It was the conclusion of a long and tedious fight. The Calusa Country Club in Miami-Dade County’s West Kendall area opened in 1968 with a land covenant that banned redevelopment until 2067.

Facundo Bacardi, of the Bacardi Rum franchise, purchased the 168-acre golf course in 2003 and closed it in 2011. Miami-Dade commissioners lifted the covenant in 2020.

In 2021, Bacardi sold the golf course, at 9400 SW 130th Ave., to Sunrise-based GL Homes, and commissioners voted to rezone the property in favor of the development’s vision: A 550-home community.

“In 2021, the commission passed it, this was a reconsideration of that,” Richard Norwalk, a senior vice president at GL Homes, said about the commissioners’ vote on Thursday.

Amanda Prieto, the leader of Save Calusa, a nonprofit grassroots residents’ organization, opposed it and filed a lawsuit against the county to invalidate the 2021 rezoning vote over a notification error.

The court sided with Prieto, who had claimed the county had failed to notify residents about the date and time of the public hearing when commissioners voted to rezone the golf course in favor of the development.

“I am proud of my community,” Prieto said about Save Calusa’s efforts to protect the golf course. “We made tremendous progress over the last seven years.”

Norwalk went back before the commission and had the application reheard.

“Notice wasn’t done correctly, so we are glad that once again they saw their way to approving this community and providing more housing for Miami-Dade,” Norwalk said after the commissioner’s zoning vote.

Prieto and the Save Calusa members raised concerns about traffic, loss of green space, and impacts to local wildlife, including a bird rookery. Prieto said they were all very disappointed about the vote.

“We got some rookery protections. I think our voices were heard, but ultimately, this decision, and their legacy, will lie on the shoulders of the commissioners that voted today,” Prieto said.

Watch the meeting

In rounds of calls immediately following the indictment, civil rights leaders discussed how to support the SPLC, a Montgomery, Alabama-based civil rights group founded in 1971 that has tracked white supremacist groups and been outspoken on voting rights, immigration and policing. Organizers on one call agreed that winning in the court of public opinion would be crucial as judicial proceedings began, leading to dozens of public statements of support and planned rallies.

And legal advisors to civil rights groups urged organizers to prepare themselves for similar criminal indictments, protracted legal action that may exhaust their resources and audits of their staff and internal documents.

The flurry of behind-the-scenes coordination represented a marked escalation and mobilization of plans for activist groups that have been at odds with the Justice Department since President Donald Trump's return to the White House last year. Organizers say they are prepared to back the SPLC in its legal fight.

“It’s a blatantly obvious attack on civil rights and civil liberties to whitewash the foot soldiers of the great replacement theory and other extremists. This coalition isn’t going silent,” said Maya Wiley, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, an umbrella organization of hundreds of civil rights groups.

Without addressing the indictment, a coalition of more than 100 activist groups on Tuesday published a letter vowing solidarity with groups that are “unjustly targeted” by the federal government. SPLC was a signatory to the pact.

“An attack on one is an attack on all,” the coalition declared. “We will share knowledge, resources, and support with any organization threatened by abuses of power.”

DOJ alleges criminal conduct in SPLC's longtime informant network

The Justice Department alleges that the SPLC, which rose to prominence for its work prosecuting and tracking hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan, violated federal law through its network of paid informants in extremist groups. The DOJ claims the payments funded hate groups and misled the SPLC’s donors.

The SPLC now faces charges of wire fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in the case brought in the federal court in Alabama, where the organization is based.

“The SPLC is manufacturing racism to justify its existence,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche at a press conference announcing the charges. Blanche promised the department “will hold the SPLC and every other fraudulent organization operating with the same deceptive playbook accountable.”

Longtime civil rights activists found the claims to be a disingenuous and partisan move that may empower extremist groups.

“The indictment is nakedly political and represents the Justice Department turning on itself,” said Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League. “It places the Justice Department in the posture of, in effect, defending white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan and others.”

Advocates also view the indictment as part of the administration's broader upending of civil rights law and the Justice Department's prosecution of Trump's political opponents.

The SPLC in recent years became a bogeyman among conservatives who resented that the watchdog designated several rightwing organizations that engage in Republican politics as hateful or extremist.

In October, FBI Director Kash Patel cancelled the agency’s longtime anti-extremism partnerships with the SPLC and the Anti-Defamation League, which combats antisemitism. Patel at the time called the SPLC a “partisan smear machine.”

The Justice Department and SPLC did not respond to requests for comment.

Indictment represents marked shift for civil rights work

Advocates dispute the DOJ's characterization of the SPLC's work, which civil rights activists credit to combating extremist groups across the country.

“The problem is that the indictment essentially claims that it was a fraud on SPLC’s donors to use their funds to fight the Klan, the Neo Nazis and other white supremacist groups, when that is exactly why people gave to the organization,” said Norm Eisen, founder of Democracy Defenders Action, a legal group that works with organizations in legal disputes with the Trump administration.

Eisen added: “The notion that there’s something wrong with using informants and protecting their identities to prevent white supremacist violence is belied by the fact that that is not only what the SPLC did, but it is also the stock and trade of the FBI itself.”

Civil rights organizations are now preparing for further legal action against other organizations that disagree with or actively oppose the Trump administration. Organizations have reviewed their document retention, tax compliance and auditing policies over the last year to safeguard against any probes or lawsuits.

Some civil rights organizations have also floated creating new organizational structures that may better withstand legal scrutiny. On another recent call, activists floated restructuring some groups into for-profit entities, or potentially crafting new financial conduits for donors to give through to ensure that staff could receive pay if an organization's assets were seized or frozen.

The preparations represent a marked shift for many civil rights leaders, who in recent years counted the Justice Department under both Democratic and Republican administrations as a reliable ally in key civil rights battles.

“What we are seeing in real time is an administration seeking to leverage its position to target individuals and organizations that do not agree with its political thought,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson, who said the Justice Department has been “weaponized by dangerous forces."

But for other leaders, the SPLC indictment raised the specter of a return to a previous era, when the Justice Department monitored — and at times prosecuted — civil rights leaders to disrupt their activities.

“We're not backing down, but we are clear-eyed. Everyone could be in some form of jeopardy if you're in the crosshairs of this administration,” said Juan Proaño, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens, a civil rights group suing the Trump administration over executive orders addressing birthright citizenship and mail-in voting.

“That's what they’re looking for; they want this to have a chilling effect," Proaño said.

Police said they responded to the Macy’s at Broward Mall, 8000 W. Broward Blvd., on April 9 after receiving reports of an unknown suspect allegedly recording a woman inside a fitting room.

Investigators said CCTV footage showed Derrick Jordan Wright Jr. walking away from the dressing room area and exiting the store around 4:40 p.m.

The victim told police she was inside a changing room when she noticed a man, who police identified as Wright, recording her over the top of the partition.

She said she attempted to confront Wright, who was in an adjacent dressing room, but he denied the allegation and left the store, according to the report.

Investigators added that Wright had previously been arrested in Plantation for “the same behavior”

The report states the victim later met with police and identified Wright in a photo lineup.

In a prior case reported in December 2025, Wright was arrested after Plantation police said he secretly recorded a woman inside a fitting room at a Kohl’s store, later allegedly showing her a video and fleeing before being tracked down and taken into custody.

Jail records show he is facing one count of digital voyeurism of a victim 19 years or older.

As of Thursday, Wright was being held at the Broward County Main Jail on a $15,000 bond under conditions that prohibit contact with the victim, bar him from returning to the incident location, and prevent him from possessing or using any recording devices.

Deputies later identified the pair involved.

Leer en español

Investigators with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said the shooting happened in a home near Southwest 168th Street and 92nd Avenue, where deputies were called to just after 4:45 p.m. in reference to a reported domestic dispute.

They said they took David Ronald McPeck, 75, into custody outside of the home after he fatally shot his 47-year-old son, David Dylan McPeck.

Deputies said Thursday afternoon that they later released the elder McPeck “and at this time no formal charges have been filed.”

Deputies said they’ve responded to the house before for mental health calls.

A woman who identified herself as David Dylan McPeck’s sister told Local 10 News that her family has “seen this coming for years.“

“We’ve made plenty of phone calls, trying to get help,” she said.

She returned to the family home Thursday morning.

“I’m sorry that it has come to this. I don’t know what else to say,” the woman said. “This is so tragic that it ended this way. I can’t even begin to tell you what this is doing to my family.”

Deputies still haven’t elaborated on exactly what led up to Wednesday’s shooting.

“(I’m) very shocked, because Mr. McPeck is very nice,” neighbor Victoria Delgado said. “They care a lot about the house and with us, we talk.”

Delgado said she last saw MDSO deputies at the home months ago. She said she would frequently see the younger McPeck outside, yelling.

“I know they have kind of some problem, because the day before yesterday, he was running and screaming, very high,” she said.

Deputies said the investigation into the shooting continued Thursday afternoon.

Cuba atraviesa un cerco petrolero impuesto en enero por el presidente estadounidense Donald Trump --que agudizó la profunda crisis económica del último lustro— y que implicó cortes masivos de energía.

A fines de marzo un barco ruso cargado con 730.000 barriles de crudo desafió la prohibición impuesta por Trump. Se espera un segundo navío para las próximas semanas, pero hasta ahora se desconoce su fecha de llegada.

Trump dijo explícitamente que busca la caída del gobierno cubano y un cambio de modelo político y aseguró que estaba listo para “tomar” a Cuba.

“La difícil situación del país es consecuencia directa del recrudecimiento del bloqueo y del cerco energético decretado por el gobierno estadounidense”, escribió el canciller cubano Bruno Rodríguez en su cuenta de la red social X.

Agregó que “basta con ver cómo se aprecia una mejoría de la situación del Sistema Electroenergético Nacional con la entrada de un petrolero ruso".

Esta semana los partes diarios de la estatal Unión Eléctrica indicaron que el déficit de generación estuvo entre el 36% y 37%.

Hasta la llegada del buque ruso la nación caribeña pasó tres meses sin importar combustible de Venezuela, Rusia o México, sus habituales proveedores.

Las consecuencias se hicieron sentir en apagones de hasta 20 horas diarias, reducción del transporte y las jornadas laborales y cancelaciones de vuelos. Desde el bombeo de agua a los eventos culturales se vieron afectados.

Procesamiento del petróleo ruso

Durante una comparecencia el miércoles por la noche en la televisión cubana el ministro de Energía y Minas, Vicente de la O Levy, dio algunos detalles sobre la forma en que se ha procesado el crudo ruso para obtener diferentes subproductos como gas, gasolina o diesel.

El funcionario destacó que un buque es apenas un parche para las necesidades del país, que produce sólo el 40% del combustible que necesita.

“¿Cuánto dura un barco? Ocho barcos se necesitan mensualmente”, sostuvo el ministro. “Ocho barcos mensuales para la economía y la generación”, agregó.

Según expertos internacionales la carga del barco ruso duraría apenas dos semanas.

El gobierno desarrolla un programa de energías renovables, en especial fotovoltaica, para mitigar la falta de petróleo. El ministro De la O indicó que Cuba comenzó 2025 con una participación del 3% de estas fuentes alternativas en la generación eléctrica y cerró con el 10%.

————

Siga a Andrea Rodríguez en X: https://x.com/ARodriguezAP

Walker, in his 14th major league season, exited the Phillies clubhouse a couple of hours before Thursday’s contest. He's in the final year of a four-year, $72 million contract.

The Phillies had optioned right-hander Alan Rangel to Lehigh Valley following Wednesday’s 7-2 loss to Chicago, their eighth straight.

The 33-year-old Walker was an All-Star with the New York Mets in 2021 and peaked with a 15-6 record and 4.38 ERA with Philadelphia in 2023. But he’s slid ever since, starting 2026 at 1-4 with a 9.13 ERA in five games, and has a combined 9-19 record with a 5.67 ERA over the past three seasons.

Walker gave up five runs (four earned) on eight hits in four innings in starting and taking the loss at Wrigley Field on Wednesday. With ace Zack Wheeler set to return on Saturday, Walker was bumped out of the Phillies rotation.

Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations, said the team tried to trade Walker’s contract “various times,” but found no takers.

“We know and he knows that he gave every effort that he possibly could to try to get people out and it just wasn’t working,” Dombrowski added. “Maybe a change of scenery will help him."

Manager Rob Thomson said: “It's just all performance based. I hope that people understand."

“We had a really good year out of him the first year (2023) with the 15 wins,” Thomson added. “With the injuries we had last year, this guy took down 125 innings and basically helped us get to the playoffs.”

Thomson praised Walker's presence and work ethic.

“He's one of the best teammates and one of the best people I've been around," Thomson said. “This guys a pro, performance aside.

“He tried everything, being the opener and trying to get some velo back, which he did. It didn't work out, but it wasn't for a lack of effort on his part.”

___

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

Leer en español

The extension is for a proposed 20-year operating agreement for the annual downtown event.

Meanwhile, the Downtown Neighbors Alliance is pushing for the city to delay their vote so that residents have an opportunity to voice their concerns about continuing the partnership.

“Residents are not asking for the impossible, we are asking for a seat at the table,” said James Torres, president of the Downtown Neighbors Alliance. “A deferral is not only reasonable, it is necessary to set the right tone. If a 20-year deal is approved without engagement, what incentive will there be for Ultra to listen to residents afterward?”

Additionally, the DNA has filed a complaint against Ultra “related to its obligations under the existing settlement agreement.”

Local 10 News reached out to Ultra for comment but have not heard back as of the time of this story’s publication.

ADITIONAL LINK

City commission meeting agenda

La extensión propone un acuerdo operativo de 20 años para el evento anual en el centro de la ciudad.

Mientras tanto, la Downtown Neighbors Alliance está presionando para que la ciudad retrase la votación para que los residentes tengan la oportunidad de expresar sus preocupaciones sobre la continuidad de la asociación.

“Los residentes no están pidiendo lo imposible, estamos pidiendo un lugar en la mesa”, dijo James Torres, presidente de la Downtown Neighbors Alliance. “Un aplazamiento no solo es razonable, es necesario para establecer el tono correcto. Si se aprueba un acuerdo de 20 años sin participación, ¿qué incentivo habrá para que Ultra escuche a los residentes después?”

Además, la organización presentó una demanda contra Ultra “relacionada con sus obligaciones bajo el acuerdo de conciliación vigente”.

Local 10 News contactó a Ultra para solicitar comentarios, pero no había recibido respuesta al momento de la publicación de esta nota.

ENLACE ADICIONAL

Agenda de la reunión de la comisión de la ciudad

Leer en español

Scott Nelson Nida, 55, of Pompano Beach, was arrested Tuesday and is facing charges including false imprisonment of a person, robbery without a firearm or weapon, domestic violence battery and grand theft auto, according to jail records.

Deputies said just before 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, they responded to the intersection of Southeast 54th Street and 19th Terrace in Pompano Beach after a bystander called 911 reporting that Nida had battered the victim and taken her vehicle.

When deputies arrived, they spoke with the victim, who “appeared to have a bloody and bruised face, and was not wearing any shoes,” according to the report.

The report states that the victim told deputies she wanted to press charges against Nida.

Investigators said the victim and Nida have been in a relationship for about 16 years and previously lived together. They have no children in common.

According to deputies, the incident began earlier that morning when the victim took her daughter to school in Boca Raton.

Before leaving, they said she was speaking with Nida, who had asked her to print a child support document related to a child from another relationship. She agreed and planned to meet him after the school drop-off.

During the drive, deputies said the victim received multiple calls from Nida demanding to know her location.

As she turned near his Pompano Beach home, she saw Nida standing nearby, then pulled over after telling him she was on the phone with her father, according to the report.

Once inside the vehicle, Nida became “very agitated” and instructed her to drive to his home, the report states.

After she provided the documents, deputies said he began questioning her about the previous night and accused her of infidelity.

While the victim was driving westbound on Southeast 15th Street, deputies said Nida “forcibly grabbed the back of her head and began to punch her face and head multiple times.”

The victim then honked the horn in an attempt to get attention and tried to escape, but deputies said Nida grabbed the steering wheel and tried to take her phone.

Shortly after, they said Nida then pulled her back into the vehicle and continued the attack.

The victim eventually escaped, ran down Southeast 54th Street and flagged down a passerby, who called 911 after seeing Nida drive away in her vehicle with her belongings and cellphone inside, according to the report.

Authorities said Nida did not have permission to take the vehicle. The victim later told deputies she was “extremely in fear” of Nida and feared for her life, the report states.

After Tuesday’s arrest, deputies said Nida admitted that a domestic violence incident occurred inside the vehicle but denied striking the victim, claiming she was “erratic.”

He acknowledged she was bleeding but could not explain how she sustained her injuries. He also denied taking her phone or vehicle, though deputies said he admitted driving away in the victim’s car and hearing her call for help.

In a prior January arrest, Nida faced charges of domestic battery by strangulation and false imprisonment after deputies said he attacked the same victim during an argument over infidelity.

According to deputies, the victim said Nida grabbed her by the neck and face, pushed her to the ground, dragged her across a lawn and forced her into a vehicle before driving away.

The victim later waived prosecution, and the no-contact order was dismissed. She told investigators she “felt coerced into dropping the charges” because Nida allegedly said he would “lose his job and pension.”

Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony released a statement to Local 10 News back in January in regard to Nida’s first arrest.

“Domestic violence is unacceptable especially from someone who is sworn to uphold the law,” Tony wrote at the time. “When a sworn member is accused of this type of crime, they are held to the same standards as any member of the public.”

Authorities said Nida was hired by BSO on Jan. 18, 2005. He was then placed on administrative investigative leave without pay.

A BSO spokesperson responded to Nida latest arrest in a statement to Local 10 News on Wednesday.

“Sgt. Scott Nida is currently on administrative investigative leave with pay, and he was first placed on administrative leave following his arrest on Jan. 7, 2026. The BSO internal investigation is ongoing. He was hired on Jan. 18, 2005,” the statement read.

Nida was released from the Broward County Main Jail on Wednesday night after posting his $47,500 bond.

He was also ordered to wear a GPS monitor, have no victim contact, must stay away from anywhere the victim frequents, no firearms, weapons, or ammunition, and must have a third party surrender any guns within 24 hours of release.

Domestic violence victims can contact BSO Victim Services at 954-321-4200, Women in Distress at 954-761-1133 or the Florida Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-500-1119.

Leer en español

Corruth, born Feb. 14, 1930, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1947 and deployed to Korea in 1950. That same year, he was declared missing in action.

He was 20 years old when he died in service to the country.

His remains were recovered three years later near a South Korean village but remained unidentified for more than 70 years.

Recent DNA testing ultimately confirmed his identity through his nephews, bringing long-awaited answers to his family.

“Thank God for science and DNA that they was able to determine through his nephews that (those were) Joshua’s remains,” a family member said during the service.

A funeral service was held this week for Corruth, whose body was recently returned to South Florida.

“Corporal Corruth laid down his life for his country. A lot of you are sleeping tonight safe because of the sacrifice he made all those years ago. Amen,” a speaker said during the ceremony.

Officials also designated the day in his honor.

“I do declare this day Corporal Joshua Corruth Day in the state of Florida,” an official said.

Corruth was originally buried as unknown at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. His remains are now being transferred to the South Florida National Cemetery for final burial.

The Korean War is often referred to as the “Forgotten War,” but family members said Corruth was never forgotten.

“He definitely deserves the honor and everybody is honoring him in a big way,” said Myron Johnson, Corruth’s nephew. “This is above and beyond what I was expecting. Appreciate all the love and support that everyone has shown.”

Corruth will now be laid to rest in South Florida, closing a decades-long search for answers and bringing closure to his family.

Corruth, nacido el 14 de febrero de 1930, se enlistó en el Ejército de Estados Unidos en 1947 y fue desplegado a Corea en 1950. Ese mismo año fue declarado desaparecido en combate.

Tenía 20 años cuando murió en servicio al país.

Sus restos fueron recuperados tres años después cerca de una aldea en Corea del Sur, pero permanecieron sin identificar durante más de 70 años.

Pruebas recientes de ADN finalmente confirmaron su identidad a través de sus sobrinos, brindando respuestas largamente esperadas a su familia.

“Gracias a Dios por la ciencia y el ADN que pudieron determinar a través de sus sobrinos que esos eran los restos de Joshua”, dijo un familiar durante el servicio.

Esta semana se realizó un funeral para Corruth, cuyo cuerpo fue recientemente devuelto al sur de Florida.

“El cabo Corruth entregó su vida por su país. Muchos de ustedes duermen seguros esta noche gracias al sacrificio que hizo hace tantos años. Amén”, dijo un orador durante la ceremonia.

Funcionarios también designaron el día en su honor.

“Declaro este día como el Día del cabo Joshua Corruth en el estado de Florida”, dijo un funcionario.

Corruth fue enterrado originalmente como desconocido en el Cementerio Nacional Memorial del Pacífico en Hawái. Sus restos ahora están siendo trasladados al Cementerio Nacional del Sur de Florida para su sepultura final.

La Guerra de Corea a menudo es conocida como la “Guerra Olvidada”, pero los familiares dijeron que Corruth nunca fue olvidado.

“Definitivamente merece el honor y todos lo están honrando en grande”, dijo Myron Johnson, sobrino de Corruth. “Esto supera todo lo que esperaba. Agradezco todo el cariño y apoyo que todos han mostrado”.

Corruth ahora será sepultado en el sur de Florida, cerrando una búsqueda de décadas por respuestas y brindando cierre a su familia.

La iniciativa tiene como propósito promover la democratización de la lectura y la circulación de contenidos, así como poner en valor la producción prosística de Mistral, la única mujer latinoamericana que ha ganado un Nobel de Literatura (1945) hasta hoy.

“Mira la cantidad de gente que hay. Interesantísimo, sobre todo por ser Gabriela, que fue tan menoscabada, menospreciada en su época”, dijo Roberto Rojas, uno de los cientos de lectores que aguardaban en colas que se extendían por varias cuadras en el centro de Santiago.

“La palabra maldita y otros escritos urgentes” reúne 10 textos en prosa de Mistral publicados originalmente entre 1906 y 1955. Estos escritos se alejan de la poesía habitual que marcó la obra de la autora chilena y abordan temas como la educación de las mujeres, la justicia social, la democracia y la defensa de la paz.

“Me gusta que se hayan reeditado estos textos que son prosa de Gabriela Mistral y distintos temas que a ella le interesaban, porque tenía una mirada bastante feminista y social”, afirmó la librera Jimena Pizarro, quien se dice una fanática declarada de la poetisa y Nobel.

La entrega de los ejemplares se enmarca en una serie de actividades especiales que se desarrollan durante todo abril en celebración del mes del libro que incluyen también ferias, lanzamientos editoriales, conversatorios y cafés literarios.

“Como universidad pública creemos que ampliar el acceso al conocimiento y fomentar el pensamiento crítico es fundamental para la democracia”, dijo en un comunicado la vicerrectora de Extensión y Comunicaciones de la Universidad de Chile, Pilar Barba. “Buscamos algo muy concreto: que la lectura llegue a los hogares y a la vida cotidiana de las personas”.

The deal involves Regeneron lowering the prices of current and future drugs on Medicaid and selling a cholesterol drug called Praluent for $225 on the White House's discounted drug website TrumpRx, according to the agreement first outlined by NOTUS and confirmed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

The deal comes as the Trump administration has been touting efforts to provide economic relief ahead of November's midterm elections, with Americans saying high costs for health care, gas, groceries and other basic needs are straining their budgets.

It's one of many so-called most-favored-nation deals the Trump administration has made with drug companies to bring U.S. pharmaceutical prices to the same level as other developed nations. Last July, Trump publicly sent letters to executives at 17 major pharmaceutical companies about the issue. Regeneron is the final one of those companies to strike a deal with his administration.

As part of the deal, Regeneron has also committed to spending nearly $10 billion to bring pharmaceutical production to the United States, NOTUS reported. Trump’s deals have historically offered companies relief on his tariffs if they make such commitments.

Even as Trump and his Department of Health and Human Services have touted his drug-pricing deals as transformative, the details of the agreements have so far not been made public.

Pressed by members of Congress to share the contracts this week, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said his team would share whatever details it could that didn't include proprietary information or trade secrets. Trump and Kennedy have urged Congress to codify the deals into law.

Drug prices for patients in the U.S. can depend on a number of factors, including the competition a treatment faces and insurance coverage. Most people have coverage through work, the individual insurance market or government programs like Medicaid and Medicare, which shield them from much of the cost.

Patients on Medicaid, the state and federally funded program for people with low incomes, already pay a nominal co-payment of a few dollars to fill their prescriptions, but lower prices could help state budgets that fund the programs.

Iran has not withdrawn from the World Cup — the team is currently preparing to play in the U.S. despite the war in the Middle East — and FIFA has insisted its group-stage games near Los Angeles and in Seattle will go ahead as planned in June.

The Financial Times reported that Paolo Zampolli, the U.S. special envoy for global partnerships, had suggested the swap to President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

“First of all it’s not possible. Secondly, it’s not a good idea,” Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi said Thursday.

While Iran was among the first teams to qualify for the World Cup, Italy missed out for the third consecutive tournament, resulting in the resignations of its national team coach and soccer federation president.

Luciano Buonfiglio, the president of the Italian Olympic Committee, which oversees all sports in Italy, also dismissed the idea of taking Iran's place.

“I would feel offended,” Buonfiglio said. “You need to deserve to go to the World Cup.”

Italy’s Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti called the idea “shameful.”

Zampolli has long been a part of the Trump family orbit, having introduced then-Melania Knauss to Donald Trump at a New York Fashion Week party in 1998. He regularly posts on social media about his meetings with Infantino, calling him the “King of Soccer.” Trump last year appointed him as special envoy for global partnerships.

“I’m an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a U.S.-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion,” Zampolli told the FT.

In March, the New York Times reported that Zampolli had reached out to a top official at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, informing him that the mother of his child was in the country illegally as the two were locked in a custody dispute. She was ultimately deported.

The White House did not immediately return a request for comment. Its World Cup task force, housed under the Department of Homeland Security, said it had no comment. FIFA also would not comment.

The Iranian embassy in Rome denounced Zampolli’s remarks in a comment on X.

“Football belongs to the people, not to politicians,” the embassy said. “Italy earned its soccer prowess on the field, not thanks to political maneuvers. The attempt to exclude Iran from the World Cup shows only the ‘moral bankruptcy’ of the United States, which fears even the presence of 11 young Iranians on the field of play.”

