El mes pasado promedió 24,94 grados Celsius (76,89 Fahrenheit) en los 48 estados continentales, superando el julio de 1936 del Dust Bowl por un octavo de grado.

Aunque en Alaska hizo un frío inusualmente intenso, condiciones más calurosas de lo normal abarcaron los 48 estados continentales, y el calor más excesivo se sintió en el oeste montañoso, el suroeste, las llanuras del norte y el sureste.

El factor de mayor impulso fue el calor de la noche. Las mínimas nocturnas, que son cruciales para que las personas y la agricultura se recuperen de los días calurosos, pulverizaron el antiguo récord de las mínimas más altas por 0,7 grados, informó la NOAA. Según los científicos, las noches más cálidas son una señal clásica del cambio climático.

______

La cobertura climática y ambiental de The Associated Press recibe apoyo financiero de múltiples fundaciones privadas. La AP es la única responsable de todo el contenido. Consulte las normas de AP para trabajar con filantropías, una lista de patrocinadores y las áreas de cobertura financiadas en AP.org.

______

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

The president first waived the Jones Act on March 17 so that it would be easier to transport oil and refined fuels among ports, reducing price pressures after the start of the war with Iran.

The latest extension will take effect on August 17 and suggests that the U.S. might be preparing for continued price pressures as the Strait of Hormuz, a primary waterway for shipping oil and natural gas, remains effectively closed because of the war.

Unlike previous extensions, the Pentagon will consult with the Maritime Administration to decide which voyages are exempt from the 1920 law containing the Jones Act. The new waiver will only apply to cargo that are sources of energy and commodities related to agriculture such as fertilizers and soybean oil.

Taylor Rogers, a White House spokeswoman, said the administration extended the waiver “to ensure our military and key industries maintain uninterrupted access to critical resources.” Rogers added that the waiver has increased domestic deliveries of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

Leer en español

Hepburn, 47, started early Monday morning with school bus drivers in Davie at the Central West Transportation Terminal, which handles nearly 1,000 routes.

Interactive: Share your back-to-school photos with Local 10 News community

Hepburn, who took over in April 2024, said a stop-arm camera program is in the works to help enforce Florida’s school bus stop law.

The 30-day warning period runs from Monday to Sept. 8. Enforcement starts on Sept. 9 with $225 civil penalty for violations.

Related link: More on school bus safety program

Hepburn visited Hallandale Beach Magnet High School, which adopted a four-day class week with programs in entrepreneurship and tech. Friday is their day off.

Pompano Beach High School, one of the best-performing BCPS campuses, served as a model for the four-day work week at BCPS, promoting the use of Fridays for internships.

Related story: Broward students head back to class as school consolidations bring changes to some campuses

In Fort Lauderdale, Hepburn also visited Sunrise Middle School. He took a break for a short workout in the school’s Sports Academy’s new gym.

“This is just one of the great partnerships that we have with the city of Fort Lauderdale,” Hepburn said.

Bennett Elementary School and Fort Lauderdale High School also house a Sports Academy to help students explore careers in sports, health, fitness, and athletics.

Hepburn also visited Atlantic West Elementary School in Margate.

Related link: Superintedent’s back-to-school message

Related social media post

Thank you for all you do each day to support our students. Because of your hard work and commitment, BCPS starts this school year as a three-time A-rated District. I invite you to watch my Back-to-School message.

#ChooseTheBestChooseBCPS #BackToSchool #BestStartBCPS26 pic.twitter.com/37jmnDU70j

— Howard Hepburn (@HowardHepburn) August 3, 2026

Hepburn, de 47 años, comenzó temprano el lunes por la mañana con los conductores de autobuses escolares en la Terminal de Transporte Central West en Davie, que maneja casi 1,000 rutas.

Interactivo: Comparta sus fotos del regreso a clases con la comunidad de Local 10 News

Hepburn, quien asumió el cargo en abril de 2024, dijo que se está preparando un programa de cámaras en las señales de alto de los autobuses para ayudar a hacer cumplir la ley de Florida sobre las paradas de autobuses escolares.

El período de advertencia de 30 días se extiende desde el lunes hasta el 8 de septiembre. La aplicación de la ley comienza el 9 de septiembre con una multa civil de $225 USD por infracciones.

Enlace relacionado: Más sobre el programa de seguridad de autobuses escolares

Hepburn visitó Hallandale Beach Magnet High School, que adoptó una semana de clases de cuatro días con programas de emprendimiento y tecnología. El viernes es su día libre.

Pompano Beach High School, uno de los planteles de BCPS con mejor desempeño, sirvió como modelo para la semana de cuatro días en BCPS, promoviendo el uso de los viernes para pasantías.

Nota relacionada: Estudiantes de Broward regresan a clases mientras consolidaciones escolares traen cambios a algunos planteles

En Fort Lauderdale, Hepburn también visitó Sunrise Middle School. Hizo una pausa para realizar un breve entrenamiento en el nuevo gimnasio de la Academia Deportiva de la escuela.

“Esta es solo una de las grandes colaboraciones que tenemos con la ciudad de Fort Lauderdale”, dijo Hepburn.

Bennett Elementary School y Fort Lauderdale High School también cuentan con una Academia Deportiva para ayudar a los estudiantes a explorar carreras en deportes, salud, acondicionamiento físico y atletismo.

Hepburn también visitó Atlantic West Elementary School en Margate.

Enlace relacionado: Mensaje del superintendente para el regreso a clases

Publicación relacionada en redes sociales

Thank you for all you do each day to support our students. Because of your hard work and commitment, BCPS starts this school year as a three-time A-rated District. I invite you to watch my Back-to-School message.

#ChooseTheBestChooseBCPS #BackToSchool #BestStartBCPS26 pic.twitter.com/37jmnDU70j

— Howard Hepburn (@HowardHepburn) August 3, 2026

El plan “fronteras seguras” desplegará “operaciones conjuntas y permanentes” de policías y militares en las tres regiones de Bolivia que limitan con Brasil, según indicó el ministro de Gobierno boliviano Marco Antonio Oviedo a medios de prensa.

La cooperación bilateral, que decayó entre 2006 y 2025, se ha reforzado desde marzo. Y desde fines de julio, la policía de Brasil coopera estrechamente con su par boliviana luego de la muerte de al menos 15 personas, la mayoría brasileñas, producto de ejecuciones en la provincia de Santa Cruz, en el oriente boliviano.

Un oficial de la policía boliviana fue asesinado además por presuntos narcos el 30 de julio en el poblado rural fronterizo de San Matías, cuando investigaba el asesinato de cuatro civiles. Días después, dos reos brasileños se fugaron de una cárcel de Santa Cruz en medio del enfrentamiento entre el Primer Comando de la Capital (PCC) y el Comando Vermelho (CV).

En el marco de la cooperación a la que se han visto forzados ambos gobiernos, la policía federal brasileña abatió el viernes a cuatro presuntos narcos bolivianos que huyeron al vecino país tras desatar una ola de crímenes en Santa Cruz.

Qué le preocupa a Bolivia

Según el conservador presidente Rodrigo Paz, en veinte años de gobiernos de Evo Morales (2006-2019) y Luis Arce (2020-2025) se relajaron los controles, lo que facilitó la expansión del crimen organizado. Informes policiales señalan que el PCC convirtió a Santa Cruz en una base de operaciones del narcotráfico y en un santuario para proteger a sus líderes.

Paz dijo que en sus nueve meses de gestión deportó al vecino país a 16 capos de la droga que estaban refugiados en Bolivia. Entre ellos se encontraba Marcos Roberto de Almeida, alias “Tuta" y uno de los jefes máximos del PCC, y Gerson Palermo, otro líder buscado.

San Matías se ha transformado en una violenta zona roja de las mafias.

Paz ha denunciado que el “narcoterrorismo” se infiltró además con fines desestabilizadores en las recientes protestas con cortes de ruta que asfixiaron a La Paz y otras ciudades durante 53 días, en las que sindicatos demandaron la renuncia del mandatario por la falta de respuestas a la crisis económica.

Nuevo papel de Bolivia en el narcotráfico

Según un reciente informe de la privada Fundación Milenio, Bolivia pasó de ser un país de producción limitada y tránsito de hoja de coca —materia prima de la cocaína— a convertirse en un centro integrado de producción y exportación de esa sustancia con conexiones internacionales cada vez más complejas. Al mismo tiempo, el Estado ha mostrado fragilidad institucional para combatir al crimen organizado.

Hoy, Bolivia es el tercer productor mundial de cocaína después de Colombia y Perú.

Brasil es uno de los mayores destinos de esa droga y de armas traficadas desde Bolivia, según expertos.

Por territorio boliviano también transita la cocaína peruana. Droga de ambos países es enviada desde Brasil a Europa, Chile, Argentina y Paraguay.

El Chapare, en el centro boliviano, sigue siendo la principal zona productora de cocaína. Allí Morales cuenta con el apoyo de los sindicatos cocaleros. Sobre el exmandatario pesan órdenes de detención por cargos que ha realizado la justicia en su contra, aunque no relacionados con el narcotráfico.

Rivalidad de bandas brasileñas

El PCC y el CV se disputan un corredor de cocaína que va desde Santa Cruz al estado de Mato Grosso do Sul en Brasil, que operaba el presunto narcotraficante uruguayo Sebastián Marset, capturado en Bolivia y entregado a la agencia antinarcóticos de Estados Unidos (DEA por sus siglas en inglés) en marzo. Entre los abatidos por la policía brasileña en Mato Grosso do Sul está José Mariano Paz Chávez, alias “Piña”, principal socio de Marset.

El uruguayo operaba desde Santa Cruz su vasta red criminal con conexiones en Brasil, Paraguay, Bolivia y Uruguay. Su caída provocó una fragmentación de células criminales que ahora disputan el corredor mencionado, según las autoridades bolivianas.

Renovada colaboración de Brasil y EEUU

La intervención de la policía brasileña ha marcado un punto de quiebre en la cooperación entre los dos países. En el pasado Brasil había reducido al mínimo su apoyo a Bolivia ante denuncias de filtración de informes policiales a bandas criminales.

También la DEA ha vuelto a cooperar con Bolivia tras ser expulsada en 2009, durante el gobierno de Morales. Paz se ha alineado con la alianza continental contra el crimen organizado que lidera el presidente Donald Trump, que ha comprometido una ayuda de 20 millones de dólares para reforzar a la fuerza policial, según el ministro de Defensa Ernesto Justiniano.

Last month averaged 76.89 degrees Fahrenheit (24.94 degrees Celsius) across the Lower 48 states, eclipsing the Dust Bowl’s July 1936 by an eighth of a degree.

Although it was unusually cool in Alaska, hotter than normal conditions blanketed the Lower 48, with the most excessive heat in the Mountain West, Southwest, Northern Plains and Southeast.

The biggest driver of the heat was at night. Nighttime lows, which are crucial for people and agriculture to recover from hot days, smashed the old record for hottest minimums by 0.7 degrees, NOAA said. Hotter nights are a classic sign of human-caused climate change, according to scientists.

___

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.

Leer en español

The drivers of an Infiniti and a Nissan Altima had “been traveling at a high rate of speed and intentionally striking one another,” a police officer wrote, according to a police report.

Rayko Rodriguez was driving the Infiniti when he crashed into a Nissan Altima and struck a passenger who got out of the Nissan to confront him, according to the police officer’s arrest report.

“One of the victims in the Nissan ... is the defendant’s ex-girlfriend,” a police officer wrote, describing her as a juvenile, according to the report.

Police officers met with the driver of the Nissan at about 7:50 a.m. on Sunday along North Bay Road, near West 58 Street, near the La Gorche Country Club, according to the police officer’s report.

A witness who was a passenger in the Nissan gave police officers a video that shows Rodriguez, of Hialeah, “intentionally ramming the victim’s vehicle,” and striking a man, according to the police report.

The victims reported that “the collisions caused both vehicles to come to a stop,” and a passenger exited the Nissan to confront Rodriguez, “who remained inside his vehicle ... accelerated forward ... and struck him with the front portion of his vehicle, including the front bumper and hood,” a police officer wrote.

The victims reported that the man was knocked to the ground, and fearing for his life, ran back to the Nissan, after suffering a left shoulder injury, according to the police officer’s report.

The victims, who all know Rodriguez, said he fled, according to police.

With help from Hialeah police officers, Miami Beach detectives arrested Rodriguez shortly after 1:40 p.m. at East 20th Street, between 11th and 10th avenues in Hialeah, according to the arrest report.

Miami-Dade corrections booked Rodriguez shortly before 5:50 p.m. on Sunday at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center near Doral, according to inmate records.

Rodriguez faced three counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and criminal mischief of a $1,000 or more, records show. His bond was $13,500.

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

Related report: Miami police: 3 dirt bike riders sped away, 1 got caught after running out of gas

Los conductores de un Infiniti y un Nissan Altima habían “estado circulando a alta velocidad y chocándose intencionalmente entre sí”, escribió un agente de policía, según un informe policial.

Rayko Rodriguez conducía el Infiniti cuando chocó contra un Nissan Altima y atropelló a un pasajero que salió del Nissan para confrontarlo, según el informe de arresto del agente.

“Una de las víctimas en el Nissan, es la ex novia del acusado”, escribió un agente de policía, describiéndola como menor de edad, según el informe.

Los agentes de policía se reunieron con el conductor del Nissan alrededor de las 7:50 a.m. del domingo en North Bay Road, cerca de West 58 Street y del La Gorche Country Club, según el informe del agente.

Un testigo que viajaba como pasajero en el Nissan entregó a los agentes un video que muestra a Rodriguez, de Hialeah, “embistiendo intencionalmente el vehículo de la víctima” y atropellando a un hombre, según el informe policial.

Las víctimas reportaron que “las colisiones hicieron que ambos vehículos se detuvieran”, y un pasajero salió del Nissan para confrontar a Rodriguez, “quien permaneció dentro de su vehículo, aceleró hacia adelante y lo atropelló con la parte delantera de su vehículo, incluido el parachoques delantero y el capó”, escribió un agente de policía.

Las víctimas reportaron que el hombre cayó al suelo y, temiendo por su vida, corrió de regreso al Nissan después de sufrir una lesión en el hombro izquierdo, según el informe del agente.

Las víctimas, quienes conocen a Rodriguez, dijeron que huyó, según la policía.

Con la ayuda de agentes de la policía de Hialeah, detectives de Miami Beach arrestaron a Rodriguez poco después de la 1:40 p.m. en East 20th Street, entre las avenidas 11 y 10 en Hialeah, según el informe de arresto.

El Departamento Correccional de Miami-Dade ingresó a Rodriguez poco antes de las 5:50 p.m. del domingo en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight, cerca de Doral, según los registros de reclusos.

Rodriguez enfrentaba tres cargos de agresión agravada con un arma mortal y daños a la propiedad por $1,000 USD o más, según muestran los registros. Su fianza fue fijada en $13,500 USD.

El editor de asignaciones de Local 10 News, Carson Merlo, contribuyó a este informe.

Informe relacionado: Policía de Miami: 3 conductores de motocicletas todoterreno huyeron a toda velocidad, uno fue capturado tras quedarse sin gasolina.

The Supreme Court annulled the registration of Yabloko — which is Russian for “apple” — after an appeal from a pro-Kremlin party. Last month, the Central Election Commission had initially allowed Yabloko on the ballot along with 10 other parties.

Once a leading liberal voice in parliament and often critical of the government, Yabloko later lost its bloc of seats in the State Duma as the Kremlin tightened its grip on Russian politics.

In recent years, Yabloko was the only registered opposition party that opposed sending troops into Ukraine.

Its campaign slogans included “For a ceasefire agreement, diplomacy and peace!” “Our goal is to prevent nuclear war!” and “For a Russia free from fear and political repressions!”

Veteran liberal politician Grigory Yavlinsky, who co-founded Yabloko in the 1990s and chairs its political committee, deplored the ruling and said the party would appeal it.

“Barring Yabloko from the election means a refusal to engage in dialogue with those who ask questions that make the authorities uncomfortable,” Yavlinsky said in an online statement. “We hope the authorities will heed the public demand for peace, freedom, and life without fear, and change their policy.”

Yabloko's platform draws strong support

Many Russian opposition figures in exile had urged voters to back Yabloko, including Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, and politicians Ilya Yashin and Vladimir Kara-Murza.

“I believe it’s morally and politically right to support the Yabloko party,” Navalnaya said in an Aug. 6 statement on Telegram, noting the party’s anti-war stance.

Yabloko chairman Nikolai Rybakov, who was in the courtroom Monday, sought to distance the party from what he described as unwarranted support from Navalnaya and other Kremlin foes living abroad in an apparent attempt to prevent its removal from the ballot.

In the meantime, social media buzzed with videos supporting Yabloko. Many didn't contain political slogans but instead showed young men and women holding apples when asked their voting preference for the Sept. 18-20 election or dancing to Russian songs that referenced apples.

Rybakov told the court the party wasn't paying for the videos, saying that people who posted it were backing Yabloko “simply because they want to live in Russia and don't want to get killed.”

The authorities likely initially allowed Yabloko on the ballot to give Russians an outlet for their discontent while also showing, through the party’s traditionally low vote count, that few people support its stand on Ukraine, said Nikolay Petrov, senior research fellow at the NEST Centre, founded by exiled Russian tycoon and opposition figure Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

But Yabloko’s campaign for peace struck a chord and upended the Kremlin’s calculations.

Now “the Kremlin is facing a rather difficult task, to come out of the situation with minimal losses,” Petrov said, because kicking the party off the ballot is effectively “demonstrating that they’re afraid of what Yabloko stands for.”

Yavlinsky said the court’s ruling “speaks volumes about the importance of our platform — far more than any official election results ever could.”

He added that “the public demand for peace and freedom today has proven far stronger than the authorities anticipated.”

Kremlin-aligned parties bash Yabloko

Several Kremlin-aligned parties have assailed Yabloko for its stance on Ukraine, and some even urged authorities to investigate it.

Sergei Mironov, head of A Just Russia Party, called on the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Justice Ministry to “look closely” at Yabloko and “give a legal assessment to their actions.”

“A party that openly opposes the special military operation, promises a shameful peace, and supports foreign agents is running for the State Duma,” Mironov said, using the Kremlin’s term to describe the 4-year-old conflict.

Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov said Yabloko is not supporting President Vladimir Putin’s policies and has not helped “those suffering, those fighting on the front line.”

The Motherland Party filed the lawsuit with the Supreme Court demanding Yabloko’s removal from the ballot. It accused Yabloko of copyright infringement and exceeding campaign spending limits. The party also viewed Yabloko’s stance on Ukraine as unlawful and tantamount to calling for the violation of Russia’s territorial integrity.

Rybakov and lawyers representing the party in the Supreme Court on Monday rejected the accusations.

A crowd of supporters greeted Rybakov and other Yabloko representatives with applause as they entered the courthouse in central Moscow.

Yabloko members faced a Kremlin crackdown

Yabloko has faced increased pressure in recent years as the Kremlin ramped up its crackdown on dissent to levels unseen since the Soviet era.

Several prominent Yabloko members were jailed or designated as “foreign agents” — a label that brings additional government scrutiny and aims to discredit the recipient. As a result, its most prominent members were not on the ticket.

Maxim Kruglov, a deputy chairman and former member of the Moscow city council, was convicted in June of spreading false information about the Russian army and sentenced to seven years in prison.

Another senior member of the party, Lev Shlosberg, is on trial for similar charges in his native city of Pskov, facing up to 10 years in prison if convicted. It’s the third criminal case brought against Shlosberg in the last two years. He has also been designated a “foreign agent.”

That designation was also slapped on Boris Vishnevsky, another Yabloko deputy chairman, in 2024. The designation forced Vishnevsky to step down from the St. Petersburg city council after legislation was adopted later that year, barring “foreign agents” from participating in elections or holding public office.

Leer en español

Police said it happened at around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday at the family’s home in the 1900 block of Northwest 65th Avenue.

According to an arrest report, the dispute between Jermaine Hugh Hudson, 44, and his brother stemmed from the former driving the latter’s vehicle the previous night, as well as “some other family issues.”

Police said Hudson walked out of his bedroom with a gun, and, as his mother and son tried to hold him back, fired a round at his brother, which struck a “large glass object” near where he had been standing.

According to the report, the victim went into the backyard to get away from Hudson, who followed him and told him, “Imma kill your a--,” but then fled.

Police said officers surveilled the home and saw a Volkswagen SUV pulling up later that night. When they tried to speak with the driver, the driver drove away, according to the report.

The report states that officers were later able to successfully pull over the driver in the 800 block of South Rock Island Road and found Hudson “concealing himself in the back seat.”

As of Monday morning, Hudson was being held without bond in the Broward Main Jail.

La policía dijo que ocurrió alrededor de las 10:30 p.m. del jueves en la casa de la familia, ubicada en la cuadra 1900 de Northwest 65th Avenue.

Según un informe de arresto, la disputa entre Jermaine Hugh Hudson, de 44 años, y su hermano se originó porque el primero condujo el vehículo del segundo la noche anterior, así como por “algunos otros problemas familiares”.

La policía dijo que Hudson salió de su habitación con un arma y, mientras su madre y su hijo intentaban detenerlo, disparó contra su hermano. La bala impactó un “objeto grande de vidrio” cerca de donde este había estado parado.

Según el informe, la víctima salió al patio trasero para alejarse de Hudson, quien lo siguió y le dijo: “Te voy a matar”, pero luego huyó.

La policía dijo que los agentes vigilaron la casa y vieron una camioneta SUV Volkswagen llegar más tarde esa noche. Cuando intentaron hablar con el conductor, este se alejó en el vehículo, según el informe.

El informe señala que posteriormente los agentes lograron detener al conductor en la cuadra 800 de South Rock Island Road y encontraron a Hudson “escondido en el asiento trasero”.

Hasta la mañana del lunes, Hudson permanecía detenido sin derecho a fianza en la cárcel principal de Broward.

After years of sitting unused in a remote corner of a City of Hollywood Public Works facility, the nearly half million dollar pothole machine has been sold at public auction for $72,120.

Leer en español

Hollywood paid $458,180.44 for the machine in 2022.

The sale price represents about 15.7 percent of what the city originally paid. The difference between the purchase price and the sale price is $386,060.44.

According to the City of Hollywood, the machine was picked up July 28 and is headed to Canada.

The buyer is Accessories Machinery Limited, a private construction equipment supplier in Montreal, Quebec. The city identified Sylvain Mallette, the company’s bureau chief, as the purchaser.

Hollywood said the sale was conducted through Public Surplus. According to the city, the company already owned a Python and found Hollywood’s machine while searching the public auction site for another one.

The sale comes months after a Local 10 News investigation exposed the machine sitting unused at the city’s Public Works facility and raised questions about why the city had purchased the equipment, why it was taken out of service and what happened to efforts to recover the city’s money.

Hollywood’s Python 5000 was supposed to be a solution to one of the city’s most persistent problems.

Instead, it became an expensive piece of equipment that spent most of its short life sitting idle.

The City Commission approved the $458,180.44 purchase on Feb. 2, 2022.

At the time, city officials were enthusiastic about the machine. It was presented as an innovative way to repair potholes faster and with fewer employees.

Then Public Works Director Peter Bieniek told commissioners the machine could be operated by one person using a joystick. City officials said one operator could perform substantially more repair work than a conventional three person crew.

Mayor Josh Levy ended the discussion by saying, “Let’s order the Python 5000,” followed by applause.

Commissioner Caryl Shuham said, “This is exactly what our residents want, so I’m very excited about it.”

Commissioner Kevin Biederman said he was glad the city had found the funding for the purchase.

Hollywood took delivery of the Python in August 2022.

Four months later, in December 2022, the city took it out of service.

The city later told Local 10 that the machine repeatedly broke down and never performed as promised.

Officials also said the way the machine patched potholes did not work properly in Hollywood’s environment. According to the city, the repairs could leave a raised area in the roadway and correcting the problem required additional employees, undermining the efficiency the machine was supposed to provide.

The machine was eventually parked and remained unused for years.

Local 10 found it sitting in a remote area of the Public Works facility, where it remained until the city moved and cleaned it after Local 10 began asking questions about the equipment.

The problems with the machine also led to a legal response.

On Sept. 6, 2023, the Hollywood City Commission unanimously authorized the city attorney to pursue legal action against the manufacturer and seek damages related to what the city’s resolution described as the “defective and unusable” Python 5000.

The lawsuit was never filed.

Joann Hussey, Hollywood’s director of communications, marketing and economic development, told Local 10 that the city attorney’s office reviewed the facts, warranties, contract and terms and conditions and ultimately decided not to pursue the case.

The city attorney involved in that decision later left the city.

The decision not to file the lawsuit was not brought back to the City Commission for a public update.

Mayor Levy later told Local 10 that commissioners should have received more regular updates after directing staff to take action on an issue such as this.

Levy also acknowledged that, in hindsight, more due diligence should have been done before the machine was purchased.

The manufacturer, SuperiorRoads Solutions of Canada, has disputed the city’s account.

Daniel Yun, writing on behalf of SuperiorRoads, told Local 10 that the company spent approximately $30,000 of its own money supporting Hollywood after the machine was delivered. He said the company provided deployment assistance, operator training and maintenance training.

Yun also said the company’s records did not show formal service requests from Hollywood through its service system following delivery and training.

SuperiorRoads said it believed it delivered a quality product and remained willing to work with the city to determine whether the machine could be returned to service.

Hollywood ultimately chose a different path.

The city spent years trying to sell the Python.

After Local 10’s original investigation aired on March 5, the city told Local 10 that staff had contacted the manufacturer using information provided by the station and that efforts to sell the machine were continuing.

The city later confirmed the Python had been sold.

The final price was $72,120.

The machine is now gone from Hollywood.

But the numbers remain.

The city paid $458,180.44 for the Python 5000.

It recovered $72,120 from the sale.

The machine that was supposed to smooth out Hollywood’s potholes ended up sitting unused for years before being sold for a fraction of its original price.

The Python 5000 has now left Hollywood.

The financial pothole it left behind is $386,060.44 between what the city paid and what it recovered from the sale.

Después de pasar años sin uso en un rincón apartado de una instalación de Obras Públicas de la ciudad de Hollywood, la máquina para reparar baches de casi medio millón de dólares fue vendida en una subasta pública por $72,120 USD.

Hollywood pagó $458,180.44 USD por la máquina en 2022.

El precio de venta representa alrededor del 15.7 por ciento de lo que la ciudad pagó originalmente. La diferencia entre el precio de compra y el precio de venta es de $386,060.44 USD.

Según la ciudad de Hollywood, la máquina fue recogida el 28 de julio y se dirige a Canadá.

El comprador es Accessories Machinery Limited, un proveedor privado de equipos de construcción en Montreal, Quebec. La ciudad identificó a Sylvain Mallette, jefe de oficina de la compañía, como el comprador.

Hollywood dijo que la venta se realizó a través de Public Surplus. Según la ciudad, la compañía ya tenía un Python y encontró la máquina de Hollywood mientras buscaba otra en el sitio de subastas públicas.

La venta se produce meses después de que una investigación de Local 10 News revelara que la máquina permanecía sin uso en las instalaciones de Obras Públicas de la ciudad y planteara interrogantes sobre por qué la ciudad había comprado el equipo, por qué fue retirado de servicio y qué ocurrió con los esfuerzos para recuperar el dinero de la ciudad.

Se suponía que el Python 5000 de Hollywood sería una solución a uno de los problemas más persistentes de la ciudad.

En cambio, se convirtió en un costoso equipo que pasó la mayor parte de su corta vida sin ser utilizado.

La Comisión de la Ciudad aprobó la compra por $458,180.44 USD el 2 de febrero de 2022.

En ese momento, los funcionarios de la ciudad estaban entusiasmados con la máquina. Fue presentada como una forma innovadora de reparar baches más rápido y con menos empleados.

El entonces director de Obras Públicas, Peter Bieniek, dijo a los comisionados que la máquina podía ser operada por una persona mediante una palanca de control. Funcionarios de la ciudad dijeron que un operador podía realizar considerablemente más trabajos de reparación que un equipo convencional de tres personas.

El alcalde Josh Levy terminó la discusión diciendo: “Ordenemos el Python 5000”, seguido de aplausos.

La comisionada Caryl Shuham dijo: “Esto es exactamente lo que quieren nuestros residentes, así que estoy muy entusiasmada”.

El comisionado Kevin Biederman dijo que estaba contento de que la ciudad hubiera encontrado los fondos para la compra.

Hollywood recibió el Python en agosto de 2022.

Cuatro meses después, en diciembre de 2022, la ciudad lo retiró de servicio.

Posteriormente, la ciudad dijo a Local 10 que la máquina se averiaba repetidamente y nunca funcionó como se había prometido.

Los funcionarios también dijeron que la forma en que la máquina reparaba los baches no funcionaba adecuadamente en el entorno de Hollywood. Según la ciudad, las reparaciones podían dejar un área elevada en la carretera y corregir el problema requería empleados adicionales, lo que afectaba la eficiencia que se suponía que la máquina debía proporcionar.

La máquina finalmente fue estacionada y permaneció sin uso durante años.

Local 10 la encontró en un área apartada de las instalaciones de Obras Públicas, donde permaneció hasta que la ciudad la trasladó y limpió después de que Local 10 comenzara a hacer preguntas sobre el equipo.

Los problemas con la máquina también provocaron una respuesta legal.

El 6 de septiembre de 2023, la Comisión de la Ciudad de Hollywood autorizó por unanimidad al abogado de la ciudad a emprender acciones legales contra el fabricante y solicitar una indemnización por daños relacionados con lo que la resolución de la ciudad describió como el Python 5000 “defectuoso e inutilizable”.

La demanda nunca fue presentada.

Joann Hussey, directora de comunicaciones, mercadeo y desarrollo económico de Hollywood, dijo a Local 10 que la oficina del abogado de la ciudad revisó los hechos, las garantías, el contrato y los términos y condiciones y finalmente decidió no continuar con el caso.

El abogado de la ciudad involucrado en esa decisión posteriormente dejó la ciudad.

La decisión de no presentar la demanda no fue llevada nuevamente ante la Comisión de la Ciudad para una actualización pública.

El alcalde Levy dijo posteriormente a Local 10 que los comisionados deberían haber recibido actualizaciones más frecuentes después de ordenar al personal que tomara medidas sobre un asunto como este.

Levy también reconoció que, en retrospectiva, se debió haber realizado una mayor diligencia debida antes de comprar la máquina.

El fabricante, SuperiorRoads Solutions de Canadá, ha cuestionado la versión de la ciudad.

Daniel Yun, escribiendo en nombre de SuperiorRoads, dijo a Local 10 que la compañía gastó aproximadamente $30,000 USD de su propio dinero apoyando a Hollywood después de que la máquina fue entregada. Dijo que la compañía proporcionó asistencia para su implementación, capacitación para operadores y capacitación de mantenimiento.

Yun también dijo que los registros de la compañía no mostraban solicitudes formales de servicio por parte de Hollywood a través de su sistema de servicio después de la entrega y la capacitación.

SuperiorRoads dijo que creía haber entregado un producto de calidad y que seguía dispuesta a trabajar con la ciudad para determinar si la máquina podía volver a ponerse en servicio.

Hollywood finalmente eligió un camino diferente.

La ciudad pasó años intentando vender el Python.

Después de que la investigación original de Local 10 saliera al aire el 5 de marzo, la ciudad dijo a Local 10 que el personal se había comunicado con el fabricante utilizando información proporcionada por la estación y que continuaban los esfuerzos para vender la máquina.

Posteriormente, la ciudad confirmó que el Python había sido vendido.

El precio final fue de $72,120 USD.

La máquina ya no está en Hollywood.

Pero las cifras permanecen.

La ciudad pagó $458,180.44 USD por el Python 5000.

Recuperó $72,120 USD de la venta.

La máquina que se suponía que repararía los baches de Hollywood terminó permaneciendo sin uso durante años antes de ser vendida por una fracción de su precio original.

El Python 5000 ya dejó Hollywood.

El bache financiero que dejó atrás es de $386,060.44 USD entre lo que la ciudad pagó y lo que recuperó de la venta.

Leer en español

According to an arrest report, a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputy was conducting checks at an avocado grove operated by Brooks Tropical, located at 15101 SW 200th St., late Sunday night as part of Operation Safe Summer 2026.

The deputy said he spotted a white pickup truck parked at the end of the grove’s driveway and stopped to investigate.

According to the report, the deputy encountered the suspect, Duniel Areces-Gonzalez, 37, and determined he was the registered owner of the pickup.

Investigators said 17 avocados were found in the bed of the truck, while four black construction trash bags filled with avocados were discovered alongside it.

A search of the grove turned up another two black bags filled with avocados, according to the report.

Authorities said a total of 142 avocados, valued at approximately $852, had been taken.

Deputies said Areces-Gonzalez was transported to the Agricultural Patrol Section office, where an investigator attempted to interview him.

When asked whether he wanted to speak with the investigator, Areces-Gonzalez responded, “Why do I need to speak to you? I was caught stealing avocados,” the arrest report stated.

Investigators said he then declined to answer additional questions about the incident.

Areces-Gonzalez was arrested on charges of grand theft and trespassing.

As of Monday afternoon, he was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $3,000 bond.

Clark picked up her eighth technical of the season on Saturday, the number that triggers a one-game suspension, but league officials quickly rescinded it.

New York has won four straight games and seven of its last eight thanks to strong play from its top three players Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu. The trio has been taking turns leading the Liberty during the recent hot streak that's bumped them up to seventh place in the standings — but just two games behind third-place Las Vegas.

The Liberty are coming off a 40-point win over the defending champion Aces on Sunday. The Aces rested stars A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young as it was the second half of a brutal back-to-back for Las Vegas.

“It doesn’t matter who’s playing on the other side, we understand we needed to win,” Ionescu said. “It doesn’t matter, we wanted to go out. We wanted to execute, we wanted to play our brand of basketball, knowing every game is important and this game isn’t going to have an asterisk by it because those players didn’t play. It’s going to show up as a win or a loss.”

New York lost by 20 to Indiana just before its current hot streak, so the Liberty would love to get some revenge.

Power poll rankings

Minnesota held onto the top spot in the power poll this week, although the Lynx weren't unanimous. No. 2 Golden State received two votes and third-ranked Washington got one. Las Vegas, Indiana and New York were next. Atlanta, Dallas and Chicago followed the Liberty. Portland was 10th and Los Angeles 11th. Phoenix, Connecticut, Toronto and Seattle rounded out the poll.

Taskforce meeting

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert sent a memo to all the teams that there will be a meeting this week to continue discussions around transgender athletes in women’s basketball. The memo, sent Friday afternoon, said the topic will be discussed further by a task force of team presidents and general managers at a previously scheduled meeting next week.

Record shooting performance

Kayla McBride had a record-setting game Sunday, scoring a career-high 43 points and hitting a league-best 10 3-pointers in a win over Dallas. McBride made 10 of 14 shots from behind the arc.

“Minneapolis has become home for me and I want to give my best,” she said. “Whether the ball goes in or doesn’t, I just feel so much love. I think that’s why I can come out here and do my thing. I feel so loved and appreciated for who I am and I just love the game. I want to win. So I’m grateful for these fans, this organization. I’m just overcome with joy, and when I have opportunities like that I want to give it back.”

Player of the week

Shakira Austin of Washington was the AP player of the week for the second consecutive week. The forward averaged 22.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks to help the Mystics win all three of their games last week. Other players receiving votes included Breanna Stewart of New York, Bridget Carleton of Portland, Kelsey Mitchell of Indiana and Kayla McBride of Minnesota.

Game of the week

Washington at Las Vegas, Tuesday and Thursday. The Mystics will try to extend a seven-game winning streak when they visit the Aces for a pair of games. A win Tuesday would tie the franchise record of eight consecutive victories by Washington, matching the 2018 team.

___

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

Según un informe de arresto, un agente de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade realizaba inspecciones en una plantación de aguacates operada por Brooks Tropical, ubicada en 15101 SW 200th St., a última hora de la noche del domingo como parte de la Operación Verano Seguro 2026.

El agente dijo que vio una camioneta blanca estacionada al final de la entrada de la plantación y se detuvo para investigar.

Según el informe, el agente se encontró con el sospechoso, Duniel Areces-Gonzalez, de 37 años, y determinó que era el propietario registrado de la camioneta.

Los investigadores dijeron que encontraron 17 aguacates en la parte trasera de la camioneta, mientras que cuatro bolsas negras de basura para construcción llenas de aguacates fueron encontradas junto al vehículo.

Una inspección de la plantación permitió encontrar otras dos bolsas negras llenas de aguacates, según el informe.

Las autoridades dijeron que se habían llevado un total de 142 aguacates, valorados en aproximadamente $852 USD.

Los agentes dijeron que Areces-Gonzalez fue trasladado a la oficina de la Sección de Patrulla Agrícola, donde un investigador intentó entrevistarlo.

Cuando le preguntaron si quería hablar con el investigador, Areces-Gonzalez respondió: “¿Por qué necesito hablar con usted? Me atraparon robando aguacates”, según indicó el informe de arresto.

Los investigadores dijeron que luego se negó a responder preguntas adicionales sobre el incidente.

Areces-Gonzalez fue arrestado por cargos de robo mayor e ingreso ilegal a propiedad privada.

Hasta la tarde del lunes, permanecía detenido en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight con una fianza de $3,000 USD.

Leer en español

Police shared photos of the encounter on Facebook Saturday, joking that the gator may have been eager for the school doors to open Monday morning after summer break.

The alligator was found near a canal at the corner of Coconut Creek Parkway and Lyons Road, which borders the high school.

“A gator that could’ve played left tackle on Creek High’s football team has been relocated,” the department joked in its post.

Police said the alligator measured about 10 feet long and weighed well over 300 pounds.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission assisted with relocating the animal Friday night, according to police.

The sizable reptile now has a new home at Everglades Holiday Park.

Police also had a little fun speculating about what may have brought the gator to the area, joking that perhaps the nearby canal “is like a Buc-ee’s for gators.”

No injuries were reported.

La policía compartió fotos del encuentro en Facebook el sábado, bromeando que el caimán quizá estaba ansioso por que las puertas de la escuela abrieran el lunes por la mañana después de las vacaciones de verano.

El caimán fue encontrado cerca de un canal en la esquina de Coconut Creek Parkway y Lyons Road, que limita con la escuela secundaria.

“Un caimán que podría haber jugado como tackle izquierdo en el equipo de fútbol americano de Creek High fue reubicado”, bromeó el departamento en su publicación.

La policía dijo que el caimán medía unos 10 pies de largo y pesaba bastante más de 300 libras.

La Comisión de Conservación de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de Florida ayudó a reubicar al animal el viernes por la noche, según la policía.

El reptil de gran tamaño ahora tiene un nuevo hogar en Everglades Holiday Park.

La policía también se divirtió un poco especulando sobre lo que pudo haber llevado al caimán a la zona, bromeando que quizás el canal cercano “es como un Buc-ee’s para los caimanes”.

No se reportaron personas heridas.

En la escuela primaria Silver Palms en Pembroke Pines, los estudiantes llegaron luciendo nuevos peinados, zapatos nuevos y mucha emoción por volver a ver a sus amigos después de las vacaciones de verano.

Una estudiante, Olivia, dijo que estaba feliz de que el verano hubiera terminado porque estaba lista para ver a sus amigos. Cuando le preguntaron qué estaba lista para aprender, dio una respuesta sencilla: “¡Simplemente aprender a ser amable con todos!”

