“We saw a lot of bodies that had not yet been identified,” López said.

The rush is on across La Guaira, the state on Venezuela’s northern coast hardest hit by the powerful back-to-back June 24 earthquakes, to identify loved ones before it’s too late. With at least 2,295 people killed, Venezuela is overwhelmed with bodies that officials are struggling to collect, identify and preserve for loved ones to claim. Thousands are still missing.

José Antonio Toledo, López's 25-year-old son-in-law, was found under the building where he was working as a security guard when the quakes struck. Crews took his body to a local hospital, where staff turned them away because there was no space. It was sent to another facility and eventually transferred to an open parking lot.

A forensic doctor helped the family find him days later, on Saturday. But once they identified his body, they didn’t know what to do with it because they couldn’t afford the $450 that a funeral home was charging.

At almost midnight on Saturday, López got word that the mayor’s office was offering them a free space at a local cemetery, but they had to move quickly to not lose the spot. An hour later, López and her daughter trudged up a hill leading to the cemetery and buried Toledo.

“He was an exemplary person, a boy who liked helping people,” López said.

They saved him from a mass grave that many fear is coming as they search for the bodies of their loved ones.

The number of bodies found is expected to soar

Forensic technician Joel Mirabal has worked for seven days straight since the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck.

The 45-year-old estimates that in 60%-70% of cases, there’s a relative or neighbor available to identify a body when he comes to pick it up. Even so, it’s a struggle, he said, with many relying on tattoos, scars or familiar clothing.

“They don’t look even 10% like what they were in real life,” he said of the victims.

If a body cannot be identified, it goes to forensic specialists working at La Guaira seaport. Private companies have donated large cooling containers to help preserve the bodies, but the number of dead keeps growing.

“Obviously, mass graves will have to be created,” Mirabal said. “The collapse is massive, and the bodies are buried under many layers of debris.”

Mirabal said he and other forensic technicians anticipate spending up to three months collecting bodies.

They drive around the affected areas every day, led by rescue crews and civilians who have recovered or spotted bodies.

“Many of the rescues are carried out by the people,” he said of the thousands of ordinary Venezuelans who have pitched in for the recovery effort.

A dog trainer by profession who once helped the government locate drugs and missing people, Mirabal finds solace in the 12 dogs waiting for him at home, not counting the puppies. One of his favorites is Mila, a young black Dutch Shepherd who lay by his side on Thursday as he rested.

“It’s not easy at all to witness the suffering and tragedy of your fellow human beings,” he said.

Venezuelans wait in line to try to identify loved ones

Over the weekend, crews took dozens of bodies recovered from flattened buildings to a government-run health care facility in the city of La Guaira. They were left on a sweltering parking lot until families identified them, with funeral home workers estimating that more than 200 bodies were kept there at one point.

On Thursday, those who lost loved ones waited outside La Guaira seaport to identify bodies that authorities continue to pick up across the coastal state. Cars, including trucks and vans from funeral homes, formed a line outside a makeshift morgue.

Among those waiting was Robert Rodríguez. He sat on a concrete block, crestfallen, his legs dangling, waiting for his daughter to identify the body of his son-in-law. Rafael Alvarado died trapped inside a grocery store where he worked at the deli counter.

“He was her best friend,” Rodríguez said as tears soaked his blue face mask.

Rodriguez said the family found Alvarado in the rubble on Wednesday, his body freed and transported to the port on Thursday.

“I saw his shoes and knew it was him,” Rodríguez said, adding that he warned his daughter. “I told her, ‘Prepare yourself.’”

He said the family plans to cremate Alvarado and scatter his ashes on Isla de Margarita, the Venezuelan island that was his home.

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Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

He's giving his harvest away rather than watching it rot as he's locked in a legal battle with a company that claims exclusive rights over the variety of white nectarine he grows. He's shared more than 100,000 pounds (45,359 kilograms) since Monday.

“It was really just a thought of not wasting a perfectly good product,” Mora said. “It does make a grower feel good, being able to share my fruit with people and see their immediate reaction that they love it. It’s a little bit of good in this tough situation that I’ve been dealing with.”

The legal dispute highlights the tension that can emerge between farmers and the plant breeders and large industrial food marketers that create new varieties of plants and obtain the exclusive rights to sell them.

Since 2023, the third-generation farmer in the agricultural community of Reedley in California's Central Valley has been fighting a lawsuit filed against him by Giumarra Brothers Fruit Co. The suit centers on the company’s claims of exclusivity over a variety of white nectarine and accusations that Mora broke their contract by selling the fruit to other packers. A trial has been scheduled for later this month.

“At its heart, this is a disagreement involving two written agreements, and it is being resolved the right way — in court and on the facts,” the company said in a statement emailed by one of its attorneys.

Mora has accused the company of unfair and fraudulent business practices.

Fruit patents are becoming more common

The fight centers on a white nectarine variety known as “Monalise,” which has a sweeter, less tart taste.

In its court filings, Giumarra says all rights to the Monalise variety are owned by Star Fruits Diffusion, a French company that works with plant breeding programs, while Giumarra holds the right to sublicense the variety for testing, production and sale. Star Fruits Diffusion did not respond to a request for comment.

Plant breeders, including universities, have long experimented with breeding new crop varieties, and some have become household names. Washington State University developed the Rainier cherry in the 1950s, while the University of Minnesota released the Honeycrisp apple in the 1990s. Both varieties are now in the public domain and can be grown and sold by anyone.

Fruit patents are becoming increasingly common, said Bradley Rickard, professor of food and agricultural economics at Cornell University. A patent allows a breeder to collect a royalty from the fruit trees it sells, the fruit that the trees produce, or both.

In 2010, more than a dozen apple growers sued the University of Minnesota for awarding exclusive rights to its SweeTango apple to an orchard that organized a cooperative of growers to market the variety. A settlement maintained the university's license agreement with the cooperative while also allowing more Minnesota orchards to lease the trees that bear the apple variety.

The white nectarine battle in California

California's Central Valley, stretching some 20,000 square miles (51,800 square kilometers), is an agricultural powerhouse that's estimated to produce 40% of the nation's fruits, nuts and other table foods, including most of its nectarines.

Court filings show Mora signed a sublicensing agreement with Giumarra in 2017 allowing him to grow and sell the Monalise. He entered a marketing agreement in 2019 requiring the fruit to be packed and sold through Giumarra. He said Giumarra recruited him to grow it.

Under the agreements, Mora was to pay Giumarra a royalty of $2.50 per tree and a 4% production royalty based off the gross sales of the fruit the trees produced, as well as a sales commission.

“They sold me hope and a big dream that I thought I could participate in with them," he said.

Mora alleges that up to half of the nectarines he provided to Giumarra in 2020 were thrown away, reducing his profits. The company disputes this, and the judge overseeing the case found that the statute of limitations for those claims had passed.

In 2022, Mora alleges the company sold his nectarines to Taiwan in violation of the contract, which states Giumarra will market and sell them in the U.S. and Canada. Giumarra also disputes that claim.

Mora later sought to terminate his relationship with Giumarra, and he sold his nectarines to another fruit packer in 2023. That's when Giumarra sued him for breach of contract, leading to his inability to sell the fruit at all while the court battle plays out.

Mora’s attorneys say Giumarra has not provided documents regarding its license to the nectarine variety. The company said in court filings the Monalise is not covered by a U.S. plant patent. Mora’s attorneys claim in court filings that “Giumarra promised and represented that the Nectarines were an ‘exclusive variety’ of fruit, and thus Giumarra held patents and related legal rights over these nectarines,” and that because it was exclusive, the fruit “would be sold for top dollar.”

Fresno County Superior Court Judge Jon Skiles in May ruled that Giumarra's breach of contract claim can go forward, saying that the agreement between Giumarra and Mora is valid whether there is a patent for the fruit or not.

“The sublicense agreement does not expressly state that its validity is dependent on the existence or issuance of a patent for the fruit,” he wrote.

He added that Giumarra “does not have to prove the existence of the underlying license agreement in order to prove that it has a valid contract with defendant regarding growing and selling the fruit."

Legal battles can discourage farmers

Mora said the yearslong litigation has left him feeling frustrated and defenseless. He also grows peaches and plums that are not subject to agreements with Giumarra, but he has lost a quarter of his income by not being able to sell his nectarine crop. Mora says he hopes his case results in more legal protections for growers, while Giumarra says it will let the evidence speak at trial.

“It's been discouraging to even want to go out and farm,” he said.

On Wednesday, locals wore T-shirts that read “No Nectarines Wasted” as they bagged up the free fruit, with some staying to help Mora serve the large crowds. He's raised more than $17,000 through a GoFundMe page.

“The only saving grace through all this is being able to share it with the public,” Mora said of his nectarines, “and having everybody enjoy it."

The Furka Pass, at an altitude of 2,431 meters (7,976 feet), is among Switzerland's highest Alpine passes and famous for its hairpin curves featured in the 1964 James Bond “Goldfinger” movie. But long before 007 actor Sean Connery filmed a harrowing car chase scene there, a steam train first traversed the steep and winding route in a continuous journey on July 3, 1926, kicking off a vital rail link between the regions of Uri and Valais in central Switzerland for decades.

In the early 1980s, a tunnel at the base of the Alps diverted rail traffic and prompted the closure of the historic mountain route until volunteers stepped in. Hundreds of them, nicknamed the railway's “pioneers,” have spent hours to restore, maintain and operate the historic tracks and trains so they run the same as a century ago.

The first section of the line reopened as a heritage railway in 1992, and the 18-kilometer (11-mile) track was ready for travel in 2010. The steam trains now operate exclusively as a tourist attraction in the summers between the stations of Realp and Oberwald, where visitors can hop aboard vintage carriages and marvel at the scenery of rivers, Alpine meadows and lush green pastures where patches of snow still linger.

Tourists last month enjoyed their trips through the German-speaking region aboard the “dampflokomotive.” Passenger Stephan Willareth called his journey “wonderful,” while Kurt Guldemann, a former employee of the Swiss railways, heralded the history of the machines.

Bernhard Lang, one of the many enthusiasts who volunteer to drive the vintage steam trains, said it can take years to master the skill.

“It’s something like a living machine, so you have to get kind of the feeling for it," he said. “To feel how it behaves, how it moves, how it smells, how it sounds.”

Jacob Kallert, a 21-year-old German transport engineering student and the youngest train manager, said it's important to listen to the locomotives.

“You hear every sound, you hear if everything is right," he said. “You can pretty much feel how it was then and how it is now.”

Volunteer Sergio Rovelli said anyone who has dedicated their time to the project gets hooked.

"We say, in German, that everyone who works here has the ‘Furka Virus, the Furka disease,’" he joked. “Once you come here, you like it, and you stay.”

A one-way ticket starts at 46 Swiss francs ($56.82) for a journey that lasts just under 2 1/2 hours. The anniversary celebration began Friday and continue through the weekend.

U.S. futures were moderately higher and oil prices also rose.

South Korea's Kospi, which sank nearly 8% on Thursday, recovered some of those losses, gaining 2.8% to 7,863.22. Samsung Electronics, the country's biggest company and a major maker of computer chips, gained 7%. Smaller rival SK Hynix was up 4.9%.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 advanced 0.9% to 69,368.30. Chipmaker Tokyo Electron slipped 2.5%, while memory maker Kioxia jumped 6.6%.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng climbed 1.7% to 23,444.45 and the Shanghai Composite index added 0.7% to 4,056.81.

Taiwan's Taiex fell 0.6%.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 picked up 1.3% to 8,834.90.

U.S. markets will be closed Friday for the Independence Day holiday.

On Thursday, most U.S. stocks rose as the Dow snagged another record, gaining 1.1% to 52,900.07.

But more drops for computer chip companies and other winners of the artificial-intelligence boom kept indexes mixed.

The S&P 500 finished the day virtually unchanged and edged up by less than 0.1%, even though seven out of every 10 stocks within the index rose. It closed at 7,483.24.

The Nasdaq composite dropped 0.8% to 25,382.67.

Stocks broadly got some help from a report showing U.S. employers added 57,000 jobs to their payrolls last month. That’s good for the economy, but it was also short of the 100,000 jobs that economists expected and a slowdown from May’s hiring pace.

The bright side of the weaker-than-expected result is that it could keep pressure off inflation, which has been accelerating worldwide because of jumps in oil prices caused by the war with Iran. And now that oil prices are back below where they were before the war, if inflation slows in upcoming months, the Federal Reserve may feel less need to raise interest rates several times this year.

That would be a relief for investors, who tend to love lower interest rates because they can give the economy a boost by making it less expensive for U.S. households and businesses to borrow money and spend. Lower rates also tend to push upward on prices for stocks and other investments.

Stocks of companies in the crypto industry were also strong after the price of bitcoin rose roughly 2%, a day after dropping near its lowest level since 2024. Robinhood Markets rose 3.8%, and Coinbase Global gained 3.9%.

But more drops for computer chip companies weighed on indexes. They’ve come under pressure because of worries that their stock prices shot too high in the frenzy around AI and that all the spending on chips and data centers may not yield as much profit and productivity growth as hoped.

Memory maker Micron Technology erased an early gain to drop 5.5%, a day after plunging 10.6%. Nvidia fell 1.4%, and Lam Research sank 10.2%. They were some of the heaviest weights on the S&P 500 because they’ve grown so huge in size amid AI mania.

Nvidia has a total value of nearly $4.7 trillion, for example, which means that its stock’s movements have more weight on the S&P 500 than any other.

In other trading early Friday, Brent crude, the international standard, gained 0.6% to $72.26 a barrel. U.S. benchmark crude was up 0.5% to $69.05 a barrel.

The dollar fell to 161.17 Japanese yen from 161.97 yen. The euro rose to $1.1439 from $1.1431.

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AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Stan Choe contributed.

In June, the bellowing and blubbery 5-year-old mammal hauled himself onto land for his twice-yearly tour of beachside towns in southern Tasmania state after months of feeding at sea. That's posing problems now that he weighs as much as a small car and has a social media following more than double Tasmania’s human population.

His rampage through local infrastructure has claimed bent traffic bollards, a sign warning the public about seals and a fence that did not survive Neil’s attempt to vault it. The rest of the time he lies placidly any place he likes, which is sometimes the middle of the road, bringing towns he visits to a standstill.

But officials say their biggest concern is that Neil's popularity could lead to ill-advised human-seal encounters that are dangerous for both sides.

Neil is a bad boy with a long rap sheet

Neil, the only male elephant seal to visit Tasmania in years, has commanded an enthralled TikTok following of 1.4 million in part because he acts like kind of a jerk. During this visit to shore, his 12th, his crimes have included picking fights with parked cars and smashing through barriers erected to keep him off roads.

Those antics have prompted some online to hail Neil as a kind of anti-authoritarian hero. But experts say it's normal experimentation for a growing seal.

Juvenile male elephant seals need to practice for dominance battles in which adults rear up and crash their chests together as they compete for breeding opportunities, said Sophia Volzke, an elephant seal scientist based at the University of Tasmania in Hobart.

With no other juveniles to practice with, Neil can only rehearse on Toyotas.

Officials plead for fans to leave Neil alone

Local officials fear that Neil is the latest wild animal whose social media stardom has outgrown what’s good for him.

“Neil’s fame is a bit of a double-edged sword,” said Kris Carlyon from Tasmania’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment, at a news conference in Hobart on Thursday in which he asked the seal’s fans to give him privacy.

“We have had some pretty silly behavior, instances with people carrying their small babies up close to him and simply trying to get that shot for Instagram,” he said.

Officials have urged the public to refrain from identifying the town Neil is currently delighting or terrorizing, depending on who you speak to. They fear a disastrous encounter between the seal and an admirer could force rangers into a risky operation to move him elsewhere.

Carlyon also warned of worse. In a 2023 episode, a walrus known as Freya who drew huge crowds in Norway was euthanized after officials cited a growing risk to human safety.

“There is a risk here of essentially loving Neil to death,” Carlyon said.

Neil’s problems will get bigger as he does

It’s usual for seals to return biannually to the place they were born to rest, fast and shed fur. Many species roam inland during visits to shore, sometimes leading them into beachside towns.

What’s unusual about Neil is that he's the only male elephant seal hauling ashore in Tasmania.

Sub-Antarctic islands south of Tasmania are home to breeding populations of elephant seals and Neil’s mother would have arrived from one of them to give birth, Volzke said. Females have been spotted ashore in Tasmania before, but topping out at the size Neil reached when he was a year or two old, they don't cause the same kind of chaos, she added.

“Humans got rid of those animals and now maybe they are coming back and repopulating areas that they were previously seen in,” she said. “We do need to find a way to coexist.”

That could prove tricky for Neil, and for the rangers, police officers and security guards who follow in his wake. If he survives to adulthood, Neil could measure up to 5 meters (16 feet) in length and weigh triple what he does now.

However, about 90% of male elephant seals die before they reach a breeding age of around 10, Volzke said.

For now, Neil the seal is occupying a stretch of sidewalk, unmoving and unbothered. Sometimes he canoodles with an orange traffic cone, to the delight of his online followers. It isn't clear why he prefers that location, which he has returned to even after being ushered away by rangers.

“He’s obviously decided this puddle surrounded by bollards, which are horizontal at the moment, is his spot,” said Carlyon on Thursday.

His fans can relate. The locals have mixed feelings.

“He’s one of our biggest exports at the moment,” said Dale Creamer, a resident of the town that the seal is currently trashing, who has not been personally inconvenienced. “It’s Neil’s world and we’re just living in it.”

He has shrugged off the setback for one of the world’s leading oil producing nations as “not critical,” dismissed ceasefire proposals and insisted the war will continue until his goals are met.

Putin has described the attacks on Russian energy as an effort by Ukraine to distract attention from its losses on the battlefield, although analysts say the advance of Russian forces has been stymied in recent months. The Russian leader appears to believe his government can keep the fuel crisis from eroding his authority and support for the war he launched more than four years ago.

The Russian military unleashed a massive 11-hour barrage on the Ukrainian capital overnight into Thursday morning that killed at least 21 people. It was one of the deadliest attacks on Kyiv since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Here's a deeper look at the latest exchange of strikes and Putin’s refusal to halt the fighting:

Gas shortages worsen in Russia as more oil facilities are hit

There have been more than 50 reported Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries and other energy facilities in Russia and the occupied Crimea since March — a barrage Ukrainian leaders have said is intended to pressure Moscow to end the war.

At the very least, the attacks have brought the war home even more poignantly for millions of Russians, shattering Putin’s narrative of the conflict as something that doesn’t affect the lives of ordinary people in his country.

An estimated one-third of Russia’s refining capacity has been cut off, according to Chris Weafer, CEO of the consultancy Macro-Advisory. The attacks have inflicted lasting damage that will be costly to fix.

Despite significant air defenses protecting Russia's capital, a top refinery in Moscow has been hit twice. The second strike on June 18 set it ablaze, damaging key equipment that will reportedly take until the end of the year to repair.

With gasoline production in Russia reduced by roughly 17% to 850,000 barrels a day, according to government statistics, rationing has been introduced in many regions, and motorists have had to wait in line for hours to refuel.

Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014, has faced the worst fuel shortages. Gasoline sales to individuals have been halted there altogether.

Putin downplays the impact of Ukrainian strikes

Putin chaired a meeting of government officials last weekend to discuss the fuel shortages.

In televised statements, he acknowledged the country was going through a “difficult period.” He pledged to accelerate repairs of energy facilities and said Russia would consider importing gasoline to help make up for what he described as “temporary” shortages. He also said Russia's arms industry will boost production of air defense systems to fend off future Ukrainian attacks.

Putin portrayed the Ukrainian strikes as an attempt to divide Russian society, halt Moscow's offensive and try to force the Kremlin into negotiations on “terms advantageous to our adversary.”

“We will not give them that chance,” he said.

While Putin said Ukraine's long-range strikes on Russian oil facilities “have absolutely no effect on the situation at the front,” Western military analysts say mid-range strikes on the Russian army in recent months have hampered military logistics and slowed the tempo of its advance, leaving the battlefield in a stalemate.

Putin claims Russian forces are still advancing across the roughly 1,000 kilometer-long (620 mile-long) front line. In an interview last weekend with state TV, Putin mentioned the names of small villages and even streets in Ukraine.

Putin dismisses Ukraine's ceasefire offers

The Russian president has responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's offer to meet by challenging him to come to Moscow, a non-starter to Ukraine.

Putin has rejected a truce that Kyiv and its Western allies have proposed. He says it would only give Ukrainian forces time to rest and regroup.

He has made any ceasefire conditional on Ukraine's withdrawal from the part of the Donetsk region it still controls, a demand rejected by Ukraine. Putin has said that a final peace deal must oblige Ukraine to abandon its bid to join NATO, reduce its military and protect Russian language and culture.

In last Sunday's interview, Putin claimed that Ukraine had offered to limit the fighting to the four regions that Russia annexed but never fully captured: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. He said he rejected the proposal because it would free up Ukrainian forces from other areas where Russian troops have made inroads and let them focus on fending off the Russian attacks in the four southeastern regions.

“Faced with a catastrophic shortage of personnel, the armed forces of Ukraine apparently believe this could be their salvation,” Putin said. “Saving the Kyiv regime is not part of our plans,” he added.

The Kremlin said the proposal was made via confidential channels; Ukrainian officials have not publicly discussed any such proposal.

Putin also dismissed a Ukrainian proposal to mutually halt strikes deep into each other's territory. Russian attacks deep into Ukraine are “much more powerful, sensitive and, frankly speaking, destructive,” he said.

In Thursday's deadly barrage on Kyiv, Russia once again hit residential areas even as it claimed to be targeting military sites. By contrast, the vast majority of Ukrainian strikes in Russia have hit oil facilities, weapons factories and other military targets.

A United Nations tally says more than 16,000 Ukrainian civilians have died in the war.

Portugal advanced to the round of 16 after a 2-1 win against Croatia at Toronto Stadium on Thursday.

That doesn't even begin to tell the story of the most dramatic of clashes that relentlessly swung back and forth and ended in the cruelest way for Croatia when Josko Gvardiol's would-be game-saving equalizer 13 minutes into added time was ruled out for offside after video review.

Croatia legend Luka Modrić, age 40 and likely playing for the last time at a World Cup, looked crestfallen at the final whistle.

The 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo lives to fight another day and couldn't hide his relief when just moments earlier he stood helplessly on the sidelines in anguish, believing Portugal had blown it.

Here's how it all happened:

The First Goal in Added Time

After 90 minutes of play, the electronic board signaled 10 minutes of added time, and it was difficult to imagine at that point just how much drama would be packed into the coming minutes.

At the 94-minute mark, Rafael Leao sends a curling cross, and substitute Gonçalo Ramos rises highest to meet it, powering a header beyond the dive of the Croatian goalkeeper.

Cue wild celebrations from Portugal’s players. They now had to just ride out the final minutes and advance to the next round.

Croatia Strikes Back

As the clock ticks into the 103rd minute, Croatia knows it is nearly out of time.

From the left wing, Ivan Perisic hits a right-footed, in-swinging cross into the box.

Igor Mantanovic makes the slightest of glances with his head — and this is crucial — to flick the ball on. It bounces off the thigh of Mario Palasic and rolls across the face of goal.

Gvardiol lunges and sends the ball crashing into the back of the net.

Now it’s time for Croatia’s players and fans to go crazy. Ronaldo, meanwhile, shakes his head in disbelief.

But wait ...

While celebrations are ongoing, replays show Palasic was in an offside position when the ball came to him. However, it hit Portugal defender Renato Veiga on the way, which raises the possibility of him being onside because a Portugal player made the last touch.

VAR quickly starts to review the footage. Croatia’s hopes lie in the hands of the video assistants.

Portugal’s staff, meanwhile, have seen replays on the sideline and are convinced it's offside.

The crucial question is whether Mantanovic actually made contact with the ball before it hit Veiga.

This is because Palasic was standing in an offside position when a Croatia player last played the ball forward.

Sensors inside the World Cup ball can detect the slightest of touches and Eskås was instructed to go to the sideline monitor where he confirmed contact by Mantanovic.

“Croatia player number 20 touched the ball ... final decision: offside,” he announced over the stadium speaker system.

Portugal’s players cheered as if they’d scored a goal. There were tears in the eyes of Croatia players. Perisic dropped to his knees. Modrić threw his hands in the air.

In fury, Croatia fans threw bottles onto the field, delaying the restart by a couple of minutes.

What happened up to that point ...

There was nothing to separate the teams after a first half that failed to catch fire, but that all changed after halftime with Perisic firing Croatia in front in the 53rd minute.

Leao almost leveled for Portugal with a long-range curling shot that came back off the bar. Ronaldo then thinks he has scored for the first time in a World Cup knockout game, but his is ruled out for marginal offside, something that would become a theme of the match.

Portugal makes lots of changes. Ronaldo stays on

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez makes four substitutions at once in an attempt to turn the game. Crucially, he keeps Ronaldo on despite the veteran forward's struggles to make an impact.

From a Portugal corner, giant defender Veiga tumbles to the ground under the challenge of Nikola Vlasic for a penalty. Ronaldo steps up to fire down the middle of the goal, level the game and finally score in the knockout round of the World Cup.

Heroic goalkeeping by Diogo Costa

Croatia, which reached the final and the semifinals of the last two World Cups, has a slew of chances. Portugal keeper Diogo Costa blocks Matteo Kovacic's long-range shot and then stops another effort from the same player. He then makes a sprawling save to block Igor Matanovic from close range.

Petar Sucic does beat Costa, but his celebrations are cut short by the offside flag.

In the 81st, Portugal made another change, taking off Ronaldo for what could have been the last appearance at the World Cup.

At some point after leaving the contest, Ronaldo donned a jersey of Diogo Jota, the former teammate who died in a car crash exactly one year ago. He and his teammates basked in the emotion of the win and thought of their dear friend.

Meanwhile, Croatian coach Zlatko Dalić was left wondering what could have been, and he had some harsh words for the video replay rules and decisions.

“All these decisions take the joy out of football. I’m not saying VAR can’t sometimes be of help, but it kills the emotion of the game. It kills everything within you. It kills what you are experiencing in the moment. Football should be fair. We’ve gone too far about VAR.”

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

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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

With four months to go until November’s elections, it's still unclear how much MAGA Inc., the country's largest political war chest with $382 million in the bank as of last month, plans to spend on key races. The silence has persisted even as Senate Republican leaders have urged Trump’s team, both privately and publicly, to pick up the tab for the president’s decisions.

Front and center is Texas, where Trump successfully endorsed fiery conservative Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn, a choice that some Republicans grumble has turned a safe election into a toss-up that will drain resources away from other battlegrounds. Democratic nominee James Talarico, a state lawmaker, has made Paxton's history of corruption allegations a central target of his campaign.

“The president picked Paxton, and he’s got $350 million dollars," Cornyn recently told Semafor. “I think he can spend his money.”

Another challenge has emerged in North Carolina, where Sen. Thom Tillis declined to run for reelection after feuding with Trump last year over healthcare spending. Trump backed Michael Whatley, his former handpicked chair of the Republican National Committee, to run instead, and Democrats hope to flip the seat with former Gov. Roy Cooper.

Some in Republican campaign leadership are expecting MAGA Inc. to pitch in for Whatley in North Carolina, where the state’s several metro media markets can be pricey.

Republicans will likely be able to count on generous support from well-funded official party committees, which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled earlier this week should be allowed to make unlimited direct contributions to candidates’ campaigns. But even that sum falls short of what Trump has stockpiled in MAGA Inc. Even though the president is constitutionally barred from running again, he began raising money shortly after winning a second term, and he's regularly held fundraisers at his resort properties where tickets cost $1 million per person.

James Blair, the former White House political director who left his government job to coordinate the president's midterm efforts, was evasive in an interview with Sean Spicer, a former Republican spokesman who hosts a podcast.

“The president is going to expend substantial resources to win the midterms,” said Blair. “He cares deeply about the party winning.”

As a super PAC, MAGA Inc. can raise unlimited money from individuals and corporations. However, it is barred from coordinating with individual campaigns or national Republican committees, which adds to the sense of mystery surrounding its plans.

It’s been more than two months since Blair, along with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, pollster Tony Fabrizio and political adviser Chris LaCivita huddled at Washington’s Waldorf Astoria to discuss MAGA Inc.'s strategy.

The huddle was focused on assembling teams of vendors, such as advertisers, canvassing providers and digital media company leaders who had worked with the Trump team in key states during previous elections and who would be dispatched once plans were in place.

The president has spent much of the year waging a war of retribution against Republicans who have crossed him. He viewed Cornyn as insufficiently loyal, held a grudge against Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana for voting to convict him in an impeachment trial and assailed Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky as the “worst Republican Congressman in history." All of them lost their primaries to Trump-backed challengers.

Cornyn's loss weighs heavily on Senate Republicans, who suggest that Paxton could cost the party an extra $100 million to defend the seat.

Senate Leadership Fund, the principal super PAC aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, is still expected to spend money on advertising in Texas but not play a central role given its obligations elsewhere.

Democrats must net four seats to take the majority, and they see Alaska, Maine, North Carolina and Ohio as their best opportunities. The Senate Leadership Fund has already committed to spending $342 million across these four states, plus Iowa, Georgia, Michigan and New Hampshire.

When Paxton came to Washington after winning the nomination on May 26, he had a cordial meeting with Thune focused on moving forward together, according to people with knowledge of the conversation who were not authorized to speak publicly.

Later that day, Thune suggested that Trump should be putting up money for a candidate whom Senate Republicans hadn’t asked for.

“We will do what we need to do to make sure the state stays red," Thune told reporters. "But I’m certainly hopeful the president and the resources he can bring to bear will be engaged.”

“It’s going to be an expensive race,” he added.

___

Associated Press White House correspondent Seung Min Kim contributed from Washington. Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding is slated to take place Friday at Madison Square Garden, where the couple's closest friends and family — and several hundred more — will attend what is expected to be an elaborate event inside the iconic New York venue.

Many of the details surrounding the pending nuptials are still unknown, but a city permit obtained by The Associated Press shows that Friday's wedding event is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. and could last until 4 a.m. the next morning. A law enforcement official briefed on security plans had previously told the AP that a smaller rehearsal dinner would be held Thursday night. A tented area shielded guests from view as they were dropped off Thursday evening. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the events publicly.