Iran’s status at the World Cup, which starts in June, has been a source of debate and concern since the U.S. and Israel launched military attacks on the country in February.

Trump in March discouraged Iran from participating in the tournament, citing safety concerns.

FIFA has consistently said Iran will stick to the World Cup schedule decided last December, and refused to negotiate any suggestion of moving the team’s games to co-host Mexico.

An Iranian government spokesperson said Wednesday that the men’s national team is preparing for “proud and successful participation” in its World Cup games in the U.S.

Iran earned one of eight guaranteed World Cup places allocated to the Asian Football Confederation. Should Iran pull out, in theory the replacement should be the United Arab Emirates, the highest-ranked Asian team that didn't qualify.

One possible element of uncertainty is the language of the World Cup tournament rules.

FIFA wrote that it can decide to replace a withdrawn team “with another association,” though without specifying the replacement must come from the same continental confederation.

___

Dunbar reported from Geneva. White House reporter Seung Min Kim in Washington contributed to this report.

___

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

The BYU forward — widely expected to be a top candidate to be the No. 1 pick — made the announcement Thursday. Dybantsa led the nation by averaging 25.5 points per game in his lone college season, along with 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.

He's the first player to have a season with all those averages and be named a consensus All-American since Larry Bird did it for Indiana State in 1978-79.

“Now the work starts again, all over again," Dybantsa said. “I've had a lot of NBA players tell me that it kind of restarts once you get there. I'm just looking forward to that next step, being a rookie and learning from all the vets.”

Dybantsa made the announcement at the Davis School in his hometown of Brockton, Massachusetts — the home of boxing greats Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler, among others.

“It's the city of champions,” Dybantsa said. “I just want to be considered like one of those champions.”

Dybantsa attended the Davis School until fifth grade and said he still values the lessons instilled in him there, including the importance of education. That's part of the reason why, even though he's going to the NBA, Dybantsa said he will simultaneously remain in school and continue working toward a mass communications degree at BYU.

“My mom wanted me to stay in college to graduate,” Dybantsa said. “But I told my mother that I'm going to declare for the draft and also finish and get my degree online. I'll probably finish within the next four years.”

The draft order will not be known until the lottery on May 10, where Washington, Indiana and Brooklyn all have the best odds — 14% each — of winning and landing the chance to pick No. 1 overall. When asked what team he would like to play for in the NBA, Dybantsa gave an immediate answer.

"Whatever team drafts me, bro," Dybantsa said.

He's not lacking for confidence and hopes to give another speech in Massachusetts — the home of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame — when his playing career is over.

“The next speech — the next big, big speech — I should have is the Hall of Fame speech,” Dybantsa said. “So, we should be good.”

___

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

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson stopped short Thursday of saying Wembanyama will play in Game 3. Wembanyama is “progressing,” Johnson said, but his status against the Trail Blazers remains uncertain.

“He looks good,” Johnson said, noting that the Spurs hadn't even started discussions on when Wembanyama can play again.

Wembanyama was at the team's practice facility for a second consecutive day Thursday, walking around in a black hoodie and gray sweatpants. He even got a few shots up, teammate Julian Champagnie said.

“He was only around for a little bit this morning,” Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox said Thursday. “Obviously, we just want him to be healthy.”

Wembanyama — the league's first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year and one of three finalists for the Most Valuable Player award — suffered a concussion in the Spurs' Game 2 loss to Portland on Tuesday night, leaving the game in the second quarter.

Game 3 of the series — tied at a game apiece — is Friday in Portland, followed by Game 4 there on Sunday. The Spurs were scheduled to fly to Portland on Thursday afternoon.

There are very specific steps that players have to clear before being removed from the league's concussion protocol. Players begin the return-to-play process with light exertion — such as riding a stationary bike, jogging, agility work and non-contact basketball drills — and each step is followed by another neurological examination.

Wembanyama's results will also be compared to his baseline neurological evaluation — which players undergo prior to each season — before doctors permit him to move forward in the return-to-play plan.

“It's pretty straightforward,” Johnson said. “Obviously, we hope he'll be back at some point. But we'll allow the protocol to play out. And again, there's nothing more important than his health.”

Any extended absence by Wembanyama would be a massive blow to San Antonio, which finished with the league’s second-best record behind the versatile 7-foot-4 center from France. They were 12-6 in the regular season without Wembanyama.

Wembanyama averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a league-best 3.1 blocks per game this season. He was also with his teammates on Wednesday evening, when they all donned cowboy hats and surprised teammate Keldon Johnson after he was announced as the league's Sixth Man of the Year.

“We know that he's chomping at the bit to get back on the court and be with his guys,” Johnson said.

___

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

Investigadores de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade indicaron que la balacera ocurrió en una vivienda cerca de Southwest 168th Street y la avenida 92, donde los agentes acudieron poco después de las 4:45 p.m. por un reporte de una disputa doméstica.

Indicaron que detuvieron a un hombre de unos 70 años fuera de la vivienda después de que disparara fatalmente contra su hijo de 47 años.

Los agentes, que no han identificado públicamente a ambos, dijeron que ya habían respondido anteriormente a la casa por llamadas relacionadas con salud mental.

Una mujer que se identificó como la hermana de la víctima dijo a Local 10 News que su familia “lo veía venir desde hace años”.

“Hemos hecho muchas llamadas, tratando de obtener ayuda”, dijo.

Regresó a la vivienda familiar la mañana del jueves.

“Lamento que haya llegado a esto. No sé qué más decir”, expresó la mujer. “Es tan trágico que haya terminado así. Ni siquiera puedo empezar a explicar lo que esto le está haciendo a mi familia”.

Los agentes aún no han detallado exactamente qué llevó a la balacera del miércoles.

“Estoy muy sorprendida, porque el señor McPeck es muy amable”, dijo la vecina Victoria Delgado. “Se preocupan mucho por la casa y con nosotros conversan”.

Delgado dijo que la última vez que vio a agentes de MDSO en la vivienda fue hace meses. Añadió que con frecuencia veía al hijo afuera, gritando.

“Sé que tienen algún tipo de problema, porque anteayer él estaba corriendo y gritando muy fuerte”, dijo.

Hasta el jueves, no estaba claro si el padre enfrentará cargos.

Varios de los periodistas afectados denunciaron en sus redes sociales que la sala de prensa está cerrada desde la mañana y que la medida —que según señalaron no se tomó ni durante la última dictadura militar (1976-1983)— abarca a los cerca de 50 acreditados. Medios de comunicación como Radio 10 y el diario La Nación se hicieron eco de la situación.

Javier Lanari, secretario de Prensa y Comunicación del gobierno, afirmó en X que “la decisión de quitar las huellas dactilares a los periodistas acreditados de Casa Rosada se tomó de manera preventiva ante la denuncia de Casa Militar por espionaje ilegal. El único fin es garantizar la seguridad nacional”.

La Casa Militar, dependiente de la Secretaría General de la Presidencia y responsable de la seguridad del mandatario, denunció penalmente a dos periodistas de la señal televisiva Todo Noticias (TN) luego de que en su programa del último domingo difundieron imágenes que habrían grabado sin autorización en el interior de la Casa Rosada.

Milei, que entonces estaba en Israel, afirmó el jueves en X que “ser corruptos, ensobrados y violar las leyes de seguridad no es gratis. Algún día las basuras inmundas periodistas (95%) tendrán que entender que no están por encima de la ley. Abusaron de la jurisprudencia. No es gratis”.

Liliana Franco, del diario Ámbito Financiero y con el acceso vedado a la sala de prensa, señaló en su cuenta de X que “no se sabe hasta cuándo” estará vigente la prohibición.

Franco, acreditada desde hace 30 años en la Casa Rosada, dijo a The Associated Press que la medida es excesiva. “Si el medio y el periodista procedieron mal está claro cuáles son; no es que hubo varios que hicieron esto. Entonces no comprendo la decisión, o si la comprendo, a los gobiernos nunca les gustan los periodistas".

Indicó además que el Ejecutivo no se ha pronunciado aún sobre la renovación de las acreditaciones de los periodistas que vencieron a fines de marzo.

Hace dos semanas el gobierno restringió de forma temporal el acceso de Franco y otros periodistas a la sede de gobierno luego de sostener que estarían vinculados con una red de espionaje y desinformación rusa destinada a desacreditar su gestión.

El mandatario de ultraderecha mantiene una postura abiertamente agresiva con la mayoría de los medios de comunicación y únicamente da entrevistas a los que son más afines a su gestión.

En febrero creó la Oficina de Respuesta Oficial para "desenmascarar mentiras y operaciones de los medios”, según él mismo afirmó. La nueva dependencia tiene similitudes con la cuenta Rapid Response 47 (Respuesta Rápida 47) creada por el presidente estadounidense Donald Trump —su principal aliado en la región —para responder a supuestas “fake news” en su contra.

Organizaciones periodísticas sostienen que la medida pretende limitar la libertad de expresión.

The review from the inspector general's office will focus on how the department collected, reviewed and redacted materials in preparation for their release, as well as its process for addressing concerns that arose after the files were made public, when Epstein survivors complained that personal information about them had been disclosed.

The audit will revisit the department's staggered and uneven release of millions of records from the Epstein sex trafficking investigation, a process that exposed it to accusations that it was attempting to protect President Donald Trump, who decades ago was friendly with the financier. It marks the first significant effort, since Trump took office for a second time, by the watchdog to scrutinize the actions of a department that has been riven by tumult, including mass firings of employees and allegations of politicization of investigations.

The records were released starting late last year in compliance with a bill passed by Congress and signed into law by Trump, who bowed to political pressure from his own party after initially resisting efforts to disclose additional files. That law required the release within 30 days of records related to Epstein, as well as any information about the investigation into his death in a jail in 2019, and also allowed for redactions of information about survivors.

But problems with the department's process soon emerged.

Officials released only a fraction of records within the 30-day deadline, later disclosing they would need several more weeks because of the abrupt discovery of a massive group of records tied to the case.

In late January, the department released what it said were 3 million records, but subsequently withdrew several thousand documents after lawyers told a judge that the lives of nearly 100 abuse survivors had been “turned upside down” by careless redactions. The exposed materials include nude photos, with faces visible, as well as names, email addresses and other identifying information that was either unredacted or not fully obscured.

The department blamed it on “technical or human error.”

In March, the department released additional files involving uncorroborated accusations made by a woman against the Republican president that it said had been mistakenly withheld during an earlier review.

Epstein killed himself in a New York jail cell in August 2019, a month after being indicted on federal sex trafficking charges.

Leer en español

On Thursday, Broward County prosecutors filed a third-degree felony case with 41 charges against Jamar Clair, a convicted felon who was born in Fort Lauderdale and lives in Oakland Park, records show.

Clair refused to appear in bond court on Thursday morning. Broward County Circuit Judge Corey B. Friedman, who was presiding, allowed his relatives to speak during the bond court hearing.

“My dad is a caring and supportive person ... Those were not his dogs, and I do not believe that he harmed any animals,” Clair’s daughter Jamilia Clair told Friedman in court.

Relatives said Clair was doing the dogs’ owner a favor. A prosecutor told Friedman during the hearing that “once someone accepts the responsibility of caring for animals, it is their responsibility whether they were the original dog owner or not.”

Friedman said BSO deputies reported Clair refused to cooperate during the investigation, and he ordered him to stay away from animals.

“This was going on for months involving many different dogs,” the prosecutor told Friedman.

Clair is facing 18 counts of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, a third-degree felony.

Clair is also facing 23 counts of tormenting, depriving of sustenance, mutilating, or killing an animal, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Clair was the subject of animal control complaints in the last few years. On July 28, 2025, Broward County’s Animal Care Division issued Clair a citation for cruelty to animals in Fort Lauderdale, according to court records. The case remained open on Thursday.

The Florida Department of Corrections released Clair from prison on Oct. 17, 2020, after he was convicted of a robbery in Broward County and sentenced to six years and eight months in prison, records show.

Clair was at the Broward County Main Jail on Thursday afternoon in Fort Lauderdale. His bond was $75,500.

Broward County Circuit Judge Francis I. Viamontes was set to preside over Clair’s case.

Watch the bond court hearing

This is a developing story. Local 10 News has a pending records request for the BSO deputies’ arrest report on the case.

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

El jueves, fiscales del condado Broward presentaron un caso por delito grave de tercer grado con 41 cargos contra Jamar Clair, un convicto por delito grave que nació en Fort Lauderdale y vive en Oakland Park, según muestran los registros.

Clair se negó a comparecer en la corte de fianza el jueves por la mañana. El juez del circuito del condado Broward, Corey B. Friedman, quien presidía, permitió que sus familiares hablaran durante la audiencia.

“Mi papá es una persona cariñosa y solidaria, , esos no eran sus perros, y no creo que haya dañado a ningún animal”, dijo la hija de Clair, Jamilia Clair, a Friedman en la corte.

Los familiares dijeron que Clair le estaba haciendo un favor al dueño de los perros. Un fiscal dijo a Friedman durante la audiencia que “una vez que alguien acepta la responsabilidad de cuidar animales, es su responsabilidad, independientemente de si era el dueño original o no”.

Friedman dijo que agentes de BSO reportaron que Clair se negó a cooperar durante la investigación y le ordenó mantenerse alejado de los animales.

“Esto estuvo ocurriendo durante meses e involucró a muchos perros diferentes”, dijo el fiscal a Friedman.

Clair enfrenta 18 cargos de manipulación o fabricación de evidencia física, un delito grave de tercer grado.

También enfrenta 23 cargos de atormentar, privar de sustento, mutilar o matar a un animal, un delito menor de primer grado.

Clair fue objeto de quejas de control animal en los últimos años. El 28 de julio de 2025, la División de Cuidado Animal del condado Broward emitió a Clair una citación por crueldad animal en Fort Lauderdale, según registros judiciales. El caso permanecía abierto el jueves.

El Departamento de Correcciones de Florida liberó a Clair de prisión el 17 de octubre de 2020, después de que fue condenado por un robo en el condado Broward y sentenciado a seis años y ocho meses de prisión, según los registros.

El juez del circuito del condado Broward, Francis I. Viamontes, estaba programado para presidir el caso de Clair.

Esta es una noticia en desarrollo. Local 10 News tiene pendiente una solicitud de registros para obtener el informe de arresto de los agentes de BSO sobre el caso.

Between berating individual reporters, fighting organizations like The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Associated Press in court and restricting press access to the Pentagon, the administration's animus toward journalists has been a fixture of Trump's second term.

It's another layer of complexity for the so-called “nerd prom,” given the name for the sight of reporters in tuxes. Some people are already squeaming about journalists toasting and laughing with people they regularly cover.

“This is sort of a critical moment for these dinners and it will be interesting to see what happens going forward,” said Lisa Stark, a former ABC News reporter.

Petition asks journalists to ‘speak forcefully’ on freedom of press

She and longtime colleague Ian Cameron have circulated a petition urging journalists who attend Saturday to “speak forcefully” in defense of the press with Trump in attendance. Dan Rather and former ABC White House reporter Sam Donaldson are among more than 350 former journalists to sign. Reporters have talked about a visible protest like lapel pins touting the First Amendment.

Calvin Coolidge, in 1924, was the first president to attend the dinner. Chief executives usually appear, requiring them in recent years to appear to be good sports as comics like Stephen Colbert, Colin Jost and Trevor Noah make jokes about them. Trump attended in 2011, glaring from the audience at President Barack Obama's barbs about him. This will be the first year he attends as president, however.

“The only thing more insulting for the press than Trump not coming is Trump coming,” Kelly McBride, NPR ombudsman and head of the Poynter Institute's ethics and leadership center, wrote last week.

“This man mocks you, sues you, and targets you for prosecution,” former AP White House reporter Ron Fournier wrote on Substack. He detailed a list on Trump's actions against the press, finishing with: “and you're having dinner with him?” The top editor at HuffPost — a news website clearly hostile to Trump — said its journalists wouldn't attend Saturday as a protest.

The president of the WHCA, CBS News' Weijia Jiang, had no immediate comment. But Todd Gilman, a former White House bureau chief for the Dallas Morning News and now a journalism professor for Arizona State University, suggested it wasn't the press' role to make news itself by snubbing Trump. The president will make news either way depending on what he says there, he said.

There's a misperception, Gilman said, that the correspondents are honoring Trump by having him at the dinner.

Some potential uncomfortable moments

Meanwhile, CBS owners Paramount are reportedly hosting a dinner to honor Trump Thursday at the Institute of Peace, which was renamed for Trump last year. Paramount is awaiting government approval of its deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery.

The president, if he chooses to stay at the correspondents dinner Saturday, will also face some uncomfortable moments as the WHCD gives awards to journalists he has criticized, like CNN's Kaitlan Collins. The Wall Street Journal is being honored for its story about Trump's birthday message to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — for which the president sued the newspaper. The AP, which is battling Trump in court over access, is also being honored.

Debate over the appearance of partying with the president and his staff isn't new. The New York Times stopped attending the event in 2011 for that reason. The Atlantic magazine wrote about the “slow, awkward death” of the correspondents dinner in 2018.

Correspondents should acknowledge that “a red-carpet schmoozefest with the powerful sources they cover was never a good idea,” McBride wrote. News organizations will also be watched this weekend for administration officials sitting at their tables as guests, such as CBS News reportedly inviting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Many journalists who have attended, however, said the opportunity to have personal interactions with people they cover can help them later in their jobs. Gilman has brought ambassadors from Mexico as guests— an important contact for a reporter at a Texas newspaper. NPR journalist Eric Deggans wrote on Substack that he got an interview with media mogul Byron Allen after making a connection at the WHCD dinner.

“Even if you're not sitting with an administration official, you have the opportunity to walk up to someone, say hi, break the ice and give them a business card,” Gilman said. “It puts a face to the name, so maybe they'll return your call the next time.”

___

David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social.

El hecho ocurrió el miércoles alrededor de la 1:55 p.m. afuera del Target ubicado en 21265 Biscayne Blvd.

Según la policía, la víctima estaba sentada dentro de su vehículo fuera de la tienda, estacionado en reversa, cuando la sospechosa, Kiara Johnson, se estacionó en el espacio contiguo.

La policía indicó que la víctima movió su vehículo para evitar que Johnson golpeara su auto al abrir la puerta y que, tras hacerlo, Johnson “comenzó a insultarla y a decirle obscenidades”.

En ese momento, según un informe de arresto, Johnson sacó un arma de su bolso y le dijo a la víctima “tengo esa mier... encima”.

La víctima nunca salió de su vehículo y, en cambio, se retiró del área y llamó al 911.

Los agentes que acudieron estaban hablando con la víctima cuando, según dijeron, Johnson salió de la tienda y fue detenida, momento en el que admitió tener un arma dentro de su bolso.

Sin embargo, la policía indicó que Johnson negó haber amenazado a la víctima con el arma y dijo que la víctima había amenazado con abofetearla, pero aseguró que nunca sacó el arma de su bolso.

Según el informe de arresto, la víctima pudo describir a los agentes cómo era el arma, mientras que Johnson dijo que desconocía si la víctima pudo ver el arma dentro de su bolso.

Además, la policía indicó que tras realizar una verificación de registros, no había registro del arma que Johnson tenía en su bolso.

Johnson enfrenta un cargo grave de asalto agravado con un arma de fuego. Hasta la mañana del jueves, permanecía detenida en el Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center con una fianza de $5,500 USD.

Leer en español

It happened on Wednesday around 1:55 p.m. outside the Target located at 21265 Biscayne Blvd.

According to police, the victim was sitting inside her car outside the store, which was backed in, when the suspect, Kiara Johnson, parked in the next spot over.

Police said the victim moved her car over so that Johnson didn’t hit her car when opening her door, and that after doing so, Johnson “began cursing at her (and) calling her obscenities.”

That’s when, according to an arrest form, Johnson took a gun out of her purse and told the victim “I got that s--- on me.”

The victim never got out of her vehicle and instead left the area and called 911.

Responding officers were speaking with the victim when they said Johnson came out of the store and was detained, at which time she admitted to having a gun inside her purse.

However, police said Johnson denied threatening the victim with the gun and said the victim had threatened to slap her, but said she never took her gun out of her purse.

According to an arrest form, the victim was able to tell officers what the gun looked like, while Johnson said it was unknown if the victim was able to see the gun inside her purse.

Additionally, police said after conducting a records check, there was no record for the gun that Johnson had in her purse.

Johnson is facing a felony charge of aggravated assault with a firearm. As of Thursday morning, she was being held behind bars at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $5,500 bond.

Según ESPN, como parte del acuerdo, Pearce debe mantenerse alejado de su ex novia, la jugadora de la WNBA Rickea Jackson, y participar en terapia.

El medio informó que Pearce asistió a la audiencia del jueves por videoconferencia.

Su próxima comparecencia en la corte para finalizar los detalles del acuerdo está programada para el 7 de mayo.

Un portavoz de la Fiscalía Estatal de Miami-Dade confirmó que el caso permanecerá abierto hasta que se complete el programa de desvío previo al juicio.

Pearce fue arrestado en febrero y acusado de tres delitos graves: agresión agravada con un arma mortal, huir y evadir a la policía y resistirse a un agente con violencia. Un cuarto cargo de acecho fue presentado como delito menor y un cargo adicional de agresión agravada contra un agente fue retirado.

Según la policía de Doral, Jackson dijo a las autoridades que intentó alejarse conduciendo de Pearce el 7 de febrero y que se dirigía a la estación de policía de Doral para buscar ayuda cuando Pearce “chocó intencionalmente contra la parte trasera de su vehículo con su SUV” antes de que llegara la policía.

Pearce presuntamente se negó a una orden inicial de la policía de “tirarse al suelo”, según detalles del arresto en una declaración jurada. El informe policial indica que Pearce luego se dio a la fuga y golpeó la rodilla izquierda de un agente con su vehículo “intencionalmente en un intento de evadir el arresto”.

Según la policía, Pearce chocó su vehículo y luego continuó su intento de evadir a la policía corriendo antes de ser detenido tras un “breve forcejeo”.

Jackson, en una petición de protección contra Pearce presentada en febrero, expresó temores por su seguridad que se remontan a antes del incidente por el que fue arrestado y acusado.

“Debido a su comportamiento obsesivo, inseguro, violento y agresivo, terminar la relación ha sido difícil y temo por mi vida”, dijo Jackson en la petición presentada en el circuito judicial 11 en el condado Miami-Dade. “James ha amenazado con matarme, James ha amenazado con hacerme daño, James ha amenazado con herirme, James ha amenazado con ponerme una bolsa en la cabeza, y James me ha abusado verbal y físicamente”.

Jackson indicó en la petición que Pearce le arrebató su teléfono, le jaló el cabello y tomó sus pertenencias, momento en el que decidió terminar la relación.

Describió un patrón de comportamiento de acoso previo al 7 de febrero, incluyendo que Pearce le ofreció $75,000 USD para visitarlo y $200,000 USD para permanecer en una relación con él, según la petición. Jackson dijo que conducía cuando notó que Pearce la seguía en su vehículo antes de que “comenzara a conducir de manera errática, a altas velocidades, persiguiéndola”.

Jackson indicó en la petición que comenzó a conducir hacia el Departamento de Policía de Doral porque temía que Pearce le hiciera daño. Dijo que Pearce golpeó repetidamente su vehículo con el suyo antes de que ella llegara a la estación.

Jackson, de 24 años, lleva dos años en su carrera en la WNBA. Indicó que ella y Pearce comenzaron a salir cuando estaban en la Universidad de Tennessee.

Pearce, de 22 años, fue la selección número 26 en el draft de la NFL el año pasado. Registró 10 1/2 capturas y sus 45 presiones al mariscal de campo establecieron un récord de novato en los Falcons.

Leer en español

According to ESPN, as part of the deal, Pearce must stay away from his ex-girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson, and participate in therapy.

The outlet reported that Pearce attended Thursday’s hearing via videoconference.

His next court date to finalize the details of the deal is scheduled for May 7.

A spokesperson for the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office confirmed that the case will remain open until the pre-trial diversion program is completed.

Pearce was arrested in February and charged with three felonies -- aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police and resisting an officer with violence. A fourth charge of stalking was brought as a misdemeanor and an additional charge of aggravated battery of an officer was dropped.

According to Doral police, Jackson told authorities she attempted to drive away from Pearce on Feb. 7, and was driving toward the Doral police station to seek help when Pearce “intentionally collided into the rear of her vehicle with his SUV” before police arrived.

Pearce allegedly refused an initial order from police to “get on the floor,” according to details of the arrest in an affidavit. The police account said Pearce then drove away and hit a police officer’s left knee with his vehicle “intentionally in an attempt to evade arrest.”

According to police, Pearce wrecked his vehicle and then continued in his attempt to elude police by running before being apprehended following a “short struggle.”

Jackson, in a petition for protection against Pearce filed in February, expressed fears for her safety that predated the incident for which he was arrested and charged.

“Due to his obsessive, insecure, violent and aggressive behavior, ending the relationship has been difficult and I am afraid for my life,” Jackson said in the petition filed in the 11th Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade County. “James has threatened to kill me, James has threatened to harm me, James has threatened to injure me, James has threatened to place a bag over my head, and James has verbally and physically abused (me).”

Jackson in the petition said Pearce snatched her phone, pulled her hair and took her belongings, at which point she decided to end their relationship.

She described a pattern of harassing behavior leading up to Feb. 7, including Pearce offering her $75,000 to visit him and $200,000 to remain in a relationship with him, according to the petition. Jackson said she was driving when she noticed Pearce following her in his car before he “began driving his vehicle erratically, at high speeds chasing after me.”

Jackson said in the petition she began driving to the Doral Police Department because she feared Pearce would hurt her. She said Pearce repeatedly struck her vehicle with his before she got to the station.

Jackson, 24, is two years into her WNBA career. She said she and Pearce began dating when they were at the University of Tennessee together.

Pearce, 22, was the No. 26 pick in the NFL draft last year. He had 10 1/2 sacks and his 45 quarterback pressures set a Falcons rookie record.

The FBI and other federal and local agencies executed search and arrest warrants at about 30 locations mostly in Orange County, south of Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

A total of 43 people, including those already in custody, have been indicted on charges that include murder, kidnapping, extortion, running an illegal gambling operation and drug trafficking, prosecutors said.