Para los padres, la prisa de la mañana también pareció transcurrir sin problemas.

“En realidad, ellos fueron a Silver Palms el año pasado y la pasaron muy bien”, dijo un padre, Michael, después de que le preguntaran cómo fue lograr que sus hijos salieran de casa.

Una vez que se despejaron las filas para dejar a los estudiantes, los maestros y administradores centraron su atención en el año escolar que tienen por delante.

“Hemos estado preparándonos para esto durante todo el verano”, dijo Irina Shearer, directora de la escuela primaria Silver Palms.

Nuevos estudiantes llegan en medio de consolidaciones de escuelas de Broward

El primer día de este año llega con cambios significativos en las Escuelas Públicas del Condado Broward, mientras el distrito continúa abordando la disminución de inscripciones y los miles de asientos vacíos en las aulas.

Bajo el plan “Redefiniendo Nuestras Escuelas” del distrito, Silver Palms está recibiendo a unos 50 estudiantes de la escuela primaria Panther Run, una de seis escuelas cerradas este año a medida que los planteles fueron consolidados o destinados a otros usos.

Shearer dijo que los miembros del personal han trabajado para hacer que los estudiantes que llegan y sus familias se sientan parte de su nueva comunidad escolar.

“Realmente queremos asegurarnos de recibir con los brazos abiertos a las familias que vienen de Panther Run”, dijo Shearer.

Dijo que una maestra estaba creando una pancarta que incorporaba las mascotas de las escuelas, las Panteras de Panther Run y los Delfines de Silver Palms, para simbolizar la unión de las dos comunidades.

Los cambios también se están sintiendo dentro de las aulas.

“Creo que es energía renovada. Tenemos nuevos padres, nuevos niños”, dijo Kristin Kavanaugh, maestra de tercer grado en Silver Palms. “Tengo algunos estudiantes más en mi clase de los que estoy acostumbrada a tener. Tengo unos siete niños que vienen de la otra escuela”.

Los líderes del distrito han dicho que quieren que la transición sea lo más fluida posible para los estudiantes y las familias afectados por las consolidaciones.

Los cambios representan una expansión significativa de los esfuerzos de Broward para abordar los planteles con poco uso. El distrito cerró una escuela el año pasado, mientras que seis planteles fueron consolidados o destinados a otros usos este año.

En Silver Palms, los maestros dicen que su enfoque inmediato tiene menos que ver con los cambios más amplios que están ocurriendo en todo el distrito y más con garantizar que cada niño se sienta bienvenido al comenzar el nuevo año escolar.

Según un comunicado de prensa del Departamento de Policía de Opa-locka, sus agentes fueron llamados para ayudar a la policía de Miami Gardens durante una persecución vehicular activa.

La policía dijo que el sospechoso disparó un arma contra los agentes que lo perseguían mientras huía de Miami Gardens y entraba a Opa-locka.

Agentes de Opa-locka respondieron para ayudar a la policía de Miami Gardens mientras continuaba la persecución.

La persecución finalmente terminó cerca de Northwest 107th Street y Northwest 17th Avenue, donde las autoridades detuvieron al sospechoso, según la policía de Opa-locka.

Se estableció una escena separada cerca de Northwest 22nd Avenue y Northwest 135th Street, donde la policía dijo que un agente de Miami Gardens estuvo involucrado en un accidente durante la persecución.

Personal de emergencia respondió a la escena.

Las autoridades no proporcionaron de inmediato información sobre la condición del agente ni dijeron si alguien más resultó herido en el accidente.

Las autoridades tampoco han revelado la identidad del sospechoso ni detalles adicionales sobre la investigación por delito grave que precedió a la persecución.

La policía de Opa-locka enfatizó que la información divulgada hasta el momento es preliminar y dijo que la investigación permanece activa y en curso.

Se espera que las agencias investigadoras correspondientes divulguen detalles adicionales sobre la investigación subyacente, la persecución, el arresto y el accidente que involucró al agente.

“El Departamento de Policía de la Ciudad de Opa-locka mantiene su compromiso de trabajar en colaboración con nuestros socios de las agencias policiales vecinas para proteger a nuestras comunidades y garantizar la seguridad de los residentes y del personal policial”, declaró el OLPD en el comunicado de prensa.

Si el tribunal acepta el acuerdo, el juicio de Clenney no se llevará a cabo, poniendo fin al caso.

El equipo legal de Clenney dice que ella está lista para aceptar un acuerdo de culpabilidad de la Fiscalía Estatal. Aún no se sabe cuánto tiempo de prisión aceptará cumplir.

Clenney, de 30 años, permanece encarcelada en Miami desde su arresto en 2022 por un cargo de asesinato en segundo grado. Está acusada de matar a su novio, con quien mantenía una relación intermitente, dentro del lujoso apartamento que compartían en Edgewater hace cuatro años.

Las imágenes de la cámara corporal de la policía de Miami mostraron a Clenney cubierta de sangre. Los fiscales dicen que apuñaló a Christian durante una pelea.

Los investigadores le informaron a Clenney sobre la muerte de Obumseli durante una entrevista con la policía.

Ante los demás, la pareja parecía estar enamorada y llevar un estilo de vida lujoso. Pero desde la muerte de Obumseli, videos han mostrado un lado turbulento de su relación.

Clenney fue vista golpeando a Obumseli en un ascensor. Durante un viaje a Aspen, también fue vista abofeteándolo repetidamente.

Esa pelea ocurrió dos meses antes de que Obumseli fuera apuñalado. Los abogados de Clenney dicen que el apuñalamiento de abril de 2022 fue en defensa propia.

Los videos, junto con una gran cantidad de evidencia digital, formaban parte de las pruebas que los fiscales planeaban utilizar para demostrar su caso en el juicio.

La Fiscalía Estatal dice que Clenney era abusiva y violenta.

La familia Obumseli planea asistir a la audiencia del lunes y leer declaraciones sobre el impacto en las víctimas antes de que el tribunal decida si acepta el acuerdo.

“Nunca es un caso con victoria asegurada”, dijo el abogado defensor Jack Palmeri. “Nunca se sabe qué van a hacer 12 miembros del jurado en un caso, nada está garantizado cuando se trata de un juicio, por lo que todos tienen algo que arriesgar”.

Palmeri dijo que la familia Obumseli habría tenido que aprobar el acuerdo.

“Creo que, en teoría, este es un acuerdo cerrado, pero sí, técnicamente hablando, en el sentido literal, esto no estará cerrado hasta que el juez lo apruebe oficialmente en el tribunal”, dijo Palmeri.

Un abogado de la familia Obumseli dice que han participado en las conversaciones relacionadas con el acuerdo.

Los abogados de Clenney planean responder preguntas de los medios de comunicación después de la audiencia.

Jones had a heart attack in his home Sunday in Washington, Virginia, as he was waiting to watch his beloved Atlanta Braves play baseball, his wife, Alma Viator, said on social media. Rappahannock County Sheriff Connie Compton confirmed his death.

Jones' fame came from his role as Cooter Davenport, the mechanic who got the Duke boys out of jams as they tried to do the right thing and fight the corrupt Boss Hogg in the fictional Hazzard County, Georgia.

After playing Cooter for all seven seasons of the series from 1979 to 1985, Jones turned to politics and was elected to the U.S. House from a district near Atlanta in 1988. The Democrat served two terms before he was redistricted out of the seat.

Jones was born in North Carolina and in college got involved in acting and civil rights, he wrote in his autobiography "Redneck Boy in the Promised Land: The Confessions of ‘Crazy Cooter.’"

Acting took over his life. Jones performed in numerous stage productions and had a few minor TV and movie roles in Atlanta during the 1970s before his life-defining break came on a TV show Jones defended as a modern-day morality tale and a fine example of Southern values.

For seven seasons, Jones was one of a small band of friends and family helping Bo and Luke Duke in “The Dukes of Hazzard.” The brothers were on probation for running moonshine and were constantly trying to clear their names and stop the crooked and powerful Boss Hogg from stealing or cheating.

The Duke boys drove a modified 1969 Dodge Charger called the General Lee with a Confederate flag on its roof. Cooter owned “Cooter's Garage” in the town square. Nearly every episode involved a car chase with jumps and stunts and a patrol car badly in need of repairs.

Cooter was often on the CB radio in his pickup truck saying “Breaker one, Breaker one. I might be crazy but I ain’t dumb. Crazy Cooter coming at you."

“The Dukes of Hazzard” was a hit for CBS and its popularity never waned. It went into syndication and later became a prominent fixture on cable's The Nashville Network.

Jones also credited the series with pulling him out of a self-destructive, alcoholic lifestyle that led to the failure of several marriages.

″It was like being in a Beatles movie,″ Jones said. ″Our lives changed.″

Tom Wopat, who played Luke Duke, said Jones was an integral part of making the series work.

“Ben Jones was a fine friend and a fierce advocate of all the best things we can offer in the entertainment business. He will be sorely missed,” Wopat wrote on Instagram.

After “The Dukes of Hazzard,” Jones went into politics. He kept his aw shucks personality, but took the issues seriously. In his four years in Washington, Jones was known as a Democrat who could buck his party. He was liberal on social issues and conservative on economics.

But even in politics, he made a splash. After losing in 1992 in his redrawn district, Jones ran for Congress again in 1994. He lost to Newt Gingrich in the elections that elevated the Republican to the Speaker's Office.

Jones would file an ethics complaint that Gingrich used tax-deductible donations to fund his partisan college course leading to a House reprimand and Gingrich's decision to leave the body.

Jones always embraced his role as Cooter. After moving to Virginia, he would open at least three “Cooter's” country stores in Nashville and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and near his home. They sold plenty of T-shirts, key chains and insulated tumblers and included Dukes of Hazzard memorabilia like one of the 300 or so General Lee cars used and abused in the TV series.

The show and Cooter lived on because it was funny, had plenty of action and car chases and had a good, family-friendly heart, Jones told the Richmond Times-Dispatch at a 2001 car show where he played in a band, signed autographs and met fans.

“The show reflects the values of the heartland of America. The good guys always win,” Jones said.

Authorities did not immediately reveal the federal charge or charges brought against Manuel Hernandez, a 46-year-old New York man already facing state charges of reckless endangerment in the deaths of Sara Sanchez and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia.

It was also unclear who will represent Hernandez in federal court.

Nicholas Biase, a spokesperson for Manhattan federal prosecutors, said Hernandez was in federal custody and that further information would be provided.

The mother and daughter died after a 22-foot Bayliner speedboat overturned late Saturday near the Statue of Liberty.

Police divers found them and they were pronounced dead at a hospital. Twelve other people were rescued before police arrived. The U.S. Coast Guard said they were in stable condition.

Capt. Doreen McCarthy, the Coast Guard Sector New York commander, credited the rescue of survivors to “heroic, swift actions” by those who responded from various agencies, along with a good Samaritan vessel.

Leer en español

At Silver Palms Elementary School in Pembroke Pines, students arrived sporting fresh hairstyles, new shoes and plenty of excitement about seeing their friends after summer break.

One student, Olivia, said she was happy summer was over because she was ready to see her friends. Asked what she was ready to learn, she had a simple answer: “Just learning to be nice to everyone!”

For parents, the morning rush also appeared to go smoothly.

“They actually went to Silver Palms last year, and they had a really good time,” one parent, Michael, said after being asked about getting his children out the door.

Once the drop-off lines cleared, teachers and administrators turned their attention to the school year ahead.

“We’ve been preparing for this all summer long,” Silver Palms Elementary Principal Irina Shearer said.

New students arrive amid Broward school consolidations

This year’s first day comes with significant changes across Broward County Public Schools as the district continues addressing declining enrollment and thousands of empty classroom seats.

Under the district’s “Redefining Our Schools” plan, Silver Palms is welcoming about 50 students from Panther Run Elementary, one of six schools closed this year as campuses were consolidated or repurposed.

Shearer said staff members have worked to make the incoming students and their families feel like they are part of their new school community.

“We really want to make sure we’re embracing the families that are coming from Panther Run,” Shearer said.

She said one teacher was creating a banner incorporating the schools’ mascots — the Panther Run Panthers and Silver Palms Dolphins — to symbolize the two communities coming together.

The changes are also being felt inside classrooms.

“I think it’s fresh energy. We’ve got new parents, new kids,” said Kristin Kavanaugh, a third-grade teacher at Silver Palms. “I have a few more students in my class than I’m used to having. I have about seven kids coming from the other school.”

District leaders have said they want the transition to be as smooth as possible for students and families affected by the consolidations.

The changes represent a significant expansion of Broward’s efforts to address underused campuses. The district closed one school last year, while six campuses were consolidated or repurposed this year.

At Silver Palms, teachers say their immediate focus is less about the larger changes happening across the district and more about ensuring every child feels welcome as the new school year begins.

Leer en español

According to Miami Gardens Police Chief Delma Noel-Pratt, officers responded to a home at about 9:50 p.m. Sunday after receiving a report about shots being fired at the home during a domestic violence incident.

The suspect returned to the area while a detective was there at about 4:15 a.m. Monday and shot at the detective, Noel-Pratt said.

“As standard protocol, our detective came out to the scene,” she said. “The call happened to be involving a boyfriend/girlfriend, so it was a domestic violence call.”

The police chief said the detective returned fire and the pursuit started, with the suspect driving into Opa-locka.

According to a news release from the Opa-locka Police Department, its officers were called to assist Miami Gardens police during the vehicle pursuit.

The chase eventually ended near Northwest 107th Street and Northwest 17th Avenue, where authorities took the suspect into custody, according to Opa-locka police.

A separate scene was established near Northwest 22nd Avenue and Northwest 135th Street, where police said a Miami Gardens officer was involved in a crash during the pursuit.

Emergency personnel responded to the scene, but the officer was not injured.

Authorities have not released the suspect’s identity, but confirmed that the suspect was injured in the shooting and was transported to a local hospital to be treated for their injuries.

No officers or detectives were injured during the shooting and chase, the Miami Gardens police chief confirmed.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.

Leer en español

The plea brings an end to the case.

Clenney, 30, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, receiving a six-year prison sentence and five years of probation. She will receive credit for time served from Aug. 10, 2022, when she was initially arrested in Hawaii.

Clenney has been jailed in Miami since her 2022 arrest on a second-degree murder charge. She is accused of killing her on-and-off boyfriend inside their luxury Edgewater apartment four years ago.

Miami police body camera footage showed Clenney covered in blood. Prosecutors say she stabbed Christian during a fight.

Investigators broke the news of Obumseli’s death to Clenney during a police interview.

On the outside, the couple appeared to be in love and living a lavish lifestyle. But since Obumseli’s death, videos have shown a turbulent side to their relationship.

Clenney was seen hitting Obumseli in an elevator. On a trip to Aspen, she was also seen repeatedly slapping him.

That fight happened two months before Obumseli was stabbed. Clenney’s lawyers say the April 2022 stabbing was in self-defense.

The videos, along with a mountain of digital evidence, were part of the evidence prosecutors planned to use to prove their case at trial.

The State Attorney’s Office says Clenney was abusive and violent.

The Obumseli family plans to attend Monday’s hearing and read victim impact statements before the court decides whether to accept the plea.

“It’s never a slam dunk case,” defense attorney Jack Palmeri said. “You never know what 12 jurors are going to do in a case -- nothing is ever a gimme when it comes to trial, so everyone has exposure.”

Palmeri said the Obumseli family would have needed to sign on off on the deal.

“I think, theoretically, this is a done deal, but yes, technically speaking in the literal sense, this is not done until on the record in court the judge signs off on it,” Palmeri said.

A lawyer for the Obumseli family says they have been involved in conversations surrounding the plea.

In court on Monday, a relative read a statement on behalf of Obumseli’s mother.

“Words can never fully explain how Christian’s death has affected my life and the lives of everyone in our family. There is simply too much pain to put on paper,” the relative, a cousin of Obumseli’s, said as she read the statement. “That was the darkest day of my life, and the darkness continued to unfold as I learned Christian had been killed by his girlfriend, Courtney Clenney, someone he had trusted and loved. Since April 2022, I have lived with fear, anxiety, sleepless nights, heartache and more tears than I could ever count.”

Clenney did not address the court.

Clenney’s lawyers plan to answer questions from the media following the hearing.

In a statement, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said that with the agreement, Obumseli’s family “finally heard what they long sought: Courtney Clenney accepting full responsibility for his death.”

“This plea was reached in full consultation and approval of Christian’s family,” Fernandez Rundle said. “The Assistant State Attorneys handling this case have remained focused on the core evidence that Clenney stabbed Christian Obumseli as part of a pattern of escalating violence toward him. While nothing can heal the wounds caused on that day in April, I hope today’s guilty plea brings his family a measure of justice too long denied.”

Jones came into the weekend 18th in the standings, 44 points behind 16th-place Austin Cindric for the final spot in The Chase that determines the series champion. The 350-lap race Sunday was the first of the final four races of the regular season, and Jones was running out of time.

“One more bad week where we lose any ground, and it’s going to be pretty insurmountable,” Jones said.

Then Jones, who started 10th, got taken out four laps in when Tyler Reddick’s car slid into him, sending both cars into the wall and ending the day for both drivers.

Reddick knew the damage he had done.

“If I’m going to take myself out, that’s one thing,” Reddick said. “But I took out a (Toyota) teammate who needed a good day.”

Such is life in the closing stretch of the regular season, where one bad finish or one good finish can change fortunes.

Denny Hamlin leads the standings with 923 points, 103 points ahead of Ty Gibbs, who won Sunday's race just ahead of Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Christopher Bell.

Only four drivers have wrapped up Chase spots: Hamlin, Gibbs, Ryan Blaney (813) and Reddick (803).

Cindric has 526 points. Ryan Preece is the first driver below the cutline at 497 points. Ross Chastain jumped three spots after his seventh-place finish at Iowa, moving into 18th place at 479 points. Brad Keselowski is one point behind Chastain.

Other than maybe the last one or two spots, the biggest scramble now in this final month could be for seeding. Points for the top 16 drivers will reset after the Aug. 29 regular-season finale at Daytona. The regular-season champion will be the top seed and start The Chase with 2,100 points, the second seed will have 2,075 points and the third seed will have 2,065, with a five-point drop for each seed after that.

“You have all these other little battles going on, like the battle from sixth to 11th or 12th right now is really, really tight and that’s exciting,” said Blaney, who finished third Sunday. “Those guys are dogging it out right now. That’s a lot of points from sixth down to 11th or whatever. So I think it creates a lot of exciting things through the regular season.”

Some of the biggest changes in the standings came in that middle group. Chase Briscoe rose three spots to fifth place with 663 points. He's four points ahead of Bell, who climbed four spots with his second-place finish.

A crash ended Kyle Larson’s day and he finished 33rd to drop four spots in the standings to 10th.

The crucial jump of the day, though, belonged to Gibbs, who went from fourth to second.

“We’ve scored a lot of points in the last couple races,” Gibbs said. “To be able to finish it off today was awesome. I think the difference between the leader and 16th is 100 points, isn’t it, when the playoffs start? So it puts you in a better shot for the title at the end of the year.”

Jones’ early exit dropped him to 20th place, 50 points behind Cindric and four drivers to climb over to get on the good side of the cut line.

“At this point, we’ve got three races,” Jones said. “We got to just go try to win and run the best we can. It’s not over until it’s over, but it’s a tall mountain.”

___

AP NASCAR: https://apnews.com/hub/nascar-racing

Leer en español

According to a federal criminal complaint obtained by Local 10 News on Monday, Jhon Alexander Herrera Giraldo arrived on Avianca Flight AV06 from Bogota on Wednesday and said he had nothing to declare to customs agents.

However, it states that agents conducting a pat-down noticed that the 40-year-old, who’s been with the airline for nearly two decades, was wearing a silver-colored chain around his neck and asked him about it.

Authorities said Herrera Giraldo initially claimed the chain was platinum, but then “stated that it was gold but claimed he had owned it for years.”

They said he “later admitted that the chain was not his” and said “an individual named ‘Leandro’ had given him the chain in Colombia and instructed him to deliver it to an individual named ‘Lalo’ the next day,” saying that “that the chain had already been painted silver when ‘Leandro’ gave it to him and that he believed the chain was painted to conceal the fact that it was gold.”

Authorities said Herrera Giraldo admitted he lied about the chain at first because he was “scared” and said “he received approximately $200 to $300 for each trip on which he brought a chain” to the U.S., making three such trips over the past four months.

According to the complaint, the chain weighed in at around 240 grams and was “made of high-purity gold consistent with merchandise intended for sale or other commercial use.”

Though the complaint doesn’t state where authorities suspect the gold came from, according to Business Insider, illegal gold mining is now Colombia’s “most profitable illicit industry” and the U.S. is the country’s number-one destination for smuggled gold.

As for Herrera Giraldo, agents arrested him on a charge of smuggling goods into the United States, which can carry a 20-year prison sentence.

His federal court file did not list any upcoming hearings and he remained held in the Federal Detention Center in downtown Miami as of Monday morning.

Local 10 News contacted Avianca on Monday morning seeking comment on Herrera Giraldo’s arrest.

Según una denuncia penal federal obtenida por Local 10 News el lunes, Jhon Alexander Herrera Giraldo llegó el miércoles en el vuelo AV06 de Avianca procedente de Bogotá y dijo que no tenía nada que declarar a los agentes de aduanas.

Sin embargo, la denuncia indica que los agentes que realizaban una inspección corporal notaron que el hombre de 40 años, quien lleva casi dos décadas trabajando para la aerolínea, llevaba una cadena de color plateado alrededor del cuello y le preguntaron sobre ella.

Las autoridades dijeron que Herrera Giraldo inicialmente afirmó que la cadena era de platino, pero luego “declaró que era de oro, aunque afirmó que la tenía desde hacía años”.

Dijeron que “posteriormente admitió que la cadena no era suya” y señaló que “un individuo llamado ‘Leandro’ le había dado la cadena en Colombia y le había indicado que se la entregara a un individuo llamado ‘Lalo’ al día siguiente”, agregando que “la cadena ya había sido pintada de color plateado cuando ‘Leandro’ se la entregó y que creía que la cadena había sido pintada para ocultar el hecho de que era de oro”.

Las autoridades dijeron que Herrera Giraldo admitió que inicialmente mintió sobre la cadena porque estaba “asustado” y dijo que “recibía aproximadamente entre $200 y $300 USD por cada viaje en el que llevaba una cadena” a Estados Unidos, y que realizó tres viajes de este tipo durante los últimos cuatro meses.

Según la denuncia, la cadena pesaba alrededor de 240 gramos y estaba “hecha de oro de alta pureza, consistente con mercancía destinada a la venta u otro uso comercial”.

Aunque la denuncia no indica de dónde sospechan las autoridades que provenía el oro, según Business Insider, la minería ilegal de oro es ahora la “industria ilícita más rentable” de Colombia y Estados Unidos es el principal destino del oro de contrabando procedente de ese país.

En cuanto a Herrera Giraldo, agentes lo arrestaron por un cargo de contrabando de mercancías hacia Estados Unidos, que puede conllevar una sentencia de 20 años de prisión.

Su expediente en el tribunal federal no indicaba ninguna audiencia próxima y permanecía detenido en el Centro Federal de Detención en el centro de Miami hasta la mañana del lunes.

Local 10 News contactó a Avianca la mañana del lunes para solicitar comentarios sobre el arresto de Herrera Giraldo.

Kiel Baitinger-Peterson, a white officer with nearly 11 years' experience in law enforcement, fired the shots that killed Corey Ruiz on July 22, the Wisconsin Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation said in a statement. Baitinger-Peterson was one of four officers who surrounded Ruiz, who was on a bike, in response to calls about someone who was checking out parked cars and an alleged burglary attempt, police said.

The shooting sparked days of protests and calls from the Black community for Madison to address racial justice issues.

Baitinger-Peterson did not reply to an email seeking comment.

Jim Palmer, executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, which is the state’s largest police union and represents Madison officers, responded on behalf of Baitinger-Peterson.

“I am deeply concerned for the safety and privacy of him, his family, and the other officers involved,” Palmer said.

He said those concerns are being taken seriously and “appropriate precautions” are in place.

“I urge everyone to allow the investigation to proceed and to refrain from prejudging the officers or placing them and their families at further risk,” Palmer said.

Baitinger-Peterson and the other three officers who interacted with Ruiz that day have been placed on paid administrative leave while the state investigates the shooting.

There is no timeline for when the state Justice Department investigation will conclude. Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne will review the findings before deciding whether to file charges against Baitinger-Peterson.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Ruiz's family, has called for the officer to be charged.

While bystanders captured the confrontation on video, there is no body camera footage because Madison police officers don't wear them.

The state Justice Department said two officers attempted to use a Taser on Ruiz but weren't successful. Ruiz “brandished a knife and injured” Baitinger-Peterson, it said. Law enforcement agencies haven't divulged the extent of the officer's injuries. They did release an image of a fixed-blade knife that was recovered at the scene.

The protests over the shooting led to several nearby community events being canceled or postponed.

Leer en español

Inspectors recently ordered 13 establishments shut, finding everything from rodent droppings and live roaches, to hundreds of flies, mold-like buildup, filthy equipment and food held at unsafe temperatures.

At Yellow Tail Subs Grill in Homestead, inspectors documented 32 violations, including live roaches crawling across a food-preparation table, among cleaned containers, and even out of a box of parchment paper used to wrap food; more than 100 roach droppings were found on a shelf.

At Pack Supermarket in Miami, inspectors found rodent droppings throughout the store, including 15 or more inside the walk-in cooler, along with gnawed cabbage bags. Records show it was the fourth time the supermarket had been ordered shut over rodent issues since October 2025.

At Pickles Pub Sandbar in Key West, inspectors reported 100 or more live flying insects landing on soda boxes, clean plates, napkins, pitchers and cups, while Tacombi in Miami was cited for dozens of rodent droppings and live flies.

Other shutdowns involved improperly cooled or stored food, unsanitary food-contact surfaces, dirty floors and equipment, and repeated pest problems.

All the places mentioned were allowed to re-open following an ordered cleanup and then a re-inspection.

**TACOMBI

3930 NE 2ND AVE.

MIAMI

INSPECTION BASED ON COMPLAINT

ORDERED SHUT 8/6

11 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. Observed approximately 16 droppings at floor by mop sink by water heater room under storage dry rack. Observed approximately 25 droppings on floor under dishwasher and three compartment sink. Observed approximately 10 droppings behind ice machine bar area.”

“Live, small flying insects found. Observed approximately 5 live small flies flying by ware washing area and 3 flies flying around prep area by hand sink front counter.”

“Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Observe green cutting board By prep area front counter.”

“Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed reach in cooler gaskets soiled at front counter.”

**YELLOW TAIL SUBS GRILL

27275 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY

HOMESTEAD

INSPECTION BASED ON COMPLAINT

ORDERED SHUT 8/6

32 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed at cook line 4 live roaches crawling across floor. Observed at fire suppression extinguisher above reach in cooler, 6+ live roaches. Observed at dish washing area shelf approximately 6+ live roaches crawling between cleaned containers. Observed at prep table in kitchen 2 live roaches crawling on prep table where uncovered hot sauce containers were being prepped. Observed at water heater closet 8 live roaches crawling out of door frame. Observed at dry storage area 4 live roaches crawling on walls and shelves where flour bags are stored. Observed 1 live roach crawling out of box of parchment paper used to wrap food items. Observed 1 live roach crawling from under gyro machine at cook line. Observed 1 live roach crawling on lid of reach in cooler flip top.”

“Roach excrement and/or droppings present. Observed at dish washing area shelf 100+ roach droppings on shelf and metal containers.”

“Accumulation of dead or trapped birds, insects, rodents, or other pests, in control devices. Observed at drive thru area big zapper with an accumulation of dead fly’s and roaches.”

“Insect control device installed over food preparation area. Observed at drive thru bug zapper stored on top of soda machine. Observed at dry storage area big zapper stored on shelf above bags of flour.”

“Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Observed throughout with dirty build up, dead roaches and cob webs and flies.”

“Pesticide/insecticide labeled for household use only present in establishment. Observed can of household roach spray at kitchen prep table.”

“Objectionable odors in bathroom or other areas of the establishment. Observed at rear dry storage area where flour is stored.”

“Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Observed at all reach in cooler and freezer handles.”

“Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Observed cook coat raw chicken then proceed to grab raw tilapia and wash off gloves.”

“Stored food not covered. Observed at reach in cooler containers of tilapia, shrimp and conch fritters stored uncovered. Observed at dry storage shelf bucket of dry seasoning stored uncovered.”

“Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed at cook line table fried chicken (101F - Hot Holding).”

“No proof of required state approved employee training provided for employee hired more than 60 days ago.”

“Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed employee remove soiled gloves then take new pair to replace no hand wash.”

**ELEVENTH STREET PIZZA

9025 SW 72ND PL.

MIAMI

ORDERED SHUT 8/3

13 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Observed 20 + live flies in kitchen area under prep table in bags of red onions.”

“Live, small flying insects found. Observed 20 + live flies in kitchen area under prep table in bags of red onions. Observed 2 live flies at front counter near beer tap.”

“Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed meat slicer soiled. Repeat Violation.”

“Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed near pizza mixer. Repeat Violation.”

“Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Observed throughout kitchen.”

“Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed reach in across oven with ambient temp of 55F; the following TCS foods stored inside for more than 4 hours: mozzarella cheese (54F - Cold Holding); roasted onions (58F - Cold Holding); mushrooms roasted (72F - Cold Holding); Alfredo sauce (70F - Cold Holding); roasted garlic (55F - Cold Holding). Repeat Violation.”

**PICKLES PUB SANDBAR

511 GREENE ST.

KEY WEST

ORDERED SHUT 8/3

24 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. Observed approximately 20+ rodent droppings on deli slicer underneath prep table in pizza prep area and approximately 15+ droppings on shelf where pizza boxes are stored.”

“Live, small flying insects found. Observed approximately 100+ live flying insects flying and landing on soda boxes, clean plates, napkins, bottle of grenadine, clean pitchers, and clean cups inside server station near bar.”

“Dead roaches on premises. Observed one dead roach on stairs leading up to dry storage room.”

“Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed storage container heavily soiled with old food debris where clean pizza pans are stored under pizza ovens in pizza area.”

“Accumulation of debris on exterior of ware washing machine. Repeat Violation.”

“Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Observed all reach in cooler handles soiled. Repeat Violation.”

“Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Observed ceiling heavily dusty above bar area. Repeat Violation.”

“Equipment in poor repair. Observed broken reach in cooler next to fryers, not in use. Observed pizza prep reach in cooler lid broken. Repeat Violation.”

“Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed floor heavily soiled in pizza prep area and floor in server station soiled with slime like substance. Repeat Violation.”

“Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed shredded cheese (56F - Cold Holding); sausage (55F - Cold Holding); shredded mozzarella (55F - Cold Holding); pizza sauce (54F - Cold Holding) inside reach in cooler at pizza prep area, as per operator for 2 hours. Observed shredded cheese (45F - Cold Holding); shredded lettuce (46F - Cold Holding); raw chicken (45F - Cold Holding) inside reach in cooler across from walk in cooler. Repeat Violation.”

“Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed employee grab trash can then handle pizza paddle to plate pizza without changing gloves and washing hands.”

“Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed employee handle raw chicken then change gloves and begin to handle clean equipment without washing hands.”

**PACK SUPERMARKET

8235 NE 2ND AVE.

MIAMI

ORDERED SHUT 8/3

25 VIOLATIONS FOUND

ALSO ORDERED SHUT 3/2026 (RODENT ISSUE)

ALSO ORDERED SHUT 12/2025 (RODENT ISSUE)

ALSO ORDERED SHUT 10/2025 (RODENT ISSUE)

“Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. Observed 3 rodent droppings on the floor behind soda reach in cooler, 4 rodent droppings on the floor under 3 compartment sink, 2 droppings on the floor under front counter, 2 droppings on the floor of the stairs by the 3 compartment sink, 15+ droppings on the floor inside the walk in cooler and 3 rodent droppings on the floor under the mop sink. Repeat Violation.”

“Presence of insects, rodents, or other pests. Observed gnawed marks on 3 cabbage bags inside the walk in cooler.”

“Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Observed gnawed marks on 3 cabbage bags inside the walk in cooler.”

“Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed containers of sugar heavily soiled by the coffee machine.”

“Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed pickles (67F - Cold Holding) stored on top of prep table for 2 hours, as per operator. Operator placed item into reach in cooler.”

“Food service manager not certified within 30 days of employment.”

“Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. Throughout the establishment. Repeat Violation.”

“Equipment in poor repair. Observed walk in cooler #1 and walk in cooler door in disrepair. Repeat Violation.”

“Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Repeat Violation.”

“Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed mop sink heavily soiled.”

“Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. By the mop sink, next to and behind fryer station. Repeat Violation.”

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

FOLLOW-UP INSPECTION 8/4

“Observed approximately 25 rodent droppings around inside the walk in cooler floor. Observed behind cook line table 4 rodent droppings.”

**SUGAR BAE

8253 SUNSET STRIP

SUNRISE

ORDERED SHUT 8/7

6 VIOLATIONS FOUND

ALSO ORDERED SHUT 8/2025 (ROACH ISSUE)

“Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. 1) 6 live roaches inside dishwashing machine dishwashing machine in kitchen. 2) 7 live roaches under chest freezer in kitchen 3) 5 live roaches crawling on wall next to triple sink in kitchen. 4) 6 live Roaches under food warmer in kitchen.”

“Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cheese (50F - Cold Holding); Cooked Potatoes (49F - Cold Holding). Per Manager food items in unit overnight. Items not prepared or portioned today.”

“Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cheese (50F - Cold Holding); Cooked Potatoes (49F - Cold Holding). Per Manager food items in unit overnight. Items not prepared or portioned today.”

“Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Prep Table- Cooked Rice (98-110F - Hot Holding). Per cook food items stored at room temperature less than 2 hours. Cook discarded.”

**RENDEZ-VOUS

1576 EAST OAKLAND PARK BLVD.

OAKLAND PARK

ORDERED SHUT 7/27

10 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. Approximately 4 rodent droppings on dry storage shelf next to dry pancake mix. 1 rodent droppings on top of box of pancake mix. Operator removed rodent droppings.”

“Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. 1 live roach under dry storage shelving. Operator exterminated and removed.”

“Dead roaches on premises. 1 dead roach next to front counter ice machine. 1 dead roach under dish machine. 3 dead under dry storage shelving. Operator removed dead roaches.”

“Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. 1. Under dry storage shelving. 2. Under triple sink and dish machine. 3. Behind booths along front windows.”

“Required employee training expired for some employees.”

**GOURMET CREOLE

416 NE 36TH ST.

POMPANO BEACH

INSPECTION BASED ON COMPLAINT

ORDERED SHUT 7/27

13 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. 1. Observed approximately 10 rodent droppings on floor behind fridge in dry storage area. 2. Observed approximately 25 rodents droppings on food storage container packing on bottom shelf of food prep table next to fridge in dry storage area.”

“Dead roaches on premises. 1. Observed approximately 10 dead roaches on glue board on floor in closet. 2. Observed approximately 10 dead roaches on a glue board under food prep table next to fridge in dry storage area.”

“Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. 1. Observed Cooked chicken (48F); cooked beef (51F); Pikliz (49F) in two door reach in cooler in kitchen. Not prepared or portioned today.”

“Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. 1. Observed black beans cooling on counter in kitchen at 11:30a at 105F to 91F at 11:59, cooling since 11a. Observed cooling in deep containers. Observed operator covering with plastic and placing container in reach in cooler.”

“Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. 1. Observed buildup of spilled dry rice and beans on floors and under tables and equipment in dry storage area.”

“Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. 1. Observed old food debris on bottom shelf of reach in freezer in kitchen. 2. Hood filters at cookline in kitchen. Repeat Violation.”

**IFRA’S INDIAN KITCHEN

9543 S. DIXIE HIGHWAY

PINECREST

ORDERED SHUT 7/27

23 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed 1 live roach on floor next to mop sink in kitchen area. Observed 1 live roach on reach in cooler in kitchen area across triple sink. Observed 1 live roach on empty container in kitchen area above hand sink. Observed 1 live roach under triple sink next to cook line in kitchen area.”

“Live, small flying insects found. Observed 2 live flies on wall next to mop sink in kitchen area. Observed 1 live fly on wall next to cooler in kitchen area. Observed 2 live flies in restroom on wall behind toilet.”

“Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed reach in outside of kitchen with ambient temp of 54F; the following TCS foods stored inside for more than 4 hours: lamb (47F - Cold Holding); chicken (45F - Cold Holding); cheese (46F - Cold Holding); cooked potato (45F - Cold Holding); cauliflower cooked (46F - Cold Holding).”

“Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed food and dish shelves soiled. Repeat Violation.”

“Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Repeat Violation.”

“Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Observed soiled ceiling. Repeat Violation.”

“Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed in kitchen. Repeat Violation.”

“Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Observed microwave and oven soiled. Repeat Violation.”

“Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Repeat Violation.”

“Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Observed soiled walls in kitchen. Repeat Violation.”

“Cold holding equipment not maintained in good repair. Do not store time/temperature control for safety food in this unit until the unit is repaired. Observed reach in outside of kitchen with ambient temp of 54F; the following TCS foods stored inside for more than 4 hours: lamb (47F - Cold Holding); chicken (45F - Cold Holding); cheese (46F - Cold Holding); cooked potato (45F - Cold Holding); cauliflower cooked (46F - Cold Holding).”

FOLLOW-UP INSPECTION 7/28

“At time of callback inspection observed 6 live flying insects on wall and ceiling in the restroom. Observed 1 live flying insects on kitchen reach in cooler door.”

“At time of callback inspection observed 4 live roaches in kitchen area behind window opening panel and shelf as well as coming out of the floor drain. Observed at lobby dry storage area 3 dead roaches under shelving and on walls.”

FOLLOW-UP INSPECTION 7/29

“Observed 1 live roach crawling on floor in front of dry storage rack. Observed 1 live roach on kitchen floor. Observed 1 live roach on rack above reach in cooler in kitchen area.”

**LUCKY CAT STREET EATERY

6322 N. ANDREWS AVE,

FORT LAUDERDALE

ORDERED SHUT 7/28

13 VIOLATIONS FOUND

ALSO ORDERED SHUT 11/2023 (ROACH ISSUE)

“Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Approximately 10 crawling on the floor on wall behind reach in freezer under reach in freezer on cook line next to cooler with food.”

“Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Operator left kitchen area into dining room to touched dirty surfaces then touched face then putting gloves and started to make food without washing hands Employee washed hands.”

“Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Time/temperature control for safety food prepared from/mixed with ingredient(s) at ambient temperature not cooled to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 4 hours. Flip top cooler cooked bamboo at 2:36pm ( 46F cooling) since 10:30am raw breaded chicken at 2:48pm (46F cooling ) since 10:30am Products did not cool to 41F within 4 hours. See stop sale Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Multiple coolers on kitchen with overstocked items, Flip top cooler cook line Hard boil eggs 50F cold holding, over 4 hours. See stop sale tall stainless still fridge in kitchen. Pork stuff bun 52F cold holding.”

“Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. Time/temperature control for safety food prepared from/mixed with ingredient(s) at ambient temperature not cooled to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 4 hours. Flip top cooler cooked bamboo at 2:36pm ( 46F cooling) since 10:30am raw breaded chicken at 2:48pm (46F cooling ) since 10:30am Products did not cool to 41F within 4 hours. See stop sale Cooked chicken at 1:38pm (52F cooling) since 10:30am at 2:37pm same At this current cooling rate product will not cool to 41F within 6 hours.”