The wedding is the latest development in the superstar singer and football player's relationship, which has continued to thrill and fascinate millions around the world — particularly the Swifties, the pop star’s enormous and ardent fan base — for the past three years ever since the pair first started dating.

Key questions remain over how Swift and Kelce have transformed MSG into a wedding venue fit for a billionaire and the star tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, as well as who may perform and who will officiate. Trucks and crews have been going in and out of the venue for days, setting up tents and whisking massive materials inside, setting off more speculation about MSG's makeover.

And while fans have seen Swift wear wedding dresses in plenty of music videos over the years, many also remain eager to see what looks she will unveil at the wedding.

Perhaps the biggest puzzle surrounds the selection of MSG. Swifties, commentators and the public have spent weeks debating the merits of the venue, some convincing themselves that it must be a smoke screen for the wedding to take place elsewhere. Others pointed to the arena's lack of windows and robust security, which would provide a rare opportunity for privacy for one of the most public couples in the world — and crucially, add another layer of protection.

New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch has repeatedly declined to confirm that Swift and Kelce’s wedding would take place Friday at MSG but has said her department will have appropriate resources at each major event over the weekend, including at the venue.

The wedding is taking place during a jam-packed weekend even by New York's standards. It's the July Fourth weekend, where the city will be partake in celebrating the nation's 250th birthday. Separately, a parade of dozens of tall ships will take place on the Hudson River, and a World Cup game is scheduled in New Jersey. On top of everything, a massive heat wave is also coming to the northeast.

Earlier this week, Swift and Kelce donated $26 million to 20 local and national charities across the U.S. Many of the organizations were located in areas where the couple has deep ties, including Nashville, Tennessee; Los Angeles; Kansas City, Missouri; and New York.

Trump has frequently lavished praise on the Turkish president, calling him a “hell of a leader” and a good friend. “I would not have gone for most people,” Trump said last week. “But he called me up. He said: ‘Please, I have it in Turkey. You got to be there. The United States has to be in there.’ And so I’m going out of respect to President Erdogan.”

Leveraging that respect has helped Erdogan avoid the disarray that the U.S. president’s absence would cause the alliance, particularly at a time when Trump has been repeatedly threatening to pull U.S. forces from Europe and scale back America’s role in NATO, unsettling allies. Trump has long rebuked other NATO countries over their defense spending — and claimed last year’s pledge to collectively boost it as a major personal win — while more recently clashing with them for failing to back his war against Iran.

But Trump has sweetened the deal for Erdogan by also hinting that he could make news during his visit related to jet engines and the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets barred for years because of Turkey’s closeness with Moscow.

The Republican president's affinity for strongmen leaders has long made him an admirer of Erdogan, who amassed power in Turkey first as its prime minister and now in his 13th year as president.

“His relationship with Erdogan, which is pretty strong, is consistent with what seems to be a pattern of his preference,” said Philip Gordon, who served as national security adviser for Vice President Kamala Harris. “It has often been pointed out he seems to have better relationships with adversaries and autocrats, and he certainly says nicer things about them than with allies.”

Gordon, now at the Brookings Institution, added, “Erdogan is taking full advantage of it.”

Erdogan snubbed Biden but bets on Trump

Trump — who is expected to have a bilateral meeting with Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO summit — will be the first U.S. president to visit Turkey since Barack Obama in 2015. By contrast, U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration kept Erdogan at arm's length during his four years in office over Turkey’s democratic backsliding and close ties to Russia.

Opposition parties and human rights organizations have accused Erdogan of undermining democracy and curbing freedom of expression. They say baseless investigations and prosecutions of human rights activists, journalists, opposition politicians and others remain a persistent problem in Turkey.

Soner Cagaptay of the Washington Institute said Erdogan and Trump “clicked” personally during Trump’s first term. When Biden extended an invitation in 2024 for Erdogan to visit the U.S. after Turkey endorsed Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership, Erdogan decided not to go.

“That was Erdogan’s way of signaling to Trump, ‘Hey, you are going to probably win the elections,'” Cagaptay said. “I think Trump saw that as a giant gesture.”

Trump signals steps toward jet sales for Turkey

During a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte last week, a reporter asked Trump whether he was taking “a big gift bag for Erdogan” on the trip, noting that Ankara wants F-110 jet engines and F-35 fighter jets.

“Yeah, I think so,” Trump responded. “Yeah, I’m going to probably do something that’s going to make him very happy.” Trump had also suggested last September that the U.S. could soon start selling F-35s to Turkey.

Turkey was barred from the program in 2019 after it purchased Russian-made S-400 missile defense systems. U.S. officials have feared that Turkey’s use of the Russian system could enable Moscow to gather information on the F-35’s capabilities.

At the Oval Office meeting, Vice President JD Vance said Washington was exploring ways to sell ⁠Turkey the jets, emphasizing that any sale would ensure Turkey has complied with U.S. law. There is significant bipartisan opposition on Capitol Hill to selling the F-35s to Turkey as long as Ankara is in possession of the Russian missile defense systems, including from influential Republicans such as Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch of Idaho.

Meanwhile, the F-110 jet engines that Turkey is seeking to purchase would power its domestically produced KAAN fighter jets. The State Department last week took a step toward making those sales, sending key lawmakers a notice that it planned to bypass congressional opposition to more than $700 million of the jet-engine sales to Ankara, according to two people granted anonymity to discuss details of a nonpublic notification.

“In this case, the State Department did not even attempt to justify its decision,” New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement last week. “It did not invoke any emergency authority, did not present a written rationale, and for months refused to make a good-faith effort to brief me on implications of the sale for the U.S.-Turkey relationship, Turkey’s continued possession of the Russian S-400 system, and other regional security concerns.”

The relationship between the U.S. and Turkey is thawing in other ways, too. Earlier this year, the Justice Department dropped a major case against Turkey’s state‑owned Halkbank, which had been accused of helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions.

Erdogan lauds Trump's friendship and phone calls

When he returned to the White House for his second term, Trump appointed a close friend as ambassador to Turkey: Tom Barrack, a longtime ally who also served as the chairman of his inaugural committee. “Barrack is playing a crucial role as a facilitator in the relationship,” said Ahmet Kasim Han, a professor of international relations at Ankara’s TED University.

Erdogan and Trump have frequently held telephone calls to discuss Syria, Gaza and the wider Middle East, and Turkey joined Trump’s Board of Peace aimed at overseeing the ceasefire in Gaza. Trump claimed this month that he asked Erdogan to stay out of the war in Iran and that the Turkish leader complied, though there is no indication that Turkey had ever intended to get involved.

Trump expressed admiration for Erdogan even while standing beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a joint press conference last year. Netanyahu, whose government is at odds with Ankara, had hoped to win Trump’s support for pushing back on Turkish influence in Syria, but instead found himself watching as Trump showered praises on Erdogan and urged Netanyahu to be “reasonable.”

Last year, after meeting with Trump at the NATO summit in The Hague, Erdogan told reporters that the U.S. president is quick to return his calls, an anecdote that illustrated their close ties.

“With my friend Trump, we are opening the door to a new era in Turkish‑American relations,” Erdogan said. “The process of telephone diplomacy between us has never exceeded 24 hours so far. When we call, the other side responds within 24 hours.”

___

Fraser reported from Ankara.

The news agency didn't give a cause of death, but said the 70-year-old Lam had a cancer relapse last year and was admitted to MacKay Memorial Hospital in Taipei on Tuesday. He fell into a coma on Wednesday and died Thursday evening, according to the report.

Lam, who previously worked at Causeway Bay Books in Hong Kong, moved to Taipei in 2019 over fears of legal troubles and reopened the bookstore under the same name in the Taiwanese capital in 2020.

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te offered his condolences in a Facebook post.

“The passing of Mr Lam Wing-kee is deeply saddening, but the courage he left behind would not fade,” Lai wrote. “Taiwan will remember that a Hong Kong bookstore worker once told us in the most ordinary yet most steadfast way how precious freedom is and reminded us that democracy requires the efforts of generation after generation to defend it.”

Lam was one of five people affiliated with Causeway Books who disappeared in late 2015. The store sold books and magazines purporting to reveal secrets about the inside lives of Chinese leaders and the scandals surrounding them.

One of the five, publisher Gui Minhai, went missing from his holiday home in Thailand and was later sentenced to 10 years in prison in China on a charge of illegally providing intelligence overseas.

In an act of defiance, Lam gave an explosive account of his experience in 2016 that contradicted official Chinese accounts of what happened to the five booksellers.

He said that he was seized by Chinese authorities in October 2015 after crossing the border from Hong Kong to the city of Shenzhen on China's mainland, and that he was blindfolded for a 13-hour train ride to the eastern city of Ningbo, where he was kept under 24-hour surveillance in a room for five months by rotating two-person teams.

Speaking to a packed news conference in Hong Kong, he said he was later forced to appear on Chinese television to confess to crimes.

In June, Lam told the Central News Agency that he had temporarily closed the bookstore in Taipei because of his health and that he couldn't say when it might reopen.

Chinese and Hong Kong authorities have further tightened controls over the territory following massive anti-government protests in 2019.

Hong Kong police arrested two people in June on suspicion of selling seditious publications and receiving funds from foreign political organizations, acting under a recent national security law.

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City Manager Rickelle Williams said there is some good news for taxpayers.

“To deliver the project, we have now reduced about $50 million the cost to bring that project to life,” Williams said.

The initial $267 million price tag has been reduced to about $217 million.

The proposal includes remodeling an existing office building at the 101 Tower site on Northeast First Street and Third Avenue or converting the pre-existing federal courthouse across the street into City Hall.

A third option is a high-rise office site at 1 East Broward in Fort Lauderdale.

The lower cost was made possible in part by reduced developer and design fees and restructuring the terms of the project’s overall payment schedule.

“We wanted to ensure we could outline a roadmap no matter what outcome and no matter what decision by the city commission would be revealed to us,” Williams said.

The old City Hall has been out of use for the past few years after sustaining extensive flood damage during record rainfall.

No matter which of the three options the City Commission ultimately approves, the new City Hall will incorporate key core principles, including being cost-effective, innovative and setting a standard for history and the arts.

“I think we’re gonna end up with a wonderful building and something the city can be proud of for the next 30 years,” resident Mark Dickerman said.

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Watson, 42, appeared in Miami-Dade court as part of a plea agreement stemming from the incident at Elevation Fitness.

According to arrest documents, Watson told responding officers he was working out when the victim approached him and said he wanted to fight. Investigators say surveillance video captured Watson beating the victim with his weightlifting belt during the altercation.

As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors offered Watson a sentence of 21 months in prison, including time already served, followed by seven years of probation and mental health treatment.

During Thursday’s hearing, Watson’s attorney argued the circumstances leading up to the fight were unusual.

“There’s been a lot that’s been argued in this case about stand your ground,” defense attorney Eric Clayman said. “What’s unique is you have an alleged victim that sought somebody out because of his presence online. This guy bought a plane ticket, came through New Jersey, showed up at the gym for the sole purpose of confronting Mr. Watson. That turned into something else.”

Watson is a convicted felon and is also facing multiple unrelated criminal charges in Broward County, including charges of felony battery, aggravated assault, witness tampering and allegations related to domestic violence involving his girlfriend.

Watson is scheduled to return to court on July 27 for sentencing in the Miami-Dade case.

The right-hander struck out seven and walked none through six innings, throwing 50 of his 69 pitches for strikes. The only baserunner for the Angels had come when Denzer Guzmán reached second on a throwing error by Mariners third baseman J.P. Crawford with two outs in the fourth.

Guzmán followed Schanuel with a single of his own in the seventh, but Miller got through the inning with a 1-0 lead.

The 27-year-old Miller took a 3-2 record and 1.97 ERA into the game. His season debut was delayed by a strained left oblique muscle sustained in spring training, but he joined the rotation in mid-May.

Angels rookie Walbert Ureña also had a no-hitter going through five innings, before Crawford led off the sixth with a double.

James Paxton pitched the most recent no-hitter for Seattle in a game at Toronto on May 8, 2018. Paxton was born and raised in Canada.

The Angels haven’t been no-hit since Sept. 11, 1999 — the longest active streak in the majors. In that game, they lost 7-0 at Minnesota, shut down by Twins left-hander Eric Milton.

___

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

Exclusive surveillance video obtained by Local 10 News shows the moment the car veered off Northwest 57th Avenue near 114th Street and into the water.

Hialeah Fire Rescue said the driver may have suffered a medical emergency before losing control of the vehicle. She was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center.

A nearby resident said he jumped into action moments after the crash, giving an officer a snorkel and mask to help search for possible passengers.

“Pretty shocking. This is the first time we’ve seen something like that,” the resident said. “I know right down the street we usually see car accidents, but that’s the minimum. This is the first time we’ve seen a vehicle in the canal.”

The driver’s condition was not immediately known.

La electricidad aún no se ha restablecido por completo en la Mancomunidad de las Islas Marianas del Norte, después de que el supertifón Sinlaku las azotara con vientos feroces y lluvias incesantes en abril. Algunas personas todavía viven en tiendas de campaña tras la destrucción de sus viviendas.

“Nos estamos preparando para pasar por todo esto otra vez", dijo Edwin Propst, un exlegislador que trabaja en la oficina del gobernador en Saipán. "Que esto pase ahora es terrible”.

Paul Stanko, meteorólogo del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional en Guam, indicó que se prevé que el tifón Bavi se convierta en supertifón entre la noche del domingo y las primeras horas del lunes, cuando se pronostica que llegue a las Marianas.

Un ciclón se convierte en supertifón cuando registra vientos máximos sostenidos de 241 kilómetros por hora (150 millas por hora) o más. Los supertifones equivalen a un ciclón de categoría 4 alta o de categoría 5, explicó Stanko.

El servicio meteorológico informó que Bavi se encontraba el viernes a 1.223 kilómetros (760 millas) al este de Guam, con vientos máximos sostenidos de 129 km/h (80 mph).

Stanko señaló que algunos residentes esperan que Guam reciba el impacto principal de Bavi.

“Eso es lo que en realidad esperamos, porque entonces Saipán no lo recibiría tan fuerte”, comentó Stanko.

Guam está ubicada al oeste de la Línea Internacional de Cambio de Fecha y alberga dos grandes bases militares de Estados Unidos.

Propst contó que los residentes estaban cubriendo las ventanas con madera contrachapada y almacenando combustible, porque tras Sinlaku hubo largas filas en las gasolineras durante semanas.

El reverendo Francis Hezel, pastor asistente de la iglesia católica Santa Bárbara en Dededo, Guam, dijo que espera que ninguna isla reciba el golpe principal de la tormenta. Pero añadió que no estaba demasiado preocupado, tras haber vivido numerosos tifones. Tenía la esperanza de que Bavi cambiara de rumbo.

“Ahora mismo el patrón se dirige hacia nosotros, pero esos patrones cambian”, señaló.

Aun así, trabajadores de la iglesia y residentes se estaban preparando.

“Esto se está convirtiendo en lo normal ahora: la preparación ante tifones”, dijo Hezel. “Está ocurriendo con más frecuencia”.

El fenómeno climático del Niño incrementa la actividad de la temporada de huracanes en el Pacífico. Expertos afirman que El Niño, un ciclo natural de calentamiento, debería calentar aún más un planeta que ya se está calentando por el efecto invernadero de la quema de combustibles fósiles y probablemente potenciará el clima extremo en todo el mundo.

Propst manifestó que, aunque se ha avanzado mucho en la recuperación tras Sinlaku, “todavía no hemos llegado del todo”.

“Unos meses más habrían venido bien”, añadió.

___

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

Police said officers responded around 9:30 p.m. to the area of 2131 NW Third Ave. after receiving reports of a person who had been shot.

Miami Fire Rescue transported the man to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition.

Police continue to investigate the shooting.

Officials said crews responded around 9:20 p.m. to the tracks just south of West Broward Boulevard after receiving reports that a woman had been hit by the train.

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue and police officers arrived to find the woman dead at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing.

West Broward Boulevard is closed in both directions. Drivers are being told to use Davie Boulevard or Sunrise Boulevard as alternate routes.

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Among them were Conch Heaven in northwest Miami-Dade, where inspectors reported live roaches, dozens of flies and mold-like buildup inside an ice machine.

The Villa Caribbean Shoppes in Miami Gardens, cited for a live roach, numerous flies and more than 100 dead flies inside an insect control device.

Chong’s Chinese Restaurant in Miami, where inspectors found temperature-abused food that was ordered thrown away after refrigeration problems.

Beijing Garden in Miami, where inspectors documented raw sewage backing up into the kitchen, a dead fly on food and other sanitation issues.

P.F. Chang’s in Fort Lauderdale, where live roaches were found in the kitchen.

Lona Cocina Tequileria in Fort Lauderdale, where inspectors reported live roaches behind and inside kitchen equipment.

All of the restaurants were allowed to re-open following an ordered cleanup and a successful re-inspection by state inspectors.

**CONCH HEAVEN

11275 NW 27TH AVE

NW MIAMI-DADE (WESTVIEW)

INSPECTION BASED ON COMPLAINT

ORDERED SHUT 6/19

14 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed 4 live roaches under the preparation table in kitchen area. Observed 2 live roaches on the floor by triple sink. 12 live roaches under a box by shelf with clean pots and pans in kitchen area.”

“Live, small flying insects found observed approximately 20 live flies in dry storage area by walk in cooler.”

“Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Repeat Violation.”

“Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Grease on A/C vents.”

**THE VILLA

CARIBBEAN SHOPPES

19501 NW 2ND AVE.

MIAMI GARDENS

ORDERED SHUT 6/24

22 VIOLATIONS FOUND

ALSO ORDERED SHUT 10/13/25 (FLY AND ROACH ISSUE)

“Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed 1 live roach on top of reach in freezer in kitchen area.”

“Accumulation of dead or trapped birds, insects, rodents, or other pests, in control devices. Observed 100+ dead flies in bug zapper on top of reach in freezer inside if kitchen area.”

“Live, small flying insects found. Observed 11 live flies on wall and prep table where juice are made. Observed 10 live flies in kitchen area where onions are being prepared, landing on cases of food and table. Observed 10 live flies inside of pot where limes were used for juice on table in kitchen area.”

“Insect control device installed over food preparation area. Observed zapper on top of reach in freezer.”

“Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Observed in walk in and kitchen. Repeat Violation.”

**CHONG’S CHINESE RESTAURANT

1164 WEST FLAGLER ST.

MIAMI

ORDERED SHUT 6/23

25 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Dead roaches on premises. Observed 3 dead roaches. One in the floor of the kitchen and 2 inside storage cabinets by the bathroom area. Repeat Violation.”

“Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Observed wall soiled with accumulated grease throughout the kitchen area.”

“Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed dumplings (44 F - Cold Holding); sprouts (58 F - Cold Holding) shrimp (73 F - Cold Holding); sprouts (68 F - Cold Holding); shell eggs (72 F - Cold Holding); chicken (57 F - Cold Holding); beef (63 F - Cold Holding); pork (58 F - Cold Holding); noodles (55 F - Cold Holding); shrimp (55 F - Cold Holding); cabbage (62 F - Cold Holding) pasta (56 F - Cold Holding); shrimp (57 F - Cold Holding); sprouts (59 F - Cold Holding); ham (46 F - Cold Holding) . All foods were stored inside reach in coolers at the cook line and inside the walk in cooler. As per employee foods have been out of temperature for more than 4 hours.”

“Inadequate number/capacity of cold holding units to maintain time/temperature control for safety food at proper temperatures. Observed both reach in coolers at the cook line and the walk in cooler are not working properly.”

**BEIJING GARDEN

832 WEST FLAGLER ST.

MIAMI

ORDERED SHUT 6/23

27 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Observed a dead fly on pork ribs in preparation area.”

“Objectionable odors in dining area.”

“Sewage/wastewater backing up through floor drains. Observed under the 3 compartment sink/kitchen area.”

“Raw sewage on ground of establishment. Observed dirty water is not draining away and there is a huge amount of dirty water on the floor.”

“Improper sewage disposal at floor drains in kitchen and/or food preparation area.”

“Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Observed ceiling tiles at dining area and all around kitchen soiled. Repeat Violation.”

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

“Food stored on floor. Observed plastic bucket with salt stored on the floor in the kitchen. Repeat Violation.”

“Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed rice (71 F - Hot Holding) on preparation area in the kitchen. As per operator less than 1 hour. Repeat Violation.”

**P.F. CHANG’S

THE GALLERIA

2418 EAST SUNRISE BLVD.

FORT LAUDERDALE

ORDERED SHUT 6/23

5 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Approximately 5 live roaches found under the dish machine in the dish area 1 live roach found on a water line next to the fryer on the cook line. The one roach was exterminated and the area cleaned and sanitized.”

“Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Under the dishwasher/triple sink station table, food debris is built up between the wall and equipment.”

“Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. At the bar, the first soda gun nozzle was soiled.”

“Floor area(s) covered with standing water. At the cook line under the wok station and under the triple sink. The water was removed.”

**LONA COCINA TEQUILERIA

WESTIN FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH RESORT

321 NORTH FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH BLVD.

FORT LAUDERDALE

ORDERED SHUT 6/22

4 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. 3 live roaches found behind the double stacked oven in the prep kitchen. Approximately 15 live roaches found inside of a nonfunctioning oven used to store towels and extra pans on the cook line.”

“Floor soiled/has accumulation of food debris behind the prep area cooking equipment.”

Cleveland (46-42) rallied from a three-run deficit and trails Chicago (45-41) by less than a full percentage point atop the division standings.

Pinch-hitter David Fry launched a solo homer in the seventh that trimmed the Guardians' deficit to 5-4.

White Sox reliever Grant Taylor (4-2) walked Rhys Hoskins leading off the ninth. Kahlil Watson flied out to center before Rocchio pulled a 99 mph fastball down the right-field line for his sixth home run this season.

Tim Herrin (1-3) pitched a perfect inning for the win.

Travis Bazzana hit an RBI double and Rocchio drew a bases-loaded walk in the third to give Cleveland a 2-0 lead.

Sam Antonacci delivered an RBI double and scored on Kyle Teel's two-run double to put Chicago ahead 3-2 in the fifth.

Braden Montgomery doubled leading off the sixth and Chase Meidroth's two-run homer made it 5-2, chasing Guardians starter Slade Cecconi.

Daniel Espino, Shawn Armstrong and Herrin combined to allow one hit in four innings of scoreless relief.

Cleveland loaded the bases against reliever Sean Newcomb in the sixth and cut it to 5-3 on an RBI groundout by Chase DeLauter.

Fry connected off Brandon Eisert in the seventh for his second pinch-hit homer this year.

White Sox starter Davis Martin gave up two runs and six hits in 3 1/3 innings without striking out a batter. He walked five and threw only 37 of his 73 pitches for strikes.

Up next

White Sox LHP Anthony Kay (6-3, 4.50 ERA) faces Guardians RHP Gavin Williams (9-4, 3.81) on Friday night.

___

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

Former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner spoke first.

“As your governor, I will make Florida affordable. I will keep it safe. I’ll protect our environment and keep our state free,” Renner said.

He was followed by Lt. Gov. Jay Collins.

“The left, what do they want to see? They want to see the Free State of Florida devolve. They want to see it break down and be soft on crime, soft on DEI,” Collins said.

Businessman and investor James Fishback addressed the crowd next.

“I am in this race to do two things: to preserve Governor DeSantis’ extraordinary legacy and to fight to make our state more affordable,” Fishback said.

The debate turned heated early over building data centers in Florida.

“Hire me as governor, and we will ban every data center in all 67 counties,” Fishback said.

Collins pushed back.

“James, let me ask you a question. How do you think the people in the cities and counties are going to feel about the state government coming in and taking control?” Collins said.

As Fishback tried to respond, Collins continued.

“Let me finish talking, man. Please, come on. They want local leadership,” Collins said.

Renner also challenged Collins on the issue.

“You’ve said that it’s not possible for the state to regulate hyperscale data centers at the state level. Why do you believe that it is ... if you believe that the state shouldn’t be involved, why did you sponsor a bill to give them permanent tax incentives at the expense of everybody watching tonight?” Renner asked.

“You’re misrepresenting,” Collins responded.

During a lightning round, the candidates also showed where they stand on major issues.

Photos published online by Iranian state media showed Gen. Ahmad Vahidi attending a meeting about the funeral of Khamenei, 86, then sitting alongside his casket as Iran's theocracy held a smaller service for him Thursday night near the supreme leader's former home in downtown Tehran.

Vahidi has become a major player in formulating Iran’s tough stance in negotiating a possible permanent end to the war with the United States, experts say. He is believed to be part of a small clique in direct contact with Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who remains in hiding after being reportedly wounded in the Feb. 28 Israeli strikes that killed his father, the elder Khamenei.

Vahidi himself hasn’t been seen publicly since Feb. 8, weeks before the Iran war began.

Video published by Iranian state media showed the mourning ceremony for Khamenei near the husseiniyah at his compound in Tehran. An Israeli airstrike in the war's first moments killed Khamenei and some of his family members. State media said Khamenei's body sat within a coffin on a stage, with red tulips lined up in front of it. What appeared to be paper butterflies hung from the ceiling in front of it.

The black-clad mourners, whom state media identified as coming from families of those who lost loved ones in the 12-day war in 2025 and the recent Iran war, threw scarves and other items for attendants to brush against the coffin, a common practice in Iran.

Later, state media showed images of Khamenei's casket draped by a red flag with white calligraphy reading "Ya Hussein,” a Shiite expression in remembrance of the 7th-century martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson. It had been flying over the Imam Hussein golden-domed shrine in Karbala, Iraq. The flag also traditionally symbolizes both the spilled blood of someone unjustly killed and a call for vengeance.

On Friday morning, security forces carried Khamenei's coffin overhead by hand as it arrived at the Grand Mosalla in Tehran. Religious leaders walked past Khamenei's coffin, as well as others of his slain family, including his 14-month-old granddaughter, Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani.

Beginning Saturday, Iran will hold a dayslong funeral for Khamenei, and his body will be transported to cities in both Iran and neighboring Iraq. Authorities plan to shut down streets, airspace and daily life in Tehran as mourners commemorate the life of Khamenei, who led Iran for decades with an iron fist while confronting the West.

The president signed the order in March. It directs U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Social Security Administration to create a “citizenship list” for each state and the Postal Service to limit mailed ballots to those on the lists.

The Postal Service filed a proposed rule to implement the order in late May. Since then, a federal judge has blocked Trump's executive order and barred agencies from implementing it, saying it was unconstitutional because only states and Congress — not the president — have the power to set election rules.

The letter sent Thursday was an effort organized by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and included eight other Democratic governors — from California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington and Wisconsin. It cited the judge's ruling and asked that the Postal Service withdraw the rule it had proposed to fulfill Trump's order.

“Far from ensuring integrity in federal elections," they wrote in the six-page letter, “the Proposed Rule would undermine trust in elections, needlessly complicate voting processes, arbitrarily disenfranchise millions of eligible voters, and undermine states’ constitutional role in ensuring free and fair elections.”

The proposed rule would grant, they argued, “unilateral power to refuse to deliver their ballots if a state refuses to collaborate with President Trump’s unlawful directives.”

The Postal Service did not immediately respond to calls and emails seeking comment. It had filed the proposed rule in the Federal Register after a judge considering a separate lawsuit against Trump's executive order declined to block it because the administration — at that point — had not taken steps to implement it. The Democratic and civil rights groups that filed that lawsuit have appealed the ruling.

The executive order also met pushback from postal workers, with the president of the American Postal Workers union, Jonathan Smith, previously saying that their job was not to “verify voter eligibility” but to “move mail from one destination to the next."

It was the second executive order seeking oversight of elections that Trump has signed since returning to office. The centerpiece of his first order, which also has been blocked by the courts, sought to require people to show documented proof of citizenship to register to vote.

Both orders revolve around Trump's targeting of voting by noncitizens, which studies and investigations by state and local authorities have shown to be rare. Trump also has fixated on voting by mail as a source of fraud, even though he also uses the method.

There is no indication of any widespread problems with mail voting, which has gained in popularity among Democrats and Republicans alike. A report by the Brookings Institution published in 2025 found that the number of cases of mail voting fraud was minuscule — about four cases per 10 million mail ballots.

Ramos headed in the winner as Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in a wild finish that also included a Croatian goal disallowed for offside just before the final whistle in a World Cup round of 32 match on Thursday night.

The game featured a matchup of 40-somethings — Ronaldo, in his sixth World Cup, and Croatia's Luka Modrić, making his fifth bid for a tournament title.

Ronaldo tied things up in the 68th minute on a penalty kick that gave the megastar his first knockout stage goal at the World Cup before being subbed out in the 81st minute.

“I never felt any of that (fear),” he said. “Yes, nervous. But as always, you have to be very positive for things to go well.”

Still, it was Ramos who gave Portugal the victory and a berth in the round of 16.

“I love that type of moment, I love that type of games,” he said. “I want to play every game like that.”

Portugal moves on to face Spain on Monday.

“First half we dominated the game. In second half after the goal we get a little bit panic, but this is football,” Ronaldo said. “After the penalty, I think it was a little bit better for us. We created a few chances and I think at the end of the day we deserved to win the match.”

In a postgame interview with Fox, Ronaldo proudly turned around to show that he was wearing a Diogo Jota jersey and his No. 21, one year after his teammate died in a car crash. “We knew this before the game. It was a so special moment. We speak today to our group, the coincidence of life. It’s unbelievable.”

Things got weird after Ramos scored. With Portugal and its fans still enthralled with his goal, Croatia thought it had tied things up 2-2 in the very last moments. But after a 2 1/2-minute delay, Mario Pasalic was called offside as VAR ruled no goal. Croatia fans threw bottles on the field and whistled in protest.

Croatia midfielder Petar Sucic said, “the referee said he didn’t see (anyone) touch the ball, he said that he had a sensor in that ball,” that caused the offside ruling. “For me, it's a regular goal.”

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said it was, indeed, the chip in the ball that triggered the decision.