Officers seized 120 pounds (54 kilos) of methamphetamine, more than eight pounds (four kilos) of fentanyl, along with 25 firearms and more than $30,000 in cash, officials said.

“The stuff that we’re taking off the streets is very, very dangerous. These guys have no regard for human life. They’re about making money,” First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli said during a news conference.

The Mexican Mafia was started in the 1950s at a juvenile jail and grew to an international criminal organization that controls smuggling, drug sales and extortion from inside California’s penal system.

The indictment alleges one leader who was incarcerated used contraband cellphones to oversee the Mexican Mafia's criminal activities from his state prison cell from June 2024 to April 2026. He directed street gang members to kidnap and assault people, according to court documents. The gang also allegedly sold drugs including fentanyl, meth, heroin and cocaine.

“It ran illegal gambling businesses within commercial strip malls and private residences,” the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement. “The gang collected extortionate taxes and provided security, including the use of violence, to protect the illegal gambling businesses.”

The gang is also suspected of a murder at a “gang-controlled” motel in Anaheim, according to the indictment.

The defendants will begin making their initial appearances Thursday afternoon in federal court in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate fell to 6.23% from 6.3% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the rate averaged 6.81%.

The average rate is now at its lowest level since March 19, when it was 6.22%.

Meanwhile, borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also eased this week. That average rate dropped to 5.58% from 5.65% last week. A year ago, it was at 5.94%, Freddie Mac said.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation.

Rates have been declining of late, echoing some easing in the yield on U.S. 10-year Treasury bonds, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

The 10-year Treasury yield was at 4.30% in midday trading on the bond market Thursday, down slightly from 4.32% a week ago. The yield was at just 3.97% in late February, before the war with Iran broke out.

As recently as late February, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage slipped just under 6% for the first time since late 2022. It started climbing last month as the war with Iran sent energy prices soaring, heightening worries about higher inflation.

Bond yields, and mortgage rates, have been volatile in the weeks since as the conflict drags on despite attempts by the U.S. and Iran to negotiate a ceasefire.

The war has ratcheted up worries over higher inflation and the trajectory of the economy at a time when consumers are feeling less confident about the job market. That, plus the volatility in mortgage rates, has clouded the outlook for the spring homebuying season.

The U.S. housing market has been in a slump since 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes were essentially flat last year, stuck at a 30-year low. They have remained sluggish so far this year, declining in January and February and March from a year earlier.

“Looking ahead, mortgage rates will likely continue to be volatile throughout the spring,” Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS, said in an email. “For the market to regain full momentum, we will need to see more than just a temporary dip in rates. Rather, we need sustained stability in the global energy market and a clearer sign that domestic inflation is back on a downward trajectory.”

The Hall of Fame pitcher was honored Thursday with an annual distinction that “recognizes a living individual whose career has been spent in or around Major League Baseball and who has demonstrated outstanding character and has made significant contributions to the game."

Willie Mays won the inaugural award in 2021, followed by Vin Scully (2022), Joe Torre (2023), Dusty Baker (2024) and Bob Costas (2025).

“It’s a great honor to be recognized along with the previous award winners,” the 90-year-old Koufax said in a news release. “I thank the distinguished panel.”

Koufax made his major league debut for his hometown Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955, when they won the franchise's first World Series championship. After the team moved to Los Angeles, he became one of baseball's most dominant pitchers during the 1960s.

The left-hander won three Cy Young Awards, an MVP trophy and five consecutive National League ERA titles. He had three 25-win seasons, leading the majors each time, and made seven All-Star teams from 1961-66.

Koufax threw four no-hitters, including a perfect game, and was the World Series MVP twice, after leading the Dodgers to crowns in 1963 and '65. He also was a member of Los Angeles' championship squad in 1959.

After retiring at age 30 following the 1966 season because of traumatic arthritis in his pitching elbow, Koufax became the youngest player inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. Later that season, the Dodgers retired his uniform No. 32. He was named to MLB’s All-Century Team in 1999.

“The name Sandy Koufax has become a synonym for ‘great pitcher,’” Baseball Digest publisher David Fagley said. “It’s hard to believe it has been 60 years since he last pitched so brilliantly for the Dodgers but, since his retirement, Sandy has been a remarkable representative of our national game, a symbol of class and dignity.”

Koufax was selected to receive the award in voting by a 21-member panel of longtime MLB participants and observers, including writers, broadcasters, former players and executives.

___

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

Across the city, places are fully booked days and sometimes even weeks in advance. If you did not plan ahead, you are either refreshing OpenTable nonstop or just accepting that you will be waiting forever. At this point, Mother’s Day has basically turned into one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants, especially in Miami where eating out is such a big part of the culture.

And the data makes it even clearer. As shown in the chart below, reservations increase significantly compared to a normal Sunday, with the biggest rush happening late morning into early afternoon, right when everyone wants that perfect brunch moment.

“I tried to book a table for my mom a week in advance, and everything was already full,” said Augusto Bittencourt, a Florida International University student. “Every place I called either had no reservations or only really late times.”

This kind of experience is actually very common. According to data from the National Restaurant Association, Mother’s Day is consistently one of the busiest days of the year for dining in the United States. In a city like Miami, that demand feels even more intense because of tourism, the strong brunch culture, and the number of popular restaurants everyone wants to go to.

The map below helps explain why it gets so competitive. Many of the most in-demand restaurants are concentrated in areas like Brickell, Miami Beach, and Wynwood, which are already high traffic spots. During holidays like Mother’s Day, these areas become even more crowded, making reservations even harder to get.

Restaurants like Zuma, Seaspice, and Casa Tua are known for being some of the most popular spots in the city, and on days like Mother’s Day, they reach full capacity really fast. These places attract both locals and tourists, which makes getting a reservation even more competitive.

But it is not just about where you go, timing matters just as much. Demand starts to build throughout the morning and then peaks around midday, which is exactly why brunch is the hardest time to get a table.

Even when people actually manage to get a reservation, the experience is not always what they expected.

“Even when you do get a table, it’s packed, loud, and service takes longer because they’re so busy,” Bittencourt added.

Still, there are ways to celebrate Mother’s Day without dealing with all that stress. Experts recommend booking at least one to two weeks in advance, going for earlier or later times instead of peak brunch hours, or even trying restaurants in less crowded areas.

A lot of families are also starting to switch things up. Instead of going out, they are cooking at home, planning picnics, or doing something outdoors together.

As Miami keeps growing, the demand for dining keeps growing with it, especially on days like Mother’s Day. At this point, celebrating is less about getting the perfect reservation and more about finding a way to actually enjoy the time together.

On a sunny second Sunday in May, brunch tables fill quickly. Restaurants in Brickell, Coconut Grove, and Miami Beach offer prix-fixe menus, some costing more than $100 per person. Bouquet lines, storefronts, and social media feeds overflow the timeline with curated tributes to moms. But behind the flowers and reservations, Mother’s Day is becoming something more complex: a growing economic force.

According to a 2025 survey by the National Retail Federation, Americans were expected to spend more than $34.1 billion on Mother’s Day, with spending growing each year. The average person even spends around $200 on the day alone. So while the holiday remains rooted in appreciation, data numbers suggest it is also deeply tied to consumer culture.

And in Miami, that shift is especially visible.

Dining out has become one of the most common ways families celebrate Mother’s Day. Restaurants even report it as their busiest day of the year, beating out rival holidays such as Valentine’s Day. But the cost of participating in that tradition is rising.

A typical brunch in Miami might cost $20 to $35 on an average weekend, but on Mother’s Day, many restaurants set prix fixe menus ranging from $75 to over $130 per person.

A typical brunch in Miami might cost between $20 and $35 on a regular weekend. On Mother’s Day, many restaurants switch to prix fixe menus ranging from $50 to over $120 per person.

This vast price not only reflects the demand but also the expectation.

“Mother’s Day has definitely become too commercialized,” Dashonya Thompson said, a Miami resident and mother of two. “I think we [society] value what we get as opposed to spending quality time with and celebrating mom, and for me, that’s what it’s all about.”

Her sentiment aligns with a national survey showing that many mothers prefer quality time over expensive gifts or extravagant brunches.

Consumers’ spending on Mother’s Day is still dominated by traditional purchases such as flowers or cards, but experiences are rapidly increasing as a share of holiday spending. Dining out, spa visits, and traveling trips now make up a growing share of Mother’s Day festivities aside from the conventional ones.

Florists also see a major surge during Mother’s Day weekend. Many flowers sold across the United States pass through Miami, making the city a key place for the holiday supply chain. As demand rises, so do prices, making the flowers more expensive than usual just days before the holiday.

This shift not only showcases that Mother’s Day is no longer just about buying something but about a broader trend: creating a new experience.

In a city shaped by tourism, social media, and luxury branding, celebrations often feel amplified. Picture-perfect brunches, waterfront dining, and elaborate gifts can create a sense of expectation.

That pressure is between neighborhoods of all income levels.

In areas like Brickell, high-end dining and elaborate experiences are the norm. At the same time, in areas like Hialeah or North Miami, celebrations are often centered on home-cooked meals and family gatherings.

Despite these vast differences, the underlying message remains the same. Showing appreciation for mothers is important.

Whether at a fine dining brunch table or in the family dining room, the meaning of the day can still be simple.

For many mothers, the most valuable gift isn’t found on a menu, in a store, or on a plane.

It’s being with loved ones.

From roses, tulips, or orchids, all these flowers are delivered to local florist shops, grocery shops, and vendors all over the city. While a bouquet of flowers may seem like a simple or last minute gift, the journey they took and where people choose to buy them showcases a much bigger story about the role Miami plays in the global flower trade.

The biggest holiday for floral sales in the United States is Mother’s Day. The consumer demand increases significantly in the weeks leading up. According to the Society of American Florists, a substantial number of Americans buy flowers for this holiday. In Miami, this demand is due to tradition, cost, and convenience.

Accessibility plays a major role in where many shoppers buy their flowers. Grocery store chains like CVS, Walgreens, and Publix provide budget friendly, ready-made bouquets that can be picked up while running daily errands. The flower sales from these stores dominate over the sales made by local florists or online delivery because they specifically cater to last-minute buyers. Another aspect that gives them an edge over the other shops is the low price point of their flowers.

Despite this, local florist shops still flourish. According to WFLA News, independent shops around Coral Gables and Wynwood attract customers that are looking for personalized and higher quality flowers. These shops prioritize unique customization, customer service, and design, which is why they charge at a higher price than grocery store chains.

But Miami’s flower story doesn’t start at the store, it starts thousands of miles away. The majority of flowers sold in the United States are imported. Miami is the biggest gateway for flower imports in the country. According to The New York Times, about 90 percent of all imported flowers pass through the Miami International Airport which makes it an important hub in the flower supply chain.

A majority of this supply comes from Latin America. Colombia accounts for the largest share of imported flowers which is then followed by Ecuador. The low labor costs, established trade routes, and favorable climate in these countries allow them to produce flowers all year. They are then able to export them to the demanding U.S. market. Though the Netherlands accounts for a smaller number in imports, they are essential in the flower trade market due to their flower auction system and logistics network.

This global trade directly affects what types of flowers end up in Miami stores. The most popular choice of flowers for Mother’s Day are roses which are largely imported from Colombia. They are popular due to their availability and symbolism. Other flowers like orchids, tulips, and lilies are popular as well. Orchids particularly are favored due to them fitting in with Miami’s tropical aesthetic. These preferences are shaped by the large supply of them coming from international supply chains and what retailers can stock in big quantities.

To better understand local habits, a brief interview with a Miami resident, Nicolas Puentes, highlighted this divide.

“I bought roses because they are red and pretty. And I bought them at Publix because it was the closest place with flowers and because it was open very early in the morning.”

This balance between intention and convenience shows the consumer behavior across the city.

Imported flowers have to move very quickly from the plane to the stores in order to maintain freshness which affects the cost. According to Wholesale Flowers, grocery stores can offer cheaper prices because they purchase flowers in bulk. Local florists charge higher prices because they have smaller inventory volumes and design labor.

The Mother’s Day flower market is influenced by local decision making and global logistics. From the farms in Colombia and Ecuador to the flower section at the grocery stores, each bouquet reflects a plethora of decisions from the farmers, to the sellers, and the consumers.

References:

SAF: Mother’s Day Flower Purchases and Sales Climb

WFLA: Miami’s florists are redefining luxury gifting in 2025

The New York Times: Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue, Through Miami’s Airport Yours Probably Flew

Wholesale Flowers: Why do grocery store roses seem so inexpensive?

Leer en español

Police arrested the suspect, Latoya Denise Jones, on five felony charges on Wednesday, a little more than two weeks after the incident.

Authorities said the incident happened outside the Walmart Supercenter at 17650 NW Second Ave. in Miami Gardens.

Jones, of Hallandale Beach, met the two women at around 12:30 a.m. on April 5 and during the encounter, became “visibly angry and agitated,” according to the Miami Gardens Police Department.

Police said Jones grabbed a gun from her sedan, pointed it at the pair and threatened them. Authorities said as the victims retreated, one of them dropped her iPhone and Jones picked it up while armed, earning her an armed robbery charge.

An MGPD arrest report states that after taking the phone, Jones got into her car “and intentionally drove the vehicle directly toward both victims,” hitting the pair. Police said she then took off.

One of the women suffered a leg fracture and the other suffered other leg injuries, authorities said. Both sought treatment at the nearby Jackson North Medical Center in North Miami Beach.

Police said cellphone and CCTV footage “clearly identified” Jones. Police said they interviewed her on April 8 and she declined to speak with detectives.

Authorities arrested her at the MGPD headquarters on Wednesday. Jones faces two counts each of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon causing great bodily harm and aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony, as well as an armed robbery charge.

As of Thursday morning, online records show she was being held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with a bond listed as “to be set.”

La policía arrestó a la sospechosa, Latoya Denise Jones, por cinco cargos graves el miércoles, poco más de dos semanas después del incidente.

Las autoridades dijeron que el hecho ocurrió fuera del Walmart Supercenter ubicado en 17650 NW Second Ave. en Miami Gardens.

Jones, de Hallandale Beach, se reunió con las dos mujeres alrededor de las 12:30 a.m. del 5 de abril y durante el encuentro se mostró “visiblemente enojada y alterada”, según el Departamento de Policía de Miami Gardens.

La policía indicó que Jones tomó un arma de su sedán, la apuntó hacia las dos mujeres y las amenazó. Las autoridades dijeron que, mientras las víctimas retrocedían, una de ellas dejó caer su iPhone y Jones lo recogió estando armada, lo que le generó un cargo de robo a mano armada.

Un informe de arresto de la policía de Miami Gardens señala que después de tomar el teléfono, Jones se subió a su vehículo “y condujo intencionalmente directamente hacia ambas víctimas”, atropellándolas. La policía indicó que luego huyó del lugar.

Una de las mujeres sufrió una fractura en una pierna y la otra sufrió otras lesiones en las piernas, según las autoridades. Ambas buscaron tratamiento en el cercano Jackson North Medical Center en North Miami Beach.

La policía dijo que imágenes de teléfonos celulares y cámaras de vigilancia “identificaron claramente” a Jones. Indicaron que la entrevistaron el 8 de abril y que ella se negó a hablar con los detectives.

Las autoridades la arrestaron en la sede de la policía de Miami Gardens el miércoles. Jones enfrenta dos cargos por agresión agravada con un arma mortal que causó graves lesiones corporales y dos cargos por asalto agravado con intención de cometer un delito grave, además de un cargo de robo a mano armada.

Hasta la mañana del jueves, los registros en línea muestran que permanecía detenida en el Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, con una fianza “por determinar”.

Leer en español

Investigators said the shooting happened near Southwest 168th Street and 92nd Avenue, where deputies were called to just after 4:45 p.m. in reference to a reported domestic dispute.

When they arrived, they encountered a man outside the home and detained him.

Investigators said that once deputies entered the home, they found another man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities identified the victim as a 47-year-old man. His father, who is in his 70s, is now in custody.

Officials said they have been called to the home before for mental health-related incidents.

“We definitely wanted the community to know this was an isolated incident,” said MDSO spokesperson Argemis Colome.

Neighbors said they were stunned by the violence in their neighborhood.

“We usually feel really safe here, so something like that happening is concerning,” Gorgas Kollileka said.

“At the end of the day, it’s a tragic incident,” Colome said. “This is a father and son domestic situation. It’s not a good day for that family. But something happened and that’s what they’re going to try to get to.”

The investigation is ongoing.

Leer en español

According to an arrest report from the Miami Police Department, Dontae Equain Wilkerson is accused in a shooting that occurred around 3:50 p.m. Sunday near the 200 block of Southeast Second Avenue.

Officers responding to reports of gunfire said they recovered three 9 mm shell casings and spoke with witnesses who said a man fired multiple shots at a victim, who ran from the scene and was not immediately located.

The next day, investigators said the victim went to a police station and told detectives he had just left La Granja, located at 127 SE Second Ave., when he encountered his former roommate and two others, including Wilkerson.

The victim said Wilkerson was “looking around, acting suspicious” before telling him to fight another man, according to the report.

Police said as the group walked along Southeast Second Street, the victim told detectives Wilkerson pulled a gun from his waistband. The victim also told them that he turned and ran, hearing several gunshots behind him, the report states.

Detectives later obtained surveillance video that they say shows Wilkerson pulling out a gun and shooting at the victim as he fled.

A witness also told investigators he saw three men arguing and heard one threaten to stab the victim before Wilkerson allegedly fired about three shots, according to the report.

Police said Wilkerson, who lives a few blocks from the shooting scene, turned himself in Wednesday and was read his Miranda rights before requesting an attorney.

They said he made a confession that was redacted from the publicly released report.

Jail records show Wilkerson is charged with attempted second-degree murder with a firearm, illegal use or display of a firearm during a felony, and unlawful discharge of a firearm in a public place.

As of Thursday, he was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond was listed as “to be set.”

A motive for why Wilkerson fired the shots at the victim remains unclear at this time.

Según un informe de arresto del Departamento de Policía de Miami, Dontae Equain Wilkerson está acusado en una balacera que ocurrió alrededor de las 3:50 p.m. del domingo cerca de la cuadra 200 de Southeast Second Avenue.

Agentes que respondieron a reportes de disparos dijeron que recuperaron tres casquillos de 9 mm y hablaron con testigos que indicaron que un hombre disparó múltiples veces contra una víctima, quien huyó del lugar y no fue localizada de inmediato.

Al día siguiente, los investigadores dijeron que la víctima acudió a una estación de policía y le dijo a los detectives que acababa de salir de La Granja, ubicada en 127 SE Second Ave., cuando se encontró con su ex compañero de cuarto y otras dos personas, incluido Wilkerson.

La víctima dijo que Wilkerson estaba “mirando alrededor, actuando de manera sospechosa” antes de decirle que peleara con otro hombre, según el informe.

La policía indicó que mientras el grupo caminaba por Southeast Second Street, la víctima le dijo a los detectives que Wilkerson sacó un arma de su cintura. La víctima también les dijo que se dio la vuelta y corrió, escuchando varios disparos detrás de él, según el informe.

Los detectives posteriormente obtuvieron un video de vigilancia que, según dijeron, muestra a Wilkerson sacando un arma y disparando contra la víctima mientras huía.

Un testigo también dijo a los investigadores que vio a tres hombres discutiendo y escuchó a uno amenazar con apuñalar a la víctima antes de que Wilkerson presuntamente disparara alrededor de tres veces, según el informe.

La policía indicó que Wilkerson, quien vive a pocas cuadras del lugar de la balacera, se entregó el miércoles y fue informado de sus derechos Miranda antes de solicitar un abogado.

Indicaron que hizo una confesión que fue redactada del informe publicado.

Los registros de la cárcel muestran que Wilkerson enfrenta cargos de intento de asesinato en segundo grado con arma de fuego, uso o exhibición ilegal de un arma de fuego durante la comisión de un delito grave y descarga ilegal de un arma de fuego en un lugar público.

Hasta el jueves, permanecía detenido en el Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, donde su fianza figuraba como “por determinar”.

El motivo por el cual Wilkerson disparó contra la víctima sigue sin estar claro en este momento.

El cuerpo de la víctima fue encontrado a lo largo de Ferragut Street.

Un video de vigilancia captó el sonido de múltiples disparos.

Un vecino que estaba sentado en su auto dijo a Local 10 News que presenció todo e incluso grabó en video al primer agente en llegar a la escena con el arma desenfundada.

El testigo dijo que vio dos autos estacionados uno junto al otro. Las personas dentro parecían hablar antes de que repentinamente se desatara la balacera, indicó.

El testigo dijo que uno de los conductores huyó, mientras que el conductor del otro auto quedó en la calle.

Según el testigo, ambas puertas del auto estaban abiertas después de la balacera, lo que le hace creer que un pasajero pudo haber huido tras el tiroteo.

Un equipo de Local 10 News estuvo en la escena mientras lo que parecía ser el cuerpo de un hombre yacía en la vía junto a un auto plateado.

Se vio a la policía tomando fotos en la escena mientras investigaban lo ocurrido antes de la balacera.

La oficina del médico forense retiró el cuerpo de la vía temprano el jueves por la mañana.

Más detalles sobre lo ocurrido aún no han sido divulgados por la policía.

Leer en español

The abuse happened after the girl’s mother let Enrique Dominguez Rodriguez, 48, live with her family in a room at the Casanovas Boutique Motel at 1775 W. Okeechobee Road, according to the Hialeah Police Department.

Police said the allegations came to light after police arrested the girl’s mother for child neglect after “her children were found alone” in the motel by their grandparents. Authorities said they all ended up in a foster home.

After the Florida Department of Children and Families reported the case to police, authorities said they set up a March 19 forensic interview for her with staff at Kristi House, which specializes in treating victims of child sexual abuse.

Police said the girl, now 10, described to the forensic interviewer how Dominguez, who she only knew as “Ricky,” would assault and molest her in the motel.

According to an HPD arrest report, the girl told the interviewer that the incidents happened about 10 to 20 times and they would “hurt her a lot.”

Police said the girl made an unprompted drawing showing what “Ricky” would do to her.

Authorities said the girl’s mother identified Dominguez during an interview on Wednesday, saying she knew him as a regular customer at her workplace and that she let him live with her family after he became homeless.

The woman “said when she found out about the allegations, she began asking and looking for Enrique and discovered he was recently arrested for a fight.”

Authorities said a records check revealed that Dominguez had been arrested in Hialeah on April 11 on a battery charge and that he was still locked up at the Metrowest Detention Center.

He now faces additional child rape and molestation charges.

Records show a judge ordered him held without bond and he remained at the MWDC as of Thursday morning.

Según el Departamento de Policía de Hialeah, el abuso se produjo después de que la madre de la niña permitiera que Enrique Domínguez Rodríguez, de 48 años, viviera con su familia en una habitación del Casanovas Boutique Motel, ubicado en 1775 W. Okeechobee Road.

La policía informó que las acusaciones salieron a la luz después de que la madre de la niña fuera arrestada por negligencia infantil, luego de que sus abuelos encontraran a los niños solos en el motel. Las autoridades indicaron que todos terminaron en un hogar de acogida.

Después de que el Departamento de Niños y Familias de Florida denunciara el caso a la policía, las autoridades dijeron que programaron una entrevista forense para el 19 de marzo con el personal de Kristi House, que se especializa en el tratamiento de víctimas de abuso sexual infantil.

La policía informó que la niña, que ahora tiene 10 años, describió al entrevistador forense cómo Domínguez, a quien solo conocía como “Ricky”, la agredía y abusaba de ella en el motel.

Según un informe de arresto del Departamento de Policía de Houston (HPD, por sus siglas en inglés), la niña le dijo al entrevistador que los incidentes ocurrieron entre 10 y 20 veces y que le causaban mucho dolor.

La policía dijo que la niña hizo un dibujo espontáneo que mostraba lo que “Ricky” le haría.

Las autoridades indicaron que la madre de la niña identificó a Domínguez durante una entrevista el miércoles, y afirmó que lo conocía como cliente habitual de su lugar de trabajo y que lo dejó vivir con su familia después de que se quedara sin hogar.

La mujer dijo que, al enterarse de las acusaciones, empezó a preguntar y a buscar a Enrique y descubrió que había sido arrestado recientemente por una pelea.

Las autoridades indicaron que una revisión de los registros reveló que Domínguez había sido arrestado en Hialeah el 11 de abril por un cargo de agresión y que aún permanecía recluido en el Centro de Detención Metrowest.

Ahora se enfrenta a cargos adicionales de violación y abuso sexual de menores.

Los registros muestran que un juez ordenó su detención sin fianza y que permanecía en el MWDC hasta el jueves por la mañana.

The Paris Entertainment Company, which operates the Adidas Arena and Accor Arena in the French capital, told The Associated Press on Thursday it has submitted a bid to host ice hockey during the 2030 Winter Games to be held in France.

Both venues were used during the 2024 Paris Summer Games and could serve as alternative solutions because the new Nice mayor, Eric Ciotti, opposes ice hockey events at Nice soccer stadium, the Allianz Arena, which would be converted into a temporary hockey rink.

Like the Milan Cortina Olympics, the French Alps has split snow sports in storied mountain resorts and skating in a snow-free city, the French Riviera resort Nice. The final venues will be confirmed in June when the IOC decides the list of sports and events.

Ciotti, a former conservative allied with the National Rally of Marine Le Pen, was elected in March.

Asked about the ice hockey deadlock in Nice, sports minister Marina Ferrari said on Thursday she was working with 2030 Games organizers to determine whether alternative solutions were available in Nice or elsewhere.

“Our responsibility now is to begin preparing alternative scenarios in case we encounter difficulties,” she said. “At this point we are exploring all options, I could not be clearer.”

The 2030 French Alps Olympics has been hit by turmoil in recent months. Tensions have multiplied against a backdrop of resignations, culminating in open conflict between Edgar Grospiron, the former Olympic champion freestyle skier who leads the organizing committee, and chief executive officer Cyril Linette.

Their feud and other problems have weakened the project, and Linette's departure was acknowledged in February. That followed the resignations of chief operating officer Anne Murac, communications director Arthur Richer, and the departure of Bertrand Méheut, who was in charge of the remuneration committee.

___

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Leer en español

According to police, the shooting was reported shortly before 9:30 p.m. along the 7300 block of Farragut Street.

Surveillance video obtained by Local 10 captured the sound of multiple gunshots being fired.

A neighbor who was sitting in his car told Local 10 News that he witnessed everything, and even captured video of the very first officer to arrive at the scene with a gun drawn.