“Operator is not properly tracking/marking the number of days ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite was held at refrigeration temperatures prior to freezing in order to properly date mark the food when it is thawed and held at refrigeration temperatures again. Multiple items like chicken wontons, cooked rice previously frozen not date marking properly.”

“Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Sushi cooler Raw fish over cooked salmon Flip top cooler Raw shell eggs over cooked chicken Stainless steel fridge Raw chicken over cooked chicken wontons.”

**LE GENIE RESTAURANT

187 NE 167TH ST.

NORTH MIAMI BEACH

ORDERED SHUT 7/29

33 VIOLATIONS FOUND

ALSO ORDERED SHUT 9/2025 (FLYING INSECT ISSUE)

ALSO ORDERED SHUT 2/2024 (RODENT ISSUE)

“Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. Observed 25+ rodent droppings behind the reach in freezer in the storage room.”

“Presence of insects, rodents, or other pests. Observed approximately 100+ dead flies in the gaskets of the reach in freezers in the storage room.”

“Live, small flying insects found Observed approximately 50+ live flies laying on the clean to go containers in the storage room, 10+ live flies on the wall by the reach in freezer in the storage room, 50+ live flies on the wooden pallet in the storage room. Observed 3+ live flies in the dining room.”

“Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed pig ear (54F - Cooling); beef (54F - Cooling); turkey (54F - Cooling); chicken (54F - Cooling) stored in the walk in cooler since last night.”

“Food stored on floor. Observed plantains, rice and beans stored on the floor of the kitchen.”

“Frozen time/temperature control for safety food being slacked at room temperature is no longer frozen solid. Observed conch (44F - Cold Holding) thawing in room temperature in the prep area no longer frozen.”

“Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed all types of meat and fish mixed with one another in the reach in freezer. Repeat Violation.”

“Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed fan covers in the walk in cooler with accumulated dust.”

“Employee used the bathroom and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands upon returning to employee area. Observed employee come back from the bathroom, place gloves on and did not wash her hands.”

“Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed employee not wash their hands before starting to prep plate for customer.”

“No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. In the kitchen. Repeat Violation.”

“Employee touched soiled apron/clothes and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands.”

“Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification.”

FOLLOW UP INSPECTION 7/30

“At the time of the callback observed 3 live flies on the wall in the storage room and 10+ flies laying on soda and juice cases.”

“Observed 15+ dead flies in the gaskets of the reach in freezers in the storage room.”

**FOODEYEZ CARIBBEAN

6268 WEST SAMPLE ROAD

CORAL SPRINGS

ORDERED SHUT 7/30

10 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Approximately 10 live roaches found behind the steam table in the kitchen.”

“Dead roaches on premises. 2 dead roaches found behind the refrigerators at the front counter. 2 dead roaches found next to the flip top cooler on the cook line.”

“Floor soiled/has accumulation of food debris. Behind the cooking equipment on the cook line.”

“Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Behind the cooking equipment on the cook line.”

“Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Inside the cook line flip top cooler, butter (64F - Cold Holding). The item was held above the rails at room temperature. The butter was returned to the refrigerator to chill and cold hold.”

**KENIA PIZZA

14511 SW 266TH ST.

NARANJA

ORDERED SHUT 7/31

15 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. Observed approximately 8 rodent droppings on shelf over prep table at kitchen area. Observed approximately 20 rodent droppings on bottom shelf next to clean pots at kitchen area.”

“No proof of required state approved employee training provided for employee hired more than 60 days ago.”

**HAAGEN DAZS

SAWGRASS MILLS

12801 WEST SUNRISE BLVD.

SUNRISE

ORDERED SHUT 7/29

7 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. 1) 4 Live roaches in trash bag under triple sinks in preparation area. 2) 3 live Roaches under vacuum cleaner stored under triple sinks in preparation area. 3) 4 live roaches crawling under triple sinks. In preparation area.”

“Dead roaches on premises. Approximately 10 dead roaches in sticky traps under triple sinks.”

“Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Employee put on gloves after using personal phone. Employee proceeded to get a cup to serve drinks to guests without first washing hands.”

“Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. 12-01-2025.”

“Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification.”

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

Recientemente, los inspectores ordenaron el cierre de 13 establecimientos, tras encontrar desde excrementos de roedores y cucarachas vivas hasta cientos de moscas, acumulación de moho, equipos sucios y alimentos almacenados a temperaturas inseguras.

En Yellow Tail Subs Grill en Homestead, los inspectores documentaron 32 infracciones, incluyendo cucarachas vivas que se arrastraban por una mesa de preparación de alimentos, entre recipientes limpios e incluso fuera de una caja de papel pergamino utilizada para envolver alimentos; se encontraron más de 100 excrementos de cucaracha en un estante.

En el supermercado Pack de Miami, los inspectores encontraron excrementos de roedores por toda la tienda, incluyendo 15 o más dentro de la cámara frigorífica, además de bolsas de repollo roídas. Los registros muestran que era la cuarta vez que el supermercado recibía una orden de cierre por problemas de roedores desde octubre de 2025.

En el Pickles Pub Sandbar de Key West, los inspectores informaron de 100 o más insectos voladores vivos posados ​​en cajas de refrescos, platos limpios, servilletas, jarras y vasos, mientras que el Tacombi de Miami fue multado por docenas de excrementos de roedores y moscas vivas.

Otros cierres se debieron a alimentos mal refrigerados o almacenados, superficies de contacto con alimentos insalubres, suelos y equipos sucios y problemas recurrentes de plagas.

Todos los lugares mencionados pudieron reabrir tras una limpieza ordenada y una posterior reinspección.

**TACOMBI

3930 NE 2ND AVE.

MIAMI

INSPECCIÓN BASADA EN UNA DENUNCIA

ORDEN DE CIERRE 8/6

Se detectaron 11 infracciones.

Se detectó actividad de roedores, como lo demuestran los excrementos encontrados. Se observaron aproximadamente 16 excrementos en el suelo junto al fregadero de fregar, cerca del cuarto del calentador de agua, debajo del tendedero. Se observaron aproximadamente 25 excrementos en el suelo debajo del lavavajillas y del fregadero de tres compartimentos. Se observaron aproximadamente 10 excrementos detrás de la barra de la máquina de hielo.

“Se encontraron insectos voladores pequeños y vivos. Se observaron aproximadamente 5 moscas pequeñas vivas volando cerca del área de lavado de vajilla y 3 moscas volando alrededor del área de preparación junto al mostrador del lavamanos.”

“La tabla de cortar tiene marcas de cortes y ya no se puede limpiar. Observe la tabla de cortar verde junto al mostrador de preparación.”

“Superficie que no entra en contacto con alimentos sucia con grasa, restos de comida, suciedad, lodo o polvo. Se observaron juntas sucias en el mostrador del refrigerador.”

**PARRILLA DE SUBSANDS YELLOW TAIL

27275 CARRETERA SOUTH DIXIE

GRANJA

INSPECCIÓN BASADA EN UNA DENUNCIA

ORDEN DE CIERRE 8/6

Se detectaron 32 infracciones.

“Presencia de cucarachas, evidenciada por el hallazgo de cucarachas vivas. Se observaron 4 cucarachas vivas arrastrándose por el suelo en la línea de cocción. Se observaron más de 6 cucarachas vivas en el extintor de incendios situado encima del refrigerador. Se observaron aproximadamente 6 cucarachas vivas en el estante del área de lavado de platos, arrastrándose entre los recipientes limpios. Se observaron 2 cucarachas vivas arrastrándose sobre la mesa de preparación de la cocina, donde se estaban preparando recipientes de salsa picante sin tapar. Se observaron 8 cucarachas vivas saliendo del marco de la puerta del armario del calentador de agua. Se observaron 4 cucarachas vivas arrastrándose por las paredes y los estantes donde se almacenan las bolsas de harina en el área de almacenamiento en seco. Se observó 1 cucaracha viva saliendo de una caja de papel pergamino utilizada para envolver alimentos. Se observó 1 cucaracha viva saliendo de debajo de la máquina de gyros en la línea de cocción. Se observó 1 cucaracha viva arrastrándose sobre la tapa abatible del refrigerador.”

“Presencia de excremento de cucaracha. Se observaron más de 100 excrementos de cucaracha en el estante del área de lavado de platos y en los recipientes metálicos.”

“Acumulación de aves, insectos, roedores u otras plagas muertas o atrapadas en los dispositivos de control. Se observó una gran acumulación de moscas y cucarachas muertas en el área de servicio para autos.”

“Dispositivo de control de insectos instalado sobre el área de preparación de alimentos. Se observó un matamoscas eléctrico en el autoservicio, guardado encima de la máquina expendedora de refrescos. Se observó un matamoscas eléctrico grande en el área de almacenamiento en seco, guardado en un estante encima de las bolsas de harina.”

“Pared sucia con grasa acumulada, restos de comida y/o polvo. Se observó suciedad acumulada, cucarachas muertas, telarañas y moscas en toda la superficie.”

“Se encontró en el establecimiento un pesticida/insecticida etiquetado únicamente para uso doméstico. Se observó un bote de insecticida doméstico para cucarachas en la mesa de preparación de la cocina.”

“Olores desagradables en el baño u otras áreas del establecimiento. Observados en el área de almacenamiento en seco trasera donde se guarda la harina.”

“Acumulación de restos de comida/residuos de tierra en las manijas de las puertas de los equipos. Observado en todas las manijas de acceso a refrigeradores y congeladores.”

“Los guantes desechables no se cambiaban según fuera necesario después de cambiar de tarea o cuando estaban dañados o sucios. Se observó a un cocinero cubrir pollo crudo con una capa de aceite y luego tomar tilapia cruda y lavarse los guantes.”

“Alimentos almacenados sin tapar. Se observó que los recipientes de tilapia, camarones y buñuelos de caracol que se almacenaban sin tapar en el refrigerador. También se observó que el cubo de condimentos secos que se almacenaba sin tapar en el estante de almacenamiento en seco.”

“Control de tiempo/temperatura para la seguridad alimentaria, excepto asados ​​de carne entera, mantenidos calientes a menos de 135 grados Fahrenheit. Observado en la mesa de la línea de cocción: pollo frito (101 °F - Mantenimiento en caliente).”

“No se ha proporcionado ninguna prueba de la formación obligatoria aprobada por el estado para el empleado contratado hace más de 60 días.”

“El empleado no se lavó las manos antes de ponerse los guantes para comenzar una tarea que implicaba manipular alimentos. Se observó que el empleado se quitaba los guantes sucios y luego se ponía un par nuevo sin lavarse las manos.”

**PIZZA DE LA CALLE UNDÉCIMA

9025 SW 72ND PL.

MIAMI

ORDEN DE CIERRE 8/3

Se detectaron 13 infracciones.

Se emitió una orden de cese de venta debido a que los alimentos no se encontraban en condiciones higiénicas ni seguras. Se observaron más de 20 moscas vivas en la zona de la cocina, debajo de la mesa de preparación, en bolsas de cebollas rojas.

Se encontraron insectos voladores pequeños y vivos. Se observaron más de 20 moscas vivas en la zona de la cocina, debajo de la mesa de preparación, en bolsas de cebollas rojas. Se observaron 2 moscas vivas en el mostrador, cerca del grifo de cerveza.

“Superficie en contacto con alimentos sucia con restos de comida, una sustancia similar al moho o una sustancia viscosa. Se observó que la cortadora de carne estaba sucia. Infracción reiterada.”

“El suelo está sucio/tiene acumulación de residuos. Se observó cerca de la batidora de pizzas. Infracción reiterada.”

“Techo, baldosas del techo y rejillas de ventilación sucios con restos de comida acumulados, grasa, polvo o una sustancia similar al moho. Observado en toda la cocina.”

“Control de tiempo/temperatura para alimentos refrigerados seguros a más de 5 °C (41 °F). Se observó un horno refrigerado con una temperatura ambiente de 13 °C (55 °F); los siguientes alimentos TCS se almacenaron en su interior durante más de 4 horas: queso mozzarella (12 °C - Refrigeración); cebollas asadas (14 °C - Refrigeración); champiñones asados ​​(22 °C - Refrigeración); salsa Alfredo (21 °C - Refrigeración); ajo asado (13 °C - Refrigeración). Infracción reiterada.”

**PICKLES PUB SANDBAR

511 CALLE GREENE

KEY WEST

ORDEN DE CIERRE 8/3

Se detectaron 24 infracciones.

Se detectó actividad de roedores, como lo demuestran los excrementos encontrados. Se observaron aproximadamente 20 excrementos de roedores en la cortadora de fiambres debajo de la mesa de preparación en el área de preparación de pizzas y aproximadamente 15 excrementos en el estante donde se almacenan las cajas de pizza.

“Se encontraron insectos voladores pequeños y vivos. Se observaron aproximadamente 100 insectos voladores vivos volando y posándose en cajas de refrescos, platos limpios, servilletas, una botella de granadina, jarras limpias y vasos limpios dentro de la estación de servicio cerca de la barra.”

“Se han encontrado cucarachas muertas en las instalaciones. Se observó una cucaracha muerta en las escaleras que conducen al almacén de productos secos.”

“Superficie en contacto con alimentos sucia con restos de comida, una sustancia similar al moho o una sustancia viscosa. Se observó un contenedor de almacenamiento muy sucio con restos de comida vieja donde se guardan bandejas de pizza limpias debajo de los hornos de pizza en el área de pizzas.”

“Acumulación de residuos en el exterior de la lavadora de vajilla. Infracción reiterada.”

“Acumulación de restos de comida/residuos de tierra en las manijas de las puertas de los equipos. Se observó suciedad en todas las manijas de los refrigeradores. Infracción reiterada.”

“Techo/baldosas/rejillas de ventilación sucias con restos de comida acumulados, grasa, polvo o una sustancia similar al moho. Se observó mucho polvo en el techo sobre la zona del bar. Infracción reiterada.”

“Equipo en mal estado. Se observó un refrigerador con acceso directo roto junto a las freidoras, sin usar. Se observó la tapa del refrigerador con acceso directo para la preparación de pizzas rota. Infracción reiterada.”

“El suelo está sucio/tiene acumulación de residuos. Se observó que el suelo de la zona de preparación de pizzas estaba muy sucio y el de la estación de servicio estaba cubierto de una sustancia viscosa. Infracción reiterada.”

“Control de tiempo/temperatura para alimentos refrigerados seguros a más de 5 °C (41 °F). Se observó queso rallado (13 °C - Refrigeración); salchicha (13 °C - Refrigeración); mozzarella rallada (13 °C - Refrigeración); salsa para pizza (12 °C - Refrigeración) dentro del refrigerador vertical en el área de preparación de pizzas, según el operador, durante 2 horas. Se observó queso rallado (7 °C - Refrigeración); lechuga rallada (8 °C - Refrigeración); pollo crudo (7 °C - Refrigeración) dentro del refrigerador vertical frente a la cámara frigorífica. Infracción reiterada.”

“El empleado tocó una superficie sucia y luego preparó alimentos, manipuló equipos o utensilios limpios o tocó artículos desechables sin envolver sin lavarse las manos. Se observó que el empleado tomó un cubo de basura y luego usó una pala para servir pizza sin cambiarse los guantes ni lavarse las manos.”

“El empleado no se lavó las manos antes de ponerse los guantes para comenzar una tarea que implicaba el manejo de alimentos. Se observó que el empleado manipuló pollo crudo, luego se cambió los guantes y comenzó a manipular equipo limpio sin lavarse las manos.”

**SUPERMERCADO PACK

8235 NE 2ND AVE.

MIAMI

ORDEN DE CIERRE 8/3

Se detectaron 25 infracciones.

TAMBIÉN SE ORDENÓ SU CIERRE EN MARZO DE 2026 (PROBLEMA DE ROEDORES)

TAMBIÉN SE ORDENÓ SU CIERRE EN DICIEMBRE DE 2025 (PROBLEMA DE ROEDORES)

TAMBIÉN SE ORDENÓ SU CIERRE EN OCTUBRE DE 2025 (PROBLEMA DE ROEDORES)

Se detectó actividad de roedores, evidenciada por los excrementos encontrados. Se observaron 3 excrementos en el suelo detrás del refrigerador de refrescos, 4 en el suelo debajo del fregadero de tres compartimentos, 2 en el suelo debajo del mostrador, 2 en el suelo de las escaleras junto al fregadero de tres compartimentos, más de 15 en el suelo dentro de la cámara frigorífica y 3 en el suelo debajo del fregadero para fregar. Infracción reiterada .

“Presencia de insectos, roedores u otras plagas. Se observaron marcas de mordiscos en 3 bolsas de repollo dentro de la cámara frigorífica.”

Se emitió una orden de cese de venta debido a que los alimentos no se encontraban en condiciones higiénicas ni adecuadas. Se observaron marcas de mordiscos en tres bolsas de repollo dentro de la cámara frigorífica.

“Superficie en contacto con alimentos sucia con restos de comida, una sustancia parecida al moho o una sustancia viscosa. Se observaron recipientes de azúcar muy sucios por la cafetera.”

“Control de tiempo/temperatura para la seguridad alimentaria: alimentos refrigerados a más de 5 °C (41 °F). Se observaron pepinillos (19 °C - Refrigeración) almacenados sobre la mesa de preparación durante 2 horas, según el operador. El operador colocó el producto en el refrigerador.”

“El gerente de servicio de alimentos no obtuvo la certificación dentro de los 30 días posteriores a su contratación.”

“El techo/las baldosas del techo presentan daños o están en mal estado. En todo el establecimiento. Infracción reiterada.”

“Equipo en mal estado. Se observó que la cámara frigorífica n.° 1 y su puerta estaban deterioradas. Infracción reiterada.”

“La puerta exterior tiene una abertura en el umbral que da al exterior. Infracción reiterada.”

“Superficie que no entra en contacto con alimentos sucia con grasa, restos de comida, suciedad, lodo o polvo. Se observó que el fregadero para fregar estaba muy sucio.”

“Pared sucia con grasa acumulada, restos de comida y/o polvo. Junto al fregadero, al lado y detrás de la freidora. Infracción reiterada.”

“No hay ningún gerente de servicio de alimentos certificado actualmente de servicio con cuatro o más empleados dedicados a la preparación/manipulación de alimentos.”

INSPECCIÓN DE SEGUIMIENTO 8/4

“Se observaron aproximadamente 25 excrementos de roedores alrededor del piso de la cámara frigorífica. Se observaron 4 excrementos de roedores detrás de la mesa de la línea de cocción.”

**SUGAR BAE

8253 SUNSET STRIP

AMANECER

ORDEN DE CIERRE 8/7

Se detectaron 6 infracciones.

TAMBIÉN SE ORDENÓ SU CIERRE EN AGOSTO DE 2025 (PROBLEMA DE CUCARACHAS)

Se detectó actividad de cucarachas, como lo demuestran los ejemplares vivos encontrados: 1) 6 cucarachas vivas dentro del lavavajillas en la cocina. 2) 7 cucarachas vivas debajo del congelador horizontal en la cocina. 3) 5 cucarachas vivas trepando por la pared junto al fregadero triple en la cocina. 4) 6 cucarachas vivas debajo del calentador de alimentos en la cocina.

Se emitió una orden de cese de venta para alimentos que requieren control de tiempo/temperatura para su seguridad debido a un manejo inadecuado de la temperatura. Los alimentos que requieren control de tiempo/temperatura para su seguridad se mantuvieron refrigerados a más de 41 grados Fahrenheit. Queso (50 °F - Mantenimiento en frío); Papas cocidas (49 °F - Mantenimiento en frío). Según el gerente, los alimentos que permanecieron en la unidad durante la noche no fueron preparados ni porcionados hoy.

“Control de tiempo/temperatura para garantizar la seguridad de los alimentos refrigerados a más de 5 °C (41 °F). Queso (10 °C - Refrigeración); Papas cocidas (9 °C - Refrigeración). Según el gerente, los alimentos que permanecen en la unidad durante la noche. Artículos que no se prepararon ni se porcionaron hoy.”

“Control de tiempo/temperatura para alimentos seguros, excepto asados ​​de carne enteros, mantenidos calientes a menos de 135 grados Fahrenheit. Mesa de preparación: arroz cocido (98-110 °F - mantenimiento en caliente). Alimentos por cocción almacenados a temperatura ambiente durante menos de 2 horas. Cocción desechada.”

**CITA

1576 EAST OAKLAND PARK BLVD.

PARQUE DE OAKLAND

ORDEN DE CIERRE 27/7

Se detectaron 10 infracciones.

Se detectó actividad de roedores, como lo demuestran los excrementos encontrados. Aproximadamente cuatro excrementos de roedor se encontraron en el estante de almacenamiento en seco junto a la mezcla para panqueques. Un excremento de roedor se encontró encima de una caja de mezcla para panqueques. El operario retiró los excrementos.

“Se detectó actividad de cucarachas, como lo demuestra el hallazgo de cucarachas vivas. Se encontró una cucaracha viva debajo de los estantes de almacenamiento en seco. El operario la exterminó y la retiró.”

“Se encontraron cucarachas muertas en las instalaciones. Una cucaracha muerta junto a la máquina de hielo del mostrador. Una cucaracha muerta debajo del lavavajillas. Tres cucarachas muertas debajo de las estanterías del almacén de productos secos. El operario retiró las cucarachas muertas.”

“El suelo está sucio/tiene acumulación de residuos. 1. Debajo de las estanterías de almacenamiento en seco. 2. Debajo del fregadero triple y el lavavajillas. 3. Detrás de las cabinas junto a las ventanas delanteras.”

“Para algunos empleados, la formación obligatoria para empleados ha caducado.”

**Criollo gourmet

416 NE CALLE 36.

PLAYA DE POMPANO

INSPECCIÓN BASADA EN UNA DENUNCIA

ORDEN DE CIERRE 27/7

Se detectaron 13 infracciones.

Se detectó actividad de roedores, evidenciada por los excrementos encontrados. 1. Se observaron aproximadamente 10 excrementos de roedores en el suelo detrás del refrigerador en el área de almacenamiento en seco. 2. Se observaron aproximadamente 25 excrementos de roedores en el empaque de un recipiente para almacenar alimentos en el estante inferior de la mesa de preparación de alimentos junto al refrigerador en el área de almacenamiento en seco.

“Cucarachas muertas en las instalaciones. 1. Se observaron aproximadamente 10 cucarachas muertas en una trampa adhesiva en el suelo del armario. 2. Se observaron aproximadamente 10 cucarachas muertas en una trampa adhesiva debajo de la mesa de preparación de alimentos junto al refrigerador en el área de almacenamiento en seco.”

Se emitió una orden de cese de venta para alimentos que requieren control de tiempo/temperatura para su seguridad debido a un manejo inadecuado de la temperatura. Los alimentos que requieren control de tiempo/temperatura para su seguridad se mantuvieron refrigerados a más de 41 grados Fahrenheit. 1. Se observó pollo cocido (48 °F); carne de res cocida (51 °F); Pikliz (49 °F) en un refrigerador de dos puertas en la cocina. No se prepararon ni se porcionaron hoy.

“Los alimentos se enfriaban mediante un método no aprobado, como lo demuestra la velocidad de enfriamiento inadecuada durante la inspección. 1. Se observaron frijoles negros enfriándose sobre el mostrador de la cocina a las 11:30 a. m., alcanzando una temperatura de 105 °F a las 11:59 a. m., y enfriándose desde las 11:00 a. m. Se observó enfriamiento en recipientes hondos. Se observó al operario cubriendo el recipiente con plástico y colocándolo en un lugar accesible dentro del refrigerador.”

“El suelo está sucio/tiene acumulación de residuos. 1. Se observó acumulación de arroz y frijoles secos derramados en el suelo y debajo de las mesas y equipos en el área de almacenamiento en seco.”

Superficie que no entra en contacto con alimentos sucia con grasa, restos de comida, suciedad, lodo o polvo. 1. Se observaron restos de comida vieja en el estante inferior del congelador de la cocina. 2. Filtros de la campana extractora en la zona de cocción de la cocina. Infracción reiterada.

**LA COCINA INDIA DE IFRA**

9543 S. DIXIE HIGHWAY

PINECREST

ORDEN DE CIERRE 27/7

Se detectaron 23 infracciones.

Se detectó actividad de cucarachas, como lo demuestra el hallazgo de ejemplares vivos. Se observó una cucaracha viva en el suelo junto al fregadero de la cocina. Se observó una cucaracha viva en el refrigerador de la cocina, frente al fregadero triple. Se observó una cucaracha viva en un recipiente vacío en la cocina, encima del lavamanos. Se observó una cucaracha viva debajo del fregadero triple, junto a la línea de cocción en la cocina.

Se encontraron insectos voladores pequeños y vivos. Se observaron dos moscas vivas en la pared junto al fregadero de la cocina. Se observó una mosca viva en la pared junto al refrigerador en la cocina. Se observaron dos moscas vivas en el baño, en la pared detrás del inodoro.

Se emitió una orden de cese de venta para alimentos que requieren control de tiempo y temperatura debido a un abuso de temperatura. Se observó que los siguientes alimentos TCS se encontraban almacenados en el exterior de la cocina con una temperatura ambiente de 54 °F durante más de 4 horas: cordero (47 °F - Conservación en frío); pollo (45 °F - Conservación en frío); queso (46 °F - Conservación en frío); papa cocida (45 °F - Conservación en frío); coliflor cocida (46 °F - Conservación en frío).”

“Superficie en contacto con alimentos sucia con restos de comida, una sustancia similar al moho o una sustancia viscosa. Se observaron estantes para alimentos y vajilla sucios. Infracción reiterada.”

“Acumulación de restos de comida/residuos de tierra en las manijas de las puertas de los equipos. Infracción reiterada.”

“Techo/baldosas/rejillas de ventilación sucias con restos de comida acumulados, grasa, polvo o una sustancia similar al moho. Se observó techo sucio. Infracción reiterada.”

“Suelo sucio/con acumulación de residuos. Observado en la cocina. Infracción reiterada.”

“El interior del horno/microondas presenta acumulación de una sustancia negra/grasa/restos de comida. Se observó que el microondas y el horno estaban sucios. Infracción reiterada.”

“Superficie que no entra en contacto con alimentos sucia con grasa, restos de comida, suciedad, lodo o polvo. Infracción reiterada.”

“Pared sucia con grasa acumulada, restos de comida y/o polvo. Se observaron paredes sucias en la cocina. Infracción reiterada.”

“El equipo de refrigeración no se encuentra en buen estado. No almacene alimentos que requieren control de tiempo/temperatura para su seguridad en esta unidad hasta que se repare. Se observó un acceso externo a la cocina con una temperatura ambiente de 54 °F; los siguientes alimentos que requieren control de tiempo/temperatura para su seguridad se almacenaron en el interior durante más de 4 horas: cordero (47 °F - Refrigeración); pollo (45 °F - Refrigeración); queso (46 °F - Refrigeración); papa cocida (45 °F - Refrigeración); coliflor cocida (46 °F - Refrigeración).”

INSPECCIÓN DE SEGUIMIENTO 28/7

“En el momento de la inspección de seguimiento, se observaron 6 insectos voladores vivos en la pared y el techo del baño. Se observó 1 insecto volador vivo en la puerta del refrigerador de la cocina.”

“Durante la inspección de seguimiento, se observaron 4 cucarachas vivas en la cocina, detrás del panel de la ventana y un estante, así como saliendo del desagüe del piso. En el área de almacenamiento en seco del vestíbulo, se observaron 3 cucarachas muertas debajo de los estantes y en las paredes.”

INSPECCIÓN DE SEGUIMIENTO 29/7

“Se observó una cucaracha viva arrastrándose por el suelo frente al estante de almacenamiento en seco. Se observó una cucaracha viva en el suelo de la cocina. Se observó una cucaracha viva en el estante encima del refrigerador en el área de la cocina.”

**COMEDOR CALLEJERO LUCKY CAT

6322 N. ANDREWS AVE,

FORT LAUDERDALE

ORDEN DE CIERRE 28/7

Se detectaron 13 infracciones.

TAMBIÉN SE ORDENÓ SU CIERRE EN NOVIEMBRE DE 2023 (PROBLEMA DE CUCARACHAS)

“Se detectó actividad de cucarachas, como lo demuestra el hallazgo de cucarachas vivas. Aproximadamente 10 se arrastraban por el suelo, en la pared detrás del congelador, debajo del congelador, en la línea de cocción, junto al refrigerador con alimentos.”

“El empleado no se lavó las manos antes de ponerse los guantes para comenzar una tarea relacionada con alimentos. El operario salió de la cocina hacia el comedor, tocó superficies sucias, luego se tocó la cara, se puso los guantes y comenzó a preparar la comida sin lavarse las manos.”

Se emitió una orden de cese de venta para alimentos que requieren control de tiempo/temperatura para su seguridad debido a un abuso de temperatura. Los alimentos que requieren control de tiempo/temperatura para su seguridad se prepararon a partir de ingredientes o se mezclaron con ellos a temperatura ambiente y no se enfriaron a 5 °C (41 °F) en 4 horas. Enfriador con tapa abatible: bambú cocido a las 14:36 ​​(enfriamiento a 8 °C) desde las 10:30; pollo empanizado crudo a las 14:48 (enfriamiento a 8 °C) desde las 10:30. Los productos no se enfriaron a 5 °C (41 °F) en 4 horas. Ver orden de cese de venta. Alimentos que requieren control de tiempo/temperatura para su seguridad mantenidos en frío a más de 5 °C (41 °F). Varios refrigeradores en la cocina con artículos sobreabastecidos. Línea de cocción del refrigerador con tapa abatible: huevos duros mantenidos en frío a 10 °C (50 °F) durante más de 4 horas. Ver orden de cese de venta. Refrigerador alto de acero inoxidable en la cocina. Bollo relleno de cerdo mantenido en frío a 11 °C (52 °F).

“Alimentos enfriados mediante un método no aprobado, evidenciado por una velocidad de enfriamiento inadecuada durante la inspección. Control de tiempo/temperatura para la seguridad de los alimentos preparados a partir de/mezclados con ingredientes a temperatura ambiente que no se enfriaron a 41 grados Fahrenheit en 4 horas. Enfriador con tapa abatible: bambú cocido a las 2:36 p. m. (enfriamiento a 46 °F) desde las 10:30 a. m.; pollo empanizado crudo a las 2:48 p. m. (enfriamiento a 46 °F) desde las 10:30 a. m. Los productos no se enfriaron a 41 °F en 4 horas. Ver orden de cese de venta. Pollo cocido a la 1:38 p. m. (enfriamiento a 52 °F) desde las 10:30 a. m. a las 2:37 p. m. lo mismo. Con esta velocidad de enfriamiento actual, el producto no se enfriará a 41 °F en 6 horas.”

“El operador no está registrando ni marcando adecuadamente la cantidad de días que los alimentos listos para el consumo deben controlarse mediante tiempo y temperatura para garantizar la seguridad alimentaria. Los alimentos preparados en el establecimiento se mantuvieron a temperaturas de refrigeración antes de congelarlos, para poder marcar correctamente la fecha de caducidad una vez descongelados y refrigerados nuevamente. Varios productos, como los wontons de pollo y el arroz cocido previamente congelados, no están marcados con la fecha de caducidad correctamente.”

Alimentos crudos de origen animal almacenados encima de alimentos listos para el consumo o sin la separación adecuada de estos. Nevera para sushi. Pescado crudo sobre salmón cocido. Nevera con tapa abatible. Huevos crudos con cáscara sobre pollo cocido. Nevera de acero inoxidable. Pollo crudo sobre wontons de pollo cocidos.

**RESTAURANTE LE GENIE

187 NE CALLE 167.

NORTE DE MIAMI BEACH

ORDEN DE CIERRE 29/7

Se detectaron 33 infracciones.

TAMBIÉN SE ORDENÓ SU CIERRE EN 9/2025 (PROBLEMA CON INSECTOS VOLADORES)

TAMBIÉN SE ORDENÓ SU CIERRE EN FEBRERO DE 2024 (PROBLEMA DE ROEDORES)

“Se detectó actividad de roedores, como lo demuestran los excrementos encontrados. Se observaron más de 25 excrementos de roedores detrás del congelador en el cuarto de almacenamiento.”

“Presencia de insectos, roedores u otras plagas. Se observaron aproximadamente 100 moscas muertas en las juntas de los congeladores verticales del almacén.”

“Se encontraron insectos voladores pequeños y vivos. Se observaron aproximadamente 50 moscas vivas sobre los contenedores de comida para llevar en el almacén, 10 moscas vivas en la pared junto al congelador en el almacén y 50 moscas vivas en el palé de madera en el almacén. También se observaron 3 moscas vivas en el comedor.”

Se emitió una orden de cese de venta para alimentos que requerían control de tiempo/temperatura para garantizar su seguridad debido a un manejo inadecuado de la temperatura. Se observaron orejas de cerdo (54 °F - Enfriando); carne de res (54 °F - Enfriando); pavo (54 °F - Enfriando); pollo (54 °F - Enfriando) almacenados en la cámara frigorífica desde anoche.

“Alimentos almacenados en el suelo. Se observaron plátanos, arroz y frijoles almacenados en el suelo de la cocina.”

“Los alimentos congelados que requieren control de tiempo/temperatura para su seguridad y que se dejan descongelar a temperatura ambiente ya no están completamente congelados. Se observó que el caracol (44 °F - Conservación en frío) que se estaba descongelando a temperatura ambiente en el área de preparación ya no estaba congelado.”

“Los alimentos crudos de origen animal no estaban debidamente separados entre sí en la unidad de almacenamiento, según la temperatura mínima de cocción requerida. Se observó que todo tipo de carne y pescado estaban mezclados en el congelador. Infracción reiterada.”

“Superficie que no entra en contacto con alimentos sucia con grasa, restos de comida, suciedad, lodo o polvo. Se observaron cubiertas de ventiladores en la cámara frigorífica con polvo acumulado.”

“La empleada usó el baño y luego preparó alimentos, manipuló equipos o utensilios limpios o tocó artículos desechables sin envolver sin lavarse las manos al regresar a su área de trabajo. Se observó que la empleada regresó del baño, se puso guantes y no se lavó las manos.”

“El empleado no se lavó las manos antes de ponerse los guantes para comenzar una tarea que implicaba manipular alimentos. Se observó que el empleado no se lavó las manos antes de empezar a preparar el plato para el cliente.”

“No se ha colocado ningún cartel de ‘No lavarse las manos’ en el lavamanos utilizado por los empleados de la cocina. Se trata de una infracción reiterada.”

“El empleado tocó un delantal o ropa sucia y luego participó en la preparación de alimentos, manipuló equipos o utensilios limpios o tocó artículos desechables sin envolver sin lavarse las manos.”

“El gerente o la persona a cargo carece de prueba de certificación de gerente de alimentos.”

INSPECCIÓN DE SEGUIMIENTO 30/7

“En el momento de la llamada de seguimiento, se observaron 3 moscas vivas en la pared del almacén y más de 10 moscas posadas sobre las cajas de refrescos y zumos.”

“Observé más de 15 moscas muertas en las juntas de los congeladores verticales del almacén.”

**FOODEYEZ CARIBE

6268 WEST SAMPLE ROAD

Manantiales de coral

ORDEN DE CIERRE 30/7

Se detectaron 10 infracciones.

“Se detectó actividad de cucarachas, como lo demuestra el hallazgo de ejemplares vivos. Se encontraron aproximadamente 10 cucarachas vivas detrás de la mesa de vapor en la cocina.”

“Se encontraron cucarachas muertas en el local. Se hallaron dos cucarachas muertas detrás de los refrigeradores del mostrador. Se hallaron dos cucarachas muertas junto al refrigerador con tapa abatible en la zona de cocción.”

“El suelo está sucio/tiene acumulación de restos de comida. Está detrás de los equipos de cocina, en la línea de cocción.”

“Zona(s) del suelo cubiertas de agua estancada. Detrás de los equipos de cocina, en la línea de cocción.”

Control de tiempo/temperatura para garantizar la seguridad de los alimentos refrigerados a más de 5 °C (41 °F). Dentro del refrigerador con tapa abatible de la línea de cocción, se encontraba la mantequilla (18 °C - Conservación en frío). El producto se mantuvo a temperatura ambiente sobre los rieles. La mantequilla se devolvió al refrigerador para enfriarla y conservarla en frío.

**PIZZA KENIA

14511 SW 266TH ST.

NARANJA

ORDEN DE CIERRE 31/7

Se detectaron 15 infracciones.

Se detectó actividad de roedores, como lo demuestran los excrementos encontrados. Se observaron aproximadamente 8 excrementos de roedores en el estante sobre la mesa de preparación en el área de la cocina. Se observaron aproximadamente 20 excrementos de roedores en el estante inferior junto a las ollas limpias en el área de la cocina.

“No se ha proporcionado ninguna prueba de la formación obligatoria aprobada por el estado para el empleado contratado hace más de 60 días.”

**HAAGEN DAZS

Molinos de SAWGRASS

12801 WEST SUNRISE BLVD.

AMANECER

ORDEN DE CIERRE 29/7

7 VIOLACIONES DETECTADAS

Se detectó actividad de cucarachas, como lo demuestran los ejemplares vivos encontrados: 1) 4 cucarachas vivas en una bolsa de basura debajo de los fregaderos triples en el área de preparación. 2) 3 cucarachas vivas debajo de una aspiradora guardada debajo de los fregaderos triples en el área de preparación. 3) 4 cucarachas vivas arrastrándose debajo de los fregaderos triples en el área de preparación.

“Cucarachas muertas en las instalaciones. Aproximadamente 10 cucarachas muertas en trampas adhesivas debajo de los fregaderos triples.”

“El empleado no se lavó las manos antes de ponerse los guantes para comenzar una tarea que implicaba manipular alimentos. El empleado se puso los guantes después de usar su teléfono personal. El empleado procedió a tomar un vaso para servir bebidas a los clientes sin lavarse las manos previamente.”

“Operando con una licencia de la División de Hoteles y Restaurantes vencida. 12-01-2025.”

“El gerente o la persona a cargo carece de prueba de certificación de gerente de alimentos.”

“No se ha proporcionado ninguna prueba de que los empleados hayan recibido la formación obligatoria aprobada por el estado.”

The tech company included a “permissive” open source license for Muse Glimmer, a lightweight AI model that can run on a personal computer. Zuckerberg said the company would also would provide a way for developers to access a more powerful AI model, Muse Spark 1.2.

Meta has long been a proponent of open-sourcing its AI models, but has struggled to keep up with rivals including OpenAI, Anthropic and Google that have not taken the same approach.

In a lengthy essay published online, Zuckerberg laid out his vision for the future of AI and outlined why he thought open source is a better way for fair development of AI. He also included policy recommendations for keeping the U.S. ahead of rivals, including China.

Zuckerberg warned that if AI “superintelligence” ends up being controlled by a select few individuals, businesses, governments, or even “AI itself, then that will naturally lead to outcomes that are less favorable for everyone else."

The key is finding a balance that favors individuals and making sure that advanced AI is “broadly distributed" to empower billions of people using AI, he wrote.

Zuckerberg also made what could be a veiled reference to Meta's rivals, such as OpenAI and Anthropic, without naming specific companies.

“Most other labs are focused on building AI for companies, governments, or other institutions, so if those labs lead, then the balance of power will favor larger institutions over individuals,” he wrote.

The United States and its allies need to speed up building energy capacity and infrastructure to stay competitive with rivals like China, he said.

Zuckerberg said authorities should also reconsider their position on “ distillation,” which involves training a less capable model on the outputs of a stronger one. The Trump administration has vowed to crack down on Chinese AI companies using distillation to extract technical features from U.S. AI models. Anthropic earlier this year accused China's DeepSeek of using distillation.