“I need to tell them (Croatia fans) the message is very clear: The balls now have a chip, and it’s very clear that’s why the VAR intervened," he said. "It's not a subjective opinion."

Croatia opened the scoring in the 53rd minute when Ivan Perisic scored off a cross from Josip Sanisic.

Ronaldo, booed loudly by Croatia fans every time he touched the ball, got his chance from the spot after Nikola Vlasic was called for a holding foul inside the box. Portugal’s megastar hitched his step and converted down the middle as the goalkeeper went to his right.

Modrić led Croatia to second- and third-place finishes in 2018 and 2022, and the match carried the weight of the two aging stars each trying to realize the dream of winning the World Cup. Modrić is 40.

The men, who were teammates at Real Madrid, shared a few smiles and an embrace ahead of the coin toss before the match. The two met on the pitch after the match, hugged and exchanged a few words.

“I played with Luka so many years,” Ronaldo said. "We’re nearly the same age. I think he’s a legend of football. He’s still a legend of football.”

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić said this was “probably” Modrić's last World Cup, but added, "only God knows what will happen in the next four years. We’ll see. We’ll talk about it in Croatia.”

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Lexie Linderman is a student in John Curley Center for Sports Journalism at Penn State.

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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Simón hasn't allowed a goal in 519 consecutive minutes across the past two World Cups. He broke the record set in 1990 by famed Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga, who recorded 517 straight scoreless minutes and five consecutive clean sheets in his home World Cup.

The 29-year-old Athletic Bilbao mainstay isn't the most famous goalkeeper in this competition — or even on his own team — but Simón's outstanding play at the back of Spain's superb defense has launched him into the World Cup record books.

Spain has yet to allow a goal at this World Cup, and its Basque backstop has only had to make four saves — none against Austria, which got none of its five shots on target.

“I feel proud of him,” Spain coach Luis De La Fuente said. “I feel like he is a member of my family. I’m very happy for him.”

Simón has been Spain's first choice in net for most of the past half-decade, keeping the job despite roster competition from David Raya and Joan Garcia, the championship-winning goalkeepers in two of Europe's four biggest leagues. Simón has spent his club career on smaller stages with Bilbao, which only reached the Champions League for the first time in his career last season.

Simón owes his international success to his stellar results and to his tight bond with De La Fuente, who has largely resisted calls to give more playing time to his goalkeeping options with more accomplished club careers.

Simón and De La Fuente have been bonded since 2015, when the coach and his 18-year-old keeper won the European Under-19 championship in Greece. They stayed together in Spain's youth system and then reunited in early 2023, when De La Fuente took over the senior national team and promptly embarked on one of the most successful stretches in Spain's proud history.

Under De La Fuente, Spain has just one loss in 37 competitive matches, going unbeaten in its last 35 straight — a streak which includes a loss on penalties to Portugal in the 2025 Nations League. Spain has won the 2023 Nations League and the 2024 European Championship with Simón in net, and now it has won a World Cup knockout match for the first time in 16 years.

Simón and Spain allowed just three goals in four matches at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, but still went home early. Simón's shutout streak started during Spain's 2-1 loss to Japan, and it continued through a scoreless draw with Morocco, which ultimately knocked out Spain by converting three of its four penalties against Simón.

In North America, nobody has been able to beat Simón — and only Uruguay has managed more than one shot on goal among Spain's four opponents.

“(Simón) played a very big role in the victory, but it’s not just about individuals,” De La Fuente said after beating Austria. “It’s about the whole group coming together for that defensive effort.”

Early in the second half against Austria, Simón also surpassed the Spanish record scoreless streak posted by Iker Casillas across the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

His play has been more than enough to hold off two accomplished challengers as Spain moves forward to the round of 16.

Raya is widely considered one of the world's best goalkeepers after winning three consecutive Golden Glove awards at Arsenal for leading the Premier League in clean sheets. He also backstopped the Gunners to their first Premier League title since 2004 and the Champions League final this year — only to go back to a reserve role for Spain.

García is one of the world's top young talents at the position after seizing Barca's starting job last season, but he's also likely to spend this World Cup as a spectator.

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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

The U.S. match against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday night was the most-watched soccer telecast in English language history with more than 24.4 million viewers, according to Fox Sports.

The peak audience was 31.8 million.

The United States won the game 2-0 in Santa Clara, California, to advance to the round of 16, marking its first knockout win since 2002.

The match topped the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final telecast in which 22.3 million viewers on English-language TV tuned in.

By comparison, the most-watched Super Bowl of all time came in 2025 when an average of 127.7 million viewers watched the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs across FOX, FOX Deportes, Telemundo, and Tubi. The peak average audience of 137.7 million viewers during the second quarter.

The most-watched combined U.S. audience during the World Cup so far was Mexico-Ecuador game with 29.3 million viewers overall.

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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes said recent statements by President Donald Trump on social media that major renovations would begin Sept. 1 on the East Potomac Golf Links raised her concerns. She also noted the course plans displayed when he visited the course Sunday made clear that the administration was further along than had been publicly acknowledged.

Reyes made no formal decision on the case Thursday, saying that after speaking to the attorney representing the government, they seemed to be operating within the legal framework for approval.

“I’m just not there yet,” she said in not taking action. “I’m not going to assume the agency is going to act in bad faith.”

Plaintiffs want the administration to halt its plans

Reyes gave the two sides two weeks to work on language that would give her and the plaintiffs assurances that they would not suddenly learn in the “middle of the night” that there were bulldozers at the course “chopping down cherry trees.”′

The judge’s comments came after a request for a hearing from the plaintiffs suing the administration to stop its plans. The court filing said this most recent request for legal intervention resulted from recent visits by Trump to several places around the capital that he has been renovating and altering.

Trump, an avid golfer, posted about the visit to the course on social media, “When completed, this Course will have the ability to host Major Golf Tournaments, including The U.S. Open, The Ryder Cup, The PGA Championship, and other top PGA Tour events.” It’s unclear when the course could host any major tournaments, as locations are chosen several years ahead of the events.

The visit included the presence of extensive plans by course designer Tom Fazio, who accompanied Trump. Reyes said it was hard to believe someone who makes “millions” designing golf courses would have designed a proposal and escorted Trump “out of the goodness of his heart.”

Michael Robertson, the Justice Department lawyer representing the government, said Fazio had not been hired or designated by the Interior Department to design the course and said the process would still be open to other plans. He called the plans that had been seen “conceptual.”

Robertson also told Reyes repeatedly that there was still a lengthy process to undergo that would include signoffs from various planning organizations, the National Capital Planning Commission and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. Reyes noted the Planning Commission is filled with Trump allies who have already approved a number of his pet projects, including the White House ballroom and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Golf course lawsuit is latest challenge to Trump’s capital projects

The course renovation is only one of the controversies surrounding it. The course has also been used as a dumping ground for debris from the demolition of the East Wing of the White House, which Trump ordered torn down in preparation for the construction of a ballroom.

Reyes said she needed to see evidence from the plaintiffs that the debris poses a danger to people and the environment before she would consider any action there, such as order the debris' removal.

The golf course lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal battles that have sought to challenge Trump’s extraordinary efforts to put his mark on public spaces in the nation’s capital.

Reyes made reference to those projects repeatedly when she emphasized that she wanted to avoid the administration’s habit of proceeding with work faster than the judicial system could stop it. “I don’t want a destroyed East Wing, a destroyed reflecting pool” before knowing the work was approved, she said.

The 106-year-old public course has been embroiled in the lawsuit since February. The complaint, against the Department of the Interior, says the Trump administration’s reconstruction of East Potomac Park — which includes the East Potomac Golf Course — would violate the congressional act that created the park in 1897.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, the DC Preservation League, sought an emergency stop in May because of similar concerns that work was expected to begin immediately on the course.

Cink was the only player to make five birdies on the back nine at Scioto Country Club on Thursday, shooting a 3-under 67 for a share of the first-round lead in the U.S. Senior Open with Charlie Wi.

Cink struggled on the front nine, shooting a 2-over 37, but found momentum once he made the turn.

“I’ve been off for a little while, and I started like I’ve been off for a little while. I had to prove it to myself again that I could play decent golf a certain way,” Cink said. “The back nine was really nice. I actually could have shot quite a bit lower on the back nine. I missed three very reasonably like inside — right around 10 feet or less birdie putts.”

The 53-year-old Cink has four wins in nine PGA Tour Champions starts this year, including the Senior PGA Championship and the Tradition. The last player to win the Senior PGA, Tradition and U.S. Senior Open in the same year was Jack Nicklaus in 1991. Scioto, the Donald Ross course hosting its third U.S. Senior Open, is where Nicklaus learned to play the game.

Simon Griffiths, Freddie Jacobson and George McNeill were tied for third at 68. Defending champion Padraig Harrington was among a group of 10 players at 69.

“Of course it’s tough, we know that, so once you get through that, the golf course itself is playing nicely,” Harrington said.

Cink is also attempting to become the fifth player to win the event after being runner-up the previous year. Fred Funk was the last to do it in 2009.

Cink was part of the seventh afternoon group to tee off from the first hole and played in the toughest conditions of the day, when the temperature reached 95 degrees midway through his round and a heat index of 103 according to the National Weather Service.

“The heat is a factor for sure. It affects your focus and your energy level. Sometimes even the simplest shots just kind of -- it’s easy to fall asleep at the wheel when the conditions are like that,” he said.

Cink tied Wi with a birdie on the par-4 18th. Cink's tee shot found one of the bunkers on the left hand side, but he got a great lie. His second shot landed within 2 feet near the front of the hole, and made for an easy putt.

Wi was at even par through his first 11 holes before his string of birdies on holes three through seven holes. Wi made a double bogey on the par-4 eighth before ending his round with a par.

Wi thought his best shot came on the par-3 fourth, when he hit his tee shot within a couple feet with a 5-iron on the 205-yard hole.

“I hit the ball pretty solid today, made a couple of putts. It was a hot day. I just made sure that I stayed in the ballgame, meaning like mentally, because you could easily lose it out there,” he said.

Wi’s run of bridies ended on the eighth hole when his second shot went left and into the water near the green. He is the 14th player in the 46-year history of the Senior Open to have at least five straight birdies in a round. The last time it happened was in 2022 when Thongchai Jaidee birdied Nos. 5-9 at the Saucon Valley Country Club's Old Course in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, during the third round.

The 54-year old South Korean player has nine worldwide professional victories — including five on the Korean Tour — but none on the PGA Tour or Champions circuit.

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

Dirigentes cívicos de la región de Santa Cruz, al oriente de Bolivia y la más próspera del país, interpusieron la querella contra el exgobernante (2006-2019), el dirigente del sindicato de trabajadores, Mario Argollo y el representante de campesinos aymaras, Vicente Salazar, informó Agustín Zambrana, vicepresidente del comité cívico de Santa Cruz.

“Ellos son los cabecillas del terrorismo en Bolivia… se tiene que hacer una investigación seria”, dijo Zambrana. “No es persecución, no es revanchismo, es justicia lo que queremos para que se acabe la cultura de deshacer a Bolivia y quedar impunes”, agregó.

De acuerdo con reportes de prensa y abogados del comité cívico la fiscal de Santa Cruz, Karina Lijerón, informó al juez que se abre preliminarmente la investigación bajo los presuntos delitos de alzamientos armados contra la seguridad y soberanía del Estado, terrorismo, atentado contra la seguridad de los medios de transporte y asociación delictuosa.

The Associated Press se comunicó con la oficina de la Fiscalía sin poder obtener de momento una versión al respecto.

Morales, quien se ha refugiado en su bastión de el Chapare, en el centro del país, para evitar declarar en un caso por presunto abuso de una menor cuando era presidente, negó en conferencia de prensa que avaló los bloqueos, los cuales ocasionaron desabastecimientos de insumos médicos y alimentos principalmente en las ciudades de La Paz y El Alto.

Unas 14 personas fallecieron, varias de ellas por falta de atención médica, y el conflicto generó millonarias pérdidas al sector productivo en medio de una crisis económica, según las autoridades.

“Decidimos marcha pacífica de Caracollo (en la región sureña de Oruro) a La Paz, una semana de marcha, y no se aprobó bloqueo de caminos”, aseguró Morales el jueves. “Todo esto es político”, agregó.

El presidente Rodrigo Paz declaró estado de excepción el 20 de junio y, posteriormente, sectores afines a Morales dieron una pausa en las protestas a pedido del exgobernante. Paz asumió el cargo en noviembre terminando con los casi 20 años de gobierno de izquierda de Morales y Luis Arce (2020-2025).

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said crews arrived to find one person trapped inside a vehicle and worked to free them.

The two people were transported by ground to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital.

The road remained closed as of Thursday evening.

Then one day last May the retired insurance executive made a discovery of his own while sifting through the letters of an 18th-century Royal Navy captain.

There, attached to a report on the capture of the American privateer Dalton on Christmas Eve 1776, was an enclosure identified only as “another paper.” Carefully unfolding the document, Scurr stopped when he saw the word “Declaration” printed across the top.

“I thought, oh, right, OK, this is definitely a Declaration of Independence,'' he told The Associated Press. “How exciting is this?’’

The document spreads the news of independence

Researchers at the National Archives have since identified the document as a rare early copy of America’s founding document, printed just days after the original was signed on July 4, 1776, to spread the news that 13 rebellious North American colonies had severed ties with Britain.

It is one of just 11 original copies of the so-called Exeter printing of the declaration that are known to exist, and the only one identified outside the United States, the National Archives said on Thursday as it unveiled the find ahead of this weekend's 250th anniversary of American independence. This version was printed in Exeter, New Hampshire, July 16 to 19, 1776.

But it isn’t just the age of t he document that makes it important. It is also the fact that it was captured from a ship under the direction of the recently formed Continental Congress, with orders signed by its president, John Hancock, said Amanda Bevan, head of the National Archives’ project to catalog the correspondence of Royal Navy captains during the American Revolution.

While the public has heard about the dreadful conditions faced by the Continental Army at places like Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, little attention has been given to the Americans who went to sea to disrupt British trade and battle the mighty Royal Navy, Bevan said.

Discovery offers a nod to what was at stake

Finding a copy of the Declaration of Independence on board ship also suggests how it might have been used, Bevan said. She believes the Dalton’s captain would have read out his orders, as was customary, and also the declaration itself.

“They know why they’re fighting, but this puts it in a language which makes it greater than them,’’ Bevan said. “They’re not fighting because they’re aggrieved in particular. They’re fighting for an ideal. And I think that just to find the declaration in a theater of war where people are committing themselves to fight for their country on the wide ocean is really something special.”

As a privateer, the 18-gun Dalton was a privately owned vessel that fought under the auspices of the Continental Congress to supplement the tiny navy of the new nation.

Captain Thomas Fitzherbert, commander of the 64-gun HMS Raisonnable, chased the Dalton for seven hours on Christmas Eve 1776 before capturing her off the coast of Portugal. The Dalton’s 120-man crew was imprisoned in Plymouth, England, under harsh conditions.

Charles Hebert, who was just 19 when he was captured, described hunger, illness and repeated punishment in the journals he kept during more than two years of captivity before his release in a prisoner exchange.

Despite it all, many survived.

The joy of discovery is shared by Americans

Historians in the United States are also excited about the National Archives’ discovery.

This copy of the Declaration of Independence provides a direct link to the Dalton’s captain, who carried news of American independence to the world, said Matthew Skic, director of collections and exhibitions at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia.

“It’s not just a document, it’s an artifact,” he said. “It’s a tangible connection to the past, because holding that piece of paper in the archivist’s hand today is a way to transport us back to 1776. The baton being passed, in a way.”

The discovery is also proof that there’s still more for historians to uncover, Skic said.

“Even though 250 years has gone by, we still do not know everything about the American Revolution, and there are still finds left to be discovered.”

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The investigation comes as birthright citizenship has returned to the national spotlight.

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court limited the ability of lower courts to issue nationwide injunctions against President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to restrict birthright citizenship, while leaving broader constitutional questions unresolved. Trump has since called on Congress to address concerns about the practice.

Local 10 News first reported on the concierge service months ago.

The company, Have My Baby in Miami, promotes services for pregnant women around the world seeking to give birth in South Florida.

Its social media pages identify Dr. Wladimir Lorentz, a Miami pediatrician, as the creator of the service and encourage prospective clients by saying he “will love helping you be a mom in the United States.”

Texas Congressman Brandon Gill referenced the company while discussing birth tourism.

“Have My Baby in Miami — that’s the name of an actual company that’s facilitating birth tourism in the United States,” Gill said.

In a letter sent to Lorentz in May, the House Oversight Committee announced it had opened an investigation into the company.

The letter states, in part: “While it is not inherently illegal for a foreign traveler to give birth in the United States, willfully misrepresenting one’s intentions to enter the country on a temporary visitor visa is a violation of current law and considered visa fraud.”

Local 10 News has repeatedly sought comment from Lorentz by phone, email and text but has not received a response.

On Wednesday, a Local 10 News crew went to Lorentz’s listed office in North Miami Beach. Staff members said he was not at the clinic, took the station’s contact information and asked the crew to leave.

Seis de ellos eran del condado de Broward y el séptimo del vecino condado de Palm Beach.

Según los informes de detención, los detectives utilizaron varios sitios web y aplicaciones en los que se hicieron pasar por chicos o chicas adolescentes, o, en un sitio web, por un “primo mayor” que explotaba sexualmente a una niña de 15 años.

Según los informes, a los hombres con los que conversaron se les indicó que se dirigieran a un hotel en Dania Beach.

Ryan Thorpe Walker, de cincuenta años, cuya dirección figura como una oficina de correos y centro de distribución en Oakland Park, está acusado de intentar reunirse con un adolescente, mientras que Marco Ramirez Linares, de 22 años y residente de Hollywood, está acusado de ofrecer 100 dólares a cambio de sexo con una adolescente.

Según los detectives, algunos de los sospechosos mintieron sobre su edad.

Según los agentes, Zubaer Ashar, de 27 años y residente de Greenacres, dijo tener 17 años y le preguntó a su supuesto “primo” si una chica de 15 años a la que le ofrecía 150 dólares por tener relaciones sexuales con ella “tomaba anticonceptivos”.

Kyle Andrew Rosenthal, de 32 años y residente de Coral Springs, declaró que tenía 30 años cuando intentó reunirse con quien creía que era una niña de 14 años, según la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Broward (BSO).

Según los informes de detención, al menos dos de los sospechosos reconocieron que lo que estaban haciendo podría llevarlos a la cárcel.

Los agentes dijeron que cuando Grant Ryan Werner, de 25 años y residente de Dania Beach, se dio cuenta de que estaba chateando con quien creía que era un chico de 15 años, dijo: “No sé, jajaja, en el fondo no me molesta, pero no quiero meterme en problemas”.

Las autoridades dijeron que Werner también le dijo al supuesto adolescente, antes del encuentro planeado, “sí, jaja, básicamente puedo ser acusado de pedófilo (sic) lol”.

Según los agentes, Luis Chifundo Ortiz, de 23 años y residente de Pembroke Pines, le dijo a quien creía que era un chico de 15 años: “Recuerda que no eres mayor de edad” y “No tienes 18 años o más, así que tengo que tenerlo en cuenta”.

Un comunicado de prensa de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Broward (BSO, por sus siglas en inglés) indica que los hombres arrestados enfrentan diversos cargos, entre ellos “trata de personas de un menor, viajar para encontrarse con un menor, solicitar servicios sexuales a un menor, posesión de MDMA e incumplimiento de la libertad condicional”.

Según la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Broward (BSO, por sus siglas en inglés), los agentes también indicaron que durante la operación, “diez víctimas fueron rescatadas y conectadas con recursos esenciales como refugio, atención médica y asesoramiento para ayudarlas a reconstruir sus vidas”.

“Además, una de las víctimas fue identificada como una adolescente que se había escapado de casa y provenía de otra ciudad”, indica el comunicado de prensa de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Broward (BSO). “Se reunió con su familia y se le ofrecieron amplios servicios de apoyo”.

Operaciones similares también tuvieron lugar recientemente en el condado de Miami-Dade .

La investigación surge mientras la ciudadanía por nacimiento vuelve a estar en el centro del debate nacional.

Esta semana, la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos limitó la capacidad de los tribunales inferiores para emitir órdenes judiciales de alcance nacional contra la orden ejecutiva del presidente Donald Trump que busca restringir la ciudadanía por nacimiento, mientras dejó sin resolver cuestiones constitucionales más amplias. Desde entonces, Trump ha instado al Congreso a abordar las preocupaciones sobre esta práctica.

Local 10 News informó por primera vez sobre este servicio de conserjería hace varios meses.

La empresa, Have My Baby in Miami, promociona servicios para mujeres embarazadas de todo el mundo que buscan dar a luz en el sur de Florida.

Sus páginas en redes sociales identifican al Dr. Wladimir Lorentz, pediatra de Miami, como el creador del servicio y animan a las posibles clientas al afirmar que “estará encantado de ayudarla a convertirse en madre en Estados Unidos”.

El congresista por Texas Brandon Gill hizo referencia a la empresa al hablar sobre el turismo de parto.

“Have My Baby in Miami, ese es el nombre de una empresa real que está facilitando el turismo de parto en Estados Unidos”, dijo Gill.

En una carta enviada a Lorentz en mayo, el Comité de Supervisión de la Cámara de Representantes anunció que había abierto una investigación sobre la empresa.

La carta señala, en parte: “Si bien no es inherentemente ilegal que una extranjera dé a luz en Estados Unidos, tergiversar deliberadamente sus intenciones para ingresar al país con una visa temporal de visitante constituye una violación de la ley vigente y se considera fraude de visa”.

Local 10 News ha intentado en repetidas ocasiones obtener comentarios de Lorentz por teléfono, correo electrónico y mensajes de texto, pero no ha recibido respuesta.

El miércoles, un equipo de Local 10 News acudió a la oficina de Lorentz registrada en North Miami Beach. El personal indicó que el médico no se encontraba en la clínica, tomó la información de contacto de la estación y pidió al equipo que se retirara.

Ana Lorena Delgadillo y Aua Baldé, expertas del Grupo de Trabajo, se refirieron en conferencia de prensa al trabajo realizado durante la visita, que incluyó reuniones con el presidente guatemalteco, Bernardo Arévalo, organizaciones no gubernamentales y familiares de las víctimas.

Las expertas explicaron que aunque el gobierno de Arévalo ha dado muestras de avances con proyectos como el Plan de Reparación y Dignificación de las Víctimas del Conflicto Armado Interno en Guatemala y un mecanismo de búsqueda de desaparecidos de ese conflicto y del fenómeno de la migración, aún no hay acceso a archivos militares ni instalaciones, una de las deudas a las víctimas que acusan a la institución armada de haber sido los ejecutores de sus familiares.

Delgadillo relató que como parte de su trabajo realizaron una visita al destacamento militar ubicado en Petén, al norte del país y fronterizo con México, y que en el lugar los militares no permitieron hacer un recorrido por las instalaciones.

“Según las entrevistas a víctimas, (el ejército) se ubica como uno de los principales perpetradores de atrocidades (durante la guerra); la sorpresa fue que en el lugar se están llevando a cabo construcciones donde podría haber restos de víctimas”, señaló Delgadillo.

Baldé explicó que se trata de construcciones recientes de viviendas para personal militar realizadas sin protocolos de conservación del lugar y que solicitaron al gobierno guatemalteco detener la construcción.

Durante 36 años, entre 1960 y 1996, Guatemala vivió un conflicto armado entre el ejército y grupos guerrilleros que según informes de la verdad dejaron unos 200.000 muertos y 45.000 desaparecidos. Los informes también revelaron que el ejército y grupos paramilitares fueron responsables del 93% de los crímenes, el otro 7% se lo atribuyen a la guerrilla.

“Nos tocó el corazón ver el tremendo maltrato que han tenido las víctimas, no solamente hubo un abandono, encima las criminalizaron, las persiguen y algunas hasta las desaparecieron por hacer la búsqueda (de sus familiares)”, dijo Delgadillo de origen mexicano.

La experta reconoció la resiliencia de los familiares de las víctimas y de organizaciones de la sociedad civil que a 30 años de finalizado el conflicto aún mantienen la búsqueda de sus familiares.

“(Durante años) se abandonó a las comunidades dejándolas además sin acceso a servicios básicos, salud, salud mental y siguen dando una gran batalla porque se sepa la verdad y encontrar a los desaparecidos”, dijo Delgadillo.

Las expertas explicaron que, tras la firma de los Acuerdos de Paz que pusieron fin a la guerra, se crearon instituciones de paz, pero que en los pasados gobiernos de Jimmy Morales (2016-2020) y Alejandro Giammattei (2020-2024) las mismas se desmantelaron.

Delgadillo atribuyó a varios factores el dejar sin apoyo a las víctimas, como la llegada al poder de actores “antidemocráticos”, la influencia que ha tenido el poder militar, económico en las instituciones y "un ánimo negacionista de querer ocultar lo que ocurrió en el conflicto armado y que hubo genocidio, esto ha dejado huellas profundas”, acotó.

El grupo que en febrero denunció que la exfiscal Consuelo Porras podría estar involucrada en presuntas adopciones irregulares en el país, durante la época del conflicto, dijo que la exfiscal también desmanteló la fiscalía y que durante su gestión “estaba más enfocada a la defensa de los victimarios que de las víctimas”.

El grupo que también mantiene interés en la desaparición de personas por la migración reclamó que instituciones del Estado guatemalteco como la cancillería, el registro de personas o la Dirección de Migración no tengan coordinaciones para centralizar información sobre migrantes desaparecidos y que además la fiscalía no reciba denuncian por migrantes desaparecidos.

El grupo presentará su informe final sobre sus hallazgos en la 66ta sesión del Consejo de Derechos Humanos de Naciones Unidas en septiembre de 2027. La presidencia guatemalteca no se pronunció de inmediato sobre el resumen dado por las expertas.

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Video showed the players boarding the buses. Fans were kept at a distance, making it difficult to see the players as they headed to practice.

Loyal Argentina fans came from all over to see the team.

One father and son, who had just been in Dallas to watch Argentina, are now in Miami. They came to get a glimpse of the players and hope to get a jersey signed at some point.

Fans shared what they were hoping to see.

“I hope they’re going to wave,” one fan said.

When asked if they had been surprised by the team, another fan said there was no pressure, so “you don’t know what he’s going to do now.”

Another fan, Bruno Martinez, said he wasn’t surprised by how well Argentina has looked.

“There are too many strong teams in the World Cup,” Martinez said. “If you want to beat Argentina, you need to fight a lot -- you need to fight, fight a lot.”

Un video mostró a los jugadores abordando los autobuses. Los aficionados fueron mantenidos a distancia, lo que dificultó ver a los jugadores mientras se dirigían al entrenamiento.

Fieles seguidores de Argentina llegaron desde distintos lugares para ver al equipo.

Un padre y su hijo, que acababan de estar en Dallas para ver jugar a Argentina, ahora están en Miami. Fueron con la esperanza de ver de cerca a los jugadores y conseguir que, en algún momento, les firmaran una camiseta.

Los aficionados compartieron lo que esperaban ver.

“Espero que nos saluden”, dijo un aficionado.

Al ser consultado sobre si el equipo lo había sorprendido, otro aficionado dijo que no había presión, por lo que “no sabes qué va a hacer ahora”.

Otro aficionado, Bruno Martínez, dijo que no le sorprendía el buen desempeño que ha mostrado Argentina.

“Hay demasiados equipos fuertes en la Copa del Mundo”, dijo Martínez. “Si quieres vencer a Argentina, tienes que luchar mucho; tienes que luchar, luchar mucho”.

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No one has heard from Chelsea Bonnell since she flew to Miami from Michigan by herself more than a month ago.

She has been missing for more than a month.

“Something doesn’t feel right, especially as a mother,” said Michelle Clauw, Chelsea’s mother. “We’re worried. It’s been hell.”

Clauw said Chelsea flew from her home in Michigan to Miami on May 24. She traveled alone on a one-way ticket.

Two days later, on May 26, security video showed Chelsea walking into a Publix in Jupiter.

But there has been no communication with her friends or family.

“I started contacting her around June 1, and her phone was off,” Clauw said. “I was like, OK, maybe she needed a break.”

On June 2, Chelsea’s debit card was used at a Dunkin’ in West Palm Beach.

But since then, there has been nothing.

There has been no contact, no activity on her debit card and no sign of Chelsea for nearly a month.

“It’s unexplainable,” Clauw said. “It hurts, and it’s killing me because this is not her. She would call one of us.”

After spending a month making calls from Michigan, Clauw and several family members are now in Palm Beach County.

They have been hanging missing posters anywhere and everywhere and visiting businesses where Chelsea may have gone, but they have come up empty.

“It’s not like her, and we do fear that she may be with somebody that’s not allowing contact to us because this is just not her,” Clauw said. “I just want her back. I just want to know she’s OK.”

West Palm Beach police confirmed they have been in contact with police in Michigan. They are asking anyone with information about Chelsea’s whereabouts to come forward.

Nadie ha tenido noticias de Chelsea Bonnell desde que viajó sola de Michigan a Miami hace más de un mes.

Chelsea ha estado desaparecida por más de un mes.

“Algo no se siente bien, especialmente como madre”, dijo Michelle Clauw, madre de Chelsea. “Estamos preocupados. Ha sido un infierno”.

Clauw dijo que Chelsea viajó desde su casa en Michigan a Miami el 24 de mayo. Viajó sola con un boleto solo de ida.

Dos días después, el 26 de mayo, un video de seguridad mostró a Chelsea entrando a un Publix en Jupiter.

Pero desde entonces no ha tenido comunicación con sus amigos ni con su familia.

“Empecé a comunicarme con ella alrededor del 1 de junio y su teléfono estaba apagado”, dijo Clauw. “Pensé: “Está bien, tal vez necesitaba un descanso””.

El 2 de junio, la tarjeta de débito de Chelsea fue utilizada en un Dunkin’ en West Palm Beach.

Pero desde entonces no ha habido nada.

No ha habido contacto, actividad en su tarjeta de débito ni rastro de Chelsea durante casi un mes.