The witness said he saw two cars parked next to each other. The people inside appeared to talk before gunfire suddenly erupted, he said.

The witness said one driver took off, while the driver of the other car was left behind in the street.

According to the witness, both car doors were open after the shooting, leading him to believe a passenger may have run off after the shooting.

A Local 10 News crew was at the scene as what appeared to be the body of a man was lying in the roadway next to a silver car.

Police were seen taking photos at the scene as they investigated what led up to the shooting.

The medical examiner’s office removed the body from the roadway early Thursday morning.

Police are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call them at 954-764-4357 or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477. Tips can also be submitted online at browardcrimestoppers.org.

Authorities in several states did not name the event, but the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, commonly known as Jazz Fest, runs from Thursday through May 3. The gathering attracted about 460,000 people last year, organizers said.

Christopher Gillum of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was wanted for “terroristic threats,” the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office in Florida posted online Thursday. Federal authorities told the sheriffs office that Gillum was in the Florida Panhandle “heading to do a mass shooting at a large festival in Louisiana.” The sheriffs office did not name the federal agency, and the FBI office in New Orleans did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Okaloosa sheriff’s office said Gillum was arrested without incident Wednesday night at a hotel in Destin, and posted a photo of him being led away in handcuffs. Deputies recovered a handgun and about 200 rounds of ammunition from the hotel room, the statement said.

Gillum was arrested as a fugitive from justice and will be extradited to Louisiana to face charges there, the sheriff’s office said. It was not immediately known if he had a lawyer. The Associated Press left a message at phone numbers listed for him.

Gillum’s family reported him missing on Tuesday and he had a history of self-harm, according to Lt. Clint Lyons of the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina. Gillum’s family told law enforcement he had a gun and “expressed recent threats to harm ‘Black people,’” according to a bulletin from police in Burlington, North Carolina.

Lyons said Gillum crossed state lines before his agency could prepare the paperwork to involuntarily commit him to psychiatric treatment. Lyons said that there were no criminal grounds to detain Gillum despite his comments about Black people “because there was no victim.”

“But we felt that there was definitely something there that needed to be shared, so that’s what we did,” Lyons said.

Gillum was located and stopped by law enforcement in Oklaloosa County on Wednesday, according to Lyons and the Burlington police bulletin.

However, Gillum “did not present any grounds for involuntary commitment or criminal charges” and was allowed to continue on his way, the bulletin stated. Gillum told officers that he was “enroute to New Orleans,” the report added.

Okaloosa deputies were initially asked to make a “welfare check” on Gillum Wednesday morning and were “not aware” of any threats he had made, sheriff spokesperson Michele Nicholson said. Later that day, after the sheriff's office learned Gillum was being investigated, deputies surveilled him until a signed warrant arrived from Louisiana, she added.

Gillum had been hired as a detention officer by the sheriff’s office in Orange County, North Carolina, in October 2023 but he left in July 2024, department spokesperson Alicia L. Stemper said.

“We hired him again as a deputy on Jan. 13, 2025,” she said in an email. “He resigned his position on Sept. 21, 2025, and we terminated him accordingly.”

Gillum also served as a sworn police officer for Chapel Hill from 2004 until his resignation in 2019, town communications manager Alex Carrasquillo said.

“He returned as a non-sworn employee in 2024 before leaving for another job by the end of that year,” Carrasquillo said in an email.

Louisiana State Police spokesperson Trooper Danny Berrincha said the agency is still investigating the episode with the FBI.

“At this time, there are no known direct threats to any festivals in Louisiana,” he added.

In a statement, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival said it works closely with law enforcement and applauded their efforts, saying ”we look forward to another safe and joyful Jazz Fest.”

————

Mustian reported from Natchitoches, Louisiana, and McCormack from Concord, New Hampshire. Associated Press writer Allen G. Breed in Wake Forest, North Carolina, contributed.

That's because shareholders of Warner Bros. Discovery on Thursday voted to sell the entire business to the company that owns CBS, along with blockbusters like “Top Gun." Based on a preliminary count, Warner shareholders overwhelmingly agreed to the proposed $81 billion buyout — valued at nearly $111 billion including debt, based on Warner’s current outstanding shares.

While the deal still faces regulatory review, the megamerger would vastly reshape Hollywood and the wider media landscape, further consolidating power in an industry already run by just a handful of major players. Paramount itself was acquired by Skydance just last year.

Here's what a Paramount-Warner combo could look like for streaming, movies, news and more.

Streaming

Paramount Skydance would own both Paramount+ and, with the sale approved by shareholders Thursday, Warner's HBO Max. Company executives have said that they would combine these streamers into one platform.

What that combined service would look like (or be named) is unclear. But Paramount CEO David Ellison suggested that HBO could still have some level of independence, at least production-wise.

“Our view point is, HBO should stay HBO,” Ellison said during a conference call last month. “They built a phenomenal brand, they are a leader in this space and we just want them to continue doing more of it. But by bringing the platforms together, all of our content will be able to reach even a broader audience than we can do standalone.”

Warner and its HBO streaming platform have a powerful lineup that includes “The Pitt,” “Game of Thrones” and “Sex and the City." And beyond “Harry Potter,” Warner's library lists blockbuster films such as “Sinners,” “Barbie” and "Superman" (the company also owns DC Studios). Titles like “Top Gun," "Titanic,” “The Godfather" and “Yellowstone" fill Paramount's catalog.

In the U.S., according to streaming guide JustWatch, HBO Max controlled about 12% of on-demand subscriptions in the first quarter of this year — compared to 3% for Paramount+. Combining those two services would still fall slightly below Prime Video's 17% market share, and the 19% of the market commanded by Netflix. Disney owns about 27% of the market between Hulu and Disney+.

Beyond HBO Max, Paramount would also acquire Warner’s smaller Discovery+ streamer. And apart from Paramount+, Paramount owns Pluto TV and BET+, too.

Critics are skeptical of consumer benefits touted by Paramount. While company executives have continued to laud larger content libraries and the potential for Paramount to better compete with bigger rivals, a combination with Warner Bros. would mean fewer platform choices when it comes to streaming overall. Critics warn that could actually mean higher prices at a time when the price of almost all subscriptions continues to tick higher.

Moviemaking and theatrical releases

Paramount and Warner Bros. are two of Hollywood’s oldest studios. A merger would mean fewer companies control legacy film production.

Ellison has said the combined company to grow a slate to more than 30 movies a year, keeping Paramount and Warner Bros. as stand-alone operations. And in a star-studded CinemaCon appearance last week, he promised a 45-day exclusive window for films in theaters, pledging a “complete commitment” to the industry.

Still, others are wary about what further consolidation could mean for jobs and which projects are greenlit down the road. Regulatory filings have indicated that the new ownership will be looking for ways to cut costs — including layoffs and downsizing some overlapping operations. Paramount is taking on billions of dollars in debt to finance the deal.

Warner Bros. just had a banner year of both major blockbusters and critical successes. The studio racked up 30 Oscar nominations thanks to “Sinners,” “Weapons,” and “One Battle After Another” (which took home the top best picture slot). Paramount received zero. And in 2025, Warner Bros. movies — including “A Minecraft Movie,” “Superman” and “Sinners” — accounted for 21% of the domestic box office. Paramount’s market share was only 6%, driven largely by “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning."

The industry has already experienced a sizeable consolidation. Almost 10 years ago, Hollywood’s big six became the big five when Disney bought most of 20th Century Fox. And if the Warner sale goes through, a new “big four” era would be underway — with a bigger Paramount standing alongside Disney, Universal and Sony.

News

CNN would come under the same roof as Paramount-owned CBS. That would bring together two of America’s biggest names in television news, although whether CNN would continue to operate as a separate brand from CBS has yet to be confirmed.

Regardless, there is a lot of anxiety about Paramount taking control of CNN — a network that has long attracted ire from President Donald Trump and his allies. Critics point to Trump’s close relationship with the Ellison family, particularly billionaire Oracle founder Larry Ellison, who is putting up billions of dollars to back the bid by his son’s company.

Since coming under Skydance ownership less than a year ago, CBS has already seen significant shifts in editorial leadership. It's taken steps to appeal to more conservative viewers in its news operations, notably with the installation of Free Press founder Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News. If the company’s proposed Warner takeover is successful, many expect similar changes at CNN.

Some officials in the Trump administration have also made their opinions very clear about CNN's future ownership. In March, the White House attacked CNN for its coverage of the U.S. and Israel's war against Iran — and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told reporters that "the sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better.”

Ellison has said that editorial independence “will absolutely be maintained” under Paramount ownership. “It’s maintained at CBS. It’ll be maintained at CNN,” Ellison told CNBC's “Squawk on the Street” in March, while noting that his company wants to speak to “the 70%” of viewers who he said identify as center-left or center-right.

The acting head of the U.S. Justice Department's antitrust division has also said that its regulatory review will not be political. Still, critics are skeptical — particularly following Skydance's acquisition of Paramount in August. That merger was approved by the Federal Communications Commission just weeks after the company agreed to pay Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit over editing at CBS' “60 Minutes” program. The president has continued to publicly lash out at “60 Minutes” programming since.

Other TV and cable networks

CNN is just one of the cable operations that Warner is selling. And the proposed merger would make Paramount's TV footprint even bigger.

The company also owns Discovery, TNT, TBS, Food Network, Cartoon Network and Animal Planet, among other networks — all of which would come under Paramount ownership if the deal goes through. Meanwhile, Paramount already has its own sizeable broadcast lineup. Beyond CBS, that includes Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, Comedy Central, Showtime and more.

The fires that spread this week during an extreme drought in Georgia and Florida have blanketed cities hundreds of miles (kilometers) away in smoke, leading to more air quality warnings Thursday across the Southeast.

Driven by strong winds and low humidity, the two biggest fires in southern Georgia have spread rapidly over the past two days and destroyed more than 50 homes in rural areas. But the growing threat led to more evacuations and school closings on Wednesday.

“I don’t know if I have a house standing or not,” said Denise Stephens, who was forced to evacuate because of the fast-moving Brantley County fire near Georgia's coast. "I know what it’s taken from other people, but I don’t know what I have left standing.”

The weather forecast Thursday appeared to warn of another high-risk day, with shifting winds that could send embers flying in all directions a major concern.

Fires were continuing to pop up across Georgia. Fire crews responded to 34 new and relatively small blazes on Wednesday, the Georgia Forestry Commission said. In Florida, firefighters were battling more than 130 wildfires, mostly in the state’s northern half.

Georgia officials say the wildfires are being fueled in part by fallen trees and limbs still on the ground since Hurricane Helene crossed the state’s southern region in September 2024.

“There’s a ton of old Hurricane Helene debris down in the woods,” said Seth Hawkins, a Georgia Forestry Commission spokesperson. “It’s laying around and it’s just a tinderbox out there.”

It was not known yet how the wildfires started, but the bottom half of Georgia and northern Florida are both extremely dry.

In Georgia, the Brantley County fire has caused much of the structural damage across 7 square miles (18 kilometers) but remained stable overnight, the sheriff’s office said Thursday.

“While this stability is encouraging, wind conditions remain unpredictable and could cause conditions to change rapidly,” according to the update, which said the blaze is about 15% contained.

Georgia's largest fire is burning in a mostly rural area of east of Valdosta and has continued to explode in size, covering 47 square miles (121 square kilometers) — twice the size of Manhattan.

Smoke from the wildfires was drifting across a large area of the Southeast, making the air unhealthy on Thursday for children and those with lung or heart problems in cities as far as Columbia, South Carolina. A haze hung over Atlanta’s skyline a day earlier and there was a smoky smell across the metro area.

___

Associated Press writer Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed.

Tilson Thomas had surgery for a brain tumor in 2021 and resumed his career, then said in February 2025 the tumor had returned. He conducted his final concert with the San Francisco Symphony in April 2025 and died at his home in San Francisco, spokesperson Connie Shuman said.

Tilson Thomas received 39 Grammy Award nominations, winning 12, and was among the Kennedy Center Honors recipients in 2019.

“It’s meant to have various intriguing and alluring, questioning things that you hear on first hearing,” he said of classical music during a 2004 interview with The Associated Press. “But by its very nature it’s holding a lot of other secrets or a lot of other perspectives much closer to its chest, which only with repeated hearing you start realizing are there.”

Tilson Thomas was born in Los Angeles on Dec. 21, 1944, to a family steeped in the arts. His father, Ted, was a producer at New York’s Mercury Theater Company, then worked in Los Angeles in the movie and television industry. His mother, Roberta, headed research for Columbia Pictures. His grandparents, Bessie and Boris Thomashefsky, were pioneers in American Yiddish theater.

He played piano at a young age and attended the University of Southern California. By the time he received a degree in 1967, he had worked with Pierre Boulez, Aaron Copland, Igor Stravinsky and Karlheinz Stockhausen.

“I don’t fling the word genius around lightly, but I fling it around about Michael. He reminds me of me at that age, except that he knows more than I did,” conductor Leonard Bernstein told The New York Times Magazine for a 1971 profile. “Not only music, but things like the functions of the brain, cerebrology, physics, biochemistry.”

Tilson Thomas was the co-music director and then music director of California’s Ojai Festival in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was an assistant at Germany’s Bayreuth Festival in 1966, won the Koussevitzky Prize at the Tanglewood Music Center in 1968 and became a Boston Symphony Orchestra assistant conductor in 1969.

Tilson Thomas made his New York debut at Lincoln Center’s Philharmonic Hall on Oct. 22, 1969, as a mid-concert replacement for an ailing William Steinberg. Tilson Thomas led Robert Starer’s Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra, and Strauss’ “Till Eulenspiegel.”

“A tall, thin young man, he came on stage with an air of immense confidence and authority, and showed that his confidence was not misplaced,” critic Harold C. Schonberg wrote in the Times. “He takes naturally to this music, as might be expected of a Tanglewood graduate and a pupil of Pierre Boulez.”

Tilson Thomas became the BSO’s principal guest conductor from 1972-1974 and was music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic from 1971-79 and a principal guest conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic from 1981-85.

He helped found Miami’s New World Symphony in 1987 and served as artistic director until 2021. He was principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra from 1988-95 and music director of the San Francisco Symphony from 1995-2020.

Tilson Thomas’ compositions include “Grace” (1988), “Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind” (2015-16) and “Meditations on Rilke” (2019).

His husband, Joshua Robison, died Feb. 22 while recovering from a fall suffered last August. They met while playing in the orchestra of North Hollywood Junior High School (since renamed Walter Reed Middle School), became partners in 1976 and married in 2014.

In announcing his final concert would take place in San Francisco on April 26, 2025, in a belated 80th birthday celebration, Thomas issued a statement acknowledging his mortality.

“At that point we all get to say the old show business expression, ‘It’s a wrap,’” he said. “A coda is a musical element at the end of a composition that brings the whole piece to a conclusion. A coda can vary greatly in length. My life’s coda is generous and rich.”

The shooting of Casey Goodson Jr. by former Franklin County Deputy Jason Meade, who is white, led to protests in Columbus and lingering questions, in part because the sheriff’s office didn’t equip its deputies with body cameras or dash cameras.

Meade faced the same charges at his first trial. The judge in that case declared a mistrial in 2024 after the jury couldn't agree on a verdict.

Attorney Howard Merkle, a special prosecutor for the case, recounted events that he said led up to the shooting, and urged jurors to consider the evidence he said proves Meade’s use of force was unreasonable.

“The evidence will show that on December 4, 2020, the defendant shot Casey Goodson Jr. six times in the back, killing him,” he said.

“At the time, Casey had entered his house, was carrying a bag of Subways and was listening to YouTube music on his AirPods,” Merkle said.

Meade testified in the first trial that Goodson waved a gun at him as the two drove past each other and that he pursued Goodson because he feared for his life and the lives of others. He said he eventually fired as Goodson entered his grandmother’s home because the 23-year-old man turned toward him with a gun.

Defense attorney Kaitlyn Stephens said the now-retired deputy feared for his life in the confrontation with Goodson, and said officers do “not have to wait to be shot at in order to protect themselves.”

“The evidence will show that Jason Meade was justified, a justified tragedy,” she said.

Meade had been searching unsuccessfully for a fugitive that day as part of his work for a U.S. Marshals Service task force. Goodson was not the subject of the fugitive search, and the Marshals have said Meade wasn’t performing a mission for them at the time.

Goodson’s family and prosecutors have said Goodson was holding a sandwich bag in one hand and his keys in the other, having unlocked the front door, when he was fatally shot. They did not dispute that Goodson may have been carrying a gun, which he had a license to carry, but prosecutors have noted that Meade has been the only person to testify that Goodson was holding a gun.

Goodson’s weapon was found on his grandmother’s kitchen floor with the safety mechanism engaged.

Jurors in the previous trial deadlocked after one was dismissed during testimony and replaced by an alternate and three others were dismissed and replaced during deliberations, forcing the panel to restart deliberations multiple times. Court officials did not say why the jurors were removed.

Meadow, described as affectionate and energetic, was brought in as a stray and is now ready for adoption.

BCAC’s Zachary Rinkins said she is “love motivated,” making her a good fit for an active family or individual.

Officials say the shelter sees an increase in lost pets and intake during warmer months, adding to capacity issues.

To help ease overcrowding, adoption fees are currently waived, with adopters only required to pay a $25 registration fee.

Anyone interested in adopting Meadow or other animals is encouraged to visit the shelter or its website.

Leer en español

In some areas, a yellow emergency blanket has been turned into a drainage system. Windows are lined with black duct tape to keep rainwater out.

Local 10 News cameras inside the downtown building show the criminal investigations unit on the top floor and, below it, the evidence room -- both dealing with water issues.

“This area back here, this is where the water pools,” Miami Police Chief Manny Morales said.

Morales said repeated repairs have failed.

“We have made repairs that have failed again,” he said.

Ava Johnson, who has worked in the building for 28 years, described the conditions as unbearable.

“Something’s in the air here,” she said. “Smells like sewage.”

The downtown Miami Police headquarters is about 50 years old, and Morales said it has fallen into disrepair after decades of neglect.

“It’s a visualization of how we’ve kind of failed as a city keeping up the infrastructure,” he said.

Asked who is to blame, Morales said, “I don’t like to sit and talk… it wasn’t intentional.”

Miami’s new Mayor Eileen Higgins called the conditions deplorable and is proposing a new police headquarters at the future home of City Hall next to Inter Miami’s new stadium at Miami Freedom Park.

The project would be funded through a $450 million bond, which voters would be asked to approve in August.

“Our bonding rate is the same,” Higgins said.

Some of that funding would also go toward improving conditions at city fire stations.

At Fire Station No. 1, which houses the city’s hazardous response team, mold is visible under an air conditioning unit.

At Fire Station No. 5, temporary fixes are also in place.

Fire Chief Robert Hevia said firefighters should not have to work in those conditions.

“Firefighters are expected to respond at a moment’s notice. When they come back, they get no break,” Hevia said. “We have to be able to give them a place to eat, a place to shower… bathrooms in a 24-hour period. And it should be comfortable. We’re asking for improvements -- normal improvements any person would have.”

Goteos desde el techo, tuberías que filtran y personal improvisando son parte de las condiciones dentro de la sede del Departamento de Policía de la Ciudad de Miami.

En algunas áreas, una manta de emergencia amarilla ha sido utilizada como sistema de drenaje. Las ventanas están selladas con cinta adhesiva negra para evitar la entrada de agua de lluvia.

Cámaras de Local 10 News dentro del edificio en el centro muestran la unidad de investigaciones criminales en el último piso y, debajo, la sala de evidencia, ambas enfrentando problemas de agua.

“Esta área aquí atrás es donde se acumula el agua”, dijo el jefe de la policía de Miami, Manny Morales.

Morales indicó que las reparaciones repetidas han fallado.

“Hemos hecho reparaciones que han vuelto a fallar”, dijo.

Ava Johnson, quien ha trabajado en el edificio durante 28 años, describió las condiciones como insoportables.

“Hay algo en el aire aquí”, dijo. “Huele a aguas residuales”.

La sede policial del centro de Miami tiene aproximadamente 50 años, y Morales dijo que ha caído en deterioro tras décadas de descuido.

“Es una visualización de cómo hemos fallado como ciudad en mantener la infraestructura”, dijo.

Al ser preguntado sobre quién es responsable, Morales respondió: “No me gusta sentarme a hablar… no fue intencional”.

La nueva alcaldesa de Miami, Eileen Higgins, calificó las condiciones como deplorables y propone una nueva sede policial en el futuro sitio del ayuntamiento, junto al nuevo estadio de Inter Miami en Miami Freedom Park.

El proyecto sería financiado mediante un bono de $450 millones USD, que los votantes deberán aprobar en agosto.

“Nuestra tasa de bonos es la misma”, dijo Higgins.

Parte de esos fondos también se destinaría a mejorar las condiciones en las estaciones de bomberos de la ciudad.

En la Estación de Bomberos No. 1, que alberga el equipo de respuesta a materiales peligrosos, se observa moho debajo de una unidad de aire acondicionado.

En la Estación de Bomberos No. 5, también hay soluciones temporales en funcionamiento.

El jefe de bomberos, Robert Hevia, dijo que los bomberos no deberían trabajar en esas condiciones.

“Se espera que los bomberos respondan en cualquier momento. Cuando regresan, no tienen descanso”, dijo Hevia. “Tenemos que poder darles un lugar para comer, un lugar para ducharse… baños en un período de 24 horas. Y debe ser cómodo. Estamos pidiendo mejoras, mejoras normales que cualquier persona tendría”.

Scott Nelson Nida, de 55 años, de Pompano Beach, fue arrestado el martes y enfrenta cargos que incluyen privación ilegal de la libertad, robo sin arma de fuego o arma, agresión doméstica y robo mayor de auto, según los registros de la cárcel.

Los agentes dijeron que poco antes de las 9:30 a.m. del martes respondieron a la intersección de Southeast 54th Street y 19th Terrace en Pompano Beach después de que un testigo llamara al 911 reportando que Nida había agredido a la víctima y tomado su vehículo.

Cuando los agentes llegaron, hablaron con la víctima, quien “parecía tener el rostro ensangrentado y con moretones, y no llevaba zapatos,” según el informe.

El informe indica que la víctima dijo a los agentes que quería presentar cargos contra Nida.

Los investigadores dijeron que la víctima y Nida han tenido una relación durante unos 16 años y anteriormente vivían juntos. No tienen hijos en común.

Según los agentes, el incidente comenzó más temprano esa mañana cuando la víctima llevó a su hija a la escuela en Boca Ratón.

Antes de salir, dijeron que ella hablaba con Nida, quien le había pedido imprimir un documento de manutención infantil relacionado con un hijo de otra relación. Ella aceptó y planeó reunirse con él después de dejar a su hija en la escuela.

Durante el trayecto, los agentes dijeron que la víctima recibió múltiples llamadas de Nida exigiendo saber su ubicación.

Cuando giró cerca de la casa de él en Pompano Beach, lo vio de pie cerca y luego se detuvo tras decirle que estaba hablando por teléfono con su padre, según el informe.

Una vez dentro del vehículo, Nida se volvió “muy alterado” y le indicó que condujera hasta su casa, señala el informe.

Después de que ella le entregó los documentos, los agentes dijeron que él comenzó a cuestionarla sobre la noche anterior y la acusó de infidelidad.

Mientras la víctima conducía hacia el oeste por Southeast 15th Street, los agentes dijeron que Nida “la agarró por la parte posterior de la cabeza y comenzó a golpearla en el rostro y la cabeza múltiples veces.”

La víctima tocó la bocina en un intento de llamar la atención e intentó escapar, pero los agentes dijeron que Nida agarró el volante e intentó quitarle el teléfono.

Poco después, dijeron que Nida la jaló de nuevo hacia el vehículo y continuó la agresión.

La víctima finalmente logró escapar, corrió por Southeast 54th Street y detuvo a un conductor que pasaba, quien llamó al 911 tras ver a Nida irse en su vehículo con sus pertenencias y teléfono dentro, según el informe.

Las autoridades dijeron que Nida no tenía permiso para llevarse el vehículo. La víctima luego dijo a los agentes que estaba “extremadamente asustada” de Nida y temía por su vida, indica el informe.

Tras el arresto del martes, los agentes dijeron que Nida admitió que ocurrió un incidente de violencia doméstica dentro del vehículo, pero negó haber golpeado a la víctima, afirmando que ella estaba “errática.”

Reconoció que ella estaba sangrando, pero no pudo explicar cómo sufrió las lesiones. También negó haber tomado su teléfono o vehículo, aunque los agentes dijeron que admitió haberse ido conduciendo el auto de la víctima y haberla escuchado pedir ayuda.

En un arresto previo en enero, Nida enfrentó cargos de agresión doméstica por estrangulamiento y privación ilegal de la libertad después de que los agentes dijeron que atacó a la misma víctima durante una discusión por infidelidad.

Según los agentes, la víctima dijo que Nida la agarró por el cuello y el rostro, la empujó al suelo, la arrastró por el césped y la obligó a subir a un vehículo antes de irse conduciendo.

La víctima posteriormente retiró la acusación y la orden de no contacto fue desestimada. Dijo a los investigadores que “se sintió coaccionada para retirar los cargos” porque Nida presuntamente dijo que “perdería su trabajo y pensión.”

El sheriff del condado Broward, Gregory Tony, emitió una declaración a Local 10 News en enero sobre el primer arresto de Nida.

“La violencia doméstica es inaceptable, especialmente de alguien que ha jurado hacer cumplir la ley,” escribió Tony en ese momento. “Cuando un miembro juramentado es acusado de este tipo de delito, se le aplican los mismos estándares que a cualquier miembro del público.”

Las autoridades dijeron que Nida fue contratado por BSO el 18 de enero de 2005. Luego fue colocado en licencia administrativa investigativa sin sueldo.

Un portavoz de BSO respondió al arresto más reciente de Nida en un comunicado a Local 10 News el miércoles.

“El sargento Scott Nida se encuentra actualmente en licencia administrativa investigativa con sueldo, y fue colocado por primera vez en licencia administrativa tras su arresto el 7 de enero de 2026. La investigación interna de BSO continúa. Fue contratado el 18 de enero de 2005,” indica el comunicado.