"Some have tried to frame distillation as harmful, but I think it is important to protect the principle that you can learn from anything you can observe," Zuckerberg said. “This is how the world works, and the US will not be able to lead if we restrict ourselves on this front.”

Bieniemy was greeted by a handful of fans as he walked down the long hill to the fields at Missouri Western State University, where the Chiefs hold camp. Then he jumped right into his first practice since Mia Bieniemy was shot the evening of July 26.

“It was good to have EB back, back in full. I don't think he missed a snap he was out there,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “Listen, I was talking to him several times a day. I knew when he was coming back. The primary thing is that Mia is stable, that she's doing well.”

Elijah Bieniemy has been charged with malicious wounding, the use of a firearm in commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling. His court appearances have been delayed pending a mental health evaluation.

Eric Bieniemy, who returned to the Chiefs earlier this year, had been staying in touch with Reid and the rest of the staff, and had been watching streams of some practices. In one case, he called Chiefs manager Brett Veach — who was sitting next to Reid — and asked him to hand over the phone, then proceeded to tell the head coach a point of instruction for a running back.

“It was great to have him back out there. Everybody was glad to see him," Reid said. “I think once you start going, then you're going. It is like a game. Once you're in the game, you're in the game. But he always brings the energy.”

Bieniemy was part of coaching staffs that helped Kansas City reach three Super Bowls and win two of them. But because Reid is the primary play-caller, Bieniemy left to serve as the offensive coordinator with the Washington Commanders, where he would be able to call his own plays and perhaps better position himself for a head coaching job in the NFL.

The Commanders struggled in his lone season there, though, and Bieniemy and the rest of the staff were let go. He spent a season with UCLA and last season coached the running backs with the Chicago Bears before returning to Kansas City as the offensive coordinator.

He replaced Matt Nagy, who was hired as the offensive coordinator of the New York Giants.

“Obviously it's great to have him back. We missed him and prayed for his family when he was out,” Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton said. “But to have a guy like that come back to the field, man, a competitor — it brings out the best in us.”

NOTES: WRs Rashee Rice (knee) and Cyrus Allen (bone bruise) both participated in 11-on-11 work during the padded practice. ... DE Ashton Gillotte (hamstring), CB L'Jarius Snead (knee) and LB Drue Tranquill (back) worked off to the side. ... RG Trey Smith (hip) was still out of practice, pushing rookie OL Khalil Benson from tackle to guard. Jaylon Moore took first-team reps at tackle.

___

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

The proposal would change a decades-old policy that advocates have called a regulatory loophole, blaming it for allowing thousands of unvetted ingredients into the U.S. food supply.

Under the proposed rule from the Food and Drug Administration, companies would have to document and submit their safety rationale for new ingredients, giving regulators the opportunity to investigate if they see a potential risk. Currently companies can decide for themselves if an ingredient or additive is “generally recognized as safe,” or GRAS, and there is no requirement to notify or submit evidence to the FDA, although some firms do.

“Shifting to a mandatory notification system closes a decades-old information gap, giving the FDA the comprehensive visibility needed to enhance postmarket safety,” acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas told reporters on Monday.

The FDA will take comments on the proposal for 120 days.

Susan Mayne, former director of FDA's food program, said the new requirement would give the FDA a clearer picture of the vast number of ingredients on the U.S. market, though only a small portion would actually undergo review.

“This is a reasonable first step towards a more complete inventory, but most self-affirmed GRAS ingredients will still not be reviewed for safety by the FDA, with food ingredient safety continuing to be risk-based,” said Mayne, who is now a public health expert at Yale University.

The FDA also plans to publish a list of company-submitted ingredients. Mayne said Americans should understand that “inclusion on the list would not mean FDA thinks the ingredient is safe.”

Scrutiny of ultraprocessed food continues, but with few details

In a separate move, the FDA said it has completed work on the federal government's first-ever definition of ultraprocessed food, but did not release any details or the proposed language. The agency said it submitted the definition to the White House for further review.

Health advocates consider an official definition of ultraprocessed food a key step toward bringing greater scrutiny to meals that are blamed for multiple chronic health problems afflicting Americans. A government-backed definition could pave the way for more federal research and, eventually, possible warning labels or other restrictions.

Neither of Monday's announcements are likely to immediately impact American diets, which are packed with fats, sodium and sugar and are blamed for a host of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. But both initiatives are top priorities for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who entered government vowing to crack down on artificial colors, additives and other ingredients.

“These two actions will change how the federal government oversees what’s in our food and how we understand the foods that Americans eat,” Kennedy said at an event Monday at HHS headquarters.

Ultraprocessed foods are made using industrial processing and additives, colors, preservatives or other ingredients not found in home kitchens. The foods include sugary cereals, sodas, chips, frozen pizzas and other grocery items.

Scientists have been working to define and classify processed foods for well over a decade. But sweeping definitions come with downsides. They can be applied to foods like whole grain bread, yogurt and granola that are all highly processed but still considered nutritious. Some recent efforts to define ultraprocessed foods include carve-outs for foods that meet nutrition standards, despite having processed ingredients.

FDA proposal would bring new insights on additives used by food companies

In the U.S., an estimated 10,000 additives are allowed in food, including thickeners, preservatives and packaging ingredients.

Consumer advocates have long argued that many of those ingredients have never been properly vetted because of the FDA's policy allowing manufacturers to certify for themselves that additives are “generally recognized as safe,” or GRAS.

FDA's Diamantas stressed Monday that the new policy would not require all new ingredients to undergo FDA review. He said mandatory reviews would need to be enacted by Congress.

“What we’re doing is requiring companies that utilize the pathway to notify us of their conclusions so that we have greater visibility,” Diamantas said.

Under the proposal, the FDA would be expected to review new ingredient submissions within 180 days. If regulators had safety concerns they could request additional information or ask the company to delay introducing the ingredient.

Consumer advocates who have long pushed for changes said FDA’s proposal should require more than giving advance notice.

“It must also include strong, science-based safety standards and thorough, independent FDA review before chemicals are allowed in our food,” said Melanie Benesh of the nonprofit Environmental Working Group.

Kennedy said the Trump administration would ask Congress to grant FDA additional powers over ingredients.

“Congress needs to give FDA the additional tools it needs to keep pace with the changing food supply and protect the American people,” Kennedy said.

A rule change in the 1990s created what advocates call a loophole

Any substance intentionally added to food is supposed to undergo formal review — unless the additive is considered safe. Since the late 1950s, the government recognized that many common ingredients in foods, such as spices and vinegar, were widely consumed and understood to be safe for consumption.

The FDA policed the GRAS exemption for years, but it took time and resources. Starting in 1997, the FDA began allowing companies to independently determine that a new additive is safe based on publicly available scientific evidence and the consensus of qualified experts.

However, the list of products deemed GRAS by companies grew to include many synthetic and natural additives, all incorporated into the food supply without independent review.

The process has created a “secret GRAS loophole,” according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest and other health groups.

Food industry officials contend their internal reviews of additives are as rigorous as the FDA’s own process.

___

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.

Leer en español

According to an arrest report, North Miami Beach police officers responded to the complex Friday night after receiving a report about a man exposing himself in front of minors.

Police said the two victims, ages 10 and 17, told officers they were taking out the trash at about 8:45 p.m. when they walked past Eric Leon Wilson’s apartment and noticed the suspect watching them from down the hallway with his red shorts pulled down.

When they turned around, they saw him exposing his genitals in what police described as a “lewd and lascivious manner,” the report stated.

Investigators said the children became frightened and did not want to walk back past the man’s apartment to get to their own apartments. Instead, they went outside to return to their apartments by another route, authorities said.

As they walked past Wilson’s apartment from outside, both minors told police they saw him watching them from his balcony, according to the report.

Police said surveillance video from the apartment complex corroborated the minors’ accounts. According to investigators, the footage showed Wilson watching the children as they took out the trash and showed his shorts pulled halfway down, exposing himself.

The victims also identified the suspect through a photograph they took during the incident, police said.

According to the arrest report, officers initially encountered Wilson outside his apartment and he told police he had just returned home from work.

After being read his Miranda rights, Wilson agreed to speak with investigators and repeatedly denied having contact with anyone, maintaining that he had just arrived home from work, the report stated.

According to the report, the 17-year-old told investigators that on two previous occasions she had seen Wilson watching her from the parking lot while she was in her bedroom. She was unable to provide specific dates or times for those alleged incidents, the report states.

Police said the 17-year-old provided a written statement, while the 10-year-old gave a video statement to an officer.

Wilson was arrested on charges of lewd and lascivious exhibition on a child, indecent exposure and disorderly conduct/breach of the peace.

Online records show that as of Monday morning, Wilson was being held at the Metrowest Detention Center on an $8,650 bond.

Según un informe de arresto, agentes de la policía de North Miami Beach respondieron al complejo la noche del viernes después de recibir un reporte sobre un hombre que se exhibía frente a menores.

La policía dijo que las dos víctimas, de 10 y 17 años, dijeron a los agentes que estaban sacando la basura alrededor de las 8:45 p.m. cuando pasaron frente al apartamento de Eric Leon Wilson y notaron al sospechoso observándolas desde el pasillo con sus pantalones cortos rojos bajados.

Cuando se dieron la vuelta, lo vieron exhibiendo sus genitales de una manera que la policía describió como “lasciva y obscena”, indicó el informe.

Los investigadores dijeron que los menores se asustaron y no querían volver a pasar frente al apartamento del hombre para llegar a sus propios apartamentos. En cambio, salieron al exterior para regresar a sus apartamentos por otra ruta, dijeron las autoridades.

Mientras pasaban frente al apartamento de Wilson desde el exterior, ambos menores dijeron a la policía que lo vieron observándolos desde su balcón, según el informe.

La policía dijo que un video de vigilancia del complejo de apartamentos corroboró los relatos de los menores. Según los investigadores, las imágenes mostraron a Wilson observando a los menores mientras sacaban la basura y mostraron sus pantalones cortos bajados hasta la mitad, exhibiéndose.

Las víctimas también identificaron al sospechoso mediante una fotografía que tomaron durante el incidente, dijo la policía.

Según el informe de arresto, los agentes inicialmente encontraron a Wilson afuera de su apartamento y él dijo a la policía que acababa de regresar a casa del trabajo.

Después de que le leyeran sus derechos Miranda, Wilson aceptó hablar con los investigadores y negó repetidamente haber tenido contacto con alguien, manteniendo que acababa de llegar a casa del trabajo, indicó el informe.

Según el informe, la joven de 17 años dijo a los investigadores que en dos ocasiones anteriores había visto a Wilson observándola desde el estacionamiento mientras ella estaba en su dormitorio. No pudo proporcionar fechas ni horas específicas de esos presuntos incidentes, indica el informe.

La policía dijo que la joven de 17 años proporcionó una declaración por escrito, mientras que el menor de 10 años dio una declaración en video a un agente.

Wilson fue arrestado por cargos de exhibición lasciva y obscena ante un menor, exhibición indecente y conducta desordenada/alteración de la paz.

Los registros en línea muestran que hasta la mañana del lunes, Wilson permanecía detenido en el Centro de Detención Metrowest con una fianza de $8,650 USD.

Leer en español

As of Monday morning, that disturbance had a medium chance of developing into a tropical depression or named storm over the next 7 days, primarily from Wednesday through Saturday as it tracks safely over the open waters between Africa and the Caribbean. The next name on the list is Cristobal.

In general, models have trended more bullish in terms of its potential development since Friday and the easternmost Caribbean islands – from the Lesser Antilles to Puerto Rico – will want to monitor the forecast trends this week.

The scenarios that indicate development in the AI-camp of models keep the system weaker (tropical depression or tropical storm strength) but also move it farther south and graze or affect the Leeward Islands by this upcoming weekend.

For now, the top-performing Google DeepMind machine learning-based model puts development odds around 30-40% this week.

The conventional physics-based models, on the other hand, are slightly more aggressive in future development but also – perhaps due to a stronger storm – lift the system farther north into the central Atlantic this weekend and provide a safer clearance away from the islands.

It’s too soon to know which solution for the islands is most likely and interests in the islands should continue to check back this week. Though Cristobal is looking more likely than not later this week, the environment is only marginally conducive ahead, and for now our forecast models don’t indicate significant strengthening east of the islands.

Beyond the islands next week, there does appear to be enough of a break in the subtropical high pressure steering to allow the system to bend north, but we’re still more than a week out and we’ll need to see exactly how far north the disturbance – or what comes from it – tracks this week. At this stage, this isn’t anything the mainland U.S. needs to be concerned about.

Honorable mentions over the rest of the Atlantic

The NHC also added two other yellow areas to its outlook map this weekend for low development odds, but neither is of much consequence. The southernmost disturbance between Africa and the Caribbean (and west of the main disturbance we’re tracking this week) is a tropical wave that rolled off Africa Friday that we mentioned at the time.

Forecast models show that disturbance harmlessly sailing into the southern Windward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and parts of northern Venezuela by mid-week and development isn’t expected.

Meanwhile, a broad and disorganized area of low pressure over the open north Atlantic north of Bermuda – in part a leftover piece of a tropical wave that affected parts of the southeast U.S. Friday into the weekend – is moving quickly eastward and away from the U.S. Its development prospects are very limited and regardless, it poses no threat to land.

Leer en español

The incident was reported at about 3:40 a.m. along South Dixie Highway near Rodman Street and involved what appeared to be a cargo train.

The incident temporarily blocked all railroad crossings into Hallandale Beach at one point.

Crime scene investigators were seen searching the area and taking photographs as authorities worked to determine the circumstances surrounding the death.

The scene has since been cleared and the railroad crossings have reopened.

Authorities have not released the identity of the person who died, but said the incident appeared to be a suicide.

The investigation is ongoing.

Hasta la mañana del lunes, esa perturbación tenía una probabilidad media de convertirse en una depresión tropical o tormenta con nombre durante los próximos 7 días, principalmente entre el miércoles y el sábado, mientras avanza de forma segura sobre aguas abiertas entre África y el Caribe. El próximo nombre en la lista es Cristóbal.

En general, los modelos han mostrado una tendencia más favorable a su posible desarrollo desde el viernes, y las islas más orientales del Caribe, desde las Antillas Menores hasta Puerto Rico, deberán monitorear las tendencias del pronóstico esta semana.

Los escenarios que indican desarrollo entre los modelos de inteligencia artificial mantienen el sistema más débil, con fuerza de depresión tropical o tormenta tropical, pero también lo desplazan más hacia el sur, rozando o afectando las Islas de Sotavento para este próximo fin de semana.

Por ahora, el modelo de aprendizaje automático Google DeepMind, uno de los de mejor rendimiento, sitúa las probabilidades de desarrollo entre 30% y 40% esta semana.

Los modelos convencionales basados en la física, por otro lado, son ligeramente más agresivos en cuanto al desarrollo futuro, pero también, quizás debido a una tormenta más fuerte, desplazan el sistema más al norte hacia el Atlántico central este fin de semana y lo mantienen a una distancia más segura de las islas.

Es demasiado pronto para saber qué escenario es el más probable para las islas, y quienes se encuentren en las islas deben continuar atentos a las actualizaciones esta semana. Aunque parece más probable que Cristóbal se forme hacia finales de esta semana, el entorno por delante solo es marginalmente favorable y, por ahora, nuestros modelos de pronóstico no indican un fortalecimiento significativo al este de las islas.

Más allá de las islas la próxima semana, parece haber una interrupción suficiente en el sistema de alta presión subtropical que dirige el sistema como para permitir que gire hacia el norte, pero todavía falta más de una semana y tendremos que ver exactamente qué tan al norte se desplaza esta semana la perturbación, o lo que se forme a partir de ella. En esta etapa, esto no es algo por lo que Estados Unidos continental deba preocuparse.

Menciones destacadas en el resto del Atlántico

El NHC también agregó este fin de semana otras dos áreas amarillas a su mapa de perspectivas debido a sus bajas probabilidades de desarrollo, pero ninguna es de gran importancia. La perturbación más al sur entre África y el Caribe, y al oeste de la principal perturbación que estamos monitoreando esta semana, es una onda tropical que salió de África el viernes y que mencionamos en ese momento.

Los modelos de pronóstico muestran que esa perturbación avanzará sin causar problemas hacia el sur de las Islas de Barlovento, Trinidad y Tobago y partes del norte de Venezuela para mediados de semana, y no se espera que se desarrolle.

Mientras tanto, una amplia y desorganizada área de baja presión sobre las aguas abiertas del Atlántico Norte, al norte de Bermuda, en parte un remanente de una onda tropical que afectó zonas del sureste de Estados Unidos desde el viernes y durante el fin de semana, se desplaza rápidamente hacia el este y se aleja de Estados Unidos. Sus posibilidades de desarrollo son muy limitadas y, en cualquier caso, no representa una amenaza para tierra firme.

Leer en español

A woman contacted police to report that Yoniel Izquierdo had been living with the dog in the van for about two months, according to police.

Police officers responded shortly before 1:25 p.m. on Friday to the area of West Ninth Lane and 40th Place, according to a police report.

“I observed a dog confined inside the van and unable to exit on its own. The vehicle was parked in direct sunlight with no shade. The vehicle was not running,” a Hialeah police officer wrote, according to the report.

Miami-Dade County Animal Services personnel responded and found that the temperature inside the van was about 107 degrees, according to the report.

“The air conditioning was not operating. The vehicle only has two windows that were slightly cracked open ... The dog was observed panting and displaying signs of distress,” an officer wrote, according to the report.

MDCAA personnel poured water on the dog, according to police.

Izquierdo told police officers that “he had been living in the van with the dog for approximately one month and acknowledged that he leaves the dog confined inside the van when he goes to work,” an officer wrote, according to the police arrest report.

Miami-Dade corrections booked Izquierdo shortly after 4:10 p.m. on Friday, and he was at the Metrowest Detention Center on Monday morning, according to inmate records.

Izquierdo faced a charge of animal cruelty with intent to injure or kill, a third-degree felony. His bond was $5,000.

Una mujer contactó a la policía para reportar que Yoniel Izquierdo había estado viviendo con el perro en la camioneta durante unos dos meses, según la policía.

Agentes respondieron poco antes de la 1:25 p.m. del viernes al área de West Ninth Lane y 40th Place, según un informe policial.

“Observé a un perro confinado dentro de la camioneta e incapaz de salir por sí solo. El vehículo estaba estacionado bajo la luz directa del sol, sin sombra. El vehículo no estaba encendido”, escribió un agente de la policía de Hialeah, según el informe.

Personal de Servicios para Animales del Condado Miami-Dade respondió y determinó que la temperatura dentro de la camioneta era de unos 107 grados, según el informe.

“El aire acondicionado no estaba funcionando. El vehículo solo tiene dos ventanas que estaban ligeramente abiertas,  El perro fue visto jadeando y mostrando señales de angustia”, escribió un agente, según el informe.

Personal de Servicios para Animales del Condado Miami-Dade vertió agua sobre el perro, según la policía.

Izquierdo dijo a los agentes que “había estado viviendo en la camioneta con el perro durante aproximadamente un mes y reconoció que deja al perro confinado dentro de la camioneta cuando va a trabajar”, escribió un agente, según el informe policial de arresto.

El Departamento de Correccionales de Miami-Dade ingresó a Izquierdo poco después de las 4:10 p.m. del viernes y permanecía en el Centro de Detención Metrowest la mañana del lunes, según los registros de reclusos.

Izquierdo enfrentaba un cargo de crueldad animal con intención de herir o matar, un delito grave de tercer grado. Su fianza fue fijada en $5,000 USD.

Leer en español

Fabiano Caruana, who was born in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood, discovered chess when he was just 5 years old. What began as an after-school activity quickly developed into a professional pursuit that would eventually take him around the world.

“I started after school just playing with other kids,” Caruana said. “There was a coach. He told my parents, ‘Maybe you should pursue it. Seems like he’s good.’ And then we started taking it more seriously, and I represented the U.S. in youth competitions. That was the beginning.”

That beginning ultimately propelled Caruana to the highest levels of competitive chess. Today, he is ranked among the best players in the world and has built a following of nearly 200,000 people on Instagram.

Caruana recently returned to South Florida to represent Team USA in an elite international rapid and blitz chess competition at Faena Miami Beach, featuring some of the world’s top grandmasters.

Chess finds a new generation

While chess has existed for centuries, Caruana says the game has evolved considerably in recent years. Online platforms have made it easier than ever for people to learn and compete, helping introduce the game to millions of new players.

“The great thing about chess is it’s very accessible,” Caruana said. “It doesn’t cost anything to play. You can play online for free.”

Caruana also believes the benefits extend well beyond competition.

“I think it’s one of the really useful things that chess can do for people,” he said, pointing to its potential cognitive benefits and the lessons it can teach children, including “self-control, patience, hard work.”

Despite chess’ growing online popularity, Caruana said players are still working to overcome the perception that the game is slow or outdated.

“I think we’ve had to fight this perception that chess is an old-fashioned game,” he said. “There are a lot of ways chess can be exciting, but the best way to decide is to give it a try.”

Much of that excitement, he said, comes from the tension players experience even when there may not be much visible action to spectators.

“The tension that you feel, you may not see on the outside, but you feel while you’re playing it,” Caruana said.

That pressure is amplified in rapid and blitz competitions, where players have significantly less time to make decisions.

“When you’re playing as fast as possible, nothing goes through your mind except your next move,” he said.

Chasing a world championship

Despite already reaching the upper echelon of the chess world, Caruana still has one major goal left on his list: becoming world champion.

“I would like to fight for the World Championship title,” he said.

Caruana said he expects to have another opportunity to pursue that goal during the 2028 championship cycle.

“I’ll be able to try in the next cycle, which is in 2028,” he said, “and hopefully I’ll make it then.”

Leer en español

An arrest report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office states that TikTok tipped authorities off that Maylin Elena Viana, 29, had uploaded the illicit clip of herself and the victim.

The arrest report doesn’t state how Viana knows the child.

Deputies said Viana “admitted to recording the victim and his genitalia” and said they additionally found a video in an Instagram account of Viana engaging in further lewd conduct with the child.

Viana, who lives in the rural Redland area, was arrested on charges related to the promotion of child sexual abuse material and lewd and lascivious molestation.

A spokesperson for TikTok told Local 10 News that its system flagged and reported the content before it received views, shares, or downloads and banned Viana’s account.

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

Fabiano Caruana, quien nació en el vecindario Coconut Grove de Miami, descubrió el ajedrez cuando tenía apenas 5 años. Lo que comenzó como una actividad después de clases rápidamente se convirtió en una carrera profesional que finalmente lo llevaría por todo el mundo.

“Comencé después de clases simplemente jugando con otros niños”, dijo Caruana. “Había un entrenador. Él les dijo a mis padres: ‘Quizás deberían seguir adelante con esto. Parece que es bueno’. Entonces comenzamos a tomarlo más en serio y representé a Estados Unidos en competencias juveniles. Ese fue el comienzo”.

Ese comienzo finalmente impulsó a Caruana a los niveles más altos del ajedrez competitivo. Hoy se encuentra entre los mejores jugadores del mundo y ha acumulado casi 200,000 seguidores en Instagram.

Caruana regresó recientemente al sur de Florida para representar al equipo de Estados Unidos en una competencia internacional de élite de ajedrez rápido y blitz en Faena Miami Beach, que cuenta con algunos de los mejores grandes maestros del mundo.

El ajedrez encuentra una nueva generación

Aunque el ajedrez existe desde hace siglos, Caruana dice que el juego ha evolucionado considerablemente en los últimos años. Las plataformas en línea han hecho que sea más fácil que nunca aprender y competir, ayudando a presentar el juego a millones de nuevos jugadores.

“Lo grandioso del ajedrez es que es muy accesible”, dijo Caruana. “No cuesta nada jugar. Puedes jugar en línea gratis”.

Caruana también cree que los beneficios van mucho más allá de la competencia.

“Creo que es una de las cosas realmente útiles que el ajedrez puede hacer por las personas”, dijo, señalando sus posibles beneficios cognitivos y las lecciones que puede enseñar a los niños, entre ellas “autocontrol, paciencia y trabajo duro”.

A pesar de la creciente popularidad del ajedrez en línea, Caruana dijo que los jugadores todavía están trabajando para superar la percepción de que el juego es lento o anticuado.

“Creo que hemos tenido que luchar contra esta percepción de que el ajedrez es un juego anticuado”, dijo. “Hay muchas maneras en las que el ajedrez puede ser emocionante, pero la mejor forma de decidirlo es probarlo”.

Gran parte de esa emoción, dijo, proviene de la tensión que experimentan los jugadores incluso cuando puede que los espectadores no vean mucha acción.

“La tensión que sientes quizás no se vea desde afuera, pero la sientes mientras juegas”, dijo Caruana.

Esa presión aumenta en las competencias de ajedrez rápido y blitz, donde los jugadores tienen considerablemente menos tiempo para tomar decisiones.

“Cuando juegas lo más rápido posible, no pasa nada por tu mente excepto tu próximo movimiento”, dijo.

En busca de un campeonato mundial

A pesar de haber alcanzado ya la élite del mundo del ajedrez, Caruana todavía tiene un objetivo importante pendiente: convertirse en campeón mundial.

“Me gustaría luchar por el título del Campeonato Mundial”, dijo.

Caruana dijo que espera tener otra oportunidad de perseguir ese objetivo durante el ciclo del campeonato de 2028.

“Podré intentarlo en el próximo ciclo, que es en 2028”, dijo, “y espero lograrlo entonces”.

Primaries for all seven congressional districts were originally scheduled for May 19, but Republican Gov. Kay Ivey postponed the contests for the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th Congressional Districts following a U.S. Supreme Court decision that prompted a handful of Republican-controlled Southern states to throw out their congressional maps.

The court-inspired actions in Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee, as well as earlier legislative actions in other states to redraw their boundaries through mid-decade redistricting, were part of a nationwide Republican effort championed by President Donald Trump to maximize the party’s chances of holding its slim U.S. House majority in the 2026 midterm elections.

Alabama's U.S. House members will continue to serve in their current districts until the end of 2026. Candidates in Tuesday's primaries are running under the new Republican-backed boundaries, which go into effect in January 2027. Both of Alabama’s Democratic members of Congress are seeking reelection in their newly configured districts and are unopposed in their primaries.

In the 2nd District, where U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures is running for a second term, the Black population will go from half of the population under the current lines to about 40% under the new lines. In the 2024 presidential election, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris beat Trump in the current district, 53% to 46%. But Trump would have beaten Harris 57% to 42% if the new boundaries had been in effect in 2024.

Six Republicans are running to challenge Figures in November, including state Rep. Rhett Marques, Army veteran Joshua McKee and real estate broker Hampton Harris. Trump has endorsed Marques, who is the field’s top fundraiser.

Black residents will maintain a slight majority in the new 7th District, where U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell is running for a ninth term. Harris beat Trump, 61% to 38%, under the current boundaries and would have beaten him by slightly less, 58% to 41%, if the new boundaries had been in effect in 2024. Two Republicans, Ammie Akin and David Perry, are competing for the nomination to unseat Sewell.

Here are some of the key facts about the election and data points the AP Decision Team will monitor as the votes are tallied:

When do polls close?

Polls close at 7 p.m. CT, which is 8 p.m. ET.

What’s on the ballot?

The Associated Press will provide vote results and declare winners in contested primaries for the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th Congressional Districts.

Who gets to vote?

The special primaries are open to any registered voters in their respective congressional districts. Although Alabama does not register voters by party, voters will be asked to declare a party preference upon selecting a party’s primary ballot.

How many voters are there?

As of June 1, there were 3.8 million registered voters in Alabama. Each congressional district in the state has a total population of about 718,000.

How many people actually vote?

About 409,000 ballots were cast across the state in the May 19 primaries, which was roughly 11% of registered voters. Past vote totals for the four new congressional districts are unavailable.

How much of the vote is cast early or by absentee ballot?

Relatively few Alabama voters cast their ballots before Election Day. The state is one of the only holdouts in the country not to offer some form of in-person early voting. In the 2024 primaries, about 4% of Democratic primary voters and about 1% of Republican primary voters voted by mail.

When are early and absentee votes released?

Vote release practices vary from county to county. Most counties tend to release results from absentee voting in the first vote update, sometimes along with results from in-person Election Day voting.

How long does vote-counting usually take?

In the May 19 state primary, the AP first reported results at 8:28 p.m. ET, or 28 minutes after polls closed. The last vote update of the night was at 12:54 a.m. ET, with more than 99.9% of total votes counted.

When will the AP declare a winner?

The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow a trailing candidate to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.

How do recounts work?

In 2010, the Alabama attorney general issued an opinion that Alabama’s automatic recount law does not apply to primaries. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is subject to a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

Are we there yet?

As of Tuesday, there will be 84 days until the 2026 midterm elections.

___

Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2026 election at https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/.

El incidente ocurrió en South Dixie Highway, cerca de Rodman Street, e involucró lo que parecía ser un tren de carga.

En un momento dado, el incidente bloqueó temporalmente todos los cruces ferroviarios hacia Hallandale Beach.

Investigadores de la escena del crimen fueron vistos inspeccionando el área y tomando fotografías mientras las autoridades trabajaban para determinar las circunstancias de la muerte.

La escena ya fue despejada y los cruces ferroviarios fueron reabiertos.

Las autoridades no han revelado la identidad de la persona que murió ni proporcionado detalles adicionales sobre lo que ocurrió antes del incidente.

La investigación continúa.

And then, a cut. The documentary, which follows the Blink-182 drummer from 2017 to 2026, is a celebration of Barker's life before and after the life-altering accident, a central event in a career full of them. The film began as a mirror of his memoir, 2015's “Can I Say: Living Large, Cheating Death, and Drums, Drums, Drums,” but became something else entirely after a producer suggested it end with the image of Barker, then still unable to fly due to post-traumatic stress disorder, walking toward a plane.

Ending on that note, “where this thing still has power over me,” didn’t sit well with him. Instead, he boards a plane at the end, but the documentary’s final images are a slide show of family photos, including his wife Kourtney Kardashian and kids.

“I almost died,” he says. It “could be helpful to share my life.”

An elastic artist

Barker's resume is long, and a two-and-a-half-hour documentary can only cover so much of it. The film hits most of the big notes, quickly establishing Barker as a rebellious kid with a supernatural drumming ability from age 4, when he got his first kit, to now, at 50.

And that's with many projects in-between: From the SoCal punks Feeble, which he joined while working as a trash collector, to his stint in the ska band The Aquabats and multiplatinum, pop-punk legends Blink-182 — the band that skyrocketed Barker into superstardom.

Also covered? His love of skateboarding and car culture, his clothing brands, side-projects Box Car Racer and +44, turntable duo TRV$DJAM, various experiments and collaborations in hip-hop (Bun B, Lil Wayne ) and beyond.

But it all began with drumming, and hilariously enough, Animal from “The Muppets” — his first drumming hero — until he discovered cross-genre greats like jazz legends Buddy Rich, Dennis Chambers and Elvin Jones as well as Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee.

“Where drumming got really serious for me was after my mom passed, so it was therapy,” he says, reflecting on his childhood. “It’s like my life. It’s like oxygen to me.”

It's also a kind of sport. Barker has long been a dedicated, athletic percussionist, and he likens it to a boxer's meditative state. “It’s like when you see a fighter and he just goes for broke the first round. There’s sometimes where I just feel like that,” he says. “Something just takes over my body.”

Many events in life threatened that euphoria, but none quite as physically as the plane crash. “I was in a burn center for six months on morphine and I had 30 surgeries,” he recounts. “Seventy percent of my body was burned.” At one point, he didn't only fear if he would be able to drum again — even walking was a question mark.

Lessons from tragedy

Even before the crash, Barker's life — as marked with musical triumphs as it has been — offered lessons in resiliency.

“Whether it was my mom passing away or my plane crash, I learned — and through watching friends of mine and just living life — I’ve seen traumatic experiences either destroy someone or define them,” he says. “Every loss I had, or every everything I took to the chin, it made me stronger. At the time, I can’t realize it, right? I can't like really wrap my head around it. But ... that’s why I went so hard and I was so determined to play music and so determined to succeed. Plan B was only making Plan A work. You know? There was no Plan B.”

The same tenacity can be applied to his sobriety and dedication to flying again — a journey emboldened by his family. “I fly all the time now and I feel turbulence and I can’t even tell you what’s going on in my head. And I just look over and my wife’s perfectly OK,” he says. “My son loves airplanes and plays with airplanes and it’s so innocent. It’s so beautiful.”

“They’ve been my greatest joy,” he says of his children, who grow up on screen across the film's near-decade of filming.

As someone who has lost a lot and thought about what it would be like to lose even more, when it comes to the topic of legacy, Barker has a simple dream. “I think I’d want to be remembered for my music and my drumming and being a great father, husband, and son and brother,” he says.

As for the doc? “Maybe my story helps somebody,” he pauses. “I don’t love how everything happened. I don’t like the losses that happened. But I like how hard I had to work. I like that I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I liked that I had to navigate and find my way. And the journey was awesome.”

Leer en español

Online jail records show Erwin Rommel Recinos, now 30, was extradited to Miami-Dade County and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on July 23.

Recinos is charged with three counts of DUI manslaughter, three counts of vehicular homicide/reckless manner, DUI causing serious bodily injury and reckless driving causing serious bodily injury.

Miami police officers arrested Recinos on March 24, 2022, months after the fatal crash occurred at about 3 a.m. on Feb. 13, 2022.

According to police, the crash occurred near a Valero gas station along West Flagler Street, near Southwest 48th Avenue.

Paola Sabillon, Jason Meza and Giselle Reyes were killed in the crash.

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Recinos was deported to Honduras on Sept. 6, 2024, after a federal judge signed a final order.

Online jail records show that Recinos once again is being jailed on an immigration hold, but he is not expected to be deported this time until after his trial is finished and his sentence is completed, if he is convicted.

Los registros de la cárcel en línea muestran que Erwin Rommel Recinos, ahora de 30 años, fue extraditado al condado Miami-Dade e ingresó al Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight el 23 de julio.

Recinos enfrenta tres cargos de homicidio involuntario por conducir bajo la influencia, tres cargos de homicidio vehicular/conducción imprudente, conducir bajo la influencia causando lesiones corporales graves y conducción imprudente causando lesiones corporales graves.

Agentes de la policía de Miami arrestaron a Recinos el 24 de marzo de 2022, meses después de que el accidente fatal ocurriera alrededor de las 3 a.m. del 13 de febrero de 2022.

Según la policía, el accidente ocurrió cerca de una gasolinera Valero en West Flagler Street, cerca de Southwest 48th Avenue.

Paola Sabillon, Jason Meza y Giselle Reyes murieron en el accidente.

Según el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de Estados Unidos, Recinos fue deportado a Honduras el 6 de septiembre de 2024, después de que un juez federal firmara una orden definitiva.

Los registros de la cárcel en línea muestran que Recinos está nuevamente detenido bajo una orden de retención migratoria, pero no se espera que sea deportado esta vez hasta después de que termine su juicio y cumpla su sentencia, si es declarado culpable.

Leer en español

Whether it’s your child’s very first day of kindergarten, their final first day as a senior, or a proud family photo before heading out the door, Local 10 is inviting viewers to submit their pictures for a chance to be featured on-air. All photos will be displayed in a gallery below.

Students across South Florida will return to the classroom on the following dates:

• Broward County Public Schools: Monday, Aug. 10
• Archdiocese of Miami Catholic Schools: Tuesday, Aug. 11
• Monroe County School District: Wednesday, Aug. 12
• Miami-Dade County Public Schools: Thursday, Aug. 13

Photos may be featured in Local 10’s newscasts, on Local10.com and across the station’s social media platforms as South Florida students kick off the new school year.

Local 10 wishes all students, teachers and school staff a safe, successful and exciting school year.

Submit your back-to-school photos below:

Ya sea el primer día de kínder de tu hijo, su último primer día como estudiante de último año o una orgullosa foto familiar antes de salir de casa, Local 10 invita a los televidentes a enviar sus fotos para tener la oportunidad de aparecer al aire. Todas las fotos se mostrarán en una galería a continuación.

Los estudiantes de todo el sur de Florida regresarán a las aulas en las siguientes fechas:

• Escuelas Públicas del Condado Broward: lunes 10 de agosto
• Escuelas Católicas de la Arquidiócesis de Miami: martes 11 de agosto
• Distrito Escolar del Condado Monroe: miércoles 12 de agosto
• Escuelas Públicas del Condado Miami-Dade: jueves 13 de agosto

Las fotos podrían aparecer en los noticieros de Local 10, en Local10.com y en las plataformas de redes sociales de la estación mientras los estudiantes del sur de Florida comienzan el nuevo año escolar.

Local 10 desea a todos los estudiantes, maestros y personal escolar un año escolar seguro, exitoso y emocionante.

Envía tus fotos del regreso a clases a continuación:

Grupo Centro, la organización de atención médica propietaria del Sanatorio Centro, un hospital en Rosario, Argentina, anunció que Jorge Messi murió la mañana del sábado.

“Nuestros corazones están con nuestro capitán, Leo, y con toda la familia Messi”, escribió un portavoz de Inter Miami CF en el comunicado del equipo.

La Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol, CONMEBOL, y el Club Atlético Newell”s Old Boys de Rosario también emitieron mensajes de condolencias.

Jorge Messi fue mediocampista y llegó a las categorías juveniles de Newell”s Old Boys. Fue agente de su hijo y estuvo involucrado en los contratos de Leo Messi con el Barça, Paris Saint-Germain e Inter Miami CF.

“Tuve el privilegio de conocer y trabajar con Jorge. Era un hombre de palabra, y mis pensamientos y oraciones están con su familia durante este momento difícil. Miami ha acogido a la familia del Team Messi como propia, y hoy lamentamos su pérdida junto a ellos”, escribió Francis X. Suarez, ex alcalde de Miami, en un comunicado en X.

Durante la Copa Mundial de la FIFA, Lionel Messi dijo a los periodistas que estaba llorando por “una razón no relacionada con el deporte” después de pasar “por algunos días difíciles y complicados”.

En junio, la familia de Messi emitió un comunicado informando que Jorge Messi estaba “atravesando un problema de salud”.

Historias relacionadas

• Jorge Messi, padre de Lionel Messi, muere a los 68 años
• Jorge Messi, padre y agente de toda la vida de Lionel Messi, muere a los 68 años

Redes sociales relacionadas

Our hearts are with our captain, Leo, and the entire Messi family. pic.twitter.com/nJ3umEpirU

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 8, 2026

El Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys despide con profundo dolor y pesar a Jorge Messi, quien falleció a los 68 años de edad en la ciudad de Rosario.

Reconocido hincha leproso, empresario y padre del capitán del seleccionado argentino, Lionel Andrés Messi.

Jorge fue el sostén y la… pic.twitter.com/8dFPMRdM9Z

— Newell’s Old Boys (@Newells) August 8, 2026

La CONMEBOL lamenta profundamente el fallecimiento de Jorge Messi, padre del futbolista argentino Lionel Messi.

Acompañamos con respeto y afecto a Lionel, a su familia, amigos y seres queridos en este momento de profundo dolor.

Que descanse en paz. pic.twitter.com/QpTWIAgdBU

— CONMEBOL.com (@CONMEBOL) August 8, 2026

El Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys despide con profundo dolor y pesar a Jorge Messi, quien falleció a los 68 años de edad en la ciudad de Rosario.