“No tiene explicación”, dijo Clauw. “Duele y me está matando porque ella no es así. Ella nos habría llamado a alguno de nosotros”.

Después de pasar un mes haciendo llamadas desde Michigan, Clauw y varios familiares ahora se encuentran en el condado Palm Beach.

Han colocado carteles de persona desaparecida en todos los lugares posibles y han visitado negocios a los que Chelsea pudo haber ido, pero no han encontrado ninguna pista.

“Ella no es así y tememos que pueda estar con alguien que no le permita comunicarse con nosotros porque esta simplemente no es ella”, dijo Clauw. “Solo quiero que regrese. Solo quiero saber que está bien”.

La Policía de West Palm Beach confirmó que ha estado en contacto con las autoridades de Michigan. Pide a cualquier persona que tenga información sobre el paradero de Chelsea que se comunique con las autoridades.

Those assisting in recovery include Miami and Miami-Dade firefighters.

One of those firefighters is Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s Maggie Castro, who spoke to Local 10 News via video call from Venezuela on Thursday. She’s in the country with Florida Task Force One‘s urban search and rescue team and assisting the U.S. Department of State.

She described difficult experiences in the country.

“We had one particular incident a couple of nights ago where we heard (victims) tapping and we were there for about eight hours working on this one site and we continued working until, unfortunately, we no longer heard the signs of life that had us start the mission,” she said. “(Their) son was there and he broke down crying, because he understood that we did try everything that we could. He was so grateful that we never gave up.

“We brought him closure, and that’s sometimes just as important, and sometimes that’s what we can hope, that we could bring these families, it’s such an honor to be able to do this with them.”

Castro described the scale of the destruction as unprecedented.

“The situation is dire,” she said. “The level of destruction is something that a lot of us have never seen before.”

Castro likened the sheer devastation it to another tragedy South Floridians are intimately familiar with.

“This is Surfside in so many different locations,” she said. “There’s just so many different levels of devastation. There are some (buildings) that are completely pancaked. There are some that are still leaning over. The buildings are very unstable. There are some that are partially collapsed with just giant pieces hanging over the top.”

Rescuers’ difficult work continues around the clock in Venezuela. Castro said it’s taken a physical and emotional toll for responders. But she and her colleagues have taken lessons learned from the Surfside collapse ― which became difficult to bear for rescuers ― to heart.

“A lot of advances in the mental health came out of Surfside, which I’m so happy for and it’s something that’s discussed openly in the environment,” she said. “We have little areas where the team can kind of just get together, grab something to eat, and you hear people checking in on each other, you hear people asking each other, ‘How you doing?’ ‘Hey, I heard you guys were out late last night, how was that?’ And everybody’s offering everyone opportunities to talk about what we’re seeing and what we’re doing.

“That’s all that it takes in this type of an environment, is for us to be able to lean on one another, be able to keep an eye on each other’s backs, and everybody is doing that. I have to say that I’m really so incredibly proud of the team, of the way that we’re supporting one another. It’s been really impressive to watch.”

Castro said the mission to save lives fuels their daily efforts.

“The people of Venezuela are so resilient and it’s so important to them to make sure they find all their loved ones, and watching them never give up and never hold back ― whether they’re trained to do this or not ― is something that’s so inspirational to our team.

“As long as we have signs of life, we are there with them.”

La administradora municipal, Rickelle Williams, dijo que hay buenas noticias para los contribuyentes.

“Para llevar a cabo el proyecto, ahora hemos reducido aproximadamente $50,000,000 USD del costo para hacerlo realidad”, dijo Williams.

El costo inicial de $267,000,000 USD se redujo a aproximadamente $217,000,000 USD.

La propuesta incluye remodelar un edificio de oficinas existente en el sitio de la Torre 101, ubicado en Northeast First Street y Third Avenue, o convertir el antiguo tribunal federal, ubicado al otro lado de la calle, en el nuevo Ayuntamiento.

Una tercera opción es un edificio de oficinas de gran altura en 1 East Broward, en Fort Lauderdale.

La reducción del costo fue posible, en parte, gracias a la disminución de los honorarios de los desarrolladores y diseñadores, así como a la reestructuración de las condiciones del calendario general de pagos del proyecto.

“Queríamos asegurarnos de poder trazar una hoja de ruta sin importar el resultado ni la decisión que tomara la Comisión de la Ciudad”, dijo Williams.

El antiguo Ayuntamiento ha permanecido fuera de servicio durante los últimos años después de sufrir graves daños por las inundaciones causadas por las lluvias récord.

Sin importar cuál de las tres opciones apruebe finalmente la Comisión de la Ciudad, el nuevo Ayuntamiento incorporará principios fundamentales, entre ellos ser rentable, innovador y establecer un referente para la historia y las artes.

A court record shows the video was submitted as evidence in federal court in Dallas, where Pooh Shiesty and eight others have been indicted on kidnapping and extortion charges. Prosecutors say the victims were robbed at gunpoint after traveling to the city to discuss Pooh Shiesty's recording contract with Mane's 1017 Records.

The victims have only been referred to by their initials in court documents. One, R.D., is described as the owner of 1017 Records. Mane's legal name is Radric Delantic Davis. The song “Crash Dummy,” which Gucci Mane released this spring, includes the lyrics: “I thought it was a business meeting, but it was a set up.”

The court document was filed by prosecutors in response to a motion Pooh Shiesty filed last month proposing home confinement, arguing that the evidence against him did not warrant keeping him in custody pending trial, as was ordered by a judge in April.

But prosecutors said in their filing that the motion from Pooh Shiesty, whose legal name is Lontrell Williams Jr., should be denied and that evidence against him was “extraordinarily strong.”

Prosecutors said they have the cooperation of all five victims and witnesses in the case and cellphone location data. There is also surveillance video placing the defendants at the scene, according to prosecutors, in addition to the video of the owner of 1017 Records being forced to declare that Pooh Shiesty was “dropped” from his label.

Prosecutors said in the filing that just before that video was made, Pooh Shiesty produced a printed contractual release for the record label owner to sign. The man initially refused but signed after Pooh Shiesty allegedly pointed an AK-style pistol his head.

Prosecutors also said BIG30, whose legal name is Rodney Wright, recorded the video with his cellphone while another defendant blocked the door holding a firearm that resembled an AK-47 style rifle.

According to prosecutors, Pooh Shiesty robbed the record label owner of about $450,000 worth of items including his wedding band, a watch, a pair of earrings and cash.

Prosecutors have said that at the time of the alleged confrontation, Pooh Shiesty was on home confinement for a prior firearms conspiracy conviction out of Florida and was required to wear an electronic monitoring device.

Attorneys for Pooh Shiesty and BIG30 did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Thursday.

Gucci Mane is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of trap music alongside fellow Atlanta rappers T.I. and Jeezy. He emerged in the mid-2000s with his breakout single “Icy” and went on to build a vast catalog.

Joseph’s colleagues are now responding with concern.

Calling his conduct “egregious,” members of the House Ethics Committee said he ignored requests and subpoenas to testify and produce documents as it followed a web of potentially illegal donations involving then-U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Florida.

Joseph chairs a political committee with Cherfilus-McCormick’s brother and is alleged to have funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars from an oil company executive doing business with the Haitian government.

The contempt report said Joseph refused to comply, despite extensions and accommodations, and did not offer justification for that failure.

Last spring, the interim results of an unrelated internal city investigation found Joseph’s actions put the city at “legal, financial and ethical risk,” documenting questionable spending and interfering with North Miami Beach employees.

North Miami Beach Commissioner Lynn Su called Joseph being held in contempt of Congress “deeply concerning.”

“Public officials have a responsibility to respect the legal process, cooperate with lawful oversight and uphold the public’s trust,” she said.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Fortuna Smukler said that Joseph “needs to stop trying to ruin the reputation of people and that of the city, and he needs to look in the mirror.”

Joseph, in an email to Local 10 News late on Thursday afternoon, commented on the matter, calling the Ethics Committee report “inaccurate” and saying that he was not served subpoenas in the way he had asked to be served.

He said he contacted his attorneys to have the committee “rescind their report and recommendation.”

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Six of them were from Broward County and the seventh was from neighboring Palm Beach County.

According to arrest reports, detectives used various websites and apps in which they posed as teenage boys or girls, or, on one website, an “older cousin” pimping a 15-year-old girl.

The men they chatted with were directed to go to a hotel in Dania Beach, the reports state.

Fifty-year-old Ryan Thorpe Walker, whose address is listed as a post office and distribution facility in Oakland Park, is accused of trying meet a teenage boy, while Marco Ramirez Linares, 22, of Hollywood, is accused of offering $100 for sex with a teenage girl.

Some of the suspects lied about their ages, detectives said.

Deputies said Zubaer Ashar, 27, of Greenacres, said he was 17 and asked the purported “cousin” whether a 15-year-old girl he was offering $150 for sex with was “on birth control.”

Kyle Andrew Rosenthal, 32, of Coral Springs, said he was 30 when attempting to meet up with who he thought was a 14-year-old girl, according to BSO.

At least two of the suspects acknowledged what they were doing could land them in jail, arrest reports state.

Deputies said when Grant Ryan Werner, 25, of Dania Beach, found out he was chatting with who he thought was a 15-year-old boy, he said, “Idkkk lol I’m low key ok with it but I don’t want to get in trouble.”

Authorities said Werner also told the purported teen, before the planned meetup, “yea haha I can Basically be charged as a pedofile (sic) lol.”

Deputies said Luis Chifundo Ortiz, 23, of Pembroke Pines, told who he thought was a 15-year-old boy, “Remember that you’re not legal” and, “You’re not 18+, so I have to be aware of that.”

A BSO news release states that the men arrested all face various charges, including “human trafficking of a minor, traveling to meet a minor, solicitation of a minor, possession of MDMA and violation of probation.”

According to BSO, deputies additionally said that during their operation, “ten victims were rescued and connected to critical resources such as shelter, medical care and counseling to help them rebuild their lives.”

“Additionally, one of the victims was identified as a teenage runaway from out of town,” the BSO news release states. “She was reunited with her family and offered extensive support services.”

Similar stings also recently took place in Miami-Dade County.

Officials in both counties have tied the stings to the FIFA World Cup. Local 10 News asked BSO about why the agency is increasing enforcement of this operation around the World Cup?”

“Any major event will draw in more crowds more visitors to our community and so that is the reason why law enforcement will proactively perform and conduct these investigations,” BSO spokesperson Miranda Grossman said.

There has been no direct connection, however, between the World Cup and any arrests.

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The man was identified by the Broward Sheriff’s Office as Bart Diguglielmo, of Lauderhill.

According to BSO, the shooting was reported just before 12:30 p.m. Tuesday in the parking lot of the Walmart, located at 7900 W. McNab Road.

Deputies and North Lauderdale Fire Rescue medics responded to the scene and found Diguglielmo suffering from a gunshot wound, authorities said.

Deputies said paramedics transported Diguglielmo to Broward Health Medical Center, where he died.

Local 10 exclusively obtained video showing the moments that the fatal shooting occurred.

According to BSO, Diguglielmo and a woman had gotten into an argument over a parking space prior to the shooting.

Deputies said the woman remained at the scene after the shooting and claimed she shot Diguglielmo in self-defense.

Detectives confirmed that the woman was detained for questioning and is cooperating in the investigation.

The victim’s daughter, who asked to be identified only as Amanda, was in tears as she described her father during a Zoom interview with Local 10 News, calling him a “good man” who previously served in the military.

She told Local 10’s Rosh Lowe that nobody “deserves to lose their life over a parking spot.”

Amanda told Lowe that she was “hesitant to do the interview,” but said she wanted her dad “to be remembered for who he was and not who the media is portraying him to be.”

“I heard one news site say it was over a parking spot,” Amanda said. “Another says it was because my dad was making some type of advance towards the woman, which I will completely debunk because my dad is not that person. He’s not perfect, but not someone that would do this to this extreme.”

Amanda said she had been estranged from her dad for many years, but they had recently been working on repairing their relationship.

Detectives said upon the completion of the investigation, the case will be presented to the Broward County State Attorney’s Office to determine whether criminal charges will be filed against the woman who shot Diguglielmo.

The woman’s identity has not been released.

A BSO spokesperson told Local 10 News that the agency has not received any updates and “the case will be presented to the Broward County State Attorney’s Office to determine if criminal charges will be filed.”

A memo obtained Thursday by The Associated Press calls for the FBI to “surge” 260 investigative analysts and staff operations specialists to the effort, which it described as a “priority investigation.”

It said each of them is to conduct a check of an estimated 708 records by July 17. While the memo does not describe the investigation, people familiar with the matter who insisted on anonymity to discuss internal decision-making confirmed the request was to help with the Georgia 2020 election investigation.

FBI agents in January seized hundreds of boxes containing ballots and other documents related to the 2020 election in Georgia’s most populous county, which is heavily Democratic and includes most of the city of Atlanta. A Fulton County spokesperson declined to comment citing a pending investigation. The contents of the memo were first reported by MS NOW.

President Donald Trump and his allies have made false claims that widespread election fraud cost him the 2020 election. Georgia’s votes in the 2020 presidential race were counted three times, including once by hand, and each count affirmed Democrat Joe Biden’s win.

The Justice Department has previously said it is investigating “irregularities that occurred during the 2020 presidential election in the County."

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Durkin Richer and Tucker reported from Washington.

Even coach Mauricio Pochettino, who was born in Argentina and lives in Spain, got in on the act after Wednesday's 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, belting out the words to Denver's anthem as he hugged his players and staff members.

“Country Roads” cowriter Bill Danoff told The Associated Press that he's honored that the U.S. team has embraced the song, and that Denver, who died in a plane crash in 1997, would have relished watching the most recent match.

“It was such an exciting game — they were down a player with a red card, but they still won,” said Danoff, who has started to become more of a soccer fan in recent weeks, partially due to the “Country Roads” connection. “I thought, ‘Gee, I wish John was still here.’ John got super excited about stuff like that, and it would have been fun to watch that game with him.”

The John Denver estate told the AP that it is “thrilled” by the song’s latest revival at the World Cup, saying “Country Roads” has endured because its message transcends geography, and that its “simple, clear, and relatable” lyrics make it perfect for a sing-along.

“Everyone knows what ‘Take me home to the place I belong’ is about,” the estate said Thursday. “It’s not limited to West Virginia.”

Here’s how a song inspired by a Maryland drive became a World Cup anthem.

The song has its origins in Maryland, not West Virginia

Despite the lyrics' heartfelt embrace of West Virginia, Danoff has said the inspiration for the song came from a drive he and his then-wife, cowriter Taffy Nivert, took along Maryland's winding Clopper Road to attend a family reunion in Gaithersburg, some 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of the West Virginia border.

“I just started thinking, country roads, I started thinking of me growing up in western New England and going on all these small roads,” Danoff told Washington's WRC-TV in 2020. “It didn’t have anything to do with Maryland or anyplace.”

At the time, Danoff hadn't spent considerable time in West Virginia. He was familiar, though, with Appalachian music broadcast from Wheeling, West Virginia's famous WWVA radio station, which he listened to while growing up in Springfield, Massachusetts. Danoff said he was also inspired by the West Virginia-born actor Chris Sarandon, as well as the West Virginian members of a commune who would frequently attend his gigs.

Danoff said he and Nivert were planning to try to sell the song to Johnny Cash, but when they played an unfinished version one night in their apartment for their friend John Denver, the singer-songwriter convinced them to let him record it instead. The song, released in 1971, turned into Denver's biggest hit and has been a mainstay for decades.

“I don’t know all of the ways that song must have touched people, but I’m grateful that I have somehow been able to say something that has meaning for others,” Denver wrote years later.

‘Country Roads’ finds a new stage at the World Cup

According to The Athletic, FIFA officials added “Country Roads” to its postgame playlist options in hopes of creating a shared moment between the U.S. team and its supporters.

It made its debut at the end of the U.S.'s second match as the players celebrated their 2-0 win over Australia in Seattle. The song was an immediate hit both inside the stadium and on social media, as fans embraced the scenes of U.S. players waving to fans as they sang the lyrics.

“You could feel the connection with the fans,” midfielder Weston McKennie told reporters after the match.

John Denver's song didn't get quite the same reception on June 25 at Los Angeles Stadium, as it came after a deflating, though insignificant, last-minute U.S. loss to Turkey.

But it came back in force Wednesday evening in Santa Clara, California, as the U.S. defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina to advance to the round of 16. Perhaps none were more enthusiastic than midfielders McKennie and Sebastian Berhalter, who swung their arms wildly as they wandered around the field while singing to the fans.

During matches not involving the U.S. team, the song has frequently been played during hydration breaks and has also been met with roaring approval from fans who, moments previously, had been booing the start of each hydration break.

‘Country Roads’ has long been a sports staple

It’s hardly the first time that “Country Roads,” has been used by sports fans. It has long been a mainstay at West Virginia University football games, where Mountaineer fans serenade the team after its home victories.

It's even found a home in Europe, where fans have been singing it during the NFL's annual visit to Germany since the first game in Munich in 2022. Fans there were used to singing the song during Oktoberfest celebrations.

And, in the English Premier League, Manchester United supporters years ago tweaked the words to sing about their own “home” — Old Trafford stadium.

England’s players have their own sing-along

While “Country Roads” is the U.S.'s unofficial anthem, the England national team during this tournament has similarly adopted Oasis' “Wonderwall.”

Standing in a line, arms around each other’s shoulders, the English players sang the 1995 hit after their 4-2 opening victory against Croatia, something that captain Harry Kane said was “one of my favorite ever moments in an England shirt.”

The team has been repeating the post-match tradition after each match since.

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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

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The shooting happened on Saturday afternoon outside a McDonald’s located along the 800 block of West Hallandale Beach Boulevard.

According to police, the family arrived to the restaurant and the girl’s mother went inside to pick up food. Remaining inside the vehicle was the victim, her father and two other children ages 2 and 5.

That’s when police said an altercation began in the parking lot, leading to Ralph N-Kosi Blue III, 18, opening fire on another person but striking the vehicle several times instead.

Police said Blue was an employee at the McDonald’s.

Bullets struck two people inside the vehicle; the 11-year-old girl and her father.

According to a GoFundMe page, the girl was shot in the head and had surgery, now receiving specialized medical care while facing a long road to recover.

Her father was shot in the leg and has since been released from the hospital, according to the page.

Police said the incident between Blue and another man had originated outside of Hallandale Beach.

Blue has since been charged with two counts of aggravated battery and two counts of aggravated assault.

La balacera ocurrió la tarde del sábado afuera de un McDonald’s ubicado en la cuadra 800 de West Hallandale Beach Boulevard.

Según la Policía, la familia llegó al restaurante y la madre de la niña entró para recoger la comida. Dentro del vehículo permanecían la víctima, su padre y otros dos niños de 2 y 5 años.

Fue entonces cuando, según la Policía, comenzó un altercado en el estacionamiento, lo que llevó a Ralph N-Kosi Blue III, de 18 años, a abrir fuego contra otra persona, pero en su lugar impactó el vehículo varias veces.

La Policía informó que Blue era empleado del McDonald’s.

Las balas alcanzaron a dos personas que estaban dentro del vehículo: la niña de 11 años y su padre.

Según una página de GoFundMe, la niña recibió un disparo en la cabeza y fue sometida a una cirugía. Ahora recibe atención médica especializada mientras enfrenta un largo proceso de recuperación.

Su padre recibió un disparo en la pierna y desde entonces fue dado de alta del hospital, según la página.

La Policía informó que el incidente entre Blue y otro hombre se originó fuera de Hallandale Beach.

Blue fue acusado de dos cargos de agresión agravada con lesiones y dos cargos de agresión agravada.

Andrés Fernández, padre de Lucy Fernández, de 17 años, quien murió en un accidente de navegación que derivó en un juicio contra el magnate inmobiliario George Pino, posteriormente absuelto, habló el jueves durante una conferencia de prensa sobre la importancia de la seguridad náutica.

Fernández desempeñó un papel clave en la creación de un grupo de trabajo integral sobre seguridad náutica tras la muerte de su hija durante el fin de semana del Día del Trabajo en 2022.

El objetivo es hacer que disfrutar en el agua sea una experiencia más segura para todos.

Algunos de los consejos que compartió Fernández fueron no consumir alcohol si se es el capitán de la embarcación y asegurarse de que haya chalecos salvavidas para todas las personas a bordo.

Fernández también fue una de las principales voces impulsoras de la aprobación de la Ley de Lucy, promulgada en junio de 2025, que aumenta las sanciones para las personas que operan una embarcación de manera imprudente.

Watson, de 42 años, compareció ante un tribunal de Miami-Dade como parte de un acuerdo de culpabilidad relacionado con el incidente ocurrido en Elevation Fitness.

Según los documentos de arresto, Watson dijo a los agentes que acudieron al lugar que estaba entrenando cuando la víctima se le acercó y le dijo que quería pelear. Los investigadores afirman que un video de vigilancia captó a Watson golpeando a la víctima con su cinturón de levantamiento de pesas durante el altercado.

Como parte del acuerdo de culpabilidad, los fiscales ofrecieron a Watson una sentencia de 21 meses de prisión, incluido el tiempo que ya ha cumplido, seguida de siete años de libertad condicional y tratamiento de salud mental.

Durante la audiencia del jueves, el abogado de Watson argumentó que las circunstancias que llevaron a la pelea fueron inusuales.

“En este caso se ha debatido mucho sobre la ley “Stand Your Ground””, dijo el abogado defensor Eric Clemmon. “Lo inusual es que hay una presunta víctima que buscó a alguien por su presencia en internet. Este hombre compró un boleto de avión, viajó desde Nueva Jersey y fue al gimnasio con el único propósito de enfrentar al señor Watson. Eso terminó convirtiéndose en otra cosa”.

Watson es un delincuente convicto y también enfrenta múltiples cargos penales no relacionados en el condado Broward, entre ellos agresión grave, agresión agravada, manipulación de testigos y acusaciones relacionadas con violencia doméstica contra su novia.

Watson tiene previsto regresar a la corte el 27 de julio para la lectura de su sentencia en el caso de Miami-Dade.

The 16-count indictment against Republican Liz Murrill, handed up by a New Orleans grand jury, charges Louisiana’s first female attorney general with intimidation and malfeasance. At the center of the case are deepening rifts between state leaders in Louisiana, which is heavily Republican, and Democrats who control the state’s most prominent city.

Republican Gov. Jeff Landry promised a swift pardon, saying Murrill would not have her reputation tarnished by an “Orleans Kangaroo court.” Mayor Helena Moreno, a Democrat, was among those who had accused the state’s top law enforcement official in May of making threats against public officials.

Murrill called the case against her “retaliatory, meritless, and unconstitutional." Late Thursday, Murrill said she had filed for an emergency stay with the Louisiana Supreme Court.

“I will not back down. I will continue enforcing the law, fighting corruption, and doing the job the people of Louisiana elected me to do,” she wrote on X.

For months, political tensions intensified between Louisiana Republicans and New Orleans officials over a new law that abolished a court clerk office won by an exoneree, Calvin Duncan, who spent nearly three decades in prison. The change consolidated that job with another clerk's office, which Republican supporters said would make the local judicial system more efficient.

The change was staunchly opposed by New Orleans leaders, and in May, the city council set a special election that would have given Duncan a chance to win the newly combined job. Murrill responded by warning local officials in letters that they could lose their offices for violating state “usurper” laws, which forbid support for an unauthorized officeholder.

“We’re very interested in elected officials in New Orleans not being intimidated or threatened by letter or any other way,” special prosecutor Laurie White told reporters.

Bond set for Louisiana attorney general

Bond for Murrill was set at $400,000 on Thursday, according to court records.

Landry said he was ordering state police to investigate what he called “alleged improprieties” of the grand jury and those who ran it.

“The criminal justice system is a circus at its finest in Orleans and we will not have any of that!” he wrote on X.

The Republican Attorneys General Association said that making statements to local officials — in writing — was simply “issuing a legal opinion and warning public officials about the law” as part of her official duties. It called the indictment “as outrageous as it is dangerous.”

Moreno, who was elected in January and was defiant after Murrill sent the letters, on Thursday called it a “matter for the courts” and did not directly address the allegations.

“My focus, as always, remains on fulfilling the responsibilities the people of New Orleans elected me to carry out,” Moreno said.

Elected clerk says state targeted him

Duncan has said he believes state officials were retaliating against him in eliminating the job he won with 68% of the vote. Murrill and Landry have long refused to acknowledge his innocence, though he’s listed on the National Registry of Exonerations.

Republicans have said the change was not personal and supporters have noted that the offices of criminal and civil clerks of courts are combined in other parishes.

Duncan was a jailhouse lawyer who later graduated from law school. He founded a nonprofit dedicated to expanding incarcerated people’s access to the court system and was the driving force behind a 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision that ended nonunanimous jury convictions.

Duncan spent more than 28 years in prison over a fatal shooting during a robbery in 1981.

The night before a 2011 hearing to consider new evidence, prosecutors offered to reduce Duncan’s sentence to the time he’d already served in prison if he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and armed robbery. Duncan took the deal and was freed but didn’t give up on clearing his name.

In 2021, a judge agreed that Duncan had been unjustly convicted and vacated his sentence altogether. Landry and Murrill have pointed to the 2011 plea deal in objecting to Duncan calling himself exonerated.

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Associated Press reporter Jack Brook in New Orleans contributed.

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Grieving father Andres Fernandez ― whose 17-year-old daughter, Lucy, was killed during a boating accident that led to a trial for now-acquitted real estate mogul George Pino ― spoke about the importance of boating safety during a press conference on Thursday.

“We want them to just recognize that it is a beautiful thing to do with friends and family, but they need to realize that there is danger, and that at a moment’s notice something could happen,” said Fernandez.

Fernandez played a major role in a comprehensive boating safety task force after his daughter’s death on Labor Day weekend in 2022.

The goal is to make having fun on the water a safer experience for all involved.

Fernandez said despite the passing of time, the hole in your heart doesn’t close.

“We never thought that this could happen to us and, you know, it’s living proof that it can,” said Fernandez. “We’re just so blessed that I get to say her name every day, and I love that.”

Some tips Fernandez and first responders reminded the public about were not drinking alcohol if you’re the captain and making sure there are life jackets for everyone on board.

Fernandez was also a driving voice in the passing of Lucy’s Law, which was signed into law in June 2025, which increases penalties for people who are reckless while operating a vessel on the water.

As for the acquittal of Pino in connection with the boat crash that claimed his daughter’s life, Fernandez said he is disappointed, but respects the jury’s decision.

“We are obviously, you know, disappointed,” he said. “We don’t necessarily agree with the verdict, however, we respect the jury and we respect the jury’s role.”

When the knockout rounds finally arrived Thursday, this star-studded team turned on its full talent and served notice that Spain can be just as good as everybody thought — and it's probably getting better.

Mikel Oyarzabal scored two goals and Spain beat Austria 3-0 for its first World Cup victory in a knockout match since winning the title in 2010.

Pedro Porro added a goal in the second half as La Roja put on its most impressive performance of the tournament while demonstrating offensive creativity and defensive rigor throughout its vaunted lineup.

“The great teams step up when it’s needed,” Spain coach Luis De La Fuente said. “We played a great match. We came close to perfection, but we must keep improving.”

While Oyarzabal, fullback Marc Cucurella and winger Lamine Yamal all had sensational moments in attack, Spain also has yet to allow a goal at this year's World Cup. Austria failed to get a shot on target, so Unai Simón didn't have to make a save while keeping his fourth consecutive clean sheet and setting a World Cup record with 519 consecutive shutout minutes dating back to the last tournament in Qatar.

Everybody in a red shirt was happy after a dominant day in the Los Angeles area — but nobody was satisfied, either.

“I’m happy to have helped the team for us to go through another round,” Oyarzabal said. “Now just rest and get ready for the next one. It was a complicated match. We knew that it was going to be difficult against a very physical team, but we had a very good day and played a good match.”

La Roja will next face Portugal, a 2-1 winner over Croatia, in Dallas on Monday in the round of 16.

Yamal had four of Spain’s 10 shots on goal while getting wild cheers from the pro-Spanish sellout crowd at SoFi Stadium. The 18-year-old Barcelona sensation played his longest stretch of the tournament before coming off in the 85th minute, moments after Austria defender David Alaba deflected Yamal’s hard shot off the goal line.

Spain got its marquee offense from Oyarzabal, the Real Sociedad captain who has four goals at this year's World Cup by opening the scoring in the 36th minute and clinching the victory in the 89th. Cucurella had assists on both of Oyarzabal's goals, demonstrating an excellent connection from the left side.

“Our only focus is to remain thinking that we need to exceed our own expectations,” De La Fuente said. “Today’s match is just the prelude to what’s next, because in the next match we will try to play even better. We have wonderful players. Their behavior, their attitude, their talent is insurmountable.”

Goalkeeper Alexander Schlager made six saves in an outstanding performance for Austria, which reached the knockout rounds of its first World Cup since 1998 by squeaking out a late draw with an injury-time goal against Algeria. Coach Ralf Rangnick’s team hasn’t won a knockout match at the World Cup since 1954.

“I cannot remember any unforced error they made,” Rangnick said of Spain. “I think they showed us their best performance. I would dare to say we did not only meet the European champion, but possibly the next world champion. If you want to win it, you need to win against Spain. But if we had a lucky punch, we could have had a chance.”

Spain is firmly back in World Cup contention for the first time since winning it all in South Africa 16 years ago. La Roja lost two knockout matches and got eliminated in the group stage over the past three World Cups.

But Spain is now unbeaten 35 straight competitive matches since March 2023. La Roja won the 2023 Nations League and the 2024 European Championship in that stretch, but also lost the 2025 Nations League final on penalties to Portugal.

Following a cautious start against Austria, Spain unleashed its full attack after the first-half hydration break. Three minutes after Schlager made a diving fingertip save on Oyarzabal’s low shot, the Spain player came unmarked in the penalty area and coolly converted Cucurella's pass.

Spain kept up its pressure after halftime, playing some of its most creative soccer of the tournament. It was rewarded when Álex Baena broke in on the left side and lifted a pass to an unmarked Porro, who banged home an emphatic header for his first international goal.