Hasta el miércoles, permanecía detenido con una fianza de $47,500 USD en la cárcel principal del condado Broward. También se le ordenó usar un monitor GPS, no tener contacto con la víctima, mantenerse alejado de los lugares que ella frecuenta, no poseer armas ni municiones, y entregar cualquier arma a un tercero dentro de 24 horas tras su liberación.

Las víctimas de violencia doméstica pueden contactar a BSO Victim Services al 954-321-4200, Women in Distress al 954-761-1133 o la línea directa de violencia doméstica de Florida al 1-800-500-1119.

Leer en español

But the most serious charges against the pair accused of putting Atilio Diego Bellanza through the ordeal did not stick.

According to Miami Beach police, officers responded to the 1400 block of Ocean Drive at about 9:14 p.m. Tuesday where Bellanza dropped off the suspects, identified as Ashton Montanez, 22, of Orlando, and Jefferson Mesidor, 25, of Miami.

Bellanza said he picked the two men up near 98th Street and Bay Harbor Terrace. He says on approach, he saw police on scene and two men racing away from them and towards his van.

“One laid down. And the other laid in the back. And they were yelling at me to hurry up,” Bellanza said in Spanish. “He kept touching my face and I told him to stop doing that. And he was screaming and screaming like a crazy person.

“I tried throwing myself from the van multiple times but I could never find the right time. And I thought about what could happen. That maybe they’d shoot me.”

Bellanza said, “A lot of things went through my head. I have kids. That’s why I’m working so much.”

He said when he got out, he took their photos and called 911.

“Thank god this happened to me and not someone else. I have a lot of experience on the street dealing with people. And I took it all very calmly,” Bellanza said. “I think if it were someone else ― if they had been aggressive, they could’ve hurt that person or shot him.“

The two men got out of the car near 1446 Ocean Drive, a three-story property with several tourists and short term rental guests inside. Police found one of the suspects quickly. The other barricaded himself inside, and wasn’t taken into custody until 1 a.m.

Montanez and Mesidor appeared in bond court on Wednesday afternoon after being arrested on kidnapping and resisting arrest charges.

The judge, after reviewing the arrest report, did not find that it contained probable cause for kidnapping.

Even prosecutors believed there was not enough evidence in their arrest forms to support a kidnapping charge.

“If they hired the driver, I don’t know if it’s kidnapping or if it turned into one, if there was a gun,” Judge Mindy Glazer said.

At his bond hearing, Mesidor said he’s on disability.

“I live with my mom, my girlfriend, my brothers and sisters, three dogs and my daughter,” he said.

He wept before his mother spoke to the judge.

“I didn’t sleep last night,” Mesidor’s mother said.

After the most serious charges were dropped, the pair only faced resisting arrest charges and each was being held on a $500 bond as of Wednesday afternoon.

Pero los cargos más graves contra los dos acusados de someter a Atilio Diego Bellanza a la experiencia no prosperaron.

Según la policía de Miami Beach, los agentes respondieron a la cuadra 1400 de Ocean Drive alrededor de las 9:14 p.m. del martes, donde Bellanza dejó a los sospechosos, identificados como Ashton Montanez, de 22 años, de Orlando, y Jefferson Mesidor, de 25 años, de Miami.

Bellanza dijo que recogió a los dos hombres cerca de 98th Street y Bay Harbor Terrace. Señaló que, al acercarse, vio a la policía en la escena y a dos hombres huyendo de ellos hacia su camioneta.

“Uno se acostó. Y el otro se metió atrás. Y me gritaban que me apurara”, dijo Bellanza en español. “Seguía tocándome la cara y le dije que dejara de hacerlo. Y gritaba y gritaba como una persona fuera de control.

“Intenté lanzarme de la camioneta varias veces, pero nunca encontré el momento adecuado. Y pensé en lo que podría pasar. Que tal vez me dispararían”.

Bellanza dijo: “Muchas cosas pasaron por mi cabeza. Tengo hijos. Por eso trabajo tanto”.

Indicó que cuando se bajó, tomó fotos de ellos y llamó al 911.

“Gracias a Dios me pasó a mí y no a otra persona. Tengo mucha experiencia en la calle tratando con gente. Y lo tomé todo con mucha calma”, dijo Bellanza. “Creo que si hubiera sido otra persona, si hubieran sido agresivos, podrían haberla herido o disparado”.

Los dos hombres se bajaron del vehículo cerca de 1446 Ocean Drive, una propiedad de tres pisos con varios turistas y huéspedes de alquiler a corto plazo en su interior. La policía encontró rápidamente a uno de los sospechosos. El otro se atrincheró en el interior y no fue detenido hasta la 1 a.m.

Montanez y Mesidor comparecieron ante un tribunal de fianza el miércoles por la tarde tras ser arrestados por cargos de secuestro y resistencia al arresto.

La jueza, tras revisar el informe de arresto, no encontró causa probable para el cargo de secuestro.

Incluso los fiscales consideraron que no había suficiente evidencia en los informes de arresto para sustentar un cargo de secuestro.

“Si contrataron al conductor, no sé si es secuestro o si se convirtió en uno, si había un arma”, dijo la jueza Mindy Glazer.

En su audiencia de fianza, Mesidor dijo que recibe beneficios por discapacidad.

“Vivo con mi mamá, mi novia, mis hermanos y hermanas, tres perros y mi hija”, dijo.

Lloró antes de que su madre hablara ante la jueza.

“No dormí anoche”, dijo la madre de Mesidor.

Después de que se retiraron los cargos más graves, la pareja solo enfrentaba cargos de resistencia al arresto y cada uno permanecía detenido con una fianza de $500 USD hasta la tarde del miércoles.

Leer en español

The Broward Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded just before 2:30 p.m. to a shooting near Northeast 41st Street in Deerfield Beach. Authorities said the shooters fled the scene.

When deputies arrived, they learned a man had been shot and drove himself to Broward Health North.

One resident, Brian Lora, said a bullet struck the building where he lives.

“While sleeping with the bullet hole, it was literally, it was just down by the window. Probably would have been shot. Yeah, I would have been shot,” Lora said.

Lora also said neighbors were shaken by the incident.

“I know my neighbors and everybody else. They are probably traumatized because they ain’t never really experienced stuff like this before, so hopefully they good. There’s a lot of kids in this building as well,” he said.

At the hospital, a coworker from the victim’s parks and recreation job told Local 10 News the man was caught in the crossfire while working at a nature preserve.

Back at the scene, investigators found shell casings as they worked to piece together what happened and who was responsible.

Officials later said the victim is expected to be okay and that his injuries are not life-threatening.

The investigation is ongoing.

La Oficina del Sheriff de Broward informó que agentes respondieron poco antes de las 2:30 p.m. a un tiroteo cerca de Northeast 41st Street en Deerfield Beach. Las autoridades dijeron que los tiradores huyeron de la escena.

Cuando los agentes llegaron, supieron que un hombre había sido baleado y condujo por sí mismo hasta Broward Health North.

Un residente, Brian Lora, dijo que una bala impactó el edificio donde vive.

“Mientras dormía con el agujero de bala, literalmente estaba justo junto a la ventana. Probablemente me habría disparado. Sí, me habría disparado”, dijo Lora.

Lora también señaló que los vecinos quedaron afectados por el incidente.

“Sé que mis vecinos y todos los demás probablemente están traumatizados porque nunca han experimentado algo así antes, así que espero que estén bien. También hay muchos niños en este edificio”, dijo.

En el hospital, un compañero de trabajo de la víctima en el departamento de parques y recreación dijo a Local 10 News que el hombre quedó atrapado en el fuego cruzado mientras trabajaba en una reserva natural.

De regreso en la escena, los investigadores encontraron casquillos de bala mientras trataban de reconstruir lo ocurrido y determinar quién fue responsable.

Las autoridades indicaron posteriormente que se espera que la víctima se recupere y que sus heridas no ponen en peligro su vida.

La investigación continúa en curso.

The 22-year-old national champion and his family announced the launch of the Mendoza Family Fund, a national effort in partnership with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society aimed at advancing research toward a cure for multiple sclerosis. A spokesperson for the organization confirmed the initiative.

As part of the effort, Mendoza is committing $500,000 to support multiple sclerosis research at the University of Miami Health System and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

The cause is personal for the Mendoza family.

Their mother, Elsa Mendoza, has been living with the disease, which has inspired Fernando and his brother, Alberto, to raise awareness and support others affected by MS.

The new fund builds on previous grassroots fundraising efforts that have raised more than $360,000, expanding those efforts into a national initiative.

“We’re grateful for the support of the National MS Society and the Mendoza Family Fund,” Joe Echevarria, president and CEO of the University of Miami and the University of Miami Health System, said in a statement. “The University of Miami Health System and Miller School of Medicine share their commitment to a world free of MS, and we value this opportunity to accelerate our work discovering, developing and delivering treatments for all patients.”

Fernando Mendoza is expected to be selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Leer en español

The crash was reported just after 5 a.m. in the area of Northwest 199th Street and Seventh Avenue.

The intersection was completely closed off after the crash.

Investigators at the scene told Local 10 News that the victim was driving a gray Hyundai Sonata when she slammed into the bus.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Because the transit buses are equipped with cameras, investigators were able to quickly review footage of the crash to see what occurred.

“Preliminary investigation indicates the Hyundai was traveling eastbound on NW 199th Street and ran a red light, colliding with the transit bus, which had a green arrow while turning left onto NW 7th Avenue,” a spokesperson for MGPD said in an email to Local 10 News.

According to police, one passenger on the bus complained of injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital.

The driver’s identity has not yet been released.

The European Commission has informed the Biennale foundation of the funding cut over three years, and the Biennale has 30 days to defend its decision to include Russia for the first time since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. spokesperson Thomas Regnier said Thursday. The commission had previously announced its intention to do so.

“We are strongly condemning the fact that the Fondazione di Biennale has allowed for the Russian Pavilion to open again,’’ Regnier said.

Russian artists withdrew their participation in 2022, and Russia did not present an exhibition in 2024 for its permanent pavilion, which it instead lent to Bolivia. Russia last participated in the International Art Exhibition in 2019.

The Biennale said in a statement that it “does not have the authority to prevent a country from participating. Any country recognized by the Italian Republic may request to participate.’’

Since Russia owns the pavilion built in 1914 in the historic Giardini, it was required only to send notification of its request to participate, the Biennale said.

“La Biennale di Venezia rejects any form of exclusion or censorship of culture and art. The Biennale, like the city of Venice, continues to be a place of dialogue, openness and artistic freedom, encouraging connections between peoples and cultures, with the constant hope for an end to conflicts and suffering,’’ the Biennale said.

The Biennale contemporary art exhibition is the world's oldest and most important, comprising a main exhibition alongside national pavilions, which are curated separately by the participating nations. For this edition, 99 countries will present national pavilions, 29 of those in the Giardini and the rest spread through the Arsenale and across the city.

The Biennale has in the past refused pressure to exclude countries, including Iran and Israel, from participating.

____

Cook reported from Brussels.

Leer en español

The fire started on Tuesday and burned just west of U.S. Highway 27. It expanded on a dry Wednesday, as the National Guard joined the fight.

With crews flying and navigating tough terrain, the Florida Forest Service and the Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue contained about 50% of the fire.

The massive fire’s smoke was moving west. It was set to affect air quality in the area of Naples, Marco Island, and Fort Myers.

“It’s probably the worst drought we have had in 15 years, and we probably have another 6 to 8 weeks of this,” Kevin MacEwen, of the Florida Forest Service, said.

Related stories

• Fire burns over 6,500 acres of wildland in western Broward
• Brush fires join near U.S. Highway 27 in Broward

El incendio comenzó el martes y se extendió justo al oeste de la autopista U.S. 27. Creció durante un miércoles seco, mientras la Guardia Nacional se unía a las labores.

Con equipos operando por aire y en terreno difícil, el Servicio Forestal de Florida y Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue han contenido aproximadamente el 50% del incendio.

El humo del incendio masivo se desplazaba hacia el oeste y se preveía que afectara la calidad del aire en las áreas de Naples, Marco Island y Fort Myers.

“Probablemente es la peor sequía que hemos tenido en 15 años, y probablemente tendremos otras 6 a 8 semanas de esto”, dijo Kevin MacEwen, del Servicio Forestal de Florida.

Historias relacionadas

• Incendio quema más de 6,500 acres de terreno forestal en el oeste de Broward
• Incendios forestales se unen cerca de la autopista U.S. 27 en Broward

Leer en español

Online jail records show Luis Torres, of Homestead, was booked into the Metrowest Detention Center on Wednesday.

According to his arrest report, the incident occurred at about 6 p.m. on March 2 in the 600 block of Northwest 11^th Street.

Homestead police said an officer arrived at the scene and found the victim in his underwear and bleeding.

The victim told the officer that his motorized dirt bike had been stolen in an unrelated incident and two people who he was acquainted with, “Luis” and “Sebastian,” offered to help him find it.

According to the report, one of the suspects, who police later identified as Torres, messaged the victim and agreed to pick him up.

Torres and the other suspect later arrived to the area in a black sedan and both were wearing masks, authorities said.

Police said after pulling into a nearby alleyway, the suspect known only as Sebastian pulled out a gun and began to hit the victim with it.

According to the report, Torres then dragged the victim out of the car and both suspects began kicking and punching the victim throughout his body.

Police said Torres then stole the victim’s belongings as Sebastian held the victim at gunpoint.

Among the items stolen were a black iPhone 12, clothing, a gold bracelet and a gold chain, the report stated.

According to the report, the total value of the items taken was about $1,730.

Police said the victim provided detectives with both suspects’ Instagram accounts.

After the robbery, Torres messaged the victim, saying “That’s (what) happens when you set n***** up,” the report stated.

According to the arrest report, Torres posted a video on his Instagram page in which he discussed the robbery while wearing the victim’s jewelry and described how he left the victim in his underwear.

Police said Sebastian also posted several videos and photos of the stolen jewelry.

Torres was arrested April 1 at South Dade Senior High School where he is a student.

According to the report, after being asked if he knew the victim, Torres told police, “I don’t wanna talk anymore.”

He was arrested on an armed robbery charge.

As of Thursday morning, Torres remained jailed. He is expected to appear in bond court Thursday.

It’s unclear whether police have located the other suspect.

Registros carcelarios en línea muestran que Luis Torres, de Homestead, fue ingresado en el Centro de Detención Metrowest el miércoles.

Según el informe de arresto, el incidente ocurrió alrededor de las 6 p.m. del 2 de marzo en la cuadra 600 de Northwest 11th Street.

La policía de Homestead dijo que un agente llegó a la escena y encontró a la víctima en ropa interior y sangrando.

La víctima le dijo al agente que su motocicleta todoterreno motorizada había sido robada en un incidente no relacionado y que dos personas que conocía, “Luis” y “Sebastian”, se ofrecieron a ayudarlo a encontrarla.

Según el informe, uno de los sospechosos, posteriormente identificado por la policía como Torres, envió un mensaje a la víctima y acordó recogerlo.

Torres y el otro sospechoso llegaron luego al área en un sedán negro y ambos llevaban máscaras, dijeron las autoridades.

La policía indicó que, tras entrar a un callejón cercano, el sospechoso conocido solo como Sebastian sacó un arma y comenzó a golpear a la víctima con ella.

Según el informe, Torres luego sacó a la víctima del auto y ambos sospechosos comenzaron a patearlo y golpearlo por todo el cuerpo.

La policía dijo que Torres luego robó las pertenencias de la víctima mientras Sebastian lo mantenía a punta de pistola.

Entre los objetos robados se encontraban un iPhone 12 negro, ropa, una pulsera de oro y una cadena de oro, según el informe.

De acuerdo con el informe, el valor total de los artículos robados fue de aproximadamente $1,730 USD.

La policía indicó que la víctima proporcionó a los detectives las cuentas de Instagram de ambos sospechosos.

Después del robo, Torres envió un mensaje a la víctima diciendo “eso es lo que pasa cuando traicionas a alguien”, según el informe.

Según el informe de arresto, Torres publicó un video en su cuenta de Instagram en el que hablaba del robo mientras usaba las joyas de la víctima y describía cómo dejó a la víctima en ropa interior.

La policía dijo que Sebastian también publicó varios videos y fotos de las joyas robadas.

Torres fue arrestado el 1 de abril en South Dade Senior High School, donde es estudiante.

Según el informe, cuando se le preguntó si conocía a la víctima, Torres le dijo a la policía: “no quiero hablar más”.

Fue arrestado por un cargo de robo a mano armada.

Hasta la mañana del jueves, Torres permanecía encarcelado. Se espera que comparezca ante el tribunal de fianza el jueves.

No está claro si la policía ha localizado al otro sospechoso.

This year’s main competition with 35 competing countries is scheduled to be held May 12-16 in Vienna.

Slovenia along with a handful of other countries — Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain — are boycotting because Israel was allowed to take part.

“We will not be broadcasting the Eurovision Song Contest," Ksenija Horvat, RTV Slovenia director told The Associated Press. "We will be airing the film series ‘Voices of Palestine,’ featuring Palestinian documentaries and feature films.”

Organizers of the song competition decided in December to allow Israel to compete, which prompted the walkout of Slovenia and other countries. Slovenia has been a vocal critic of Israel over its conduct of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

The Eurovision contest strives to put pop music before politics but has repeatedly been embroiled in world events. Russia was expelled in 2022 after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

It also has been roiled by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, stirring protests outside the venues and forcing organizers to clamp down on political flag-waving.

Gyllenhaal, who most recently directed “The Bride!”, brought her directorial debut “The Lost Daughter” to the festival in 2021. Her adaptation of Elena Ferrante's novel, starring Jessie Buckley, Olivia Colman and Dakota Johnson, won the festival’s screenplay award that year.

“Maggie Gyllenhaal embodies an artistic path of uncommon consistency, constructed over time with intelligence and courage,” festival director Alberto Barbera said in a statement. “Having her as the president of our jury means being able to rely on an authoritative and independent voice.”

The jury, which will eventually be filled out with others in the international film community, is responsible for watching all the competition titles and assigning prizes, including the Golden Lion. Last year, Jim Jarmusch’s “Father Mother Sister Brother” was awarded the top prize by the Alexander Payne-led jury over the likes of Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice,”Yorgos Lanthimos’s “Bugonia” and Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein.”

“Venice has always supported truthful, singular voices and I am honored to play a part in continuing that brave and necessary tradition,” Gyllenhaal said in a statement. “I will not be standing in judgement, but in curiosity, admiration and excitement.”

The 83rd edition of the festival runs from Sept. 2 through Sept. 12. Organizers typically announce the slate in late July.

—-

For more coverage of the Venice Film Festival, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/venice-film-festival

Investigadores indicaron que la balacera ocurrió cerca de Southwest 168th Street y Southwest 92nd Avenue, donde agentes acudieron poco después de las 4:45 p.m. por una disputa doméstica reportada.

Al llegar, encontraron a un hombre fuera de la vivienda y lo detuvieron.

Los investigadores dijeron que, una vez dentro de la casa, los agentes encontraron a otro hombre con una aparente herida de bala. Fue declarado muerto en la escena.

Las autoridades identificaron a la víctima como un hombre de 47 años. Su padre, de unos 70 años, se encuentra bajo custodia.

Funcionarios indicaron que anteriormente habían acudido a la vivienda por incidentes relacionados con salud mental.

“Definitivamente queríamos que la comunidad supiera que se trató de un incidente aislado”, dijo el portavoz de MDSO, Argemis Colome.

Vecinos dijeron estar sorprendidos por la violencia en su vecindario.

“Por lo general nos sentimos muy seguros aquí, así que algo así es preocupante”, dijo Gorgas Kollileka.

“Al final del día, es un incidente trágico”, dijo Colome. “Se trata de una situación doméstica entre padre e hijo. No es un buen día para esa familia. Pero algo ocurrió y eso es lo que van a tratar de esclarecer”.

La investigación continúa en curso.

Leer en español

According to police, the crash was reported at 11:37 p.m. in the area of Northwest 37^th Avenue and West Flagler Street.

Police said officers arrived at the scene and found a woman in her mid-30s unresponsive in the roadway.

A tourniquet was applied to the victim before Miami Fire Rescue transported her to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition, authorities said.

Police said the driver of the other vehicle involved in the collision fled the scene.

No other details were immediately released.

Según la policía, el accidente fue reportado a las 11:37 p.m. en el área de Northwest 37th Avenue y West Flagler Street.

La policía indicó que los agentes llegaron a la escena y encontraron a una mujer de unos 30 años inconsciente en la vía.

A la víctima se le colocó un torniquete antes de que Miami Fire Rescue la trasladara al Ryder Trauma Center del Jackson Memorial Hospital en condición crítica, informaron las autoridades.

La policía dijo que el conductor del otro vehículo involucrado en la colisión huyó de la escena.

No se divulgaron de inmediato más detalles.

El accidente fue reportado en el área de Northwest 199th Street y Seventh Avenue.

La intersección fue completamente cerrada tras el choque.

Investigadores en la escena dijeron a Local 10 News que la joven conducía un Hyundai plateado cuando se estrelló contra el autobús.

Fue declarada muerta en el lugar.

Debido a que los autobuses de tránsito están equipados con cámaras, los investigadores pudieron revisar rápidamente las imágenes del accidente para ver lo ocurrido.

La identidad de la conductora aún no ha sido revelada.

The collision occurred around 6:30 a.m. near Hillerød, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Copenhagen. Roughly a dozen other people have minor injuries, according to the Greater Copenhagen Fire Department.

There were 38 people aboard the two trains, according to a spokesperson for the North Zealand police.

Officials originally said four people were critically injured but revised that figure hours after the crash. It was not immediately clear whether the train’s drivers were among the victims.

Investigators are looking into what caused the collision, which occurred near a level crossing. Photos from the scene show the front ends of the trains smashed, though both remained upright on the tracks.

The mayor of the nearby town of Gribskov, Trine Egetved, in a post on Facebook, said some of the injured were flown to the hospital.

She said the crash occurred on a local rail line that’s used by many Gribskov residents, employees and schoolchildren.

No other details were available.

Thousands of people were injured in the violence, with more than 800 people having gunshot wounds.

The commission chairman, Mohamed Chande Othman, said that the number of deaths was likely to be higher, because some families buried their loved ones without taking their bodies to morgues.

Tanzania experienced postelection violence on Oct. 29, after young people took to the streets, accusing the government of silencing the opposition, as the country’s main opposition party leader remained in prison for treason and the presidential candidate for the second-largest opposition party was barred from running.

The internet was shut down in the country for days, a move that President Samia Suluhu Hassan later apologized to the diplomatic community for and promised would never happen again.

Hassan was seeking a second term in office after serving out the term of her predecessor, John Magufuli, after he died in office. Hassan won with 97% of the vote, and some international observers said the election fell short of a free and fair vote.

Othman recommended that a further investigation be conducted on the use of firearms, as some of the witnesses told the commission that their loved ones were shot while sitting inside their houses.

Since the violence, 245 people remain unaccounted for, and 39 families reported having seen the bodies of their loved ones in morgues before they later disappeared.

The commission ruled out the presence of mass graves, as alleged by human rights groups.

The commission concluded that the demonstrations weren't peaceful but were “acts of violence” based on their contravention of laws requiring a 48-hour police notice and because it was an election day, thus denying some citizens the right to vote.

Othman said that the protests were planned and coordinated by people who had been recruited and trained, and violence occurred simultaneously in various locations to confuse the police.

Rodríguez tendrá su primer encuentro oficial con un mandatario vecino desde que asumió en enero en lugar de Maduro y colaborando con el gobierno de Donald Trump.

La cita será en Caracas luego de que se cancelara una reunión prevista el 13 de marzo en la frontera común. Petro viajó por última vez a la capital venezolana en abril de 2024 para encontrarse con Maduro meses antes de la cuestionada elección presidencial en ese país.

Cooperación energética y de seguridad

Ambos países tienen interés en la seguridad fronteriza por la presencia de grupos armados ilegales asociados con el narcotráfico. La economía es otro punto clave por la intención de Colombia de importar gas venezolano.

“Hay un interés de los Estados Unidos en que Colombia se convierta en el comprador del gas venezolano”, dijo desde Bogotá a The Associated Press Ronal Rodríguez Durán, investigador del Observatorio de Venezuela de la Universidad del Rosario. “Colombia, por su naturaleza geográfica, se convertiría en el cliente que rápidamente podría hacer ingresar recursos a Venezuela bajo la supervisión de Estados Unidos”, agregó.

El gobierno de Trump busca revitalizar la economía venezolana atrayendo inversión extranjera a sus vastos recursos naturales, principalmente el petróleo. Bajo el gobierno de Maduro Venezuela sufrió una profunda crisis económica que empujó a millones a la pobreza y 7,7 millones de personas al exilio.

El interés de Colombia en el gas venezolano se reavivó en el gobierno de Petro, especialmente desde 2024 cuando se empezó a hablar de un posible déficit de gas. Sin embargo, no se ha concretado por asuntos técnicos en el gasoducto binacional y las sanciones estadounidenses a la estatal Petróleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA).

Colombia tramita con Estados Unidos una licencia de la Oficina de Control de Activos Extranjeros para reactivar los proyectos de gas e interconexión eléctrica. También logró acuerdos con PDVSA para reponer la tubería del gasoducto en el tramo colombiano.

El tema fue parte de la conversación que sostuvo Petro con Trump en febrero. Según el colombiano, hablaron sobre cómo reactivar a Venezuela con la ayuda de Colombia y sobre el papel de Estados Unidos, que a su juicio debería ser “levantar las sanciones” sobre Venezuela.

Petro abogó para que Maduro sea devuelto y juzgado en los tribunales de su país natal en lugar de los estadounidenses. Los fiscales estadounidenses han acusado a Maduro y a otros funcionarios venezolanos de conspirar con rebeldes colombianos y miembros del ejército venezolano para trasladar cocaína a Estados Unidos. Maduro se ha declarado inocente.

El Departamento del Tesoro estadounidense sancionó a Petro por supuestos vínculos con el narcotráfico, sin mostrar pruebas. El mandatario se ha defendido de las acusaciones y ha prometido arreciar las operaciones contra el narcotráfico e incluso ha sugerido posibles acciones conjuntas con Estados Unidos contra el Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN), una guerrilla que opera también en Venezuela.

Petro dijo días antes del encuentro que su delegación incluirá a militares y policías para tratar con Rodríguez la seguridad fronteriza, especialmente sobre la población colombiana del Catatumbo, donde grupos armados se disputan la zona. Aseguró que espera una “estrecha colaboración en inteligencia”.