Reconocido hincha leproso, empresario y padre del capitán del seleccionado argentino, Lionel Andrés Messi.

Jorge fue el sostén y la… pic.twitter.com/8dFPMRdM9Z

— Newell’s Old Boys (@Newells) August 8, 2026

My deepest condolences to Leo Messi and the entire Messi family on the passing of his father, Jorge.

I had the privilege of knowing and working with Jorge. He was a man of his word, and my thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. Miami has embraced…

— Francis X. Suarez (@FrancisSuarez) August 8, 2026

Varios carriles del Florida’s Turnpike quedaron cerrados la mañana del domingo por el incendio de un vehículo.

El fuego se registró cerca de la salida de Griffin Road, en el condado de Broward, justo al sur de la Interestatal 595.

El tránsito en dirección sur al parecer quedó reducido a un solo carril mientras los servicios de emergencia atendían la situación.

Más temprano en la mañana, se observó a los equipos de rescate trabajando para sofocar las llamas.

Las autoridades no han dado información sobre las circunstancias que provocaron el incendio ni sobre si alguien resultó herido.

Los padres de Jakey, Karen y Orlando Duque, sumidos en el dolor, suplicaron el sábado que la devuelvan al parque Jakey Duque, en Miami Lakes.

“Para nosotros no tiene precio”, dijo Karen Duque sobre la escultura, obra de Art & Sculpture Unlimited.

Jakey tenía 4 años cuando, el 11 de octubre de 2019, le diagnosticaron un glioma pontino intrínseco difuso, o DIPG, un tumor cerebral poco común y sumamente agresivo.

Jakey murió el 8 de junio de 2020. Como parte de un esfuerzo comunitario, las autoridades de la ciudad develaron el homenaje el 8 de mayo de 2021, en la calle 154 y la avenida 89 del noroeste.

“Significa mucho para la comunidad”, dijo Orlando Duque. “Significa mucho para nosotros, y solo queremos que vuelva... Si quieren venir en plena madrugada, como se la llevaron, y dejarla, está bien.”

Karen Duque dijo que no quieren presentar cargos.

“Solo queremos que la devuelvan”, expresó.

Eran cerca de la 1:15 a.m. del domingo cuando agentes de la policía de Hollywood acudieron a la cuadra 5300 de Plunkett Street.

Según la policía, los oficiales que llegaron al lugar encontraron a dos víctimas.

Las autoridades informaron que ambas fueron trasladadas de urgencia a un hospital cercano.

La policía dijo que capturó al sospechoso, identificado luego como Cameron Alexander, de 38 años, tras establecer un perímetro.

Las cámaras de Local 10 News captaron lo que parecía ser una bala y sangre en el pavimento.

Durante la madrugada y hasta la mañana se vio a los detectives tomando fotografías, mientras la cinta policial mantenía cerrada una parte de Plunkett Street donde trabajaban los investigadores.

También se observó a familiares conversando con los oficiales, en busca de respuestas sobre cómo y por qué su ser querido habría recibido los disparos.

Un familiar le dijo a Local 10 News que otras dos personas posiblemente vinculadas al caso podrían ser detenidas para ser interrogadas.

A lo largo de la mañana, los detectives colocaron en el suelo varios marcadores de evidencia mientras trataban de reconstruir lo ocurrido.

Los registros indican que Alexander enfrenta varios cargos, entre ellos asesinato premeditado, agresión agravada con intención de cometer un delito grave, posesión de arma por parte de un convicto y resistencia a la autoridad sin violencia.

While U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio continues to put pressure on the Cuban government to change, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel went on Cuban television this past weekend and announced to the Cuban people that the government was making major “transformational changes” to the economy.

Leer en español

Díaz-Canel also told the Cuban people that it would take time and patience -- two things the Cuban people do not have anymore. Díaz-Canel went on to say that the benefits of these changes will begin to show by 2029.

Sources in Washington, D.C. have told me that the Trump administration is looking to see if there is someone in the Cuban government, like Delcy Rodriguez in Venezuela, to hand over Raul Castro or even take over the current government and be willing to negotiate with the U.S.

The Miami Herald reported this weekend that General Lazaro Alberto Alvarez Casas, currently the Cuban Minister of the Interior, may be acceptable to the U.S. General Casas is considered a hardliner and therefore unlikely to break with the Cuban leadership.

As I have said before, the case of Venezuela is quite different than Cuba. While Raul Castro is alive, I believe the Cuban government will continue in power and make promises to the Cuban people they cannot keep.

Aug. 8: Cuban opposition leader says Cuba’s transformation must include those on the island

According to Cuban opposition leader Jose Daniel Ferrer, any plans to transform Cuba must include Cubans on the island.

But do Cubans on the island have the capacity and capabilities to participate in such a process? After living for almost 68 years under a totalitarian system that has shaped the population’s personal values and attitudes, it could take time not only to change it but, more importantly, to sustain those changes.

Democracies are not built in one day. It will take time and patience. Let’s also remember that before the Cuban Revolution, Cuba had a dictatorship under Batista.

Aug 6: US announces new set of economic sanctions against Cuba; 2 of Cuba’s top generals also sanctioned

The U.S. State Department announced a new set of economic sanctions against Cuba on Thursday. At the same time, two of Cuba’s top generals were also sanctioned, Alvaro Lopez Miera, Minister of Defense; and General Roberto Sotolongo, head of the armed forces.

Aug. 5: CIA Task Force on Cuba created, per report

The New York Times has reported the creation of a CIA Task Force on Cuba with the purpose of putting additional pressure on the Cuban government to make political and economic changes to their system.

This news will probably be received by Cuba as an additional threat by the U.S.

Aug. 5: Cuban president confirms ongoing conservations between Havana, US

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel confirmed today that there are ongoing conversations between Havana and DC for the purpose of avoiding a military confrontation and trying to find solutions to the issues between both nations.

The Cuban government understands that they are running out of options and most likely will need to reach an agreement with the U.S. Will it include regime change?

Aug. 3 update: Rubio speaks about Cuba’s ongoing espionage activities in the US

This past weekend, in an interview with Fox News, U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio spoke about Cuba’s ongoing espionage activities in the U.S.

Rubio went on to say that Cuban spies continue to infiltrate the U.S. government, financial institutions, organizations, and academic institutions. Rubio claimed that Cuba continues to be a national security threat to the U.S.

Dr. Andy S. Gomez is Local 10’s Cuba Analyst. Gomez is considered one of the leading scholars on Cuba. He worked in higher education for 32 years before retiring from the University of Miami in 2012.

Mientras el secretario de Estado de Estados Unidos, Marco Rubio, continúa presionando al gobierno cubano para que cambie, el presidente cubano Miguel Díaz-Canel apareció en la televisión cubana este pasado fin de semana y anunció al pueblo cubano que el gobierno estaba realizando importantes “cambios transformadores” en la economía.

Díaz-Canel también dijo al pueblo cubano que se necesitarían tiempo y paciencia, dos cosas que el pueblo cubano ya no tiene. Díaz-Canel continuó diciendo que los beneficios de estos cambios comenzarán a verse para 2029.

Fuentes en Washington, D.C., me han dicho que la administración del presidente Trump está buscando determinar si hay alguien en el gobierno cubano, como Delcy Rodríguez en Venezuela, que entregue a Raúl Castro o incluso asuma el control del actual gobierno y esté dispuesto a negociar con Estados Unidos.

El Miami Herald reportó este fin de semana que el general Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, actual ministro del Interior de Cuba, podría ser aceptable para Estados Unidos. El general Casas es considerado de línea dura y, por lo tanto, es poco probable que rompa con el liderazgo cubano.

Como he dicho antes, el caso de Venezuela es bastante diferente al de Cuba. Mientras Raúl Castro esté vivo, creo que el gobierno cubano continuará en el poder y hará promesas al pueblo cubano que no puede cumplir.

8 de agosto: Líder opositor cubano dice que la transformación de Cuba debe incluir a quienes están en la isla

Según el líder opositor cubano José Daniel Ferrer, cualquier plan para transformar Cuba debe incluir a los cubanos que están en la isla.

Pero, ¿tienen los cubanos en la isla la capacidad y las herramientas para participar en un proceso de este tipo? Después de vivir durante casi 68 años bajo un sistema totalitario que ha moldeado los valores y las actitudes personales de la población, podría tomar tiempo no solo cambiarlo sino, más importante aún, mantener esos cambios.

Las democracias no se construyen en un día. Se necesitará tiempo y paciencia. Recordemos también que antes de la Revolución Cubana, Cuba tuvo una dictadura bajo Batista.

6 de agosto: Estados Unidos anuncia un nuevo paquete de sanciones económicas contra Cuba; también sanciona a dos de los principales generales cubanos

El Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos anunció el jueves un nuevo paquete de sanciones económicas contra Cuba. Al mismo tiempo, también fueron sancionados dos de los principales generales de Cuba: Álvaro López Miera, ministro de Defensa, y el general Roberto Sotolongo, jefe de las Fuerzas Armadas.

5 de agosto: Según informe, la CIA crea grupo de trabajo sobre Cuba

The New York Times informó sobre la creación de un grupo de trabajo de la CIA sobre Cuba con el propósito de ejercer mayor presión sobre el gobierno cubano para que implemente cambios políticos y económicos en su sistema.

Esta noticia probablemente será recibida por Cuba como una amenaza adicional por parte de Estados Unidos.

5 de agosto: Presidente cubano confirma conversaciones en curso entre La Habana y Estados Unidos

El presidente de Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, confirmó hoy que existen conversaciones en curso entre La Habana y Washington con el propósito de evitar una confrontación militar y tratar de encontrar soluciones a los problemas entre ambas naciones.

El gobierno cubano entiende que se está quedando sin opciones y que, muy probablemente, necesitará llegar a un acuerdo con Estados Unidos. ¿Incluirá un cambio de régimen?

Actualización del 3 de agosto: Rubio habla sobre las actividades de espionaje de Cuba en Estados Unidos

El pasado fin de semana, en una entrevista con Fox News, el secretario de Estado y asesor de Seguridad Nacional de Estados Unidos, Marco Rubio, habló sobre las actividades de espionaje que Cuba continúa realizando en Estados Unidos.

Rubio afirmó que espías cubanos continúan infiltrándose en el gobierno de Estados Unidos, instituciones financieras, organizaciones e instituciones académicas. También sostuvo que Cuba sigue representando una amenaza para la seguridad nacional de Estados Unidos.

El Dr. Andy S. Gómez es el analista de Cuba de Local 10. Gómez es considerado uno de los principales especialistas sobre Cuba. Trabajó durante 32 años en el ámbito de la educación superior antes de retirarse de la Universidad de Miami en 2012.

The WHO regional director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, told a news conference that sequencing indicated the outbreak's start. He said some cases early on were wrongly attributed to other diseases, including malaria and typhoid.

“So we are chasing the virus, the virus is ahead of us,” Janabi said.

Dr. Thierno Balde, WHO's incident manager for the Ebola response, said the genetic sequencing was conducted under the leadership of Dr. Steve Ahuka, head of the virology department at Congo’s National Institute for Biomedical Research.

Confirmed cases of Ebola in this outbreak have reached 4,200, including over 1,900 deaths, according to the latest government figures.

WHO assesses the global risk of spread as low because Ebola does not travel through the air, making it much harder to spread than respiratory viruses. Cases detected outside the affected region have so far been quickly identified and contained without leading to sustained transmission, according to the agency.

The outbreak declared on May 15 is unlike most previous ones for Ebola because the rare Bundibugyo virus responsible for it has no approved vaccines or treatments. Early testing was conducted for the more common type of Ebola, contributing to delays.

The outbreak is unfolding in some of the most challenging conditions imaginable, with strikes by some unpaid health workers, threats by rebel groups, anger from long-traumatized communities and misinformation asserting that Ebola isn’t real. Health teams travel remote, unpaved roads and have reported shortages of protective gear, while a vast population of displaced people struggles to find reliable water sources for washing hands.

This Ebola outbreak has killed more people at a quicker rate than any other, including the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa that is considered the worst on record with over 11,000 deaths out of at least 28,000 cases. That one took about eight months to reach 1,000 deaths.

Ebola is rare but highly contagious and can be contracted from bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen and with contaminated surfaces and materials such as bedding and clothing. The disease it causes is severe and often fatal.

Last week, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesu said Ebola is spreading faster than efforts to fight it. New cases are doubling in some hot spots, Tedros said on X after meeting with officials in the capital, Kinshasa.

Health authorities have said between 60% and 70% of new cases are recorded outside of contacts being monitored, and that the outbreak is spreading at an “alarming” rate.

Access to healthcare in the region already had been challenged by years of rebel conflict in one of Congo’s most remote and vulnerable areas, near the borders of South Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda. Now some pregnant women and others are avoiding health centers for fear of the virus, at risk to their lives.

Several past Ebola outbreaks have also been declared weeks or months late, including the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak. That outbreak was declared in March 2014, although the first human case later was found to have occurred in December 2013.

___

Banchereau reported from Dakar, Senegal.

___

This version corrects the second reference to the WHO director-general to Tedros.

El sismo se produjo a las 7.34 hora local (12.34 GMT) y tuvo su epicentro en San José del Palmar, un municipio ubicado en el departamento de Chocó, de acuerdo con el Servicio Geológico de Estados Unidos (USGS, por sus siglas en inglés). San José del Palmar es un pequeño municipio poblado por aproximadamente 4.700 personas.

Los fallecimientos fueron reportados en Chocó, así como en departamentos del centro-oeste y suroeste del pais, entre los más afectados por el sismo.

El gobernador de Risaralda, Diego Patiño, elevó en entrevista con Caracol a 40 los muertos en el departamento, incluidos los 18 fallecidos reportados previamente en la ciudad capital, Pereira. Mientras que el gobernador de Antioquia, en el noroeste, Andrés Julián Rendón, confirmó un fallecido por el “desprendimiento de una roca".

“En el departamento del Valle del Cauca... tenemos más o menos 27 personas fallecidas. Lo más doloroso, tres niños en Calima El Darién”, dijo a la prensa Dilian Francisca Toro, gobernadora del Valle del Cauca.

Toro agregó que una parte del Hospital Universitario de Cali se derrumbó y hay al menos cinco pacientes de la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos debajo de los escombros.

Por su parte, el alcalde de Cali, Alejandro Eder, reportó 30 estructuras colapsadas con personas atrapadas, por lo que pidió apoyo con rescatistas de otras ciudades. Entre tanto, los vecinos unían esfuerzos para remover escombros junto a socorristas.

En Chocó, uno de los departamentos más pobres del país, la gobernadora Nubia Córdoba reportó nueve fallecidos, al menos 80 personas lesionadas y afectaciones en viviendas y edificaciones, así como cortes en el servicio eléctrico y de comunicaciones.

Otras dos personas murieron en Manizales, en el departamento de Caldas, informó en un video en la red social X el alcalde de la ciudad José Eduardo Rojas. Agregó que hay 12 edificios parcial o totalmente destruidos y 20 viviendas colapsadas.

Jorge Moncayo, un taxista de 64 años de Cali, dijo a The Associated Press que vio columnas de polvo elevarse por toda la ciudad desde su casa ubicada en un barrio en las laderas, mientras los edificios se derrumbaban tras el terremoto. “Tembló toda mi casa... nunca me ha tocado un temblor tan fuerte”, afirmó.

El más fuerte de la última década

El Servicio Geológico Colombiano aseguró que el del lunes fue el “sismo de mayor magnitud registrado en Colombia durante la última década” y reportó al menos dos réplicas de magnitudes 2,8 y 4,8. Explicó que la actividad sísmica registrada en la zona “responde a la dinámica tectónica natural del occidente colombiano, asociada, entre otros procesos, a la subducción de la placa de Nazca bajo la placa Suramericana”.

“Evacuamos lo más rápido que se pudo... no se había sentido tan fuerte aquí en Bogotá”, relató a AP Javier Tinoco, un residente que evacuó su casa en el norte de la capital colombiana y dijo estar especialmente nervioso al recordar los terremotos de Venezuela en junio que dejaron más de 5.000 muertos.

El presidente Abelardo de la Espriella indicó en X que asumió el liderazgo de la atención por la emergencia y ordenó instalar un Puesto de Mando Unificado que reúne a distintas instituciones para coordinar decisiones en la atención de los damnificados.

La respuesta al terremoto representa el primer gran desafío para De la Espriella, un aliado de Trump que juró el cargo de presidente el fin de semana.

De la Espriella aseguró que viajará a Pereira, una de las ciudadades más afectadas, donde imágenes compartidas por usuarios de redes sociales muestran estructuras colapsadas, incluyendo afectaciones en el techo del aeropuerto.

La Aeronáutica Civil colombiana reportó que además de Pereira fueron afectados los aeropuertos de Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago y Buenaventura por lo que fueron suspendidas las operaciones aéreas para evaluar los “daños estructurales en la infrastructura”.

El sismo también se sintió ligeramente en la capital de Panamá, donde algunos edificios fueron evacuados y se detuvo por momentos la operación del metro, y un poco más fuerte en zonas en la frontera sur con Colombia, sin que se informaran daños o heridos.

En Ecuador fue sentido en ciudades como Tulcán —fronteriza con Colombia— Ibarra y Quito, la capital, en las que algunas personas salieron apresuradamente de edificios altos durante un feriado nacional. No se reportaron daños o víctimas.

Líder políticos de la región como los presidentes de Guatemala, El Salvador y la presidenta de México, así como el ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Israel y el secretario de Estado estadounidense enviaron mensajes de solidaridad y manifestaron su disposición de ayudar a Colombia.

————

Las periodistas de AP Megan Janetsky y Sonia Pérez contribuyeron desde Ciudad de México y Ciudad de Guatemala, respectivamente.

The president declared an emergency, which will expedite funding for the quake recovery, and said he would visit the disaster zone, centered round the rural region of Choco.

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

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 79 people, trapping residents under debris of collapsed buildings and forcing people to evacuate their homes as far as the capital of Bogotá.

The epicenter was in San Jose Del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people in the Choco region about 250 miles (400 kilometers) west of Bogota, the U.S. Geological Survey and Colombia’s counterpart reported. The USGS said it struck at a depth of 66 miles (107 kilometers). The quake also was felt in neighboring Ecuador and Panama, though minimal damage was reported there.

Local officials confirmed that at least 40 people were killed in the Risaralda region, where the hard-hit city of Pereira is located, and 27 people in the Valle del Cauca region, where Colombia's third-biggest city, Cali, is located. At least three of those killed in Valle del Cauca were children, the governor said.

Authorities also confirmed nine people were killed in Choco, two more in the Caldas region and a 73-year-old in the Antioquia region. Many more people across the country were injured.

The quake left cities across the west of the country — Pereira, Quibdo, Cali and Manizales — ravaged. Residents and search teams picked through the rubble of collapsed buildings amid concerns by authorities of aftershocks. Colombia's interior minister said more than 20 municipalities across the country had been hit.

Colombia’s Pacific region around the quake's epicenter lies along the “Ring of Fire”, the line of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquakes occur. The Pacific, particularly the Choco region, is one of the poorest regions in the country. Nestled in the dense jungle, much of Choco is highly rural and only reachable by boat or plane, which may pose a problem for authorities in assessing the wider toll.

Most powerful quake in the last decade, authorities say

Jorge Moncayo, a 64-year-old taxi driver in Cali, said he saw plumes of dust shoot up across the city as buildings collapsed. Residents and rescue workers were searching the rubble for survivors.

“My entire house shook. I've never lived through such a powerful earthquake,” he said. “We're thanking God we're alive.”

Colombia's Geological Service said Monday that it had been “the highest magnitude earthquake registered in Colombia in the last decade” and that it had been followed by two 2.8 and 4.8 magnitude aftershocks. Authorities also reported that flights were suspended in the airports of Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, Buenaventura and Pereira.

The earthquakes left many in the Andean nation unnerved after two back-to-back quakes devastated neighboring Venezuela in late June, destroyed hundreds of buildings and killed more than 5,000 people. At the same time the quake brought down buildings in Colombia, desperate families in Venezuela continued to search the ruins for the bodies of their loved ones.

In Pereira, photos and videos published by local media showed pieces of the airport ceiling falling down on travelers taking shelter and screaming, and people running through rubble in a panic.

Pereira's mayor, Mauricio Salazar, told a local radio station that at least 18 people had died and that many more were trapped under “a massive quantity of collapsed buildings.”

In nearby Manizales, a city in the coffee-producing mountains of Colombia, one of the towers of the neo-Gothic cathedral collapsed and fell on the nave. Jorge Eduardo Rojas, the mayor of Manizales, asked residents to stay outside in case of aftershocks.

Authorities in the rural state of Choco, the epicenter of the quake, reported injured people and damaged buildings in the capital, but provided few details.

In Cali, a city of 2 million people, Mayor Alejandro Eder said that residents were trapped in at least 19 buildings that had collapsed.

Powerful quakes are rare in Colombia, where smaller quakes are common

Small earthquakes, known as “temblores,” are common in central and western Colombia, but those above 6.0 magnitude are rare. In 1999, a 6.2 magnitude quake near the city of Armenia killed more than 1,100 people.

Colombia’s newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella said Monday that he had personally taken charge of the government’s response to the emergency in San José del Palmar following the earthquake.

“You are not alone. The state is present and taking action,” he said.

Response to the earthquake presents the first major challenge to de la Espriella, a Trump ally who was sworn in as president over the weekend.

Messages of support rolled in from leaders across the Americas, including Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, El Salvador and the United States.

“The Trump administration is closely monitoring the large earthquake that struck Colombia and stands ready to support the people of Colombia,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in a post on X.

A number of countries offered aid, and the U.N. deputy spokesman, Farhan Haq, said “we stand ready to help as needed.”

——

Janetsky reported from Mexico City. Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed.

Like Michigan, Wisconsin is one of the nation’s top electoral battlegrounds. The contest may further set the direction of the Democratic Party, as well as set the stage for a highly competitive general election where either party could emerge with complete control over state government. A competitive congressional race could also decide the majority in the closely divided U.S. House.

Four active candidates remain in the once-crowded Democratic primary field to succeed outgoing two-term Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. State Rep. Francesca Hong, a former restaurant owner and democratic socialist who entered the race in 2025 as a self-described “wild card,” has emerged as a top contender for the nomination. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley briefly dropped out of the race in July but reentered with an endorsement from Evers. Former state cabinet secretary Joel Brennan and state Sen. Kelda Roys round out the field.

Campaign finance woes prompted Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez to exit the race, while former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes suspended his bid the same day the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that state Democratic officials had reviewed past allegations against him of inappropriate behavior toward young adult women. The Barnes campaign denied that there were any such allegations. The names of Rodriguez, Barnes and former state economic development director Missy Hughes, who dropped out in June, remain on the ballot.

The winner of the primary will likely face Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who faces minimal opposition for his party’s nomination. Tiffany, who has President Donald Trump’s endorsement, sits atop a massive war chest that not only dwarfs that of his sole primary opponent but the entire Democratic field combined. As of July 27, he had raised $13.3 million for his campaign overall and had about $5 million in the bank. Hong and Crowley had each raised slightly more than $1 million for their campaigns and had less than $500,000 in their respective campaign coffers.

Evers is Wisconsin’s third consecutive two-term governor. The race to replace him will set two longstanding political trends on a collision course. The state has a 64-year streak of electing new governors from the opposite party of their immediate predecessor. That would seemingly favor Wisconsin Republicans in November, although voters nationwide tend to punish the president’s party in midterm elections, which would favor Democrats.

About half of Wisconsin’s 33 state Senate seats and all 99 state Assembly seats are up in 2026. Republicans hold slight majorities in both chambers. For years, Wisconsin’s state legislative boundaries had been heavily gerrymandered to favor Republicans, but the liberal-leaning state Supreme Court struck down the maps in 2023 and ordered them redrawn ahead of the 2024 elections. State Democrats made gains that year and now believe they could flip control of one or both chambers in November.

Wisconsin’s congressional districts remain among the most tilted toward Republicans nationally, according to an Associated Press analysis. Republicans hold six of the state’s eight U.S. House seats. One Republican-held district is a top target of Democrats hoping to retake the chamber.

U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden of the 3rd Congressional District is unopposed for the Republican nomination in his bid for a third term. He has Trump’s endorsement. Former Eau Claire City Council President Emily Berge and former boutique owner and nonprofit founder Rebecca Cooke are vying for the Democratic nomination. Cooke ran for the seat twice before. She placed second in the 2022 primary and narrowly lost the 2024 general election to Van Orden.

Milwaukee County is by far the state’s most populous and plays a pivotal role in both Democratic and Republican primaries. However, Waukesha County tends to contribute the most votes in Republican primaries. Dane and Brown counties, home to Madison and Green Bay, respectively, are major battlegrounds for both parties. Ozaukee and Washington counties, which along with Waukesha County, form the so-called “WOW” counties in suburban Milwaukee, tend to be more influential in Republican primaries than in Democratic primaries.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont trounced former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Wisconsin presidential primary. Sanders scored big wins in Dane, Brown, Outagamie, Winnebago, Kenosha, LaCrosse and Eau Claire counties, approaching or surpassing the 60% vote mark in each. Clinton carried only Milwaukee County, which has the state’s highest share of Black residents.

Former President Joe Biden carried every county against Sanders in the 2020 presidential primary, which was held in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sanders’ strongest performance was in Dane County.

Here are some of the key facts about the election and data points the AP Decision Team will monitor as the votes are tallied:

When do polls close?

Polls close at 8 p.m. CT, which is 9 p.m. ET.

What’s on the ballot?

The AP will provide vote results and declare winners in contested primaries for U.S. House, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, state Senate and state Assembly.

Who gets to vote?

Any registered voter may participate in any party’s primary. Eligible voters may register at the polls on Election Day.

How many voters are there?

As of August 1, there were about 3.6 million active registered voters in Wisconsin.

How many people actually vote?

Around 500,000 voters cast ballots in the Democratic state primaries in 2022, compared to roughly 680,000 Republican primary voters.

How much of the vote is cast early or by absentee ballot?

About 26% of the vote in the 2022 primaries was cast before early in-person or by mail.

As of Friday, about 235,000 ballots had already been cast in Tuesday’s election.

When are early and absentee votes released?

Counties vary in terms of how and when they release early and absentee results. In previous elections, counties tended to release a mix of all vote types over the course of the night. Roughly a third of counties released all results, regardless of vote type, in the first vote update.

How long does vote-counting usually take?

In the 2024 state primary, the AP first reported results at 9:09 p.m. ET, or nine minutes after polls closed. About 91% of the vote had been counted by 12 a.m. ET. The last vote update of the night was at 2:59 a.m. ET with 99.8% of total votes counted.

Milwaukee County, the most populous, had counted more than 99% of the vote by its final update of the night at 1:06 a.m. ET. Dane County, home of Madison, reached more than 99% of the total vote by its final update of the night at 12:38 a.m. ET.

When will the AP declare a winner?

The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow a trailing candidate to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.

How do recounts work?

Recounts are not automatic in Wisconsin, but a trailing candidate may request one if the winning vote margin is less than a percentage point in races where more than 4,000 votes are cast. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is subject to a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

Are we there yet?

As of Tuesday, there will be 84 days until the 2026 midterm elections.

___

Associated Press writer David Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri, contributed to this report.

___

Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2026 election at https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/.

These are bioplastic pellets. CJ Biomaterials ferments sugar to make plant-based polymers that microbes will consume. These alternatives to traditional plastics made of fossil fuels are seen by some as one of many solutions needed to confront global plastic pollution.

At the company's Woburn research facility, lab technicians recently poured pellets into a molding machine to make forks. The test forks were thin enough for home composting, though too bendy for stabbing a steak. Other batches have been rigid, similar to a typical plastic fork. The technicians melted pellets to roll out flexible films for food packaging, like a bag for baby carrots. The film was quite strong but not stretchy like cling wrap.

They are figuring out how their biopolymers can make products with attributes similar to conventional plastics, but that can go in a composting bin instead of a trash can. Forks and films are breaking down in the lab's compost bin. Straws that were added are long gone. A recently tossed-in knife showed pitting on the surface as bacteria colonized it, starting to consume the material.

Plastics have never really fundamentally been disrupted. Now, interest in bioplastic is growing because of concern over microplastics. It’s the new “wild card” in this market, said the company’s marketing director Leah Ford.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time and the compostability has always been a really strong driver. But with the greater understanding of microplastics, I think, that’s going to change how people think about materials,” she said.

Traditional plastics last for decades or even centuries as they fragment into harmful microplastics and even smaller nanoplastics. Microplastics have been found in the ocean and the air, in our food and water, and in a wide range of body tissues. The Trump administration, while rolling back many environmental regulations, says it will address contamination from microplastics.

The most common use for bioplastics is packaging

Bioplastics are biobased, meaning they are made completely or partially from a renewable resource, commonly corn or sugar cane; or they are biodegradable, meaning that they break down completely via a natural process. They can also be both, like the polymers made by CJ Biomaterials. It’s a leader in manufacturing polyhydroxyalkanoates, or PHAs, as a polymer that is marine and soil biodegradable.

CJ Biomaterials is trying to replace conventional plastics that are single use or can’t be recycled when contaminated with food scraps. Food waste decomposing in landfills emits methane, a potent greenhouse gas that warms the planet. A container made of pellets from CJ Biomaterials with food scraps could be sent to a composter, unlike a traditional plastic container.

The Woburn lab's shelves display the company’s successes: compostable cutlery; straws; coated cups for hot beverages and frozen food pouches used in the United States; sushi trays; ramen containers; and reusable paper towels. Lab employees dine with compostable cutlery, drink from compostable cups and make coffee with compostable pods. These products last on shelves because they are not exposed to microorganisms in water or soil.

CJ Biomaterials feeds sugar to microbes that convert it to PHA for energy. The company collects the PHA and turns it into granules. Pellets of this are then sold to other companies that can melt them down and mold them into products. These same bacteria will consume PHA in a compost pile, breaking it down within six months, Ford said.

CJ Biomaterials is part of the $32 billion South Korean conglomerate CJ Group. It has been producing PHA at a manufacturing facility in Pasuruan, Indonesia, since 2022.

One solution with potential to help address the plastic pollution crisis

World Wildlife Fund sees biobased plastics as part of a suite of solutions that are needed. They can reduce the world’s dependency on fossil fuels that cause climate change, said Erin Simon, a WWF vice president. She said the world needs to reduce the amount of plastic being produced, then make the rest sustainably.

Nations are trying to confront the spiraling plastic pollution crisis by crafting a landmark treaty. They have yet to agree on any effective methods to stop plastic pollution, though negotiators plan to meet again early next year.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley has held congressional hearings on plastic pollution, including one exploring alternatives for single-use plastics. He also views bioplastics as one option with potential, among many that are needed. But, he said, more information is needed about how they break down and impact ecosystems and health.

Environmental groups, including the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, argue that bioplastics maintain the single-use paradigm and distract from real solutions. Some say farmland shouldn't be used to grow crops for plastic instead of food.

Bioplastics are a small, but growing, share of the market

Globally, biobased plastics represent roughly 0.5% of the more than 400 million metric tons (440 million tons) of plastics produced annually, according to the industry group European Bioplastics. Production is projected to double by 2030 due to rising demand and the emergence of more advanced applications and products, it said.

China, Sweden and the United States are major exporters of natural polymers.

Large sports stadiums and major restaurant chains such as McDonald's are experimenting with biobased packaging and utensils. The Tous les Jours bakery, part of the CJ Group, uses PHA straws.

There are obstacles to widespread adoption. Bioplastics typically cost more than conventional plastics. Major cities have municipal composting programs, but they are limited elsewhere. A growing number of composting facilities accept compostable bioplastic products, though some refuse out of concern about degraded soil quality. And because bioplastics and conventional plastics often look and feel identical, they can be mixed up and cause problems for composters.

Thirty minutes from the Woburn research lab, Black Earth Compost accepts certified compostable materials. On Monday, compostable cups, cutlery and bin liners were mixed in with a delivery of food scraps and lobster shells. Accepting bioplastics increases the amount of food scraps they receive because people can put an entire compostable container into an organics bin, instead of scraping food out.

Research organization tests biomaterials

The 5 Gyres Institute tested 22 items made of traditional plastic, biobased and biodegradable materials and other alternatives, such as paper and bamboo. Straws, utensils, thin film and bottles were put in different environments across Florida, California and Maine. By the end of the 64-week study, many of the biodegradable materials were gone, or were pitted and cracked as they fragmented. Traditional fossil fuel-based plastics persisted.

Marcus Eriksen, the institute’s co-founder and a researcher, said the synthetic plastic spoon was almost the same as when he first put it in the ocean, but little was left of the spoons made from biodegradable materials.

The California-based nonprofit released the results in 2023. It's currently repeating the study to evaluate end-of-life scenarios for the new generation of packaging.

Eriksen thinks people should use biodegradable options, especially for packaging. Otherwise, he said, “we’re going to flood the entire biosphere with micro- and nanoplastics.”

___

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.

The state has been at the center of a political maelstrom in President Donald Trump’s second term, as the Republican president has focused much of his ire on Minnesota and its Democratic leaders.

An ongoing fraud investigation into state childcare programs contributed to Democratic Gov. Tim Walz ending his reelection bid and has been a frequent topic among Republican candidates on the campaign trail. Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens has been a defining issue for Democratic candidates.

Walz’s retirement announcement, as well as that of Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, triggered a reshuffling of races throughout the ballot.

In the race to replace Smith, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan are the leading contenders for the Democratic nomination. Smith has backed Flanagan, while Walz has not made an endorsement. Flanagan also has support from key figures in the party’s progressive wing, including U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont and U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar of the 5th Congressional District. Sanders is an independent but caucuses with Democrats.

Craig’s key supporters are Minnesota first lady Gwen Walz, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Craig has about doubled Flanagan in overall fundraising. She also had about $3.6 million available to spend as of late July compared with about $1.1 million for Flanagan.

The Center Forward Committee and Unite to Win — two political action committees known for backing moderate Democrats — have spent at least $2.4 million on Craig’s behalf. The Center Forward Committee was founded by former Alabama U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer and supports what it describes as “pragmatic policymakers.” Unite to Win recently spent $4 million backing U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens in her unsuccessful U.S. Senate primary bid against Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan.

Flanagan’s largest backer in outside spending has been the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association, which has spent about $1.2 million on the race.

The Republican primary features nine candidates, including former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya; former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze, who has the state party’s endorsement; and former professional basketball player Royce White, who was the Republican nominee for the state’s other U.S. Senate seat in 2024. Trump has not endorsed a candidate.

Tafoya raised about $5.3 million for her campaign and had about $1.3 million in the bank as of July 22, a larger haul than the rest of the Republican field combined.

In the race for governor, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar faces minimal opposition for the Democratic nomination. She brought in $9.3 million for her campaign and had about $4.5 million in the bank as of July 20. Only three of Klobuchar’s six primary opponents filed campaign finance disclosures, and they reported having less than a combined $3,200 in the bank.

The nine-candidate Republican field includes state House Speaker Lisa Demuth, MyPillow founder and prominent 2020 election denierMike Lindell, who has Trump’s endorsement, and healthcare executive Kendall Qualls, who has the state party’s backing.

Lindell outraised Demuth overall in the campaign, although Demuth sat atop a significantly larger war chest as of July 20.

Craig is the only member of Minnesota’s U.S. House delegation who isn’t running for reelection. Her upcoming departure has triggered a six-way Democratic primary to replace her in the 2nd Congressional District. The field includes state Rep. Kaela Berg, state Sen. Matt Klein and former state Sen. Matt Little. Klein leads the field in fundraising, followed by Little, who loaned his campaign $155,000.

The winner will face Republican state Sen. Eric Pratt, who is unopposed for the nomination.

Craig won reelection in 2024 with about 56% of the vote. Democratic then-Vice President Kamala Harris received about 52% of the district vote in the 2024 presidential race against Trump.

All seats in both chambers of the Minnesota State Legislature are up in 2026. Democrats have a one-seat advantage in the 67-member state Senate, while Democrats and Republicans are deadlocked at 67 seats each in the state 134-member House.

Hennepin County, which is home to Minneapolis, is by far the state’s most populous and tends to contribute the most votes of any county in both Democratic and Republican statewide primaries. Neighboring Ramsey County, which is home to St. Paul, has the second-largest population but tends to be a bigger factor in Democratic primaries. Just north of the Twin Cities, Anoka County, which Trump carried in 2024 by about 4 percentage points, tends to be more influential in Republican primaries. Dakota, Washington, St. Louis and Olmsted counties are important primary battlegrounds for both parties.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s 2006 reelection was the last statewide contest Republicans have won in Minnesota. The last Republican to win a U.S. Senate race in Minnesota was Norm Coleman in 2002.

Here are some of the key facts about the election and data points the AP Decision Team will monitor as the votes are tallied:

When do polls close?

Polls close at 8 p.m. CT, which is 9 p.m. ET.

What’s on the ballot?

The Associated Press will provide vote results and declare winners in contested primaries for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, secretary of state, auditor, attorney general, state Senate and state House.

Who gets to vote?

Any registered voter may participate in any party’s primary. Eligible voters may register at the polls on Election Day or during the early voting period.

How many voters are there?

As of Aug. 3, there were about 3.9 million registered voters in Minnesota.

How many people actually vote?

About 324,000 Democratic primary voters and about 194,000 Republican primary voters took part in the 2024 primaries for U.S. Senate. In the 2022 primaries for governor, about 432,000 voters cast ballots in the Democratic primary and about 323,000 in the Republican primary.

How much of the vote is cast early or by absentee ballot?

About 23% of the vote in the 2024 state primary and about 20% of the 2022 primary vote was cast early in person or by mail.

As of Thursday, about 158,000 ballots had already been cast in Tuesday’s election.

When are early and absentee votes released?

Counties tend to release results from early in-person and mail voting over the course of the night, along with results from in-person Election Day voting.

The state’s three largest counties of Hennepin, Ramsey and Dakota release relatively few results in their first vote updates, regardless of vote type.

How long does vote-counting usually take?

In the 2024 state primary, the AP first reported results at 9:08 p.m. ET, or eight minutes after polls closed. The last vote update of the night was at 1:28 a.m. ET, with more than 99% of total votes counted.

When will the AP declare a winner?

The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow a trailing candidate to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.

How do recounts work?

Recounts in Minnesota are not automatic, but the losing candidate may request one under certain circumstances. A publicly funded recount can be requested in federal, judicial or state constitutional offices, like governor, if the margin between the winning and losing candidate is less than 0.25% of the vote. For state legislative races, the required margin is less than 0.5% of the vote. In races in which fewer than 400 votes are cast, the margin is 10 votes or fewer. Candidates may pay for a recount in races in which the vote margin is beyond the threshold for a publicly funded recount. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is subject to a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

Are we there yet?

As of Tuesday, there will be 84 days until the 2026 midterm elections.

___

Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2026 election at https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/.

The announcement comes a few weeks after Taylor Farms voluntarily recalled its iceberg lettuce products sourced from central Mexico because of a potential link to a multistate cyclospora outbreak that has sickened people across the U.S.

Taylor Fresh Foods said that it was pulling some products including jalapenos from stores shelves after finding out that Coast Citrus Distributors was voluntarily recalling fresh jalapeños due to a potential salmonella contamination.

Guacamole, pico de gallo and taco dip are some of the prepared foods included in the recall. The list of recalled products were distributed by Taylor Farms in multiple states with a “Best If Used By” date up to and including Aug. 16, 2026. The products were sold at stores including Kroger, Stop & Shop, Target, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Walmart.

Taylor Fresh Foods said that the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were working with state and local partners to investigate illnesses in a multistate outbreak of salmonella infections linked to fresh jalapeños supplied by Coast Citrus Distributors. The company said that a grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, a supplier to Coast Citrus Distributors, was identified as the potential source in the outbreak.

Taylor Fresh Foods said that it is no longer sourcing products from the farmer and will be filling orders from alternative suppliers. The company is currently not aware of any reported illnesses linked to its products containing jalapeños.

Consumers who have any recalled product are advised to discard it immediately and not eat it. Refunds are available at the location of purchase.

Consumers with any questions can contact Taylor at 855-455-0098 Monday through Friday from 8am-5pm PT.

The contests take place as elements within the party look to redefine the Democratic brand ahead of the midterm elections by replacing old guard figures with younger and often more progressive alternatives.

Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont is running for a third term but must first clear a challenge from state Rep. Josh Elliott. Both candidates have raised just shy of $400,000 in contributions from individual donors. Nonetheless, Lamont, a wealthy former cable entrepreneur, has far outspent Elliott, thanks to $9.5 million in personal funds he’s invested in his campaign. Elliott has received about $3.8 million from the state’s public election funding program.

A primary upset by Elliott, along with additional Tuesday primaries in Minnesota and Wisconsin, could extend a progressive winning streak that began this summer with the defeat of Democratic incumbents in New York City and Colorado and continued with a high-stakes victory in the Michigan U.S. Senate primary on August 4.

The Democratic nominee will face Republican state Sen. Ryan Fazio in November. Republicans last controlled the governorship from 1995 to 2011. Lamont was first elected in 2018 with 49% of the vote and reelected in 2022 with 56%.

In the 1st Congressional District, longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. John Larson is running for a 15th term. Challenging him for the nomination are former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, Hartford Board of Education member Ruth Fortune and state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest.

This year marks Larson’s first primary challenge since he was first elected in 1998. He won a close primary that year with 46% of the vote but has not appeared on a primary ballot in his subsequent 13 reelection bids.

Bronin has slightly outraised and outspent Larson in the campaign overall, although Larson had a slight edge in terms of available cash heading into the primary campaign’s final three weeks. Gilchrest and Fortune trailed far behind in fundraising.

Larson turned 78 in July. In 2025, an incident on the House floor sparked concerns over his health and age when he suffered what he later described as a complex partial seizure while delivering a speech. He said the episode, which caused him to briefly but abruptly stop speaking, was related to a heart condition that he now treats with medication.

The district is heavily Democratic. Larson received 63% of the vote in his 2024 reelection campaign. Then-Vice President Kamala Harris received about 61% of the district vote in the presidential race.

All 36 state Senate seats and all 151 state House seats are up in 2026. Democrats hold two-to-one majorities in both chambers.

Here are some of the key facts about the election and data points the AP Decision Team will monitor as the votes are tallied:

When do polls close?

Polls close at 8 p.m. ET.

What’s on the ballot?

The Associated Press will provide vote results and declare winners in contested primaries for U.S. House, governor, state Senate and state House.

Who gets to vote?

Voters registered with a political party may participate only in that party’s primary. Democrats may not vote in the Republican primary or vice versa. Independent or unaffiliated voters may not participate in either primary.

How many voters are there?

As of October 2025, there were about 2.5 million registered voters in Connecticut, including about 878,000 Democrats and about 529,000 Republicans.

How many people actually vote?

About 114,000 Democratic primary ballots and about 94,000 Republican primary ballots were cast in the 2022 state primaries.

How much of the vote is cast early or by absentee ballot?

Early voting was enacted in Connecticut after 2022. There was no statewide Democratic primary in 2024, but about 17% of the Republican primary vote in the 2024 state primary was cast early in-person or by mail.

As of Friday, about 43,000 Democratic primary ballots and about 3,900 Republican primary ballots had already been cast in Tuesday’s election.

When are early and absentee votes released?

Connecticut runs elections at the town and city level. There are 169 separate jurisdictions administering local elections and they vary in terms of how and when they release results. In many of the larger jurisdictions, results from a mix of voting methods are released together throughout the night.

How long does vote-counting usually take?

In the 2024 general election, the AP first reported results at 8:12 p.m. ET, or 12 minutes after polls closed. The vote count reached the halfway mark at 12:25 a.m. ET. By 2:06 p.m. ET the day after Election Day, about 90% of the total vote had been counted.

When will the AP declare a winner?

The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow a trailing candidate to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.

How do recounts work?

Recounts in Connecticut are automatic if the vote margin is less than 0.5% of the total votes cast but does not exceed 2,000 votes. Recounts are also automatic in races where the margin is less than 20 votes or in the case of a tie vote. If a recount results in a tie vote, a runoff election (called an “adjourned election” in Connecticut) is held. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is subject to a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

Are we there yet?

As of Tuesday, there will be 84 days until the 2026 midterm elections.

___

The AP's Matthew Junkroski contributed to this report.

___

Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2026 election at https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/.

Voters will also decide contested Democratic primaries for lieutenant governor and state auditor and choose a Republican nominee to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Becca Balint in November.

Scott is one of only two Republican governors to serve a state that then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried in the 2024 election. But toppling him this fall will be no easy feat. He received 73% of the vote in his 2024 reelection bid, improving upon the 69% he won in 2022.

He’s also been a rare Republican critic of President Donald Trump. Scott not only endorsed former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley for president in the 2024 primaries, but he also says he voted for Harris over Trump in 2024 and for Joe Biden in 2020. He is unopposed for the Republican nomination.

Two Democrats are running to challenge Scott: economist Amanda Janoo and former child advocacy organization CEO Aly Richards, who boasts endorsements from former Democratic Govs. Howard Dean and Madeleine Kunin. Richards has raised about $453,000 for her campaign, compared to about $308,000 for Janoo. Richards also had about double Janoo’s cash reserves as of the end of July.

In Vermont, the governor, lieutenant governor and other state constitutional officers serve two-year terms. If Scott is reelected and completes another term, he’ll surpass Dean as Vermont’s longest serving governor since it became a state.

All 30 state Senate seats and all 150 state House seats are up in 2026. Democratic state lawmakers suffered significant losses in the 2024 general election, losing more than two dozen seats across both chambers, along with their supermajorities. This year could prove to be another difficult one for the party but for different reasons: Democratic incumbents in five state Senate districts and 11 state House districts face primary challengers. Republican incumbents face challengers in only one state Senate district.

For state legislative primaries, the number of winners in each contest varies by district. With multiple winners in many seats and relatively low turnout for down-ballot primaries, especially on the Republican side, determining the winners could come down to a relatively small number of votes.

Here are some of the key facts about the election and data points the AP Decision Team will monitor as the votes are tallied:

When do polls close?

Polls close at 7 p.m. ET.

What’s on the ballot?

The Associated Press will provide vote results and declare winners in contested primaries for U.S. House, governor, lieutenant governor, auditor, state Senate and state House.

Who gets to vote?

Any registered voter may participate in any party’s primary. Vermont does not register voters by party.

How many voters are there?

As of July, there were about 501,000 registered voters in Vermont.

How many people actually vote?

About 23,000 Republican primary voters and about 33,000 Democratic primary voters cast ballots in the 2024 gubernatorial primaries.

How much of the vote is cast early or by absentee ballot?

About 30% of the vote in the 2024 state primary was cast by mail. In the presidential primaries that year, about 24% of Democratic primary voters and about 13% of Republican primary voters cast mail ballots.

As of Friday, about 17,000 ballots had already been cast in Tuesday’s election.

When are early and absentee votes released?

Vermont runs elections at the town and city level. There are 247 separate jurisdictions administering local elections, and they vary in terms of how and when they release results. In many of the larger jurisdictions, the bulk of results from both mail voting and in-person Election Day voting are released together in their first vote updates.

How long does vote-counting usually take?

In the 2024 state primary, the AP first reported results at 7:18 p.m. ET, or 18 minutes after polls closed. The last vote update of the night was at 11:45 p.m. ET with about 87% of total votes counted.

When will the AP declare a winner?

The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow a trailing candidate to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.

How do recounts work?

A candidate may request a recount if the vote margin falls below a certain threshold. In federal, statewide and state Senate elections, a recount may be requested if the vote margin between the winning and losing candidate is 2% or less of the total votes cast, divided by the number of persons to be elected for that position. For state House and local races, the required margin is 5% or less of the total votes cast, divided by the number of persons to be elected. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is subject to a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

Are we there yet?

As of Tuesday, there will be 84 days until the 2026 midterm elections.

___

The AP’s Matthew Junkroski contributed to this report.

___

Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2026 election at https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/.

Progressive candidates for governor in Wisconsin and U.S. Senate in Minnesota are making their final pushes ahead of Tuesday’s election, increasing the pressure on the Democratic establishment. In Wisconsin, democratic socialist Francesca Hong seeks to win a four-way Democratic primary for governor. Minnesota voters will choose between moderate U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan in a Democratic U.S. Senate primary in the aftermath of Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement surge.

Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the United States lifts its blockade on the strait, pays compensation for months of war damage, lifts economic sanctions and releases Iran’s frozen assets. And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flatly rejected Trump's proposed exit strategy for Gaza.

Here’s the latest:

Trump signs waiver letting foreign trips carry oil and other goods among US ports for 90 days

Trump on Monday extended a waiver for 90 days for foreign ships to transport goods, including oil, fertilizers and other fossil fuel products, among U.S. ports.

The president first waived the Jones Act on March 17 so that it would be easier to transport oil and refined fuels among ports, reducing price pressures after the start of the war with Iran.

The extension will take effect on August 17.

Unlike previous extensions, the Pentagon will consult with the Maritime Administration to decide which voyages are exempt from the 1920 law containing the Jones Act. The waiver will only apply to cargo are sources of energy and commodities related to agriculture and food, such as soybean oil.

Ex Air Force secretary talking to lawyers after Trump admin revokes security clearance

Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said Monday that he’s talking to lawyers after the Trump administration revoked his security clearance last week.

Kendall, who has been critical of the administration, said in a post on LinkedIn that he’s “talking to lawyers and will have more soon.” He said he’s had his clearance for 60 years and was careful to say nothing classified.

The Pentagon revoked Kendall’s “eligibility” to access classified information and barred him from holding “any sensitive position,” alleging Friday that he disclosed sensitive information about Air Force One’s capabilities to the media.

It follows reporting last month, including from The New York Times, on security concerns over the new, Qatari-gifted Air Force One, including that it lacked the advanced antimissile capabilities of its predecessor.

US military base in South Carolina renamed after late Sen. Lindsey Graham

A U.S. military base in South Carolina was renamed after the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham Monday, with Defense Department Sec. Pete Hegseth praising Graham’s dedication to the military and for “taking on a radical leftist ideology” in the armed forces.

Joint Base Charleston is now Joint Base Lindsey Graham, which includes an Air Force base and a Naval Weapons Station. Graham, who died last month, served in the Air Force, Air National Guard and reserves.

Hegseth praised Graham’s support of President Donald Trump’s historic $1.5 billion defense budget proposal. In praising Graham, Hegseth also employed the Trump administration’s strategy of linking Democrats to communism.

“The hard left declared war on our own military,” Hegseth said, adding that “it seems that many people have forgotten the reality of what communism looks like.”

Trump dismisses Iran’s call for war reparations

Trump is scoffing at the Iran’s call for reparations for devastation caused to the country by the U.S. and Israeli bombardment over the last five months, a demand he said hadn’t been raised by Tehran’s negotiators until now.

The Republican president, in a social media post, added that in response to the Iranian demand he’s directing negotiators to include “compensation from Iran, for all of the people that they have killed and gravely wounded with their roadside bombs and many conflicts.”

The U.S. government says Iran-backed militants have been responsible for the deaths and injuries of hundreds of Americans over the last several decades, including the 1983 bombing on a Marine compound in Beirut that killed 241 U.S. military personnel, the 1996 truck bombing of a U.S. Air Force housing complex in Saudi Arabia that killed 19 U.S. troops and wounded hundreds more, and the deaths of at least 603 U.S. troops in Iraq between 2003 and 2011.

Trump announces staff secretary Will Scharf will be his new White House counsel

President Donald Trump announced Sunday that his new White House counsel will be Will Scharf, the staff secretary who as the Trump-appointed head of the National Capital Planning Commission helped secure approval for the $400 million ballroom project.

Trump said that, beginning Sept. 1, Scharf will be replacing David Warrington, who will be leaving the administration to join the private sector. Trump noted that Scharf previously served as a federal prosecutor and represented him in a number of cases, including at the Supreme Court.

“Will is Tough, Strong, and Smart! He also loves our Country, and respects the Law,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Will Scharf will do a great job as White House Counsel!”

The shakeup in the White House counsel’s office comes at a critical juncture — just months ahead of the midterm elections, where Trump’s Republican Party will be fighting to hold on to control of Congress. Democrats have vowed to pursue investigations into Trump and his administration if they are successful in November.

▶ Read more

Trump officials propose new scrutiny of food additives and ingredients

U.S. health officials on Monday proposed a rule change that would require food manufacturers to notify regulators before introducing new ingredients or additives into processed or packaged foods.

The proposal would change a decades-old policy that advocates have called a regulatory loophole, blaming it for allowing thousands of unvetted ingredients into the U.S. food supply.

Under the proposed rule from the Food and Drug Administration, companies would have to document and submit their safety findings for new ingredients, giving regulators the opportunity to investigate if they see a potential safety risk. Currently companies can decide for themselves if an ingredient or additive is “generally recognized as safe” and there is no requirement for companies to notify or submit evidence to the FDA, although some do.

▶ Read more

State Department says it has revoked more 175,000 visas since Trump took office

The revoked visas had been granted to more than 175,000 foreigners who have endangered American citizens, broken laws or threatened U.S. national security, according to a statement issued Monday by the State Department.

The statement says most were revoked “due to law enforcement encounters for a range of criminal activity,” including assault, child abuse, drunken driving, drug violations, and embezzlement. It doesn’t say how many of those visa holders had been convicted of such crimes.

Some of the revocations involved “foreign nationals who celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk, including one who stated ‘when fascists die, democrats don’t complain’ and another who said he ‘died too late’, the statement said.

Veteran Democrats face strong challenges in Connecticut’s primary

Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont’s try for a third term must first clear a challenge by state Rep. Josh Elliott. And U.S. Rep. John Larson faces his first primary challenge in nearly 30 years, from former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, Hartford Board of Education member Ruth Fortune and state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest.

Both contests could help redefine the Democratic brand by replacing old guard figures with younger alternatives. Tuesday’s primaries also could extend a progressive winning streak in New York City, Colorado and the Michigan U.S. Senate primary.

Larson turned 78 in July. Concerns over his health and age arose last year after he suffered a seizure while delivering a speech on the House floor.

Iranian leadership makes display of unity against US

Iran’s president says the country’s supreme leader is calling for “unity and cohesion” as its war with the United States brings more economic hardships to the Islamic Republic.

President Masoud Pezeshkian described a nearly seven-hour meeting with Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei in an interview Monday with Iranian state television that aired amid apparent tensions among the Islamic Republic’s leaders.

He told IRIB they discussed people’s livelihoods, the state of the market, employment, people’s housing and problems resulting from U.S. sanctions. Most important, he said, was Khamenei’s emphasis on unity.

“All of the enemy’s plans are aimed at creating division,” Pezeshkian said. “What we have to do is prevent divisions from emerging.”

He didn’t say when or where they met. Khamenei is believed to have been wounded in the U.S.-Israeli strike that killed his father and has not appeared in public since he was appointed in March.

Judge cancels release hearing for 1st person ever charged in 30-year-old Alien Terrorist Removal Court

A federal judge has canceled a release hearing this week for Afghan woman who is the first person ever charged in a 30-year-old deportation court that was recently activated by the Trump administration.

A Tuesday hearing had been set in the Alien Terrorist Removal Court’s inaugural case against Nazira Haji Zada, who is accused of supporting the Islamic State group. But the court’s chief judge agreed Monday to give her lawyers more time to prepare and gather information. A new hearing date wasn’t immediately set.

The court received its first-ever petition when the Justice Department filed an application seeking Haji Zada’s removal, opening an untested new front in Trump’s deportation campaign. Haji Zada, a lawful permanent U.S. resident, wants to be released from custody while the court case is pending.

Democrats face tougher reelection fights in redrawn districts

The court-inspired actions in Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee, as well as earlier legislative actions in other states to redraw boundaries through unusual mid-decade redistricting, were part of a nationwide Republican effort championed by Trump to maximize the party’s chances of holding its slim U.S. House majority this year.

Candidates in Tuesday’s special primaries in Alabama are running under the new Republican-backed boundaries, which go into effect in January 2027. Both Democratic representatives are unopposed in their party primaries, but facing tougher odds in November.

Rep. Shomari Figures, for example, was elected in a district where Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris beat Trump 53% to 46%. In his newly drawn district, Trump would have beaten Harris 57% to 42%.

What to expect in primaries for Alabama’s redistricted congressional seats

Voters in four of Alabama’s seven congressional districts select U.S. House nominees in special primaries Tuesday under a new map that eliminates one of the state’s two majority-Black districts currently represented by Democrats.

Republican Gov. Kay Ivey had postponed contests for the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th Congressional Districts following a U.S. Supreme Court decision that prompted a handful of Republican-controlled Southern states to throw out their congressional maps.

What to expect as South Carolina voters choose Sen. Lindsey Graham’s successor

Ten Republicans are competing in Tuesday’s special primary election, including two congressmen, a former governor and Graham’s sister, now a U.S. senator appointed to serve out the final months of his current term.

Lindsey Graham’s unexpected death, a month after winning the June 9 Republican primary for the seat he first won a quarter-century ago, created this vacancy for the GOP’s nominee on the November ballot for another six-year term.

U.S. Sen. Darline Graham has Trump’s endorsement. Her opponents include Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman, former Gov. Mark Sanford and business owner Mark Lynch, who ran against Lindsey Graham in the June 9 primary.

If no candidate receives a majority, the top two vote-getters advance to a special primary runoff on Aug. 25. The winner will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, a Charleston pediatrician.

Washington grapples with a National Guard deployment extended until 2029

It’s been 12 months since Trump announced a crime emergency in Washington, pledging to make the city “safe and beautiful” and deploying the National Guard.

But a mission that seemed temporary has been extended through January 2029. Residents and a new cadre of local officials consider it an unacceptable federal attempt to restrict the heavily Democratic city’s autonomy. A year in, they still question the necessity of troops on the streets of the nation’s capital.

“Here we are in the capital of the free world, and our president is treating it like a police state,” said Scott Michelman, legal director of the ACLU of the District of Columbia.

The continued deployment will be a major test for the politicians taking office after this year’s elections — residents will want them to use their limited powers to push back on Republican encroachment into the city’s affairs.

▶ Read more

Democrats investigating immigration efforts against military families

Congressional Democrats are probing the Trump administration’s efforts to deport military service members and their families after The Associated Press found that the spouses or parents of more than 50 active-duty troops have been detained by immigration authorities, breaking promises to shield their families from enforcement.

More than 60 lawmakers signed a letter Sunday evening to the Department of Homeland Security, the Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs. It says “these efforts imperil military readiness, weaken service members’ morale, and betray America’s promises to the people who put their lives on the line for our nation.”

The Pentagon declined to comment, stating it would “reply directly to the authors of the letter.”

DHS told the AP that it values service members’ contributions but “U.S. military service alone does not automatically grant lawful immigration status, or exempt aliens from the consequences of violating U.S. immigration laws.”

▶ Read more

White House mum on Israel’s rejection of Trump’s Gaza deal

The White House has not commented on the Israeli Prime Minister’s dismissal of Trump’s deal for Gaza. Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel’s military “will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed.”

Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting that “Israel rejects the 15-point document” but is still discussing plans for Gaza with Washington. Trump had said Israeli forces would withdraw as the Hamas militant group’s disarmament is completed. Israeli forces control over half the Palestinian enclave of about 2 million people that’s been largely destroyed.

“We remain committed to the road map,” said a member of the Hamas political bureau, Bassem Naim, adding that the group expects mediators and the U.S. to pressure Netanyahu — who also faces domestic tensions as he struggles to hold onto power ahead of the next elections scheduled for Oct. 27.

Ocasio-Cortez says she’s freezing her eggs as she decides her next political moves

The 36-year-old Democratic New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez explained her decision in an ABC “This Week” interview on Sunday and said she has not ruled out running for president or for the U.S. Senate seat held by the Democrats’ floor leader, Chuck Schumer.

Ocasio-Cortez says in her social media posts that she’s taking a political risk in sharing such a personal decision about her potential plans to have children. The congresswoman says she wants to feel more control over her life and normalize conversations about what women face in their professional and personal lives.

▶ Read more

Iran presses demands on US as shipping standoff grinds on

An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Iran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the United States meets its conditions.

“It is up to the U.S. side to stop and make amends for its illegal and destructive actions,” Esmail Baghaei said Monday, noting the American blockade of Iranian ports.

Iran wants the U.S. to lift its blockade on the Strait, pay compensation for months of war damage, lift economic sanctions and release Iran’s frozen assets. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz — a waterway that normally carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil supplies — has become the war’s most lasting consequence. The impasse has kept energy prices as a major focus of U.S. politics ahead of November’s midterm elections.

Iran is holding separate talks with Oman over transit through the strait, including potentially a temporary shipping corridor, but has said any actual reopening is contingent on talks with the U.S.

▶ Read more

Wisconsin’s chaotic primary pits progressive against governor’s pick

Democratic socialist Francesca Hong is trying to win a four-way Democratic primary for governor in Wisconsin, where her top opponent has been endorsed by popular Gov. Tony Evers, who isn’t seeking a third term.

Evers got behind Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley on July 18, the same day Crowley reentered the race after dropping out 10 days earlier. Crowley rejoined after the candidate he backed, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, ended her candidacy amid a campaign finance scandal.

Evers and more establishment Democrats were hoping to finally coalesce around Crowley in the final days of the chaotic primary that saw two other candidates drop out, most notably former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes on July 29.

Republicans are spending to support a Hong victory, betting she's the better matchup for Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in November. The Republican Governors Association has spent nearly $3.6 million through its Right Direction Wisconsin PAC on ads contrasting Hong with Trump and playing up her liberal proposals.

▶ Read more

Trump’s immigration crackdown looms over Minnesota’s bruising Senate primary

Efforts to resist Trump found their footing in the streets surrounding a drab federal office complex next to the Minneapolis airport. As U.S. immigration agents staged at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building for a monthslong deportation campaign, protesters with whistles and cellphone cameras assembled to oppose them. Two were shot and killed in the city’s streets before Trump pulled back under pressure.

Months later, those confrontations remain the backdrop to Minnesota’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, which features establishment-backed U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and the more progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. The immigration debate is an added schism in a race that otherwise echoes many of the other left versus center divides that have played out across the United States this year.

▶ Read more

According to the chef operations manager of Primo’s Italian Restaurant on North Bayshore Drive, Richard James Scott called himself the son of God before he was finally handcuffed and arrested.

Cellphone video captured the moment police used a Taser on Scott outside the restaurant.

“It was a bad time for our people, for my employee, especially for the customers,” said Ugo Patierno, the restaurant’s chef operations manager.

Patierno said Scott tried to pay for a couple of drinks with a fake credit card before telling him to charge it to his room at the neighboring Doubletree by Hilton Grand Hotel. But the number Scott gave for the room was also fake: 666, Patierno said.

“He said, ‘I’m the son of God. So this is my room, you can charge on my room.’ I laughed the first time,” Patierno said.

Patierno said Scott eventually became aggressive, yelling at him and the staff. They asked him to leave, but he refused, and police were called, Patierno said.

According to Patierno, that started a prolonged interaction with police before Scott finally got up and walked out of the hotel restaurant.

Outside, he allegedly tried to get into a Rolls-Royce that wasn’t his. That’s when police used a Taser on him.

Scott was taken to jail, where he was booked on trespassing and disorderly conduct charges.

He appeared in bond court Sunday afternoon, where a judge set his bond at $650.

Scott was also ordered to stay away from the hotel and restaurant.

Lindsey Graham won the June 9 Republican primary for renomination to the seat he first won in 2002, but his unexpected death on July 11 from an aortic tear created a vacancy not only for his current U.S. Senate seat but also for his spot on the November ballot as the party’s pick to compete for another six-year term.

U.S. Sen. Darline Graham, who was appointed by Republican Gov. Henry McMaster to fill her brother’s vacant seat, has President Donald Trump’s endorsement to compete in the general election as the new Republican nominee. Among those challenging her in the special primary are U.S. Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman, former Gov. Mark Sanford and business owner Mark Lynch, who ran against Lindsey Graham in the June 9 primary.

Norman recently sought the nomination for governor and placed third in the primary.

If no candidate receives a vote majority in the special primary, the top two vote-getters will advance to a special primary runoff on Aug. 25.

The winner will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, a Charleston pediatrician who challenged Republican U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace in the 2022 general election.

Lindsey Graham last won reelection in 2020 with 54% of the vote. Trump carried the state in the 2024 presidential election with 58% of the vote.

Greenville County is the most populous in the state and typically contributes the most votes in statewide Republican primaries. It also has a bit of an independent streak. In the June 9 primary, a plurality of Greenville County voters preferred Lynch over Lindsey Graham in the U.S. Senate race and Norman over the two candidates who would advance to the runoff for governor.

Democratic-leaning Richland and Charleston counties have the next-largest populations and contribute a sizable number of votes in Republican primaries, but they tend to be more influential in Democratic contests.

Horry, Lexington and Spartanburg counties are also large counties that have big impacts on Republican primaries. Spartanburg was the only other county where Lynch outperformed Lindsey Graham in the June primary.

Besides Greenville County, Norman also was the top vote-getter in York County and three smaller neighboring counties, all in his 5th Congressional District, in the June gubernatorial primary.

Here are some of the key facts about the election and data points the AP Decision Team will monitor as the votes are tallied:

When do polls close?

Polls close at 7 p.m. ET.

What’s on the ballot?

The Associated Press will provide vote results and declare winners in the special Republican primary for U.S. Senate.

Who gets to vote?

Voters who participated in the Democratic primary on June 9 may not participate in the special Republican primary on Tuesday. Only Republican primary voters or registered voters who did not participate in any party’s primary may cast ballots in Tuesday’s election.

How many voters are there?

As of Friday, there were about 3.4 million registered voters in South Carolina. Voters in South Carolina do not register by party.

How many people actually vote?

About 465,000 voters cast ballots in the June 9 Republican U.S. Senate primary in which Lindsey Graham was renominated. About 319,000 voters participated in the June 23 Republican gubernatorial primary runoff.

How much of the vote is cast early or by absentee ballot?

About 29% of the vote in the June 9 Republican state primary was cast early in person or by mail.

As of Friday, about 42,000 ballots had already been cast in Tuesday’s election.

When are early and absentee votes released?

Nearly all of South Carolina’s 46 counties release all or almost all of their early in-person and mail voting results in the first vote update of the night, usually before releasing any results from in-person Election Day voting.

How long does vote-counting usually take?

In the June 9 primary election, the AP first reported results at 7:22 p.m. ET, or 22 minutes after polls closed. The last vote update of the night was at 12:19 a.m. ET, with more than 99% of total votes counted.

When will the AP declare a winner?

The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow a trailing candidate to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.

How do recounts work?

In South Carolina, recounts are automatic if the margin between the winning and losing candidates is 1% of the total vote or less. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is subject to a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

Are we there yet?

As of Tuesday, there will be 84 days until the 2026 midterm elections.

___

Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2026 election at https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/.

The Peanut Butter Jelly Project took over the second floor at Fort Lauderdale High School this year, as organizers stacked tables with backpacks, notebooks, pens and pencils.

All of the supplies were ready for students like Valeria Ruiz, who is looking forward to beginning fifth grade.

“I’m excited to start school next week because school is a place you make friends and you start learning about new things every year,” she said.

For 10 years now, Peanut Butter Jelly Project founder Brooke Waltzer has been lightening the load for families in need.

“Some of these lists that they get are $250-$300 for the whole school year,” she said. “Sometimes that means paying a light bill or getting your kids school supplies that they need.”

To go along with the new school supplies, changes are coming to the breakfast and lunch menus at schools in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

The universal free lunch programs have ended for many students, as only 141 Broward schools will offer free lunch while in Miami-Dade, only 121 schools will continue with free lunch.

For campuses that don’t qualify, parents will need to submit an application to determine whether their child can receive free or reduced lunch.

“This is a choice that I am making to feel more in control of my life,” Ocasio-Cortez, 36, said on Instagram about her decision regarding her reproductive options.

The New York congresswoman, a leading figure of Democrats' progressive left flank, did not say explicitly whether she plans to have children. She said in her social media posts that she was taking a “political risk” in talking so personally about her potential family plans.

She said later on ABC “This Week” on Sunday that she has not ruled out running for president or for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrats’ floor leader, Chuck Schumer of New York, in 2028. She explained that she wants to normalize conversations about what women face in their professional and personal lives, while also highlighting the policies of President Donald Trump's administration.

“In this political environment, where this administration is denying reproductive care to women across the country, from abortion rights to the ability to carry out a healthy pregnancy, I think it’s important for us as leaders to have these conversations,” she said.

Trump's administration opposes abortion rights, and the Republican president's first-term appointees to the Supreme Court provided the margins in the 2022 ruling that struck down the Roe v. Wade decision that had established a constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy.

Separately, however, Trump in 2025 signed an executive order designed to lower the costs of in vitro fertilization.

Ocasio-Cortez sponsored a Democratic bill in 2022, when the party controlled the House, to codify abortion rights into federal law after the Supreme Court's abortion decision.

As part of her weekend announcement, Ocasio-Cortez noted that women — in politics and other fields — face different standards and scrutiny about their family status.

“Men run for office, or frankly they interview for jobs, and people don’t think in the back of their minds, 'OK, this guy’s running for office, how old is he? Oh, well, is he going to want to start a family?'” she said.

But a mission that seemed temporary has been extended through January 2029. Residents and a new cadre of local officials see in it an unacceptable attempt by the federal government to restrict the heavily Democratic city's autonomy and, a year in, still question why having troops on the streets of the nation's capital is necessary.

“There’s a deep irony that here we are in the capital of the free world, and our president is treating it like a police state,” said Scott Michelman, legal director of the ACLU of the District of Columbia. “D.C. residents have lived with our National Guard troops in our neighborhoods for about a year, despite the absence of any genuine emergency and really any reason for them to be here.”

The continued deployment will be a major test for a new batch of political candidates expected to take office after the midterms this fall. Residents will look to them to push back on the Republican president's encroachment into the city's affairs — although they're limited in what they can do to counter it.

Temporary deployment goes on and on

On Aug. 11, 2025, Trump announced he was launching a federal law enforcement surge in Washington aimed at fighting crime. As of Aug. 4, more than 4,600 military personnel from D.C. and 24 states and territories were still deployed alongside unknown numbers of less visible federal law enforcement officers. Some are expected to be withdrawn toward the end of the summer.

Small groups of armed guard members have become a routine presence on the streets. They have supported arrest operations but are also seen patrolling tourist areas, such as along the Tidal Basin during the Cherry Blossom Festival and in neighborhoods such as Georgetown where violent crimes are rare. They've helped with medical emergencies, snow removal and beautification projects — initiatives that have received support from some residents.

Extending the deployment into 2029 will cost about $1.4 billion, the Defense Department estimates. Exact figures on what's been spent so far are unavailable, but the Congressional Budget Office projected in a report earlier this year the total cost for the first year of the deployment would be around $660 million, based on a monthly troop level of about 2,900, a figure that's fluctuated throughout the mission.

“President Trump has transformed D.C. from a crime-ridden city into a safe and beautiful haven for residents and visitors alike,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in an email.

Figures posted to the U.S. attorney's office for the District of Columbia credit the surge with more than 13,000 arrests.

Crime, which was falling before the surge began, continues to drop. Metropolitan Police Department statistics show overall crime was down 20% through Friday, compared with the same period in 2025. That includes a 32% drop in homicides, from 97 to 66.

But there’s a debate over how much of that success is owed to Trump’s mission or to yearslong local efforts to chip away at the crime rate.

What's certain is locals feel the weight of the deployment and don't see a clear way to push back against it. National Guard deployments to other cities have been blocked by courts, and a lawsuit challenging the deployment is pending, but critics of the surge aren't hopeful.

“The fact that we still have the National Guard walking our streets a year later with no end in sight is really demoralizing,” city council member Brianne K. Nadeau said.

Autonomy is a top priority for newly elected candidates

Because Washington is a congressionally established federal district, Trump has much greater influence over the police and D.C. National Guard, which he controls directly, including its commander.

The Home Rule Act, passed in 1973, allows residents to vote for local leaders, including the mayor and council members. Congress has oversight over the local budget and review authority of all laws passed and the ability to summon district officials to the Capitol routinely to explain themselves. The D.C. delegate to Congress is a nonvoting position.

The city’s governmental structure under home rule made it easy for Trump to do what he has done, Nadeau said.

“There isn’t really any political liability for national leaders to mess with D.C. because nobody really cares,” outside of those directly impacted, she said.

The law enforcement surge played a major role in Democratic primary elections in June, which elevated candidates who have made Washington's autonomy and statehood top priorities.

Janeese Lewis George, a democratic socialist who in the overwhelmingly Democratic city is likely to be its next mayor, has already rankled Trump. He threatened to put the city under federal control if she wins.

Robert White Jr., another pro-statehood candidate, won the Democratic primary for the city's seat in Congress.

And while they are hamstrung by the city's status, both hope they have strategies that can help fight back against the president and the deployment.

White told The Associated Press he plans to build “an army of residents” and allies to target swing districts and work at “un-electing" people critical of the district and “electing those who do support D.C.”

The action is similar to one a former D.C. congressional delegate, Walter Fauntroy, successfully pursued in 1972, mobilizing Black voters and allies against a South Carolina Congress member who had long opposed D.C.'s independence.

“He didn't deploy that strategy a bunch of times, but it sent a signal to people to lay off of D.C.,” White said.

The city's outgoing mayor, Muriel Bowser, avoided the kind of biting rhetoric and personal attacks typical of other high-profile Democratic leaders, despite the unprecedented intervention into her city. A major part of that was to avoid raising Trump’s ire and threaten what independence the city has.

An emailed statement from Bowser's office said that despite challenges to its independence the city has progressed in achieving its goals. "The safety and well-being of everyone in our city remains our top priority and protecting home rule remains our North Star,” the statement said.

“We’re more than monuments and politics,” Bowser said in a 48-second video pinned to her X account.

She said the city is made up of more than 700,00 taxpaying Americans who serve in the military, run businesses and raise families and "we don’t have voting representation in Congress. We don’t control the D.C. National Guard, and we don’t have full access to full American democracy.”

Concerns over troops in the city during elections

Donna Powell, who is living part time in the city, said she and her husband walk and metro everywhere. “We’re already safe and beautiful,” she said. “We don’t need all these National Guard here.”

The money could be better spent “on healthcare and food for families that need it.”

The National Guard deployment has raised concerns among some over what the upcoming midterms and the 2028 presidential election will look like with troops on the streets.

“The last time this president was supposed to come out of power, Jan. 6 happened," said Alex Dodds, co-founder of FreeDC, an activist group that has protested the deployment by following and filming National Guard troops in quiet areas of the city far away from crime concerns. "Imagine if that happens again but this time he has 5,000 troops standing at the ready to be part of that situation. You know, that’s our worry.”

A spokesperson for the Meta CEO also said the crew didn't immediately hear the radio call for help and by the time it did, another nearby ship had already rendered assistance.

The U.S. Coast Guard said the 21-foot Hewescraft vessel that called for help over a radio frequency all boats should monitor was not in distress and was able to make it safely to Farragut Bay after the Wilderness Legacy cruise ship towed it there, and helped it refuel. But the incident is getting attention because of a post that a passenger on the cruise ship made on social media that suggested Zuckerberg's yacht refused to help.

When another ship is in distress, everyone in the area is obligated to respond as long as doing so doesn't put their own ship at risk. But maritime law expert Ian Ralby said this situation appears different, and the crew of Zuckerberg's yacht wouldn't face that legal obligation.

“It’s the difference between calling AAA and 911. You need an ambulance on site, that’s a distress call. You need somebody to give you a jump or to tow your car, you call AAA,” said Ralby, who is president of Auxilium Worldwide. It is a big difference in terms of the emergency type, he said. "Both concerning, both needing assistance, but the legal obligations to respond are very different.”

Zuckerberg and his family were not on the 387-foot Launchpad yacht when this happened late on Aug. 3.

“As the Coast Guard noted, the boat was not in distress, and by the time the crew reviewed the Coast Guard contact on a different radio channel from the one they were operating on, the assist was already underway. We’re grateful all parties are safe," Zuckerberg's spokesman Brian Baker said.

The Alaska Beacon first reported on what happened after Michael Love, who said he was a passenger on the Wilderness Legacy cruise ship, posted on Bluesky on Aug. 5.

“Our boat rescued a stranded vessel last night and apparently we did that after the Coast Guard radioed Mark Zuckerberg’s yacht — which was closer — and they repeatedly refused to respond. (There was near unanimous booing when the captain announced this),” he said.

The Coast Guard said in a statement that they determined within half an hour of when the skiff radioed in that the small ship wasn't in distress. A marine assistance request was broadcast on their behalf, and the Wilderness Legacy responded, reaching the 21-foot vessel about an hour later.

It's a little unusual that the Launchpad crew missed the call for help because it is common practice for ships to always be monitoring channel 16 on their radios and keep it as the default frequency. That's where this call for help was transmitted, but it is also where the Coast Guard would broadcast warnings about any hazards in the area whether that's a brewing storm or anything else.

“The situation was resolved without any harm to life," said Ralby. "It does not seem that there was any immediate issue in terms of threat to life of mariners or concerns for the marine environment, which are the two main things that lead to that urgent distress call where all mariners no matter who they are are legally obligated to try and respond.”

Here’s a look at the latest developments in the Iran war and the wider Middle East on Monday. Full coverage can be found here.

Trump demands

Iran pay for decades of US military deaths

Trump's social media post Monday came after Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stressed that Iran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the U.S. meets its conditions.

Tehran wants the U.S. to end its blockade of Iranian ports, lift economic sanctions and release Iran’s frozen assets. It also said the U.S. must pay compensation for war damage.

“It is up to the U.S. side to stop and make amends for its illegal and destructive actions,” Baghaei said.

Trump responded that he is now demanding “compensation from Iran, for all of the people that they have killed and gravely wounded with their roadside bombs and many conflicts.”

The U.S. government has blamed Iran-backed militants for the deaths and injuries of hundreds of Americans over several decades. They include a 1983 bombing that killed 241 U.S. military personnel at a Marine compound in Beirut and the deaths of at least 603 U.S. troops in Iraq between 2003 and 2011.

Trump said he also wants Tehran to compensate the families of Iranian protesters who were killed.

“I have instructed my representatives to put this firmly into any, and all, future negotiations,” Trump said in his post.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil supplies passed before the war — has kept energy prices as a major focus of U.S. politics ahead of November’s midterm elections.

Iran's supreme leader is said to want 'unity' amid signs of division

Iran’s president said Monday the country’s supreme leader is calling for “unity and cohesion” as the Islamic Republic faces economic hardships and sanctions stemming from its war with the United States.

President Masoud Pezeshkian described a nearly seven-hour meeting with Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei in an interview with Iranian state television that aired amid apparent tensions among the Islamic Republic’s leaders.