“People have their opinions, (but) we’ve been doing our job since Day 1," Porro said. "We believe in ourselves, and whatever people on the outside say is fair enough.”

Oyarzabal wrapped it up by converting another sharp pass from Cucurella.

Simón has only had to make four saves in his four straight shutouts. His World Cup shutout streak of 519 minutes broke the tournament record set by Italy great Walter Zenga at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

Marko Arnautović came on as a second-half substitute for Austria. Rangnick said afterward that the 37-year-old striker had played his final international match.

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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

TJ Friedl also went deep for Cincinnati as the Reds beat the Brewers for the first time in seven attempts this season. Garrett Mitchell homered for Milwaukee.

The game featured two of baseball's best and hardest-throwing pitchers in Burns and Misiorowski. Burns (10-1) earned the win by giving up two runs and four hits. Burns is the only Reds pitcher since at least 1900 to open a season by allowing two runs or fewer in 15 of his first 17 starts.

Misiorowski (9-4) struck out 10 and walked none in five innings while reaching a peak velocity of 103.8 mph, but the five runs he allowed matched a career high. Only one of the runs was earned.

The most recent time Misiorowski allowed five runs came on Aug. 15 of last season, when he lasted only 1 1/3 innings in a 10-8 victory at Cincinnati.

Misiorowski had gone 8-1 with an 0.54 ERA over his last 10 starts.

Stewart put Cincinnati ahead for good in the first inning by hitting his 17th homer, a 402-foot solo shot on a 102.3-mph fastball. According to MLB.com, it was the eighth-fastest pitch to result in a homer since the pitch tracking era began in 2008.

Cincinnati extended its lead to 5-0 by scoring four unearned runs in the fourth inning.

JJ Bleday led off with a bunt and reached safely when first baseman Jake Bauers dropped the bare-handed throw from third baseman David Hamilton. Bleday scored on Noelvi Marte’s one-out single.

The Reds had two on with two outs when Trevino stepped to the plate. Trevino fell behind 0-2 before working the count full and hitting his first homer since June 8, 2025.

Trevino went 3 for 4 to improve his batting average from .192 to .232.

Cincinnati's Sam Moll, Tejay Antone and Brock Burke didn’t allow a baserunner in three innings of relief.

Up next

Reds: Return home to face the Baltimore Orioles. Friday's scheduled starters are Cincinnati's Brady Singer (3-7, 5.12 ERA) and Baltimore's Trevor Rodgers (5-7, 4.99).

Brewers: Begin a season-high, 11-game trip at Arizona. Friday's starting pitchers are Milwaukee's Kyle Harrison (8-1, 2.57) and Arizona's José Cabrera (0-1, 3.60).

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

Elvia and Todd Malcolm were in Telos Township, Maine, about an hour or so from their home in Lincoln, when they saw a female moose along the edge of a wooded area before she turned down a side road.

“I said to Elvia, I said, ‘Grab your phone because you’re going to get a chance to get a picture of a moose,'” Todd Malcolm told The Associated Press.

They parked their truck to watch the moose and noticed she seemed agitated and was grunting as if calling to a calf.

Suddenly, the calf and bear charged out of the trees heading straight toward them. Todd Malcolm said there was no doubt in his mind that the bear would catch the calf and decided not to let nature take its course that day.

“I put the truck in drive and I just stepped on the gas,” he said, explaining that he wasn't trying to hurt the bear, just trying to put the truck between the bear and the calf. “I knew what I had to do and I just did it.”

The bear jumped to the side and streaked off, Todd Malcolm said, “Boom, gone, right in the woods."

His wife was happy and relieved they were able to intervene.

“My heart was racing because I did not want to witness the bear catching the calf,” she said. “As soon as the calf got past the truck and we were able to get the bear to give up the chase, I looked up the road and saw that they were together, the mom and the calf.”

Once the excitement was over, Elvia Malcolm started looking through the photos on her phone and was amazed to see that some clear action shots of the chase.

"I really thought I probably got like a bug on the windshield when I started to look at them,” she said. “I took them through the front windshield of the truck. I wasn’t outside the truck. No way was I getting outside the truck.”

After making sure that the mother moose and calf were reunited and safe, the Malcolms continued to their fishing spot where they caught some brook trout.

Powell was one of scores of Taylor Swift fans and inquisitive passersby who braved the New York City heat Thursday to satiate their curiosity about what many are calling the wedding of the century and the American equivalent of royal nuptials.

The couple are "literally the king and queen of America,” said Kristen Donohue, who stopped by the area surrounding Madison Square Garden Thursday with a fellow Swiftie co-worker on their lunch break.

A law enforcement official briefed on the security plans confirmed to The Associated Press Wednesday that Swift and Kelce will have their wedding at Madison Square Garden on Friday night with a smaller rehearsal dinner planned for Thursday night.

The couple themselves have been mum on the wedding details. Neither has confirmed the festivities will happen on the bustling and hot weekend that coincides with World Cup matches and Fourth of July celebrations. A representative for Swift has not responded to multiple inquiries, including on Thursday.

About 100 guests began arriving at the famed venue at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday — when temperatures were still near the triple digits. The event was for a “pre party celebration,” according to a copy of a city permit obtained by The AP. Heavy security was in place as black sport utility vehicles drove into a large tent to drop off passengers, who then walked through a tented area into the arena.

Several fans stopped by in passing or even made trips to midtown Manhattan expressly to scope out the scene hours before those expected arrivals.

Crews have been seen unloading equipment from trucks this week — much of it covered or obscured — and barricades have been placed near the perimeter of the arena. The aesthetic details of what will happen beyond the loading docks have been shrouded in mystery.

Madison Square Garden sits next to New York Penn Station, one of the nation’s busiest transportation hubs, so it is naturally a lively area on any day. But Thursday afternoon, people lingered longer than usual as they passed through, and there was an increased police presence in the area.

Rachel Latchford and Linda Solano, nurses in a hospital in central Pennsylvania, made the trip to New York to see a Broadway show this weekend, but they said they had to go “see what all the buzz is about," Latchford said. “We’re going to the wedding, baby,” Solano joked on a FaceTime call with a friend.

Latchford acknowledged the heavy police presence, but she said she felt “very protected” and added that “there's been police all over the city this week with Fourth of July.”

A large tent was erected Thursday on 31st Street outside of an entrance to the arena. Tarps were hung to cover the walkway, so the couple and their guests will presumably be blocked from view as they enter and exit. In one spot where glass windows offered a peak inside, pink curtains were hung around 5 p.m., completely obscuring any of the exclusive happenings indoors.

By 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, 31st Street was completely closed off to pedestrians between 7th and 8th avenues. Some disappointed fans lingered near the barricades and boundaries police had set up and were enforcing. They were still hoping to see anything from their limited vantage point.

While many there earlier on Thursday were keeping their eyes peeled for any decor, florals or anything that could give them a sense of what and who might be inside the arena this weekend, much of the motivation to be there for fans was purely out of excitement for Swift herself.

“She's just so important in everyone's life,” said Alyssa Heinen, who was outside the arena Thursday afternoon. “We grew up with Taylor Swift, and just seeing her now find love — I feel like it's inspiring to so many women. It's so nice to see her so happy.”

“When they started dating, it was super exciting and cute and adorable,” said Brittany McCusker, who was with her colleague Donohue on their scouting mission. “It’s really amazing that they don’t have to broadcast anything, they can have it super private. I really respect that, but it’s a bummer that we don’t get to see it too.”

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Associated Press journalist Ted Shaffrey contributed.

The arrest numbers, obtained from a person familiar with the information who spoke anonymously to discuss data that has not been publicly released, comes after the agency shifted its approach from high-profile arrest sweeps in major American cities to quieter ways to reach President Donald Trump's deportation goals.

The figures indicate that while the administration is no longer cracking down on individual cities, the arrests continue and are surging.

The total number of arrests during the five-day period starting Friday and ending Tuesday translates into roughly 2,000 arrests per day. It was not clear where the arrests had taken place.

The spike in arrests was first reported by The New York Times.

“Since Day One, DHS law enforcement has been delivering on President Trump’s promise to the American people to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists,” said the Department of Homeland Security in a statement. “Our message is clear: if you come to our country illegally, we will find you, we will arrest you, and we will deport you.”

The arrests news also comes as the number of people entered into ICE detention facilities climbed in June to roughly 39,000 after hovering around 30,000 per month since February, according to information obtained by The Associated Press.

ICE doesn't publicly release arrest data, making exact comparisons with previous periods difficult. But according to data provided to UC Berkeley’s Deportation Data Project and analyzed by The Associated Press, 2,000 arrests per day would mark a sharp increase over previous periods.

December had the most ICE arrests since the beginning of the Trump administration, and that month only averaged 1,283 arrests per day nationwide.

In January, at a time when the administration flooded the streets of Minneapolis and surrounding regions with hundreds of immigration enforcement officers, arrests averaged about 1,212 per day across the country.

But Minneapolis proved to be a turning point in the Trump administration's mass deportations agenda after two American citizens were killed by immigration officers while protesting the crackdown in Minneapolis.

Border Czar Tom Homan started drawing down the number of officers in Minnesota as the agency stepped back from the flashy surge operations that had been common during the tenure of then- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Operations under Noem headed by former Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino were marked by frequent clashes between immigration enforcement officers and protesters, in footage that was often splashed across the Department's social media channels.

In February, immigration arrests fell to 1,057 a day, according to information from the Deportation Data Project. The Project sued through the Freedom of Information Act to obtain the ICE arrests data and it is only current through February.

After Noem was fired, her successor at Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, suggested he'd be taking a more low-profile approach to immigration enforcement and he aimed to get the department out of the headlines. But Mullin was expected to adopt Trump's priorities on immigration.

Neighbors of the family in tiny Hamden, employees at local stores where they shopped and even the investigators who responded to the scene have been left to wonder that aloud and to themselves, and the limited information shared by investigators doesn't offer a full answer.

The children weren't enrolled in school, the family moved around over the past two decades, and neighbors said they’d never spotted the kids. The children remained mostly confined to a small room in the house, investigators said, under deplorable conditions.

“Right under our noses and nobody was able to help them sooner,” said Emily Collins, 27, owner of VC Farm & Floral in nearby McArthur, as she lamented how the case goes against the grain of the tight-knit community.

“It’s just crazy with all the wonderful things going on in our little Hallmark town and this is what puts us on the radar. It’s really sad,” said the mother of three, who pulled out her chalk and decorated the sidewalk in front of her shop with bright flowers and stars drawn for the Fourth of July to cheer herself up.

Authorities said they had gone to the home Tuesday on an unrelated investigation and discovered the children — ages 1 1/2 to 18 years old — some of whom were unable to speak.

Seven were taken to hospitals, including one who was in critical condition, investigators said. Their current conditions weren't immediately known Thursday. Child welfare officials have temporary custody of the children.

Lawyers: Let the case ‘play out’

Four people who are the children’s parents and grandparents were arrested on child endangerment charges. Gary Siders Jr., 36, Gary Siders, 73, Elizabeth Siders, 33, and Christina Siders, 67, pleaded not guilty to child endangerment. Bond was set at $300,000 each.

The children's mother, Elizabeth Siders, married their father Gary Siders Jr. when she was 15, and all of the children are theirs, her attorney, Thomas Stolly, told The Associated Press. She was “crying and exhausted” when he met with her on Thursday, Stolly said.

“In fact, my client's first question to me when I walked into the jail and introduced myself was about her kids. She asked if her children were OK, she asked if I knew where they were, and she asked when she’d be able to see them again,” Stolly said.

He wasn’t able to answer those questions, “but I thought it was telling that her first concern was not, ‘When can I get out of jail,’ but was ‘Are my children OK.’”

Stolly said his client told him that all of the children were born in area hospitals and she considers herself a full-time mom. She left high school after the 11th grade, he said, and Gary Siders Jr. was driving for Door Dash and looking for another job, he said.

Stolly said the prosecutor’s office has not yet shared their evidence with him, but so far he hasn’t seen anything that supports Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson’s description of the family as “pure evil.”

“Evil requires malice, and I did not see any malice in Elizabeth,” Stolly said.

He added: “I think that this is more so a case of isolation than a case of evil, and I think that there’s an important distinction there. Because if that’s all you know -- and you have to think someone at 15 years old doesn’t know a whole lot about being an adult, about being a mother, about being a wife — and that’s been your worldview for the past 17 or 18 years, you get shaped by that.”

Stolly said Elizabeth didn't characterize herself as a victim, but “I think it may be too early to actually determine what was going on there.”

“While the headlines may be sensational, there’s a real human component to this and so I would ask people to give this process time to play out,” Stolly said.

An attorney for the elder Siders also urged the public to wait before passing judgment.

“We ask that the community at large, as well as anyone who might have an interest in this case, to take a deep breath, step back, and let the case play out and the facts play out,” Dorian Baum told The Associated Press.

Attorneys for Siders Jr. and Christina Siders declined to comment.

Little traffic on home’s rural road

A man who lives three houses down from the Siders family said he had seen “no kids at all” there.

“It’s a sad situation,” said Joseph Stewart, 60, who has lived in the “quiet neighborhood” for six years.

Authorities wouldn’t publicly share the nature of the other investigation that led them to the house Tuesday. However, court records show a warrant was issued for Siders Jr. that day on misdemeanor indecent exposure charges related to alleged incidents on four days in May. He has pleaded not guilty.

On Thursday, windows and doors at the formerly wide-open home, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southeast of Columbus, had been boarded up. Police tape and piles of refuse remained.

The previous day, a door was ajar and heaps of trash and children’s toys were visible inside. A wood deck and the backyard were filled with discarded tires, a high chair and other debris.

The house sits on a road tucked alongside a steep railroad embankment, where tracks carry rumbling trains to a rail yard in the village of fewer than 1,000 residents. The closest neighbors are separated by trees and thick brush, but the house is easily visible from the road.

Kids not seen in schools

Investigators said members of the family had moved around southern Ohio over the past two decades and that it looks like they avoided creating a medical or governmental paper trail. The Vinton County Local School District, the only district in the area, said it has no records indicating that any of the children were ever enrolled.

“These folks were pretty good at hiding these kids,” Wilson, the state attorney general, said Wednesday.

The children’s absence from school, and the apparent lack of regular visits with medical professionals, likely contributed to keeping the dire situation unknown, said Jacqueline Yahn, an associate professor at Ohio University.

“When kids are isolated or not participating, you don’t have someone who’s trained to know the clues,” said Yahn, who specializes in rural education and poverty. “A well-check is called that for a reason: They’re checking for well-being and development.”

Investigators were reviewing whether the family was reported to any children’s services agencies in the past.

The children spent most of their time in a room that was roughly 12 feet by 12 feet (3.5 meters by 3.5 meters), according to investigators, who noted that human waste was all around.

“They looked like almost feral animals. It was terrible,” Wilson said.

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Boone reported from Boise, Idaho. Associated Press reporter Ed White in Detroit contributed.

He’s 39 and is a 24-time Grand Slam champion who now plays only sparingly.

So he’s better positioned than almost anyone else to analyze what Serena Williams — a seven-time Wimbledon singles champion just like he is — must have been feeling after losing at the All England Club earlier this week in the first singles match that she played in nearly four years.

“People always expect you to play at your best because they’re used to seeing you dominate the sport for many years,” Djokovic said. “She’s 44. She has two children. Coming back, it’s normal that she still is not at her best in terms of movement. She hasn’t played a match in so many years. People need to cool off a little bit with judgment and criticism and everything. Let’s just enjoy the greatness, who she is, what she represents to the sport.”

Williams was beaten 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 by 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia in the first round on Tuesday but showed she could be competitive with an opponent less than half her age after being away for so long.

Williams still cranked out serves faster than 120 mph and dictated points with her heavy groundstrokes. But movement was an issue and the 87th-ranked Joint was able to win more of the big points by hitting beyond the reach of the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion.

“Her wanting to give it a try and just come back is an incredible gift for our sport," Djokovic said. "I think people sometimes — I don’t know why — they don’t appreciate that enough. They just start to speculate, judge or whatever. It’s like, ‘Hey, guys, enjoy. You have the greatest ever to come play for you, to bring more attention to your sport.’

“I really support Serena. Always have. Hopefully she’s going to play more,” Djokovic added.

Williams was given wild card invitations to play both singles and doubles at Wimbledon and it remains to be seen whether she will still play doubles with older sister Venus.

Williams announced on Wednesday that she tweaked her right knee toward the end of the first set against Joint. She said she still hopes to play doubles but the Williams’ sisters opener against Colombia’s Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra of Argentina was only the remaining first-round match not on the schedule for Friday. There's is still a possibility they could play Saturday.

At last year’s U.S. Open, Djokovic publicly challenged Serena to return.

“When somebody challenges her, she never refuses. So I challenge Serena: Come back on the tour next year,” Djokovic said in 2025.

Now, Djokovic wants to see Serena play this year’s U.S. Open.

“I hope for the sake of tennis and all of us that we be able to see her more,” Djokovic said. “I assume that U.S. Open is somewhere where she would like to play. Playing in her home Slam would be amazing for her and for everyone else.”

Djokovic won his second-round match against Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets Wednesday night on Centre Court — 24 hours after watching Serena’s match on the same court on TV.

“What she’s doing is incredible. Epic,” Djokovic said. “I’ve always been a fan of Serena. I’m sure she wanted and expected to at least win one match or more. Knowing how competitive she is, the mind of a champion that she has, she’s not happy with just showing up on the court. She wants to win.”

Lindsey Vonn wasn't expecting Serena to 'show all her cards'

Lindsey Vonn, another 40-plus athlete who recently made a comeback, struggled at times in her first season back on the World Cup skiing circuit after nearly six years of retirement.

But Vonn was the top World Cup downhiller last season at age 41 until her horrific crash at the Milan Cortina Olympics in February left her with a severely fractured left leg.

Vonn attended Serena's comeback in doubles at Queen's last month and last week told The Associated Press ahead of Williams' singles return, “I would expect for her to play well but not show all her cards yet.”

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

“The Tale of KAHO” is the Japanese author's first full-length novel featuring a lone woman protagonist, according to Shinchosha Publishing Co.

“Kaho, a picture book author, is just an average young woman. But truly bizarre things start happening around her,” Murakami said in a brief message posted on the publisher’s campaign website. “I wrote this novel as I put myself in her shoes.”

His statement drew the attention of many fans, because most of Murakami's protagonists are young or middle-aged men.

“I'm excited about finding out how the story evolves around a female main character,” said Naoyuki Yamano, the first customer to buy the new Murakami novel.

Initially, the novel started as a short story titled “Kaho,” which Murakami rehearsed at a book reading event two years ago at Waseda University, his alma mater in Tokyo, with Mieko Kawakami, a renowned female author and fan of his work. The story was published in the June 2024 edition of Shincho magazine.

Takumi Hashimoto, a 33-year old office worker who attended the launch event with three fellow members of a Murakami book reading club, said he hopes to read a story from a female protagonist’s perspective and find out how the story evolved from a series of magazine stories into a full-length novel.

His companion, Mizuki Shirota, 33, said she was struck by the way Murakami portrayed the female protagonist’s emotions in the magazine version.

“The story was written in a way that makes you very aware of lookism, or how I, as a woman, am perceived by men ... there were parts that I even felt startled a bit," Shirota said. “So I want to read that again in the book."

Beaming and in all smiles, the group headed to a coffee shop open all night to immediately start reading the book.

One day, 26-year-old Kaho goes on a blind date arranged by her book editor. Over dinner, her date tells her that, although he has dated a number of women, “I’ve never seen one as ugly as you.” Baffled rather than outraged, curious Kaho tries to uncover the meaning of his words. Soon, bizarre things begin happening to her, including encounters with other mysterious characters, such as an anteater and a jaguar.

Murakami has since released three subsequent “Kaho” stories in Shincho magazine, most recently in the March edition. He weaves the four stories into a 352-page new novel with four chapters: “Kaho and the Motorcycle Man,” “The Anteater of Musashi-sakai,” “Kaho and the Termite Queen” and “The Guardian Angel, Elephant Egg and Scarlett Johansson.”

The magazine version of the first “Kaho” story has been published in English in The New Yorker, but the novel for now is available only in Japanese. Translation plans have not been disclosed.

The new book comes out three years after his previous novel, “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” which follows a male protagonist navigating love, loss and the boundaries between real and subconscious worlds.

Las víctimas fueron identificadas como Mesilien Pierre, de 36 años, y Wilford White, de 68.

El sospechoso, Gregory DaSilva, de 26 años, fue arrestado el martes y enfrenta dos cargos de asesinato premeditado y un cargo de agresión agravada con un arma mortal.

La Policía de Lauderhill informó que los apuñalamientos ocurrieron alrededor de las 11:15 a.m. del martes en la cuadra 5300 de Northwest 19th Street.

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

Posteriormente, los agentes localizaron a un sospechoso que coincidía con la descripción, pero la Policía indicó que huyó hacia un vecindario residencial cercano.

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

La Policía indicó que una de las víctimas fue declarada muerta en el lugar, mientras que la otra falleció después de ser trasladada a un hospital cercano.

Vecinos dijeron a Local 10 que una de las víctimas estaba leyendo la Biblia momentos antes de ser atacada. También indicaron que White utilizaba una silla de ruedas y no pudo escapar.

Hasta la tarde del jueves, DaSilva permanecía detenido sin derecho a fianza.

The high court rebuffed an emergency appeal from Catherine Herridge. The veteran investigative reporter has been held in civil contempt as part of a lawsuit that scientist Yanping Chen filed against the government over the leak.

Chief Justice John Roberts previously put a short-term hold on the fine as the court considered the appeal. On Thursday, the court said it was denying Herridge's bid to stay the fine. Justice Brett Kavanaugh supported granting the application for a stay, the court said.

Herridge published a series for Fox News in 2017 that examined Chen’s ties to the Chinese military and raised questions about whether the scientist was using a professional school she founded in Virginia to help the Chinese government get information about American servicemembers.

Fox News Media expressed disappointment in the decision.

“Protecting the confidentiality of journalistic sourcing and the integrity of the newsgathering process is fundamental to a free and functioning democracy. While we are deeply disappointed by the Court’s decision, our commitment to defending these critical First Amendment principles remains unwavering and we will be reviewing our options to further fight this injustice," the network said in a statement.

Herridge’s attorneys did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

The stories relied on what Chen’s lawyers say were items leaked from the probe into statements she made on immigration forms related to work on a Chinese astronaut program.

Those include snippets of an FBI document summarizing an interview conducted during the investigation, personal photographs, and information taken from her immigration and naturalization forms and from an internal FBI PowerPoint presentation, according to court documents.

The six-year probe never resulted in charges against Chen, and in 2018 she sued the FBI and the Justice Department.

Her suit said that both her personal and professional life were upended amid a wave of negative media attention after the leak, leading to hate mail and death threats. She accused the government of violating the Privacy Act, which prohibits the public disclosure of private information about individuals without their consent.

A judge ordered Herridge to answer questions about her source or sources in a deposition with Chen’s lawyers. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper in Washington ruled that Chen’s need to know for the sake of her lawsuit overcame Herridge’s right to shield her source.

Herridge was interviewed under oath but declined to answer questions about her sources. The judge eventually held her in contempt, and the fine was set to begin after the order was upheld by an appeals court panel.

The case has been closely watched by media advocates, who say forcing journalists to betray a promise of confidentiality could make sources think twice before providing information to reporters that could expose government wrongdoing.

“Journalists facing contempt should not have to muster large payments to the court while they seek to vindicate First Amendment rights," said Bruce Brown, president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. "And forcing them to betray source confidences always has a harmful impact on the free flow of information to the public.”

Chen’s lawyers say they have exhausted other ways to identify the leaker, and the identity is key to making their case that the Privacy Act was violated. Attorney Andrew Phillips said they hope Thursday's decision will help bring the matter to a close.

“Dr. Chen, like any other American citizen, is entitled to discover the identity of the federal official(s) who abused their access to an American’s private information and leaked it to cause her harm. That type of corrupt, unlawful conduct is exactly what the Privacy Act was designed to address," he said.

Herridge reported for Fox News and CBS News before recently becoming an independent journalist.

Brown — the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, a five-time All-Star and the league’s fourth-leading scorer this past season — is getting traded by the Celtics to the Sixers, a person with knowledge of the deal’s terms said Wednesday.

Boston is getting Paul George, along with a slew of draft capital that could become two first-round picks and two second-round picks, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade does not yet have the required league approvals.

“I’m still processing how this all went down,” Brown wrote on social media Thursday. "I’m excited and disappointed at the same time. I earned my respect from this city. I never asked for shortcuts or special treatment. I simply showed up every day, put my head down, and accepted every challenge.

The relationships I built here, the battles we fought together, the championship we brought to this city, and the connection I shared with the fans, I’ll carry on with me."

Jayson Tatum missed most of this past season while recovering from an Achilles tendon tear that happened during the 2025 playoffs, meaning Brown had to carry even more of the load for Boston — and he wound up with career-best averages of 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.

It seemed, though, that Brown has felt underappreciated, especially after it became known that Boston had included him in trade talks with Milwaukee when Giannis Antetokounmpo was on the market.

“Saying goodbye isn’t easy when you’ve invested your heart into something,” Brown wrote.

The Sixers have another star to pair with two-time NBA scoring champion Joel Embiid — and the true franchise cornerstones in All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey and second-year standout VJ Edgecombe — after new team president of basketball operations Mike Gansey pulled off a whale of a move in his first month on the job.

“I’m excited for what’s ahead and grateful for the opportunity to join Philadelphia,” Brown wrote. "Every city has its own identity, its own passion, and its own expectation. I respect that, and I’m looking forward to earning that respect the only way I know how, through the work.

"Philly — throw the ball up let’s get it!"

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AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report.

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

El miércoles marcó el inicio de Julio sin Plástico, una campaña que anima a las personas a reducir el uso de plásticos. El condado Miami-Dade se une al esfuerzo con una nueva iniciativa.

El condado Miami-Dade inauguró su primera estación de hidratación Hope en la estación Government Center del Metrorail, en el centro de Miami, donde ofrece agua fría, filtrada y gratuita a cualquier persona que quiera rellenar una botella reutilizable.

“Esto realmente va a cambiar la cultura. Estoy segura de que veremos a más personas utilizando estas estaciones y diciendo no a las botellas de agua de plástico”, dijo la alcaldesa de Miami-Dade, Daniella Levine Cava.

El objetivo es incentivar a las personas a cambiar a botellas reutilizables y rechazar las de plástico para ayudar a reducir la enorme cantidad de desechos plásticos que terminan en el medio ambiente.

“Es muy fácil. Colocas tu botella, sale agua fría, filtrada y gratuita. Toda nuestra idea es que, si estas estaciones son más accesibles, más atractivas y más fáciles de usar, todos serán más sostenibles. No hay necesidad de una botella de plástico si hay estaciones Hope en todas partes”, dijo Cristina Gnecco, cofundadora y directora de operaciones de Hope Hydration.

El fundador y director ejecutivo de Hope Hydration, Jorge Richardson, dijo que la inauguración de la estación antes del inicio de Julio sin Plástico fue intencional.

Julio sin Plástico es un movimiento mundial que anima a las personas a reducir sus desechos plásticos, una decisión reutilizable a la vez.

“No necesitamos que unas pocas personas lo hagan de manera perfecta. Necesitamos que muchas personas lo intenten, y así es como realmente comenzaremos a generar un efecto multiplicador”, dijo Maddie Kaufman, directora de programas de Debris Free Oceans.

La idea es comenzar con pequeños cambios, eliminando un hábito relacionado con el plástico de la vida diaria.

“Se necesitan unas dos semanas para crear un hábito. Así que dedica dos semanas a intentar crear un hábito con un solo artículo”, dijo Kaufman.

La necesidad de actuar nunca ha sido mayor.

“Es una cifra alarmante. Sí, estamos en modo de crisis”, dijo Marcus Eriksen, cofundador y director de investigación del Instituto 5 Gyres.

Cada año, aproximadamente ocho millones de toneladas métricas de plástico llegan al océano, sumándose a los más de 171 billones de partículas de plástico que ya existen allí. Se proyecta que la producción de plástico se duplicará durante los próximos 25 años.

“Recogemos más de 20,000 libras de basura por día durante el Día Internacional de Limpieza de Costas. Nuestros vertederos se están llenando de plástico. Nuestros cuerpos se están llenando de plástico”, dijo Kaufman.

Los defensores de esta causa afirman que el reciclaje, por sí solo, no resolverá el problema. A nivel mundial, solo el 9 % del plástico se recicla, y aseguran que la única solución es rechazar el plástico siempre que sea posible.

Debido a que la ley de Florida impide que los gobiernos locales regulen la mayoría de los plásticos de un solo uso, gran parte de la responsabilidad recae en los consumidores.

Programas como Plastic Free Miami Beach y Plastic Free 305 ayudan a los consumidores a tomar mejores decisiones al destacar a los negocios que han reducido significativamente el uso de envases plásticos y artículos desechables.

“El 73 % de los visitantes, turistas y consumidores quieren gastar su dinero en negocios sostenibles y en sus productos”, dijo Cynthia Seymour, del Distrito de Mejoramiento Comercial de Coconut Grove.

Hope Hydration planea instalar 15 estaciones más en todo el condado Miami-Dade, en parques públicos y otros espacios del condado. El objetivo es expandirse a 250 estaciones durante el próximo año, para que sea más fácil, gratuito y conveniente dejar de comprar agua embotellada en envases de plástico y utilizar botellas reutilizables.

Leer en español

Wednesday marked the first day of Plastic Free July, a campaign encouraging people to reduce their use of plastics. Miami-Dade County is joining the effort with a new initiative.

Miami-Dade County unveiled its first Hope Hydration Station at the Government Center Metrorail station in downtown Miami, offering free cold, filtered water to anyone who wants to refill a reusable bottle.

“It’s going to really change culture. I’m sure we’re going to see more people utilizing this and saying no, refusing those plastic water bottles,” Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said.

The goal is to encourage people to switch to reusable bottles and refuse plastic ones to help curb the massive amount of plastic waste ending up in the environment.