Posible papel de mediador

Desde las cuestionadas elecciones presidenciales de Venezuela en 2024 el vínculo bilateral se ha mantenido en una zona gris. Petro no reconoció a Maduro como presidente legítimo, pero mantuvo las relaciones.

El gobierno colombiano ha dicho que el encuentro entre Petro y Rodríguez pretende “contribuir a una salida de la crisis política de Venezuela”. Sin embargo, no está claro cómo lo haría. Petro, quien ha propuesto un “cogobierno” entre la oposición y el chavismo, participó en un infructuoso intento de mediación entre ambos sectores en 2024 junto a México y Brasil.

Para el investigador Rodríguez Durán, el alcance de Petro es limitado en una eventual mediación e incluso en el mantenimiento de las relaciones bilaterales, dado que su mandato culminará en agosto.

Varias organizaciones no gubernamentales de Venezuela dirigieron una carta abierta a Petro en marzo, antes del cancelado encuentro con Rodríguez, para pedirle que Colombia contribuya a la “promoción de principios democráticos y de derechos humanos”, incluyendo la liberación de “todos los presos políticos” y el cese de la “persecución”.

——-

Suárez informó desde Bogotá.

Her nails are down to the quick, except for her thumbs, which feature inch-long talons covered in fancy silver swirls.

Unable to afford a new set of nails as Cuba’s economic crises grind on, the 56-year-old cafeteria worker opted instead to do her lashes, a cheaper alternative she hoped would draw people’s attention upward.

Severe shortages of water, power and money combined with a U.S energy blockade has deepened poverty and increased hunger across the island as severe blackouts persist. Even those who are more affluent are now eliminating long-established and often beloved routines as they adapt to increasingly dire realities.

“The Cuban woman likes to look beautiful — to do her hair, do her nails, do her feet — and wear perfume,” Zamora said. “I don’t look how I would like to look.”

Changes in beauty routines

Melina Colás knows the feeling.

The young manicurist who works in Havana recently got long braids to celebrate her birthday but quickly realized it’s a difficult style to maintain given chronic water shortages.

She used to wear her hair long and straightened but has decided to cut it and wear it natural, even though she thinks it would not suit what she called her short stature and round face.

“Before, you could do whatever you wanted,” she said of hairstyles when water was readily available. “Not now.”

Colás also has tweaked things at the salon where she works.

She has learned patience, aware clients show up late because public transportation is scarce.

And she now relies on a mix of water and vinegar in a spray bottle to offset water shortages – a concoction she said also helps soften clients’ cuticles and staves off a growing number of fungus cases because time between manicure appointments is growing longer for many.

“Some cases are critical,” Colás said.

She also lamented how the island’s economic crisis and shrinking budgets have led to a drop in customers, a trend that hairstylist Betty Ramírez Aldana, 50, also has noticed.

“It really came as a shock to me, because I’ve lost a lot of clients,” he said on a recent afternoon at a makeshift hair salon with bubblegum pink walls. “Normally by now I’d have five, six, eight clients. Look at the hour. And no one has showed up.”

The hair salon where he works recently spent three weeks without water, since electricity powers many pump stations on the island and severe outages are commonplace. He no longer can provide certain hair straightening treatments, so he offers clients options including flattering cuts.

“A lot of them have opted to embrace their natural curly hair,” he said.

An increasing number of women also have been forced to grow out their roots given a lack of gasoline and public transportation, coupled with withering budgets, Ramírez said.

Those who can afford it call him for home visits, with the original customer likely joined “by her aunt and the upstairs neighbor. I don’t serve one, I serve two or three,” he said.

A demand to lift the US energy blockade

Beauty aside, Cubans also are agonizing over being forced to cut corners on basic hygiene: some say they are washing their hair only twice a month, and clothes stay dirtier longer.

Antonia Isalgués Barrién, 60, who works for a state-run company running boats from eastern Havana to the heart of the capital, said she hangs her clothes outside every day after working on a boat because she doesn’t have water to wash them.

“It’s very hot here in Cuba; you sweat a lot,” she said, recalling how she used to wash clothes nearly daily. “I’ve never been forced to hang clothes in the fresh air… and then put them on again.”

Isalgués said she has noticed a surge in the number of passengers as a growing number of gas stations close and only a handful of public buses remain in circulation.

Cuba had spent three months without fuel shipments until a Russian tanker arrived in late March with 730,000 barrels of oil. It is expected to last only nine or 10 days.

Iván de los Ángeles Arias, a 44-year-old boat pilot, often boards the boat for a five-minute ride across the Bay of Havana, keeping his car at home for emergency use only.

“That’s the reality we’re forced to live,” he said. “You deal with it as best you can.”

U.S. diplomats flew to Cuba earlier this month to meet with top government officials for the first time since 2016 as tensions remain high between the two countries.

Cuba’s government has said that the elimination of the U.S. energy embargo was a top priority for its delegation, calling it an “act of economic coercion” and “unjustified punishment.”

In late January, just weeks after the U.S. invaded Venezuela in a move that halted critical oil shipments to Cuba, President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba, which produces only 40% to meet its needs.

The U.S. has called for an end to political repression, the release of political prisoners and liberalization of the island’s imploding economy as part of several conditions to lift its sanctions on Cuba.

Arias, the boat pilot, said he didn’t think the talks will change anything for him.

“I have no hope,” he said. “That means nothing if living conditions remain the same.”

The construction often requires archaeological surveys before the paving starts, and some of the latest discoveries have emerged along the BR-156 highway in Brazil's northern state of Amapa. Among the findings so far from nine dig sites: pottery vases that may be funerary urns, as well as small artifacts that resemble human faces.

“What we now about the region’s past is also tied to the opening created by these projects, which gives our relationship with them a somewhat ambivalent character,” said Lúcio Flávio Costa Leite, who manages the Archaeological Research Center at Amapa’s Institute for Scientific and Technological Research. “At the same time, the knowledge we gain about these sites leads us to pay closer attention to these regions, including by adopting permanent protection measures.”

Scientists say recent research has reinforced understanding of the region's past not as a human desert, but rather as a landscape shaped by interconnected societies long before Columbus arrived. The material found along BR-156, for example, included pottery in multiple styles and techniques that reflected influences from communities ranging from Brazil’s Para state to the Caribbean.

It's been cleaned and analyzed by a team working for the National Department of Transport Infrastructure. One of the archaeologists, Manoel Fabiano da Silva Santos, said the layers of the Amazon soil he excavated are a historic timeline.

In the upper layers, he found items such as Portuguese porcelain and nails linked to European occupation.

“Digging deeper, we uncovered pottery and ceramics associated with earlier Indigenous presence, marking the site’s transition before and after the arrival of colonizers,” Santos said.

The artifacts will eventually go to Amapa's state collection, overseen by Costa Leite, which includes about 530,000 pieces. The oldest piece is around 6,140 years old, confirming a long human presence across Amapa, he said.

The artifacts offer insight into how ancient Indigenous societies lived, died and interacted with the rainforest.

“Here is something I often debate with my students -- we usually think of technology as computers and microchips,” Costa Leite said, walking through shelves of ancient pottery. “But all of this required careful reading of the landscape and deliberate choices of materials.”

Indigenous design behind an intriguing monument

One of the most impressive historic areas in Amapa is in the city of Calcoene, where a 1,000‑year‑old stone monument made up of 127 carved monoliths arranged in a circle about 30 meters (98 feet) in diameter, set in open grassland amid the rainforest and bordered by a slow river.

Some have dubbed the Archaeological Park of the Solstice the “Stonehenge of the Amazon” for its resemblance to the British monument. Researchers found that the stones were positioned so that during the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere they marked the exact point where the sun rises, said archaeologist Mariana Petry Cabral, a professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais who was part of the team that began digging at the site some two decades ago.

“It’s hard to say exactly what all the stones mean, but what we do know is that they are not from the site itself. They were brought from other nearby locations,” she said.

Subsequent research and excavations found the site also served as a burial ground. Radiocarbon dating showed it was occupied for hundreds of years, beginning around 1,100 years ago, she said.

The site, discovered by scientists in 2005, can be visited with prior approval from Amapa’s Institute for Scientific and Technological Research. At the same time, the site is going through the process to become a national park, which will allow more people to visit.

Such archaeological sites are protected by Brazilian law, which prohibits them being altered. That adds a layer of protection for surrounding rainforest.

Ancient roads point to connected Amazon societies

Modern archaeological and historical ecology research shows that Indigenous peoples not only lived in the Amazon for centuries but also shaped it. They managed and cultivated the landscape through long‑term, sustainable practices, said Eduardo Neves, an archaeologist professor at the University of Sao Paulo.

Neves has studied the Amazon rainforest for more than 30 years and, since 2023, has led the Amazon Revealed project, which uses satellite scans to identify archaeological sites hidden beneath the forest canopy.

Scans have revealed roads linking archaeological sites and buried patterns in the rainforest that point to repeated occupation and deliberate landscape modification. Together, Neves said, the features suggest large settlements.

Archaeologists had long suspected such connections, Neves added, but technology has made it possible to see their broader geographic reach. The scans show networks of roads connecting clusters of settlements across the forest, most clearly in southern Amazonas state and Acre.

“When people think of an Indigenous tribe, they often imagine a small village isolated in the middle of the forest. But evidence shows a high degree of interconnectivity linking different settlements,” Neves said.

“Amapa is a key piece that helps us see how dynamic and active these populations were, and how they maintained networks of exchange that have been in place for millennia,” Cabral said.

___

Felipe Campos Mello contributed reporting.

___

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

In practice, he thinks one side has gained an advantage.

And it's not the guys throwing the baseball.

“It's what (MLB) wanted — people on base,” Sewald said. “Tough time to be a pitcher. Balls flying everywhere, you've got a smaller strike zone. But you just go out there and do the best you can."

So ... is Sewald right? It depends on which numbers you want to use, but it sure seems like the strike zone has shrunk.

Walks have skyrocketed to near historic highs through the season's first month. There's no direct evidence ABS is the reason for the increase, but as D-backs catcher James McCann said: “Of course it is. What other rules have changed?”

MLB players have drawn a walk in 9.8% of plate appearances this season through Wednesday's games, which would be the highest rate since 1950. The rate is likely to come down as the season progresses — pitchers usually have more trouble finding the zone during widespread chilly conditions in northern cities during March and April.

But even adjusted for the time of year, walks have made a massive jump from last season.

Everyone knew the strike zone would change. MLB had to re-write its definition of the zone to accommodate the shift to robot umpires. The Official Baseball Rules long described a zone stretching from the midpoint of the hitter's torso down to the “hollow beneath the kneecap.” The new zone is more precise. It starts at 27% of a batter's standing height and stretches to 53.5%. The ABS zone is 17 inches wide, matching the width of home plate. All pitches are measured at the midpoint of the plate.

The spike in walks doesn't tell the whole story about who is benefiting during the ABS era. MLB's league-wide batting average is down slightly to .240 through Wednesday, a few ticks below the .242 rate through last year's games in March and April. That pokes a hole in Sewald's claim that there are “balls flying everywhere.”

The difference in opinion is fascinating as MLB players digest the new rules and new data.

New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger isn't putting too much stock in the early numbers. He said hitters and pitchers are always playing a cat-and-mouse game, and there will eventually be equilibrium.

“I think there’s always an adjustment to something new,” the 2019 National League MVP said. “It’s also such a short sample size. It’s (20-25) games into the season, so numbers skyrocket both ways early on.”

McCann's not so sure. The veteran catcher said a smaller strike zone will inevitably lead to more walks.

“I think it's tighter in general,” McCann said. “Umpires are getting instant feedback on what's a strike or a ball and everything's becoming much more uniform. That's what the guys who had used it in the minor leagues told me was going to happen before the season started, and they were exactly right.”

Chicago Cubs star infielder Nico Hoerner had a slightly different take — arguing that hitters might be benefiting in the short-term by laying off pitches at the top of the strike zone — but that all adjustments have an expiration date.

“Getting on base has been emphasized for a long time,” Hoerner said. “Walking is incredibly valuable as a hitter. A lot of pitchers — their approach is to avoid slug at all cost. Sometimes that involves throwing less strikes. But I'm sure there will be a back and forth, just like every trend in baseball.”

If recent history is any indication, MLB rule changes can cause a lasting effect. There was a nearly 50% increase in stolen bases from 2022 to 2023 after a rules package introduced a pitch clock and limits on how many times a pitcher could make pickoff throws.

Stolen bases have remained high in the subsequent years — even after teams adjusted to the new rules.

And when MLB lowered the mound in 1969, the walk rate jumped from 7.6% to 9.1%. It dipped slightly after that but didn't return below 8% again until 2013.

Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough believes the ABS issue is a different animal. He's watching the trends and doesn't believe the higher walk rate is here to stay.

Who knows? The next five months will tell the tale.

“I think that we’ll get to a point where it gets close and stabilizes to what it’s been, where relievers are walking around 10%. Starters are going to be more around 8%,” McCullough said. “My hypothesis sitting here now early in the year is that by the time the season ends, (walk rates) will look very much like they have, say the last several seasons.”

___

AP Baseball Writer Jay Cohen, AP Sports Writer Alanis Thames and AP freelancer Larry Fleshier contributed to this story.

___

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

The Omaha, Nebraska-based railroad said Thursday that it earned $1.7 billion, or $2.87 per share, but it estimated that merger-related costs weighed down the results by 6 cents per share. That's still up from last year's $1.63 billion, or $2.70 per share. And the results topped the $2.86 per share that the analysts surveyed by FactSet Research expected.

Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena said the railroad continued to get more efficient during the quarter as it benefited higher rates even as it prepared its case for the merger. Vena said he's even more convinced now that creating the nation's first transcontinental railroad would be good for customers and the country because Union Pacific will be able to deliver goods more quickly at a lower cost.

“Service is going to be better. We provide more opportunity. We take trucks off of the highway and our employees are guaranteed jobs,” Vena said. “I think we’re more convicted now that this is good for country and good for Union Pacific. And financially, it is good for our shareholders.”

The railroad’s revenue grew 3% to $6.22 billion even though it hauled about 1% fewer shipments. That’s because the rates it charges continued to increase and the railroad benefited from fuel surcharge fees.

Union Pacific’s expenses also grew 3% to $3.76 billion.

The railroad affirmed its outlook for midsingle digit growth in its earnings per share this year in line with its long-term plan. It plans to invest $3.3 billion in its operation.

Union Pacific plans to resubmit its application to acquire Norfolk Southern next week. The U.S. Surface Transportation Board rejected the railroad's first request to approve the $85 billion merger because the regulators wanted more information. The STB hasn't yet decided whether the deal that would cut the number of major freight railroads down to five will enhance competition.

The deal has divided labor and the shippers who rely on both railroads. UP is already one of the biggest railroads and it serves the western United States. The nation's largest rail union and a number of the smaller ones supported the merger after Union Pacific promised that their workers would have jobs for life, but two of the other largest unions that represent engineers and track maintenance workers oppose it.

The railroads' customers are also split with trade groups representing chemical makers and agricultural businesses expressing concerns, but hundreds of other businesses lining up behind it. President Donald Trump has also said the deal sounds good to him.

Vena has argued that creating a railroad that stretches from coast to coast would be good for the economy because without the need for a hand-off between railroads in the middle of the country rail shipments would move faster, meaning it could better compete against trucking.

U.S. jobless aid applications for the week ending April 18 rose by 6,000 to 214,000, up from the previous week’s 208,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s slightly more than the 210,000 new applications analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet were expecting.

Filings for unemployment benefits are considered a proxy for U.S. layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.

The Iran war, now in its eighth week, has injected a large degree of uncertainty about how it will affect the U.S. and global economies even as Iran and the U.S. remain under a ceasefire agreement.

U.S. financial markets have rebounded to record levels and prices for a barrel of U.S. crude oil have settled in around $94 per barrel. That’s better than the $112 earlier this month, but still 40% higher than before the war began. Gas prices also remain elevated, saddling businesses and consumers with higher costs.

The largest monthly jump in gas prices in six decades sent consumer prices up 3.3% in March from a year earlier, the Labor Department recently reported. That’s up sharply from just 2.4% in February and the biggest yearly increase since May 2024. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.9% in March from February, the largest such increase in nearly four years.

This comes at a time when U.S. inflation was already above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, further diminishing the chances of an interest rate cut by central bank officials any time soon. Lower interest rates can boost the economy and hiring, but also tend to fuel inflation.

Fed officials voted to cut rates three times to close 2025 out of concern for a weakening job market but have held off lowering rates further this year. The Fed meets next week to decide on rates.

The Labor Department reported earlier this month that U.S. employers added an unexpectedly strong 178,000 new jobs in March, nudging the unemployment rate back down to 4.3%. That followed a surprisingly large loss of 92,000 jobs in February. Revisions also have trimmed 69,000 jobs from December and January payrolls, a sign that the labor market remains under strain.

A number of high-profile companies have cut jobs recently, including Morgan Stanley,Block, UPSand Amazon.

Weekly jobless aid applications have stabilized in a range mostly between 200,000 and 250,000 since the U.S. economy emerged from the pandemic recession. However, hiring began slowing about two years ago and tapered further in 2025 due to President Donald Trump’s erratic tariff rollouts, his purge of the federal workforce and the lingering effects of high interest rates meant to control inflation.

Employers added fewer than 200,000 jobs last year, compared with about 1.5 million in 2024, according to the data firm FactSet.

The American labor market appears stuck in what economists call a “low-hire, low-fire” state that has kept the unemployment rate historically low, but has left those out of work struggling to find a new job.

The Labor Department’s report Thursday showed that the four-week moving average of jobless claims, which evens out some of the weekly volatility, inched up by 750 to 210,750.

The total number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the previous week ending April 11 rose by 12,000 to 1.82 million.

No one knows the answers, but online betting companies that allow people to wager on Trump policies and statements are profiting — including some backed by his oldest son.

Prediction markets love the president's unpredictability, his need to keep people guessing about his next move or social media post, leading to more wagers in these betting venues and more fees for them. That includes Polymarket, a company Donald Trump Jr. has a stake in, and Kalshi, a company he advises.

These sites have to come up with new betting lines on current events everyday, and Trump Jr.'s famously fickle father has proven to be a rich source of will-he-or-won't-he questions.

When a wagering event on Polymarket asked whether Trump was likely to send troops into Iran, nearly 100,000 bets were placed on April 8, leading to the biggest trading day of the year up to then.

And Trump's policies and social media comments generate bets beyond the war-related ones: Who will Trump back to run Venezuela? Will his insults of Pope Leo XIV continue? Will he seize Greenland?

“Trump is the guy. He makes the market possible,” said Kwok Ping Tsang, a Virginia Tech economist who has studied Polymarket. “He’s so unpredictable.”

Sports wagers make up the largest portion of the volume on prediction markets, but politics runs a close second, according to crypto analysis firm Dune.

People are also betting “Yes” or “No” on all kinds of other things — the price of gold, the winner of “Survivor,” even the weather. The cost of the wager, in cents per dollar, reflects the number of people making the same bet, with a price of 49 cents for “Yes,” for instance, reflecting 49% odds.

The betting has drawn bipartisan criticism for inviting insider trading but the president seems to be a big fan, applying a light regulatory touch and helping the industry expand. His family company, the Trump Organization, is even working on opening its own prediction market, called Truth Predict.

One of the biggest fee generators lately has been Trump's approach to the Iran war, notably his Truth Social post on April 5 demanding the country “Open the F—- Strait."

Trading on Polymarket soared with “Yes” or “No” wagers on whether an invasion was imminent, according to Dune, only to be surpassed on April 7 by betting on another question — Will there be a ceasefire? — when Trump posted ominously that a “whole civilization will die tonight.”

In total, 413 million bets on the Iran war were made risking more than $100 million from Sunday, April 5, through Wednesday, April 8, the day after Trump announced a ceasefire, according to Dune.

In a report after the surge, Dune called Trump an “unpredictability machine” and marveled at how his “governing-by-tweet” style sends trading volumes soaring.

Asked whether the president's son should be profiting from a business benefitting from his father's actions, a Trump Jr. spokesman called the question “fact-free Democratic propaganda.”

“Don does not interface with the federal government as part of his role with any company that he invests in or advises and has no influence or involvement with administration policies relating to prediction markets," said the spokesman, Andrew Surabian.

Polymarket didn’t respond to a request for comment.

The betting venues have jumped in popularity since Trump was reelected in November 2024 in part because they correctly predicted, unlike many pundits, that he would win decisively.

Since then the Trump administration has sued states trying to ban prediction markets under no-gambling laws. The head of the industry's chief regulator, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, has even promoted the business publicly, calling the online bets in a Wall Street Journal op-ed “exciting products.”

Benefiting particularly has been Polymarket, which was banned from operating anywhere in the U.S. in 2022 after the Biden administration fined it for running an unregistered exchange. It recently got permission to return, and its value has soared.

The company is now worth $9.6 billion, according to research firm PitchBook, a nearly tenfold increase in eight months since a venture capital fund in which Trump Jr. is a partner last invested.

Just how much Trump Jr. is benefiting from the increase in value is unclear because Polymarket is private and doesn't release ownership stakes. Kalshi, which took on Trump Jr. as an adviser last year, is also private.

As for profiting off turmoil and war, Trump Jr. has other possible ways besides the prediction markets.

Through his venture capital fund he also owns pieces of aerospace, defense and technology companies seeking Pentagon contracts and other federal agency dollars. Separately, he and his brother, Eric, just struck a deal giving them stakes in a military drone maker not just selling to the U.S. forces but also pitching to Gulf countries under Iranian attack and beholden to their father for U.S. military protection in a war he started.

Asked last month about the drone company potentially profiting off his father's position as president, Eric Trump sent The Associated Press a statement saying, “I am incredibly proud to invest in companies I believe in.”

Critics in Congress, virtually all Democrats, have decried what they believe is blatant profiting off the presidency, and are waiting for the midterms to do something about it, possibly voting for impeachment.

But whether that happens is anyone's guess — or to be more specific, tens of thousands of guesses.

In Polymarket trading, those betting that Trump would get impeached by the end of his term were putting the chances at 13% at the start of the year. But that has changed dramatically after his “civilization wipe out” threat and calls from Democrats to oust him from office.

By Tuesday, the odds had jumped to 66%.

——

AP reporters Ken Sweet in New York and Christopher Keller in Albuquerque, N.M., contributed to this story.

Leer en español

Cameras caught the criminal using a beer keg to break into Smoke and More, located along US-41 in North Fort Myers, just after midnight Wednesday morning.

Video shows the man throwing the keg through a glass door of the smoke shop.

Officials said the suspect stole several Raz brand vapes from the business.

Anyone with information is urged to call Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.

After pulling over a pickup truck that was driving without headlights, Sarasota police officers discovered some unusual passengers.

Inside the truck’s bed were a mother possum and her babies.

Officers briefly took the animals into custody before safely releasing them into the wild.

What began as a protest outside a controversial breeding facility escalated into a chaotic confrontation.

Nearly 1,000 animal welfare activists gathered over the weekend at Ridglan Farms, a beagle breeding and research facility under scrutiny for raising animals used in scientific and medical research.

Among them was Ella Magers, who made the 1,500-mile trip from Miami.

When asked if she planned to break into the facility, Magers said she saw it as necessary.

“Well again, we looked at it as doing what needed to be done to save dogs that are criminally abused,” she said.

Momentum has been building since March, when protesters broke into the facility and took 30 dogs. More than two dozen people were arrested on trespassing and other charges.

Ridglan Farms described this past weekend’s encounter as “an assault,” posting a statement on its website accusing activists of spreading false and misleading claims about its research and commitment to animal welfare.

The facility also shared video it says shows a participant crashing a vehicle through a gate during the protest.

Meanwhile, Magers said she remains focused on finding homes for the beagles.

“I’m still on a mission here because we’re not going to stop fighting until these dogs are free,” she said.

“Of course, we are hitting what is painful for Russia, and it is very painful,” Zelenskyy said in voice messages to reporters. He said that Russian losses in the strikes have reached tens of billions of dollars.

It wasn't possible to independently verify Zelenskyy’s comments, but Russian officials have reported that attacks have struck infrastructure in regions more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) inside Russia.

While Russia presses its all-out invasion, which began on Feb. 24, 2022, Ukraine is using its domestically developed drone and missile technology to strike Russian territory. The Ukrainian military also uses American-made Patriot air defense systems to stop Russian missile attacks on Ukraine's territory.

“We see that the Russians do not want to stop — they are hitting our energy sector and our people. We will respond,” Zelenskyy said.

Prince Harry praises Ukraine's resistance

Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s bigger army drew renewed praise from Prince Harry, who arrived in Kyiv on Thursday for his third visit in a year.

Ukrainians have demonstrated “strength not just in bravery and capability, but in unity, in trust,” he said in a speech to a Kyiv security conference

Ukraine “continues to hold together, and hold together you must,” he said.

The Duke of Sussex stepped off a train in Kyiv’s main station after an overnight journey from Poland, which is the only way to travel to the Ukrainian capital.

It wasn’t clear whether Harry would meet with Zelenskyy, who was due to attend a summit of European Union leaders in Cyprus on Thursday evening.

Russian firefighters tackle huge drone strike blaze

Hours before Harry arrived, three people were killed and 10 were wounded in a Russian drone attack on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, according to Oleksandr Hanzha, the head of the regional military administration.

A 13-story building and an administrative building were damaged in the strike, Hanzha said on the Telegram messaging app.

Russian air defenses, meanwhile, intercepted 154 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions, the annexed Crimea Peninsula, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Authorities in the Krasnodar region on Russia's Black Sea coast said that 276 firefighters at the Black Sea port of Tuapse were fighting for a third straight day a huge blaze caused by a Ukrainian drone attack earlier this week.

Toxic material from the fire fell with rain, covering several districts of Tuapse with a black layer of dirt, the region’s emergency headquarters reported. The concentration in the air of chemicals from the fire surpassed admissible levels, officials said, and authorities advised residents to stay indoors.

Ukraine targets more Russian oil facilities

For the second consecutive night, Russia’s Samara region also was targeted. In the Samara city of Novokuybyshevsk, about 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) east of the Ukrainian border, a drone attack on an unspecified industrial facility killed one person, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said.

Drone debris also fell on a roof of a residential building in the city of Samara, wounding a number of people, Fedorishchev said. One person was hospitalized.