Pezeshkian told the state-run IRIB that he and Khamenei discussed “people’s livelihoods, the state of the market, employment, people’s housing,” as well as “problems that are now being created as a result of the (U.S.) sanctions.” He didn’t say when or where they met.

Most important, he said, was Khamenei’s emphasis on unity.

“All of the enemy’s plans are aimed at creating division,” Pezeshkian said. “What we have to do is prevent divisions from emerging.”

It is only the second time the Iranian president said he has met with the new supreme leader since Khamenei was appointed in March following a U.S.-Israeli strike that killed his father. Khamenei, believed to have been wounded in the same attack, has not appeared in public since then.

Iran names former Revolutionary Guard leader to top security post

Iran on Sunday appointed Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to its new supreme leader, to head its powerful Supreme National Security Council.

Rezaei commanded Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard from 1981 to 1997, a period that includes Iran’s 1980s war with Iraq. The 71-year-old hardliner last week threatened American forces with “serious risks and casualties” if the U.S. did not lift its blockade of Iranian ports.

Rezaei replaces Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who will become a political adviser to Khamenei.

While Rezaei appears willing to negotiate with the U.S. to “secure Iran’s maximalist aims, including control of the Strait of Hormuz,” he has also been “unwilling to present any Iranian concessions,” wrote the Institute for the Study of War, a U.S.-based think-tank.

Israel declares closed military zone in Taybeh

Israel's military said Monday it had declared a Christian-majority town in the occupied West Bank a closed military zone to keep out Israeli settlers and other non-residents.

The new tactic is designed to keep Israelis out of Taybeh, which has been subject to arson, vandalism and settlers coming onto private and village property. The army said Palestinian residents and journalists would be allowed unless soldiers determine their presence poses a threat. The army said its troops would detain suspects and disperse gatherings to keep the peace.

The designation comes after months of the army and police struggling to maintain order throughout the territory, where at least 87 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli settlers or soldiers in 2026, according to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Health Ministry.

Yemen provides death toll on Sunday's Houthi attack on Red Sea

town

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked a Red Sea port town controlled by government forces on Sunday, killing seven and injuring 30 people. Yemen’s Defense Ministry — which operates under its internationally recognized government — said four military personnel and three civilians were killed.

Clashes continued Monday near the village of Taiz. The Houthi group said a 13-year-old child was killed by artillery shelling and another child was injured.

The attack on Mokha is the latest in one of the largest waves of Houthi strikes on Yemeni military positions and areas held by the Saudi-backed government since a 2022 truce. It comes as threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have renewed focus on the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait at its southern tip.

En Francia, la agencia meteorológica nacional Météo-France advirtió sobre temperaturas cerca de los 40 grados Celsius (104 grados Fahrenheit) a partir del martes en el sureste del país. Y en el Reino Unido se anunció una alerta sanitaria por calor de nivel ámbar para la mayor parte de Inglaterra a partir del martes, entre previsiones de que las temperaturas alcancen los 36 grados Celsius (96,8 grados Fahrenheit) más adelante esta semana.

En varias partes de Europa, el calor extremo comenzó en mayo y ha contribuido a grandes incendios forestales, una sequía prolongada y nuevos récords nacionales de temperatura, además de una estimación de miles de muertes relacionadas con el calor.

A nivel mundial, hasta ahora este es el tercer año más caluroso, por detrás de 2024 y 2025, según muestran las estadísticas climáticas. Pero 2026 aún tiene tiempo para alcanzarlos. Gracias al doble golpe del acelerado calentamiento global provocado por el ser humano y un El Niño sobredimensionado —un calentamiento periódico de partes del Pacífico que provoca variaciones de temperatura en todo el planeta—, aumenta la probabilidad de que para finales de año 2026 pueda convertirse en el año más caluroso jamás registrado, señalaron científicos.

El mes pasado registró la temperatura media de la superficie del mar más alta jamás medida para julio en los océanos extrapolares, es decir, los océanos libres de hielo marino estacional, según la agencia climática europea Copernicus.

Eso se vio impulsado en parte por el desarrollo de condiciones de El Niño en el Pacífico ecuatorial, indicó el servicio. El nuevo récord de promedio para julio es de 20,96 grados Celsius (69,73 Fahrenheit), que superó el récord de 2023 de 20,89 grados Celsius (69,60 Fahrenheit).

Pero la temperatura media del aire en superficie a nivel mundial el mes pasado fue de 16,90 grados Celsius (62,42 Fahrenheit), lo que lo convierte apenas en el segundo julio más cálido registrado, empatado con julio de 2024, informó Copernicus.

Europa Occidental establece nuevo récord

En Europa Occidental, por su parte, el récord de temperatura media para el periodo junio-julio alcanzó los 21,62 grados Celsius (70,92 Fahrenheit), indicó Copernicus, derribando el récord de 2022.

“Los persistentes sistemas de alta presión atraparon el calor sobre Europa occidental; las temperaturas extremas también intensificaron la sequía generalizada", explicó Samantha Burgess, responsable estratégica de clima en el Centro Europeo de Pronósticos Meteorológicos a Medio Plazo. "A medida que los suelos se secan, pierden su capacidad de proporcionar enfriamiento natural, lo que permite que el calor se acumule con mayor facilidad”.

“Este es un claro ejemplo de cómo el cambio climático está intensificando los extremos de calor, y de cómo el calor y la sequía se refuerzan cada vez más entre sí”, añadió.

Tan solo en Francia, hubo alertas por ola de calor en mayo, algo sin precedentes documentados, cuando más de la mitad del país anotó nuevos máximos mensuales de temperatura. El calor se intensificó en junio, un periodo durante el cual se registraron al menos 5.700 muertes más de lo habitual, según la agencia de salud pública de Francia.

Météo-France indicó que el 23 de junio fue el día más caluroso jamás registrado en el país. Las temperaturas subieron hasta 44,3 grados Celsius (111,7 Fahrenheit) en el suroeste.

En julio se registraron otros dos episodios de ola de calor, lo que agravó un incendio forestal histórico en el suroeste de Francia que obligó a 220.000 personas a huir de sus hogares en uno de los mayores esfuerzos de evacuación del continente desde la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

España combate incendios forestales

Las temperaturas fueron ligeramente más frescas el lunes en el Reino Unido, pero el país se preparaba para su quinta ola de calor en un verano excepcionalmente caluroso y seco, que ha sumido en la sequía a la mitad de Inglaterra y toda Gales.

Datos provisionales muestran que Inglaterra y Gales han tenido su julio más seco en registros que se remontan a 1836, y que en 19 condados de Inglaterra no hubo lluvia durante todo el mes.

La alerta por calor advertía de probables impactos significativos en los servicios de salud, incluido un aumento de muertes entre las personas mayores y vulnerables.

Dos olas de calor que batieron récords en mayo y junio provocaron un exceso de mortalidad de más de 2.800 fallecidos vinculado a temperaturas extremas.

Un adolescente de 18 años murió tras tener dificultades en el mar en la playa de Camber Sands, en el sur de Inglaterra, el domingo, la más reciente de decenas de muertes registradas en aguas abiertas en los últimos meses.

En España, los bomberos combaten múltiples incendios, incluido uno que se declaró el viernes en Tírig, Valencia, que ha quemado más de 8 kilómetros cuadrados (3 millas cuadradas) y en el que han participado más de 300 efectivos y 21 aeronaves para combatirlo.

Un incendio forestal separado en la región sureña de Huelva había afectado un área de tamaño similar desde que se declaró el jueves. Aunque las temperaturas en toda España se mantienen altas, algunas partes del país esperan tormentas eléctricas el lunes por la tarde que podrían traer fuertes ráfagas de viento.

___

Dazio reportó desde Berlín. Sylvia Hui en Londres y Suman Naishadham en Madrid contribuyeron a este despacho.

___

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

• Students in Broward County head back to school this morning!
• Courtney Clenney expected to accept plea deal in boyfriend’s 2022 killing
• Man arrested after striking police vehicle while fleeing Hallandale Beach officer, cops say

You can watch a live feed of our news broadcast at Local10.com/Live.

In an “open letter to the football family” revealed on Monday, UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC also said that “when trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned.”

UEFA runs soccer in Europe, CONCACAF does the same for North, Central America and the Caribbean, while the AFC governs the sport in Asia.

The letter was co-signed by UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, AFC president Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani and three general secretaries.

“Football is the world’s greatest shared passion. It belongs to no individual and no institution. It belongs to the players, the fans, the clubs, the member associations and every institution entrusted with safeguarding its future,” the open letter said. “It is in that spirit, as confederations representing its members, that we speak collectively today.”

Infantino is facing a revolt after his failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors.

“It is not the conduct of a custodian of the game, but of one who believes the game is answerable to him,” the letter said. “These are not the qualities football deserves in its leadership. That is why we have taken this stance: not lightly and not alone, but together, and out of duty to the game we serve.”

UEFA previously issued a threat to boycott the World Cup and other FIFA competitions despite the governing body abandoning and apologizing for its failed plan.

Norway’s soccer federation called for Infantino to step down, while the English Football Association has also withdrawn its support for Infantino’s re-election next March.

“Football’s strength has always been its unity. We call for that unity to be honoured now,” the letter said. “For leadership that serves football, not seeks to command it.”

Last Wednesday, FIFA said it had apologized for errors made over the failed plan but that senior staff at a crisis meeting in Morocco “reaffirmed their full support” for his presidency.

However, the nature of the meeting was also met with criticism.

“FIFA’s own letter also confirms that only one elected official was present at the leadership meeting in Morocco,” the open letter said. “No FIFA Council members or Member Associations were invited to participate. Only the management committee, composed of FIFA-employed senior staff, was present.”

FIFA was also urged to go further than just acknowledging mistakes were made.

“It treats this as a failure of communication, when what football witnessed was a failure of judgment,” the letter said. “There remains no recognition that attempting to sell an interest in the FIFA World Cup was a profound failure of judgment — not just a procedural misstep, but a fundamental breach of trust with the very institutions FIFA exists to serve.”

In a statement Saturday, FIFA defended Infantino against what it called a “concerted and ongoing effort” to undermine his leadership of the organization.

That statement followed a report by British newspaper The Daily Telegraph raising questions about an exit package paid by UEFA to a female staffer who worked with Infantino when he was general secretary of European soccer's ruling body.

UEFA confirmed that a “departure payment” was made to the employee and said it was “in line” with regulations at the time.

Infantino worked at UEFA for 16 years before being elected FIFA president.

___

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

Last year, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, ended its decades-long armed campaign against the Turkish state, declaring a decision to disarm and disband as part of the peace effort. The move came in response to a call from its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan.

The PKK then staged a symbolic disarmament ceremony in northern Iraq, where it is based, and announced that it was withdrawing fighters from key locations in Turkey to Iraq.

Law could have regional implications

The measure, which is a step toward ending a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people, could have implications beyond Turkey's borders, leading to closer Turkish-Iraqi ties. It could also support the Syrian government's efforts to integrate areas that were under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, affiliated with the PKK.

It also offers Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the opportunity to court the support of the pro-Kurdish DEM party to help him remain in office beyond the presidential two-term limit. Erdogan could run again if parliament calls an early election during his current term.

The 12-article draft legislation outlines the procedures for the disarmament of the group — which still retains the bulk of its weapons — and the rehabilitation of thousands of PKK members.

The legislation would suspend some prison sentences for convicted PKK members and postpone ongoing investigations and trials for five or 10 years, depending on the severity of the alleged offenses. If no terror-related crime is committed within the time frame, the cases would be dropped.

Militants convicted of intentional killings and those sentenced to life terms before 2005 are excluded from the bill’s provisions. This applies to Ocalan and other senior PKK figures.

The proposal also sets up ministerial and parliamentary committees to monitor the disarmament process. The measures would come into effect only after Turkey’s National Security Council confirms that the group has disbanded and surrendered all weapons.

Those wanting to benefit from the law would have six months to apply after the National Security Council’s decision is published in the official gazette.

Media reports have said exiled PKK members and those in Iraq and Syria are expected to benefit.

PKK says the legislation is a start but there are many things missing

The PKK-linked ANF news outlet carried a statement from the group in which it said that the Turkish legislation is a “beginning” to resolving the outstanding issues but has “serious shortcomings and deficiencies.” It called for Ocalan’s release from prison, saying that the peace process can move forward only if he “lives and works freely.”

It also said that the legislation failed to address demands for democratic reforms and Kurdish rights, adding that PKK fighters would not give up their weapons and return to Turkey “if, upon returning to Turkey, they are unable to engage in democratic politics on the basis of freedom of thought and freedom of association, and if they are prosecuted and imprisoned because of their views or the organizations they establish.”

“The people of Turkey, who have paid a heavy price for many years, now have an opportunity to consolidate peace and build democracy,” Gulistan Kilic Kocyigit, of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party, or DEM, told parliament.

“Of course, the proposal has shortcomings, and we now have a responsibility to address these shortcomings,” she added, in an apparent reference to demands for greater rights for Kurds and for democratic reforms.

Musavat Dervisoglu, the leader of the center-right nationalist Good Party, which opposes the bill, said it “would pave the way” for Erdogan to stay in power.

The measures were expected to easily pass with the votes of Erdogan's ruling party, its nationalist allies and DEM. Turkey's largest opposition party in parliament, New Party, also said it would vote in favor, despite the bill's shortfalls.

Ocalan's release is not in the cards, but conditions might improve

DEM has lobbied for Ocalan, who has been imprisoned since 1999, to be granted official status to coordinate the transition process, leading to his release.

The current proposal, however, makes no mention of Ocalan’s status or possible release.

Media reports have suggested however, that Ocalan’s conditions in his island prison off Istanbul will likely be improved, giving him broader visiting conditions and communication with the outside world.

The PKK has waged an armed insurgency since 1984 that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and spilled into Iraq and Syria. It has been designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

The group initially sought an independent Kurdish state but later shifted to demands for autonomy and expanded rights in Turkey.

Previous peace efforts between Turkey and the PKK have failed, most recently in 2015.

__

Stella Martany contributed from Irbil, Iraq.

Varios ríos seguían por encima de los niveles de peligro, lo que aumenta el riesgo de nuevas inundaciones en zonas vulnerables, indicó la Autoridad Estatal de Gestión de Desastres de Assam. Días de intensas lluvias monzónicas han provocado que ríos, incluido el Brahmaputra, se desborden e inunden comunidades, además de interrumpir medios de vida y dañar infraestructura.

El río, uno de los más grandes de Asia, que nace en la región tibetana de China y recorre unos 900 kilómetros (560 millas) a través de Assam, inundó aldeas, arrasó viviendas y obligó a casi 300.000 personas a trasladarse a campamentos de ayuda administrados por el gobierno, señalaron funcionarios.

Las inundaciones, que comenzaron el mes pasado, desplazaron a más de 700.000 personas y sumergieron vastas extensiones de tierras agrícolas, además de dañar carreteras y otra infraestructura local. Aunque muchos residentes han empezado a regresar a sus hogares a medida que las aguas retroceden, al menos 49.000 habitantes afectados por las inundaciones siguen alojados en 125 campamentos de ayuda y centros de distribución de asistencia, según funcionarios.

Las autoridades continuaban con las labores de asistencia y monitoreo mientras evaluaban el alcance de los daños y las necesidades de las poblaciones afectadas.

Las inundaciones también causaron estragos entre el ganado, lo que asestó un golpe a las comunidades rurales y aumentó la preocupación por brotes de enfermedades. A medida que las aguas retrocedían en algunas zonas, muchas familias regresaron a viviendas cubiertas por gruesas capas de limo, lo que complicaba la recuperación.

Farukuddin Ahmed, un comerciante de 47 años de la localidad de Nazira, en el distrito de Sivasagar, el más afectado de Assam, dijo que las familias desplazadas estaban regresando despacio a casa, muchas para reconstruir en terrenos que aún estaban cubiertos por dos a tres pies (hasta un metro) de lodo.

Una aldea cercana, Nepali Khuti, tenía alrededor de 100 hogares antes de las inundaciones. “Sólo quedan unas pocas casas y el resto fue arrasado por las crecidas de la inundación”, dijo Ahmed.

“Los residentes, principalmente ganaderos lecheros, tienen que reconstruir sus vidas desde cero tras haber perdido todo su ganado”.

La ayuda en forma de lonas para techos y otros materiales de construcción estaba empezando a llegar, agregó.

"Hemos ordenado a los funcionarios que completen la evaluación de daños lo antes posible para que el gobierno pueda brindar asistencia financiera para su rehabilitación", indicó el ministro de Agricultura e Irrigación de Assam, Pijush Hazarika, tras una reunión de revisión. Agregó que a unas 50.000 personas afectadas ya se les pagó una compensación monetaria provisional.

La temporada anual de monzones suele provocar inundaciones en Assam, donde los ríos crecidos anegan grandes áreas y desplazan a miles de residentes cada año.

Expertos señalan que el cambio climático causado por el ser humano está intensificando los monzones del sur de Asia, que tradicionalmente se extienden de junio a septiembre y nuevamente de octubre a diciembre. Las lluvias, antes previsibles, ahora llegan en ráfagas erráticas que descargan cantidades extremas de agua en periodos cortos, seguidas de intervalos secos.

___

NOTA DEL EDITOR: Se ha corregido este despacho para indicar que se pagó una compensación provisional a 50.000 personas, no a 500.000.

___

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

Twenty years ago, British driver Andy Green set the land speed record for a diesel-powered car, reaching 350.092 mph (563.4 kph) at Utah’s famous Bonneville Salt Flats. Green will return to the lunarlike landscape Tuesday and try to beat that mark, this time with a hydrogen-powered car.

The retired Royal Air Force fighter pilot aims not only to win another accolade but to showcase the power of hydrogen as a clean-energy alternative. It's the “fuel of the future,” Green told The Associated Press in a July interview.

Green will be driving the 32-foot (9.75-meter) JCB Hydromax, the brainchild of British construction equipment manufacturer JCB. The car is bright yellow, long and slim, resembling a pencil. It's powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines with a combined 1,600 horsepower, which were adapted from engines used in the company’s construction machinery. They mix pressurized hydrogen gas with air and ignite it to create bursts of power.

In targeting the diesel-powered record, Green also hopes to easily clear the world land speed records for hydrogen internal combustion engines (185.5 mph/298.5 kph) and electric vehicles (341.3 mph/549.2 kph).

Green hit a new top speed of 368.347 mph (592.797 kph) in practice last week, but to officially earn the hydrogen record, he’ll have to do it Tuesday in front of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, the international governing body of motor sports.

“What the peak speed is, I can’t say. We just don’t know,” he said. “Part of the adventure here is we’re going to find out.”

One thing Tuesday’s attempt will assuredly not do is approach the supersonic speeds Green reached with jet power three decades ago.

Green had already been flying supersonic military aircraft when he spotted a newspaper ad that read: “Wanted: High-speed driver to break the sound barrier,” according to the Guinness World Records. In 1997, he traveled faster than the speed of sound and set the outright land speed record — 763.035 mph (1,227.98 kph) — in a car powered by twin jet engines. His runs in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert produced sonic booms that shook the nearby town of Gerlach.

Now 64 years old, Green said he thought he was done racing but came out of retirement when JCB approached him with plans for the new car. The company has invested more than $134 million into hydrogen-powered engines that it says emit no carbon dioxide from the tailpipes.

“If you’re serious about emissions, you have to be serious about hydrogen, and a land speed project is the perfect way to prove it,” JCB Chair Anthony Bamford said at the car's unveiling in May. Bamford has also argued that hydrogen can better handle the demands of heavy industries than electric power.

But hydrogen is only as clean as its source, and the vast majority is currently produced from fossil fuels. JCB signed a deal to buy green hydrogen, which is created using renewable energy but makes up a tiny fraction of global hydrogen production.

Hydrogen combustion engines also present unique safety challenges due to the high pressure and flammability of the gas.

“We're managing the risks very carefully,” Green said. The car endured rigorous testing, and Green said he spent months learning how it responds to the elements, how the engines work in tandem and how to deploy a parachute to slow the car on the low-friction salt crust.

Since the first race there in 1914, the glassy surface of the Bonneville Salt Flats has drawn generations of drivers seeking to set new land speed records. A remnant of a prehistoric lake bed, the salt flats are about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Salt Lake City and sit atop an aquifer that cools the tires of the cars.

Spectators must stand about a quarter of a mile (400 meters) from the course's straightaway, which is 10 miles (16 kilometers) long, and often watch through wide-angle binoculars.

The expanse on the border of Utah and Nevada has also been a backdrop for movies including “Independence Day” and “The World’s Fastest Indian,” and the series finale of “Mad Men.”

Green will start about an hour before sunrise Tuesday. His attempt comes a year after a driver going 283 mph (455 kph) died trying to set a land speed record at Bonneville's annual Speed Week. Chris Raschke lost control of his rocketlike vehicle called the Speed Demon last August and died from his injuries.

___

Rico reported from Atlanta. Video journalist Serge Cartwright contributed reporting.

The Ukrainian military said it hit an oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk, which is about 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) east of the Ukrainian border and has a population of about 240,000.

Russian officials didn't say what the drones targeted, but the city is home to two refineries and a petrochemical plant. Ukraine has targeted Russian oil facilities with long-range drones almost daily in recent months. The campaign has caused fuel shortages in Russia, eaten into its refining capacity and unsettled the population.

Previous Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil with high death tolls have come in the border region of Belgorod. In December 2023, Ukrainian shelling of the region’s capital, also called Belgorod, killed 25 people and wounded over 100, local officials said. Five months later, a Belgorod apartment building partially collapsed after shelling, killing at least 13, according to Russian authorities.

Also on Monday, several Ukrainian drones sparked a fire at an industrial facility in the Tyumen region of western Siberia, said Gov. Alexander Moor, without offering any details.

Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces damaged part of a petrochemical complex in Tobolsk, in the Tyumen region. The plant produces rocket fuel components, aviation fuel, composite materials for drones and high-octane gasoline, it said in a Telegram post.

Last month, Ukrainian drones hit a refinery in Tyumen, more than 2,400 kilometers (about 1,500 miles) east of the border with Ukraine.

Ukraine says its strikes aim to push Russia into peace talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country is trying to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table and stop his full-scale invasion, launched in 2022. Russia is one of the world’s biggest energy producers.

Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces struck a Taneco oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk, starting a fire.

The city came under a “massive” drone attack targeting industrial and civilian facilities, according to the press service of Tatarstan’s head, Rustam Minnikhanov.

One of the drones hit a hostel, killing nine of the 13 victims, including citizens of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, officials said. Uzbekistan’s consular office in Tatarstan said seven of its nationals were killed.

A child was among the dead, along with the 75 injured, the press service said, adding that Monday was declared a day of mourning in Tatarstan.

It was not possible to independently verify either side’s claims.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry urged foreign governments and international organizations to condemn Ukraine for the attacks.

Russia has also regularly battered Ukraine from the air using missiles, powerful glide bombs and drones, hitting civilian areas and causing thousands of civilian casualties, according to the United Nations. In the first six months of this year, 1,396 civilians were killed and 7,978 injured in Ukraine, the U.N. office in Kyiv said last week. That was a 37% increase from the same period last year, it said.

A Russian glide bomb struck the city of Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine, injuring 24 people, authorities said Monday. The city is the capital of a region of the same name that is partly occupied by Russian forces.

The World Health Organization’s European office said that one of its warehouses in the central Dnipro region of Ukraine was hit twice in less than 24 hours. The attacks destroyed emergency supplies worth an estimated $500,000 that were intended for front-line health facilities, it said in a statement. No casualties were reported.

Ukraine's drones have struck deeper inside Russia

Ukraine’s domestically developed long-range drones have flown increasing distances deep inside Russia, with some now reaching Siberia, around 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) from the border.

“We do deliver entirely justified responses, and every Russian strike will be met with our response. Russia’s war will be felt more and more at their own home -– in Russia,” Zelenskyy said late Sunday on social media.

“The only reason this is still continuing is Russia’s unwillingness to end this war.”

As part of a parallel campaign to disrupt Russian military supply lines leading to the front line in eastern and southern Ukraine, Kyiv's forces struck road, rail and pontoon bridges in six regions last month, the Defense Ministry said Monday.

By repeatedly striking routes for fuel, ammunition and reinforcements, Ukrainian commanders say they have made Russian logistics slower, costlier and hard to organize. That has helped stall Russian advances and enabled Ukrainian counterattacks, they say.

Repairing the stricken refineries also is complicated for Russia. Ukraine’s attacks have damaged specialized equipment that is often imported, making repairs time-consuming and expensive as workarounds or replacements are sought by evading international sanctions.

___

Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Decenas de bomberos, respaldados por 43 helicópteros, han sido desplegados para combatir incendios forestales que han quemado más de 107.000 hectáreas (264.000 acres) de bosques y otras tierras en toda la nación del Sudeste Asiático hasta el lunes, dijo el ministro coordinador de Asuntos Políticos y de Seguridad, Djamari Chaniago. El fortalecimiento de las condiciones de El Niño ha elevado el riesgo de más incendios forestales y de tierras durante el pico de la temporada seca, agregó.

Las autoridades de Java Oriental indicaron que el incendio más grande arde en el Parque Nacional Bromo Tengger Semeru, en la provincia de Java Oriental, donde unas 743 hectáreas (1.836 acres) han quedado calcinadas. Las autoridades han cerrado el parque a los visitantes hasta nuevo aviso.

Señalaron que el fuego ha quemado grandes extensiones de pastizales secos, vegetación y flores protegidas de edelweiss, ya que las llamas se han extendido hasta la zona de Penanjakan, un mirador popular para los turistas que visitan el paisaje volcánico del monte Bromo, una de las atracciones más conocidas de Indonesia. No se han reportado heridos ni evacuaciones.

Descartan siembra de nubes por condiciones meteorológicas

Chaniago resaltó que las operaciones de modificación del clima, o siembra de nubes, se consideran una de las formas más efectivas de ayudar a los bomberos a combatir los incendios forestales al inducir lluvias mediante la dispersión de partículas de sal en nubes adecuadas.

Sin embargo, es difícil de llevarlo a cabo porque el monitoreo científico “no encontró nubes portadoras de lluvia adecuadas para operaciones de modificación del clima hasta el 18 de agosto”, aseveró Chaniago en una conferencia de prensa el lunes. Habló luego de sostener una reunión con ministros relacionados y jefes de agencias que se ocupan de los incendios forestales en la capital, Yakarta.

Con la siembra de nubes descartada debido a condiciones meteorológicas desfavorables, “dependemos únicamente del lanzamiento de agua desde el aire y de los equipos de extinción en tierra”, dijo el ministro de Silvicultura, Raja Juli Antoni, durante una visita al monte Bromo el domingo. Instó a la población a evitar actividades que puedan provocar nuevos incendios, como arrojar colillas de cigarrillos y emplear fuego para despejar terreno.

Se han reportado incendios forestales en varias de las regiones de Indonesia más propensas a éstos, incluidas 48.890 hectáreas (120.800 acres) de turberas que se han quemado en las provincias de Riau, Jambi y Sumatra Meridional en la isla de Sumatra, y Kalimantan Central y Kalimantan Meridional en la isla de Borneo, lo que obligó a las autoridades regionales a desplegar a más de 48.000 bomberos y personal de emergencias, informó la Agencia Nacional de Gestión de Desastres.

El incendio ha quemado unas 540 hectáreas (1.300 acres) de turberas tan solo en la provincia de Jambi, en la isla de Sumatra, lo que ha provocado una neblina asfixiante en algunas zonas y ha aumentado la preocupación por un deterioro de la calidad del aire. El mayor incendio se ha reportado en la aldea de Sungai Gelam, en el distrito de Muaro Jambi, donde decenas de hectáreas (acres) de plantaciones de palma aceitera propiedad de residentes locales han sido destruidas.

Más de 5.800 bomberos han sido desplegados para combatir el fuego en Jambi. Las autoridades señalaron que el suelo profundo de turba, el suministro limitado de agua, el acceso difícil y los fuertes vientos han complicado los esfuerzos, incluso con tres helicópteros realizando operaciones aéreas de extinción.

Se deteriora calidad del aire en la vecina Malasia

Los incendios forestales y de turba son un problema anual en Indonesia que tensa las relaciones con los países vecinos.

Malasia ha reportado niveles insalubres de calidad del aire en partes del estado de Sarawak en la isla de Borneo, y autoridades indicaron que los vientos estaban llevando humo desde puntos calientes en áreas vecinas. En Singapur, las autoridades han advertido que los vientos predominantes del sureste podrían llevar humo hacia la ciudad-estado, y se espera que prevalezcan condiciones secas.

“Debemos mantener la credibilidad de la nación mostrando que podemos poner estos incendios bajo control”, dijo Chaniago.

La Agencia de Meteorología, Climatología y Geofísica de Indonesia advirtió que se espera que agosto y septiembre sean los meses más críticos, ya que la vegetación seca y los fuertes vientos crean condiciones favorables para que los incendios se propaguen rápidamente.

Los incendios forestales en Indonesia, una nación archipiélago de más de 17.000 islas, a menudo son iniciados ilegalmente por propietarios de plantaciones o agricultores tradicionales para despejar tierras para la siembra.

___

Karmini reportó desde Yakarta. Los periodistas de The Associated Press Edna Tarigan en Yakarta, Indonesia, y Eileen Ng en Kuala Lumpur, Malasia, contribuyeron a este despacho.

___

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

The S&P 500 fell 0.1% after flipping between small gains and losses, coming off its record set on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 133 points, or 0.3%, as of 2:03 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.4% lower.

Momentum is slowing for stocks following a rally powered by soaring profits for big U.S. companies. Reports are on track to show earnings per share for companies in the S&P 500 were 50% higher in the spring from a year earlier, according to FactSet. That would be the best growth since five years ago, when the economy was roaring out of the chasm created by COVID.

Berkshire Hathaway is one of the latest companies to deliver a stronger profit for the last quarter than analysts expected, and the company built by legendary investor Warren Buffett said over the weekend that it’s also invested some of its massive pile of cash into stocks under its new CEO, Greg Abel.

Berkshire Hathaway has been famous for buying stocks at what it considers low prices, and criticism has been high that U.S. stocks generally look too expensive. But when they report strong profits, it helps them look less pricey.

Berkshire Hathaway’s stock rose 1.4%, and its immense size made it one of the strongest forces pushing upward on the S&P 500 index.

MarineMax jumped 45.8% after the retailer, marina operator and superyacht services provider said it agreed to sell itself for about $1.5 billion in cash to a portfolio company of Blackstone.

Varex Imaging leaped 48.7% after Teledyne Technologies said it would buy the maker of X-ray imaging components for $18.90 per share in cash.

Technology stocks were the biggest weights on the market. Nvidia fell 2.5% and Apple fell 2%.

Intel fell 3.4% after saying it may sell $15 billion of its stock. Such a move would dilute the ownership stakes of existing investors, and Intel said it would likely use the cash for investments to take advantage of the huge spending underway on artificial-intelligence technology.

In the oil market, the price for a barrel of Brent crude rose 4.7% to $87.50. It had swung between $72 and $102 last month as hopes rose and fell that the United States and Iran could reach an agreement that would allow oil tankers to freely exit the Middle East again to deliver crude worldwide.

But hopes are turning toward caution again, and the price of Brent is back to where it was earlier this month, as well as in mid-July, mid-June and in the first week of the war in March.

Higher oil prices push inflation upward, and the main event for Wall Street this week will likely be Wednesday’s update on how bad inflation was last month. Economists expect it to show inflation slowed to 3.4% from 3.5% in June.

A slowdown would mean less pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates. Higher rates would help keep a lid on inflation, but they would also slow the economy by making it more expensive for U.S. households and companies to borrow money. They would also undercut prices for stocks and other investments.

A report on Friday showing unexpectedly weak hiring across the United States lowered Wall Street’s expectations for an upcoming hike to interest rates. But traders still see a 50% chance the Fed will raise its main interest rate at its next meeting in September, according to data from CME Group.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.70% from 4.65% late Friday. That's up from 3.97% before the war with Iran, and it's already sent rates for mortgages and other kinds of loans higher.

In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed in Europe after rising in much of Asia. Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 2.1% for one of the world’s bigger moves.

___

AP Business Writers Michelle Chapman and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed to this report.

Scores of firefighters, backed by 43 helicopters, have been deployed to battle wildfires that have burned more than 107,000 hectares (264,000 acres) of forests and other land across the Southeast Asian nation as of Monday, said Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago. Strengthening El Nino conditions have raised the risk of more forest and land fires during the peak dry season, he said.

East Java authorities said the largest blaze is burning in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java province, where about 743 hectares (1,836 acres) have been scorched. Authorities have closed the park to visitors until further notice.

It said the fire has burned large areas of dry grassland, vegetation and protected edelweiss flowers as flames have spread to the Penanjakan area, a popular viewpoint for tourists visiting the volcanic landscape of Mount Bromo, one of Indonesia’s best-known attractions. No injuries or evacuations have been reported.

Cloud-seeding has been ruled out because of weather conditions

Chaniago said weather-modification, or cloud-seeding, operations are considered one of the most effective ways to help firefighters combat wildfires by inducing rainfall through the dispersal of salt particles into suitable clouds.

However, the effort would be difficult to carry out because scientific monitoring “found no rain-bearing clouds suitable for weather-modification operations through Aug. 18,” Chaniago told a news conference Monday. He spoke after a meeting with related ministers and agency chiefs dealing with wildfires in the capital, Jakarta.

With cloud-seeding ruled out because of unfavorable weather conditions, “we are relying solely on water bombing and ground firefighting teams,” said Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni while visiting Mount Bromo on Sunday. He urged the public to avoid activities that could spark new blazes, including discarding cigarette butts and clearing land by burning.

Wildfires have been reported in several of Indonesia’s most fire-prone regions, including 48,890 hectares (120,800 acres) of peatland that have burned in the provinces of Riau, Jambi and South Sumatra on Sumatra island, and Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan on Borneo island, forcing regional authorities deployed over 48,000 firefighters and disaster personnel, the National Disaster Management Agency said.

The blaze has scorched about 540 hectares (1,300 acres) of peatland in Jambi alone, causing choking haze in some areas and raising concerns about worsening air quality. The largest fire has been reported in the village of Sungai Gelam in the Muaro Jambi district, where dozens of hectares (acres) of palm oil plantations owned by local residents have been destroyed.

More than 5,800 firefighters have been deployed to battle the fire in Jambi. Officials said deep peat soil, limited water supplies, difficult access and strong winds have complicated efforts, even with three helicopters conducting aerial firefighting operations.

Air quality deteriorates in neighboring Malaysia

Forest and peat fires are an annual problem in Indonesia that strain relations with neighboring countries.

Malaysia has reported unhealthy air-quality levels in parts of Sarawak state on Borneo island, with officials saying winds were carrying smoke from hot spots in neighboring areas. In Singapore, authorities have warned that prevailing southeasterly winds could carry smoke toward the city-state, with dry conditions expected to prevail.

“We must uphold the nation’s credibility by showing that we can bring these fires under control,” Chaniago said.

Indonesia’s Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency said August and September are expected to be the most critical months as dry vegetation and strong winds create favorable conditions for fires to spread rapidly.

Wildfires in Indonesia, an archipelago nation of more than 17,000 islands, are often started illegally by plantation owners or traditional farmers to clear land for planting.

___

Karmini reported from Jakarta. Associated Press writers Edna Tarigan in Jakarta, Indonesia and Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, contributed to this report.

After a handful of infamous team performances in recent seasons — like the Colorado Rockies losing 119 games last season and the Chicago White Sox dropping an MLB-record 121 games in 2024 — the worst teams have been much more competitive.

In fact, there's a decent chance that no team will lose 100 games for the first time since 2017.

The worst teams are the Rockies (46-72), Los Angles Angels (45-73), Athletics (47-71) and Kansas City Royals (49-70), putting them all within reach of avoiding triple-digit losses even if they play below-average baseball.

This year's show of relative competitiveness by the league's bottom feeders might just be a statistical outlier, though it might also be a sign that teams are viewing complete teardowns as a less compelling strategy.

The Houston Astros paved the way for the all-out tank in the early 2010s when they lost at least 106 games in three straight seasons. It was a painful stretch but paid off in the coming years with World Series titles in 2017 and 2022.

The problem is it doesn't always work out as planned. The Baltimore Orioles were awful from 2018 to 2021 while they rebuilt their roster with high draft picks, but have zero playoff wins to show for it five years later. At last week's trade deadline, they unloaded former No. 1 overall pick Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox and appear headed for another rebuild.

Pre-game ejections

Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale was ejected by umpire Dan Merzel before a pitch was thrown in Sunday’s game against the New York Yankees. The veteran lefty was still in a foul mood a day after being called for a balk that scored a run.

Pregame MLB ejections are rare, but not completely unprecedented.

San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin was ejected before a game against the Colorado Rockies in 2024 after he and bench coach Ryan Christensen delivered the lineup card to home plate umpire Alex MacKay.

Earlier this season, Brent Suter of the Los Angeles Angels and Steven Wilson and Manuel Rodriguez of the Tampa Bay Rays were ejected because of a “standoff” following the “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Umpire Lance Barrett tossed the trio after they refused to leave the field.

Historically, former Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver is famous for a 1975 incident when he was ejected from the first game of a doubleheader for arguing with umpire Ron Luciano. Before the second game even started, Luciaino tossed Weaver again when he continued arguing.

Trivia question

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer moved into 10th place in career strikeouts, passing Hall of Famer Walter Johnson in the Blue Jays’ 7-5 win over Philadelphia on Saturday night. Scherzer has 3,516 strikeouts over 19 years.

How many of the other top 10 can you name?

NL MVP race heats up

The race for National League MVP is shaping up to be a classic.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani and the Chicago Cubs' uber-athletic Pete Crow-Armstrong have turned the competition into a two-man race with roughly 25% of the regular season remaining.

As of Sunday, Crow-Armstrong was a slight favorite over Ohtani, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, and both teams are firmly in the playoff hunt. Crow-Armstrong is trying to earn his first MVP award while Ohtani is chasing No. 5, which would be the second-most in MLB history behind Barry Bonds, who had seven.

Here's a look at the resume of both players.

— Crow-Armstrong has blossomed into a full-blown superstar for the Cubs, greatly improving his consistency at the plate. He's slashed .286/.388/.544 through Sunday's games and has 26 homers, 71 RBIs and 30 stolen bases, all while playing an exceptional center field.

The two-time All-Star also has been worth 7.4 WAR so far this season, according to baseball-reference.com, which is the best in the big leagues.

— Ohtani continues to be an offensive powerhouse, though his numbers are down from previous season. The Japanese standout is slashing .292/.395/.542 and has 26 homers and 71 RBIs. Unlike Crow-Armstrong, Ohtani usually doesn't provide any value in the field, serving as designated hitter when he's not pitching.

But that's the thing: When Ohtani is healthy, he is also one of MLB's most dominant pitchers. The right-hander has an 8-2 record and 1.79 ERA over 14 starters with 95 strikeouts over 85 2/3 innings.

Ohtani hasn't pitched since July 3, mainly because of soreness in his left knee. He resumed playing catch on Saturday and is slowly working toward a return to the mound. If he can provide a few good starts in September for the Dodgers, it might tip the MVP scale back in his favor.

Trivia answer

From No. 9 to No. 1 — Gaylord Perry (3,534), Justin Verlander (3,554), Don Sutton (3,574), Tom Seaver (3,640), Bert Blyleven (3,701), Steve Carlton (4,136), Roger Clemens (4,672), Randy Johnson (4,875), Nolan Ryan (5,714)

___

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

He's still on the roster, still battling Riley Leonard for the backup job to Daniel Jones.

