be paid for with private donations left over from the ballroom project. A cost estimate for the arch is still being calculated, but a mix of taxpayer and private funds is expected to pay for it, according to a White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the president has not publicly discussed the project’s cost.

Trump’s other Washington makeover plans

A group of veterans and a historian have sued the Trump administration in federal court to block the arch construction over concerns about disruptions to the sightline.

In an Oval Office event on Thursday, Trump called the arch a tribute to military victories.

“Nobody’s had more military victories, including recently, than we have,” he said.

The president has said some of his other projects, including adding a blue coating to the interior of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, will beautify the city in time for July 4 celebrations of America’s 250th birthday. His administration said Thursday that the renovation had been completed and was ready to be filled with water.

The White House East Wing was demolished to build a large ballroom,

And up until a judge ruled last week that it had been illegally added and must be removed, Trump’s name had been added to the Kennedy Center.

Critics have said Trump, a Republican, is spending too much time and attention on his pet projects and not enough on issues that voters care about, like the cost of living, in the run-up to the November elections.

That project is also the subject of a court challenge brought by The Cultural Landscape Foundation, which said repainting the bottom of the Reflecting Pool blue without first undergoing relevant reviews runs afoul of federal preservation laws governing historic sites.

An order in the case hasn’t come yet, and on Wednesday, the Trump administration notified the court that the work was complete, with the basin set to be filled by Sunday.

___

Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP

The Republican president's disclosure that he was ruling out installing Pulte in the position full-time came after bipartisan pushback on Capitol Hill in recent days over Pulte's lack of national security experience. The position requires Senate confirmation, something that lawmakers indicated was unlikely if Pulte were the nominee.

“He’s not going to be permanent because, you know, I don’t think he’d want to be permanent,” Trump said while taking questions in the Oval Office after an event on coal. He called Pulte a “very smart guy” and said he may look at past elections that Trump claims, without credible evidence, were “rigged” against him.

Trump said other candidates were under consideration for nomination to the post. “We’re interviewing people right now,” he said.

Pulte, a grandson of the founder of PulteGroup, has been a source of controversy within the administration for his work as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and his oversight of the mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Pulte has used his position to pursue Trump’s perceived political rivals for alleged mortgage fraud and has verbally attacked Jerome Powell, whose term as the Federal Reserve chairman recently ended after months of Trump and Pulte attacking him for not slashing the central bank’s benchmark rates. The federal housing finance regulator has also pitched a 50-year mortgage, an idea that backfired as it meant that the process of building wealth through home ownership would be slowed.

Both Republican and Democratic senators expressed concerns about Pulte and his lack of national security credentials in occupying a role coordinating 18 federal agencies involved in domestic and foreign security issues. Trump's initial director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, resigned last month, citing her husband's recent cancer diagnosis.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, said the national intelligence director job shouldn't be “weaponized” and should be led by “professionals.”

Republican Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and John Cornyn of Texas, who are each leaving the chamber after this year’s elections, also expressed concerns about Pulte.

Democratic senators view Pulte as a risk even if he is only temporarily serving as the director of national intelligence while keeping his position at the FHFA.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., sent Trump a letter on Thursday calling on him to rescind Pulte's national security appointment.

“Americans cannot trust him to protect our nation and refrain from misusing the sensitive information he will have access to,” Warren wrote, saying that giving Pulte the job on an acting basis was a risk because Trump's own words suggested the federal agency could be used “to promote election denial theories.”

At a hearing on Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed reports that he had threatened to fight Pulte in September of 2025, a sign of the friction that the federal housing finance director had generated inside the administration.

But as a frequent traveler on Air Force One, Pulte has a close relationship with Trump.

“He’s a person who’s got high integrity,” Trump said Thursday about Pulte.

Included in the sanctions are Alejandro Castro Espín, the sole son of former Cuban President Raúl Castro and Vilma Espín. He served as an adviser to Cuba’s Defense and National Security Commission and was present when Raúl Castro greeted then-U.S. President Barack Obama in Havana during a historic March 2016 meeting. Castro Espín's son, Raúl Alejandro Castro Calis, also was listed.

The new penalties come as U.S. President Donald Trump has been threatening military action in Cuba since ousting Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January and then ordering an energy blockade that choked off fuel shipments to Cuba. That has led to severe blackouts, food shortages and an economic collapse across the island.

The threats took on additional weight after the U.S. announced criminal charges against Raúl Castro last month. Thursday's penalties, which follow Trump signing an executive order expanding sanctions against the island, freeze individuals’ property and bank accounts in the U.S. But it’s unclear how intertwined their finances are with the U.S. financial system.

It’s “pretty unlikely” Cuba’s president and others have assets in the U.S., said Richard Feinberg, former U.S. national security adviser on Latin America and professor emeritus of international political economy at the University of California, San Diego.

He said the sanctions “could be seen as preliminary to an intervention or increasing pressure on the regime to cut a deal,” adding that the rhetoric of Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio “could take you in either direction.”

Díaz-Canel accused Trump of making “new threatening statements against Cuba” and said “these measures are aimed at reinforcing the blockade and escalating the conflict between Cuba and the United States.”

“This political blindness adds to the coercive measures applied in recent weeks against our country, designed to harm the Cuban people,” he wrote on X. “The aggression and perversion of the U.S. government will clash with our resolve to confront the worst-case scenarios and resist the imperial onslaught.”

Trump says about Cuba, 'We’re going to handle that'

Asked Thursday if his sanctions were meant to accelerate Cuba’s collapse, Trump said, “We just want them to be a nicely run country.”

“The country is starving and it’s got no energy, it’s got no oil, it’s got no money, it’s got nothing. It’s got a beautiful piece of land. You could have beautiful resorts,” Trump told reporters at an unrelated event in the Oval Office.

Asked whether Cuba is close to collapsing, he said, “It’s sort of collapsed” and added that “we’re going to handle that as soon as we’ve finished” military operations in Iran.

“I like to do one thing at a time,” Trump said.

Trump has ratcheted up talk of regime change in Cuba after pledging to conduct a “friendly takeover” of the country if its leadership did not open its economy to American investment and kick out U.S. adversaries.

Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants who has long taken a hardline against Cuba’s socialist leadership, has said Trump’s preference is to reach a deal but has said he is doubtful the U.S. can find a diplomatic resolution with the current government.

Those “designated today direct or fund the regime and its efforts to mobilize its radical revolutionary movements in the United States and around the world,” Rubio said in a statement.

Rubio has defended the Trump administration’s decision to slap escalating sanctions on Havana, the largest of which is against Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A., a business conglomerate operated by the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces.

Cuba's top diplomat condemns new sanctions as ‘creating a scenario of conflict’

In addition to Diaz-Canel, Bruno Rodríguez, Cuba’s minister of foreign affairs, said “the vile inclusion” of Díaz-Canel and others, including Cuban institutions and civil society organizations, “is the latest example of the U.S. interventionist plan to portray Cuba as a threat to U.S. national security."

“Every U.S. action aimed at creating a scenario of conflict between the two countries is destined to fail,” he wrote on X. “Every threat against Cuba’s independence and sovereignty will be met with even greater unity and determination from our people.”

The new sanctions, which freeze any assets that those targeted may have in U.S. jurisdictions or any that come into U.S. jurisdictions, also apply to non-American entities that might do business with them.

In addition to the individuals, the sanctions also target Cuba's defense ministry; its Institute for the Friendship with the Peoples, which promotes people-to-people talks; Amistur Cuba, an arm of the institute that oversees specialized tourism on the island; and the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution.

Cuba's president, Castro relatives and others are on the list

Díaz-Canel was handpicked in 2018 to succeed Raúl Castro and was the first person in decades to lead Cuba without bearing the name Castro.

Under him, the island plunged into the worst economic and energy crisis in recent history, a situation worsened by heightened sanctions imposed by the Trump administration.

Díaz-Canel's wife, Lis Cuesta Peraza, also appeared on the sanctions list. She does not hold the title of first lady, a title abolished during the revolution, but in practice she acts as such, receiving other spouses such as Queen Letizia of Spain and accompanying her husband on official trips.

Her son Miguel Anido Cuesta, who is Díaz-Canel's stepson, also faces sanctions.

Lis Cuesta Peraza wrote on X late Thursday that “it is almost an honor to be on this ‘list.’ They never tire of ridicule and political stupidity.”

The new action boosts pressure on the Cuban government but is far from the first time the U.S. has imposed sanctions against heads of state or government and their relatives.

The U.S. hit former Sudanese President Omar Bashir and former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in the early 2000s and, more recently, targeted Maduro and his wife with sanctions.

___

Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico. AP writer Andrea Rodríguez in Havana contributed to this report. Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

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The deals for Johnson, the 27th overall pick out of San Diego State, and Traore, the 180th overall selection from Mississippi State, were not immediately disclosed.

Johnson, a 6-foot, 193-pound defensive back, appeared in 12 games as a freshman in 2022 before taking on a larger role in subsequent seasons.

He broke out in 2024 with 67 tackles, an interception, three forced fumbles and two defensive touchdowns.

In his senior season, Johnson started 11 games and posted four interceptions, 49 tackles (36 solo), 13 passes defended and a sack. He is expected to compete for a starting role in Miami’s secondary.

Traore’s signing completes the Dolphins’ rookie class after the team had already reached agreements with 12 other draft picks earlier in the week, including first-round offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor.

Miami selected Proctor 12th overall after a standout career at Alabama, where he started 40 games at left tackle and earned All-America and All-SEC honors in 2025. The Dolphins are expected to initially work him at left guard.

The team also previously signed or agreed to terms with wide receivers Chris Bell, Kevin Coleman Jr. and Caleb Douglas; guard DJ Campbell; tight end Will Kacmarek; edge rushers Max Llewellyn and Trey Moore; linebackers Kyle Louis and Jacob Rodriguez; and safety Michael Taaffe.

With the addition of Johnson and Traore, Miami has now signed all 13 members of its 2026 draft class.

The signings represent an early step in the right direction for new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley as they continue building out their first roster together.

The exact terms of each contract have not been released.

Los términos de los contratos de Johnson, la selección número 27 global procedente de San Diego State, y de Traore, la selección número 180 global de Mississippi State, no fueron revelados de inmediato.

Johnson, un defensivo de 6 pies y 193 libras, participó en 12 partidos como estudiante de primer año en 2022 antes de asumir un papel más importante en temporadas posteriores.

Tuvo una destacada campaña en 2024 con 67 tacleadas, una intercepción, tres balones forzados y dos touchdowns defensivos.

En su temporada senior, Johnson inició 11 partidos y registró cuatro intercepciones, 49 tacleadas (36 en solitario), 13 pases defendidos y un capturado. Se espera que compita por un puesto como titular en la secundaria defensiva de Miami.

La firma de Traore completa la clase de novatos de los Dolphins después de que el equipo ya hubiera alcanzado acuerdos con otras 12 selecciones del draft a principios de la semana, incluido el liniero ofensivo de primera ronda Kadyn Proctor.

Miami seleccionó a Proctor con la duodécima selección global tras una destacada carrera en Alabama, donde inició 40 partidos como tackle izquierdo y obtuvo reconocimientos All-America y All-SEC en 2025. Se espera que los Dolphins lo utilicen inicialmente como guardia izquierdo.

El equipo también firmó previamente o llegó a acuerdos con los receptores Chris Bell, Kevin Coleman Jr. y Caleb Douglas; el guardia DJ Campbell; el ala cerrada Will Kacmarek; los alas defensivas Max Llewellyn y Trey Moore; los apoyadores Kyle Louis y Jacob Rodriguez; y el profundo Michael Taaffe.

Con la incorporación de Johnson y Traore, Miami ya firmó a los 13 integrantes de su clase del draft de 2026.

Las contrataciones representan un paso inicial en la dirección correcta para el nuevo gerente general Jon-Eric Sullivan y el entrenador en jefe Jeff Hafley, mientras continúan construyendo juntos su primera plantilla.

Los términos exactos de cada contrato no han sido divulgados.

Brian and Lynette Hooker, who were married for about 25 years and lived in Onsted, documented their adventures on their 46-foot “Soulmate” sailboat as “The Sailing Hookers” on YouTube and Instagram.

On April 5, Brian Hooker reported his wife had vanished after she fell overboard from a small dinghy during bad weather on April 4 between Hope Town and Elbow Cay.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force arrested him on April 8 in Abaco. Brian Hooker “denies any wrongdoing” and has been cooperating with authorities, Attorney Terrel Butler, who was representing him, told The Associated Press in a statement after the arrest.

The RBPF reported releasing him on April 13.

On May 14, the USCGIS in Miami announced that the “Soulmate” sailboat had been seized about 40 nautical miles off the coast of Melbourne, Fla., as “part of an active criminal investigation.”

CNN reported on Wednesday that investigators found new clues in GPS data.

On Thursday, Fox News shared photographs of a U.S. Coast Guard team of divers searching the water off The Abaco Inn in Hope Town, and CBS News reported the Coast Guard had also seized the dinghy.

Related social media posts

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The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office says the suspect is dead and confirmed that the suspect and one of the victims were both students at USF.

Officials say the HSCO responded to a call just after 4:30 a.m. Wednesday when they found the victims at an off-campus apartment.

They said both victims are in stable condition.

Hours later, around 3:45 p.m., authorities say they found the presumed suspect dead at another apartment complex for USF students.

Police also confirmed that the suspect and one of the victims were roommates, while the second victim was not affiliated with the university.

“I could have walked out of my apartment, and it could have been me and that’s definitely very scary,” said resident McKenzie Miller.

The apartment where the suspect was found dead is just half a mile down the street from Avalon Heights, the student housing complex where prosecutors believe two USF graduate students were stabbed to death in April.

Right now, officials say this week’s stabbing appears to be an isolated event and that there are no other threats to the USF community.

La Oficina del Sheriff del condado Hillsborough informó que el sospechoso está muerto y confirmó que tanto el sospechoso como una de las víctimas eran estudiantes de la USF.

Las autoridades indicaron que respondieron a una llamada poco después de las 4:30 a.m. del miércoles, cuando encontraron a las víctimas en un apartamento fuera del campus.

Indicaron que ambas víctimas se encuentran en condición estable.

Horas más tarde, alrededor de las 3:45 p.m., las autoridades informaron que encontraron muerto al presunto sospechoso en otro complejo de apartamentos para estudiantes de la USF.

La policía también confirmó que el sospechoso y una de las víctimas eran compañeros de apartamento, mientras que la segunda víctima no estaba afiliada a la universidad.

“Pude haber salido de mi apartamento y podría haber sido yo, y eso definitivamente da mucho miedo”, dijo la residente McKenzie Miller.

El apartamento donde fue encontrado muerto el sospechoso está ubicado a solo media milla de Avalon Heights, el complejo de viviendas estudiantiles donde los fiscales creen que dos estudiantes graduados de la USF fueron apuñalados hasta la muerte en abril.

Por el momento, las autoridades indican que la agresión con arma blanca de esta semana parece ser un incidente aislado y que no existen otras amenazas para la comunidad de la USF.

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According to Broward County court records, Circuit Judge Ernest Kollra approved the modification last Thursday, after Readon’s attorney filed a motion arguing that the restrictions of community control made it difficult for Readon, 50, to perform his duties as pastor of New Beginning Love Center in Miami Gardens.

Community control is an intensive form of supervised custody often described as house arrest.

The ruling comes about one year after Readon was adjudicated guilty on two counts of first degree grand theft in Broward County and sentenced to two years of community control followed by probation extending through May 2037.

The Broward case

Court records show prosecutors originally charged Readon with organized fraud, two counts of first degree grand theft and unlawful filing of false documents.

On May 1, 2025, Kollra granted a state motion to revoke Readon’s bond and ordered him remanded into custody, according to court records.

Less than a month later, on May 23, 2025, Readon entered no contest pleas to two counts of first degree grand theft. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped the organized fraud and unlawful filing of false documents charges.

Court records show Kollra adjudicated Readon guilty on both grand theft counts and sentenced him to two years of community control followed by nearly 11 years of probation.

According to court records, Readon was also ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution to a victim through monthly installments.

Court records further state that Readon must complete all community control requirements, serve at least five years of probation and pay all restitution before becoming eligible for any future early termination of supervision.

The court’s May 2026 order converting community control to probation does not eliminate those requirements.

What investigators alleged

The criminal case stemmed from allegations involving the transfer of ownership of a property.

According to a Broward Sheriff’s Office probable cause affidavit, Detective Leonard Charla alleged that Readon and co-defendant Joseph Riley worked together in a scheme involving a property located at 12455 SW 20th St. in Davie.

According to the affidavit, the property owner told investigators she expected to receive payment as part of a real estate transaction but never received money she believed she was owed.

The affidavit states investigators reviewed property records, text messages, witness statements, notarization records and civil deposition testimony during the investigation.

According to investigators, a warranty deed recorded in Broward County had been altered after it was signed and notarized.

According to the affidavit, a warranty deed and quitclaim deed were recorded on Jan. 22, 2019, by Joseph Riley as an authorized representative of Worldwind Investment LLC and Black Rain City Capital Investment LLC. The affidavit states investigators identified Readon as being associated with those entities.

The affidavit further alleges that neither Readon nor Riley participated in a legitimate closing with the property owner and that ownership of the property was transferred without payment being made to the victim.

The case was filed in Broward County in 2022 and remained pending for more than three years before being resolved through the 2025 plea agreement.

A second criminal case

The Broward conviction is not Readon’s only criminal matter.

In a separate Miami-Dade County case, court records show Readon pleaded guilty in June 2025 to exploitation of an elderly person involving retired postal worker Edward Fuller.

Court records show Readon surrendered to the Miami-Dade County Jail on July 15, 2025, and served nearly a year in custody. He was sentenced to 364 days in jail followed by 15 years of probation and was ordered to pay $180,000 in restitution.

That case stemmed from a Local 10 News investigation that began in 2017.

History with Local 10

Local 10 News has conducted extensive investigative reporting on Readon’s business practices, real estate dealings and legal disputes dating back to 2017.

Readon filed a lawsuit against WPLG alleging that Local 10’s investigative reporting damaged his reputation and sought $50 million in damages.

Court records show the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. The dismissal was later upheld on appeal.

Subsequent court proceedings resulted in the Third District Court of Appeal ordering Readon and his attorneys to pay $73,372.29 in attorney’s fees and costs to WPLG.

As of Kollra’s May 28 order, Readon is no longer serving community control.

Court records show he remains on probation in the Broward case through May 2037.

Según los registros judiciales del condado Broward, el juez de circuito Ernest Kollra aprobó la modificación el jueves pasado, después de que el abogado de Readon presentara una moción argumentando que las restricciones del control comunitario dificultaban que Readon, de 50 años, desempeñara sus funciones como pastor del New Beginning Love Center en Miami Gardens.

El control comunitario es una forma intensiva de custodia supervisada que a menudo se describe como arresto domiciliario.

La decisión se produce aproximadamente un año después de que Readon fuera declarado culpable de dos cargos de hurto mayor en primer grado en el condado Broward y sentenciado a dos años de control comunitario seguidos de libertad condicional hasta mayo de 2037.

El caso en Broward

Los registros judiciales muestran que los fiscales acusaron originalmente a Readon de fraude organizado, dos cargos de hurto mayor en primer grado y presentación ilegal de documentos falsos.

El 1 de mayo de 2025, Kollra concedió una moción del estado para revocar la fianza de Readon y ordenó que fuera puesto bajo custodia, según los registros judiciales.

Menos de un mes después, el 23 de mayo de 2025, Readon se declaró no culpable mediante un acuerdo de no oposición a dos cargos de hurto mayor en primer grado. Como parte del acuerdo, los fiscales retiraron los cargos de fraude organizado y presentación ilegal de documentos falsos.

Los registros judiciales muestran que Kollra declaró culpable a Readon por ambos cargos de hurto mayor y lo sentenció a dos años de control comunitario seguidos de casi 11 años de libertad condicional.

Según los registros judiciales, Readon también fue ordenado a pagar $150,000 USD en restitución a una víctima mediante pagos mensuales.

Los registros también indican que Readon debe completar todos los requisitos del control comunitario, cumplir al menos cinco años de libertad condicional y pagar toda la restitución antes de ser elegible para cualquier futura terminación anticipada de la supervisión.

La orden judicial de mayo de 2026 que convierte el control comunitario en libertad condicional no elimina esos requisitos.

Lo que alegaron los investigadores

El caso penal surgió de acusaciones relacionadas con la transferencia de propiedad de un inmueble.

Según una declaración jurada de causa probable de la Oficina del Sheriff de Broward, el detective Leonard Charla alegó que Readon y el coacusado Joseph Riley trabajaron juntos en un esquema relacionado con una propiedad ubicada en 12455 SW 20th St. en Davie.

Según la declaración jurada, la propietaria informó a los investigadores que esperaba recibir un pago como parte de una transacción inmobiliaria, pero nunca recibió el dinero que consideraba le correspondía.

La declaración indica que los investigadores revisaron registros de propiedad, mensajes de texto, declaraciones de testigos, registros notariales y testimonios de deposiciones civiles durante la investigación.

Según los investigadores, una escritura de garantía registrada en el condado Broward fue alterada después de haber sido firmada y notarizada.

Según la declaración jurada, una escritura de garantía y una escritura de cesión fueron registradas el 22 de enero de 2019 por Joseph Riley como representante autorizado de Worldwind Investment LLC y Black Rain City Capital Investment LLC. La declaración indica que los investigadores identificaron a Readon como vinculado a esas entidades.

La declaración también alega que ni Readon ni Riley participaron en un cierre legítimo con la propietaria y que la propiedad fue transferida sin que se realizara pago alguno a la víctima.

El caso fue presentado en el condado Broward en 2022 y permaneció pendiente durante más de tres años antes de resolverse mediante el acuerdo de declaración de 2025.

Un segundo caso penal

La condena en Broward no es el único asunto penal de Readon.

En un caso separado en el condado Miami-Dade, los registros judiciales muestran que Readon se declaró culpable en junio de 2025 de explotación de una persona mayor relacionada con el trabajador postal retirado Edward Fuller.

Los registros muestran que Readon se entregó en la cárcel del condado Miami-Dade el 15 de julio de 2025 y cumplió casi un año bajo custodia. Fue sentenciado a 364 días de cárcel seguidos de 15 años de libertad condicional y se le ordenó pagar $180,000 USD en restitución.

Ese caso surgió de una investigación de Local 10 News que comenzó en 2017.

Historial con Local 10

Local 10 News ha realizado amplios reportajes de investigación sobre las prácticas comerciales, negocios inmobiliarios y disputas legales de Readon desde 2017.

Readon presentó una demanda contra WPLG alegando que los reportajes de investigación de Local 10 dañaron su reputación y solicitó $50 millones USD en compensación.

Los registros judiciales muestran que la demanda fue desestimada con perjuicio, lo que significa que no puede volver a presentarse. La desestimación fue posteriormente confirmada en apelación.

Procedimientos judiciales posteriores resultaron en que el Tribunal de Apelaciones del Tercer Distrito ordenara a Readon y a sus abogados pagar $73,372.29 USD en honorarios legales y costos a WPLG.

Desde la orden de Kollra del 28 de mayo, Readon ya no cumple una sentencia de control comunitario.

Los registros judiciales muestran que permanece bajo libertad condicional en el caso de Broward hasta mayo de 2037.

Agentes de la Oficina del Sheriff de Broward informaron que el hecho ocurrió poco antes de las 3:30 a.m. del 11 de abril en la cuadra 3000 de West Sample Road, en un área no incorporada a las afueras de Pompano Beach.

Los agentes indicaron que Sult President, de 47 años y residente de Pompano Beach, conducía una Nissan Pathfinder 2006 hacia el este por los carriles en dirección oeste en el paso elevado de Florida’s Turnpike cuando chocó de frente en el carril central contra una Hyundai Tucson 2025, causando la muerte de su conductor, Nicholas Addis.

Los paramédicos declararon muerto a Addis, de 36 años, en el lugar y trasladaron a President a un hospital con lesiones graves.

Los fiscales informaron en la corte que President tenía un nivel de alcohol en sangre de 0.23%, casi tres veces el límite legal, y los investigadores indicaron que conducía a velocidades de hasta 75 mph.

Desde entonces fue arrestado y trasladado al centro de detención North Broward Bureau en Pompano Beach, donde permanece encarcelado enfrentando cargos de homicidio vehicular, conducir bajo los efectos del alcohol causando una muerte, conducir bajo los efectos del alcohol con daños a una persona o propiedad y conducción temeraria, con una fianza total de $210,000 USD.

Si paga la fianza, un juez determinó que deberá portar dispositivos de monitoreo GPS y de alcohol, además de someterse a pruebas aleatorias. También deberá permanecer en el condado Broward, no podrá conducir y deberá entregar su pasaporte.

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Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies said it happened at just before 3:30 a.m. on April 11 along the 3000 block of West Sample Road in an unincorporated area outside of Pompano Beach.

Deputies said Sult President, 47, of Pompano Beach, was driving in a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder, heading east in the westbound lanes on the overpass for Florida’s Turnpike when he hit a 2025 Hyundai Tucson head-on in the center lane, killing its driver, Nicholas Addis.

Medics pronounced Addis, 36, dead at the scene and took President to a hospital with serious injuries.

Addis is the son of former Coral Springs Mayor Vincent Boccard.

Prosecutors said in court that President had a blood alcohol level of 0.23%, nearly three times the legal limit, and investigators said he was driving up to 75 mph.

He has since been arrested and taken to the North Broward Bureau detention center in Pompano Beach, where he remains behind bars on charges of vehicular homicide, DUI resulting in death, DUI with damage to a person or property and reckless driving on a total bond of $210,000.

If he bonds out, a judge ruled he must wear GPS and alcohol monitoring devices and submit to random testing. He must also remain in Broward County, he cannot drive and he must surrender his passport.

Advardo Dames, of the ​Royal Bahamas Police, spoke to Reuters Wednesday night and identified Brian Hooker, 59, as a suspect in the case, saying he was arrested at about 7:30 p.m. in Abaco, but is not formally charged at this time.

“He’s been taken into custody as a suspect. He’s been arrested,” Dames said.

Dames said Hooker is being questioned about what happened to his wife.

A Coast Guard spokesperson told The Associated Press late Wednesday that they have opened a criminal investigation into the case.

It wasn’t immediately clear if Hooker had an attorney.

Officials have said Lynette Hooker, 55, was traveling in an 8-foot motorboat from Hope Town to Elbow Cay on Saturday night, and that her husband, Brian Hooker, told authorities she fell overboard with the boat keys, causing the engine to turn off.

Authorities said Brian Hooker then paddled to shore and alerted someone about her disappearance early Sunday.

“Strong currents subsequently carried her away, and he lost sight of her,” police said in a statement issued Saturday.

Lynette Hooker’s mother, Darlene Hamlett, told The Associated Press late Wednesday that she was “glad to hear” about the arrest, but declined further comment, saying she was seeking more information.

Earlier on Wednesday, she said she wants to hear more from her son-in-law about how her daughter disappeared. The couple had been married for more than two decades and lived in Onsted, Michigan. Online records gave Brian Hooker’s age as 58, and the reason for the discrepancy wasn’t immediately clear.

“I’m going to be interested in what he says, because I haven’t heard from him in almost two days,” Hamlett said while on a six-hour drive back home from the Bahamian Consulate in Miami, where she secured a passport so she can fly to the Caribbean nation soon.

“Our family grew up on water and so Lynette her whole life has been near lakes, on boats, sailing and swimming,” Hamlett said. “It would be a miracle if (she’s rescued), but I’m still counting on one.”

Lynette Hooker’s daughter, Karli Aylesworth, told NBC News that it is unlikely her mother would “just fall” off the boat, saying she was an experienced sailor. The couple had been sailing for years and documented their voyages on social media under the moniker, “The Sailing Hookers.”

Aylesworth also told NBC that the couple’s relationship was volatile, and that they have a “history of not getting along, especially when they drink.”

She told WXYZ-TV she doubted her mother survived and was able to tread water that long, but hoped to find her to get closure.

On Wednesday morning, Brian Hooker wrote on Facebook that he is “heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas.”

“Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart,” he wrote. “We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus.”

The U.S. Coast Guard has also joined the investigation and interviewed Aylesworth on Wednesday, according to her attorney, Ron Marienfeld.

“We are pleased to see it is being investigated, and hopefully more answers will come to give the family some closure,” Marienfeld said via email.

Bahamian police said search operations and investigative efforts remain active.

Local 10 News digital executive producer Amanda Batchelor contributed to this report.

Jarvis’ heroics 3:56 into OT came after a thrilling third period that included four goals being scored and another getting called off because of goaltender interference. Carolina became the first team since 1994 to win a Cup final game when trailing by multiple goals in the final 10 minutes.

“It was lot,” said Jarvis, who scored for just the fourth time this playoffs. “We did a great job controlling our emotions. We never got too high, never got too low. Just kept responding, and that’s what I love about this group is we always bounce back.”

Game 3 is Saturday night in Las Vegas. There is now a guarantee the series will return to Raleigh for a Game 5 next week.

That did not look anything close to certain when Hurricanes had almost nothing going for the first 45 minutes, falling behind by two goals as the Golden Knights took advantage of a couple of scoring chances and locked down defensively. A couple of strong shifts in the offensive zone just before the midway point of the third brought the crowd back to life because the Hurricanes were buzzing.

“The building is a tough building to play in when it gets going,” captain Jordan Staal said. “Obviously, we just needed a spark.”

Logan Stankoven, one of the team's best players this spring, provided he. Stankoven made a terrific individual effort to get them on the board, taking the puck away from Rasmus Andersson, going to the net and banking a shot off Jeremy Lauzon and in with 9:40 remaining in regulation.

Less than three minutes later, Mark Jankowski fired a shot past Carter Hart to tie it, flipping the script from Game 1, when Vegas erased a multigoal deficit and won. This is the first time each of the first two games of a Cup final featured a team falling behind by more than a goal and winning.

“Stanky did a great job getting it going and Janks with a great shot, and it just carried on from there,” Jarvis said.

A big decision by Vegas coach John Tortorella with five minutes left paved the way for it to happen.

Frederik Andersen initially went full extension to deny Ivan Barbashev with the paddle of his stick, and a scrum ensued in the crease that ended with the puck eventually in the net. Referee Jean Hebert waved it off immediately, saying Andersen was pushed into the net and ruling it was goaltender interference.

“I saw a loose puck in front of Freddie," Tortorella said. "Our player stabbed it, didn’t move the goalie and it goes through him into the other side. I’d challenge it 10 out of 10 times.”

Tortorella after some deliberation opted to use his coach’s challenge, and the on-ice officials in consultation with the NHL’s situation room confirmed the call on the ice stood.

“The ruling on the play was goaltender interference,” executive vice president and director of officiating Stephen Walkom told a pool reporter. “He waved it (off) immediately. He believed that it was under the goalie, and the Vegas player went after the puck and interfered with the goalie and his ability to freeze the puck and waived it off immediately.”

The punishment for a failed challenge is a 2-minute minor penalty. The Hurricanes went on the power play, where they had been so ineffective all night and most of the playoffs.

Not this time. Staal redirected Shayne Gostisbehere’s point shot in on the power play. with 4:35 left in regulation.

The Hurricanes killed off a penalty in the intervening time before allowing Stone to tie it with 1:21 left at 6 on 5 with Hart pulled for an extra skater. Carolina defenseman Jaccob Slavin actually knocked the puck into his own net on the play.

Eearly in overtime, Tomas Hertl tripped Staal to put Carolina back on the power play. That allowed Jarvis to score just Carolina’s ninth power play goal of the playoffs.

“That’s a step in the right direction,” Jarvis said. “Our power play found our groove tonight. It started with Jordo in the third, and there just making the right plays, playing smart and being aggressive and it worked out.”

Instead of Vegas going home looking to move to the verge of a second championship in nine years of existence, the series is all square, despite Hart making some big saves and Brett Howden scoring his playoff-leading 12th and 13th goals.

Asked what changed, a tight-lipped Tortorella said: “I have my thoughts. I’m not discussing it here.”

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The letter, the first public message Zelenskyy has written directly to Putin since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, was a sweeping critique of the Russian leader’s 26 years in power.

Zelenskyy acknowledged shifting U.S. priorities, saying it would be wrong to simply wait for the Trump administration to return its attention to ending the Ukraine war while it remains heavily focused on the Iran war.

“I am proposing a meeting,” Zelenskyy wrote.

U.S. President Donald Trump said it “would be great” if Putin and Zelenskyy met. “They should get it done,” Trump said.

Asked what concessions he had urged Putin to make to end the war, Trump declined to provide details but said both sides would need to compromise.

“They’re going to both make compromises,” he said. “I suggested those compromises.”

Zelenskyy appeared to be trying to seize a pivotal moment in the war, as Ukraine has begun to regain some battlefield leverage largely through improved long-range strike capabilities that have complicated Russia’s advances. At the same time, Moscow has intensified its deadly aerial campaign across Ukraine, seeking to exploit Kyiv’s shortages and continued vulnerability to ballistic missile attacks.

He said the talks could be hosted by a neutral third country, ruling out both Moscow and Kyiv as venues and suggested Switzerland, Turkey or Arab states as possible hosts for negotiations.

“It is leaders who resolve the key issues. That has always been the case, and it always will be,” he wrote. “I propose to set a clear date for such a meeting.”

He said Ukrainian intelligence indicated Russia was considering plans to prolong the war into 2027 and 2028, while increasingly relying on ballistic missile strikes to achieve what its ground campaign had failed to accomplish.

Zelenskyy also accused Moscow of seeking to draw Belarus deeper into the conflict and of attempting to destabilize the situation around Transnistria, the breakaway Moldovan region backed by Russia.

The Ukrainian leader argued that Russia was increasingly feeling the costs of the war, pointing to drone attacks deep inside Russian territory, economic strain, fuel shortages, rising prices, and the necessity of more military mobilization.

Zelenskyy claimed Russia suffered more than 30,000 soldiers killed or seriously wounded in May alone, saying Ukraine had “video confirmation” of the battlefield losses and that such casualty levels had been sustained month after month.

He added that Ukraine also continues to suffer painful losses despite what he described as a favorable casualty ratio.

He said Ukraine was prepared to implement a full ceasefire for the duration of negotiations and proposed an all-for-all prisoner exchange as a first step toward ending the conflict.

Zelenskyy also called for the return of civilians and children taken from Ukraine during the war.

“The world has not grown tired of Ukraine, as you long hoped it would. But there is growing fatigue with Russia,” Zelenskyy said.

It’s not surprising that those have yet to be resolved, along with several closely contested congressional races, because the state routinely takes days, or even weeks, to fully tally races. Nor is it unusual for President Donald Trump to complain about the pace of the count and allege fraud, as he did Thursday. It’s something he’s done repeatedly in the past.

What was unusual was that Trump announced that his Department of Justice was investigating the count: “Why the vote counting DELAY???,” the president posted on his social media account.

He suggested that the state's Democrats were somehow cheating so two candidates he favors — Republican Steve Hilton in the governor's race and Spencer Pratt in the nonpartisan mayor's race — would be bumped from the top two slots and therefore ineligible for the November general election.

“You see what’s happening in California, they’re rigging the election," he told reporters during an Oval Office gathering Thursday.

Trump's posts prompted a response from Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose press office posted a clip of a CNN video explaining how the nation’s most populous state prioritizes accuracy and accessibility over speed, drawing out the count.

“For the record: we wish the votes were counted faster, too,” Newsom’s office posted.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles declined to comment on whether it was investigating the ballot counting.

Slow count is designed to ensure accuracy, but opens door to election lies

The law in California practically mandates a drawn-out count. Ballots are mailed to every eligible voter — some 23 million of them — and the state has permissive rules for returning them. They will be counted if they are postmarked by Election Day and arrive at an election office within seven days.

Only after the polls have closed and most of the country has gone to sleep can local election workers begin the lengthy process of verifying the legitimacy of the late-arriving mail ballots and then start to tabulate them.

If a voter’s signature on the ballot envelope doesn't match what's on file, election officials are required to give those voters a chance to come in and prove their identity so the ballot will count, delaying a final tally further.

“We might not like how California administers its elections (and I don’t),” wrote Stephen Richer, a former Republican election official in Maricopa County, Arizona, on the social platform X. “But that doesn’t make it fraud.”

Last year, Newsom signed a bill requiring the vote count to be completed within 13 days, rather than the previous 30 days. To get an extension, counties must inform the Secretary of State's Office of the reason for the delay.

That's not quick enough for the president: “The Dumocrats are at it again!” the president wrote on his social media platform. “They are trying to STEAL THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA PRIMARY, AND THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES, PRIMARY, AWAY FROM TWO GREAT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES. Here we go with the very late and massive numbers of MAIL IN BALLOTS.”

In a video posted on X, Hilton slammed the state’s counting as “just another shambles brought to you by California Democrats.” Notably, he said that so far his campaign has seen nothing to indicate it will need to go to court. He urged his supporters to take advantage of the state, allowing voters to fix any issues with their mail ballots — one of the steps that drags out the count.

State Assemblymember Marc Berman, a Democrat who wrote the bill to accelerate ballot counting, said Trump’s comments about the counting process were disappointing and “a lie.”

“While Trump is laser focused on lying about our elections and undermining voters’ faith in our democracy, so that Republicans can then try to pass policies like Voter ID laws that make it harder for people to vote, our priority is to make sure that every validly cast ballot is counted,” he said in a statement.

Many Democratic voters waited until the last minute to cast their ballots

Some experts warned that the count from Tuesday's primary might take even longer than after previous elections.

“What compounds things this time around is that Democrats have been holding on to their ballots,” said Rick Hasen, a UCLA law professor.

The state's millions of Democrats this year were exceptionally slow to send in their ballots, apparently waiting until the last minute to make a selection in the ever-evolving governor's race. The state operates a primary in which the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the general election, and Democrats had been fretting for months that having so many Democrats in the race would splinter the vote, allowing two Republicans to claim the top two spots.

Democratic voters appeared to wait until the end to see which of their candidates was emerging as a favorite. The high number of late ballots will likely make the delay in getting final counts even greater.

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber issued a statement Thursday saying the state's priority was ensuring the tally is done correctly. “Accuracy comes before speed,” she said.

While millions of ballots have been counted by now, it's the uncounted ones that loom largest for close races.

Despite being an overwhelmingly Democratic state, California has featured some of the nation's closest congressional elections, sometimes decided by just a few hundred votes, so there's often no way to determine a winner until the weekslong ballot count has concluded. In 2024, one House race wasn't called until December.

Things get even more complicated in a primary election, such as Tuesday's. That's because the news isn't just the top vote-getter but also the second-place finisher. To know the true outcome of any race, enough votes need to be tallied to know for certain who finished in first and second.

Later ballots skew toward Democrats, feeding conspiracy theories

Another side effect of the enormous crush of late mail ballots that get tallied last is that the final vote gets more and more Democratic. That’s because Republicans are more likely to return their ballots early or vote in person on Election Day. Those ballots get counted first.

The gradual shift in the vote toward Democrats as ballot counting continues has sparked all sorts of conspiracy theories.

Republicans have long complained about the California count, even though the GOP did well in close House races in the state in 2024. The Republican National Committee filed lawsuits in other states challenging the legality of counting mail ballots that arrive after Election Day and the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to rule on the issue sometime this month.

But worries about the California vote count aren't only a partisan issue. Voting advocates have urged state lawmakers to better fund local election offices so they can process the avalanche of late-arriving ballots faster.

“The Legislature needs to throw a lot more money to get the count quicker,” Hasen said.

___

Associated Press writers Christopher Weber in Los Angeles and Sophie Austin in Sacramento contributed to this report.

“Ya tengo verduras para dos semanas, ahora que pase lo que pase”, dijo a The Associated Press Chávez, de 48 años, contenta de adquirir brócoli, lechugas y pepinos en Avircato, en los valles bajos en el sur de La Paz.

Chávez, madre de cuatro niños, prefirió caminar desde la medianoche para comprar directo de los productores porque dice que en los mercados tradicionales el precio se ha encarecido por los cortes de ruta que llevan cinco semanas y que mantienen aislada a La Paz para exigir la renuncia del presidente boliviano Rodrigo Paz.

El gobierno atribuye a los cortes de carreteras la muerte de al menos diez personas por no recibir atención médica oportuna.

La Paz y su vecina ciudad de El Alto son las más afectada donde escasean alimentos, oxígeno medicinal y combustible, mientras la solución no llega. Las autoridades dijeron el jueves que los puntos de bloqueos han disminuido de 90 a 60 en medio de un feriado por Corpus Cristi.

Las productoras de las verduras en Avircato han improvisado un mercado en las calles cerca de sus sembradíos para recibir a las compradoras.

Ana Sirpa, una cultivadora de choclos de 28 años, explicó que de esta forma no pierden su cosecha y “pueden recuperar lo invertido”, aunque aseguró que no va a generar ganancias. “No esperábamos que tardara tanto en solucionarse el conflicto”, señaló.

Ante la gran afluencia de compradores, los operadores turísticos locales alquilaron sus caballos y cuadriciclos para transportar a las personas en tramos cortos de la ruta.

En el camino a estas localidades productoras, consideradas la despensa de La Paz, se veían cantidades de tomates y lechugas podridas tiradas en el trayecto, así como largas filas de autos esperando gasolina en la zona. Los manifestantes controlaban que no salgan grandes cantidades de hortalizas y otros alimentos.

Mientras tanto, otras familias hacían largas fillas para conseguir carne de res y pollo que el gobierno trae vía aérea y que vende en tiendas oficiales al doble del precio normal.

Las protestas también golpean a los empresarios quienes reportaron pérdidas por cerca de 2.000 millones de dólares en medio de una dura crisis económica. El sector advierte que se encuentra al límite de su sostenibilidad y exige una rápida solución al conflicto.

Paz asumió en noviembre después de casi 20 años de gobiernos de izquierda y en medio de la profunda crisis de la economía. El mandatario centrista se ha resistido a decretar un estado de excepción y utilizar la fuerza pública para contrarrestar las protestas, abogando por una vía de diálogo que no ha dado resultados hasta el momento. Por la tarde se prevé un acercamiento del gobierno con un sector campesino que participa en los bloqueos.

“Hace cuánto estamos esperando una solución y hasta ahora no hay nada”, se quejó en un barrio al este de La Paz Mirian Chávez, una ama de casa desesperada que pidió al presidente que ordene un régimen de excepción.

Las protestas iniciaron en mayo lideradas por la Central Obrera Boliviana (COB) y a las que se sumaron sindicatos campesinos, juntas vecinales de la ciudad de El Alto y seguidores del expresidente Evo Morales (2006-2019), para exigir la renuncia de Paz. Alegan que sus pedidos sectoriales y de un aumento salarial no fueron atendidos a tiempo.

Mientras tanto, Estados Unidos reiteró su apoyo al presidente Paz. "Bolivia no debe permitirse caer presa del antiguo statu quo de dominio narcoterrorista en la región”, dijo el secretario de Defensa de Estados Unidos, Pete Hegseth, en su cuenta de X.

Poco antes, el expresidente Morales, un crítico a Estados Unidos, insistió que hay un supuesto plan que busca detenerlo y trasladarlo a la capital estadounidense. Él está atrincherado en el centro de Bolivia desde octubre de 2024 y ha evitado declarar sobre un presunto caso de abuso a una menor, por lo que tiene vigente una orden de detención.

McClain’s final words — “I can’t breathe” — foreshadowed those of George Floyd a year later in Minneapolis, and the Colorado man’s name became part of the rallying cries for social justice that swept the U.S. in 2020.

The appeals court ordered new trials for Aurora Fire Rescue paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec. McClain, 23, had been forcibly restrained and put in a neck hold by police, who stopped him in response to a suspicious person complaint as the massage therapist walked home from a convenience store in the Denver suburb in 2019.

Criminal charges against paramedics and emergency medical technicians involved in police custody cases are rare. As McClain’s death and others raised questions about the use of ketamine to subdue struggling suspects, this prosecution sent shock waves through the ranks of first responders across the U.S.

New trials in the case will return the issue to the spotlight, and that could make first responders think twice when responding to calls involving people in police custody, said University of Miami criminologist Alex Piquero.

“At 11 o'clock tonight when they're on a call, and the circumstances are the same, is this going to influence their behavior?" Piquero asked. “It may not be the first thing that comes into their heads, but it's going to be there."

A jury in 2023 found Cooper and Cichuniec guilty of criminally negligent homicide following a weekslong trial in state district court. The jurors also found Cichuniec guilty of second-degree felony assault.

Cichuniec received five years in prison. Cooper avoided prison and was sentenced to 14 months in jail with work release and probation.

State attorney general says he will appeal

The appeals court upheld Cichuniec's assault conviction, but faulted the instructions given to jurors with respect to the criminally negligent homicide charges before they deliberated. Thursday's ruling sends their cases back to a lower court for a new trial on that charge.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser will appeal Thursday’s decision, a spokesperson said.

“Bringing these cases to trial was the right thing to do for justice, for Elijah McClain, and for healing in the Aurora community,” Weiser said in a statement. “The attorney general’s office is committed to defending these convictions through the appeals process.”

An Aurora police officer was convicted of homicide and third degree assault in McClain’s death, while two other officers were acquitted.

Cichuniec was released early from prison in 2024 after a judge reduced his sentence to four years of probation. That judge, Mark Warner, cited “unusual and extenuating circumstances,” a part of Colorado’s mandatory sentencing law that allows a court to modify a sentence after a defendant has served least 119 days in prison. Warner said that Cichuniec had to make a quick decision the night of the arrest as the highest-ranking paramedic at the scene.

The International Association of Fire Fighters said in a statement it continued to support Cooper and Cichuniec, who are members of the labor union.

“Today’s ruling recognizes the challenges paramedics face when making split-second medical decisions in rapidly evolving situations,” said Edward Kelly, the association’s general president.

Local prosecutors initially declined to bring charges in McClain's death

Local prosecutors initially decided not to bring charges in McClain’s death largely because an initial autopsy was inconclusive on how how he died.

Following the nationwide protests over Floyd’s death, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis directed Weiser to re-investigate the McClain case. A grand jury indicted the two paramedics and three police officers when Dr. Stephen Cina, a forensic pathologist who performed McClain’s autopsy, changed his findings to pin the blame on the sedative ketamine after reviewing body camera footage from the scene.

The city of Aurora in 2021 agreed to pay $15 million to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit brought by McClain’s parents.

The Associated Press left a voicemail seeking comment with the attorney for McClain’s mother, Sheneen McClain. Other requests for comment were left with the paramedics' lawyers.

The paramedics’ defense attorneys argued they followed their training in giving ketamine to McClain after deciding he had “excited delirium,” a disputed condition invoked to justify excessive force that some say is unscientific. They also said prosecutors did not prove the sedative is what killed him.

Paramedics in Aurora had been trained to use the drug for the condition in 2018. State officials have since told paramedics to stop using excited delirium as a basis for administering ketamine.

An activist who befriended Sheneen McClain after they met at a protest said the appellate ruling was disappointing and “one of the most divisive judicial decisions our state has experienced in recent memory.”

"It strikes at the heart of a question that Colorado continues to struggle to answer: When a Black life is taken under circumstances that shock the conscience of the public, what does accountability truly mean?” said MiDian Shofner, CEO of the Epitome of Black Excellence and Partnership.

___

Brown reported from Billings, Montana. Thomas Peipert contributed reporting from Denver.

Darryl Brown, a sergeant in the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, was caught with the missing items after the photojournalist used a geo-tracking device to trace her missing gear to his home, the state’s attorney general said Thursday.

The journalist, Angelina Katsanis, was on assignment for The Associated Press at Delaney Hall on Saturday night when she was struck in the knee by a wood beam during a clash between police and demonstrators.

As she hobbled to a medical tent to seek attention, Katsanis left behind her gear bag, which was marked with her name and contact information. When she was eventually allowed to return to the area — now in a wheelchair — the bag was gone.

“I checked my Airtag and the bag was already on a highway pretty far away at that point,” Katsanis recalled. “Right away, I had a feeling it was the police because they were the only ones with access to that area."

As Katsanis sought treatment in a nearby hospital, the Airtag pinged to a home in Sparta, New Jersey, which was listed as belonging to Brown, according to the attorney general's office. The device was later recovered on the side of a road, miles away from the home where it was initially taken.

A subsequent review of Brown’s body camera footage showed him “interacting” with the bag at the protest location, according to the attorney general's office. A search warrant executed at his home Wednesday turned up several of the missing items, some bearing Katsanis’ name and phone number, the complaint said.

Information for Brown's attorney was not immediately available. A message left at a phone number listed for Brown was not immediately returned. He faces charges of third-degree theft. He has been suspended without pay, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Katsanis, who has training in covering hostile environments, said the incident had left her deeply shaken.

“I’ve thought a lot about how the officers are supposed to be there to uphold the law and protect us and protect property — and this is the exact opposite of that,” she said.

The detention center has become a flashpoint for protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, with frequent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement.

Those demonstrations intensified in recent weeks as advocates said detainees inside launched a hunger strike over poor living conditions at the 1,000-bed facility. The federal government has denied allegations of substandard conditions and accused protesters of inflaming tensions.

Katsanis said she suffered swelling and bruising on her leg but did not break any bones.

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Joel James Taveras was arrested Wednesday after an investigation by the North Miami Beach Police Department, they said.

According to the report, police were called on March 31 by the city manager and chief financial officer regarding an alleged theft and fraud scheme involving Taveras, who had worked as a pool attendant for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department for the past four years.

Investigators said city officials were alerted by staff members and Bank of America that Taveras, 20, had been receiving duplicate payroll payments each week from February 2025 through February 2026.

They said the payments, which were processed through Bank of America and several Amscot locations in Miami-Dade County, totaled approximately $24,000.

Police served subpoenas to Amscot and Bank of America and obtained banking records and checks related to the transactions, the report states.

Police said Taveras was located within North Miami Beach city limits on Wednesday and taken to NMBPD headquarters for questioning.

After being read of his Miranda rights, he was arrested and later transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

Jail records show Taveras is facing one count of organized scheme to defraud and third-degree grand theft.

As of Thursday afternoon, he was being held on a $5,000 bond at TGK.

It was not immediately clear why Taveras was receiving duplicate payroll payments from the city or whether investigators believe he played a role in causing the payments to be issued.

Joel James Taveras fue arrestado el miércoles tras una investigación realizada por el Departamento de Policía de North Miami Beach, informaron las autoridades.

Según el informe, la policía fue contactada el 31 de marzo por el administrador municipal y el director financiero de la ciudad en relación con un presunto esquema de robo y fraude que involucraba a Taveras, quien había trabajado como asistente de piscina para el Departamento de Parques y Recreación durante los últimos cuatro años.

Los investigadores indicaron que funcionarios de la ciudad fueron alertados por empleados y por Bank of America de que Taveras, de 20 años, había estado recibiendo pagos de nómina duplicados cada semana desde febrero de 2025 hasta febrero de 2026.

Indicaron que los pagos, procesados a través de Bank of America y varias sucursales de Amscot en el condado Miami-Dade, totalizaron aproximadamente $24,000 USD.

La policía emitió citaciones a Amscot y Bank of America y obtuvo registros bancarios y cheques relacionados con las transacciones, señala el informe.

La policía informó que Taveras fue localizado dentro de los límites de la ciudad de North Miami Beach el miércoles y trasladado a la sede del departamento para ser interrogado.

Después de ser informado de sus derechos Miranda, fue arrestado y posteriormente trasladado al Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight.

Los registros carcelarios muestran que Taveras enfrenta un cargo de esquema organizado para defraudar y un cargo de hurto mayor en tercer grado.

Hasta la tarde del jueves, permanecía detenido en TGK con una fianza de $5,000 USD.

No quedó claro de inmediato por qué Taveras estaba recibiendo pagos de nómina duplicados de la ciudad ni si los investigadores creen que desempeñó algún papel en la emisión de esos pagos.