“It’s super easy. Place your bottle, water comes out chilled, it’s filtered, it’s free, and our whole thesis is that if these are more accessible, more beautiful and easier to access, then everyone is going to be more sustainable. There’s no need for a plastic bottle if there are Hope stations everywhere,” said Cristina Gnecco, co-founder and COO of Hope Hydration.

Hope Hydration founder and CEO Jorge Richardson said the timing of the station’s unveiling ahead of Plastic Free July was intentional.

Plastic Free July is a global movement urging people to reduce their plastic waste one reusable choice at a time.

“We don’t need a few people doing this perfectly. We need a lot of people trying, and that’s how we will actually start to have this ripple effect impact,” said Maddie Kaufman, program director for Debris Free Oceans.

The idea is to start small by eliminating one plastic habit from daily life.

“It takes, like, two weeks to build a habit. So take two weeks to try to build a habit with one item,” Kaufman said.

The need for action has never been greater.

“It is a scary number. And yes, we are in crisis mode,” said Marcus Eriksen, co-founder and director of research for the 5 Gyres Institute.

Roughly 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, adding to the more than 171 trillion plastic particles already there. Plastic production is projected to double over the next 25 years.

“We pick up 20,000-plus pounds of trash per day on International Coastal Cleanup Day. Our landfills are filling up with plastic. Our bodies are filling up with plastic,” Kaufman said.

Advocates say recycling alone will not solve the problem. Globally, only 9% of plastic is ever recycled, and they say the only way forward is to refuse plastic whenever possible.

With Florida law preventing local governments from regulating most single-use plastics, much of the responsibility falls on consumers.

Programs like Plastic Free Miami Beach and Plastic Free 305 help consumers make better choices by highlighting businesses that have significantly reduced their plastic packaging and single-use items.

“73% of visitors, tourists and consumers want to spend their money on sustainable businesses and their products,” said Cynthia Seymour of the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District.

Hope Hydration plans to install 15 more stations throughout Miami-Dade County at public parks and other county venues. The goal is to expand to 250 stations over the next year, making it easier, free and more convenient for people to stop buying bottled water in plastic containers and use refillable bottles instead.

David Hearn, a former Olympic canoe racer, was indicted on a single count of property destruction in Washington, D.C., court.

District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Hearn ripped up recently installed sealant on the pool in “a deliberate act” that caused more than $1,000 in damage. She accused him of “forcefully and violently” pulling up the bottom liner “with both hands” and acting belligerently toward an employee who told him to stop.

“This is a case with tremendous evidence,” she said, adding that authorities have made about six other misdemeanor arrests.

In a statement, Democracy Defenders Fund co-founder Norm Eisen and Mary Dohrmann, senior counsel at Washington Litigation Group, said that they represented Hearn and that the charges were “outrageous and should be alarming to every American.” Eisen and Dohrmann construed the case as representative of “the misuse of government power against an ordinary citizen based on a concocted narrative.”

Hearn didn’t immediately return a phone call seeking comment. He previously told The Associated Press that he reached into the pool on June 19 to examine the newly peeled coating. He said he briefly touched a chunk that was still attached to the side of the pool, then let go shortly after a park worker told him to.

“I’m a curious citizen,” Hearn said in a telephone interview last month. “I reached down to see what it felt like. It was very rubbery.”

Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, owned a company that made composite materials used to build watercraft.

Saying that he stopped by the pool during a 64-mile bike ride, Hearn said he was detained by National Guard troops and U.S. Park Police for five hours before being released.

Trump said last month that federal authorities made “multiple arrests” of people he accused of vandalizing the Reflecting Pool as he struggled to explain why the $16-million rehabilitation project he launched for the nation’s 250th anniversary seemingly backfired. Without providing any substantiation, he also said vandals dumped fertilizer into the pool and slashed the coating with a box cutter.

In subsequent days, National Guard members and Park Police patrolled the deck around the Reflecting Pool as Trump’s administration faced a self-imposed deadline to fix a botched renovation before the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration. Contractors and federal workers used chemicals and ozone nanobubbles to combat an algae bloom, and Trump has said that problems most likely require draining the pool again for liner repairs.

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Kinnard reported from Columbia, S.C.

The perfectly manicured lawns of Wimbledon’s famous tennis courts are as green as ever, though, as play at the grass-court Grand Slam got underway this week.

The lush green courts are a standard that players, spectators and broadcasters have come to expect — or take for granted.

“I have not once ever considered the watering of the grass,” American player Madison Keys said Thursday after a second-round win. “They always are (green), so that’s probably why I have never thought about it.”

The players don't need to worry about it because Neil Stubley, the All England Club’s head of courts and horticulture, and his team of 31 groundskeepers make sure that Wimbledon is always a picture-perfect spectacle thanks to constant maintenance.

Stubley said he's “probably got about 25 weather apps that I look at probably every seven minutes” to make sure he keeps up with the changing climate. He attributes the perfectly green courts to years of research into grasses that can withstand extreme heat.

“It’s inevitable and it is happening,” Stubley said of the increasing number of heat waves in Britain. “We have a grass species trial that’s been running for nearly 40 years looking at what are the best grasses for tennis, the more drought tolerant, the more hard-wearing grasses.”

The 18 tournament courts and 20 practice courts for Wimbledon have been sown with perennial ryegrass since 2001. Also, tubes are installed on Centre Court and four other courts in which a probe can be inserted to measure soil moisture.

Soil moisture levels have a direct bearing on surface hardness, live grass cover and ball rebound. The probes came in handy last week when temperature records for June in Britain were smashed on three consecutive days.

It was England’s warmest June on record, according to the Met Office, Britain’s national weather service.

What made the heat wave even worse was overnight temperatures were also well-above average.

That hasn't been an issue this week, though.

“At the moment, in London, in the UK, you may have a 33-degree (Celsius) day (91 Fahrenheit) but you’re then getting a 17-degree (62 F) overnight," Stubley added. "That allows the temperature to come down, it allows the dew point to come in. It’s almost like us going into an air conditioned room in the evening — we can all chill out.”

The heat wave in Britain ended last weekend and temperatures at Wimbledon this week have not risen above 26 C (79 F). But it's forecast to get hotter over the middle weekend and into next week.

What's more is that it hasn't rained once during this year's tournament and there is no rain in the forecast.

Spring in London this year was also drier than usual with April having had only 20% of the average expected rain, according to Thames Water, which is responsible for the water supply in Greater London.

Water supply

There are 54 million grass plants on Centre Court alone at the start of the championships and 200 metric tons of soil are used each year to level the courts.

Each court at Wimbledon has its own unique irrigation program but the club does not have its own water supply system.

Still, organizers strive for conservation.

“Every time we do a project, part of the remit is how can we conserve things, whether that be energy, whether that be water, the construction of the core, we’re constantly looking at the drainage layers, whether we can start using systems where we can recapture water and reuse it, whether it’s just potable or can we have boreholes, whether we can use the lakes across the road,” Stubley said.

“It’s always a very fast-moving kind of dynamic because the laws always change. One minute you can have a borehole, the next year you can’t, depending on legislation,” Stubley added.

Counting grass blades

Hot temperatures have become an issue at all four Grand Slams in recent years, whether it’s consistently extreme temperatures at the Australian Open, an unexpected heat wave during this year’s French Open, or the humidity at the U.S. Open.

But Wimbledon is the only major played on a live surface; since the Australian Open and U.S. Open are contested on hard courts and the French Open is played on red clay.

Preparation of the Wimbledon courts is independently verified by the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) in Yorkshire.

The research institute performs moisture and hardness readings and even counts blades of grass on the baselines to see how quickly the plants are wearing out.

“And then every day we get that data,” Stubley said. “Each court will have its own microclimate. … So we’re constantly number crunching. … When we’re getting those hardness readings and it’s saying that Court 14 is firmer than Centre Court, we can then add a little bit more water to 14 and a little less to Centre Court so we keep those numbers the same.”

‘Cheese grater’ sliding damage

Heat isn’t the only menace to Wimbledon’s courts. Defending champion Jannik Sinner and seven-time winner Novak Djokovic act as unintended lawn mowers when they slide across the baseline to reach shots.

“If you look at the pimple of a grass-court tennis shoe, it’s almost like a cheese grater,” Stubley said. “As it cuts through the plant, it will shred leaves.”

Unlike the spots where most players stand to serve — which typically turn brown later in the tournament because of heavy usage — the sliding damage has a different impact on the courts.

“It’s more spread out when you’ve got the likes of Novak and Sinner doing that,” Stubley said. “Year on year you will have people that just have different styles and we just have to accept that.”

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

Leer en español

The victims were identified as Mesilien Pierre, 36; and Wilford White, 68.

The suspect, Gregory DaSilva, 26, was arrested Tuesday on two counts of premeditated murder and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Lauderhill police said the stabbings happened around 11:15 a.m. Tuesday in the 5300 block of Northwest 19th Street.

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

Officers then located a suspect matching the description, but police said he ran into a nearby residential neighborhood.

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

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

Neighbors told Local 10 that one of the victims had been reading a Bible moments before he was attacked. Neighbors also said White used a wheelchair and was unable to escape.

As of Thursday afternoon, DaSilva remailed jailed without bond.

The report draws in part on interviews by Democratic staffers of the House Committee on Natural Resources. Those interviews suggest that donors seeking to celebrate America fell for a bait-and-switch that, if true, could have violated various criminal statutes.

Donors who were intending to contribute funds to America250, a bipartisan committee created by Congress, were instead given the banking and routing numbers for a different but similarly named group, Freedom 250, the Democratic report says.

The key difference was that Freedom 250 was set up under the auspices of Trump's Republican administration to be “a vehicle for a Christian nationalist, partisan, and Trump-centered vision of American identity,” according to the report.

Freedom 250, which has denied the report's claims, has focused on staging big splashy events largely held in Washington, such as the UFC cage fight at the White House on Trump's 80th birthday, the Great American State Fair on the National Mall and the upcoming July 4 celebration featuring a Trump speech and a fireworks extravaganza the president is touting as the “show of a lifetime.”

Freedom 250 calls report ‘partisan smear’

Freedom 250 spokesperson Danielle Alvarez dismissed the Democrats' report as “categorically false” and a “partisan smear from politicians who would rather manufacture division” than celebrate a national milestone.

“Freedom 250 remains fully committed to uniting Americans at this historic moment and giving all Americans a spectacular birthday they can be proud of — and we won’t be distracted by those rooting for it to fail,” said Alvarez, who previously served as a spokesperson for the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee.

Democrats allege in the report that this fits a broader pattern in which Trump hijacked the nation’s 250th birthday celebration, redirecting tens of millions of dollars in both taxpayer money and private donations to boost “the President’s ego, political ideology and pet projects.” Much of the spending was directed to companies connected to Trump’s political operation, including the event planners for the Trump rally that immediately preceded the Jan. 6, 2021, riot by a mob of his supporters at the U.S. Capitol.

“The American people are the big losers in this,” said Rep. Jared Huffman, the ranking Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee. “I’m old enough to remember the bicentennial in 1976. No one cared about party labels or political agendas, religious agendas or anything else. Donald Trump stole that. He took this unifying America250 moment, and he made it all about himself.”

The White House did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Report recounts Trump administration effort to control America250

The Democratic report recounts how the Trump administration sought to control America250, the nonprofit arm of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission established by Congress in 2016 to plan celebrations for this year’s anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

After the Trump administration faced pushback, Freedom 250 was created last fall as a limited liability corporation that is a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Park Foundation, the fundraising arm of the National Park Service.

Freedom 250’s sole employee appears to be CEO Keith Krach, a wealthy Trump supporter who served in the State Department during the president’s first term.

Democrats said this structure enables Freedom 250 to operate as a “financial black box,” shielded from having to comply with competitive bidding, accounting and transparency rules that would typically apply to a federally controlled entity receiving tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds and private donations.

Under Trump’s big tax and spending cuts bill approved by Congress last year, $150 million in federal funds was allocated to the Interior Department for events celebrating the 250th anniversary. America250 was expecting $100 million of that, though it has received only $25 million, according to the Democratic report.

Even as a member of a congressional oversight committee, Huffman said that he has no way to know exactly how much taxpayer money has been redirected into Freedom 250 by the Trump administration.

Freedom 250 CEO solicited donations from foreign government officials, Democrats allege

The Democrats alleged Krach, the Freedom 250 CEO, traveled in January to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to personally solicit foreign government officials and business leaders for money to help fund America’s birthday celebrations. The report says Trump appointees at the State Department, including some ambassadors, have also held fundraising events overseas and sent out written solicitations seeking foreign donations for Freedom 250.

Krach did not respond to an email seeking comment. Alvarez denied the group accepts foreign donations.

The publicly named sponsors of Freedom 250 include defense contractors, oil conglomerates and big tech companies that have federal contracts, that have regulatory issues before federal agencies and in some cases that Trump has personally invested in. Democrats said the arrangement creates the appearance of a cozy pay-to-play scheme in which donors to Trump’s pet projects could get favorable treatment from his administration.

There has been no public disclosure of how much corporate money has been raised. Freedom 250 also allows donors to request to remain anonymous, and the contributions are tax deductible.

Democrats allege donors were pressured to withdraw commitments from America250

The allegation of potential criminal wrongdoing stems from fundraising by Meredith O’Rourke, who served as the national finance director for Trump’s successful 2024 presidential campaign and as a board member for the parent company of Trump’s Truth Social media platform.

O’Rourke’s firm, Forward Strategies, initially worked as a contractor for America250, which coordinated with the White House to organize last year’s military parade in Washington to coincide with Trump’s 79th birthday. O’Rourke is also a primary fundraiser for other projects Trump has championed, including the construction of the White House ballroom, the planned renovation of the Kennedy Center and the Garden of American Heroes.

After the creation of Freedom 250 last year, the report alleges, corporate donors were pressured to withdraw fundraising commitments to America250 and shift their financial backing to the new Trump-backed entity.

Democrats say they have also interviewed donors who were misled by fundraisers, including O’Rourke, into believing they were contributing to America250 but were given wire transfer instructions that routed their money to a bank account controlled by Freedom 250 — a ruse the report says could constitute wire fraud.

O’Rourke did not respond to a text message seeking comment.

It’s been a curiously seesawing first six months. The movies have been dominated as much by 26-year-old YouTuber-turned-filmmaker Curry Barker as they have 79-year-old Steven Spielberg. Some much-prized Hollywood IP has struggled ( “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” ) while other franchises ( “Toy Story 5” ) have been more than fine.

The favorites so far of AP Film Writers Jake Coyle and Lindsey Bahr are fittingly varied, running from shattering debuts to goofy sci-fi. Here are their picks.

“Disclosure Day”

Listen, I realize the alien stuff is a little blunt. And you can question the nostalgia baked into a modern-day movie where everyone huddles around TV sets. But when “Disclosure Day” is moving, Spielberg is back in an idiom all his own — and what reconnecting to that spirit means isn't simply wistful. This is a stealthily political movie about whether Spielberg's warm belief in humankind can exist today — if he can rebuild that suburban family home. “Disclosure Day” is as much Spielberg phoning home as was his autobiographic “The Fabelmans.” (In theaters) — J.C.

“Project Hail Mary”

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s adaptation of Andy Weir’s space saga about a middle school science teacher who is called on to help save the dying sun is one of the easiest recommendations of the year. It is a most-ages crowd-pleaser, funny, warm and dazzling, with a hopeful spirit, a quotable alien sidekick and a quirkily charming lead in Ryan Gosling. (Streaming on Prime Video on July 3) — L.B.

“Rose of Nevada”

Everything feels like an echo in Mark Jenkin’s dreamlike tale of time and sea. George Mackay and Callum Turner play crewmen who enlist on a rusty Cornish fishing boat that, upon its return, drops them off in the same English village, 30 years earlier. They’re mistaken for two men thought to be lost. Jenkin, who shoots on 16mm and syncs sound in postproduction, makes films that feel out of time, and “Rose of Nevada” rocks to a haunting tide. (In theaters) — J.C.

“Tuner”

Remember how “Good Will Hunting” originally had a crime element to it and Rob Reiner (rightly) advised taking it out? Daniel Roher’s crackling, original thriller “Tuner,” a spiritual descendant of that great film, goes down that path successfully, creating a scenario where a workaday piano tuner, and musical prodigy who can no longer play, gets entangled in a criminal underworld, using his sensitive hearing to crack safes. Leo Woodall stars alongside Dustin Hoffman and Havana Rose Liu. (Available for digital rental) — L.B.

“Miroirs No. 3”

Christian Petzold, a great admirer of Hitchcock and “Vertigo,” makes movies where identity, rather than people, can go missing. In this lightly enigmatic 86-minute chamber piece, a woman (Paula Beer) injured in a car crash decides to stay and recuperate at a nearby home where an older, solitary woman (Barbara Auer) resides. The unfolding drama is as beguiling as it is healing. (Available for digital rental) — J.C.

“The Invite”

A San Francisco couple host their upstairs neighbors for a last-minute dinner party in Olivia Wilde’s deliriously sharp chamber dramedy about sex and marriage. Wilde both directs and stars as the neurotic Angela, whose relationship with Seth Rogen’s Joe is already on the rocks, when their more, let’s say, liberated neighbors Pína (Penélope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton) arrive to stir things up for better and worse. The mix — contentious, revelatory, awkward and funny — proves a wonderful showcase for some great acting, staging and filmmaking. (In theaters) — L.B.

“Blue Heron”

Sophy Romvari’s exquisite and soulful directorial debut melds documentary and fiction, past and present. It’s based on her own childhood, when her Hungarian parents moved their family of six to Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Their teenage son is mentally troubled and distant, and you can feel “Blue Heron” yearning to reach him, through his disorder and through time. It’s an aching, probing memory piece. (Streams July 21 on Criterion Channel) — J.C.

“Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie”

Slacker buddies develop crackpot schemes to land a gig at the Rivoli, a Toronto music venue, in this infectiously silly, lo-fi indie about time travel, friendship and dreams. Canadian comics Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol may have a cult fanbase from their various series about these lovable losers, but I’m proof that no prior knowledge is needed to get on their goofy wavelength and enjoy the ride — and all the “Back to the Future” references. (Available for digital rental) — L.B.

“Minions & Monsters”

This year’s most affectionate ode to the golden age of Hollywood comes from … the Minions? Yes, it’s an unlikely role for one of the most ubiquitous marketing forces in animation. But “Minions & Monsters,” a cartoony good time, finds that the best role yet for the yellow henchmen is as filmmakers. They had me at bello. (In theaters) — J.C.

“Is God Is”

Rage and revenge are the heart of Aleshea Harris’s adaptation of her Obie-winning play, in which twin sisters embark on a journey to find, and kill, their abusive father. The tale has both ancient Greek tragedy and Tarantino in its DNA, but it comes alive as its own shocking, vital creation driven by unforgettable performances from Kara Young, Mallori Johnson and a truly terrifying Sterling K. Brown. (Available for digital rental) — L.B.

“A Poet”

There hasn’t been a better protagonist this year than Oscar Restrepo (Ubeimar Rios). He’s a failed Columbian writer, a bit of a drunk and, as one character calls him, “a walking problem.” But he’s also, despite his seemingly total lack of grace, a true believer in poetry. Simón Mesa Soto’s film, reportedly getting an English-language remake, is the tragicomedy of the year. (Available for digital rental) — J.C.

“Hoppers”

There is a gleefully chaotic spirit to Pixar’s “Hoppers,” about a determined young environmental activist who Avatars her way into the world of beavers in an attempt to block the construction of a highway overpass that would destroy her beloved glade. It is unhinged in the best way. Funny, weird and heartfelt with a terrifically distinct voice cast, including Dave Franco as a tyrannical insect prince. (Streaming on Disney+) — L.B.

Brockton Mayor Moises Rodrigues announced what he called a “temporary safety curfew” within the Boston suburb at a news conference Wednesday. Cape Verde, an island nation off the west coast of Africa that qualified for the World Cup for the first time this year, is scheduled to face Argentina on Friday in the knockout stage of the tournament.

“The purpose of this curfew is to protect public safety, reduce criminal activity associated with post-game celebrations, and enable police, fire and emergency personnel to effectively maintain order and respond to emergencies,” Rodrigues said.

The curfew will run from 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Saturday in parts of Brockton, where thousands of people have gathered after Cape Verde’s World Cup matches, pouring into downtown streets waving flags, dancing and celebrating late into the night. No one will be allowed to enter establishments serving alcohol after 7 p.m., and last call will be at 9:30 p.m.

Brockton is home to one of the nation’s largest Cape Verdean communities. Nearly one in five residents is Cape Verdean, and the community is often referred to as the “11th island” of Cape Verde.

Cape Verde has captured the attention of its diaspora during a historic World Cup run, drawing jubilant crowds in Brockton after matches. City officials have repeatedly said the overwhelming majority of those celebrations have been peaceful.

But police say recent celebrations have also been followed by violence. At least nine people have been injured in shootings that occurred after World Cup matches or as crowds gathered downtown, according to Brockton police. Others were hurt in stabbings.

In recent days, detectives released surveillance photos and video from multiple shootings, including one near Main Street as crowds gathered June 21 and another later that night at a gas station, asking the public to help identify suspects.

Police also said they linked a suspect in another investigation to a shooting that occurred after a World Cup match.

Officials said the curfew exempts first responders and people traveling to or from work or seeking medical care. They said First Amendment activities, including news coverage, would also be respected.

Police Chief Brenda Perez said the department is understaffed and has relied on mutual aid from the Massachusetts State Police, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office and neighboring police departments during previous celebrations. She said more than 200 officers were deployed during recent World Cup gatherings but declined to discuss operational plans for Friday.

Steve Hooke, director of the Brockton Emergency Management Agency, confirmed the city requested National Guard assistance but declined to discuss operational details or whether the request had been approved.

El Servicio Meteorológico Nacional informó el jueves que una ola de calor peligroso con temperaturas récord continuará en gran parte del centro y el este de Estados Unidos hasta el viernes y persistirá a lo largo de la Costa Este durante el fin de semana. Para el noreste se pronosticaron temperaturas en torno a los 30 grados Celsius (90 grados Fahrenheit); Filadelfia y Boston podrían superar los 37 °C (100 °F). Se espera que la humedad haga que la sensación térmica sea aún mayor, lo que prácticamente garantiza que el sudor empañará el ánimo en muchas celebraciones por los 250 años de la Independencia estadounidense.

“Vayas donde vayas en el sur de Nueva Inglaterra, hoy, mañana y el sábado estarás lidiando con un calor peligroso”, advirtió Bryce Williams, del servicio meteorológico.

El calor causa estragos en los horarios de los eventos

En Boston, el acceso al Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, que se realizará el sábado, comenzará a las 4 p. m. en lugar del mediodía debido al calor. En Filadelfia, las autoridades acortaron el recorrido de un desfile la mañana del jueves, cancelaron una fiesta de barrio “totalmente estadounidense” por la tarde y retrasaron las horas de inicio de un picnic y un concierto nocturnos en Independence Mall.

En Lower Windsor Township, Pennsylvania, una celebración del 250 aniversario de la Independencia que incluye camiones de comida, juegos y el camión volquete del departamento de carreteras fue reprogramada para el 8 de julio. En Norristown, Pensilvania, las autoridades cancelaron un desfile previsto para el sábado, citando la seguridad de los residentes, los participantes y los equipos de primera respuesta, aunque los fuegos artificiales nocturnos y una fiesta por la tarde con juegos, comida y música se realizarán según lo programado.

“El desfile es una de las tradiciones más queridas de nuestra comunidad, y compartimos la decepción por su cancelación, especialmente en la celebración del 250mo cumpleaños de Estados Unidos”, señaló la administradora municipal interina, Jayne Musonye.

El Parque Militar Nacional de Gettysburg, en Pensilvania, trasladó los eventos al aire libre a espacios interiores. Amtrak, por su parte, canceló el jueves algunas rutas de tren debido al calor, incluida la Acela entre Boston y Washington, y dijo que otras podrían operar con velocidades reducidas, lo que provocaría demoras hasta el sábado.

Fans del béisbol y de Taylor Swift sudan la gota gorda

Un domo de calor, que es un sistema de alta presión sobre una región que atrapa el calor y la humedad, ha sofocado distintas partes de Estados Unidos, desde la región centro-norte hasta la Costa Este. Más allá de las festividades, las autoridades de muchas comunidades han tomado medidas para mantener a los residentes a salvo, entre ellas, abrir centros de enfriamiento. En Boston, varios museos con aire acondicionado ofrecen entrada gratuita a los residentes de la ciudad, y en Providence, Rhode Island, las piscinas y parques acuáticos municipales han ampliado sus horarios.

La temperatura era de 36,6 °C (98 °F) el miércoles cuando los Phillies de Filadelfia comenzaron su juego en casa contra los Pirates de Pittsburgh. Se repartieron gratis dieciséis tarimas de botellas de agua.

Bill Christy, de 69 años, originario de Filadelfia, caminaba con dos adolescentes a su cargo a quienes había llevado para que le hicieran compañía.

“Son jóvenes, pueden con ello”, dijo. “Yo simplemente me iré a algún lugar a la sombra si me da calor”.

Cerca de allí, un cuerpo de flautas y tambores marchaba por la explanada inferior con uniforme completo.

“Por lo general es lana de regimiento. Pero esto es lino, es fresco”, dijo Debbie Mayes, de Ewing, Nueva Jersey, miembro de Washington Crossing Fife and Drums. “Estamos bien. Han sido muy amables con nosotros, dejándonos tomar descansos y proporcionando agua”.

En Nueva York, Amanda Powell, de Little Rock, Arkansas, estaba entre los fans de Taylor Swift que acudían en masa al Madison Square Garden con la esperanza de ver a la superestrella del pop antes de su boda del viernes.

“Hace muchísimo calor”, dijo. “Al ser de Arkansas, pensamos que podríamos soportar el calor, pero ha estado muy cálido”.

Central Park en Manhattan alcanzó los 37 °C (100 °F) la tarde del jueves, marcando la primera vez que el icónico parque alcanzaba esa temperatura desde 2012, según el Servicio Meteorológico Nacional.

Las redes eléctricas sienten la presión

Mientras el calor se abatía sobre Nueva York, el alcalde Zohran Mamdani instó a la gente a conservar energía ajustando sus aires acondicionados a 25,5 °C (78 °F) —una medida que alcaldes anteriores, como el exalcalde Rudy Giuliani, han recomendado— para evitar sobrecargar la red eléctrica. Aun así, la petición provocó una oleada de abucheos en línea por parte de críticos conservadores del alcalde demócrata.

El gobernador de Florida, Ron DeSantis, un republicano que suele lanzar pullas al alcalde en redes sociales, respondió en X: “¿Era esto a lo que se refería la calidez del colectivismo?”, devolviéndole a Mamdani una frase que el socialista democrático empleó en su discurso de investidura.

Los operadores de las redes eléctricas del estado de Nueva York, de Nueva Inglaterra y de otra que se extiende por 13 estados del Atlántico medio y de la región centro-norte proyectaron que la demanda de electricidad alcanzaría su punto máximo el jueves antes de bajar ligeramente el viernes. Aunque los picos de uso proyectados estaban aproximadamente 40% por encima de un día normal de verano, no han emitido llamados de emergencia para reducir el consumo, y analistas del sector afirman que los planificadores del sistema se preparan para circunstancias como estas.

PJM Interconnection, que opera la red que abastece a 65 millones de personas desde Nueva Jersey hasta Illinois, indicó el jueves que el pico proyectado para ese día establecería un máximo histórico de demanda eléctrica de verano, establecido por última vez en 2006. Ese pico está muy por encima de lo que PJM había proyectado para este verano, pero la entidad afirmó que contaba con un colchón de capacidad energética por encima de ese máximo. El operador de la red de Nueva Inglaterra dijo que los consumidores podrían ayudar a reducir la presión sobre la red limitando el uso de energía de 4 a 8 p. m.

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Los periodistas de The Associated Press Daniel Gelston en Filadelfia, Anthony Izaguirre y Ted Shaffrey en Nueva York, Michael Casey en Boston y Marc Levy en Harrisburg, Pensilvania, contribuyeron a este despacho.

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

Cuando hablamos de Cuba, por lo general nos concentramos en su sistema político y económico centralizado. Sin embargo, no logramos reconocer que las personas que han vivido bajo regímenes totalitarios han tenido que sobrevivir bajo una cultura del miedo. Ese sistema de gobierno crea un conjunto de actitudes y valores psicológicos que ayudan a definir el comportamiento cotidiano con el fin de alinear los deseos y las necesidades de la población con las restricciones impuestas por el gobierno.

Romper con esos comportamientos podría tomar años de entrenamiento y cambios psicológicos. Por lo tanto, la transición de un Estado totalitario hacia alguna forma de gobierno democrático podría tomar tiempo.

Las actualizaciones de junio del Dr. Andy S. Gómez pueden consultarse haciendo clic aquí.

El Dr. Andy S. Gómez es el analista sobre Cuba de Local 10. Gómez es considerado uno de los principales expertos sobre Cuba. Trabajó en la educación superior durante 32 años antes de retirarse de la Universidad de Miami en 2012.

Julia Reeker Moghal and Reuben Renteria, both of California, sued the ticketing giant this week in federal court in New York, alleging that “false and misleading” sales practices left them without the tickets they purchased for group stage matches last month.

The lawsuit, which seeks to become a class action, says Moghal and Renteria are among hundreds or even thousands of World Cup fans who purchased tickets only to find out that they “did not exist, were revoked without any forewarning, or had been erased” because of what the tournament’s organizer, FIFA, deemed “poor digital infrastructure.”

In addition to monetary damages, Moghal and Renteria are asking that StubHub be barred from selling World Cup tickets and that any profits from those sales be given to affected customers.

StubHub declined to comment on the lawsuit but said in a statement that its “singular goal is to get fans into events.”

If anything goes wrong, “our FanProtect Guarantee provides replacement tickets or a full refund,” the company said. “The World Cup is no different, and the issues fans have experienced are largely driven by problems with the event organizer’s own ticketing infrastructure.”

FIFA encourages fans to buy tickets through its own marketplace, where it adds a 30% surcharge to every resold ticket — 15% each from the buyer and seller.

In a statement, the organization said it “has no visibility over, or control of, secondary market ticket transactions carried out on third-party platforms” and “rejects any suggestion that the functional issues being experienced by users of third-party platforms” are the result of FIFA's ticketing infrastructure.

For weeks, fans have been complaining on social media about tickets that never arrived from resellers, orders that were canceled at the last minute and hours they spent trying to sort out problems between FIFA’s ticketing system and outside resale platforms.

According to the lawsuit, Moghal paid $1,905 for three tickets to the June 18 Switzerland-Bosnia and Herzegovina match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, but never received them and never got a refund, which would violate the company's guarantee.

As the match approached, Moghal was given conflicting information about the status of her order, first receiving a notice that the tickets were ready, then learning that StubHub had canceled her order, then being misled into thinking her tickets would be delivered after all, the lawsuit said.

After the initial cancellation, Moghal spent hours on the phone with StubHub, which said the order would remain canceled but then reversed course and promised her that they would be delivered an hour before the match, the lawsuit said.

Moghal drove to the stadium and waited in line, but never received her tickets, the lawsuit said. She was then promised a refund but never got one, the lawsuit said.

Had she known “that StubHub was either unable to deliver or not authorized to deliver her World Cup Tickets to her, she never would have purchased them,” the lawsuit said.

Similarly, Renteria paid $2,294 for two tickets to the June 18 Mexico-South Korea match in Guadalajara, Mexico, but never received his tickets, the lawsuit said.

Like Moghal, Renteria received a notice that his tickets were ready, only to find that StubHub canceled the order, the lawsuit said. He was only refunded after “significant complaints to StubHub,” but had to eat the cost of traveling to Mexico, the lawsuit said.

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Associated Press reporter R.J. Rico in Atlanta contributed to this report.

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See more of AP's World Cup coverage here

Leer en español

When we talk about Cuba, we usually concentrate on their centralized political and economic system. However, we fail to recognize that individuals that have lived under totalitarian regimes have had to survive under a culture of fear. Such system of government creates a psychological set of attitudes and values that help define the daily behavior in order to align the people’s wants and needs to the restrictions imposed by the government.

To break such behaviors could take years of psychological training and change. Therefore, transitioning a totalitarian state to support a transition to some form of a Democratic government could take time.

Dr. Andy S. Gomez’s June updates can be viewed by clicking here.

Dr. Andy S. Gomez is Local 10’s Cuba Analyst. Gomez is considered one of the leading scholars on Cuba. He worked in higher education for 32 years before retiring from the University of Miami in 2012.

El gobierno socialista de Rodríguez, que intenta obtener legitimidad meses después de que Estados Unidos derrocó al exmandatario Nicolás Maduro en enero, ha sido blanco de críticas por lo que residentes han descrito como una respuesta lenta y desorganizada a los sismos.

Residentes del estado más afectado, La Guaira, se quejan de que la ausencia inicial de una operación seria de búsqueda y rescate por parte del gobierno los dejó solos para buscar a vecinos y seres queridos con las manos desnudas. Rescatistas han lamentado la escasez de equipo especializado en el país. Expertos han señalado que la construcción deficiente de proyectos de vivienda social —un sello distintivo del mandato del expresidente Hugo Chávez— dejó a muchos vecindarios vulnerables a los sismos.

En una conferencia de prensa el jueves por la noche para periodistas extranjeros en Caracas, Rodríguez —que portaba un listón negro en señal de luto— rechazó aceptar las críticas.

“Nosotros no esperamos un día, dos días o tres días. Inmediatamente se activó” la respuesta, manifestó mientras arremetía contra los medios de comunicación, a los que acusó de desinformar. “Los laboratorios mediáticos que responden a posiciones partidistas políticas son unos miserables”.

Las autoridades han contado al menos 2.295 muertos en los terremotos hasta el miércoles, una cifra que se prevé aumentará. No ofrecieron un conteo actualizado de fallecidos el jueves, y han mantenido un control estricto sobre las comunicaciones públicas y las labores de ayuda.

Un raro punto luminoso en medio de la miseria

El hedor de cuerpos en descomposición se extendía el jueves por las calles de edificios desplomados, al tiempo que las misiones de rescate para encontrar sobrevivientes se orientaban cada vez más a la recuperación de cadáveres.

Desesperados por obtener buenas noticias, trabajadores de emergencia venezolanos e internacionales celebraron el rescate casi milagroso de un guardia de seguridad de 43 años, hallado con vida después de casi ocho días bajo los escombros. Esos son cinco días más del umbral crítico de 72 horas tras un sismo, cuando los expertos dicen que es más probable encontrar sobrevivientes.

Las televisoras nacionales repitieron las imágenes del exuberante momento en que fue extraído del centro comercial derrumbado y colocado en una camilla, mientras multitudes vitoreaban. Atrapado en una bolsa de aire bajo el concreto, Hernán Alberto Gil Flores sobrevivió con el agua y los alimentos que los rescatistas lograron pasarle a través de las grietas.

Pero en otras partes del estado de La Guaira se instalaba un aire de desesperanza. La ciudad portuaria de Catia La Mar bullía de funcionarios que trasladaban bolsas para cadáveres y apilaban ataúdes de madera.

Más de 38.000 reportes de personas desaparecidas —muchas de ellas probablemente sepultadas bajo los escombros— han sido enviados a un sitio web creado por la oposición venezolana, ya que el gobierno no ha dado cifras oficiales sobre los desaparecidos.

Cuando un periodista le preguntó a Rodríguez sobre el verdadero número de víctimas —aún desconocido—, citando reportes de que Naciones Unidas está adquiriendo 10.000 bolsas para cadáveres, la mandataria defendió el conteo del gobierno.

“No queremos dar números que no estén rigurosamente confirmados”, expresó.

En La Guaira, varios de los emblemáticos proyectos de vivienda social de Chávez quedaron arrasados por los terremotos, lo que avivó sospechas de fallas en su construcción. Rodríguez rechazó las acusaciones, alegando que aproximadamente el 80% de los edificios desplomados fueron desarrollados por el sector privado. No ofreció pruebas.

Rodríguez rechaza que el gobierno haya respondido con lentitud

Cuando se le insistió sobre reportes de que residentes estuvieron laborando por su cuenta durante las primeras 48 horas después de los terremotos, con escasez de maquinaria pesada y sin ayuda oficial a la vista, Rodríguez reconoció que, “obviamente en los sitios donde se desplomaron, las primeras personas en llegar son sobrevivientes del mismo colapso, familiares, vecinos”.

Pero arremetió contra lo que llamó “mediática elaborada en laboratorios”, y afirmó que, un día después de los sismos, ya habían movilizado toda la capacidad del Estado venezolano junto con el sector privado.

El desastre se ha convertido en la mayor prueba de competencia hasta ahora para Rodríguez, quien fue vicepresidenta de Maduro hasta que fue derrocado y se convirtió en mandataria encargada, con el respaldo del gobierno del presidente estadounidense Donald Trump.

Efectuó sus declaraciones un día antes de que venza la prórroga de su mandato de 180 días en el cargo de presidenta encargada. Las autoridades venezolanas tienen escasa transparencia, por lo que se desconoce qué ocurrirá una vez que venza el plazo el viernes.

Según la Constitución de Venezuela, las ausencias temporales de un mandatario deben ser cubiertas por el vicepresidente hasta por 90 días. La Asamblea Nacional puede prorrogar estos nombramientos interinos por 90 días más. Dicho órgano legislativo, controlado por el Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela —al que pertenece Rodríguez—, puede convocar a elecciones anticipadas si los legisladores declaran el cargo permanentemente vacante.

Apoyo de EEUU a un gobierno bajo fuego

En contraste con las secuelas de los catastróficos deslaves de 1999 en Venezuela, cuando el entonces presidente Chávez rechazó ofertas de asistencia de un Estados Unidos adversario, Rodríguez ha recibido públicamente ayuda y equipos de rescate de países de todo el espectro político, incluso del gobierno de Trump y sus aliados regionales.

Al expresar agradecimiento por la ayuda extranjera, Rodríguez destacó a Israel, que no tiene relaciones diplomáticas con Venezuela. También elogió a Trump y al secretario de Estado, Marco Rubio, de quien dijo estuvo “permanentemente atento, ofreciendo apoyo”.

Estados Unidos ha respaldado a Rodríguez en su intento de abrir la lucrativa industria energética venezolana, y en gran medida le ha dado la espalda a la líder opositora María Corina Machado —ganadora del Premio Nobel de la Paz—, quien esta semana acusó al gobierno de Rodríguez de impedirle regresar al país.

Washington ha comprometido más de 300 millones de dólares y ha desplegado a unos 900 efectivos militares para apoyar las labores de rescate y ayuda. Además, John M. Barrett, encargado de negocios de Estados Unidos en el país sudamericano, indicó que los ingresos de la producción petrolera venezolana —controlados por el Departamento del Tesoro estadounidense desde que Maduro fue capturado— también se están poniendo a disposición para las labores de ayuda. Analistas señalan que esa promesa ha hecho aún más urgentes las exigencias de mayor transparencia en la gestión estadounidense de las ventas de petróleo venezolano.

“Los venezolanos realmente necesitan que ese dinero se use para la protección de los venezolanos” expresó Laura Cristina Dib, directora del programa de Venezuela en la Washington Office on Latin America, una organización independiente de derechos humanos.

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DeBre reportó desde Buenos Aires. Los periodistas de The Associated Press Ben Finley en Washington, Gabriela Aoun Angueira en San Diego, Gisela Salomon en Miami y Megan Janetsky en Ciudad de México contribuyeron a este despacho.

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

Judge Darren Steele approved an agreement last week between Woods' defense attorney and the State Attorney's Office that allows prosecutors to request records from Cleveland Clinic Martin South Hospital, where Woods was taken following the March 27 crash. The case is being tried in Martin County circuit court, just north of Palm Beach County.

The judge signed off on a similar agreement in May that grants prosecutors access to all prescription medication records for the legendary golfer at a Palm Beach pharmacy from the start of the year through the end of March. For both hospital and prescription records, prosecutors have agreed to defense attorney Doug Duncan's request for a protective order limiting the release of records only to prosecutors, law enforcement officers, state experts and Woods' defense team.

Woods has pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence. A sheriff’s office report said deputies found two pain pills in his pocket, and he showed signs of impairment after his SUV clipped a truck's trailer and rolled onto its side.

Woods was traveling at high speeds on a beachside, residential road on Jupiter Island with a 30 mph (nearly 50 kph) speed limit when his Land Rover caused $5,000 in damage to the truck, according to an incident report. Woods agreed to a Breathalyzer test that showed no signs of alcohol, but refused a urine test, authorities said.

Woods has traveled outside of the United States to seek treatment at an inpatient treatment facility, according to court records.

It's the second time in four years that three players from the same team were chosen to start the game, with Las Vegas doing it in 2023. Clark wasn't able to play in last year's game that the Fever hosted because she was injured right before the All-Star break.

Clark and Mitchell will be joined this year in the backcourt by Dallas' Paige Bueckers and Minnesota rookie Olivia Miles. It's the fourth consecutive year that a rookie was chosen as an All-Star starter. Bueckers played last season.

A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Jessica Shepard, Natasha Howard and Gabby Williams were selected for the frontcourt for the game that will be played in Chicago on July 25. It will be Wilson's and Stewart's eighth All-Star appearance while Shepard will be making her first.

“It's an honor to be an All-Star, even though I've had a few of them,” Stewart said. “Each one is really special and I'm not taking it lightly.”

Williams played in her first All-Star Game last season. Howard will play in her third.

Starters were chosen by a mixture of fan, player and media votes. The fan vote counted for 50% while media and player votes were 25% each. Each player’s score was calculated by averaging their weighted rank from all three areas.

The league's head coaches will select the 12 reserves for the team. The 15 head coaches will vote for three guards, five frontcourt players and four players at either position regardless of conference. Coaches can’t vote for their own players.

New this year, two WNBA greats will serve as honorary general managers and select the two teams from the pool of All-Stars. Previously the top two fan vote-getters would serve as captains and select the squads.

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

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According to Doral police, officers responded to the parking lot outside Doral Park Country Club, located at 5001 NW 104th Ave., after receiving reports of an indecent exposure.

Responding officers spoke to the victim, who told them he saw a man, later identified as the 72-year-old Virgüez, sitting inside a gray Chevrolet Trax, masturbating with his penis fully exposed.

Police said the victim was concerned due to there being several children playing at the park’s nearby playground, so he entered the clubhouse and told employees, who “advised that they were unable to intervene and instructed him to contact law enforcement,” according to an arrest form.

The victim then returned to the parking lot and started recording the still-masturbating suspect, who took off after noticing he was being recorded, after which the victim contacted police and gave them the video, officers said.

It didn’t take long for authorities to track down Virgüez, whose full name is Franklin Jose Virgüez Dun.

According to police, Virgüez was taken into custody without incident outside his Doral home “and his pants were observed to have multiple stains on the front crotch area consistent with semen,” according to his arrest form.

Authorities said Virgüez refused to answer questions without his attorney present.

According to the Internet Movie Database, Virgüez has an extensive history of acting, beginning in 1976. He’s mainly starred in telenovelas and has also worked in films and on English language productions: his most recent credit was a role in the British television show “Atomic.”

As of Thursday afternoon, Virgüez was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on two counts of indecent exposure and was being held on a $5,000 bond.

Según la Policía de Doral, los agentes respondieron al estacionamiento del Doral Park Country Club, ubicado en el 5001 de NW 104th Ave., tras recibir reportes de exhibicionismo.

Los agentes hablaron con la víctima, quien les dijo que vio a un hombre, posteriormente identificado como Franklin Virgüez, de 72 años, sentado dentro de una Chevrolet Trax gris, masturbándose con el pene completamente expuesto.

La Policía indicó que la víctima se preocupó debido a que había varios niños jugando en un parque infantil cercano, por lo que entró al club y avisó a los empleados, quienes “le informaron que no podían intervenir y le indicaron que se comunicara con las autoridades”, según el informe de arresto.

La víctima regresó al estacionamiento y comenzó a grabar al sospechoso, que seguía masturbándose. Al darse cuenta de que estaba siendo grabado, el hombre huyó del lugar. Posteriormente, la víctima llamó a la Policía y entregó el video a los agentes.

Las autoridades localizaron poco después a Virgüez, cuyo nombre completo es Franklin José Virgüez Dun.

Según la Policía, Virgüez fue arrestado sin incidentes frente a su vivienda en Doral, “y se observó que sus pantalones tenían múltiples manchas en la parte frontal de la entrepierna compatibles con semen”, según el informe de arresto.

Las autoridades informaron que Virgüez se negó a responder preguntas sin la presencia de su abogado.

Según la base de datos de Internet Movie Database (IMDb), Virgüez cuenta con una extensa trayectoria como actor desde 1976. Ha protagonizado principalmente telenovelas y también ha trabajado en películas y producciones en inglés. Su trabajo más reciente fue un papel en la serie británica “Atomic”.

Hasta la tarde del jueves, Virgüez permanecía detenido en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight, donde enfrenta dos cargos de exhibicionismo y una fianza de $5,000 USD.

Los sospechosos fueron identificados en un informe de arresto de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade (MDSO) como Kelton Abston, de 27 años, y Mari Carmen Zelaya, de 42.

Según el informe, el incidente ocurrió poco antes de las 4 a.m. del 31 de mayo en el IHOP ubicado en el 18860 de S. Dixie Highway.

Los agentes indicaron que Abston y Zelaya se involucraron en una discusión con dos hombres dentro del restaurante porque las víctimas “estaban haciendo demasiado ruido”.

Según el informe, Abston salió del restaurante y, mientras se retiraba, les dijo a las víctimas que “iba a matarlas”.

El informe indica que Abston sacó un arma de su vehículo mientras estaba afuera, al mismo tiempo que Zelaya “comenzó a hacer señas y a desafiar a las víctimas para que salieran”.

Los agentes dijeron que Abston comenzó a golpear con el arma la ventana frontal del IHOP.

Mientras las víctimas permanecían dentro, la pareja regresó al restaurante, donde continuó una discusión entre una de las víctimas y Zelaya, según los agentes.

El informe señala que una de las víctimas empujó a Zelaya durante la discusión, lo que provocó que Abston golpeara a esa víctima en el rostro.

Los agentes indicaron que, durante la pelea que siguió, Abston sacó un arma mientras caía sobre un asiento del restaurante y disparó varias veces, hiriendo a ambas víctimas en el pecho.

Según el informe, Abston y Zelaya salieron corriendo del restaurante. Zelaya se sentó al volante y Abston en el asiento del pasajero antes de huir del lugar.

Los agentes dijeron que, tras varias semanas revisando videos de vigilancia, localizaron a Zelaya el miércoles en un Burger King ubicado en el 11400 de SW 186th St., donde fue arrestada.

Indicaron que Abston llegó al restaurante en otro vehículo mientras los agentes realizaban el arresto y también fue detenido.

Según el informe, a Abston le leyeron sus derechos Miranda e hizo una declaración que fue censurada en la versión pública del informe antes de negarse a seguir hablando.

Los registros de la cárcel muestran que Abston enfrenta dos cargos de intento de asesinato durante la comisión de un delito grave con un arma de fuego que causó lesiones y un cargo de agresión, mientras que Zelaya enfrenta un cargo de encubrimiento después del hecho.

Hasta el jueves, ambos sospechosos permanecían detenidos en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight, donde sus fianzas figuraban como “pendientes de ser fijadas”.

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The suspects were identified in an arrest report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office as 27-year-old Kelton Abston and 42-year-old Mari Carmen Zelaya.

According to the report, the incident happened just before 4 a.m. on May 31 at the IHOP at 18860 S. Dixie Highway.

Deputies said Abston and Zelaya became involved in an argument with two men inside the restaurant over the victims “being too loud.”

According to the report, Abston then walked outside and, while leaving the restaurant, told the victims he was “going to kill them.”

The report states Abston pulled a gun from his vehicle while outside as Zelaya “began to wave and dare the victims to go outside.”

Deputies said Abston then began banging the front window of the IHOP with the gun.

As the victims remained inside, the pair returned to the restaurant, where an argument continued between one of the victims and Zelaya, according to deputies.

The report states one of the victims pushed Zelaya during the argument, prompting Abston to punch that victim in the face.

Deputies said during the ensuing fight, Abston pulled out a gun while falling into a booth and fired several rounds, striking both victims in the chest.

According to the report, Abston and Zelaya then ran outside, with Zelaya getting into the driver’s seat and Abston in the passenger seat before they fled the scene.

Deputies said that after several weeks of reviewing surveillance video, they located Zelaya Wednesday at a Burger King at 11400 SW 186th St., where she was taken into custody.

They said Abston arrived at the restaurant in a different vehicle while deputies were making the arrest and was also taken into custody.

According to the report, Abston was read his Miranda rights and made a statement that was redacted from the publicly released report before refusing to speak further.

Jail records show Abston faces two counts of attempted felony murder with a firearm causing injury and one count of battery, while Zelaya faces one count of accessory after the fact.

As of Thursday, both suspects were being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where their bonds were listed as “to be set.”

The donations were spread out across 20 local and national charities, according to Swift's publicist, with many located in areas where the couple has deep ties. The announcement did not include any mention of Swift and Kelce's wedding, but a law enforcement official briefed on security plans has told AP that the wedding will be held Friday, with a smaller rehearsal dinner Thursday night.

Nine of the selected organizations are based in New York, ranging from the Food Bank For NYC, City Harvest, to Musical Mentors, a nonprofit that connects music teachers with students in need.

Just how much each charity received was not disclosed.

Other charities reflected where Swift and Kelce have also called home, including the Rhode Island Community Food Bank — where Swift owns an estate in Watch Hill — and the Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri — where Kelce plays tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs.

A handful of national groups also received money: Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a book giveaway program spearheaded by the music legend; the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Feeding America.

The large donations ahead of Swift and Kelce's wedding is reminiscent of charitable gifts the couple has given in the past. Swift, a billionaire, gave millions to food banks ahead of her Eras Tour stops, while Kelce has been recognized by the Chiefs for winning “charity challenges” and operating his own nonprofit.

Swift and Kelce have been in a relationship since 2023, enthralling millions around the world. Their relationship have been documented in countless shots of Swift celebrating at Chiefs games and fan videos of Kelce dancing along at Swift’s Eras concert tour as it traveled the globe. In 2025, they announced their engagement with the caption but have remained mum on wedding details.

Yet buzz has remained high around New York's MSG, with multiple trucks and crews going in and out delivering materials for what is expected to be an elaborate event.

Douglas DePodesta has served as special agent in charge in Chicago, one of the FBI's largest offices, for nearly two years and has been with the bureau since 2002.

He told colleagues that his last day would be Monday, according to a message seen by The Associated Press. Multiple people familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a personnel move, said DePodesta had been pushed to retire.

The events leading up to his departure were not immediately clear, but DePodesta alluded in his farewell note to a conflict that he suggested had precipitated it.

“I've never backed down from a fight, as long as it meant our personnel could continue serving the FBI's mission,” DePodesta wrote in the message. “Unfortunately, that has proved unpopular over time and my departure is a consequence of that.”

The move is part of a broader upheaval in the FBI’s workforce as Director Kash Patel has sought to force out line agents and supervisors alike who are perceived as not supporting the Trump administration agenda. It also comes amid prolonged tumult in the law enforcement community in Chicago, whose top federal prosecutor, Andrew Boutros, described this week a sweeping review of more than 1,000 grand jury presentations made by Illinois prosecutors following the dismissal of a high-profile case over misconduct.

The FBI declined to comment Thursday, but the bureau's “rapid response” social media account on X responded to a separate post about DePodesta's departure by saying: “It’s simple: Anyone who is not on board with THIS FBI under the leadership of President Trump — which has achieved the lowest murder rate ever — is free to leave.”

DePodesta also quoted in his note from a farewell message from Patel's predecessor, former Director Chris Wray, who reminded the workforce that “you have been who the American people have turned to in their darkest moments” and praised them for having “stayed true to the values that define who we are, and to the qualities for which we stand: Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity.”

DePodesta joined the FBI in Chicago in 2002 and worked drug investigations. He later held senior roles at FBI headquarters in Washington and in Detroit and Memphis before being named top agent in Chicago in August 2024.

The couple, who go by Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, said little as they left court, though Beerkus responded to a journalist's question about the stunt by saying: "We believe in love."

Authorities said the two — who were the subject of the 2024 Netflix documentary “ Skywalkers: A Love Story ” about their “rooftopping” exploits and budding romance — created not only a spectacle but a danger by ascending the famed skyscraper's broadcast antenna Wednesday.

After reaching the top, 1,454 feet (443 meters) above midtown Manhattan, the climbers displayed a black banner reading: “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace," news helicopter video showed.

Then they collected the banner and descended to a slightly lower ledge, where an apparently successful marriage proposal unfolded. Nikolau posted images of the escapade on her social media accounts, including a photo that modeled an engagement-style ring above a bird’s-eye view of Manhattan.

Police waited about a half-hour for the antenna to be powered down before Emergency Services Unit officers started ascending and eventually intercepted the climbers on their way down, according to the complaint, which noted the danger to officers who climbed about 1,250 feet (381 meters) above the ground. The court document identified the two by their formal names, Angelina Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov.

“Skywalkers: A Love Story” follows Beerkus, now 32, and Nikolau, 33, as they make often unauthorized ascents of tall structures, sometimes posing as construction workers to sneak in.

The court complaint said police found a broken lock on a security door on the Empire State Building's restricted-access 104th floor, which provides access to the antenna. The highest public floor is the 102nd, where there’s an observation deck. Going higher requires a key card, according to the court complaint.

The Empire State Building's management has called the climb “unauthorized” but hasn't answered questions about what interactions, if any, the daredevils had with security workers. Visitors to the skyscraper are screened and told not to bring large packages, sports equipment, costumes or masks, among other items.

Beerkus and Nikolau were released without bail, in accordance with New York laws that restrict when monetary bail can be set. Their attorney, Jason Krinsky, said outside court that once prosecutors provide evidence, he and his clients would assess it and determine next steps.

“What a way to propose — something you can only dream of," Krinsky said. “So you've got to, you know, give him some credit for that.”

Other daredevils have climbed the antenna and other parts of the Empire State Building. Those ascents have largely been unauthorized, but actor and musician Jared Leto was allowed to climb up to the base of the antenna from the 86th floor in 2023 to promote a tour.

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“Honestly it’s nice to see, bringing all these people together. At the end of the day that’s what we want to see,” a USMNT fan said.

The final seconds of the match triggered a wave of celebration across the park as fans erupted following the U.S. victory.

“It was absolutely beautiful to see everybody as a community, even tho the odds were stacked against us,” another said.

The match was marked by constant physical play, with Bosnia-Herzegovina pressuring U.S. attackers and using heavy challenges throughout the night.

U.S. fullbacks Sergiño Dest and Christian Pulisic were repeatedly checked and bumped when trying to push forward, while U.S. midfielders were frequently disrupted in tight spaces.

Striker Folarin Balogun was involved in the intensity on both sides — scoring during the match before later being shown a controversial red card in the 64th minute. Even after going down to 10 men, the United States managed to hold on and secure the win.

Fans filled Bayfront Park throughout the evening, gathering to watch the match on a large outdoor screen while waving flags, wearing jerseys and chanting in support of the U.S. team.

“This is a great opportunity for us to be together and support our team,” another fan said.

Some attendees said the atmosphere reflected both the excitement of the tournament and the unity of fans from different backgrounds.

Carlos Jarquin, of Palm Beach County, said, “I think we’re gonna do amazing. I think this is the strongest team we’ve had since I’ve been watching soccer.”

The event also featured pre-match entertainment as performers helped build energy inside the fan zone ahead of kickoff.

For many in attendance, the gathering extended beyond soccer, serving as a cultural celebration that brought together fans from across South Florida and beyond.

“Honestamente, es bonito ver a toda esta gente reunida. Al final del día, eso es lo que queremos ver”, dijo un aficionado de la selección masculina de Estados Unidos.

Los últimos segundos del partido desataron una ola de celebración en todo el parque, donde los aficionados estallaron de emoción tras la victoria de Estados Unidos.

“Fue absolutamente hermoso ver a toda la comunidad unida, incluso cuando todo parecía estar en nuestra contra”, dijo otro aficionado.

El partido estuvo marcado por un juego físico constante, con Bosnia-Herzegovina presionando a los atacantes estadounidenses y realizando fuertes entradas durante toda la noche.

Los laterales de Estados Unidos, Sergiño Dest y Christian Pulisic, fueron marcados y golpeados repetidamente cuando intentaban avanzar, mientras que los mediocampistas estadounidenses fueron constantemente presionados en espacios reducidos.

El delantero Folarin Balogun estuvo involucrado en la intensidad del encuentro por ambos lados: anotó un gol durante el partido, pero posteriormente recibió una polémica tarjeta roja en el minuto 64. Incluso con 10 jugadores, Estados Unidos logró mantener la ventaja y asegurar la victoria.

Los aficionados llenaron Bayfront Park durante toda la noche para ver el partido en una pantalla gigante al aire libre, mientras ondeaban banderas, vestían camisetas de la selección y coreaban cánticos de apoyo al equipo estadounidense.

“Esta es una gran oportunidad para estar juntos y apoyar a nuestro equipo”, dijo otro aficionado.

Algunos asistentes señalaron que el ambiente reflejaba tanto la emoción del torneo como la unión de aficionados de distintos orígenes.

Carlos Jarquín, del condado Palm Beach, dijo: “Creo que vamos a hacerlo increíble. Creo que este es el equipo más fuerte que hemos tenido desde que empecé a ver fútbol”.

El evento también contó con entretenimiento previo al partido, mientras varios artistas ayudaban a animar la zona de aficionados antes del inicio del encuentro.

Para muchos de los asistentes, la reunión fue más allá del fútbol y se convirtió en una celebración cultural que reunió a aficionados de todo el sur de Florida y de otras partes.

Ovechkin signed an incentive-laden deal Thursday to return for a 22nd season while also giving the Washington Capitals a chance to build a Stanley Cup contender and its longtime captain the opportunity to add to his jaw-dropping total of 929 goals.

"I’m back!” Ovechkin said.

Ovechkin, who turns 41 on Sept. 17, inked a deal with a $1 million salary and bonuses worth an additional $8 million. He receives a $3.25 million signing bonus and makes the additional $4.75 million if he plays 10 games, but the contract structure allows him to count just $4.25 million against the cap. All of that will help the Caps put a team together that could send Ovi out on a high note should this really be it.

After scoring 32 goals at age 40, Ovechkin is 35 clear of now second-place Wayne Gretzky, whose mark of 894 he passed on April 6, 2025, completing the so-called “GR8 Chase” that captivated hockey. He had said in recent months he was waiting until the offseason to decide whether to return or retire from the only NHL team he's ever played for, and management was working on contingency plans either way.

“Thank you to everyone for giving me and my family the time to make this decision," Ovechkin said. “I’m healthy. I love playing hockey and competing to win. I’m excited to come back and join my teammates so we can fight for a playoff spot and have a chance to win.”

The Capitals missed the playoffs this spring but qualified 16 times in a stretch of 18 years, which included winning the franchise's only Stanley Cup in 2018 when Ovechkin was playoff MVP.

A teammate for 16-plus seasons, fellow Cup champion John Carlson said he was not surprised by Ovechkin's decision.

"I knew that he was coming back for a long time," Carlson said on a video call with reporters after signing with Tampa Bay. “I’m sure that there was conversations to be had and decisions to be made on his end, too, but it just was always my gut feeling that he wasn’t ready to give it up and good for him. He’s been an amazing player for far too long in this league, and it’s just incredible what he’s been able to accomplish. I’m thrilled that he gets to keep living out that dream.”

Ovechkin also holds the NHL records for the most power play goals with 331 and game-winning goals with 141. He scored 30 in a season 20 times, joining Hall of Famers Gordie Howe, Johnny Bucyk and Teemu Selanne as the only players to hit that mark at 40 or older.

“What is he, 41, 42, and just incredible that this guy’s still finding ways to put up 30-goal seasons,” said Brandon Duhaime, who played the past two with Ovechkin in Washington before joining Toronto in free agency. “As a fan of the game, just to be able to watch him and over the past two years, to be able to see him break those records was pretty surreal. Growing up watching him and then being a part of that was absolutely incredible. Obviously wish him nothing but the best this season. Just a really incredible story. Really happy for him and his family.”

Ovechkin has been married to his wife, Nastya, since 2017, and the couple has two young children, Sergei and Ilya. They spend their summers in Ovechkin’s hometown of Moscow, and the family is expected to settle in Russia once his playing career is over.

That is not yet, which was welcomed by veteran forward Boone Jenner after signing with Washington. Jenner is one of several players the Capitals acquired this offseason, along with Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou and Vincent Desharnais to build around what might be one final run for Ovechkin.

“I always kind of thought he was going to be be back,” Jenner said. “He’s been great for the group. (His return) just adds to what they already have and the other additions that the Caps have made.”

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

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Tina, estimated to be about 1½ years old and weighing roughly 48 pounds, came into the shelter as a stray and is not expected to grow much larger, animal officials said.

Shelter staff described her as friendly, gentle and easygoing, noting that she quickly bonds with people and enjoys greeting everyone she meets. They also said she walks well on a leash and does not pull, making her a good fit for first-time dog owners.

As Independence Day approaches, animal services officials are also urging pet owners to take steps to keep animals safe during fireworks celebrations.

They recommend making sure pets are wearing updated ID tags and have current microchip information in case they become frightened and run off.

Shelter staff also advise keeping pets indoors during fireworks, providing a quiet and secure space away from crowds and noise, and walking dogs before festivities begin.

They added that fireworks can be overwhelming for animals, as they are often more sensitive to loud noises than humans.

For pets that experience anxiety, officials said calming aids or anxiety wraps may help, though effectiveness can vary by animal.

Animal services also suggested creating a calm environment inside the home, such as a quiet room or “safe space,” to help reduce stress during holiday celebrations.

More information on Tina and other adoptable pets is available at Miami-Dade Animal Services’ website.

Según las autoridades de bienestar animal, Tina, de aproximadamente un año y medio de edad y unas 48 libras de peso, llegó al refugio como una perra callejera y no se espera que crezca mucho más.

El personal del refugio la describió como amigable, dócil y tranquila, y destacó que crea vínculos rápidamente con las personas y disfruta saludar a todos los que conoce. También señalaron que camina bien con correa y no tira de ella, lo que la convierte en una buena opción para personas que tendrán un perro por primera vez.

A medida que se acerca el Día de la Independencia, las autoridades de bienestar animal también instan a los dueños de mascotas a tomar medidas para mantener a sus animales seguros durante las celebraciones con fuegos artificiales.

Recomiendan asegurarse de que las mascotas lleven placas de identificación actualizadas y que la información de su microchip esté al día, en caso de que se asusten y huyan.

El personal del refugio también aconseja mantener a las mascotas dentro de la casa durante los fuegos artificiales, proporcionarles un lugar tranquilo y seguro, alejado de las multitudes y el ruido, y sacar a pasear a los perros antes de que comiencen las celebraciones.

Agregaron que los fuegos artificiales pueden resultar abrumadores para los animales, ya que suelen ser más sensibles a los ruidos fuertes que los seres humanos.

Para las mascotas que experimentan ansiedad, las autoridades indicaron que los productos calmantes o los chalecos para la ansiedad pueden ayudar, aunque su eficacia puede variar según el animal.

Servicios para Animales también sugirió crear un ambiente tranquilo dentro del hogar, como una habitación silenciosa o un “espacio seguro”, para ayudar a reducir el estrés durante las celebraciones.

Puede encontrar más información sobre Tina y otras mascotas disponibles para adopción en el sitio web de Servicios para Animales de Miami-Dade.

He spoke loudly with his bloody right foot at one of the biggest moments of the World Cup for the United States. Still feeling the affects of being stomped on by an opponent’s studs, Tillman scored the first free kick goal in a World Cup for the Americans in 32 years to seal a 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday night that sent the U.S. into the round of 16.

Tillman celebrated the biggest moment of his young career with a smile and a scream as he ran to celebrate with his teammates in front of the large contingent of American fans at Levi’s Stadium.

“I’m a different type of person on the pitch,” he said after the game. “Of course maybe you don’t really see my emotions, but then if you score a goal like this, I think also you guys saw my emotions. It’s a great feeling.”

Tillman showed off his bloody sock — perhaps the most famous in American sports lore since Curt Schilling's in the 2004 baseball playoffs for the Boston Red Sox — after the game, saying he was still in a bit of pain.

But the discomfort was lessened by pure joy as the U.S. now prepares to play Belgium on Monday night in Seattle with a chance to make it to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.

Tillman's goal came with the U.S. protecting a one-goal lead and down a man after Folarin Balogun was sent off with a red card early in the second half. Balogun scored his third goal of the tournament in the first half but Tillman delivered the game-sealer in the highlight of what has already been a productive World Cup for the 24-year-old.

“Obviously he’s been playing so well,” captain Tim Ream said. “I’d argue he’s, other than Balo’s goals, he’s one of our best players. Everywhere on the field, doing the dirty things, making the hard things easy. I think it is just that. He just wanted to feel like he had a place. He’s a quiet kid, but he’s just come on leaps and bounds.”

Tillman is the son of an American serviceman and German mother and grew up in Germany playing on the Bayern Munich youth squad and the German national youth team before making the switch to the U.S. team in 2022.

His big moment came last summer in the Gold Cup when he scored two goals against Trinidad and Tobago and another against Haiti in the group stage. He then missed a penalty kick in the first half of the quarterfinals against Costa Rica before making one in the penalty shootout that sent the U.S. to the semifinals.

“The Gold Cup was really huge for him,” Ream said. “I think the adversity of the Costa Rica game, the penalty was really big for him. Now you look at him and he looks like he’s just playing such an easy game. It’s incredible to see. He’s had that in him all this time. It was just a matter of him finding the confidence and him believing in himself.”

This past year wasn’t easy for him after he moved from PSV Eindhoven to Bayer Leverkusen in a transfer worth a reported $41 million. He had six goals and one assist in 29 games in the Bundesliga and scoring two more in the Champions League.

His biggest goal came Wednesday night when he became the first American man to score off a free kick in a World Cup since Eric Wynalda in the 1994 opener against Switzerland.

“It was amazing,” coach Mauricio Pochettino said. “I think Malik is an amazing player, full of talent. We knew that he has the talent to do what he did. I’m so happy for him. Tough season for him in Leverkusen but I think now he’s enjoying and we are enjoying and the fans are enjoying his football.”

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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

El vuelo con destino a Caracas, Venezuela, es la primera misión humanitaria de la aerolínea hacia ese país sudamericano desde los mortales terremotos.

El piloto Cristóbal Orsini, originario de Venezuela, ha volado un avión en innumerables ocasiones. Pero dijo que ningún viaje había sido tan personal como este.

“Estoy muy feliz y agradecido de poder formar parte de este vuelo humanitario”, dijo.

“Conozco a muchas personas que murieron”, agregó. “Murieron muchos pilotos. Murieron muchos auxiliares de vuelo, personas que conocía, personas con las que trabajé”.

JC Lascano, vicepresidente sénior de American, dijo que el avión “transportará 7,000 libras de suministros de ayuda: medicinas, alimentos, productos perecederos, cosas que son absolutamente necesarias en este momento, no solo para nuestro equipo, sino para quienes viven en el país”.

La aerolínea se ha asociado con Global Empowerment Mission, en Doral, donde cientos de voluntarios han trabajado día y noche para clasificar, empacar y enviar suministros que salvan vidas.

Aunque los terremotos provocaron una enorme devastación en el país, nunca sacudieron la compasión de quienes están decididos a ayudar a reconstruirlo.

Lista útil: Lugares para entregar ayuda en el sur de Florida

Más información sobre cómo ayudar a Venezuela.

• La organización sin fines de lucro GEM, con sede en Doral, envía más de 1 millón de dólares en ayuda de la comunidad.

• Inter Miami, Marlins y Dolphins se suman a los esfuerzos de ayuda.
• Una estrella de la NFL se une al equipo de Global Empowerment Mission; su mensaje para los habitantes del sur de Florida es: “Hagan lo que puedan”.
• Más de 100 venezolanos que fueron deportados de Estados Unidos horas antes de los terremotos están desaparecidos.

• Food for the Poor celebra las inversiones en reconstrucción.
• Médicos del condado de Miami-Dade recolectan donaciones de suministros médicos cerca de Doral.
• Les presentamos al capitán German Leal del Departamento de Bomberos y Rescate de Miami-Dade.

• Agentes de policía de Pembroke Pines anuncian una campaña de recolección de donaciones.
• Airbnb se asocia con la organización sin fines de lucro CADENA para proporcionar alojamiento de emergencia.
• Hogar Bambi tiene como objetivo proteger a los niños vulnerables.

• El equipo de la Fundación Grey Bull Rescue llega a Caracas.
• Las autoridades clausuran La Guaira y exigen que los voluntarios se registren en Caracas.
• Amazon realiza donaciones a Airlink para ayudar a organizaciones benéficas con la logística.

• El equipo de búsqueda y rescate de Miami se prepara para desplegarse.
• Centro Comunitario AFE organiza campaña de recolección en Miami-Dade
• Una organización benéfica con sede en Weston se asocia con una farmacia local.

• El proyecto DYNAMO, liderado por veteranos, entrega 20.000 libras de ayuda en las primeras 48 horas.
• El altruismo en El Arepazo alimenta el esfuerzo del equipo de Global Empowerment Mission.
• Rescatistas salvadoreños trabajan para liberar a un sobreviviente de 15 años en Caraballeda.

• Food For The Poor incluye en sus kits de ayuda humanitaria notas escritas a mano con mensajes de esperanza.
• El Comando Sur de Estados Unidos se centra en los daños en los aeropuertos.
• El Departamento de Estado despliega un equipo de búsqueda y rescate en Miami-Dade.

• Miami Beach abre 4 nuevos puntos de entrega de ayuda.
• Miramar mantendrá abiertos 6 puntos de entrega de ayuda las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana.
• El recaudador de impuestos de Miami-Dade abre 11 puntos de entrega.
• Doral abre 4 puntos de entrega de ayuda.

• Se abre un punto de entrega de ayuda en Homestead.
• Starlink ofrece servicio gratuito hasta el 25 de julio, pero un kit cuesta 470 dólares.
• International Medical Corps despliega personal y necesita donaciones.
• Save The Children solicita donaciones para su fondo de emergencia.

• Samaritan’s Purse se centra en los “hospitales de campaña de emergencia”.
• La Cruz Roja solicita donaciones para su Fondo de Emergencia para la Respuesta ante Desastres.
• La ONU solicita donaciones para un programa infantil que carece de fondos suficientes.

• World Vision solicita donaciones para su “fondo de ayuda en casos de desastre”.
• World Central Kitchen solicita donaciones para comidas frescas.
• United Way Miami lanza la ‘Operación Manos Amigas’.

The virus causing this outbreak, called Bundibugyo, is less common than others that cause Ebola disease and there are no specific treatments or vaccines for it. Already more than 1,400 people have been diagnosed and 438 have died, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Thursday.

Standard supportive care, especially if started early, can help and the WHO says more than 200 people have recovered. But there’s an urgent need for better options.

The trial “offers real hope that we can deliver concrete results for – and with – the communities at the heart of the outbreak,” Tedros said in a statement.

Researchers will be testing if two drugs could improve survival. One is Gilead Sciences’ remdesivir, a broad-acting antiviral approved to treat COVID-19 but that has shown some hints in lab tests that it may help fight the currently spreading virus. The other is Mapp Biopharmaceutical’s experimental MBP134, antibodies engineered to target Ebola viruses including Bundibugyo.

All patients enrolled in the trial would receive today’s best standard care and be randomly assigned to also receive remdesivir, MBP134, both or neither, said WHO research adviser Dr. Vasee Moorthy. Survival will be tracked for 28 days after starting treatment.

It could take months and possibly as many as 1,000 study participants to tell if either drug works, Moorthy cautioned, explaining that scientists could tell more quickly, and with fewer patients, if one or the other turns out to be highly effective.

Currently the study is being offered only in one Ebola treatment center in Congo’s Ituri province. The region has been hit hard by violence, including toward healthcare workers trying to fight a virus spread by contact with sick patients’ bodily fluids. Officials plan to expand to other locations once it is safe to do so.

Moorthy said enough of each drug had been donated by Gilead and the U.S. government, which has funded MBP134 research and owns those doses, for the trial. If either proves effective, the next step would be ensuring patients can continue to access the treatment outside the study.

The WHO-supported trial is a collaboration between Congo’s national biomedical research institute INRB, Britain’s Oxford University, Antwerp's Institute of Tropical Medicine and other international health groups.

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

The application — for a “Special Event at MSG” — was approved Wednesday night by New York City’s permitting office, according to a spokesperson for Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The permit shows 100 guests will begin arriving at Madison Square Garden at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday for a “pre party celebration,” which officials described as an intimate rehearsal dinner. Thursday evening, black sport utility vehicles were seen driving into a tented area, shielding views of who was going into MSG.

A full street closure will then go into effect overnight, allowing crews to erect a “drive through tent” next to a separate “entrance tent,” according to the permit.

The “main event” will begin at 5 p.m. Friday, per the application, with the option to continue until 4 a.m. the next morning. That party can host up to 1,000 people, records show.

Beginning on Friday afternoon, several blocks surrounding the arena will be off-limits to vehicles and partially closed to pedestrians, according to information shared by police on Thursday afternoon.

Access to Penn Station — the busiest rail hub in the U.S., sitting directly below the arena — will be heavily restricted, with transit users urged to use a separate entrance further from the venue.

The approval of the permit comes as city officials and Swift’s representatives have continued to stay silent about the festivities — angering some business owners and residents, who have called for more transparency around a private event that will soak up public resources.

A spokesperson for the NYPD did not respond to a question Thursday about the purpose of the street closures.

Behind the scenes, emails obtained by the AP show city officials have been aware of the wedding — and its impact on city streets — for nearly a month.

On June 8, the director of the city’s street permitting office, Dawn Tolson, emailed several City Hall staffers to discuss a permit application “in association with the T&T wedding,” an apparent reference to Taylor and Travis.

The application included a request for “full street closures” on July 3 and 4, under the subject line: “Wedding Bells Are Ringing.”

Mamdani, who previously said the city would have to cut back on large scale events this summer due to the demands posed by the World Cup and America250 festivities, has declined to discuss the city’s role in the wedding event.

“The NYPD will of course have a detail in place, but I’m not going to go into more specifics at this time,” New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference on Wednesday.

Michael O’Brien, who co-owns O’Briens Bar and Grill across from the arena, said the city should do more to publicize the impact on local businesses — and that the newlyweds-to-be should foot the bill for any lost revenue.

“This is, in my opinion, ridiculous,” O’Brien said. “If they can afford to buy the permits, they can afford this big lavish ceremony, why don’t they just buy out the local businesses instead of having us adversely affected?”

But others seemed unbothered by the secrecy and precautions around the much-anticipated nuptials.

“She’s just so important in everyone’s life,” said Alyssa Heinen, one of scores of Swift fans who gathered outside the arena on Thursday afternoon. “We grew up with Taylor Swift, and just seeing her now find love — I feel like it’s inspiring to so many women. It’s so nice to see her so happy.”

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Associated Press video journalist Joseph B. Frederick in New York contributed to this report.

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The flight, to Caracas, Venezuela, is the airline’s first humanitarian trip to the South American country since the deadly earthquakes.

Pilot Cristobal Orsini, originally from Venezuela, has flown a plane countless times. But a trip has never felt so personal until now.

He said, “I’m very happy and grateful that I am able to be a part of this humanitarian flight.”

“I know many people that have died,” he said. “A lot of pilots died. A lot of flight attendants, people that I knew, people that I used to work with.”

JC Liscano, a senior vice president with American, said that the airplane “is going to carry 7,000 pounds of relief supplies: medicine, food, perishables, things that are absolutely needed right now ― not just by our team, but those (who) live in the country."

The airline is partnering with the Global Empowerment Mission in Doral, where hundreds of volunteers have worked around the clock to sort, pack and ship life-saving supplies.

Even though the earthquakes brought tremendous devastation to the country, they never shook the compassion of those determined to help put it back together.

Helpful list: Aid drop-off locations in South Florida

More on HELPING VENEZUELA

• Doral-based nonprofit GEM dispatches over $1 million in aid from community

• Inter Miami, Marlins, Dolphins join relief efforts
• NFL star joins Global Empowerment Mission’s team; his message to South Floridians, ‘Do what you can’
• More than 100 Venezuelans who were deported from the US hours before the earthquakes are missing

• Food for the Poor welcomes investments in reconstruction
• Physicians in Miami-Dade collect donations of medical supplies near Doral
• Meet Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Capt. German Leal

• Pembroke Pines police officers announce collection drive
• Airbnb partners with nonprofit CADENA for emergency housing
• Hogar Bambi aims to protect vulnerable children

• Grey Bull Rescue Foundation team arrives at Caracas
• Officials close La Guaira, require volunteers to register in Caracas
• Amazon donates to Airlink to help charities with logistics

• Miami search-and-rescue team prepares to deploy
• Centro Comunitario AFE hosts collection drive in Miami-Dade
• Weston-based charity partners with local pharmacy

• Veteran-led Project DYNAMO delivers 20,000 pounds of aid in 1st 48 hours
• Altruism at El Arepazo feeds Global Empowerment Mission’s team effort
• Salvadoran rescuers work to free 15-year-old survivor in Caraballeda

• Food For The Poor packs disaster relief kits with ‘hopeful’ hand-written notes
• U.S. Southern Command focuses on airport damage
• State Department deploys Miami-Dade search-and-rescue team

• Miami Beach opens 4 new aid drop-off locations
• Miramar to keep 6 aid drop-off locations open 24/7
• Miami-Dade’s tax collector opens 11 drop-off locations
• Doral opens 4 aid drop-off locations

• Aid drop-off location opens in Homestead
• Starlink offers free service through July 25, but a kit is $470
• International Medical Corps deploys staff, needs donations
• Save The Children asks for emergency fund donations

• Samaritan’s Purse focuses on ‘emergency field hospital’
• Red Cross asks for Disaster Response Emergency Fund donations
• UN asks for donations for ‘underfunded’ program for kids

• World Vision asks for ‘disaster relief fund’ donations
• World Central Kitchen asks for donations for fresh meals
• United Way Miami launches ‘Operation Helping Hands’

Owner Chip Ganassi announced Thursday that Dixon recently informed the team he would not return in 2027.

“Scott has meant so much to CGR over the past 24 years,” Ganassi said. “Together we’ve shared championships, many victories and countless moments that have helped define this organization."

Ganassi said he believed the 45-year-old Dixon’s contract gave him an opportunity to end his career with the team.

“We respect that he’s chosen a different path and wish him nothing but continued success,” Ganassi said. “Scott will always be a special part of this team’s history, and we’re grateful for everything we’ve accomplished together.”

Dixon, who won the 2008 Indianapolis 500, is the defending champion at IndyCar's next race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Sunday. He is 10th in points this season with one top-five finish.

“Our focus now is on finishing this season strong with the No. 9 PNC team while also preparing for the future at Chip Ganassi Racing," Ganassi said.

Dixon won karting titles in Australia and New Zealand before moving to the United States where he raced in Indy Lights and CART series before moving to IndyCar in 2003.

He won series championships in 2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2020 and has 59 career victories, trailing only A.J. Foyt.

Dixon was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2024 and was awarded a knighthood last December in New Zealand. He was born in Australia to New Zealand-born parents who later returned to live in Auckland.

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

The self-described socialist government of Rodríguez, striving for legitimacy months after the United States removed former President Nicolás Maduro from power in January, has come under fire for what residents have described as a sluggish and haphazard response to the quakes.

Residents of the hardest-hit state, La Guaira, have complained that the initial absence of a serious government search-and-rescue operation left them alone to scour for neighbors and loved ones with their bare hands. Rescuers have lamented the country's shortages of specialized equipment. Experts have warned that substandard construction of social housing projects — a hallmark policy of former President Hugo Chávez — left neighborhoods vulnerable to quakes.

At a press conference for foreign journalists in the capital of Caracas late Thursday, Rodríguez, wearing a black ribbon as a symbol of mourning, refused to accept the criticism.

“We did not wait one day, two days or three days. We activated immediately,” she said, lacing into media outlets that she accused of spreading misinformation. “To politicize a humanitarian tragedy like this — when the Venezuelan government and its authorities have spared no effort, public, private, national, or international — is disgraceful."

Authorities have counted at least 2,295 people killed by the earthquake as of Wednesday — a number that’s expected to rise. They did not offer an updated death toll on Thursday, and have maintained tight control over public communications and relief efforts.

A rare bright spot in the misery

The stench of decomposition hung heavy over streets of flattened buildings as rescue missions to find survivors of Venezuela’s devastating earthquakes increasingly turned to the recovery of corpses.

Desperate for good news, Venezuelan and international emergency workers celebrated the near-miraculous rescue of a 43-year-old security guard found alive after nearly eight days under the rubble — five days beyond the critical 72-hour mark following a quake when experts say finding survivors is most likely.

National broadcasters reran footage of the exuberant moment he was pried free from the collapsed mall and lifted onto a stretcher as crowds cheered. Trapped in an air pocket beneath the concrete, Hernán Alberto Gil Flores survived on the food and water that rescuers managed to pass him through crevices.

Elsewhere across La Guaira, an air of hopelessness was setting in. The port city of Catia La Mar teemed with officials carrying body bags and stacking wooden coffins.

More than 38,000 reports of missing people — many of them likely buried beneath the rubble — have been sent to a website set up by the Venezuelan opposition, as the government has not given official figures for those missing.

When one journalist asked Rodríguez about the true, still-unknown toll of the disaster, citing reports that the United Nations is procuring 10,000 body bags, Rodríguez defended the government's tally.

“We do not want to speculate," she said. “The numbers we provide are rigorously verified.”

In La Guaira, several of Chávez's signature social housing projects were razed by the earthquakes, prompting suspicions of flawed construction. Rodriguez deflected the accusations, claiming on Thursday that about 80% of the collapsed buildings were privately developed. She did not offer evidence.

Rodríguez’s denies a slow government response

Pressed on reports that residents were on their own in the first 48 hours after the quakes, with heavy machinery and official aid scarce, Rodríguez acknowledged that “naturally, at the sites where the building collapsed, the first people to arrive were survivors of the collapse itself, relatives and neighbors."

But she railed against what she called “narratives manufactured in propaganda laboratories" and claimed that a day after the quakes, “We had already mobilized the full capacity of the Venezuelan state together with the private sector.”

The disaster has evolved into the biggest test of competence yet for Rodríguez, who served as deputy to Maduro until his ouster and became interim leader with the backing of the Trump administration.

Her comments Thursday came a day before the extension of her 180-day mandate as acting leader was set to expire. It was unclear what would happen once the deadline passes Friday.

Under Venezuela’s constitution, temporary absences are to be filled by the vice president — which was Rodríguez’s former role — for up to 90 days. These interim appointments can be extended by the national assembly for an additional 90 days. The National Assembly, controlled by Rodríguez’s party, can trigger a snap election if lawmakers declare the post permanently vacant.

U.S. support of a government under fire

In contrast to the aftermath of Venezuela's catastrophic 1999 landslides, when then-President Chávez rejected offers of assistance from an adversarial U.S., Rodríguez has publicly welcomed aid and rescue teams from governments across the political spectrum — including the Trump administration and its regional allies.

In expressing thanks for the foreign help, Rodríguez singled out Israel, which has no diplomatic relations with Venezuela. She praised President Donald Trump and Secretary State of Marco Rubio, saying they “remained constantly attentive and offered support.”

Washington has thrown its support behind Rodríguez in its bid to open up Venezuela’s lucrative energy industry and largely turned its back on opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado, who this week accused Rodríguez’s government of blocking her return to the country.

The U.S. has committed over $300 million and deployed some 900 military personnel to support rescue operations. On top of that, John M. Barrett, the U.S. chargé d’affaires to Venezuela, said the U.S. would make revenue from Venezuelan oil production, controlled by the U.S. Treasury since Maduro’s seizure, available for relief efforts. That promise has made demands for more transparency in U.S. management of Venezuelan oil sales all the more urgent, analysts say.

“Venezuelans really need that money to be used for the protection of Venezuelans,” said Laura Cristina Dib, Venezuela program director at the independent human rights organization Washington Office on Latin America.

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DeBre reported from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Associated Press journalists Ben Finley in Washington, Gabriela Aoun Angueira in San Diego, Gisela Salomon in Miami and Megan Janetsky in Mexico City contributed to this report.

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Corrects that the deadline for the acting president expires on Friday, not Thursday.

Some swear that turning off the AC when they’re gone for a few hours is the most energy-efficient, cost-saving method. Others say it’s better to leave it running continuously, preventing the system from straining to rapidly cool the house down after the home has gotten warmer throughout the day.

Three experts interviewed by The Associated Press agreed that setting the thermostat a few degrees higher than normal while you’re away is generally the best way to balance energy efficiency against comfort and humidity.

While turning an AC unit off for several hours and turning it back on can save money and energy compared to continuously running it, that approach can lead to mold problems in humid environments as well as wear and tear that can cause more frequent repairs. The equation can also vary depending on other factors including comfort level, AC unit type and building insulation.

Air conditioning strategies differ in humid or dry climates

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, adjusting your thermostat by 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit (4-6 degrees Celsius) for eight hours a day can save up to 10% a year on heating and cooling.

Experts say there are a lot of factors to consider when deciding what AC habits save the most energy and money.

“If you’re gone for like 15 minutes to go to the grocery store, you don’t get any gain" by turning off your AC, said Elizabeth Hewitt, professor and urban planning expert at Stony Brook University.

But as a general rule, “if you’re going for your work day, say for eight hours or so, you’ll almost always save more energy and money by turning things off," she said.

In some climates, however, turning off the AC might not be feasible, so residents can set back their AC a few degrees instead of blasting cold air all day.

In dry places like Arizona, you can let the home warm up more by raising the thermostat a few degrees higher. But in humid climates like Florida, air inside the home can become damp and harder to cool, and turning the AC off for long periods can increase the risk of mold since the system helps control indoor moisture.

Bumping up the thermostat by 1 degree Fahrenheit (0.6 degrees Celsius) yields about a 3% savings in cooling costs, said Patrick Phelan, mechanical engineering professor at Arizona State University.

Phelan also said leaving your AC off for hours and then turning it back on could lead to wear that results in more frequent repairs. That is because it can take AC systems 15 to 30 minutes after they are turned on to perform most efficiently.

How much energy and money you can save depends on the kind of home you live in, said Gregor Henze, an architectural engineering professor at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Homes built with heavy materials like concrete or brick hold in cool air longer, while older, draftier houses heat up faster. In less insulated homes, Henze said, it makes sense to adjust the thermostat even if you’re stepping out for just a few hours, because the indoor temperature can rise quickly.

Some AC units save more energy than others

Whether you have a window unit, a smart thermometer or central air could influence your savings.

Window units are generally less efficient because they’re installed in an open window, making it difficult to seal out hot air completely, said Hewitt. She added that spraying “cheap foam spray insulation in open windows or areas that are drafty is a really low-hanging fruit that doesn’t cost a lot of money and really helps retain the indoor temperature in your home.”

Phelan says smart thermostats are a handy tool to remove the mental burden of tinkering with your manual thermostat multiple times a day. Smart thermostats “learn” by monitoring the occupancy with a sensor and raise the temperature when no one is home to conserve energy and lower it when people return.

“If you’re going from just an ordinary manual thermostat to installing a smart one like a Nest, then you can expect something like 10% savings," said Phelan.

How to cool your home without air conditioning

Each expert said simple steps like blocking sunlight can go a long way in keeping homes cool.

Henze pointed to “time-honored strategies” such as opening windows at night when it’s cooler. In dry climates, that night air doesn’t add much moisture, but in humid regions it can bring in dampness the AC will later need to remove.

Hewitt added that closing your blinds can make a difference of several degrees.

Phelan also noted that some blinds are designed to reflect sunlight and said tinted window films are another option.

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O'Malley is a former Associated Press reporter.

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

The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate fell to 6.43% from 6.49% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the average rate was 6.67%.

The average rate has been mostly hovering around 6.5% going back to mid-May and trending higher overall in the months since the war between the U.S. and Iran began in late February, disrupting the flow of crude oil from the Persian Gulf to customers worldwide. That’s sent oil prices sharply higher, helping drive up inflation, bond yields and mortgage rates.

Despite the modest decline from last week, the average rate is now at its lowest level since May 14, when it was 6.36%.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, often sought by borrowers refinancing a home loan, also declined this week. That average rate fell to 5.79% from 5.84% last week. A year ago, it was at 5.8%, Freddie Mac said.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation. They generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

The 10-year Treasury yield was at 4.46% at midday Thursday on the bond market, down from 4.48% late Wednesday.

Hope that the United States and Iran may ultimately end their war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil tankers delivering crude has helped lower oil prices, helping ease some of the pressure on bond yields.

Bond yields remain elevated, though. The 10-year Treasury yield was at 3.97% in late February.

As recently as late February, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage had slipped just under 6% for the first time since late 2022. It’s hasn’t fallen below that threshold since. Five weeks ago, it reached 6.53%, its highest level since Aug. 28.

While average long-term mortgage rates remain lower than they were at this time last year, uncertainty about their trajectory amid the war with Iran kept many would-be homebuyers on the sideline.

Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes declined in the first three months of the year compared to a year earlier, extending a nationwide housing slump that dates back to 2022 when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales were essentially flat in April, but accelerated in May to their fastest pace since December.

Still, sales of existing U.S. homes continue to hovering close to a 4-million annual pace, far short of the historic norm that is closer to 5.2-million.

“Homebuyers and sellers are starting to accept rates in the mid-6% range as the new normal,” said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS. “However, affordability is a major constraint to housing market activity as rates remain elevated and home prices continue to rise.”