No, this is not what Richardson or the Colts envisioned as the former Florida star entered his fourth pro season, again trying to prove he can stay healthy, be productive and become the franchise quarterback Indy thought it selected with the No. 4 overall draft pick in 2023.

“I'm here right now trying to make sure I can stamp my foot on this team and be the best version of myself I can be," Richardson said Sunday at training camp in suburban Indianapolis. “I'm just ready to showcase what I can do and be a winning piece to help the team.”

Richardson sounds content, for now, even though he requested and received permission to find a trade partner during the offseason.

But because general manager Chris Ballard still believes Richardson can reach the potential the Colts saw in college, he's not willing to cut ties that easily.

“We’re not just giving him away, we're not going to do that,” Ballard said when players first reported to camp. "He is a great teammate and he’s fun to be around. He has really grown and worked. It’s been fun to watch, especially when you take a guy as high as we took him, you want him to come in and be the savior right away. Well, everybody’s developmental plan is different, and his was a little different. I still think he has got a future. We’ll see how that plays out here.”

But as Richardson tries to right the ship, his first two weeks of camp have been up and down.

On Sunday, he led his unit to a touchdown in the two-minute drill. Last week, though, he struggled to catch snaps out of the shotgun.

And it's that kind of inconsistency that's coach Shane Steichen wants to see fixed before naming Richardson QB2.

The athletic, strong-armed 6-foot-4, 244-pound Richardson won the starting job in camp as a rookie, but he managed to play in only four games that season. In 2024, he appeared in 11 of 17 games, posting the lowest completion percentage (47.7%) of any regular starter in the league. He was also benched for two games after pulling himself out of a game because he was “tired.”

So in 2025, the Colts signed Jones to compete with Richardson to be the starter.

It was no contest. Jones won the job and played so well through Indy's first nine games he became part of the MVP conversation. Jones struggled after breaking a bone in his left leg in November and suffered a season-ending torn right Achilles tendon in December.

Richardson, meanwhile, missed the final 12 games because of a fractured orbital bone.

Leonard made his NFL starting debut in the Colts season-finale, and when the Colts re-signed Jones to a two-year, $88 million in March, they set up the competition between Leonard and Richardson.

“I think maybe this camp, I've taken a step further in understanding what the defense is doing a lot better," Leonard said while calling Richardson a “great friend.” "When you get to know the offense for a whole year, you don't have to think about things as much and it saves you time. If you break the huddle at 15 seconds, I feel like last year I spent the first eight seconds figuring out what the motions were and who was supposed to be where. Now I'm able to save those eight seconds and really figure out what the defense is doing and get my eyes up.”

Will that be enough to win the No. 2 job?

Time will tell.

“If that's what the team wants, that's what I want. I just want to help the team," Richardson said when asked if he thought he'd stay in Indy all season. “Regardless, if I'm with the first, second or third team, my reps count. I've got to make them count. I feel if I put my best foot forward, then the team will make a decision that's for the betterment of the team.”

___

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

Maj. Robert “Magyar” Brovdi, one of Ukraine’s most prominent commanders among a new generation of soldiers, said his forces could strike seven times more military targets in Crimea if the money pledged by Western allies came faster.

“Crimea falls within the key conceptual pillars on the path to ending the war,” Brovdi told The Associated Press in an interview.

Despite that shortfall, Ukraine’s summer campaign in Crimea has already inflicted significant damage: striking rail bridges, oil depots and power infrastructure to disrupt supply lines and blind Russian air defenses as drones fly in.

Brovdi said his forces are equipped at just 14% of what they would need to carry out the Crimea campaign at full capacity.

A firm believer in numbers since his past life running an international grain trading business, Brovdi joined Ukraine’s territorial defense as a volunteer in the war’s opening days. He rose quickly, commanding one of the country’s most effective drone brigades before being tapped to lead a force with no precedent before this war — Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces.

“It’s not that the production capacity of Ukrainian manufacturers doesn’t allow us to make the necessary quantities” of drones, Brovdi said. “It’s the banal problem of untimely financing, which our partners do allocate, but which moves significantly slower than our plans.”

A lover of the arts

A devoted patron of the arts, Brovdi's underground command post resembles a museum, with pieces of Ukrainian art on display, including by renowned painter Maria Prymachenko — each with small placards noting their titles and a QR code linking to more information. “Please don’t touch the sculpture,” reads a sign beneath one piece.

The artwork sits against a backdrop of dozens of screens streaming live footage from the front, along with real-time data that drives decisions on the battlefield. Soldiers can grab good coffee, pick a book, work out or rest in sleeping pods — a culture that feels closer to a Silicon Valley office than a war room.

They work around the clock to try to prevent Crimea from functioning as a staging ground for the Russian military, said Brovdi, whose call sign, Magyar, nods to his ethnic Hungarian roots in Zakarpattia, the western Ukrainian region bordering Hungary.

He pointed to one sign of progress — in four recent large-scale Russian missile barrages from the peninsula, only five missiles were launched in total, a drop he credited to the systematic destruction of Russian air defenses there. The AP couldn’t independently verify the claim.

To open that “window” for drones to strike the peninsula without being shot down en masse, his forces destroyed more than 300 air defense assets over recent months — surface-to-air systems, radar stations, electronic warfare equipment.

The window metaphor sends him into a sidetrack about something personal — he loves sleeping with one open, a pleasure he rarely gets anymore as one of Russia’s most hunted men, who spends most of his time in underground bunkers.

Forcing Russia out of Crimea

Much of Russia's Soviet-era air defense hardware runs on the power grid, which is one of the reasons Crimea's electrical infrastructure has become a recurring target. Russian soldiers become “blind,” left with just machine guns and rifles, he said. The tactic has also impacted access to power for civilians, and Brovdi said he has twice publicly apologized to Ukrainians living in Crimea for the disruptions.

Wherever Starlink connectivity reaches across Crimea, his forces can now destroy even the most heavily defended target using an average of just three drones, mixing munitions with different characteristics and warheads depending on what’s being hit. He described the strikes as deliberately calibrated — different munitions for a bridge pier than for a fuel truck or a moving train — and said his forces avoid hitting civilian infrastructure.

“Creating conditions that make it impossible for any kind of military capability … to remain there will make Crimea uninteresting ... as a military staging ground,” he said.

Ukraine is also working to dismantle Crimea’s role as a naval base — a blow to Russia’s presence near NATO’s borders, he added.

The campaign’s early results have not been made public, Brovdi said. But roughly two weeks into the offensive that began in late June, he said Ukrainian intelligence indicated Russian authorities had ordered all military commands and security services to relocate off the peninsula, along with a covert order to remove secret archives and artworks. The AP could not independently verify the account.

Threats from Russia

Meanwhile, Russia is working to counter Ukraine’s edge. It is installing jamming systems at a scale that will, to some degree, degrade Starlink connectivity, Brovdi said.

Russia is also building its own satellite communications system to rival Starlink, he said. “This is a risk for the entire planet,” Brovdi said, “because a dictatorship will gain access to information across the whole globe.”

He also pointed to other threats facing Ukraine. The concentration of jet-powered Shahed drones, which are much harder for Ukraine to shoot down, has increased two and a half times in recent weeks, he said.

Russia's military can currently fire a simultaneous salvo of 77 ballistic and cruise missiles, he said, and plans to increase that to 200. That is one of Ukraine’s most vulnerable points, since the country is running short of interceptors for the U.S.-made Patriot — the only system Ukraine has in its arsenal against ballistic missiles — meaning dozens fired by Russia during mass barrages get through and hit their targets.

“Even if they only manage half of that, it will all be flying at us,” Brovdi said. The only way to bring the number down, he said, is by striking every facility involved in producing those missiles — underscoring the importance of Ukraine’s long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory.

Ukraine's plan for Russia's Wildberries

Ukraine has increasingly targeted Wildberries, Russia’s largest online marketplace sometimes described as the country’s answer to Amazon, and Brovdi named it as a target.

“Wildberries is, first of all, a supply platform — it’s the war’s quartermaster,” he said, noting the company runs a dedicated section selling goods for Russia’s military.

The Kremlin has denied the site supplies the Russian military and has accused Ukraine of striking civilian targets. Russia regularly attacks Ukrainian logistics and retail facilities.

At the same time, Brovdi said, the strikes on Wildberries are meant to make ordinary Russians feel the war directly, in hopes the resulting desire to end it could weigh on Russia’s ability to keep fighting.

Brovdi declined to give a timeline for the Wildberries campaign, saying only that the strikes will continue “until it becomes impossible for it to recover quickly.”

“Ultimately, Wildberries is, forgive the expression, a consumer gambling addiction,” he said, arguing that losing access to it — like restrictions on social media — creates an intrusion on one's personal life that most Russians feel.

“It turned out to be a sensitive sensor of the comfort of Russia’s massive population — people who consider themselves completely untouched by the actions of the aggressor country,” he said.

———

This story was updated to clarify that Russia can fire salvos of both cruise and ballistic missiles. An earlier version mentioned only ballistic missiles.

___

AP reporters Vasilisa Stepanenko in eastern Ukraine and Volodymyr Yurchuk in Kyiv contributed.

In a letter sent Sunday evening to the Department of Homeland Security, the Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Democrats said they will investigate whether the Pentagon and DHS are coordinating to deport military service members and their families.

“These efforts imperil military readiness, weaken service members’ morale, and betray America’s promises to the people who put their lives on the line for our nation,” according to the letter, which was signed by more than 60 lawmakers and provided to the AP.

The Pentagon declined to comment, stating it would “reply directly to the authors of the letter.”

DHS told the AP that it values service members' contributions and “U.S. military service alone does not automatically grant lawful immigration status, or exempt aliens from the consequences of violating U.S. immigration laws.”

The VA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In their letter, the Democrats provided an extensive list of questions to the agencies. They said the apparent collaboration between DHS and the military to deport troops’ families “raises both ethical and legal concerns.”

“Donald Trump is breaking our country’s promises to service members by tearing apart dozens of military families who were promised immigration protections,” Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said. “That’s just plain cruel, and it’s hurting our military readiness and morale.”

Warren's office is leading the probe alongside Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth and several House Democrats.

The AP investigation found President Donald Trump's administration has rolled back protections for military families and departed from longstanding bipartisan consensus to carry out its mass deportation agenda. Service members have been forced to take leave of their duties, including delaying deployment, to care for their children after their spouses were detained.

The lawmakers pressed the administration on why military recruiters are still promoting immigration protections.

Citing the AP's reporting, the lawmakers urged the Trump administration to restore policies that had previously shielded military service members' families from immigration enforcement while allowing them to adjust their legal status.

“This report is appalling and shows the unbelievable cruelty at the center of the Trump immigration agenda,” said Blumenthal, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. “We will be demanding answers and accountability.”

The Republican chairs of the armed services and veterans’ affairs committees, Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker and Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran, did not respond to requests for comment.

Last week, Trump established the Military Spouse Commission, chaired by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer Rauchet, to develop policies and recommendations for improving life for troops' spouses.

“Military spouses are intrinsically linked to the good order, readiness, and retention of our military,” Trump stated in a letter published in the Federal Register on Aug. 6. “Their support and contributions to our Armed Forces are crucial to mission success.”

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

The Defense Department said in a December letter to Democratic lawmakers, obtained by the AP, that it had not implemented any recent policy changes for noncitizen family members in the military and has not conducted analysis on how deportations impact troop readiness and morale.

Danitza James, president of Repatriate Our Patriots, an organization providing support to military families and veterans facing deportation, said troops are being betrayed.

“Our military service members are the ones that sign on the dotted line to go and defend our country and maybe not come back,” James said. “They trust our government to take care of their families, and they’re not doing that.”

___

Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

“It’s always been fascinating to me to see the origins of things,” Dersch said. “It’s a fun challenge to debug and repair. You can understand the entire system from top to bottom.”

Dersch is part of a growing community of vintage computer collectors who are preserving the classic machines that helped launch the digital revolution. While Silicon Valley has since moved on to shaping the future of artificial intelligence, these hardware enthusiasts are intent on saving the Atari, Commodore and IBM machines that are ancestors to today’s laptops, wearable devices and smartphones.

Where others see junk, people like Dersch see artifacts of computer history that are worthy of attention and respect. They delight in hearing the beeps and chimes of their childhood and firing up a low-def game of “Pong” or “Space Invaders.”

“The enthusiasm for the history of computers and all the stuff around it is growing,” said Erik Klein, president of the Vintage Computer Federation, which organizes an annual festival at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View in the heart of Silicon Valley.

Vintage computer festivals bring collectors together

This year more than 3,500 people attended the two-day Vintage Computer Festival in early August that celebrated the 50th anniversary of Apple, founded in 1976 in nearby Cupertino, Calif. It featured a panel with co-founders Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne reminiscing about the company’s early days as a scrappy startup led by the late Steve Jobs.

More than a dozen such gatherings have since sprung up in cities across North America, South America and Europe.

Growing interest is reflected in more demand for vintage computers in online marketplaces, Klein said. Rare, iconic computers like the Apple-1 — the company’s first product — can fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Collectors exhibited the computer systems that they have painstakingly restored to their original working condition, allowing attendees to play with the computers built long before the internet, social media and AI transformed the world.

Restoring the ‘grandfather of the modern computer’

Dersch drove down from Seattle to showcase the pride of his collection: the Xerox Alto. He spent years restoring what's considered “the grandfather of the modern computer,” which was developed at the pioneering Xerox Palo Alto Research Center in the 1970s.

The Alto was one of the earliest computers to move beyond text on screen and use the mouse and graphical user interface — such as windows, icons and cursors — that became the industry standard. The model famously inspired Jobs and Bill Gates to incorporate the technologies in their early products.

Dersch’s exhibit featured a fully functioning Xerox Alto workstation with its boxy vertical monitor, chunky keyboard and mouse, as well as pizza-sized spinning disks that store tiny amounts of data by modern standards.

“It’s fun to share what I’ve done with people. It’s fun to share in what other people have done,” Dersch said. “Also, there’s a consignment area where I can buy more junk to take home with me, so that’s always fun.”

Klein, a Silicon Valley software engineering manager, was a passionate collector until his hobby overwhelmed his home and family life. He had as many as 150 computer systems — complete with accessories, documents and packaging — crammed into his closets and garage.

He said his beloved collection had become an “albatross” and he worried about burdening his family. So he started selling and giving away his machines until he only had a few favorites left at home.

Similar events for collectors spread around the world

Now Klein channels his passion for vintage computers into organizing festivals, repair workshops, swap meets and other events as president of the Vintage Computer Federation.

“So it’s really about evangelizing that history and evangelizing this hobby of maintaining, collecting and enjoying this vintage technology,” Klein said.

Sellam Ismail is thrilled to see the collector community develop and mature since he organized the first festival in 1997, drawing about 150 hobbyists to a venue east of San Francisco. He ran the events for a decade.

He later co-founded the Vintage Computer Federation, which runs festivals in the US and Canada. He’s helped other groups launch similar festivals in Argentina, Germany and Switzerland.

“The community grew up. More and more people started getting old computers, started collecting them,” said Ismail, who once had a massive collection he stored in a warehouse. “Next year is the 30th anniversary. And I expect this to continue and grow even bigger.”

The primaries come a week after Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan’s divisive and costly U.S. Senate primary. El-Sayed's victory has energized the left while stoking fears among Democratic Party leaders that the shift to the left, particularly in battleground states like Michigan and Wisconsin, will make it more difficult to win in November.

Wisconsin's chaotic primary pits progressive against governor's pick

In Wisconsin, democratic socialist Francesca Hong is trying to win a four-way Democratic primary for governor where her top opponent has been endorsed by popular Gov. Tony Evers, who isn't seeking a third term.

Evers got behind Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley on July 18, the same day Crowley reentered the race after dropping out 10 days earlier. Crowley rejoined after the candidate he backed, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, ended her candidacy amid a campaign finance scandal.

Evers and Crowley were crisscrossing the state together in the last days before final ballots are cast Tuesday.

Evers and more establishment Democrats were hoping to finally coalesce around Crowley in the final days of the chaotic primary that saw two other candidates drop out, most notably former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes on July 29.

Barnes and Rodriguez, who were both seen as potential front-runners, remain on the ballot and absentee votes already cast for them can’t be undone.

Republicans are spending to influence the Democratic primary

Republicans are putting money behind Hong, thinking she will be the better matchup for Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in November. The Republican Governors Association has spent nearly $3.6 million through its Right Direction Wisconsin PAC on ads contrasting Hong with President Donald Trump and playing up her liberal policies.

Crowley and other Democrats argue the ads are meant to bolster Hong's standing in the primary because Republicans see her as the easier opponent.

Evers projected confidence at a rally that attracted hundreds of people in Hong’s hometown of Madison on Sunday night, saying Crowley was the best chance Democrats had to defeat Tiffany.

“We’re going to win this thing,” Evers said, telling the Crowley supporters that Tiffany would be “the worst governor in the history of Wisconsin.”

“If Tom Tiffany wins in November that will be like electing Donald Trump as governor of the state of Wisconsin,” he said.

Crowley urged Democrats to come together after the primary to beat Tiffany.

“Our ultimate goal is to make sure we don’t have a MAGA extremist occupying the governor’s office,” Crowley said.

Tiffany, one of the most conservative members of Congress, is endorsed by Trump.

The president called Hong a communist in remarks on Wednesday, where he mentioned a 2020 social media post by Hong calling for Thanksgiving to be canceled. Asked about the post this week, Hong reversed herself and said that Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday.

Trump won Wisconsin in 2016 and 2024, and Republicans have held majorities in both chambers of the Legislature since 2011. Holding onto the governor's office is key to Wisconsin Democrats' effort to gain full control of state government for the first time in 16 years.

In the race to replace Tiffany, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's son-in-law Michael Alfonso is in a five-person Republican primary. Alfonso, who is trying to represent Duffy's old congressional district, has Trump's endorsement.

Minnesota primary comes in wake of immigration enforcement surge

In neighboring Minnesota, voters are choosing between moderate U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan in a Democratic U.S. Senate primary that’s playing out in the aftermath of Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement surge in the state.

The race has been shaped by the killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, confrontations that were caught on camera and fueled a backlash to Trump’s immigration policies.

Both Craig and Flanagan spent the weekend traversing the Twin Cities metro area.

In a driveway in suburban Eagan on Sunday, Craig spoke to the angst among Democratic primary voters who feel that Washington isn’t working for them. Members of Congress need to stop trading stocks and becoming lobbyists when they leave office, she said, and the U.S. needs to restrict the flood of corporate campaign spending.

“But the only way we pass any of the progressive policies that all of us here support is by winning elections and taking damn majorities,” she said.

Unlike in Wisconsin, where the incumbent governor has endorsed a candidate in the race to succeed him, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has not gotten involved in the Senate primary. But his wife, Gwen Walz, has endorsed Craig and campaigned with her on Sunday.

Flanagan campaigned Saturday with U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, who helped her make the case that Washington needs a shake-up to root out the deep-pocketed forces propping up a broken status quo.

“It is big corporations, it’s special interests who are putting their thumb on the scale in our elections across the country,” Flanagan said. “And it’s not just Republicans. It’s Democrats, too.”

The race has been one of the most expensive Minnesota has seen, with millions of dollars backing both candidates, but disproportionately falling in Craig’s favor.

Whoever wins the primary will be the front-runner to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith in November. Minnesota voters haven’t elected a Republican to a statewide office since 2006.

Mike Lindell, the founder of MyPillow, is a top Republican candidate in the governor's race. He's endorsed by Trump, and he was a prominent promoter of falsehoods about election fraud. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is in a six-person primary on the Democratic side.

Democratic struggles also on display in other states' primaries Tuesday

Two veteran Democratic incumbents in Connecticut face challenges from the left.

Moderate Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont is running for a third term but faces progressive state Rep. Josh Elliott. The Democratic nominee will face Republican state Sen. Ryan Fazio in November.

Longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. John Larson, 78, is running for a 15th term and his age and health have been major issues in the four-person race.

Former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin narrowly won the party's endorsement at its state convention in May. Other candidates are Hartford Board of Education member Ruth Fortune and state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest.

In Vermont, two Democrats are running in for a chance to take on Republican Gov. Phil Scott.

Former child advocacy organization CEO Aly Richards boasts endorsements from former Democratic Govs. Howard Dean and Madeleine Kunin. She faces economist Amanda Janoo.

___

Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2026 election at https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/.

Alias “Ruso” o “Alemán”, jefe principal de la “Estructura 28”, murió durante una operación en una zona rural del departamento del Meta, en el centro de Colombia, declaró De la Espriella en un video difundido en redes sociales.

El mandatario aseguró que se trata de un “importante golpe” por tratarse de un experto en explosivos y responsable de ejecutar acciones contra otras disidencias rivales con las que disputa territorio para sus actividades ilícitas.

Dicha facción es parte de la estructura ilegal que se encuentra bajo el mando de alias “Iván Mordisco”, uno de los hombres los más buscados de Colombia, a quien De la Espriella le exigió entregarse a la justicia o afrontar las consecuencias.

El mandatario dio a conocer la noticia dos días después de asumir el cargo y menos de 24 horas después de concluir con una jornada de violencia en el país, la cual incluyó un ataque con explosivos que destruyó una caseta de cobro en una concurrida carretera del suroeste del país y dejó a dos soldados con heridas menores.

En otro operativo militar en el departamento de Antioquia, en el noroeste colombiano, el ejército abatió el domingo a dos miembros de una facción del Clan del Golfo señalada por el asesinato de cuatro soldados en 2024, aseveró el presidente. Otros cuatro integrantes fueron detenidos.

“No habrá tregua para los bandidos y los vamos a cazar”, afirmó De la Espriella.

El mandatario de inclinación conservadora anunció que, como parte de su estrategia de seguridad, aplicará una mayor presión militar para combatir al crimen organizado, un cambio drástico en comparación con la política de su antecesor Gustavo Petro, quien apostó por los polémicos diálogos de paz.

El calor extremo comenzó en mayo y ha contribuido al surgimiento de grandes incendios forestales, una prolongada sequía y nuevos récords nacionales de altas temperaturas en toda la región, además de miles de muertes previstas relacionadas con el calor.

Las estadísticas climáticas muestran que, a nivel mundial, este es el tercer año más caluroso a la fecha, por detrás de 2024 y 2025. Pero 2026 aún tiene tiempo para alcanzarlos.

Gracias al doble impacto del calentamiento global acelerado gracias a la actividad humana y a un fenómeno de El Niño —un calentamiento periódico de partes del Pacífico que provoca variaciones de temperatura en todo el planeta— de grandes proporciones, existe cada vez mayor probabilidad de que 2026 pueda convertirse en el año más caluroso del que se tenga registro, superando a 2024, señalaron los científicos.

Copernicus indicó que el mes pasado se registró la temperatura promedio más elevada para un mes de julio en la superficie del mar en los océanos libres de hielo marino estacional.

Esto se vio impulsado en parte por el desarrollo de condiciones de El Niño en el Pacífico ecuatorial, explicó el servicio. El nuevo récord de promedio para julio es de 20,96 grados Celsius (69,73 grados Fahrenheit), superando el récord de 2023 de 20,89 C (69,60 F).

Pero la temperatura media del aire en superficie a nivel mundial fue de 16,90°C (62,42 F) el mes pasado, convirtiéndose en el segundo julio más caluroso en los registros, empatado con julio de 2024, indicó Copernicus.

En Europa occidental, por su parte, el récord de temperatura media para el periodo junio-julio alcanzó los 21,62°C (70,92 F), señaló Copernicus.

“Los persistentes sistemas de alta presión atraparon el calor sobre Europa occidental; las temperaturas extremas también amplificaron la sequía generalizada. A medida que el suelo se secan, pierde su capacidad de proporcionar enfriamiento natural, permitiendo que el calor se acumule con mayor facilidad”, destacó Samantha Burgess, responsable estratégica de clima en el Centro Europeo de Pronósticos Meteorológicos a Medio Plazo.

“Este es un claro ejemplo de cómo el cambio climático está intensificando los extremos de calor, y de cómo el calor y la sequía se refuerzan cada vez más entre sí”, añadió.

___

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

Leer en español

It was around 1:15 a.m. Sunday when Hollywood police officers responded to the 5300 block of Plunkett Street.

According to police, arriving officers found two victims at the scene.

Officials said both victims were rushed a nearby hospital.

Police said they apprehended the suspect, later identified as 38-year-old Cameron Alexander, after establishing a perimeter.

Local 10 News’ cameras observed what appeared to be a bullet and blood on the ground.

Detectives were seen taking pictures overnight and into the morning and crime scene tape closed off a portion of Plunkett Street as investigators worked this scene.

Family members were also observed talking with police officers, looking for answers about how and why their loved one was apparently shot.

One family member told Local 10 News two other people who may have been involved could be detained for questioning.

On the ground, several other evidence markers were placed throughout the morning as detectives worked to piece together what happened.

Records indicate Alexander is facing several charges, including premeditated murder, aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and resisting an officer without violence.

This isn’t the first time the 38-year-old has faced similar charges.

According to the Florida Department of Corrections, Alexander served 10 years in prison for attempted murder and attempted robbery charges from 2007. He was released in 2017.

In 2024, he was sentenced to three years for charges including possession of a weapon and cocaine, aggravated fleeing and eluding law enforcement, and obstruction. He completed that sentence earlier this year.

National weather agency Météo-France is warning about temperatures approaching 40 C (104 F) from Tuesday onward in southeastern France. And in the U.K., an amber heat health alert for most of England will be in place beginning Tuesday as temperatures are forecast to climb to 36 C (96.8 F) later this week.

Across Europe, the extreme heat began in May and has contributed to major wildfires, prolonged drought and new national temperature records, as well as thousands of projected heat-related deaths.

Globally, so far this is the third-hottest year, behind 2024 and 2025, climate statistics show. But 2026 still has time to catch up. Thanks to the one-two punch of accelerated human-caused global warming and a supersized El Nino — a periodic warming of parts of the Pacific that leads to temperature variations around the globe — there’s an increasing chance that by the end of the year, 2026 could become the hottest year on record, scientists said.

Last month saw the highest average sea surface temperature ever recorded for July across the extrapolar oceans, or the oceans free of seasonal sea ice, according to the European climate agency Copernicus.

That was partially fueled by developing El Nino conditions in the equatorial Pacific, the service said. The new average record for July is 20.96 degrees Celsius (69.73 degrees Fahrenheit), which beat the 2023 record of 20.89 C (69.60 F).

But last month’s average surface air temperature globally was 16.90 C (62.42 F), making it only the joint second warmest July on record, tied with July 2024, Copernicus reported.

Western Europe sets new record

In Western Europe, meanwhile, the average temperature record for the June-July period hit 21.62 C (70.92 F), Copernicus said, toppling the 2022 record.

“Persistent high-pressure systems trapped heat over western Europe, the extreme temperatures also amplified widespread drought. As soils dry out, they lose their ability to provide natural cooling, allowing heat to build more readily,” said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.

“This is a clear example of how climate change is intensifying heat extremes, with heat and drought increasingly reinforcing one another.”

In France alone, heat wave alerts were issued for the first time on record in May, when more than half the country recorded new monthly temperature highs. The heat intensified in June, a period during which at least 5,700 more deaths than usual were recorded, according to France’s public health agency.

Météo-France said June 23 was the hottest day ever recorded in the country. Temperatures climbed as high as 44.3 C (111.7 F) in the southwest.

Two other heat wave episodes were recorded in July, amplifying a historic wildfire in southwestern France that forced 220,000 people to flee their homes in one of the continent’s biggest evacuation efforts since World War II.

Spain battles wildfires

Temperatures were slightly cooler in the U.K. on Monday but the country readied for its fifth heat wave in an exceptionally hot and dry summer, with half of England and all of Wales plunged into drought.

Provisional data show that England and Wales have had their driest July in records dating back to 1836, with 19 counties of England seeing no rain for the entire month.

The heat alert warns that significant impacts on health services, including a rise in deaths among older and vulnerable people, are likely.

Two record-breaking heat waves in May and June led to more than 2,800 excess deaths linked to extreme temperatures.

An 18-year-old died after getting into difficulty in the sea at Camber Sands beach in southern England on Sunday, the latest of dozens of deaths recorded in open waters in recent months.

In Spain, firefighters were battling multiple blazes, including one that broke out on Friday in Tírig, Valencia, that has burned more than 3 square miles (8 square kilometers) and has involved more than 300 personnel and 21 aircraft to combat it.

A separate wildfire in the southern Huelva region had affected a similar sized area since it broke out on Thursday. While temperatures across Spain remained high, some parts of the country were expecting thunderstorms Monday afternoon that could bring strong gusts of wind.

___

Dazio reported from Berlin. Sylvia Hui in London and Suman Naishadham in Madrid contributed to this report.

El despliegue por tierra, mar y aire forma parte de la Operación “Escudo de Acero” y se realizó desde la comunidad de Metetí, en la selvática provincia de Darién, cerca de la frontera con Colombia. La orden provino del director general del Servicio Nacional de Fronteras (Senafront), Larry Solís.

Agentes armados y equipados se dirigieron a sus unidades asignadas alrededor de las 10 de la mañana. Algunos de los elementos abordaron vehículos blindados que salieron en caravana hacia Yaviza y Puerto Quimba, desde donde parte del contingente continuó en lanchas río adentro.

Solís confirmó que el operativo se desarrolla en coordinación con las fuerzas colombianas.

“Ellos están haciendo lo propio del otro lado, de Colombia. Ellos mantienen su postura combativa y sí, nosotros queremos más que todo ser interoperables en la región”, afirmó.

Solís señaló que el sábado sostuvo una conversación con el general Eduardo Alberto Arias, jefe de una brigada de la Séptima División del Ejército colombiano, para informarle de la operación.

Las unidades se desplegaron hacia ríos, puestos fronterizos y otros puntos estratégicos. “Vamos a seguir combatiendo el narcotráfico, seguimos combatiendo al crimen organizado que se mantiene en el cordón de la frontera”, subrayó Solís, quien mencionó al Clan del Golfo entre las organizaciones que operan en la región.

El operativo también incluye el uso de drones y otras herramientas tecnológicas. Solís señaló que Panamá se prepara ante posibles amenazas con drones contra puestos binacionales y que Estados Unidos está colaborando en el desarrollo de contramedidas.

“Ahora mismo tenemos cierta preocupación porque tenemos unos puestos binacionales que compartimos con el ejército de Colombia, con la policía de Colombia y nosotros no descartamos que en su momento puedan puedan tener alguna amenaza directa con drones y nos estamos preparando para eso” afirmó Solís.

La operación se produce dos días después de que Abelardo de la Espriella asumió como presidente de Colombia con la promesa de priorizar la seguridad y combatir a los grupos armados ilegales.

En su primer discurso ante miembros de las fuerzas armadas, el nuevo mandatario colombiano lanzó una advertencia a las estructuras criminales: “tienen dos caminos: someterse al imperio de la ley o enfrentar la fuerza pública”.

El presidente panameño José Raúl Mulino se reunió ese mismo día con De la Espriella en Cali. En el encuentro, en el que también participó el ministro de Seguridad de Panamá, Frank Ábrego, se abordó el apoyo de la policía y las fuerzas militares colombianas en la lucha contra el narcotráfico mediante la asesoría y capacitación de los estamentos de seguridad panameños.

Solís aseguró que Panamá busca mantener la coordinación con las fuerzas policiales y militares colombianas para reforzar la seguridad en ambos lados de la frontera.

En tanto, en la ciudad de Panamá, se realizan los ejercicios militares Panamax con la participación de miembros de las fuerzas armadas de Estados Unidos y representantes de 20 países, con el objetivo de mejorar la interoperabilidad, reforzar la capacidad colectiva para llevar a cabo operaciones multinacionales complejas en todos los ámbitos, garantizar la libre circulación del comercio a través del Canal de Panamá y mantener la seguridad y la estabilidad en la región.

Those days are over. Long over.

The wide-eyed newcomer is gone, replaced by a poised and professional 18-year-old who is embracing her role as the leader of the sport's next wave as the 2028 Olympics approach.

The proof was on display during the final round of the U.S. gymnastics championships on Sunday, when Rivera — still not quite 100% while recovering from a hamstring injury sustained at the Pan Am Games in June — won her second straight national title with a poised and polished performance that solidified her status as the current face of a women's program two years out from the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

Rivera’s two-day total of 111.950 was more than a point clear of runner-up Claire Pease, making Rivera the first American woman not named Simone Biles to go back-to-back since former world and Olympic champion Jordyn Wieber did it in 2011 and 2012.

Heady company to be sure, but company in which Rivera increasingly feels like she belongs. It might not have seemed like it in the summer of 2024 when she ceded the spotlight to her more accomplished teammates, but the relentlessly upbeat Texan has no problem admitting these days she wants to lead from the front.

“I am comfortable with it,” she said. “And I just love kind of being a leader in a way."

Anna Liukin, who coaches Rivera alongside her husband Valeri, called Rivera “motherly." Rivera laughed when the description was passed along because well, it's strange to hear as a teenager. Yet in many ways, it's applicable.

Lee and Jade Carey helped Rivera navigate her way through the sport's biggest stage and come out with a gold medal on the other side. She feels it's her duty to do the same to the generation of gymnasts just starting to find their way as the lure of a potentially life-changing hometown Games in Los Angeles looms.

“I think it’s just really important to give pep talks because when you’re young, you’re still learning a lot,” she said. “So I just think it's good to get positive vibes.”

Even if producing them takes a little practice. Rivera relied on that practice Thursday when a fall on uneven bars — perhaps her strongest event — sent her tumbling down the leaderboard. She shook the miscue off and found herself in fourth heading into Sunday.

A comeback still seemed somewhat unlikely when Rivera began Sunday with a gritty bars set that included her fighting through a mini-stall just before her dismount and ended with her and giving Valeri Liukin a “what are you gonna do?” shrug after a dismount that included a small step.

Yet twenty minutes later, it was long forgotten during a graceful balance beam routine that brought her to within striking distance of the lead.

“It took a few years to learn that, but I’m at a point now where it’s just like there already,” she said. “I don’t really have to think about it too much.”

Her black-and-white bedazzled leotard glittering under the lights, Rivera put on a performance that made her look every bit the star she has become.

Rivera never glanced at the scoreboard to mark her progress, too intent on trying to stay warm and focused during sometimes lengthy delays. If she was bothered, it didn't show. Every time she saluted the judges, Rivera was all business.

Now she heads into the fall hoping to make her first world championship team. Rivera was practically a lock last year before rolling her ankle during selection camp, something Liukin called “heartbreaking.”

Provided she can stay healthy, Rivera is eager to make up for lost time in the first major international team meet since Paris. Yes, her hamstring still isn't quite there, but she found her way to the top of the podium anyway.

“I think it just shows how strong I am mentally,” she said. “Because physically everything’s there. But the mental aspect of things is definitely where it’s at. You can’t really do this without having a strong mentality.”

Pease and fellow first-day co-leader Skye Blakely couldn't quite keep up. Pease led with two rotations to go, but her floor routine included one tumbling pass that ended with her stepping out of bounds and another in which she opted to keep her right foot hovering above the floor rather than set it down for a penalty.

Still, Pease's second-place finish was a marked improvement from a year ago, when she came to nationals fresh off a victory at U.S. Classic and stumbled to 10th. This time around, she finds herself in a solid position to join good friend and teammate Rivera in the Netherlands.

Blakely's bid to build off a promising opening night stalled quickly. She sat at the end of her first tumbling pass and bounced out of bounds on her final one, her score of 11.900 dropping her from contention for the top of the podium on her way to a seventh-place finish. The 21-year-old called it “irritating” but stressed she's pleased with her progress in her first elite meet competing the all-around since 2024.

Charleigh Bullock, who turned 16 last month, was third. Reese Esponda, who trains at the Houston-area gym owned by Biles' family, was fourth.

Carey, who is methodically building difficulty into her routines as she eyes a third trip to the Games, won the vault title and finished fifth in the all-around in a meet that doubled as a homecoming for the Phoenix native. The two-time Olympic gold medalist also marveled at Rivera's growth both on and off the floor since that memorable trip to Paris.

“I think Hezly did a fantastic job tonight and kind of rebounding from night one and just proving to herself and everybody else that that was just a little fluke and she’s capable of so much,” Carey said. “Back-to-back national champion is something that she should be really proud of.”

___

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

“I can’t do anything about it, so you just run with it,” Gibbs said.

Gibbs used late pit strategy and held off Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Christopher Bell over the final 20 laps to win the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday at Iowa Speedway.

Gibbs — the 23-year-old grandson of former NFL coaching great and NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs — won by 0.253 seconds over Bell for his second victory of the season and his career.

Gibbs and Bell each pitted with 60 laps remaining in the 350-lap race, but while Bell took four tires, Gibbs just went with two right-side tires, and came out ahead. And when leader Ross Chastain pitted on Lap 330, Gibbs took over the top spot and fought off a late charge by Bell.

Tyler Allen, Gibbs’ crew chief, thought taking two tires was the only chance to get ahead of Bell in that final pit cycle.

“We knew after practice the left sides weren’t wearing much and they tended to refire OK,” Allen said. “So in terms of coming into the race, it was definitely a viable option.”

Gibbs liked the aggressive call.

“I think in the position with our points situation, for sure,” he said.

Gibbs, who picked up his first career win April 12 at Bristol, came into the race ranked fourth in the season standings, and moved into second — 103 points behind JGR teammate Denny Hamlin.

Gibbs, who had an issue in the pits on his first stop of the day when his jack fell too early during the tire change, fell back to 28th before charging back.

“You’re kind of hosed after that deal,” Gibbs said. “So you’ve got to stay locked in and keep working.”

It was the seventh second-place finish of the season for Bell, who led 108 laps.

“Ty did a really good job,” Bell said. “He did a great job of managing the race.”

Pole-sitter Ryan Blaney, who won the inaugural 2024 Cup Series race at the 0.875-mile oval, was third after leading a race-high 129 laps.

Josh Berry finished fourth. It was Berry’s best finish of the season, and only his third top-10 finish. Hamlin finished fifth.

Chase Briscoe was sixth. Chastain recovered to finish seventh. AJ Allmendinger was eighth, followed by defending race winner William Byron. Austin Dillon was 10th.

Reddick’s struggles

Tyler Reddick’s summer struggles continued when he crashed into Erik Jones four laps into the race.

The rear end of Reddick’s car slid entering Turn 1, and Reddick ran into Jones before hitting the wall. Reddick finished last in the 36-car field.

“A 100% that was on me,” Reddick said. “It’s something I don’t normally do, make those kinds of mistakes. Just gut-wrenching on a lot of levels. I thought we kind of figured out what we needed to do for the race today, and made a killer mistake earlier.”

Reddick won the first three races of the season, and four of the first six, and has five wins overall. But he has had four finishes of 30th place or worse in the last six races.

No brakes, all gas for Hamlin

Hamlin had brake issues during practice Saturday, which led to the team changing brake rotors and a cooling unit. Hamlin had to go to the rear of the field, but surged back to finish fifth despite having more brake issues during the race.

“I just had white knuckles every lap, not knowing where my car was going to land when I got in the corner,” Hamlin said. “That was a crazy race to have to do it the whole time without (brakes), but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do, and the team did an amazing job. I would take that day a hundred out of a hundred times.”

“I’ve never seen Denny that exhausted,” Joe Gibbs said. “I think he drove his heart out.”

Up next

The Cup Series moves to Richmond Raceway on Saturday night.

AP NASCAR: https://apnews.com/hub/nascar-racing