Unconfirmed media reports said that a petrochemical plant in Novokuybyshevsk owned by the Rosneft oil and gas company came under attack.

Ukrainian forces also struck Russian oil infrastructure in the Samara region and a pipeline in the Nizhegorodskaya region that transports oil from Western Siberia to Tatarstan, said Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation.

An oil refinery in the Samara region and an oil pipeline in the Nizhegorodskaya region were hit, he said. The pipeline transports oil from Western Siberia to Tatarstan. He didn’t offer more details about the strikes.

Also, units of Ukraine’s Security Service struck the Gorky oil pumping station in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region east of Moscow, said a senior official from the agency, which goes by the abbreviation SBU.

The nighttime drone attack damaged three oil tanks and caused a large fire, the official said. The official wasn't authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“The operation of main pipelines is disrupted, the efficiency of processing at refineries decreases, and transportation costs increase. As a result, this directly affects the revenues of the Russian budget, which are used to finance the war against Ukraine,” the official said.

___

Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Eve Samples, of Friends of the Everglades, and Elise Bennett, of the Center for Biological Diversity, are the plaintiffs in the landmark environmental law case at the intersection of the remote immigration detention facility in the Florida Everglades.

The pair are disappointed, but not deterred, by the federal appeals court ruling overturning a district court’s order which temporarily hit pause on the facility.

“It does feel like a setback, of course, because we’ve lost that preliminary injunction,” said Bennett. “But what I would say, especially with today being Earth Day, is that we are more motivated than ever to get back to district court.”

The case was aimed at compelling state and federal defendants to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act and conduct an environmental impact study.

“The government is supposed to study the impacts of its actions on the environment before it takes action,” said Samples. “NEPA is a look-before-you-leap law, and in this case, the government took action before it looked.”

But in a 2-1 ruling, the appeals court said there was no federal action trigging the underpinning federal law in part because “to qualify as a major federal action - it must receive more than minimal federal funding” and “when the district court entered its injunction,” which was in August, “Florida has received no federal funding.”

Back in October, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security told Local 10 News Florida did submit an application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and was awarded the full amount the state applied for, $608 million, which was money officials said could be applied to ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ or a second site opened dubbed the ‘Deportation Depot.’

At the time, the state was also working to bring online a third, to be called the “Panhandle Pokey,” in July. DHS officials estimated the total cost for that site would be $450 million for one year.

Samples said since the district judge’s order in August, they have learned this from documents obtained in a separate public records lawsuit.

She said the records showed that the state originally applied for a $1.4 million federal grant and that FEMA approved a $608 million grant, which she said is “a lot more evidence about the federal government’s commitment to fund ‘Alligator Alcatraz’.”

“There’s more evidence that the site is under federal control,” Samples said. “And we’re eager to get back to the district court to prove that.”

Bennett said the government “set up this project to try to avoid accountability.”

“They may have won this round,” she said. “But there are many more rounds in the legal fight.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for the DHS said in the agency’s view, the lawsuit was about, “open-borders activists,” a phrase which stunned the environmental advocates.

“If someone believes that the Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity don’t care about the environment, then I’ve got a few acres of swampland to sell them in South Florida,” said Bennett.

That’s because what the facility does was not at issue in this environmental law case and the same goes for immigration policy.

“It has nothing to do with it,” said Samples.

Instead, she said the case is about whether the government followed the law.

“Any individual person, if they were to build like this in the middle of the Everglades, would have to get a permit,” said Bennett. “Why is it that the federal and state government don’t? Are they above the law? I don’t think so.”

Samples added, “We have a strong case to build. We also have filed notice of intent to sue under other laws. There are real impacts to endangered species and now that we have this opinion from the appeals court, we can get back, amend our original lawsuit to incorporate those claims and make our case even stronger.”

The order signed by Todd Blanche does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law. But it does change the way it's regulated, shifting licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I — reserved for drugs without medical use and with high potential for abuse — to the less strictly regulated Schedule III. It also gives licensed medical marijuana operators a major tax break and eases some barriers to researching cannabis.

The Trump administration also said it was jump-starting the process for reclassifying marijuana more broadly, setting a hearing to begin in late June.

Trump told his administration in December to work as quickly as possible to reclassify marijuana. On Saturday, as the Republican president signed an unrelated executive order about psychedelics, he seemed to express frustration that it was taking so long.

Blanche said Thursday that the Department of Justice was “delivering on President Trump’s promise” to expand Americans’ access to medical treatment options. “This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information,” he said in a statement.

What the marijuana reclassification order does

Blanche's action Iargely legitimizes medical marijuana programs in the 40 states that have adopted them. It sets up an expedited system for state-licensed medical marijuana producers and distributors to register with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

It makes clear that cannabis researchers won't be penalized for obtaining state-licensed marijuana or marijuana-derived products for use in their work, and it grants state-licensed medical marijuana companies a windfall by allowing them, for the first time, to deduct business expenses on their federal taxes.

Any marijuana-derived medicine approved by the Food and Drug Administration is similarly listed in Schedule III, it said.

Since 2015, Congress has prohibited the Justice Department from using its resources to shut down state-licensed medical marijuana systems. But the order nevertheless represents a major policy shift for the U.S. government, which has continued its longstanding marijuana prohibition — dating to the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 — even as nearly all the states have approved cannabis use in some form.

Two dozen states plus Washington, D.C., have authorized adult recreational use of marijuana, 40 have medical marijuana systems, and eight others allow low-THC cannabis or CBD oil for medical use. Only Idaho and Kansas ban marijuana outright.

The regulation of medical marijuana has come a long way since California became the first state to adopt it in 1996, Blanche wrote.

“Today the vast majority of States maintain comprehensive licensing frameworks governing cultivation, processing, distribution, and dispensing of marijuana for medical purposes,” Blanche wrote. “Taken as a whole, they demonstrate a sustained capacity to achieve the public-interest objectives ... including protecting public health and safety and preventing the diversion of controlled substances into illicit channels.”

The president of the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp, Michael Bronstein, called it “the most significant federal advancement in cannabis policy in over 50 years."

“This action recognizes what Americans have long known, cannabis is medicine,” he said in a written statement.

Critic calls the order ‘a tax break to Big Weed’

The Trump administration’s decision drew derision from marijuana legalization opponent Kevin Sabet, the chief executive of Smart Approaches to Marijuana. Sabet said that while marijuana research is necessary, "there are many ways to increase our knowledge without giving a tax break to Big Weed and sending a confusing message about marijuana’s harms to the American public.”

“With this move, we are now confronted with the most pro-drug administration in our history,” Sabet said in a text message. “Policy is now being dictated by marijuana CEOs, psychedelics investors, and podcasters in active addiction."

Marijuana or marijuana-derived products that are not distributed through a state medical marijuana program will continue to be classified in Schedule I.

Schedule III drugs are defined as having moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Some critics of the industry have suggested that legalization in the states has led to stronger and stronger cannabis products, which need to be researched rather than categorized less strictly than before.

The efforts to reclassify marijuana

The Justice Department under President Joe Biden, a Democrat, had proposed to reclassify marijuana, eliciting nearly 43,000 formal public comments. The DEA was still in the review process when Trump succeeded Biden, and Trump ordered that process to move along as quickly as legally possible.

Blanche's order sidestepped the review process by relying on a provision of federal law that allows the attorney general to determine the appropriate classification for drugs that the U.S. must regulate pursuant to an international treaty.

It was unclear how the order might affect operations in states where licensed recreational marijuana shops also sell to medical patients. In Washington state, which in 2012 became one of the first states to legalize the adult use of marijuana, 302 of 460 licensed stores have endorsements allowing them to sell tax-free cannabis products to registered patients.

Many Republicans oppose loosening marijuana restrictions. More than 20 Republican senators, several of them staunch Trump allies, signed a letter last year urging the president to keep the current standards.

Trump has made his crusade against other drugs, especially fentanyl, a feature of his second term, ordering U.S. military attacks on Venezuelan and other boats the administration insists are ferrying drugs. He signed another executive order declaring fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction.

___

This story has been corrected to show the spelling in the name of the 1937 law was Marihuana, not Marijuana.

___

Johnson reported from Seattle.

Barcelona said 18-year-old Yamal will miss the remaining six La Liga games for the leaders as he follows a “conservative treatment” process to heal a muscle injury in his left leg that he picked up on Wednesday while converting a penalty in a 1-0 win over Celta Vigo.

The club added in a statement that its doctors “foresee that (Yamal) will be available for the World Cup.”

Yamal is supposed to make his World Cup debut this summer. Spain's campaign starts against Cape Verde on June 15 in Atlanta.

“This injury sidelines me just when I most wanted to be on the field,” Yamal wrote in an Instagram post. “It hurts that I won't be fighting alongside my teammates. But I believe in them and know that they will give it their all in every game.”

Yamal has emerged as one of the world’s top players since making his Barcelona debut at a record-breaking 15 years old. He helped to lead Spain to the 2024 European Championship and is a major reason why Luis de la Fuente’s team is among the favorites this summer thanks to his dribbling, creativity and ability to both score and set up teammates.

Yamal went down after he scored the winner against Celta in the 40th minute and immediately looked to the bench to signal he was hurt. He dropped to the ground as his teammates arrived to celebrate, then appeared to grab the back of his left leg.

Yamal left the field on his own after being attended by doctors. He talked briefly with coach Hansi Flick on the sidelines before walking into the locker room tunnel by himself.

Barcelona leads Real Madrid by nine points with two more rounds before they meet at Camp Nou on May 10.

Barcelona will start its run-in without Yamal on Saturday when it visits Getafe. Flick could replace Yamal on the right side with winger Roony Bardghji or mix up his front line and play with an extra midfielder.

Yamal leads Barcelona in scoring (24) and assists (18) across all competitions.

“This is not over. This is just a pause,” Yamal wrote in his social media post. “I will come back stronger and more motivated than ever and next season will be even better.”

___

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

Trump’s post on social media came shortly after the U.S. military seized another tanker associated with the smuggling of Iranian oil, ratcheting up a standoff with Tehran over the strait through which 20% of all crude oil and natural gas traded passes.

“I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be ... that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump posted, adding that U.S. minesweepers "are clearing the Strait right now.”

“I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!” he added.

Meanwhile, it was still unclear when, or if, the two sides would meet again in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, where mediators are trying to bring the countries together to reach a diplomatic deal.

Negotiations initially planned for this week have not happened. Iran insists it will not attend until the U.S. ends its blockade on Iranian ports and ships. America insists it will not take part until Tehran opens the strait to international traffic.

Footage shows US forces on deck of tanker

The Defense Department released video footage earlier Thursday of U.S. forces on the deck of the Guinea-flagged oil tanker Majestic X, which was seized in the Indian Ocean.

The footage emerged a day after Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard attacked three cargo ships in the strait, capturing two of them, in an assault that raised new concerns about the safety of shipping through the waterway.

The powerful head of Iran’s judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, said three “violating ships” in the strait were “subject to enforcement” on Wednesday.

“The show of strength by the armed forces of Islamic Iran in the Strait of Hormuz is a source of pride,” he wrote Thursday on X, claiming that the Americans “lack the courage” to approach the strait.

Ship-tracking data showed the Majestic X in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia, roughly the same location as the oil tanker Tifani, which was seized earlier by American forces. It had been bound for Zhoushan, China.

The vessel previously had been named Phonix and had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2024 for smuggling Iranian crude oil in contravention of U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

There was no immediate response from Iran about the seizure.

Trump claims leadership rift in Iran

Trump this week extended a ceasefire to give the battered Iranian leadership more time to come up with a “unified proposal” on ending the war, while maintaining an American blockade of Iranian ports.

In a separate post Thursday, Trump claimed a leadership rift between moderates and hardliners was confounding Iran.

“Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just don’t know!” Trump said.

The president has repeatedly said over the course of the ceasefire that began on April 8 that his team is dealing with Iranian officials who want to make a deal, while acknowledging that his decision to kill several top leaders has come with complications.

Lebanon and Israel to hold second round of talks

Elsewhere on the diplomatic track, Lebanon and Israel were set to hold a second round of talks in Washington to discuss the possibility of extending a truce between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group.

The latest war between Israel and Hezbollah started two days after Israel and the U.S. launched attacks on Iran, after the Tehran-backed militants fired rockets into northern Israel.

In a new show of the fragility of the ceasefire that went into effect Friday in Lebanon, Hezbollah said it attacked Israeli positions in southern Lebanon, targeting Israeli soldiers in the village of Taybeh.

Each side has accused the other of breaching the 10-day truce.

The standoff between the U.S. and Iran has choked off nearly all exports through the strait with no end in sight.

On Thursday, Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi was splattered with red liquid as he left a building after a news conference in Berlin. The person believed responsible was immediately detained by police.

During the event, Pahlavi criticized the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, arguing that the agreement assumes the Iranian government’s behavior will change and “you’re going to deal with people who all of a sudden have become pragmatists.”

Pahlavi, 65, has been in exile for nearly 50 years. His father, Iran’s shah, was so widely hated that millions took to the streets in 1979, forcing him from power. Nevertheless, Pahlavi is trying to position himself as a player in his country’s future.

Threats to shipping persist

Since the Feb. 28 start of the war between Iran, Israel and the United States, over 30 ships have come under attack in the waters of the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.

The threat of attack, rising insurance premiums and other fears have stopped traffic from moving through the strait. Iran’s ability to restrict traffic through the strait, which leads from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, has proved a major strategic advantage.

Jakob Larsen, the head of maritime security for BIMCO, the largest international association representing shipowners, said in a note Thursday that most shipping companies need a stable ceasefire and assurances from both sides of the conflict that the strait is safe for transit.

The threat of mines, he wrote, was a “particular concern” if traffic might return to normal levels one day.

The ceasefire has been strained by the dueling U.S. attacks on Iranian ships and those by Iran on commercial vessels.

The conflict already has sent gas prices skyrocketing far beyond the region and raised the cost of food and a wide array of other products. Officials around the world have warned that the effects on businesses, consumers and economies could be long-lasting.

___

Madhani reported from Washington, and Keaten reported from Geneva.

Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins said the company failed to uphold its commitment and should be held accountable.

“We welcome you to our community and Miami-Dade County,” Higgins said, addressing Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. “If you enter into a contract with us, we are going to hold you to account.”

Higgins said the county expects Amazon to honor an agreement requiring a minimum of 325 full-time jobs at the South Dade facility for at least 17 years.

“Honor your contractual obligations, Mr. Bezos — the ask is not an extraordinary one,” she said.

According to Higgins, the closure comes just two years into the agreement.

“We hear, ‘Oh just kidding — we are going to lay off 1,000 hardworking South Florida residents,’ and they said it in a cavalier way,” she said.

According to the WARN filing, the company is terminating employment for 616 employees.

The company says they are working on transferring these employees to nearby sites, adding that employees have the opportunity to transfer to eight nearby facilities, and more than 300 have already accepted transfers.

The commission unanimously approved Higgins’ sponsored resolution directing county administrators to take all necessary steps to enforce the agreement, including potential legal action.

“Listen, this was a no-bid contract. They acquired this land without competition under certain terms and conditions,” Higgins said. “They have to honor those obligations.”

Higgins added, “The county attorneys agree the language is clear — 325 minimum at $32,000 a year. That is their obligation contractually to Miami-Dade, and quite frankly for Amazon, as we know, that is less than a drop in a bucket for them financially. They need to honor their obligations to us.”

In a statement, Amazon said the closure is tied to planned renovations and that employees have the option to transfer.

“Our team is working closely with Miami-Dade County and its attorneys, and we’re hopeful we can find a cooperative path forward,” wrote Amazon spokesperson Amber Plunkett. “More than 300 employees from our facility in Homestead have already accepted transfers to stay with Amazon at other facilities, most of which are based in Miami-Dade County.”

The company said employees will be invited to return when the facility reopens in mid-to-late 2028.

“I think the best indicator of the future is the past,” Higgins said. “If you are not able to honor your contractual obligations that are written and negotiated, it is very hard to honor your verbal representations at this point — the best way for us to have faith in Amazon is to honor your obligations.”

The resolution also requires a report back to the commission within 30 days outlining the status of enforcement efforts.

He was one of the key negotiators of the agreement reached in late 2024 that provisionally comes into force May 1.

“In a moment that the world much needed it, at a time of protectionism, a tough world, this gives a message that it is possible to open markets,” Alckmin said Wednesday during an interview with media, including The Associated Press, at the presidential palace in Brasilia. “It is the biggest deal between trade blocs in the world. A market of $22 trillion and 720 million people.”

Fierce opposition by farmers and environmentalists delayed the deal in December. It then hit another wall after EU lawmakers sent the deal to the bloc’s judiciary. The EU executive responded by saying it would provisionally enact the deal, which sidesteps the European Parliament. After the trade deal is implemented, it will be halted if the European Court of Justice rules against it.

Alckmin said not finishing the deal with the EU would have meant staying behind while other competitors accomplished other agreements.

“It is a win-win. The societies of the Mercosur countries win, and so the 27 countries of the EU,” added Alckmin, who expects a boost in Brazilian exports to the EU of about 13% per year.

The trans-Atlantic trade deal was signed Jan. 17. The European Commission’s president Ursula von der Leyen repeatedly paid tribute to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration for its efforts in making the deal happen despite opposition in Europe. Brazil is by far the largest economy of Mercosur, with a gross domestic product estimated at more than $2.3 trillion in 2025.

Alckmin confirmed other potential deals with the United Arab Emirates and Canada are being negotiated.

Change of mind and time

Two decades ago, Alckmin and Lula were on opposite camps in almost every issue, including the negotiations for a deal between the EU and the bloc that includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. While the man who was then governor of the powerful Sao Paulo state advocated for a pact with European nations, Lula did not.

Fast forward to 2022, the two gathered forces to unseat then-President Jair Bolsonaro, who they deemed to be a risk to Brazil's democracy. Both gravitated toward the political center. Lula made Alckmin his trade and industry minister, one of the government's key negotiators in any front.

Lula's win in 2022 for a third nonconsecutive term and his bid for reelection this year did not assure the Mercosur-EU trade deal was going ahead, but the conversations gained a new momentum after U.S. President Donald Trump took office last year and imposed tariffs against several countries, including Brazil.

French President Emmanuel Macron, one of the critics of the deal, has demanded safeguards to monitor and stop large economic disruption in the EU, increased regulations in the Mercosur nations like pesticide restrictions, and more inspections of imports at EU ports.

Alckmin rejected the accusation that Mercosur countries have less concerns about environmental preservations, as some EU farmers have said.

“If there’s one country that is a role model of environmental preservation, that is Brazil … Brazil reduced deforestation in 50%,” Alckmin said.

“So no one is too scared in either side, if there’s an import boom any of the two (blocs) can ask for safeguards,” he added.

The full implementation of the deal might take up to 12 years, which Alckmin sees as key for Mercosur companies to improve productivity and quality of thousands of products. He said the fruit, beef and sugar industries of the South American bloc will be among the first to benefit but many more will over time.

“It is better to do it gradually than not do it at all,” Alckmin said. “This was a very well-built deal.”

___

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Unlike Cuba or Venezuela, Iran choked off a crucial trade route for energy shipments, meaning the longer the standoff persists, the more the global economy will suffer. Tehran also poses a greater military threat than those two adversaries in America’s own hemisphere and requires a sustained military presence far from U.S. shores.

Iran’s leverage over the Strait of Hormuz gives it power during a shaky ceasefire because the widening economic risks, especially higher U.S. gas prices in an election year, could force the Republican president to end the blockade on Iran's ports and coastline, experts say.

“It’s really a question now of which country, the U.S. or Iran, has a greater pain tolerance,” said Max Boot, a military historian and senior fellow for national security studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Iran presents ‘major differences’ from other blockades

The effectiveness of Trump's use of the world’s most powerful navy to block the trade of Iran's sanctioned oil and other goods is very much up for debate. But it certainly appears to be intensifying as the war grinds on.

The U.S. military on Thursday announced the seizure of another tanker associated with the smuggling of Iranian oil, a day after Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guards took control of two vessels in the crucial waterway.

Trump also announced he has ordered the U.S. military to “shoot and kill” Iranian small boats laying sea mines in the strait.

But the situation in Iran is not exactly analogous to what is playing out with the U.S. operations in Venezuela and Cuba.

Some experts say Trump’s success in Venezuela likely had more to do with the U.S. military raid that captured leader Nicolás Maduro than American warships seizing sanctioned oil tankers to enforce U.S. control over the South American country.

A U.S. oil embargo on Cuba, meanwhile, has caused the island’s most severe economic crisis in decades. While U.S. and Cuban officials have met recently on the island for rare talks, the financial strangulation has failed to produce the Trump administration’s stated goal of leadership change.

“I do think that the success of the Maduro mission in Venezuela has probably emboldened the president,” said Todd Huntley, director of Georgetown University’s National Security Law Program.

That does not make the situations in Venezuela and Iran similar — geographically, militarily or politically. “There are some major differences,” said Huntley, a retired Navy captain and judge advocate general.

While the blockade against Iran has delivered a severe blow to its economy, including stopping freighters from importing various supplies, the country has still been able to move some of its sanctioned oil, ship tracking companies say.

Iran has rejected Trump’s demands to reopen the strait, where 20% of the world’s oil normally flows, and it has been firing on ships again this week. Stalled shipments through the strait have sent gasoline prices skyrocketing far beyond the region and raised the cost of food and a wide array of other products, creating a political problem for Trump before the November's elections.

“Blockades are usually just one tool of a mechanism used in a conflict,” said Salvatore Mercogliano, a maritime history professor at Campbell University in North Carolina. “They can be important. But it’s only one element. And I don’t think it’s going to be enough to convince the Iranians.”

Effectiveness of US blockade called into question

Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, claimed last week that “no ship has evaded U.S. forces." The command overseeing the Middle East said it has directed 31 ships to turn around or return to port as of Wednesday.

Merchant shipping groups are skeptical.

Lloyd’s List Intelligence said “a steady flow of shadow fleet traffic” has passed in and out of the Persian Gulf, including 11 tankers with Iranian cargo that have left the Gulf of Oman outside the strait since April 13.

The maritime intelligence firm Windward said this week that Iranian traffic continues to flow “via deception."

Iranian ships have several ways to sneak through the blockade, including spoofing their location tracking data or traveling through Pakistani territorial waters, Mercogliano said. He also noted that the sheer volume of shipping traffic the military needs to screen is a challenging task.

Blockades require patience to work

The last time the U.S. mounted a blockade similar to the one focused on Iranian ships was during the Kennedy administration in the early 1960s, against Cuba, Huntley said.

“And it wasn't even called a blockade,” he said. “We called it quarantine.”

Some naval blockades over the course of history have had an impact, such as Britain's blockade on Germany during World War I. "But they tend to be very long-term impacts, whereas Trump is looking for short-term, quick results,” according to Boot, the military historian.

He said Trump probably saw the blockade on sanctioned oil tankers tied to Venezuela as playing a large role in the success of leadership changes in that country. But Boot said it had more to do with the U.S. ousting Maduro and the subsequent cooperation from his vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, who is now the acting president.

“There is no Delcy Rodríguez in Cuba or Iran,” Boot said. “I think his success in Venezuela led him astray, thinking that this was a template that could be replicated elsewhere. He sees it as a huge success at little cost. And, in fact, it turns out to be a unique set of circumstances.”

Trump’s return to the presidency was fueled by a wide-ranging coalition that built on his loyal base of supporters. Now that Trump has been in the White House for more than a year, the survey of more than 2,500 U.S. adults from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that many key groups — including Hispanic adults, younger adults and men — are increasingly dissatisfied with his presidency.

The poll was conducted from April 16 through Monday, as oil prices fluctuated and Americans spent more at the gas pump.

It’s a particularly bad moment for Trump, a Republican whose economic approval slumped over the past month as the Iran war drives prices higher. But AP-NORC polls show that discontent has been building among critical segments of the population over the past year.

Trump's overall approval among Hispanic adults has fallen 16 percentage points since March 2025, and his support has declined by 9 percentage points among men.

And while Trump’s base is still largely behind him — most Republicans approve of his performance — there are signs that his second term may not be living up to their expectations.

Here’s what polling shows about Trump’s current status with four important groups:

Hispanic adults

Hispanic Americans have grown increasingly discontented with Trump over the past year.

About one-quarter of Hispanic adults approve of how he’s handling the presidency in the new poll, down from about 4 in 10 in March 2025.

That decline has been visible since late last year — suggesting that it’s not just the war in Iran or recent spikes in gas prices that are leaving this group unhappy.

Trump’s restrictive immigration approach may be playing a role. Only about one-quarter of Hispanics approve of his handling of immigration, down from 36% at the beginning of his term.

His immigration tactics appear to be particularly unpopular among younger Hispanics — a group with which he made gains in 2024. Only 18% of younger Hispanic adults approve of his performance on immigration, compared with 40% of Americans overall.

There is also broad discontent about the state of the U.S. economy among Hispanics. Only about one-quarter of Hispanic adults approve of how Trump is handling that issue, and about 2 in 10 say they approve of his approach to the cost of living. Few Hispanic adults, about 2 in 10, describe the nation’s economy as “good.”

Young adults

Trump’s overall approval with Americans under age 45 has slid over the past year, falling from 39% in March 2025 to 28% in the latest poll.

Younger women have a particularly dim view of Trump’s handling of the economy.

Only about 2 in 10 women under age 45 approve of how Trump is handling the economy, including only 7% of younger Hispanic women who approve of his economic approach. More young men, about 3 in 10, approve of him on this issue.

Trump’s struggles among young adults extend to other groups, too. Only about one-third of white adults under age 45 approve of his overall performance, compared with 45% of white adults age 45 or older.

A downtick among men

Trump made broad appeals to men throughout his 2024 campaign, and most male voters backed Trump in the presidential election over Democrat Kamala Harris. In particular, he made slight but significant gains with Black and Hispanic men, who were drawn by his vows to revitalize the economy.

Since he reentered office, though, American men have become slightly less likely to approve of his performance, declining from 47% at the start of his second term to 38% in the most recent poll.

There are signs that Black men, in particular, aren’t seeing Trump’s economic promises pan out. Black men are more likely than white or Hispanic men to disapprove of Trump’s approach to the presidency, as well as his approach to the economy, the cost of living and Iran. Only about 1 in 10 Black men say they approve of how Trump is handling the cost of living, and roughly 2 in 10 approve of how he’s handling the economy.

Hispanic men, too, have a relatively dim view of Trump’s overall performance. About 3 in 10 approve of how Trump is handling the presidency, regardless of their age. That support is stronger among white men, with about half approving of Trump.

While young Republicans are frustrated, MAGA still backs Trump

Trump has benefited from Republicans’ loyalty for years, but there are recent signs of frustration even within his base.

Roughly two-thirds of Republicans approve of Trump’s job performance. That is down slightly from 82% near the start of his second term and is generally in line with the GOP low point from his first term.

But only about half of Republicans overall approve of Trump’s approach to the cost of living, and a majority of Republicans under age 45 disapprove of him on that issue.

Trump is still buoyed by the support of his MAGA base, even as he faces backlash from conservative media figures on some of his recent actions in Iran.

About 9 in 10 MAGA Republicans — those who consider themselves supporters of the “Make America Great Again” movement — approve of Trump’s job performance, and a similar share approve of his handling of Iran.

It's a good sign for Trump that his most robust supporters are still in his corner, but not all Republicans identify with MAGA. About half of Republicans, 54%, say they consider themselves MAGA supporters.

Among non-MAGA Republicans, Trump's approval is much lower, at 44%.

___

The AP-NORC poll of 2,596 adults was conducted April 16-20 using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.

The Association of International Footballers (AIF) was founded in Madrid by David Aganzo, president of the new group that claims it will represent nearly 30,000 players. Aganzo also leads the players' association in Spain (AFE) and was ousted as FIFPRO president in 2024.

Aganzo and other officials twice last year met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in what was widely seen as a challenge by the world soccer body to Netherlands-based FIFPRO's mandate to represent players worldwide.

FIFA is the subject of a formal complaint made 18 months ago to the European Commission in Brussels by FIFPRO's European division and the European Leagues group. The filing challenges the quality of FIFA's governance and consultation with stakeholders.

FIFA said on Thursday it was made aware of the creation of AIF and remained "committed to open and constructive engagement with football stakeholders that uphold core principles, including representativeness.”

FIFPRO criticized the new group.

“FIFPRO recognises the strong work over several decades of AFE for men’s football players in Spain,” it said in a statement. “However, the concept announced in Madrid by its current president appears nothing more than a speculative attempt to boost his own standing through a group which lacks the fundamental legitimacy to represent professional footballers globally.”

FIFPRO said the new concept was “driven by personal motives rather than a mandate from players around the world.”

Aganzo said the new model for a players' union was needed in part because players' voices were not being heard through FIFPRO. The new group said women's players also needed stronger representation.

“Soccer players need a stronger voice,” Aganzo said. “They don't have the possibility to make decisions. AIF has been created to fight for them.”

FIFPRO said Aganzo "has engaged with groups that fail to meet basic standards of player representation," which it said must “be responsible and sustainable, built from the players up, through collective structures that ensure independence, legitimacy and accountability.”

“Such an approach to player representation is not in the best interests of professional footballers.”

FIFPRO claims its role is based on a mandate from 70 national player associations representing more than 60,000 footballers and is formally recognised by the European Union and international football governing bodies and stakeholders.

AIF will be governed by members from unions in Spain, Brazil, Mexico and Switzerland.

___

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

She's followed by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny. That comes as no surprise: In 2025 the artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio was named the streaming giant's most played artist of the year for a fourth time, dethroning Swift.

It's a been bit of a cat-and-mouse game for the two: She claimed the top spot the previous two years; he did the same from 2020 to 2023.

Drake is Spotify's third most streamed artist of all time, followed by The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish, Eminem, Kanye West, Travis Scott, BTS, Post Malone, Bruno Mars, J Balvin, Rihanna, Coldplay, Kendrick Lamar, Future and Juice WRLD, in that order.

Spotify did not provide insight into its data collection methodology when asked about it by The Associated Press.

In addition to naming its most streamed artists globally, Spotify compiled its most streamed albums, songs, podcasts and audiobooks to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

Streaming accounts for most of the money generated by the music industry — 82% in the United States, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.

Spotify, a Sweden-based company founded in April 2006, is the largest platform of all. It accounts for over 31% of the total market share, with a reported 751 million users and 290 million subscribers in more than 184 markets.

Spotify's most streamed albums of all time

1. Bad Bunny's “Un Verano Sin Ti”

2. The Weeknd's “Starboy”

3. Ed Sheeran's “÷ (Deluxe)”

4. Olivia Rodrigo's “SOUR”

5. The Weeknd's “After Hours”

6. SZA's “SOS”

7. Post Malone's “Hollywood’s Bleeding”

8. Taylor Swift's “Lover”

9. Arctic Monkeys' “AM”

10. Billie Eilish's “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?”

11. Dua Lipa's “Future Nostalgia”

12. Post Malone's “Beerbongs & Bentleys”

13. XXXTENTACION's “?”

14. Karol G's “Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season)”

15. Bad Bunny's “YHLQMDLG”

16. Bruno Mars' “Doo-Wops & Hooligans”

17. Drake's “Views”

18. Taylor Swift's “Midnights”

19. Drake's “Scorpion”

20. The Weeknd's “Beauty Behind The Madness”

Spotify's most streamed songs of all time

1. The Weeknd's “Blinding Lights”

2. Ed Sheeran's “Shape of You”

3. The Neighbourhood's “Sweater Weather”

4. The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk's “Starboy”

5. Harry Styles' “As It Was”

6. Lewis Capaldi's “Someone You Loved”

7. Post Malone and Swae Lee's “Sunflower — Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”

8. Drake ft. Wizkid and Kyla's “One Dance”

9. Ed Sheeran's “Perfect”

10. The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber's “Stay”

11. Imagine Dragons' “Believer”

12. Arctic Monkeys' “I Wanna Be Yours”

13. Glass Animals' “Heat Waves”

14. Billie Eilish and Khalid's “Lovely”

15. Coldplay's “Yellow”

16. Lord Huron's “The Night We Met”

17. The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey's “Closer”

18. Billie Eilish's “Birds of a Feather”

19. Vance Joy's “Riptide”

20. Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars' “Die With A Smile”

The senators this week introduced what they're calling the Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act, which would make the supermarket staple an eligible purchase under the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps.

“America’s best (and delicious) affordability play is Costco’s $4.99 rotisserie chicken,” said Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who joined Republican Sen. Jim Justice of West Virginia and others in sponsoring the bill. “It’s one of my family’s favorites, and I’m proud to join this bill with Sen. Justice for all to try. SNAP funds would be well spent to feed our nation’s families who need it.”

The SNAP program provides a monthly stipend for low-income families to buy groceries, but it doesn't pay for hot prepared foods. The exclusion, which dates back decades, was meant to promote home cooking. But critics say it's outdated and penalizes families that are already struggling to make ends meet, excluding convenient and nutritious options.

Lawmakers at the state and federal level have long debated which foods should be eligible for SNAP benefits. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pressed states to exclude junk food such as soda and candy. Twenty-two states, mostly led by Republicans, have requested or been granted permission to ban certain foods.

SNAP is a major piece of the U.S. social safety net used by nearly 42 million, or about 1 in 8, Americans to help buy groceries. On average, the monthly benefit per household is about $350, and the average benefit per person is about $190.

Besides Fetterman and Justice, the senators introducing the bill are Republican Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Democrat Michael Bennet of Colorado. Republican Rep. Rick Crawford of Arkansas has pushed for similar legislation in the House.

“We have to give people the option to put a healthy, protein-dense choice on the table that actually tastes good and doesn’t take an hour and a half to cook,” Justice said in a statement.

Leo also asserted that countries have the right to control their borders but mustn’t treat migrants worse than “animals,” and lamented that the church’s morality teaching is often reduced to sexual issues.

On Iran, capital punishment and peace

After a trip that was dominated by the very public back and forth between Leo and U.S. President Donald Trump over the war, Leo urged the United States and Iran to return to negotiations.

He called for a new “culture of peace” to replace the recourse to violence whenever conflicts arise.

He said the question wasn’t whether the Iran regime should change or not. “The question should be about how to promote the values we believe in without the deaths of so many innocents.”

He revealed that he carries with him the photo of a Muslim Lebanese boy who had been killed in Israel’s recent war with Hezbollah. The boy had been photographed holding a sign welcoming the pope when he visited Lebanon last year.

“As a pastor I cannot be in favor of war,” he told reporters aboard his plane. “I would like to encourage everyone to find responses that come from a culture of peace and not hatred and division.”

Asked if he condemned Iran’s recent executions, Leo said he condemned “all actions that are unjust” and included capital punishment in the list.

“I condemn the taking of people’s lives. I condemn capital punishment. I believe human life is to be respected and that all people from conception to natural (death), their lives should be respected and protected.

“So when a regime, when a country takes decisions which take away the lives of other people unjustly, then obviously that is something that should be condemned,” he said.

Pope Francis changed the church’s social teaching to declare capital punishment immoral in all cases.

On migration and the rights of states

Leo affirmed the right of countries to impose immigration controls on their borders and acknowledged that uncontrolled migration had created situations “that are sometimes more unjust in the place where they arrive than from where they left.”

“I personally believe that a state has the right to impose rules for its frontiers,” he said. “But saying this, I ask: ‘What are we doing in the wealthier countries to change the situation in poorer countries’ to provide opportunities so that people aren’t compelled to leave?”

Regardless, he said migrants are human beings and deserve to be respected in their human dignity and not be treated “worse than house pets, animals.”

On LGBTQ+ blessings and morality

Leo was asked about the recent invitation by Cardinal Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Munich, for the priests and pastoral workers in his archdioceses to adopt a set of guidelines formalizing and ritualizing blessings of same-sex couples.

The guidelines were approved last year by a controversial German church governing body made up of the German bishops’ conference and a Catholic lay group that has been working to have a greater say in church decision-making.

The Vatican in 2023 allowed for such blessings, but it made clear that they were not to be formalized or ritualized. The Vatican allowed them to be offered spontaneously and informally, as a priest gives a final blessing to all people at the end of Mass.

Leo said the Holy See had made clear to German bishops that “we do not agree with the formalized blessing” of gay couples or couples in other “irregular situations.”

The Vatican’s 2023 declaration allowing an informal blessing, promulgated with virtually no consultation outside the Vatican, sharply divided the church, with African bishops delivering a continent-wide dissent and refusing to implement it. Homosexual activity is criminalized in several African countries.

Asked how he would handle keeping the church unified over such a divisive issue, Leo spoke broadly about how culture war questions of sexual morality had dominated church discourse, particularly in the West, far too much.

“I think it’s very important to understand that the unity or division of the church should not revolve around sexual matters,” he said. “We tend to think that when the church is talking about morality, that the only issue of morality is sexual.

“And in reality, I believe that there are much greater and more important issues such as justice, equality, freedom of men and women, freedom of religion that would all take priority before that particular issue.”

The comment was significant because it suggested that even though he is American, Leo believes the church in the U.S. and the West has excessively reduced its moral teachings to revolve only around sex at the expense of other pressing issues.

A pope who keeps on eye on how he’s being covered

History’s first U.S. pope showed himself keenly aware of how his Africa trip had been reported and interpreted, including about his sometimes tame public addresses to African leaders who are accused of corruption or authoritarianism.

With a few notable exceptions, Leo kept his political remarks to the leaders largely diplomatic, using a language of encouragement and subtle messaging rather than headline-grabbing condemnations.

He also allowed some of the circumstances of his visit to speak louder than his words: a choreographed song and dance routine by prisoners in a country known for gross human rights abuses, or the extravagant luxury of a president’s hometown in a country where more than half the population lives in poverty.

Leo insisted that his primary reason for visiting Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea was as a pastor, to accompany his flock in their faith.

He added that the Holy See can sometimes achieve more behind the scenes via its diplomatic work, including through the release of political prisoners, than with “great proclamations criticizing, judging or condemning.”

——-

Associated Press writer Monika Pronczuk contributed to this report.

___

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.

U.K. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez formally endorsed the three-year agreement during a joint visit to the Dunkirk region.

Mahmood praised the new deal as providing “the right mix of skills and capabilities that we know will work on the beaches in order to reduce the crossings.”

Nuñez said that it will help in “combating illegal immigration networks, human trafficking networks, which are obviously extremely harmful.”

Under the agreement, the U.K. will provide 500 million pounds ($675 million) to strengthen measures in northern France, with an additional 160 million pounds ($216 million) depending on the success of new tactics to curb Channel crossings. If those efforts fail, the additional funding will be halted after one year, the U.K. Home Office said.

The plan aims at increasing the number of officers deployed on the ground from 907 now to 1,392 for the 2026—2029 period, along with the creation of an additional police unit dedicated to combating irregular migration, funded by France, the French Interior Ministry said.

It will also include the deployment of new technologies aimed at reducing departures of “taxi boats,” the term authorities use for small motorized vessels that are typically inflatable and used by smugglers to pick up migrants along long stretches of the northern French coast.

Unlike boats that migrants carry into the water themselves, “taxi boats” typically set off largely empty from secluded coastal areas and pick up migrants at prearranged meeting points on beaches.

The deal also expands surveillance capabilities through drones, helicopters and electronic monitoring, to better prevent crossing attempts.

U.K. pushes tougher migration policies

“Our work with the French has already stopped tens of thousands of crossings and this government has deported or returned nearly 60,000 people with no right to be here,” U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

Since taking office nearly two years ago, Starmer’s center-left Labour government has pushed through a series of policies that it hopes will sharply reduce immigration.

Small boat crossings have become a potent political issue in the U.K. over recent years. Anger at the seeming inability of successive governments to get a handle on the issue has been behind a series of demonstrations and riots over the past few years and fueled the rise of the hard-right Reform UK party, which has been leading in opinion polls for more than a year and is predicted to make sweeping gains in a raft of elections on May 7.

Under the measures adopted, the government now has powers to seize the assets of people smugglers, beefed up U.K. border surveillance and increased law enforcement cooperation with France and other countries to disrupt the journey.

It’s unclear whether the policies are working.

Summer surge will test policies

So far this year, more than 6,000 migrants have reached the U.K. after crossing the Channel, down 36% from the same period last year, a drop that may partly reflect more unsettled weather.

The real evidence will emerge over the coming months as the weather turns warmer and the Channel turns less choppy. In 2025, a total of 41,472 people made the crossing that way — the second-highest annual figure since records began in 2018, after a peak of 45,755 in 2022.

Police operations led to the arrest of 480 smugglers last year, the French Interior Ministry said.

A large share of the resources provided under the new deal will be deployed from the early summer.

Nicolas Laroye, representative of the police union UNSA in the Dunkirk region, said that additional staffing and increased capabilities will support police efforts in their complex mission to monitor more than 200 kilometers (around 125 miles) of coast along the Channel.

British-financed measures in recent years had a major impact on the ground, Laroye said.

“We’re intercepting many people before they go on the beaches to prevent them to get on boats,” he said.

Drones especially have become a key tool to monitor the vast stretches of sand dunes where migrants hide overnight before crossing attempts, he said.

Critics warn policy fails to address root causes

Earlier this month, two men and two women died as they were trying to board an inflatable boat off the coast of northern France. British authorities arrested a man from Sudan on Friday on suspicion of endangering life in that case.

The week before, two other people died in similar circumstances off the coast north of Calais.

Critics say that the new deal, which builds on the Sandhurst Treaty, first signed in 2018 and renewed in 2023, isn't addressing the underlying issue.

“Policing alone will not prevent desperate people from turning to dangerous small boats in the first place,” said Imran Hussain from the Refugee Council, a U.K. charity that aims to promote the rights of refugees.

Campaign groups for migrant rights have long warned that increasingly vigorous efforts by French police to prevent boat departures from beaches, including using knives to hack and puncture inflatable boats to render them unusable, are encouraging the use of “taxi boats,” which increases the risks of drownings, injuries and the need for rescues.

Before this month's deaths, migrant aid group Utopia 56 said that at least 162 people have died at the French-U.K. border over the past three years.

___

Pan Pylas contributed to this report from London.

Comet 3I/Atlas is only the third interstellar visitor to be confirmed and quite possibly the oldest. Scientists estimate it could be up to 11 billion years old, more than twice as old as the sun.

A team led by the University of Michigan used the ALMA observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert to examine the comet last fall. The errant but harmless iceball was discovered last summer, giving NASA and the European Space Agency plenty of time to aim multiple space telescopes at it as it zoomed past Mars in October and made its closest approach to Earth in December. It's now well past Jupiter on its way out of our solar system for good, still visible only to the professionals.

In the study, scientists said they detected extremely high amounts of deuterium, or heavy hydrogen, in the comet's water. That suggests that the comet originated in a place considerably colder — before the star of this solar system even formed — than our own cosmic neighborhood, said the University of Michigan's Teresa Paneque-Carreno.

While our sun may have been surrounded by other newborn stars as it was forming, she noted, this comet's home star could have been more of a loner, leading to less heating and colder conditions.

The findings were published in Nature Astronomy.

The comet's precise place of origin is still unknown. Observations by the Hubble Space Telescope put the size of its nucleus somewhere between a quarter-mile and 3.5 miles (440 meters and 5.6 kilometers). It's hurtling away at 137,000 mph (220,000 kph).

Linking all these “puzzle pieces together may give an idea to how the planet-forming conditions were at these early times,” Paneque-Carreno said in an email.

The first known interstellar object to stray into our celestial backyard — Oumuamua — was discovered by a telescope in Hawaii in 2017. Comet 2I/Borisov followed in 2019, named for the Crimean amateur astronomer who first spotted it.

___

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

Iran’s ability and willingness to go to the World Cup across north America starting June 11 has been unclear since the U.S. and Israel launched military attacks Feb. 28.

“The Ministry of Youth and Sports made an announcement about the full preparedness of our national soccer team for presence in the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., by the order of the minister,” Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohejerani told Iran’s state TV on Wednesday.

FIFA has consistently said Iran will stick to the World Cup game schedule decided last December, and refused to negotiate any suggestion of playing the team’s games in Mexico.

Progress was made March 31 when FIFA President Gianni Infantino went to meet Iranian soccer leaders and players in Turkey where the team had two warmup games.

Though the Iranian soccer league has shut down during the war, the team’s official Instagram account posted photos this week of a practice in Tehran.

Mohejerani added Wednesday “the necessary arrangements that these dear ones need for the team’s proud and successful participation, (have been made).”

Infantino promised the Iranian team three weeks ago he would help find a training camp outside of the country for the team to prepare for the World Cup. That could also be in Turkey, where Iran played warmup games last month in Antalya against Nigeria and Costa Rica.

FIFA did not immediately confirm details Wednesday of a possible camp being organized.

Iran is scheduled to play two group-stage games at the Los Angeles Rams’ stadium in Inglewood — against New Zealand and Belgium — then face Egypt in Seattle.

The team is due to arrive at its training camp in Tucson, Arizona no later than June 10, which is at least five days before its first game as required by FIFA’s World Cup rules.

A key issue to be resolved is the U.S. government giving entry visas to the Iranian delegation including soccer federation president Mehdi Taj. He is a vice president of the Asian soccer body who was barred from attending the World Cup draw in December in Washington D.C., where Infantino presented U.S. President Donald Trump with the specially created FIFA Peace Prize.

Mexico and Canada are co-hosting the 48-nation tournament that runs through July 19.

___

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

A three-judge panel found unanimously there were “substantial grounds” to believe the ex-leader was responsible for dozens of murders, first as mayor of the southern Philippine city of Davao and later when he was president.

Duterte, who served as president from 2016 to 2022, was arrested in the Philippines last year and flown to the Hague, where the global court is located. He denies the charges against him.

In their 50-page decision, judges found that the evidence shows that Duterte, 81, “developed, disseminated and implemented” a policy “to ‘neutralize’ alleged criminals.”

According to prosecutors, police and hit squad members carried out dozens of murders at Duterte’s behest starting in 2011, motivated by the promise of money or to avoid becoming targets themselves.

“For some, killing reached the level of a perverse form of competition,” deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang told the court in pretrial hearings in February.

Estimates of the death toll during Duterte’s presidential term vary, from the more than 6,000 that the national police have reported to up to 30,000 claimed by human rights groups.

Prosecutors said in a statement on Wednesday that the decision “represents a significant milestone” in their effort to bring accountability.

Duterte's lead defense lawyer Nick Kaufman told The Associated Press he was disappointed in the decision, saying it “is based on the uncorroborated statements of vicious self-confessed murderers acting as cooperating witnesses.”

A date for the start of the trial has not yet been set.

Duterte has not been present in the courtroom for any hearings, having waived his right to appear. Last month judges found he was fit to stand trial, after postponing an earlier hearing over concerns about his health.

In the Philippines, families of slain victims in the brutal anti-drugs crackdown rejoiced over the decision, saying it will bring them closer to justice and toward a closure of a tragic chapter in their lives.

“This is for all the victims, who were not even given the chance to be recognized as victims because their stories were twisted in police reports, investigations and findings,” said Randy delos Santos, whose nephew, Kian delos Santos, was gunned down in an alley in August 2017 by three police officers.

“Unlike Kian, most other victims were nameless, voiceless and were just numbers and statistics whose horrific stories were never heard. Now the ICC will give their stories a chance to be told,” delos Santos told The Associated Press.

Human rights groups also praised the decision.

“Duterte’s trial will send a powerful message that no one responsible for grave crimes is above the law, whether in the Philippines or elsewhere, and that justice will eventually catch up with them,” Maria Elena Vignoli, senior international justice counsel at Human Rights Watch, said.

ICC prosecutors said in 2018 that they would open a preliminary investigation into the violent drug crackdowns. In a move that human rights activists say was aimed at avoiding accountability, Duterte, who was president at the time, announced a month later that the Philippines would leave the court.

On Tuesday, appeals judges rejected a request from Duterte’s legal team to throw out the case on the grounds that the court did not have jurisdiction because of the Philippine withdrawal.

In October, judges disqualified the court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan from the case, citing a “reasonable appearance of bias” because he represented victims of Duterte’s alleged crimes before he took office at the ICC. Khan had already stepped back from his duties pending the outcome of an independent investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.

___

Associated Press journalist Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines contributed to this report.

The meeting between Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh Moawad and her Israeli counterpart Yechiel Leiter is the second between the two diplomats, days after they held the first such direct talks between the two countries in three decades.

The U.S. will be represented in the talks by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, State Department Counsellor Michael Needham, Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, according to the State Department. Huckabee did not participate in the first round.

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun said Wednesday that Hamadeh will put forward an extension of the 10-day ceasefire that went into effect last Friday. She also will ask for an end to Israeli home demolitions in villages and towns occupied by Israel after the latest war broke out on March 2, Aoun said in comments released by his office.

Preparations are being made for wider-reaching negotiations between Lebanon and Israel. The aim of the future talks is to “fully” stop Israeli attacks, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon, release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, deployment of Lebanese troops along the border and beginning the reconstruction process, Aoun said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has called on Lebanon to work with Israel to disarm the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah.

“We don’t have any serious disagreements with Lebanon. There are a few minor border disputes that can be solved,” Saar said during Independence Day remarks to Israel’s ambassadors and diplomatic corps in which he also described the neighboring country as a “failed state.”

“The obstacle to peace and normalization between the countries is one: Hezbollah,” he said, adding that Lebanon could have “a future of sovereignty, independence and freedom from the Iranian occupation.”

The latest war started after Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel, two days after Israel and the U.S. launched attacks on Iran. Israel responded with widespread bombardment of Lebanon and a ground invasion in which it captured dozens of towns and villages along the border.

Israel’s military currently occupies a buffer zone stretching as much as 10 kilometers (6 miles) into southern Lebanon. Israel says it aims to remove the threat of short-range rockets and anti-tank missiles being fired toward northern Israel.

Despite Hezbollah’s outright rejection, the talks are a major step for two countries with no diplomatic relations that officially have been at war since Israel’s inception in 1948.

The Lebanese government hopes the talks will pave the way to a permanent end to the war. While Iran has set ending the wars in Lebanon and the region as a condition for talks with the U.S., Lebanon insists on representing itself.

Wafiq Safa, a high-ranking member of the militant group’s political council, told The Associated Press that the group will not abide by any agreements made during the direct talks, which it opposes.

Since the ceasefire went into effect last week, there have been multiple violations by both side sides.

The latest Israel-Hezbollah war killed around 2,300 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of women and children, and displaced over 1 million people.

Last week’s talks were the first between Israel and Lebanon since 1993. Both countries have relied on indirect communication, often brokered by the U.S. or UNIFIL, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s top political authorities, critical of Hezbollah’s decision to fire rockets toward Israel on March 2 in solidarity with Iran, quickly proposed direct talks in a bid to stop the escalation, hoping Israel would not launch its ground invasion.

___

Abby Sewell in Beirut and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed.

Nearly a year after his death in South Africa, Lungu’s remains are still unburied, the subject of a macabre fight between his family and the longtime rival who succeeded him.

In a statement Wednesday, Zambia's attorney general said the government had custody of Lungu's remains after a South African court ordered the body be released to them. It said the body had been moved from a private funeral home in the South African capital, Pretoria, to another facility run by the South African government.

A separate urgent order then ruled that the body be returned to the funeral home where it had been since Lungu's death last June.

That order, though, said a date of May 21 had been set for the body to ultimately be handed over to the Zambian government. It wasn't clear Thursday where the body was and if it had been returned to the family.

The bizarre battle revolves around Lungu's relationship with current Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema. The two were bitter political rivals and the animosity has continued after Lungu's death.

Hichilema's government has said Lungu should have a state funeral at home and be buried at a cemetery set aside for Zambian leaders. Lungu's family claims that he made clear that one of his last wishes was that Hichilema should not go anywhere near his body and not preside over his funeral.

In June last year, the Zambian government succeeded in getting a court order to stop his funeral service in South Africa as it was taking place, forcing family members to leave the church ceremony and travel to a courthouse.

Lungu, who was Zambia’s leader from 2015 to 2021, died of an undisclosed illness in a South African hospital on June 5. He was 68.

When Lungu was president in 2017, Hichilema was arrested, charged with treason and detained for four months, only to be released and the charge dropped after international condemnation.

Lungu lost to Hichilema in a 2021 election, and claimed years later that his movements were being restricted by Zambian police and that he had been effectively placed under house arrest by authorities to prevent any political comeback. Hichilema's government denied the allegations.

___

Imray reported from Cape Town, South Africa. AP writer Jacob Zimba in Lusaka, Zambia, contributed to this report.

___

AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa