Carga una furgoneta con picos, palas, agua y comida. Se encomienda a Dios, recoge a sus compañeras y se lanzan a rastrear zonas donde hay sospechas de cuerpos escondidos, personas que desaparecieron sin dejar rastro en medio de la violencia de los cárteles.

Su colectivo, Guerreros Buscadores, es uno de las decenas que hay en México con la misma misión. Hay mucho que buscar: más de 130.000 desaparecidos desde 2006, según el registro oficial.

Compaginar ese trabajo con los quehaceres diarios no es fácil. Servín perdió su empleo cuando empezó a buscar a su hijo. Ahora trabaja de camarero los fines de semana.

Tampoco lo es manejar logística y emocionalmente todo lo que conlleva buscar. Un cráneo o un cuerpo mutilado pueden suponer el inicio del cierre del duelo inacabado de alguna familia. Conocer la verdad, por dolorosa que sea, siempre es mejor que la incertidumbre, coinciden los buscadores.

Es entonces cuando Servín se enfrenta a una realidad desconcertante: hay ocasiones en las que puede surgir un atisbo de alegría incluso de una fosa.

Un fotoperiodista de The Associated Press acompañó a Servín durante una de sus más recientes salidas con tres compañeras y fue inusual testigo de la mezcla de emociones vividas en las afueras de Guadalajara, una de las sedes de la Copa Mundial de Fútbol, bastión del Cártel de Jalisco de Nueva Generación (CJNG).

Pistas anónimas y esperanzas

Esta vez los cuatro buscadores salen solos, sin protección. El único rastro de autoridad es el “botón de pánico” que lleva Servín, un mecanismo que lo mantiene conectado con funcionarios federales encargados de proteger a defensores de derechos humanos.

El entorno en el que se mueven es complicado. México no está en guerra ni tiene una dictadura militar pero miles de personas desaparecen cada año en medio de la violencia de los cárteles. Mientras, no dejan de aparecer fosas clandestinas y, según datos de la ONU, más de 70.000 restos humanos sin identificar se acumulan en morgues y cementerios.

La anterior administración reconoció la envergadura del problema y puso en marcha comisiones oficiales de búsqueda, pero persisten altos niveles de impunidad e inacción por parte de las autoridades. Un comité de Naciones Unidas acaba de afirmar que el país está totalmente desbordado por esta crisis, algo que el gobierno niega aunque reconoce que no tiene información suficiente para buscar, al menos, a un tercio de los desaparecidos. Por eso las familias siguen siendo el principal motor de las búsquedas y de los hallazgos.

Servín y sus compañeras se dirigen a varios lugares mencionados en pistas anónimas llegadas al Facebook del colectivo, personas que han escuchado gritos, balazos, que han visto algo y no se atreven a hablar con las autoridades.

En la anterior salida excavaron más de un metro de profundidad en cuatro puntos. Nada. A veces encuentran manchas de sangre, casquillos. Todo se revisa. “No nos podemos quedar con la duda”, afirma.

De repente recibe una llamada. Un informante les indica un lugar donde asegura hay un cuerpo sepultado. Los datos parecen fiables y el grupo cambia de planes aunque eso implica no visitar primero el sitio —como suelen hacer—- para evitar encontrarse con vigilantes del cártel o gente armada y ser expulsados con balazos al aire, como ya ha ocurrido.

Unos arcos marcan la entrada a un complejo residencial señalado por el informante. Está junto a un tren urbano, en las afueras de Guadalajara, una ciudad parcialmente empapelada por fichas de búsqueda. Jalisco es uno de los estados con más desaparecidos de México.

La presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum había visitado poco antes la zona para insistir en que la seguridad del Mundial estaba totalmente garantizada tras la violencia desatada en febrero por la muerte del líder del cártel.

Los colectivos quieren aprovechar que el mundo mira a México para llamar la atención sobre su realidad. “Me encanta el fútbol”, asegura Servín. “Pero eso no va a impedir que yo salga a buscar”.

Arrullos para un muerto

Gorras y pañuelos protegen a los buscadores del sol. Cada uno lleva una camiseta personalizada con las fotos de su familiar. La de Servín tiene a un joven de 20 años y dice “Papá buscador”.

El grupo alista su equipo que incluye las varillas metálica que apodan “el vidente”. Hace más de una década que esta rudimentaria herramienta se convirtió en imprescindible para todos los colectivos. La clavan en el terreno y luego la huelen. Si hay olor orgánico, hay pista.

Empiezan a excavar en una pequeña zona verde del complejo residencial. Nada.

Después de horas sin avances, Servín camina entre el muro y las vías. El terreno está blando. “Vi un agujero que tenía piedras y se me hizo raro”.

Años atrás su corazón se hubiera acelerado. Ahora dice que los “nervios ya no me dan”. Se arrodilla y empuña su pala. Pasa un tren. Primero ve parte de un cráneo. Empieza a sacar tierra con la pala y las manos.

“¡Tenemos un positivo!”, grita a sus compañeras.

Los cuatro se ponen cubrebocas y guantes. Aparece una mandíbula.

El hombre muestra a sus compañeras la cabeza mientras la toma con suma delicadeza. Siguen cavando en paralelo a la pared. Aparece una bolsa con huesos, un zapato, una pelvis. Colocan cada pieza fuera de la fosa. Si algún hueso pareciera igual, se situaría en otro lado porque podría ser de una segunda persona.

Las voces de las mujeres se cruzan como arrullos a un niño. “Chiquitito ya vas a regresar a tu casa”. “Tu familia te espera”. “Qué bueno que estás aquí”. Una de ellas enciende una vela al borde de la fosa.

Para alguien ajeno a estos contextos, la escena podría parecer macabra. Para quien la presencia, es un acto de tremenda ternura protagonizado por personas que durante años fueron revictimizadas por las autoridades.

En 2021, un fiscal entregó a una mujer los restos de su familiar en una enorme bolsa de basura. La foto de la señora con la mirada perdida en la bolsa a sus pies se hizo viral.

Manejar la logística y las emociones

Los criminales ocultan a sus víctimas porque, si no hay cuerpo, no hay delito que perseguir. Casi 20.000 personas desaparecidas han sido localizadas muertas desde 2010, según datos oficiales.

Encontrar un cadáver puede ser peligroso y Servín activa su “botón de pánico”. Muchos buscadores tienen este mecanismo de protección federal. Desde 2010 al menos 36 han sido asesinados, según organizaciones civiles. La última fue una mujer a mediados de marzo.

Servín habla con los funcionarios al otro lado de la línea, confirma su identidad con una contraseña, explica lo encontrado, la ubicación y quién lo acompaña. Pide que lo monitoreen cada hora, lo que implica una llamada para ver si está bien. Luego llama a la policía.

Una de las mujeres prepara una publicación en vivo para Facebook. Es la manera de que quede registro. Si no hubieran hecho el vivo cuando encontraron el rancho donde operaba el CJNG probablemente nadie hubiera creído lo que hallaron. También sirve por si alguien reconoce algo.

“Está un calzoncito gris que dice Sport con letras naranjas, unas botas café número 5”, explica una de las buscadoras. “Ahí está el cráneo, todavía tiene pelito... ahí está la pelvis”.

El celular se acerca para mostrar detalles de una bota, de la mandíbula a la que le falta un diente. Cualquier dato da pistas.

Servín empieza a contestar preguntas en línea. No es perito pero la experiencia le dice que el cadáver como mucho tiene año y medio de antigüedad. No puede ser su hijo, pero no pierde la esperanza. Hace dos semanas una madre buscadora encontró al suyo después de siete años. Da gracias a Dios porque hay restos de los que saldrá material genético.

El hombre dice que siente “feo”. Reconoce que a veces le dan ganas de llorar, sobre todo si encuentran cuerpos “en pedacitos”. “Entonces es cuando más nos pega el pensar que a lo mejor nuestros hijos están bajo esas condiciones”.

Pero también dice sentir satisfacción. Sabe que ahí hay respuestas.

Mientras esperan a las autoridades los buscadores se sientan a descansar. Es un momento de intimidad y confidencias entre personas unidas por una misión y por el dolor de no saber el destino de los suyos.

Una vecina del complejo residencial llega con su hijo a preguntar. Tiene otro desaparecido y quiere ver si reconoce algo. Una hora más tarde llega otra otra mujer. Las buscadoras la abrazan. Recomiendan acudir a la fiscalía para hacerse pruebas de ADN. La emoción vuelve a rebosar.

Al llegar la policía Servín responde las preguntas de rigor, aunque la desconfianza persiste. Teme que haya agentes coludidos con los criminales. Dice que “tiempo atrás” las autoridades los acusaban de contaminar escenas del crimen, pero ahora respetan más su trabajo.

Al caer la tarde llegan los forenses. Los resultados de una prueba genética pueden tardar días o años. Servín cuenta cómo los restos del hermano de una sus compañeras de búsqueda —su pareja actual— llevan seis años en el instituto forense porque, aunque ha habido un positivo, los peritos no terminan de procesar los restos de todas las bolsas encontradas. “Es algo ilógico”.

A las 9 de la noche acciona el botón de pánico para informar que ya está en casa. “Llego tranquilo al saber que el día tuvo frutos”.

____

Verza reportó desde Ciudad de México.

Pakistan said Tuesday it was pursuing efforts to help the U.S. and Iran negotiate an end to the war, after Trump told the New York Post earlier that a second round of talks with Iran “could be happening over next two days.”

Meanwhile, Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh Moawad said talks between Lebanon and Israel in Washington were “constructive,” and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter praised his Lebanese counterparts after the two-hour meeting, saying “we’re on the same side of the equation.” The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah opposes the direct talks and has said it won’t abide by any agreements made as a result.

The fighting in the Middle East has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,100 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen U.S. service members have also been killed.

Here is the latest:

Pakistan prime minister to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey this week during a diplomatic push to secure a new round of talks between the United States and Iran.

The trip comes days after Islamabad hosted rare negotiations that ended without a formal agreement.

Sharif is attempting to facilitate a second round before a temporary ceasefire expires on April 22.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the visits starting Wednesday and ending Saturday will focus on bilateral relations.

Sharif is expected to discuss ongoing cooperation and regional peace and security with leaders of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

In Turkey, Sharif is expected to participate in the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum and hold meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other world leaders.

South Korea provides information about vessels stuck in strait

South Korea says it provided information to Iran, the United States and Gulf nations concerning 26 vessels from South Korea that are stuck in the Strait of Hormuz.

South Korea is attempting to secure their safe passage out the strait.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said in a legislative hearing Wednesday that officials consider the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran as a window to ensure the safe exit of the ships from the region.

Every Tuesday, Servín loads a van with picks, shovels, water and lunches. He commends himself to God. He picks up his three teammates for the day. Then they venture forth into areas where the ground beneath their feet may sometimes hide the bodies of the missing — the victims of foul play in a Mexican state rife with drug cartel violence.

They call themselves the Guerreros Buscadores — the “Searching Warriors." There is much to search for, and dozens of groups like theirs do: More than 130,000 people have been reported missing since 2006, according to official records.

Balancing the search efforts with daily obligations is not easy. Servín lost his job when he started looking for his missing son. Now he works as a waiter on weekends.

But the most difficult parts also offer ways forward — news that arrives via a skull, a mutilated body, evidence of closure in many respects of the word. There is even joy now and then — even if it comes from a pit.

On those difficult days, Servín, 54, comes to grips with a jarring fact: Sometimes, in the end, the worst-case scenario can become the best possible outcome.

Searching, waiting, hoping

Servín's life is filled with mixed-feeling moments not easy to witness. On a recent day, these Guerreros agreed to be shadowed by an Associated Press photojournalist to see what they do — and why it matters. They set out to cover several locations on the outskirts of Guadalajara, the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco and a World Cup host city.

Servín and the women go alone, unaccompanied by any protection. The only semblance of an authority is a “panic button” held by Servín that connects to a federal network to protect rights activists.

It is perilous work in a perilous environment. Mexico is neither at war nor under a military dictatorship, yet thousands of people disappear every year amid cartel violence. Clandestine graves are discovered on a semiregular basis; more than 70,000 unidentified remains have piled up in morgues and cemeteries.

The previous administration recognized the magnitude of the problem and launched official search commissions, but high levels of impunity and inaction persist. The current government has said missing information for one-third of those disappeared makes it impossible to search for them at all. Families remain the main driving force behind the searches and the findings.

The group heads to several locations based on anonymous tips received on the Guerreros Buscadores website. These often come from people who heard screams or gunshots or who saw something but fear going to the authorities.

On their previous outing, they dug down more than a yard (meter) at four locations. Nothing. Sometimes they find bloodstains or shell casings. They check every tip anyway. Says Servín: “There cannot be room for doubt."

He receives a call. An informant says there is a body buried in a residential area. The information seems reliable, so they change their plans. This time they won't be able to check the area in advance, a security measure to avoid encountering drug cartel lookouts or gunmen who could drive them off with shots into the sky. That has happened before.

Arches mark the entrance to the residential complex identified by the informant. It sits next to a commuter train line on the outskirts of Guadalajara, a city plastered with fliers of missing people. Jalisco state, a stronghold of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, is an epicenter of disappearances.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum visited the area following the violence that erupted in February over the killing of the cartel's leader. She insisted that security for the World Cup would be guaranteed.

The search collectives want to take advantage of the world’s focus on Mexico to draw attention to their reality. “I love soccer," Servín says, “but that’s not going to stop me from going out to search.”

A lullaby for the dead

Caps and scarves shield the searchers from the sun. Each wears a personalized T-shirt with a photo of their loved one. Servín’s reads “Searcher Dad.”

The group prepares their equipment. A metal rod they call “the seer" is a must-have: For over a decade, it has been the searchers’ rudimentary yet indispensable tool. They stick it into the ground and then sniff. If there’s an organic smell, there’s a clue.

They begin digging in a small dirt area at one residential corner. They dig and dig some more. Nothing.

Then, after hours of no progress, Servín steps outside the apartment complex and walks between the wall and the tracks. The ground is soft. “I saw a hole with small rocks; it was strange.”

Years ago, his heart would have raced. Now he says, “I don’t get nervous anymore.”

He kneels and grips his shovel. A train passes. First he sees part of a skull. He begins to dig out the soil with his shovel and hands.

“We’ve got a positive!” he shouts.

The four don masks and gloves. A jawbone appears. There is no doubt: It is a human being.

Servín shows his colleagues the head, holding it with the utmost delicacy. They decide to keep digging to look for the full body. A bag of bones appears. Then a shoe. Then a pelvis. They carefully place each outside the pit. If any bone looks the same, it would be placed elsewhere because it could belong to a second person.

The women’s voices mingle like lullabies. “Hi baby, you’re going home soon.” “Your family is waiting for you.” One lights a candle at the edge of the pit.

To someone unfamiliar with violent environments, the scene might seem macabre. To those who witness it, it’s an act of tremendous tenderness and solidarity carried out by people who were re-victimized by the authorities for years. In 2021, a prosecutor handed a woman the remains of her relative in a trash bag. A photo of her with a vacant stare over the huge black bag at her feet went viral.

Criminals hide their victims because if there’s no body, there’s no crime. Nearly 20,000 missing people have been found dead since 2010. So finding a body can be dangerous.

Servín activates his panic button that many searchers carry. Since 2010, at least 36 searchers have been killed, according to civil society organizations. The latest was in mid-March.

Servín talks to the federal officials on the line, confirms his identity with a password, explains what he found and notes the location. He requests hourly monitoring, which means a call to confirm everything is all right.

Then he phones the police.

Navigating the aftermath — logistically and emotionally

One of the women prepares to go live on Facebook. It’s a way to leave a record. If they hadn’t gone live when they found a ranch used by the Jalisco Cartel, it would have been difficult to get people to believe what they discovered. It also helps people recognize things.

“There’s a pair of gray underwear that says ‘Sport’ in orange letters, some size 5 brown boots,” one of the searchers explains. “There’s the skull, it still has some hair. … There’s the pelvis.”

The phone zooms in to show the details of the shoe, of the jawbone missing a tooth. Any detail might help. One woman hopes that the “little person” will soon be with loved ones. They pray.

Servín begins answering questions online. He’s no expert, but his experience tells him the body might have been buried about 18 months ago. It cannot be his son, but hope is never entirely lost; two weeks ago, a mother found her son after seven years of searching. He thanks God that there are remains for DNA testing.

When the Guerreros find bodies “in pieces,” Servín feels like crying. “What hits us hardest is to think that our children might be in those conditions.”

But he also feels good. Because he knows there are answers there.

While waiting for the authorities, the searchers sit down to rest. It is a moment of intimate conversation among people united by grief and their mission.

A woman from the neighborhood arrives with her son. She has a missing child and wants to see if he recognizes anything. An hour later, another mother arrives. The searchers embrace her and advise to go to the attorney’s office for a DNA test. Emotion overflows.

When the police arrive, Servín answers their questions. Mistrust, though, persists because he knows some officers work for the cartel. He says that “some time ago” the authorities accused them of contaminating crime scenes, but the collectives have gradually earned respect.

As evening falls, the forensic team begins its job. In Mexico, the results of a genetic test can take days or years. The remains of one searcher's brother — a searcher who is also Servín's partner — have been at the forensic institute for six years. There has been a match, but the experts haven’t finished processing the remains from all the bags found back then. “It’s illogical,” he says. His anguish is evident.

At 9 p.m., Servín presses the panic button one more time to check in that he is home. “I arrive feeling at peace," he says, "knowing the day was fruitful."

——

Verza reported from Mexico City.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that a second round of talks could happen "over the next two days," telling the New York Post the negotiations could be held again in Islamabad as diplomats worked through back channels to arrange them.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said it’s “highly probable” that talks will restart, citing a meeting he had with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The office of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he would travel to Saudi Arabia Wednesday as his country pushes to mediate new talks and to Turkey for the Anatalya Peace Forum, which starts Friday.

Oil prices fell on hopes for an end to fighting, and in the U.S. stocks surged close to records set in January. The war, now in its seventh week, has jolted markets and rattled the global economy as shipping has been cut off and airstrikes have torn through military and civilian infrastructure across the region.

Meanwhile in Washington, the first direct talks in decades between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the U.S. concluded on a productive note Tuesday, according to the U.S. State Department.

Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter said the two countries are “on the same side of the equation” in “liberating Lebanon” from the militant Hezbollah group. Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad called the meeting “constructive” but urged an end to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. Since March, that war has displaced more than 1 million people in Lebanon.

Israel and Lebanon have technically been at war since Israel was established in 1948, and Lebanon remains deeply divided over diplomatic engagement with Israel.

First round of talks with Iran failed to end conflict

Last weekend in Pakistan, an initial round of talks aimed at permanently ending the U.S.-Iran conflict failed to produce an agreement. The White House said Iran’s nuclear ambitions were a central sticking point.

“I think they want to make a deal very badly,” Trump said in an excerpt from an interview with Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria" scheduled to air Wednesday morning. He added: “I view it as very close to over.”

A U.S. official said Tuesday that fresh talks with Iran were still under discussion and that nothing has been scheduled. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss sensitive negotiations.

Muhammad Aurangzeb, Pakistan’s finance minister, told The Associated Press that “our leadership is not giving up” on efforts to help the U.S. and Iran end the conflict.

Though the ceasefire appeared to hold, the showdown over the strategic Strait of Hormuz risked reigniting hostilities and deepening the regional war's economic fallout.

The fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,100 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen U.S. service members have also been killed.

Tankers turned around after blockade took effect

U.S. Central Command said Tuesday no ships made it past the blockade in the first 24 hours, while six merchant vessels complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around and reenter Iranian waters.

The blockade is intended to pressure Iran, which has exported millions of barrels of oil, mostly to Asia, since the war began Feb. 28. Much of it has likely been carried by so-called dark transits that evade sanctions and oversight, providing cash that’s been vital to keeping Iran running.

Tankers approaching the strait Monday turned around shortly after the blockade took effect, though one reversed course again and transited the waterway.

Since the war began, Iran has curtailed maritime traffic, with most commercial vessels avoiding the waterway. Tehran's effective closure of the strait, through which a fifth of global oil transits in peacetime, has sent oil prices skyrocketing, pushing up the cost of gasoline, food and other basic goods far beyond the Middle East.

___

Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank. Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani, Matthew Lee, Fatima Hussein, Collin Binkley, Chris Rugaber, Will Weissert and Konstantin Toporin in Washington; Sylvie Corbet in Paris; Toqa Ezzidin in Cairo; Natalie Melzer in Jerusalem; Edith Lederer and Farnoush Amiri at the United Nations, and Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia, contributed to this report.

A key provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act permits the CIA, National Security Agency, FBI and other agencies to collect and analyze vast amounts of overseas communications without a warrant. It incidentally sweeps up the conversations of any Americans who interact with those foreigners targeted for surveillance.

The program expires Monday, and critics want changes, including a requirement for warrants before authorities can access the emails, phone calls or text messages of Americans. They also want limits on the government's use of internet data brokers, who sell large volumes of personal information gleaned online, offering the government what critics say amounts to an end-run around the Constitution.

Despite bipartisan criticism, the chances of significant reforms dropped when Trump announced his support for the program's renewal, saying it had proven its worth in supplying information vital to recent U.S. actions in Venezuela and Iran.

“The fact is, whether you like FISA or not, it is extremely important to our military,” Trump said on social media Tuesday.

Trump calls for another extension of the program

U.S. authorities say the program, known as Section 702 of the law, is vital to national security and has saved lives by uncovering terror plots. Critics question what they call a dangerous infringement on civil liberties and privacy.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said a different FISA provision was used to spy on his 2016 campaign but that he supported Section 702's renewal despite misgivings that political adversaries could use parts of the law against him in the future. He called on lawmakers to extend the foreign surveillance program for another 18 months.

“My administration has worked tirelessly to ensure these FISA reforms are being aggressively executed at every level of the Executive Branch to keep Americans safe, while protecting our sacred Civil Liberties guaranteed by our Great Constitution,” Trump wrote.

Trump is a longtime critic of the nation's intelligence services and was once opposed to Section 702 before he reversed himself. “KILL FISA” Trump posted on social media in 2024, when the provision was last reauthorized.

Trump isn't the only one-time critic to change their mind: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard sponsored legislation to repeal Section 702 as a Hawaii congresswoman but now supports it after being tapped to coordinate the nation's 18 intelligence agencies.

Gabbard says new protections added since her time in Congress helped change her mind.

Greater protections are sought

for Americans' communications

In addition to a requirement for a warrant to access Americans' data, critics also want greater protections on how the FBI or other agencies can search communications and how that is reported to the public.

“Journalists, foreign aid workers, people with family overseas, all could have their communications swept up in this surveillance merely because they talked to someone outside of this country,” said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. The longtime critic of the law is pushing for changes that he said will ensure the government isn't violating civil rights in secret.

Several Republicans also have suggested changes, such as the warrant requirement.

“National security and civil liberties are not mutually exclusive,” said Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz. “We can give our intelligence professionals the tools they need to target foreign threats while ensuring that Americans are not subjected to unconstitutional surveillance.”

Gabbard's office releases an annual report showing the number of foreign surveillance targets and number of searches likely to identify an American.

For 2025, the number of foreign surveillance targets increased to nearly 350,000 from almost 292,000 in 2024. Searches using terms likely to identify an American decreased slightly to 7,724 from 7,845 in 2024.

The totals are incomplete because agencies like the FBI have found ways to access the data without reporting the searches publicly, said Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University.

FBI officials repeatedly violated their own standards when searching for intelligence related to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and racial justice protests in 2020, according to a 2024 court order.

“It’s reminiscent of J. Edgar Hoover's tenure at the FBI,” Goitein said, referring to the FBI's founding director who used illegal surveillance to harass and spy on Americans. “They can pretty much target anyone."

There's little time to make changes to the law

Despite bipartisan concerns about the law and its implications for civil liberties, time is running out for Congress to make any changes before Monday's expiration.

Trump's support also reduces the odds that enough Republicans will break ranks and join Democrats to push for reforms.

Wyden said Section 702 votes are routinely delayed until the last minute, then lawmakers are told that national security demands they vote yes. Lawmakers are told, he said, that “if they vote for any amendments, the program will die and terrible things will happen and it will be all their fault.”

The best chance for inserting changes likely is the House, where a large number of lawmakers from both parties have expressed concerns.

But Rep. Rick Crawford, an Arkansas Republican who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, is backing Trump's call for an 18-month renewal.

Crawford has taken aim in the past at what he calls the weaponization of intelligence but said last month that he believes the government can empower spy agencies while also holding them accountable.

“We can walk and chew gum at the same time,” Crawford said.

“Doctor SV evoluciona para atender pacientes crónicos. Alguien que tiene hipertensión, diabetes, problemas renales», dijo Guy Nae, director de Google Cloud para el Sector Público en América Latina.

Nae explicó que el programa atiende actualmente 18.000 llamadas al día, pero que se tiene la capacidad para recibir hasta 30.000 llamadas diarias.

Bukele aclaró que “las 30.000 citas al día son médicos, humanos, que están atendiendo al paciente con apoyo de la inteligencia artificial y de todo el sistema, pero son humanos. Pero esto lo van a estar haciendo agentes (de la IA), por aparte y de forma paralela”.

“Estamos creando el mejor sistema de salud del mundo”, añadió el mandatario.

Cinco meses después de su lanzamiento, el programa cuenta con 1,1 millones de usuarios y más de 400 farmacias y laboratorios afiliados. Además, se han realizado 1,5 millones de citas, con un 93% de efectividad y 97% de satisfacción de los usuarios.

Doctor SV es una app que permitirá recibir atención médica las 24 horas al día, los siete días de la semana, utilizando elementos de inteligencia artificial para mejorar la precisión del diagnóstico, y la generación de códigos QR para obtener medicamentos y tramitar los análisis de forma gratuita.

La app facilita una videollamada entre el paciente y el médico. Al concluir la consulta, el paciente recibirá un código QR que puede hacer válido en cualquiera de las farmacias de la red hospitalaria de El Salvador, al igual que los exámenes de laboratorio que se le indiquen.

Durante la reunión con Bukele, el especialista en salud pública e IA aplicada a la salud Edgardo Von Euw aseguró que en el país hay tres millones de personas con enfermedades crónicas.

Von Euw, explicó que el enfoque con Doctor SV en una primera etapa es tratar de identificar a cada uno de los pacientes, tomando en consideración que sólo seis de cada 10 personas saben que son hipertensos, explicó.

Reps. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, and Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican, both announced within hours of each other Monday that they were leaving Congress. Their decisions came the day before the House returned to Washington and as both faced the prospect of being expelled from the chamber by their colleagues.

It was a reckoning of sorts for Capitol Hill, the most striking since the careers of roughly a dozen male politicians were toppled during the heights of the #MeToo movement. Yet some congresswomen said that the pair of resignations took too long and proved what they've long been saying: that more must be done to rid Capitol Hill of sexual predation.

“Today was an important turning point,” said Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. “That it should — that abuse of power — should never be accepted, and above all, in public office. And so, I think this is an important resetting point for the institution.”

A bipartisan group of congresswomen had threatened on Tuesday to file resolutions that could have forced votes on expelling Swalwell and Gonzales. Their moves forced the two men to act and came swiftly after the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN had reported Friday that a woman said Swalwell sexually assaulted her.

The initial allegations against Swalwell date back to 2019 and 2024; they were followed with other allegations of inappropriate behavior made by other women. Swalwell has denied engaging in any sexual misconduct but acknowledged mistakes in judgment. Gonzales for months had resisted calls for his resignation after he admitted to a 2024 affair with a staff member who later committed suicide.

“Accountability can happen. We can hold men accountable when they abuse women, and we’re going to do more of it,” said Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, who chairs the Democratic Women’s Caucus.

House rules forbid relationships with staff

It is against the House Code of Conduct for any member to have a sexual relationship with their staff members.

Following the #MeToo movement, the House changed its rules to require annual trainings on sexual harassment and discrimination for members. The House also approved legislation to speed the slow-moving process for harassment complaints, require more disclosure of settlements and force lawmakers to personally pay any penalties they’re required to make.

Former Rep. Jackie Speier, a California Democrat who led the movement for reforms around sexual assault, told The Associated Press that problems still persist after those reforms.

“What we do in Congress is basically look the other way,” she said, adding that she was calling on House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries to “really tighten the rules and create a safe environment for these women to report.”

While Johnson said he did not talk with the lawmakers before they announced their resignations, he told reporters that the episode had played out “appropriately.”

“This is the right thing for the institution," he said.

How the push for accountability has grown

Sexual abuse has been top of mind for lawmakers as they investigate the actions of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. A handful of Republican women, mostly hailing from the right wing of their party, played crucial roles in forcing Congress to take up the issue.

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, alongside Rep. Lauren Boebert and then-Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, rebuffed pressure from President Donald Trump and Johnson last year as they joined with Democrats and forced a vote on a bill mandating the release of many of the case files on Epstein.

Mace, who in 2019 shared her own account of surviving rape, has continued an outspoken campaign advocating for victims of sexual assault. She and Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna had repeatedly called for Swalwell and Gonzales to resign.

Mace has also extended that demand to Republican Rep. Cory Mills, who is facing an ethics investigation on allegations of sexual misconduct and violence against an ex-girlfriend. Mills has said he will disprove the allegations.

Meanwhile, Mace and Luna are also calling for the resignation of Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Florida Democrat. The House Ethics Committee found evidence that she broke campaign finance law related to a mistaken overpayment of $5 million from the state of Florida to her family's health care business. She has said she did nothing wrong.

“Clean house. Expel them. Hold every last one accountable,” Mace said on social media. “The American people are watching.”

At the same time, Mace herself is under investigation by the ethics panel for allegations she improperly claimed housing reimbursements. She has denied wrongdoing.

Swalwell allies are facing close scrutiny

As accusations of sexual abuse continued to land against Swalwell, some Democrats found themselves in a moment of reflection and contrition, especially those who kept close company with him.

Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, a close friend of Swalwell’s who chaired his presidential campaign, called reporters to his office on Tuesday for an emotional press conference.

“I messed up. I’m human. I trusted this man,” a teary-eyed Gallego said.

Under intense questioning from reporters, Gallego acknowledged that he had heard rumors about Swalwell being “flirty,” but contended that he trusted him as a close family friend.

“I definitely look at the world in a different way now,” Gallego said. “I personally am going to make sure that I’m going to take personal steps and office steps to make sure that we don’t even get close to a gray line.”

Policing behavior in Congress presents challenges

Speier, who entered politics by first working as a congressional aide and experienced harassment from a supervisor, said that part of the problem in Congress is that members are given wide latitude to run their offices. All 535 lawmakers are bosses of their own hand-selected staff.

“There’s really no one overseeing you," Speier said. "There’s a sense of entitlement that kind of overtakes many of these members.”

Speier, alongside then-Rep. Bradley Byrne, led the effort to pass legislation to make it easier to report sexual harassment and discrimination, including banning nondisclosure agreements to protect members of Congress.

Since the 2018 reforms began requiring the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights to report awards and settlements related to formal complaints, there have been eight payments made by House members' offices, totaling just over $400,000. Those payments cover all types of violations of workplace rights, not just sexual harassment, and the violations could have been committed by other congressional staff in the office.

Speier said that it was crucial to keep making it easier for survivors to report sexual abuse.

"Unless someone comes forward, you know the conduct continues,” she said.

___

Associated Press Chief Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.

“I’ll just basically let ChatGPT know my status, how I’m feeling,” said the 42-year-old in Mesquite, Texas. “I use it for anything that I’m experiencing.”

Turning to artificial intelligence tools for health advice has become a habit for Davis and many other Americans, according to a Gallup poll published Wednesday. The poll, conducted in late 2025 and backed up by at least three other recent surveys with similar findings, found that roughly one-quarter of U.S. adults had used an AI tool for health information or advice in the past 30 days.

Dr. Karandeep Singh, chief health AI officer at the University of California San Diego Health, said AI tools, many of which now incorporate web search, are an upgraded version of Google health searches that Americans have been doing for decades.

“I almost view it like a better entry portal into web search,” he said. “Instead of someone having to comb through the top, you know, 10, 20, 30 links in a web search, they can now have an executive summary.”

Most recent AI health users are looking for quick answers

Most Americans using AI tools for health purposes say they want immediate answers. In some cases, it helps them evaluate what kind of medical attention they need.

“It’ll let me know if something’s serious or not,” Davis said of ChatGPT, which she typically consults before scheduling medical appointments.

The Gallup survey found about 7 in 10 U.S. adults who have used AI for health research in the past 30 days say they wanted quick answers, additional information or were simply curious. Majorities used it for research before seeing a doctor or after an appointment.

Rakesia Wilson, 39, in Theodore, Alabama, said she recently used AI to better understand her lab results after an endocrinologist visit. She also regularly uses ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot to decide whether she needs to take time off for a doctor's appointment or can simply monitor an ailment.

“I just don’t necessarily have the time if it’s something that I feel is minor," said Wilson, who said she sometimes works up to 70-hour weeks as an assistant principal.

Younger adults and lower-income users have used AI to bridge care gaps

On the whole, the findings suggest that the rise of AI tools hasn't stopped people from seeking professional medical care. About 8 in 10 U.S. adults say they have sought out a doctor or other health care professional for health information in the past year, while about 3 in 10 say that about AI tools and chatbots, according to a KFF poll conducted in late February.

Similarly, a Pew Research Center survey conducted in October found that about 2 in 10 U.S. adults say they get health information at least sometimes from AI chatbots, while about 85% said the same about health care providers.

But there are indications that some Americans are using AI for health advice because they are struggling to obtain professional medical care, at a time when federal policy and market factors are worsening health costs and creating obstacles to access around the country.

A small but significant share of respondents in the Gallup study say they used AI because accessing health care was too expensive or inconvenient. About 4 in 10 wanted help outside of normal business hours, while about 3 in 10 did not want to pay for a doctor’s visit. Roughly 2 in 10 did not have time to make an appointment, had felt ignored or dismissed by a provider in the past or were too embarrassed to talk to a person.

The KFF survey found that younger adults and lower-income people were more likely to say they used an AI tool or chatbot for health information because they could not afford the cost of seeing a provider or were having trouble accessing health care.

Americans are divided on whether AI medical advice can be trusted

Tech experts often warn that AI chatbots don’t think for themselves — and therefore can sometimes spout false information. Those concerns have trickled down even to frequent AI users.

About one-third of adults who had recently used AI for health information said they “strongly” or “somewhat” trust the accuracy of health information and advice generated by AI tools, according to the Gallup poll. About the same share, 34%, distrusted it, and another 33% neither trusted it nor distrusted it.

Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, an ear, nose and throat doctor and the president of the American Medical Association, said he loves when patients come in and have “more evolved questions than they used to have” because they used AI for research. But he said AI should be considered a tool and not a stand-in for medical care.

“It is an assistant but not an expert, and that’s why physicians need to be involved in that care,” he said.

There are also concerns about privacy, according to KFF. About three-quarters of U.S. adults said they are “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” about the privacy of personal medical or health information that people provide to AI tools or chatbots.

Singh, of UC San Diego Health, said most AI tools have settings users can toggle to prevent their data from being used to train future models. But that requires user vigilance — and not being careful can have consequences.

Last summer, for example, internet sleuths on Google discovered private ChatGPT conversations that had been indexed on a public website without the users realizing it.

Tamara Ruppart, a 47-year-old director in Los Angeles, said she is lucky enough to have doctors in her husband’s family that she contacts instead of turning to AI. With her family history of breast cancer, using a chatbot for health advice feels too risky.

“Health care is something that’s pretty serious,” she said. “And if it’s wrong, you could really hurt yourself.”

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Sanders reported from Washington.

But instead of showcasing the youthful energy that the organization harnessed to return President Donald Trump to the White House less than two years ago, there was a mostly empty arena, awkward questions and unusually sharp criticism.

The event affirmed Trump's difficulty selling the war and how much he’s complicated his own political fortunes by assailing Pope Leo XIV and posting a social media meme that depicted himself as Jesus.

“I did vote for Trump. I am not a Trump supporter anymore,” said Joseph Bercher, a Catholic who said he was glad that Leo has expressed opposition to the war with Iran.

Bercher said the Jesus meme, which the president took down Monday after a rare conservative backlash, was a “red flag” indicating Trump's true character.

“He sees himself as like a demagogue or someone to be worshipped," Bercher said.

C.J. Santini, a recent graduate of Liberty University, an evangelical school in Virginia, said he didn't have an opinion on whether Iran was truly close to manufacturing a nuclear weapon and thus needed to be attacked. But he laughed and shook his head when asked about Trump attacking Leo.

“It’s just stupid. Stupid,” he said, calling it a “distraction” from Trump’s agenda in Iran and at home.

Mostly empty arena contrasts with 2024 rallies

Many of the college-age attendees donned Turning Point attire, Trump hats and red-white-and-blue paraphernalia for the event. Yet they were outnumbered more than 2-to-1 by empty seats in what is not even the largest arena on this sprawling campus that sits about a 90-minute drive from downtown Atlanta.

A Marine veteran who served in Iraq, Vance acknowledged that not all young conservatives are enamored with another U.S. war in the Middle East.

“I’m not saying you have to agree with me on every issue,” Vance told the young crowd. “What I’m saying,” he added, “is don’t get disengaged.”

The vice president took questions from Turning Point executive Andrew Kolvet instead of Erika Kirk, who began leading the organization after the assassination of her husband Charlie Kirk. Kolvet said Erika Kirk canceled her plans to be on stage because of unspecified threats she had received.

Vance, whose presence ensured significant Secret Service and other law enforcement protection around the venue, said he’d been worried that the event would be canceled altogether.

Kolvet asked Vance directly about the war and Trump’s back-and-forth with Leo. Audience questions were more aggressive. Vance jousted with at least one heckler over the war in Gaza, and he was pressed by another person over the administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case files.

In the audience, even some of Vance’s sympathetic listeners offered caveats and critiques.

“The pope needs to stay out of politics,” said Jessie Williams, a Methodist. But he noted his mother is Catholic, and he said he understands why Catholics recoil at Trump calling the pope “weak” and suggesting that the first U.S.-born pontiff was chosen only as a counter to Trump.

Williams called Trump’s meme distasteful.

“I don’t like it, but it’s — what can we do?" Williams said. "He’s a grown man, he’s gonna do what he wants.”

Blake McCluggage, a Baptist, said he did not approve of the meme or Trump’s profane Easter Sunday message that threatened widespread destruction of Iran’s civilian infrastructure.

The threat, plus Trump’s follow up message that a “whole civilization” would die, prompted escalating criticism from Leo, with the pope calling the president’s comments “truly unacceptable.”

However, McCluggage said, “you can still be a Republican” despite disagreeing with Trump.

Vance adjusts his comments about the pope

A day before coming to Georgia, Vance tried to laugh off the meme as a joke that “a lot of people weren’t understanding.” The vice president also seemed to echo Trump’s assertion that Leo should concentrate less on global affairs.

“It would be best for the Vatican to stick to matters of morality, to stick to matters of what’s going on in the Catholic church and let the president of the United States stick to dictating American public policy,” Vance said in a Fox News interview.

On stage in Athens, he shifted his arguments, saying he welcomes Leo’s comments even if he disagrees with them.

“At the very least, it invites conversation,” said Vance, who converted to Catholicism as an adult.

Still, Vance questioned Leo anew, pushing back specifically at the pope’s Palm Sunday assertion that God does not hear the prayers of those who make war. Leo was quoting scripture from the Old Testament book of Isaiah. Vance asked whether God was on the side of Allied forces in World War II as they liberated Jewish survivors of Nazi’s extermination camps.

“I certainly think the answer is yes,” Vance said. When Leo mixes global affairs and complex theology, Vance said, “it’s very important for the pope to be careful.”

“860,” written and performed by the Tony- and Emmy-winner, will begin previews this October at a theater to be revealed later. The title comes from the street address for the home Crystal and his family lived in for 46 years, a house lost in last year's devastating Palisades fires.

“I invite you to come inside 860 and I’ll tell you all the funny and touching things that happened there, not only in my career but to our family,” Crystal said in a statement. “It’s a joyous and heartfelt visit, about how with the love of family and friends and your inner strength, you can get through tough times.”

This is Crystal’s first return to Broadway following his “Mr. Saturday Night,” which he premiered in 2022 and earned Tony nominations for best book and lead actor in a musical. Scott Ellis will direct his new work.

Crystal has had success with one-man shows before. He turned his memoir “700 Sundays” into a stage show — in 2004 and revived in 2013 — that won him a Drama Desk Award in 2005.

The Palisades and Eaton fires erupted in Jan. 7, 2025, killing 31 people and destroying about 13,000 homes and other residential properties. The fires burned for more than three weeks and clean-up efforts took about seven months.

At the televised fundraising concert FireAid, held at the end of January, 2025, Crystal appeared as the first host in the same clothes he was wearing when he fled his family home.

Crystal said he returned to the wreckage of his home and began to wail: “I had not cried like that since I was 15 and I was told that my father had just died.” His daughters soon found a rock in the wreckage with the word “Laughter” engraved in it.

Crystal made a name for himself first in comedy, from stand-up to TV’s “Soap” to the films “When Harry Met Sally” and “City Slickers.” Then in 1992, he got serious with the movie “Mr. Saturday Night,” which he directed, co-wrote and starred in.

Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.5% to 58,162.84. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was little changed, inching up less than 0.1% to 8,977.90. South Korea's Kospi jumped 3.0% to 6,145.18. Hong Kong's Hang Seng edged up 0.7% to 26,045.80, while the Shanghai Composite gained 0.2% to 4,033.88.

On Wall Street, the S&P 500 added 1.2% to its leap from the day before, and the index at the heart of many 401(k) accounts is just 0.2% below its record set in January.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 317 points, or 0.7%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 2%.

On Wednesday, benchmark U.S. crude inched up 1 cent to $91.29 a barrel. Brent crude added 48 cents to $95.27, or less than 1% after falling 4.6% the day before. While that’s still above its roughly $70 price from before the war began in late February, it’s well below the peak level of $119.

Lower oil prices help bring down costs for all kinds of businesses. But some analysts noted the war was still ongoing, warning that the optimism may be unfortunately unfounded.

“The counterintuitive decline in crude appears driven by growing hopes that a second round of peace talks between Washington and Tehran could soon materialize, after the first attempt fizzled out. Traders are clearly choosing to price in the possibility of de-escalation rather than the immediate reality of restricted flows,” said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.

Asian nations depends on access to the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that’s the main avenue for crude oil produced in the Persian Gulf area to reach customers worldwide. Blockages there have kept oil off the global market, which has in turn driven up its price.

Global inflation this year looks set to accelerate to 4.4% from 4.1% in 2025, according to the International Monetary Fund, which had earlier thought inflation would slow to 3.8%. The IMF on Tuesday also downgraded its forecast for global economic growth to 3.1% this year from the 3.3% it had forecast in January.

All told, the S&P 500 rose 81.14 points to 6,967.38. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 317.74 to 48,535.99, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 455.35 to 23,639.08.

In the bond market, Treasury yields eased as the fall for oil prices took some of the pressure off inflation. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.25% from 4.30% late Monday.

In currency trading, the U.S. dollar edged up to 159.03 Japanese yen from 158.79 yen. The euro cost $1.1780, down from $1.1797.

___

AP Business Writer Stan Choe in New York contributed to this report.

Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama

In West Miami, voters cast their ballots for mayor and several city commission seats.

The mayoral race saw incumbent Eric Diaz-Padron face off against longtime former city manager Yolanda Aguilar.

Ultimately, Diaz-Padron won with 70.85% of the ballots cast.

The race for Commission Seat 1 went to Gustavo “Gus” Ceballos, who defeated George A. Lavin with 74.62% of the vote.

Seat 2’s election went to Juan M. Blanes with 71.46% of the vote. He defeated Fermin J. Belleau.

The race for Seat 4 was won by Victoria de la Torre with 70.79% of the votes, defeating Elsa Pelaez-Lopez.

Over in Bay Harbor Islands, voters selected a new town council member.

In that race, Elchonon Shagalov defeated Gustavo Ortega by a narrow margin of 54.73% of the votes to 45.27%.

She is a one-in-a-generation talent, and now Cardi B has joined the ranks of female MC’s that are considered some of the most influential in hip hop.

Tuesday night the award-winning rap star made a stop in South Florida.

She put on a show for thousands of fans at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise.

Despite it being seven years since her last headlining tour, Cardi B did not miss a beat.

Her set was a litany of jams that have become anthems.

Local 10’s Jason Carter was there, and his full report can be seen at the top of this page.

Emergency crews arrived to North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines around 6:11 p.m. due to a plane traveling off of a runway.

Officials said the small plane veered off the runway due to one of its breaks locking up.

There were two people on board at the time, according to authorities.

No injuries were reported.

Duran, who has spoken about his past struggles with mental health, said a fan made a personal comment that crossed the line.

“Somebody just told me to kill myself,” Duran said. “I’m used to it at this point, you know? I mean, (expletive) happens. I mean, I’m gonna flip somebody off if they say something to me, but it is what it is. I shouldn’t react like that, but that kind of stuff is still kind of triggering.”

Duran discussed bouts with severe depression and a suicide attempt in a Netflix series that debuted last year.

“Honestly, it’s my fault for talking about my mental health because I kind of brought in the haters. So I've just got to get used to it,” Duran said. “I was just trying to hold it in and not really bring that up to the team. I mean, we’re trying to win a game. I shouldn’t even bring that up to anybody. ... It just happens.”

Boston manager Alex Cora said he didn't witness the incident and hadn't reviewed video of it.

___

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

In Miami-Dade County, commissioners are demanding answers.

In Broward County, officials are working with the federal government on a plan to get rid of them.

Across South Florida, dozens of electric buses purchased with tens of millions of taxpayer dollars remain parked and out of service, more than a year after they were pulled from the road.

Right now, no one knows exactly what comes next.

In Miami-Dade, frustration is growing inside County Hall.

Roberto Gonzalez and Natalie Milian Orbis co-sponsored a resolution in January requiring the administration of Daniella Levine Cava to produce a detailed report outlining what went wrong with the county’s electric bus fleet and what the plan is moving forward.

The resolution gave the mayor 30 days to deliver that report.

That deadline has now come and gone.

No report has been publicly released.

“If these buses are not working efficiently, not out there saving the environment and not out there servicing the residents of Miami-Dade County, then we need to get that money back,” Gonzalez said.

Milian Orbis called the situation a red flag and said the county cannot afford to let millions of dollars sit idle without a plan.

“We need to have a plan. We cannot leave it by the wayside. We need to take action,” she said.

Mayor Levine Cava has acknowledged the failure.

“It is very sad. This is a sad story,” she said. “Obviously the wrong choice was made.”

She added that the county has worked to try to secure parts and repairs and said, “We are still hopeful we can still put them into service.”

In Broward County, the focus has shifted away from fixing the buses and toward getting rid of them.

Transit officials confirm they are working with the federal government to determine how to dispose of the fleet, a process required because federal grant money was used to purchase the vehicles.

Thirty-one electric buses are currently sitting in a remote section of a landfill off U.S. 27, each one costing roughly $1.1 million.

Coree Cuff Lonergan said the buses “continued to fail” and described the situation as “a deep disappointment.”

“We absolutely did our best to keep the buses on the road,” she said.

She also revealed that problems are not limited to Proterra buses.

“We did take delivery of two additional buses from a different manufacturer and they do not work either,” she said.

Lonergan said Broward is exploring whether any of the funding can be recovered.

“Are there any opportunities to get reimbursed or to recover any of the funds? Yes, absolutely,” she said.

For now, the county is waiting on federal approval before making its next move.

In Miami-Dade, the buses remain parked.

At the Homestead Air Reserve Base, rows of electric buses sit idle in what has become one of the most visible symbols of the problem. Sky 10 counted dozens of buses stored there.

Additional buses are stored at the Northeast Bus Facility near Miami Gardens Drive.

Together, they represent a significant public investment that is currently delivering no return.

Miami-Dade Transit confirms 69 Proterra buses were purchased at a cost of $61.8 million, including federal, state, and local surtax funding.

Just a few years ago, the rollout of these buses was celebrated.

In 2023, Mayor Levine Cava unveiled the new electric fleet, calling it the future of public transit and highlighting the environmental and cost-saving benefits.

The buses were manufactured by Proterra, which at the time was seen as a leader in electric transit technology.

Miami-Dade’s plan was to eventually transition its entire fleet to electric.

But problems quickly emerged.

The buses experienced repeated mechanical failures. They broke down frequently. Replacement parts became difficult and at times impossible to obtain.

Then Proterra filed for bankruptcy.

That left counties like Miami-Dade and Broward with fleets of specialized buses and no reliable way to maintain or repair them.

The issue extends beyond South Florida.

Proterra sold more than 1,300 electric buses across the United States and Canada. Transit agencies in cities such as Austin, Philadelphia, and Louisville are dealing with similar problems.

In Miami-Dade, commissioners are still waiting for a report that was due weeks ago.

In Broward, officials are waiting on the federal government before they can move forward with disposal or recovery.

Questions remain about the cost and reliability of electric transit fleets moving forward.

Miami Dade Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez has raised concerns about the financial reality, saying electric buses can be far more expensive to operate than diesel models. “It takes much more money to operate the electric one as opposed to the diesel one,” he said.

Still, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava is standing by the county’s commitment to electrification. She said Miami-Dade plans to continue moving forward with electric buses, adding that she believes electric vehicles remain the future despite the current setbacks.

Levine Cava said a detailed report on the county’s electric bus fleet will be released to commissioners in the near future.

Ball finished with 30 points and 10 assists and Bridges had 28 points and nine rebounds as the Hornets won their first postseason home game in a decade. Coby White had 19 points, including a turnaround 3 with 10.8 second left in regulation to send the game to OT.

Mitchell scored 28 points and Andrew Wiggins added 27 for the Heat, who lost Bam Adebayo to a lower back injury when Ball tripped him in the second quarter.

The Hornets will travel to face the loser of Wednesday’s matchup between Philadelphia and Orlando on Friday night for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte is seeking its first playoff appearance in a decade.

Ball's driving layup put the Hornets up by five with 26 seconds left in OT. But he made two critical mistakes after that.

Tyler Herro, who scored 23 points for Miami, hit a twisting, corner 3, and Ball then turned the ball over in the backcourt and fouled Herro on a 3-point shot. Herro made all three free throws to give Miami a 126-125 lead with 8.7 seconds left.

After a timeout, Ball drove the right side of the lane and made a leaning, right-handed layup to give Charlotte the lead. Miami, without any timeouts, pushed the ball up the court and Bridges chased down Mitchell to block his layup attempt, setting off a frenzied celebration.

Ball flexed at midcourt as players mobbed each other.

Despite the loss of Adebayo, the Heat remained in control until late in the third quarter, when White banked in a 3-pointer and then added another 3 at the top of the key as part of a 10-0 Charlotte run.

White, acquired in a midseason trade with Chicago, drained another 3 in the closing seconds of the third quarter to give Charlotte a 89-83 lead.

The Heat then built a 102-95 lead in the fourth quarter behind two 3s from Wiggins.

The Hornets tied it when White caught an inbounds pass and made a unbalanced 3 from the corner. Herro had a chance to win it in regulation but hit the back iron on a 3-point try.

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

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The Parkway Middle School student, who appeared in juvenile court Tuesday morning, has been suspended from school until further notice and was ordered to stay away from the campus.

The boy was in court with his father and is not being held in juvenile detention.

He is scheduled to appear in court again on May 18.

According to police, officers were called to the school, located at 3600 NW Fifth Court, at about 7:30 a.m. Monday after the school resource officer was notified by a school behavioral technician that a student had been displaying what appeared to be a weapon prior to boarding a school bus.

Police said the student was found running through school grounds when he arrived on campus, and he was detained by the school officer.

A handgun-style BB gun was then found in his backpack, authorities said.

Police said the student is facing charges of possession of a weapon on school grounds and possession of a BB gun by a minor under age 16.

According to BCPS, the student is also facing “appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with the Code Book for Student Conduct.”

BCPS confirmed that a tip from a student and parent led to the potentially dangerous discovery at the Lauderhill school.

Interim Principal Ackimo Charles said in a message to parents, in part, “We received information from a student and parent about a possible weapon on campus. We immediately placed our school on Lockdown and notified our School Resource Officer and security team, who safely handled the situation and confiscated the weapon.”

“He told me he was going to bring it to school, but I told him not to do it, but he still went ahead,” a student told Local 10 News. “And one of my other friends told him not to do it.”

After police got involved, the lockdown was lifted and school operations continued as normal.

Charles praised the student and parent who reported the weapon, saying that the idea of “see something, say something” worked in this particular situation.

Craig McQueen, a former assistant chief for the Miami Police Department, told Local 10 that the situation could have had far more serious consequences.

“Now he could possibly have a criminal record that’s gonna follow him for the rest of his life. Why? To show off a gun? To be braggadocios for just a few minutes?” McQueen asked.

McQueen questioned how the student obtained the BB gun in the first place and stressed the role of parents in preventing incidents like this.

“These parents should be held accountable for their kids’ actions,” he said.

He also praised those who came forward to report the weapon, saying it helped prevent a worse outcome.

“I am happy that the kids who saw this reported it and no further injury or any major thing happened because people spoke up. They saw something, they said something,” McQueen said.

McQueen also emphasized how parents should handle access to weapons.

“If you want to buy your child a weapon, BB gun or whatever, please, take it to the right location,” he said. “Take it to the gun range with your supervision. Don’t allow the child to take the gun out of your presence. This is a kid that’s now facing serious criminal issues.”

Police confirmed no injuries were reported during the incident and there is “no ongoing threat to the school.”

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The Florida Forest Service responded to the wildfire burning in Naples on Monday.

Officials said the fire erupted at about 9 a.m. at Picayune Park.

As of Tuesday evening, officials said the fire was 40% contained and had spread to 1,700 acres.

“It’s been really difficult to get to quickly and efficiently,” Jesse Lavender, a mitigation specialist with the Florida Forest Service, said.

Footage captured from I-75 traffic cameras showed thick clouds of smoke billowing from the area.

“Pretty crazy to see something this crazy going on in my neighborhood,” resident Stan Rosendahl said.

This comes as Naples is under extreme drought conditions.

Officials are taking caution as windy conditions could cause the flames to spread.

Evacuation orders have been issued for about 150 residents in the area and shelters have been opened. Some horses were also evacuated from the area.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office said evacuations have been lifted for the Forest Glen community, but evacuation orders are still in place for Stable Way, Newman Drive, Barton Gilba Drive, Benfield Road and Le Buffs Road.

Officials warn people not to operate drones in the area as it “impedes the safety of the first responders and interferes with fire operations.”

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Agents are asking anyone with information about the shooting to come forward.

According to the FBI, the shooting occurred shortly before 7:30 p.m. on April 6.

“A large group of subjects assaulted a lone victim when one of the subjects produced a handgun and fired a single shot which struck the victim,” the FBI said in a news release. “After the shots were fired, the subjects then attempted to remove the wounded victim’s watch. The watch was not stolen.”

Offset, 34, whose real name is Kiari Kendrell Cephus, was hospitalized after the shooting, while fellow rapper Lil Tjay was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct-affray and operating in traffic without a valid license.

The 24-year-old Lil Tjay, whose real name is Tione Jayden Merritt, has not been charged in the shooting, which happened outside of the building’s valet area, and denied that any fight occurred between him and Offset.

“I don’t do no damn fightin‘,” Lil Tjay told media outlets as he walked out of the Fort Lauderdale jail.

He gave an expletive-laden account of what he said happened.

“That n---- shot me. That n---- shot me. That n---- is a rat. Cap n----,” Lil Tjay said. “Weirdos. Y’all gettin’ a good a-- interview.”

Offset has since been released from the hospital.

The FBI confirmed the suspects fled the scene in two Chevrolet SUV’s after the shooting -- a matte gray Tahoe and a black Suburban.

“The black Suburban fled the area towards Hollywood, Florida, while the Tahoe fled southbound towards Miami,” the news release stated.

Offset was part of the rap trio, Migos, before going out on his own.

The trio became known as one of the most popular hip-hop groups of all time. It broke out with the 2013 hit “Versace” and later earned Grammy nominations for best rap album with 2018’s “Culture,” while a track off it nabbed a nod for best rap performance.

Offset was once married to fellow rapper Cardi B, who he shares three children with. The two divorced in 2024.

Offset’s cousin, Takeoff, who was also part of the Migos group, was fatally shot in 2022.

Anyone with information about the Hard Rock shooting and those involved is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip on tips.fbi.gov.

The FBI noted that the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood is operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida and “crimes committed on Indian land are subject to federal investigation.”

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It happened Tuesday afternoon in the area of Southwest 16th Street and Fourth Avenue in Fort Lauderdale’s Croissant Park neighborhood.

“It was no breaks or nothing, was just kaboom,” said resident Chris Gardella. “Because I was right here watching TV and, kaboom. It’s enough to make me jump up and run out there.”

According to Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, it was a two-vehicle crash involving a USPS vehicle and a Lexus sedan.

Authorities said a USPS employee was ejected from their vehicle in the crash and rushed to Broward Health Medical Center as a trauma alert.

“Hundreds of pieces of mail all over the street,” said Gardella. “It was crazy, because then he came flying right out the side window of the truck.”

The second vehicle’s driver was also taken to the hospital for treatment, with injuries considered non-life-threatening, officials said.

Ball fell to the floor after missing a shot on a drive to the basket early in the second quarter, and appeared to reach out with his left arm and grab Adebayo's left leg, causing the big man to fall on his back.

Ball was not called for a foul, and Adebayo remained on the floor as play continued. He eventually got up and walked to the locker room under his own power but did not return.

“He should have been thrown out of the game for that,” Spoelstra said. “There is no place in the game for that.”

Adebayo did not speak to reporters.

Ball, who scored 30 points and made the go-ahead layup with 4.7 seconds left in overtime, apologized for his role in Adebayo’s injury but said he was disoriented because he had been hit in the head on the drive.

“I apologize on that one,” Ball said. “I got hit in the head and didn’t really know where I was. But I’m going to check on him and see if he is OK and everything.”

When asked if he intentionally grabbed Adebayo’s leg, Ball said he hadn’t seen a replay and added, “Like I said, I got hit in the head and didn’t know where I was and was just playing basketball. But like I said, sorry, and I’m going to check on him.”

Ball remained in the game and was not immediately checked for a concussion.

“I don’t think it’s cute, and I don’t think it’s funny,” Spoelstra said after the loss, which ended Miami's season. “I think it’s a stupid play. It’s a dangerous play and obviously our best player was out. I’m not making an excuse. The Hornets played great and made those plays down the stretch. We had opportunities to win.

“That’s a shame. He should be penalized for that. I don’t think that belongs in the game, you know, tripping guys, shenanigans.”

Official Zach Zarba explained in a pool report why the play was not reviewed.

“The play wasn’t whistled in real time. Play continued with a fast break. And because play wasn’t stopped immediately, and there was no whistle on the play, the window to review the play was closed,” Zarba said. “Play was stopped, after a change of possession, and then a timeout. So, by rule, our window to review that play then is closed.”

Zarba said the officiating crew reviewed the play at halftime.

When asked if Ball should have been assessed a flagrant foul, Zarba said, “At this point, that goes to league operations, and they’ll make a determination on that in the coming days. So, they will make that determination and go from there.”

Ball had only one flagrant foul this season, on Feb. 5 against Houston.

Andrew Wiggins said seeing Adebayo go down was a “gut punch” for the Heat.

“To lose the leader of the team, the captain of the team, seeing him go down was definitely tough and guys had to rally around that,” Wiggins said.

Despite the loss of Adebayo, who scored 83 points in a game last month, Miami had a chance to win at the end of regulation, but Tyler Herro missed a 3-pointer from the top of the key.

In overtime, Herro put the Heat up by one when he made three free throws with 8.7 seconds left after getting fouled by Ball following a Hornets turnover. Before that play, Herro hit a turnaround corner 3.

But Ball's driving layup saved the day for the Hornets.

Miami's Davion Mitchell said he hadn't seen video of the play where Adebayo was hurt, but called it a “high-intensity game.”

“I didn’t grab nobody’s ankle, but I grabbed somebody’s shirt,” Mitchell said. “I just think it was just a physical game because we were both fighting for our lives just to stay in. Obviously you don’t want to see Bam get hurt, especially like that, but it was a physical game.”

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

Police in the Salt Lake City suburbs of Draper City and West Jordan have been investigating claims of domestic violence in 2024 and this February from Paul's ex-partner Dakota Mortensen, the father of her 2-year-old son. Paul has also made allegations against Mortensen, but those were not addressed in the documents.

Any new charges against Paul would have violated her probation, which stemmed from a 2023 assault on Mortensen.

The pair has filed dueling petitions for protective orders against one another that will be the subject of an upcoming hearing.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussion of domestic violence. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the national domestic violence hotline: 1-800-799-7233 in the U.S.

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“Several incidents that were submitted do not rise to the level of criminal offenses. The remaining incidents lack sufficient evidence to support filing criminal charges,” Breanne Miller, a lawyer in the district attorney's Family Protection Unit, wrote in a memo explaining that Paul would not be charged.

She noted that some reported incidents occurred more than three years ago and fell outside the legal time frame for review.

The decline in charges does not have a direct effect on Mortensen’s protective order against Paul, which has been temporarily granted and could become long-term at an April 30 hearing. But the lack of prosecution could help Paul and her lawyers make her case to a court commissioner who at an earlier hearing ordered that she could have visits with her son only if they were supervised.

Eric Swinyard, a lawyer for Paul, argued at an April 7 hearing that Mortensen was the aggressor in a February fight that the lawyer called “the truck tussle.”

Mortensen said in his request for a protective order that Paul threw a drink at him as they argued in a truck to not wake children who were sleeping inside Paul’s home. But Swinyard said Mortensen slammed Paul’s head into the dashboard and punched her in the leg, and provided photos she took of her bruises.

A different fight between the couple in 2023 prompted ABC to make the unprecedented move of shelving an already-filmed season of “The Bachelorette” after video of the altercation leaked last month.

In the video, Paul appeared to punch, kick and throw chairs at Mortensen while her young daughter watched and cried. Paul was charged with aggravated assault and other offenses, including domestic violence in the presence of a child. She pleaded guilty to an assault charge, which will be reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor if Paul stays out of legal trouble for a three-year probationary period that ends in August. The other counts were dismissed.

Eleven fights between Paul and Mortensen were under examination in their protective order requests.

A court-appointed attorney for their son, Ever, said another video from May of last year shows Paul pushing Mortensen and shouting at him to get out of her house while he is holding the boy. The lawyer, Michael McDonald, said at the April 7 hearing, “that makes me very nervous about her ability to control herself.”

Paul’s attorney said Mortensen deliberately created the situation by holding their child as a “human shield.” Mortensen's attorney, Daniela Diaz, argued that Paul uses their son “as a pawn to start fights.”

The couple’s fiery relationship was heavily featured on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” from its 2024 debut, and it was central to Paul becoming a reality star. The series premiere featured police body camera footage of her 2023 arrest.

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Dalton reported from Los Angeles.

The operation is the latest in a series of strikes on vessels that the Trump administration says were trafficking drugs in Latin American waters, a campaign that began more than seven months ago and continues even as the military has been preoccupied with the Iran war.

The latest strike brings the death toll to 175 since the operations began in early September. The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the search for one survivor from an attack Saturday.

U.S. Southern Command posted aerial video on social media Tuesday showing a vessel bobbing in the water before being struck by a projectile and exploding. The military earlier said it struck two boats on Saturday and a third on Monday.

The military said all the vessels were “operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations” and that intelligence confirmed they “were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations” but did not provide evidence.

President Donald Trump has said the U.S. is in “armed conflict” with cartels in Latin America and has justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States and fatal overdoses claiming American lives. But his administration has offered little evidence to support its claims of killing “narcoterrorists.”

The strikes began months ahead of the U.S. raid in January that captured then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. He was brought to New York to face drug trafficking charges and has pleaded not guilty.

Critics have questioned the overall legality of the boat strikes as well as their effectiveness, in part because the fentanyl behind many fatal overdoses is typically trafficked to the U.S. over land from Mexico, where it is produced with chemicals imported from China and India.

Fuller represents a deep red district in northwest Georgia and has sought to align himself with President Donald Trump as much as possible. Fuller will serve out the remaining months of Greene’s term, maintaining Republicans’ slim majority in the House.

Greene resigned her seat after a contentious public fallout with Trump that has shown no signs of letting up despite her exodus from Congress.

“You have sent a warrior to Congress and I can't wait to fight for you each and every day,” Fuller said to his constituents as he addressed the House. “To my Democratic colleagues, I look forward to working with each and every one of you.”

“I can't blow my nose for six weeks, because one of the fractures is kind of like where my orbital bone is,” he said. “If I blow my nose it's going to go up into my eye.”

Albernaz said he has over a half-dozen fractures in his cheek area and a broken jaw, but he was relieved to avoid surgery and said he doesn't need his jaw wired. Albernaz joked he might grab a Ravens helmet from his desk to wear in the dugout.

Albernaz, in his first season as Baltimore's manager, was in the part of the dugout closest to the on-deck circle when Jeremiah Jackson's foul ball struck him in the fifth inning Monday night. He returned to the dugout an inning later when Jackson hit a grand slam, but he ultimately ended up listening to the game on the radio en route to a hospital, where he says he remained until about midnight.

“I was trying to get back out there after my concussion protocol was fine, but they wanted me to get a CT scan,” Albernaz said. “I was trying to get it after the game, but obviously the medical team has better judgment than I do.”

He was back in the dugout Tuesday, but the healing process could take time.

“Six weeks of soft foods,” Albernaz said. “Can't do anything strenuous.”

Including argue with umpires?

“Medically speaking, yeah I probably shouldn't,” he said. “I think everything gets thrown out the window when that first pitch happens.”

The Orioles also announced that infielder Jackson Holliday was recalled from his rehab assignment Monday because of mild right wrist soreness. The team said that's not uncommon following hamate surgery. He will be shut down for a few days.

Albernaz has been loath to give timelines on players returning from injury so as not to create added pressure.

“I said I don't believe in timelines, and this is a perfect example of that. It all depends on the player,” he said. “It's great to see Jackson being communicative and open at every turn.”

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

Speaking at a groundbreaking for a project that will transport natural gas from Pennsylvania into New York City and Long Island, Wright said President Donald Trump “is about driving down costs for Americans and driving up job opportunities and wages for Americans.”

Moments later, Wright apparently misspoke as he said, “Just because it looks like we’re going in the wrong direction doesn’t mean that’s the direction we are going.”

The Energy Department later posted excerpts of Wright's speech that did not include the “wrong direction” comment.

The apparent gaffe comes a month after Wright posted a video on social media that claimed the U.S. Navy had helped an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is a key access point for oil and natural gas shipments in the Middle East and has been largely blocked during the Iran war. The video was quickly taken down, and officials blamed Wright's staff for the error.

On Tuesday, Wright and other Trump officials spoke at a groundbreaking in Brooklyn for the Northeast Supply Enhancement Pipeline. Officials said the project, to be developed by the Williams Companies, will provide affordable and reliable energy for millions of Americans in the region.

The project is an expansion of an existing pipeline system across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York and was a priority for the Trump administration.

The project, along with another Williams pipeline, the Constitution Pipeline, was long blocked over environmental concerns. The Trump administration, which has emphasized development of oil and gas infrastructure, pushed to restart efforts to build the pipelines.

The restarts came shortly after the Trump administration withdrew its opposition to a massive wind project off Long Island that New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul championed.

Hochul agreed to review the pipeline projects last year amid intense lobbying from the Trump administration. Hochul denied any deal connecting the wind farm and gas pipelines, saying in a statement that she “ will work with the administration and private entities on new energy projects that meet the legal requirements under New York law.”

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As part of a deal with prosecutors, the 51-year-old former elected official pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a third-degree grand theft charge in connection with a 2024 corruption case in which authorities accused her of racking up about $100,000 in personal purchases on a district credit card.

Prosecutors alleged Navarro used the official card to buy food, groceries, appliances, vacations and more.

At least two of the purchases veered into the bizarre: Investigators said she bought a pair of “artificial silicone pregnancy bellies” after a breakup with her boyfriend in an apparent attempt by the then-48-year-old to convince him she was expecting, during a period in which she followed and harassed him.

Before the breakup, authorities allege she used the district card to buy items for his Hollywood smoothie business.

As part of Navarro’s plea, prosecutors agreed to drop an additional grand theft charge, plus two organized fraud charges. Under the agreement, she’s sentenced to spend 14 months in prison followed by probation.

“I just accepted full responsibility for my actions,” she said in court. “I can now begin to put this behind me and serve the time that I have accepted to be able to repair and apologize sincerely to my entire community for all of my actions.”

She’ll also have to pay more than $101,000 in restitution.

Navarro’s three-year probation term can be terminated halfway through for good behavior. She’s prohibited from running for office ― but only during that term ― meaning it’s possible that South Florida hasn’t seen the last of Navarro in public office.

“This community is really embracing of those who recognize their wrongdoing and strive to do better,” Ben Kuehne, Navarro’s attorney, said. “We have seen many situations that are sad, but that turn into positives. We expect Lubby is going to be one of those situations.”

Authorities took Navarro into custody immediately after Tuesday’s court hearing.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle issued a statement after the plea Tuesday, saying in part that Navarro has “admitted her guilt and has accepted her sentence” instead of “seeking to avoid the consequences of her actions.”

“Let there be no doubt that I and my public corruption team of prosecutors and investigators will continue ensuring that our government operates for the people of Miami-Dade County, not for the financial benefit of those holding office or position,” Fernandez Rundle said.

If Navarro does want to run for office in the future, she’ll have to get her rights restored first as a convicted felon.

Kuehne said for now, Navarro will focus on completing her prison sentence and rehabilitation.

Community trust is the foundation of Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS). We are committed to the highest standards of fiscal stewardship for our students. It was M-DCPS that first identified these discrepancies and provided the information that led to the investigation and current legal resolution. To ensure this does not happen again, M-DCPS and the School Board implemented additional safeguards for all credit card expenditures. We appreciate the partnership of the Inspector General and State Attorney in upholding the integrity of our District.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools

El supertifón Sinlaku golpeó las Islas Marianas del Norte durante varias horas la madrugada del miércoles, desacelerándose apenas lo suficiente para infligir más daño en las islas de Tinian y Saipan, donde residen alrededor de 50.000 personas.

“Supongo que nada que esté hecho de madera y lámina sobrevivió a esto”, declaró Glen Hunter, quien creció en Saipan y vio pasar volando al menos tres techos de lámina por su patio.

Hunter, quien ha visto el paso de varios tifones por la isla, declaró a The Associated Press que este se sintió como el más fuerte hasta ahora. La lluvia se filtraba por cada rendija de su vivienda de concreto, explicó.

“Fue una batalla perdida porque la lluvia entraba por todas partes”, indicó a primera hora del miércoles. “Todas las casas están simplemente inundadas, sin importar en qué tipo de estructura estés”.

El tifón tropical —el más fuerte registrado este año— alcanzó vientos sostenidos de hasta 240 km/h (150 mph) al momento de tocar tierra en las islas, informó el Servicio Meteorológico Nacional de Estados Unidos.

Vientos con fuerza de tormenta tropical y lluvias torrenciales también provocaron inundaciones repentinas en Guam, un territorio estadounidense que cuenta con varias instalaciones militares y alrededor de 170.000 residentes, señaló el servicio meteorológico.

Aunque las ráfagas de viento perdieron un poco de fuerza en las islas Marianas a primera hora del miércoles y la tormenta empezó a desplazarse hacia el norte, las condiciones no mejoraron de inmediato, informó el servicio meteorológico.

Una vez que amaneció, la magnitud de los daños seguía sin quedar clara debido a que las condiciones en el exterior seguían siendo inseguras, señaló Ed Propst, un exlegislador en Saipan que trabaja en la oficina del gobernador.

Dijo que escuchó “golpes y estruendos durante toda la noche”.

“Hasta ahora no hemos sabido de ninguna muerte —tocamos madera”, subrayó, y atribuyó la falta de víctimas fatales al hecho de que los residentes hicieron caso a las advertencias de buscar refugio si no estaban dentro de una vivienda de concreto.

El tifón se desacelera y aumenta el riesgo de daños generalizados

La velocidad de la tormenta se redujo drásticamente al acercarse a las islas.

“No va a ser una noche fácil para nadie en Tinian o Saipan. Será una noche ruidosa”, dijo Landon Aydlett,del servicio meteorológico. Muchas personas “se despertarán en una isla diferente”, añadió durante una transmisión por Facebook.

Saipan es la capital de las Islas Marianas del Norte y es conocida conocida por sus complejos turísticos y campos de golf.

El alcalde Ramon “RB” Jose Blas Camacho dijo la noche del martes que las intensas lluvias y vientos alrededor de Saipan dificultaban el acceso a personas que necesitaban de asistencia.

“Hay cosas volando de un lado a otro”, indicó.

Lo peor de la tormenta llegó en medio de la noche y se tenía previsto que continuara al menos hasta el amanecer del miércoles, indicó el servicio meteorológico. Si bien se prevé que el meteoro se debilite ligeramente en los próximos días, Sinlaku atravesaba las islas como un tifón de categoría 4.

El “Callejón de los Tifones”

En Guam, donde el tifón Mawar provocó un apagón de varios días en 2023, oficiales militares de Estados Unidos advirtieron al personal que se refugiara en interiores. El ejército controla aproximadamente una tercera parte de Guam, un centro crucial para las fuerzas de Estados Unidos en el Pacífico.

Antes de desviarse hacia las Marianas del Norte, la tormenta dejó daños significativos a su paso por las islas exteriores y atolones de Chuuk, en los Estados Federados de Micronesia, informó Aydlett desde su estación del servicio meteorológico en Guam.

La región es conocida por los habitantes locales como el “Callejón de los Tifones”.

Saipan --que depende del turismo y fue escenario de una de las batallas más cruentas de la Segunda Guerra Mundial en el Pacífico-- estaba en proceso de recuperación tras el paso del supertifón Yutu en 2018 cuando llegó la pandemia de COVID-19, relato Hunter, quien destacó que la economía aún no se recupera por completo desde entonces.

El presidente Donald Trump aprobó declaraciones de emergencia por desastre para Guam y las Marianas antes de la llegada de la tormenta. La Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencias (FEMA, por sus siglas en inglés) anunció que coordina el apoyo entre varias agencias.

Los supertifones equivalen a huracanes de categoría 4 o 5 en el Atlántico, con vientos de al menos 240 km/h (150 mph). El Centro Conjunto de Alerta de Tifones en Guam ha identificado más de 300 supertifones en los últimos 80 años.

Los tifones son “muy comunes” en el Pacífico, pero la temporada alta es similar a la temporada de huracanes del Atlántico, que va del verano al otoño, dijo Jason Nicholls, meteorólogo internacional para AccuWeather.

“Como hemos visto este año, se pueden tener sistemas tropicales en el Pacífico occidental en cualquier época del año”, dijo Nicholls. “Pero que ocurran en abril es un poco inusual”.

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Los periodistas de The Associated Press Patrick Whittle en Portland, Maine; Gabriela Aoun Angueira en San Diego; y Seth Borenstein en Washington contribuyeron con 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.

Florentino Antonio Diaz, 45, of Coral Gables, was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on Tuesday.

According to prosecutors, in April of 2025, the autonomous municipal board representing 400 property owners in the 50 city-block Arts District switched banks.

Diaz, who was assigned to spearhead the transfer of funds, is accused of forging the vice chairman’s signature on a fraudulent letter asking the bank they were transferring funds from to deposit a final interest payment of more than $46,000 directly to him, then resigning from his position shortly after.

Then on June 11, a Miami Police Department Economic Crimes Unit detective contacted the State Attorney Office’s Public Corruption Unit Task Force and asked them to review the case “due to the political ties between the Wynwood BID and the city of Miami.”

Once the bank was made aware, it reimbursed the Wynwood BID for the full amount investigators say Diaz diverted.

They started to check other bank records and found other transactions Diaz initiated that “appeared irregular and indicative of potentially fraudulent activity.”

A total of 26 questionable wire transfers to Diaz’s bank account, totaling more than $146,000, were found.

Diaz is also accused of pocketing a $9,000 accidental overpayment to its auditing firm.

As of Tuesday afternoon, he remained behind bars at TGK on a bond of $46,000.

The Wynwood BID released a statement to Local 10 News which can be read below:

The Wynwood Business Improvement District’s Board Chair and signatories identified financial discrepancies and called for an independent audit, which confirmed that approximately $192,000 in unauthorized financial transactions were done by a former employee. Upon discovery, the Wynwood BID Board immediately notified law enforcement and legal counsel. The matter was referred to the State Attorney’s office, and the individual no longer works for the Wynwood BID.

Approximately $46,000 has been recovered to date, and efforts to recover additional funds will continue through legal channels.

In response, the BID has implemented comprehensive new internal controls, including dual authorization requirements for all electronic payments, separation of transaction initiation and approval functions, independent monthly review of all payment activity by Board members, restricted bank access with multifactor authentication, and formalized financial policies across all disbursement processes.

Our board oversight worked as intended. When our leadership identified concerns, we took immediate action to investigate and address them. We’ve implemented strong safeguards to prevent this from happening again. All Wynwood BID programs and services, including safety, cleanliness, marketing, and economic development initiatives, continue without interruption. The organization remains financially sound and committed to our mission of serving the Wynwood community.

Wynwood Business Improvement District

ABOUT THE WYNWOOD BID

Since 2013, the Wynwood Business Improvement District, a municipal board of the City of Miami representing more than 400 property owners that comprise the 50-city-block Arts District, aims to build upon Wynwood’s role as a globally recognized center for arts, innovation and culture. It works to enhance security and sanitation services in the neighborhood, advocate for the betterment of the area, raise awareness of advancements being made, and plan for the future of Wynwood.

More: https://wynwoodmiami.com/learn/our-story/

Wynwood BID Map: https://wynwoodmiami.com/wp-content/uploads/02.05.18-WYNWOOD-BID-MAP.pdf

The Dutch royal couple, King Willem Alexander and Queen Máxima Zorreguieta including the Magic City on their three-day visit to the United States.

On Tuesday at the Perez Art Museum, they were greeted by Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd.

The royal pair spent Monday night in Washington D.C. at the White House.

Traveling from Pennsylvania Avenue to Calle Ocho, the Dutch royals were just some of the many European tourists visiting sunny South Florida this week.

The Dutch royal house released a statement regarding their time in Miami, which said:

“The visit offers an opportunity, in the year that the US celebrates 250 years of independence, to reflect on the deep historical and cultural ties between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the US.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Tuesday that Republicans will try to pass the money for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection “ the hard way.” That means bypassing Democrats, who say a funding bill should place restraints on federal immigration authorities, including better identification for federal officers and more use of judicial warrants.

Democrats will now get “none of that,” Thune said, after bipartisan negotiations stalled. Republicans are instead preparing a partisan bill that they will try to pass under a complicated, time-consuming maneuver called budget reconciliation that only requires a simple majority vote in the 53-47 Senate.

The process could be messy. Thune, R-S.D., is pushing for a narrow bill that would only include money for ICE and CBP in an effort to reopen the department quickly. But some of his Republican colleagues are likely to push to add other unrelated priorities.

Democrats say they will continue to insist on reforms to the agencies.

“Americans want ICE and Border Patrol reined in,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said.

Thune hopes for a ‘narrow’ bill

Thune and GOP leaders have said they want to speed the legislation through Congress with only the Homeland Security funding so that the department can reopen as quickly as possible.

Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the No. 2 Republican, and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., discussed that strategy with Trump at a White House meeting Friday. Barrasso posted afterward that “President Trump set a deadline of June 1 to get to his desk a focused reconciliation bill that funds ICE and Border Patrol.”

Trump appeared to be on board, posting on his social media site that “we are moving FAST and FOCUSED in keeping our Border SECURE!”

But it won’t be easy to keep senators — or the House — from trying to add other items to the bill.

Trump has been pushing his strict proof-of-citizenship bill, the SAVE Act, and the White House could soon request billions of dollars for the Iran war. Farm-state senators have been hoping to move a wide-ranging farm bill to boost the agricultural economy. And some Republicans say they should cut other programs to pay for the legislation, which could cost around $75 billion.

Republican leaders say they would do a second partisan budget reconciliation bill to deal with some of those issues. But many in the conference are skeptical that could happen this year, especially with thin GOP margins in both chambers and an election approaching.

“We’re looking at the narrow vision,” said GOP Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota after Republicans held a lunch meeting about the bill Tuesday. “Now, do people have other ideas? Of course.”

Lengthy DHS shutdown has no clear end

The Homeland Security Department has been shut down since mid-February.

After federal agents shot two protesters in Minneapolis in January, Trump agreed to a Democratic request that the Homeland Security bill be separated from a larger spending measure that became law as the two sides negotiated. But the DHS funding lapsed with no agreement on changes to his administration’s immigration enforcement tactics.

In March, the Senate passed legislation by voice vote that would separate out ICE and Customs and Border Protection and fund the rest of the department, including the Transportation Security Administration as security lines grew long at some airports. But Republicans in the House refused to vote for it, saying they wouldn’t support any bill that didn’t include money for immigration enforcement.

Congress then left town for a two-week recess, leaving the issue unresolved. Trump has used executive orders to pay some department salaries in the meantime, but that is not a permanent solution.

During the recess, Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that they would pursue a two-track approach — pass the Senate bill that includes most of the department's funding through regular order and use the party-line bill to pass ICE and CBP funding. But it remains unclear if Johnson will be able to persuade his members to go along with that approach.

After returning to Washington this week, Thune said Republicans will try to use the budget bill to fund the agencies for three years, circumventing annual spending bills in an effort to prevent another shutdown during Trump’s term.

The agencies would be funded “not only today but well into the future,” Thune said.

Los agentes están solicitando a cualquier persona con información sobre la balacera que se presente.

Según el FBI, la balacera ocurrió poco antes de las 7:30 p.m. del 6 de abril.

“Un gran grupo de sujetos agredió a una víctima que estaba sola cuando uno de los sujetos sacó un arma de fuego y disparó una sola vez, impactando a la víctima”, indicó el FBI en un comunicado. “Después de los disparos, los sujetos intentaron quitarle el reloj a la víctima herida. El reloj no fue robado.”

Offset, de 34 años, cuyo nombre real es Kiari Kendrell Cephus, fue hospitalizado tras la balacera, mientras que el también rapero Lil Tjay fue arrestado por cargos de alteración del orden público y operar en el tráfico sin una licencia válida.

Lil Tjay, de 24 años, cuyo nombre real es Tione Jayden Merritt, no ha sido acusado en la balacera, que ocurrió fuera del área de valet del edificio, y negó que hubiera ocurrido una pelea entre él y Offset.

“Yo no peleo nada de eso”, dijo Lil Tjay a medios de comunicación mientras salía de la cárcel de Fort Lauderdale.

Ofreció un relato con lenguaje obsceno de lo que, según él, ocurrió.

“Ese tipo me disparó. Ese tipo me disparó. Ese tipo es un soplón”, dijo Lil Tjay. “Raros. Ustedes están obteniendo una buena entrevista”.

Offset ya fue dado de alta del hospital.

El FBI confirmó que los sospechosos huyeron de la escena en dos SUV Chevrolet tras la balacera: una Tahoe gris mate y una Suburban negra.

“La Suburban negra huyó del área hacia Hollywood, Florida, mientras que la Tahoe se dirigió hacia el sur en dirección a Miami”, indicó el comunicado.

Offset formó parte del trío de rap Migos antes de continuar su carrera como solista.

El grupo se convirtió en uno de los más populares del hip-hop de todos los tiempos. Alcanzó notoriedad con el éxito “Versace” en 2013 y posteriormente obtuvo nominaciones al Grammy por mejor álbum de rap con “Culture” en 2018, mientras que una de sus canciones también fue nominada a mejor interpretación de rap.

Offset estuvo casado con la también rapera Cardi B, con quien tiene tres hijos. Ambos se divorciaron en 2024.

El primo de Offset, Takeoff, quien también formaba parte de Migos, murió en una balacera en 2022.

Cualquier persona con información sobre la balacera en el Hard Rock y los involucrados debe comunicarse con el FBI al 1-800-CALL-FBI o enviar información en tips.fbi.gov.

El FBI señaló que el Hard Rock Hotel & Casino en Hollywood es operado por la Tribu Seminole de Florida y que “los delitos cometidos en territorio indígena están sujetos a investigación federal.”

Perez told Local 10 that she and Ramos took Reece to Legoland for his fourth birthday.

Shortly after the trip, Perez said Reece developed a cold that persisted despite multiple doctor visits, prescriptions, and a trip to the emergency room, where he received a steroid and additional medication.

Weeks passed, and his symptoms did not improve.

“My husband and I were noticing Reece changing, but not for the better,” Perez said.

Ramos described a steady decline in Reece’s condition.

“Some of the first signs that I noticed with my son was his speech,” he said. “It sounded like every time he was talking, he was congested and he wasn’t pronouncing the words properly, and it was almost as if he couldn’t hear himself speak.”

Perez said the family spent months searching for answers before being referred to Dr. Ramzi Younis, an otolaryngologist at the University of Miami with 25 years of experience.

“If you have signs of sleep apnea, stuffy congested snoring, mild breathing hyperactivity, sleep disorder breathing, big tonsils, turbinates, the standard care is to remove tonsils, adenoids, shrinking the turbinates, and the proof is there,” Younis said.

“If a child has three or more infections, the standard is surgical intervention, which is the tubes because research shows it cuts down the number of infections they have, better hearing, better quality of life, less antibiotics,” he added.

“There is at least one million kids or more that undergo this procedure,” Younis said.

“They are as good as doing nothing,” he added, referring to nasal sprays.

Younis also described the surgery.

“We put them to sleep,” he said. “I’ll go through the mouth, remove the tonsils and adenoids,” he said. “As far as the ears, there’s a microscope, make a small cut in the ear drum, there’s usually some fluid ... suck it out, place a tiny tube 2 mm, and you’ll get good oxygen and ventilation,” he added. “In the nose, you have tissues, confused as polyps — they are normal, they swell and block your nose."

“It’s a special instrument to shrink down and allow the patient to breathe better in the long term,” he said.

Dr. Neil Masters, an anesthesiologist at the University of Miami, explained the anesthesia process.

“When we get them back to the OR, we do sleep IV, basically go to sleep with mask. We put IV, start administering medication, secure the airway and do everything after asleep. It’s less traumatic for kids,” he said.

“We try to use the least amount as possible concerns for neurodevelopmental outcomes like how it affects the developing brain,” Masters said.

“I like to tell parents we’re trying to improve kids’ vision, hearing or in Reece’s case improve sleep and ability to focus. Those benefits outweigh the effects of brief exposure to anesthesia on the body,” he said.

Doctors said the condition is commonly associated with sleep apnea and upper airway obstruction in children.

“The common reason is recurrent infection or fluid,” Younis said. We remove the tonsils because they’re big, causing them to snore, and to have what we call sleep disorder breathing" also known as sleep apnea.

“The draining pipe eustachian tube does not drain, retain fluid, further infection or hearing speech problem,” he said.

“Collapse, scatter them to gasp or stop breathing,” he said.

He added that children may appear “cranky, hyper, agitated” and have difficulty focusing during the day.

Perez said recovery went as expected.

“As far as the recovery — Dr. Younis told us it would be 10-15 days before he felt better — and boy was he right,” she said. “Something as simple as breathing through his nose four months ago was impossible.”

Reece described his improvement after surgery.

“I feel good, I can breathe good, I can sleep good, I can hear good,” he said.

Perez also added that ear tubes typically fall out on their own within six months to two years and stated “if you’re not getting the right answers — trust your gut and keep searching."

Click here to read more stories from Local 10’s Mom to Mom collection.

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“This has nothing to do with Sheriff Tony, who is doing a wonderful job,” said Broward Commissioner Lamar Fisher. “It’s just to look at the feasibility, and what it would be prudent to look at public safety in its total.”

Commissioners have already commissioned a feasibility study to look at launching in-house police departments at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades to replace BSO.

Fisher said 54% of Broward County’s budget is devoted to BSO for public safety.

“I think it’s a business decision that we need to look at, right?” he said. “When it continues to be 54, 55, 56, 57%, is there ways that we can cut costs and we can have more control at the end of the day.”

Attaching the fire rescue component to the ongoing law enforcement feasibility study as a cost-effective mechanism has been met with a favorable response among other county leaders publicly.

BSO assumed control of fire rescue in 2003 after it was previously operated by the county.

This new idea would give a layer of transparency since the county can’t dictate how dollars are spent.

By law, the sheriff’s office doesn’t have to disclose that information.

“By bringing it under, it obviously provides a different accountability when it comes back to Broward County. We specifically know what those costs would be,” said Fisher.

“Esto no tiene nada que ver con el alguacil Tony, quien está haciendo un excelente trabajo”, dijo el comisionado de Broward Lamar Fisher. “Es simplemente para analizar la viabilidad y lo que sería prudente al evaluar la seguridad pública en su totalidad”.

Los comisionados ya han encargado un estudio de viabilidad para analizar la creación de departamentos de policía internos en el Aeropuerto Internacional Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood y en Port Everglades para reemplazar a BSO.

Fisher dijo que el 54% del presupuesto del condado Broward está destinado a BSO para seguridad pública.

“Creo que es una decisión empresarial que debemos analizar, ¿verdad?”, dijo. “Cuando continúa siendo 54, 55, 56, 57%, ¿hay formas de reducir costos y tener más control al final del día?”

Incorporar el componente de bomberos al estudio de viabilidad de las fuerzas del orden en curso como un mecanismo rentable ha recibido una respuesta favorable entre otros líderes del condado.

BSO asumió el control de los servicios de bomberos en 2003, después de que anteriormente eran operados por el condado.

Esta nueva propuesta proporcionaría un nivel de transparencia, ya que el condado actualmente no puede dictar cómo se gastan los fondos.

Por ley, la oficina del sheriff no tiene que divulgar esa información.

“Al traerlo de vuelta, obviamente proporciona una responsabilidad diferente cuando regresa al condado Broward. Sabremos específicamente cuáles serían esos costos”, dijo Fisher.

El Road Ranger fue trasladado al Broward Health North con heridas que no ponen en riesgo su vida, según Coral Springs Fire Rescue.

Además, un adulto y un bebé del otro vehículo involucrado en el accidente también fueron llevados al Broward Health North con lesiones que no ponen en peligro sus vidas.

Sky 10 sobrevoló la escena alrededor de la 1:45 p.m., mostrando un SUV dañado, un camión Road Ranger afectado y equipos de emergencia trabajando en el área.

Todos los carriles en dirección norte fueron cerrados entre Sample Road y University Drive mientras los equipos atendían la emergencia y despejaban la vía. Se recomendó a los conductores evitar el área.

No se dieron a conocer más detalles de inmediato sobre los involucrados.

Ocurrió el martes por la tarde en el área de Southwest 16th Street y Fourth Avenue, en el vecindario Croissant Park de Fort Lauderdale.

Según Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, se trató de un choque entre dos vehículos que involucró un vehículo del USPS.

Las autoridades informaron que un empleado del USPS salió expulsado de su vehículo durante el accidente y fue trasladado de emergencia como trauma al Broward Health Medical Center.

El conductor del segundo vehículo también fue llevado al hospital para recibir tratamiento, con lesiones que no ponen en riesgo su vida, indicaron funcionarios.

Trump commuted the prison sentences of several Proud Boys and Oath Keepers leaders last January in a sweeping act of clemency for all 1,500-plus defendants charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

The request by the Justice Department would go a step further and erase all the convictions for extremist group leaders, including Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, who didn't receive pardons last January.

The move to abandon the convictions represented a stunning reversal from the Biden administration, which hailed the guilty verdicts as a crucial victory in its bid to hold accountable those responsible for what prosecutors described as an attack on the heart of American democracy. It’s part of the Trump administration’s continued efforts to rewrite the history of the Jan. 6 attack and downplay the violence carried out by the mob of Trump supporters that left more than 100 police officers injured.

In court filings, prosecutors asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to vacate the convictions so that the government can permanently dismiss the indictments.

“The government’s motion to vacate in this case is consistent with its practice of moving the Supreme Court to vacate convictions in cases where the government has decided in its prosecutorial discretion that dismissal of a criminal case is in the interests of justice — motions that the Supreme Court routinely grants,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing signed by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.

Juries in Washington, D.C., convicted the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers leaders of orchestrating violent plots to stop the peaceful transfer of power after Trump's 2020 election loss to Democratic President Joe Biden.

The department's dismissal request also includes the convictions of Oath Keepers members Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson and Jessica Watkins and Proud Boys members Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl and Dominic Pezzola.

Other extremist group members, including former Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio, received pardons from Trump on the first day of his second term in the White House.

Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison after he and several lieutenants were convicted in one of the most consequential cases arising from the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters.

Prosecutors said Rhodes and his followers stockpiled guns for possible use by “quick reaction force” teams at a Virginia hotel, but they never deployed the weapons.

Nordean's attorney, Nicholas Smith, said they are grateful to the Justice Department for its “wise decision" in seeking dismissal of the convictions.

“We don't want a precedent that says that any physical confrontation between protesters and law enforcement means a crime akin to treason, such as seditious conspiracy,” Smith said.

Former Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone, who was dragged into the mob and suffered a heart attack after a rioter shocked him with a stun gun, was disappointed but not surprised by the latest milestone in the dismantling of Capitol riot prosecutions.

“I would remind Americans that these were traitors to this country," Fanone said. “They planned, incited and carried out an insurrection."

Police said it happened in September at the Publix at 1585 W. 49th St., next to the Westland Mall.

According to police, the off-duty Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission law enforcement officer saw Edwin Soto, 43, stuffing items into a book bag.

Authorities said he had stolen “six bottles of Advil and three bottles of Tylenol” worth a little less than $190.

Video shows the FWC officer showing his badge to the suspected crook, wearing a backpack. Police said Soto stormed out of the store while looking over his shoulder.

Just after the officer returns with the bag, so did the suspected shoplifter, who police said threatened to kill the officer while armed with a knife. He then rode off on his bike.

Authorities said they later caught up to Soto.

In body camera footage, a Hialeah police officer is heard telling Soto, “An officer approached you and showed you a badge and you pulled out a knife and you said ‘I’m going to kill you, motherf---er.’”

“Oh, he beat me up,” Soto claimed in response.

But Soto was the one arrested on charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and petit theft.

Soto, who has a lengthy criminal history, remained on house arrest as of Tuesday.

“They’re out indefinitely,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said after practice Tuesday at the Lakers' training complex. “I’m not going to have an update for you this week.”

Doncic strained a hamstring and Reaves strained an oblique during the Lakers' loss to the Thunder on April 2 in Oklahoma City, and neither returned during the regular season. The Lakers host the Rockets in Game 1 on Saturday night.

Doncic will return to Los Angeles on Friday after traveling to Spain last week for treatment on his hamstring, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Doncic and the Lakers aren't revealing details about the NBA scoring champion's recovery.

Reaves is in Los Angeles, and he shot free throws with several teammates after practice ended Tuesday. The reported severity of his oblique strain seems likely to keep him out of the entire first-round series, although the Lakers haven't put any timeline on either player's recovery from injuries that frequently require a full month of healing or more.

Doncic and Reaves combined to average 56.8 points, 13.8 assists and 12.4 rebounds per game when healthy this season, and their absences put a massive anchor on LA's hopes of playoff advancement. Yet the Lakers still went 3-2 in the stars' absence, earning home-court advantage in the first round, after LeBron James resumed his role as the focal point of the offense.

Los Angeles also employed Luke Kennard as a ballhandler and initiator, and guard Marcus Smart is back after missing nearly three weeks with a right ankle injury. He is eager to play a role in countering the Rockets' defensive pressure.

“They're aggressive, and we're going to try to use it against them,” Smart said. “We've got some things put in, some different guys that are going to bring it up. They're going to come out firing, and we've got to come out firing, too.”

Backup center Jaxson Hayes is also ready to return after missing the final four games of the regular season to rest a left foot injury.

“I was going to play no matter what,” Hayes said. “If I was hurting, I'd be playing.”

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

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According to investigators, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper was positioned in the center lane with emergency lights activated while assisting a disabled tractor-trailer.

A road ranger truck was parked behind the patrol vehicle with cones and other warning devices deployed to alert approaching drivers.

The trooper and the road ranger were in the process of closing travel lanes when authorities said a driver in a Hyundai Genesis SUV “failed to use due care” and crashed into the rear of the road ranger truck.

At the time of the crash, they said the road ranger was outside of his vehicle and suffered a broken thumb.

Authorities said the SUV driver had a small child inside the vehicle who was not in a child safety seat.

They said the SUV driver and the child were also transported to Broward Health with non-life-threatening injuries.

Earlier, Coral Springs Fire Rescue said the crash temporarily shut down the northbound lanes of the Sawgrass Expressway between Sample Road and University Drive, but those lanes have since reopened.

Sky 10 was over the area around 1:45 p.m., where a damaged SUV, the road ranger truck and multiple emergency crews could be seen.

No additional details about the crash were immediately released.

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According to an arrest report from the Sweetwater Police Department, officers responded on Feb. 27 to a warehouse at 1800 NW 129th Ave. after a semi-truck trailer loaded with approximately $105,000 in ES impact windows was reported stolen.

The report states that the victim told police the trailer had been parked behind the warehouse the previous day and was discovered missing the next morning.

Surveillance video obtained exclusively by Local 10 shows that around 7:50 p.m. on Feb. 26, two individuals dressed in dark clothing arrived in a white Freightliner Cascadia, hitched it to the trailer, and drove off toward Northwest 129th Avenue, according to police.

Investigators later determined that a black Chevrolet Equinox bearing a Florida tag registered to Yudier Fabregat Martell was used to transport him to the scene and follow the stolen trailer as it entered Florida’s Turnpike from Northwest 41st Street.

Police said investigative findings indicated Fabregat Martell shared “the same physical characteristics” with one of the individuals captured on video.

Local 10 News obtained that video of the suspect taking off with the container that cops say filled with impact windows.

Authorities also determined that a cellphone associated with him was at the scene at the time of the theft.

Police said Fabregat Martell was taken into custody on Monday and transported to SPD’s general investigations unit for questioning.

After being advised of his Miranda rights, they said Fabregat Martell admitted to being present at the scene but told investigators he had been paid to drive there and did not know the purpose of the trip, according to the report.

Police said Fabregat Martell showed detectives a photo on his cellphone that he said was sent to him the day after the theft.

They said the photo depicted the stolen windows, based on shipping and product labels. Fabregat Martell told investigators he did not know who sent the image but believed “the message was related to the sale of the stolen merchandise,” the report states.

Police said Fabregat Martell denied knowledge of the crime and the surrounding circumstances before they ended the interview with him.

The business owner told Local 10’s Rosh Lowe that in 28 years, he has never experienced anything like it, and said he still has not recovered the windows, adding that all of his customers were impacted.

Jail records show Fabregat Martell is facing one count each of grand theft of cargo valued at $50,000 or more, third-degree grand theft of a vehicle, and dealing in stolen property.

As of Tuesday afternoon, he was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond was set at $70,000. He was also placed on a Nebbia hold, requiring him to prove that the money used for bond comes from a legitimate source.

He was also placed on house arrest and ordered to stay away from the victim and the victim’s business.

Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, sought major disaster declarations for wildfires that scorched 240 square miles (615 square kilometers) in the western part of the state and for floods that inundated mountain communities in southern Colorado last year.

Polis requested FEMA public assistance, which enables communities to get reimbursed for debris cleanup and infrastructure rebuilding, as well as hazard-mitigation funding, which helps states build back with more resilience.

Trump first denied Colorado's requests late last year. On Monday, Trump upheld that decision on appeal after a “thorough review," FEMA acting administrator Karen S. Evans told Polis in a pair of letters.

The letters didn’t explain the denials in detail. Polis in a statement called it “incredibly disappointing” after Colorado communities responded quickly to the disasters, documented the damage and worked in good faith with federal officials.

“These disasters caused real damage to homes, infrastructure, and local economies, and Coloradans should not be left to shoulder these costs alone,” Polis said.

While FEMA assesses damage and uses a specific formula to analyze the possible impact on states and local jurisdictions, disaster declarations are ultimately at the president’s discretion.

In December, when Trump first rejected Colorado, Polis accused the president of playing “political games” with the disaster declarations.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson denied the decisions were political. The administration responds to each request with “great care and consideration” to make sure federal revenue is used appropriately and efficiently to supplement, but not substitute, states' obligation to respond to disasters, Jackson told The Associated Press in a statement Tuesday.

“President Trump provides a more thorough review of disaster declaration requests than any administration has before him," Jackson said.

Other Democrat-led states have complained about being denied disaster declarations despite proving need.

Nearly 84% of disaster requests from states that voted for Trump have been approved in his second term, while about 42% of requests from states that voted for 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris were approved, according to an analysis of public FEMA data by Andrew Rumbach, senior fellow at the nonpartisan think tank Urban Institute.

Rumbach was uncertain whether politics clearly came into play with the decisions. There have been about 60 requests from states, a small sample size, he said, and it was possible that states made insufficient cases that they needed the help.

“These are definitely questions worth asking, but I haven’t reached a conclusion that there’s clear political bias going on here,” Rumbach said. “That’s why it’s really important that FEMA and DHS be as transparent as possible about how they’re making these decisions.”

Rejections have prompted criticisms from Democratic governors like Wes Moore of Maryland and JB Pritzker of Illinois, who called Trump’s February rejection of the state’s appeal for help recovering from August 2025 floods “a politically motivated decision that punishes thousands of Illinois families in a critical moment of need.”

Meanwhile, Colorado’s attorney general, Phil Weiser, has been pushing back against other recent federal decisions against Colorado, including dissolving a climate research lab, threatening to cut transportation money, withholding funds for needy families and relocating the U.S. Space Command to Alabama.

Some U.S. communities have also experienced unprecedented long waits for answers on their disaster requests during Trump’s second term, which critics say delays their response and puts particular pressure on rural towns and counties with smaller budgets.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin last week vowed to clear out some of the backlog of requests in the run-up to Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1. Trump approved major disaster declaration requests for at least seven states last week after being briefed by Mullin.

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Associated Press writer Aoun Angueira reported from San Diego.

Rachel Price said she’s living in pain every day from the March 17 attack.

“It still hasn’t hit me, to be honest,” she said.

Price tells Local 10 News that her life has dramatically changed. She said simple things like eating or talking on the phone are hard to do.

“My face has second- and third-degree burns and I don’t feel like myself,” Price said. “I have to stay out of the sun for at least a year and take numerous medications to get better.”

Police said Price got into an argument with roommate Kymesha Tarpley, 48, who stormed out and came back with a gasoline canister. Price then questioned her.

“What are you planning on doing with it, and if you are going to do anything with it, go ahead and do it,” Price said she told Tarpley. “So, at that point she tossed the gasoline on me that was in the gas can and threw the lighter on me and set me on fire and watched me burn.”

A fire marshal who lives in the apartment below heard Price screaming, smelled smoke and jumped into action, grabbing a fire extinguisher and running upstairs.

“I hope to run into him soon and thank him for saving my life,” Price said.

Tarpley, initially charged with battery and arson, is now facing an attempted murder charge. Her charges were upgraded on Tuesday.

“Honestly, I just want to know why,” Price said. ”I’ve never had no ill will toward her.”

Amid a long road to recovery, GoFundMe page has been set up for Price to help her pay for medical expenses and physical therapy.

“I’m not the one to ask for help, but if you are able to help, thank you,” she said.

Según la policía, agentes fueron llamados a la escuela alrededor de las 7:30 a.m. después de que el oficial de recursos escolares fue notificado por un técnico de comportamiento escolar de que un estudiante había estado mostrando lo que parecía ser un arma antes de abordar un autobús hacia el campus.

La policía indicó que el estudiante fue visto corriendo por los terrenos escolares cuando llegó al campus, y fue detenido por el oficial escolar.

Luego, las autoridades encontraron una pistola de balines tipo pistola en su mochila.

La policía dijo que el estudiante enfrenta cargos por posesión de un arma en propiedad escolar y posesión de una pistola de balines por un menor de 16 años.

Según BCPS, el estudiante de Parkway Middle School también enfrenta “medidas disciplinarias apropiadas de acuerdo con el Código de Conducta Estudiantil”.

BCPS confirmó que una pista de un estudiante y un padre llevó al hallazgo potencialmente peligroso en la escuela de Lauderhill, ubicada en 3600 NW Fifth Court.

El director interino Ackimo Charles dijo en un mensaje a los padres, en parte, “Recibimos información de un estudiante y un padre sobre una posible arma en el campus. Inmediatamente pusimos la escuela en cierre de emergencia y notificamos a nuestro oficial de recursos escolares y al equipo de seguridad, quienes manejaron la situación de manera segura y confiscaron el arma”.

“Me dijo que la iba a llevar a la escuela, pero yo le dije que no lo hiciera, pero aun así lo hizo”, dijo un estudiante a Local 10 News. “Y uno de mis otros amigos también le dijo que no lo hiciera”.

Después de que la policía intervino, el cierre de emergencia fue levantado y las operaciones escolares continuaron con normalidad.

Charles elogió al estudiante y al padre que reportaron el arma, señalando que la idea de “si ves algo, di algo” funcionó en esta situación en particular.

La policía confirmó que no se reportaron heridos durante el incidente y que “no hay una amenaza en curso para la escuela”.

La edad y la identidad del estudiante no han sido reveladas.

Según un informe de arresto del Departamento de Policía de Sweetwater, los agentes respondieron el 27 de febrero a un almacén ubicado en 1800 NW 129th Ave. después de que se reportara el robo de un remolque de camión cargado con aproximadamente $105,000 USD en ventanas de impacto ES.

El informe indica que la víctima dijo a la policía que el remolque había sido estacionado detrás del almacén el día anterior y que fue reportado como desaparecido a la mañana siguiente.

Un video de vigilancia obtenido en exclusiva por Local 10 muestra que alrededor de las 7:50 p.m. del 26 de febrero, dos individuos vestidos con ropa oscura llegaron en un Freightliner Cascadia blanco, lo engancharon al remolque y se lo llevaron en dirección a Northwest 129th Avenue, según la policía.

Los investigadores determinaron posteriormente que un Chevrolet Equinox negro con matrícula de Florida registrada a nombre de Yudier Fabregat Martell fue utilizado para transportarlo hasta la escena y seguir el remolque robado mientras ingresaba a la autopista Florida’s Turnpike desde Northwest 41st Street.

La policía indicó que los hallazgos de la investigación mostraron que Fabregat Martell comparte “las mismas características físicas” con uno de los individuos captados en video.

Local 10 News obtuvo ese video en el que se observa al sospechoso llevándose el contenedor que, según las autoridades, estaba lleno de ventanas de impacto.

Las autoridades también determinaron que un teléfono celular asociado a él estaba en la escena al momento del robo.

La policía informó que Fabregat Martell fue detenido el lunes y trasladado a la unidad de investigaciones generales del SPD para ser interrogado.

Tras ser informado de sus derechos Miranda, dijeron que Fabregat Martell admitió haber estado en la escena, pero dijo a los investigadores que le pagaron para conducir hasta allí y que no conocía el propósito del viaje, según el informe.

La policía indicó que Fabregat Martell mostró a los detectives una foto en su teléfono celular que, según él, le fue enviada un día después del robo.

Dijeron que la imagen mostraba las ventanas robadas, basándose en etiquetas de envío y del producto. Fabregat Martell dijo a los investigadores que no sabía quién envió la imagen, pero creía que “el mensaje estaba relacionado con la venta de la mercancía robada”, señala el informe.

La policía indicó que Fabregat Martell negó tener conocimiento del crimen y de las circunstancias antes de que concluyera la entrevista.

El dueño del negocio dijo a Rosh Lowe, de Local 10, que en 28 años nunca había experimentado algo así, y señaló que aún no ha recuperado las ventanas, añadiendo que todos sus clientes se vieron afectados.

Registros de la cárcel muestran que Fabregat Martell enfrenta un cargo por robo mayor de carga valorada en $50,000 USD o más, robo mayor en tercer grado de un vehículo y tráfico de propiedad robada.

Hasta la tarde del martes, permanecía detenido en el Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, donde su fianza fue fijada en $70,000 USD. También se le impuso una retención Nebbia, que requiere demostrar que el dinero de la fianza proviene de una fuente legítima.

También fue puesto bajo arresto domiciliario y se le ordenó mantenerse alejado de la víctima y del negocio de la víctima.

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Broward Sheriff’s Office documents state that Jose Elias Barrozo-Espinosa, 38, is also known as Fabian Eliseo Llancavil Nahuel.

Under that name, police in the wealthy Indianapolis suburb of Zionsville, Indiana arrested him after using a drone to track him down on March 21.

Zionsville police said he was spotted in a neighborhood and had “a window punch and rubber gloves, items commonly associated with burglary activity.”

BSO deputies extradited Barrozo-Espinosa from the Boone County, Indiana jail on Sunday, records show.

Deputies said the native of Chile left blood behind at the Weston scene on Nov. 8, proving crucial to identifying him.

According to an arrest warrant, at the Weston home, “unknown suspects” shattered a master bedroom window and got in, stealing a safe containing roughly $500,000 in gold and jewelry.

DNA evidence taken from blood left on a shade near the shattered window and on the floor came back to Barrozo-Espinosa.

An Indianapolis news outlet reports that Barrozo-Espinosa also has a warrant out of Texas and that the case is linked to “similar cases of South American gangs targeting suburban homes.”

Several other Chilean nationals have been accused of burglarizing homes nationwide, including those belonging to professional athletes.

The BSO arrest warrant doesn’t identify the homeowner, whose address was redacted.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Barrozo-Espinosa was being held in the BSO Main Jail on a $200,000 bond and an immigration hold.

Documentos de la Oficina del Sheriff de Broward indican que Jose Elias Barrozo-Espinosa, de 38 años, también es conocido como Fabian Eliseo Llancavil Nahuel.

Bajo ese nombre, la policía del adinerado suburbio de Indianápolis, Zionsville, Indiana, lo arrestó tras utilizar un dron para localizarlo el 21 de marzo.

La policía de Zionsville indicó que fue visto en un vecindario y tenía “una herramienta para romper ventanas y guantes de goma, objetos comúnmente asociados con robos”.

Agentes de BSO extraditaron a Barrozo-Espinosa desde la cárcel del condado Boone, en Indiana, el domingo, según los registros.

Los agentes dijeron que el chileno dejó sangre en la escena en Weston el 8 de noviembre, lo que resultó clave para identificarlo.

Según una orden de arresto, en la vivienda de Weston “sospechosos desconocidos” rompieron una ventana del dormitorio principal para ingresar y robar una caja fuerte que contenía aproximadamente $500,000 USD en oro y joyas.

Evidencia de ADN obtenida de la sangre dejada en una persiana cerca de la ventana rota y en el piso coincidió con Barrozo-Espinosa.

Un medio de Indianápolis reportó que Barrozo-Espinosa también tiene una orden de arresto en Texas y que el caso está vinculado a “casos similares de bandas sudamericanas que apuntan a viviendas en suburbios”.

Varios otros ciudadanos chilenos han sido acusados de robar viviendas en todo el país, incluidas las de atletas profesionales.

La orden de arresto de BSO no identifica al propietario de la vivienda, cuya dirección fue censurada.

Hasta la tarde del martes, Barrozo-Espinosa permanecía detenido en la cárcel principal de BSO con una fianza de $200,000 USD y una orden de retención migratoria.

The plea by James Heaps was unexpected -– earlier this year an appeals court threw out a conviction on the charges and his lawyer said it was only a matter of time before he was exonerated. Instead, the 69-year-old admitted his guilt to 13 felony counts, six of which involved sexually abusing an unconscious person.

“I didn’t know that this day would come,” said Nicole Gumpert, one of Heaps’ victims, at a news conference. “There were many, many women involved in this case. We refuse to be silent.”

The Associated Press typically does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they identify themselves publicly.

Heaps' attorney Leonard Levine did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on the guilty plea.

Heaps was originally sentenced in 2023 to 11 years in prison after being convicted of five counts of sexual battery and penetration involving two patients he saw while affiliated with the university. It was overturned by an appeals court in February, which ruled that Heaps was denied a fair trial because the judge did not share with his attorneys a note from the jury's foreman sharing concerns about a juror's English proficiency.

“Now you have finally admitted what you have done, and while your sentence falls short of the justice truly demands, your ultimate prison will endure in perpetuity, a depraved legacy stripped of respect, honor, and integrity filled instead with shame,” Gumpert told him and the judge at his new sentencing, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Heaps, appearing an orange jail shirt and pants, showed almost no reaction as he was sentenced, the Los Angeles Times reported.

LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the guilty plea was a significant milestone for the seven-year case, during which Heaps had tried to delay proceedings and discredit survivors who testified against him.

“While no sentence can undo the incredible harm that James Heaps engaged in … hopefully these admissions of guilt and the sentence he received today are a small measure of justice for all that the survivors had to endure,” Hochman said.

The renowned UCLA gynecologist, who at one point was one of the highest paid physicians employed by the school, was indicted in 2021 on multiple counts each of sexual battery by fraud, sexual exploitation of a patient and sexual penetration of an unconscious person by fraudulent representation. The charges were linked to the sexual assaults of seven women between 2009 and 2018.

In the wake of the scandal that erupted in 2019 following the doctor’s arrest, UCLA agreed to pay nearly $700 million in lawsuit settlements to hundreds of Heaps’ patients — a record amount by a public university amid a wave of sexual misconduct scandals by campus doctors in recent years.

UCLA patients said Heaps groped them, made suggestive comments or conducted unnecessarily invasive exams during his 35-year career.

He pleaded guilty Tuesday to six counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person, five counts of sexual battery by fraud, and two counts of sexual exploitation of a patient, Hochman said.

John Manly, who represented more than 200 of Heaps’ former patients in lawsuits against the university, said Heaps' guilty plea and sentence sends a clear message that “there will be severe consequences for any violation of patients’ rights and dignity.”

The school’s Board of Trustees voted to close after the fall semester over what its president and the board described as “increasingly complex” financial pressure. In a statement put out by the board and its president, Jennifer Chrisler, the school said efforts to increase enrollment, refinance existing debt and bring in new revenue from land sales had fallen short.

“The rationale behind this painful vote reflects several realities. The College no longer has the resources to sustain full operations and meet our regulatory responsibilities,” the school said in a statement.

In a separate statement on Instagram, Chrisler acknowledged the decision was difficult. “This is an incredibly painful moment for the Hampshire community, and we are doing everything to support our students in completing their studies and assist our faculty and staff in navigating what comes next," she said.

The school said the timing of the closure will allow current undergraduates at the small liberal arts school in western Massachusetts to complete their education at Hampshire or a partner institution.

The school, which was founded in 1965, has struggled for several years. It launched a $60 million fundraising campaign in 2020, which resulted in several big donations, including a $5 million gift in honor of Burns.

The college got some attention in 2023 when it announced that students from a Florida school that was taken over by conservatives picked by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis could enroll there.

Hampshire College had said that any students in good standing from New College of Florida can transfer there and, with the help of student aid, pay the same amount in tuition they are paying in Florida. The two academic institutions each are known for progressive, free-spirited students, a lack of traditional grades, and opportunities for students to design their own course of study.

The school joins a long list of small schools in New England and across the country that have been forced to close in recent years.

College closures have become increasingly common as campuses compete for a shrinking pool of U.S. students. Birth-rate decreases have translated to fewer college-age Americans overall. At the same time, some states have seen smaller percentages of high school graduates heading to college since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those shifts have left higher education with more supply than demand. Many colleges, especially small, private ones, have seen long-term enrollment decreases that put a pinch on finances. New England, with its high concentration of colleges, has been especially hard hit in recent years.

Josh D'Amaro, who in February succeeded Bob Iger as chief executive, announced broader layoffs following a move in January to consolidate Disney's marketing division. The cuts are expected to fall across the Burbank, California-based company's traditional television businesses, including ESPN, as well as its movie studio. Employees in product and technology, and in certain corporate functions will also be affected.

“Over the past several months, we have looked at ways in which we can streamline our operations in various parts of the company to ensure we deliver the world-class creativity and innovation our fans value and expect from Disney,” D'Amaro said in a memo to employees obtained by The Associated Press. “Given the fast-moving pace of our industries, this requires us to constantly assess how to foster a more agile and technologically-enabled workforce to meet tomorrow’s needs.”

Disney last went through a round of layoffs soon after Iger returned for a second spell as chief executive office in 2022. The company cut around 8,000 jobs then. As of late 2025, Disney had about 230,000 employees.

D'Amaro, who previously oversaw Disney's lucrative parks division, has been at the company since 1998.

Contraction has recently been a widespread concern in Hollywood. Paramount Skydance has shed 2,000 jobs since the studio was taken over by David Ellison's company, and Ellison has acknowledged layoffs would follow Paramount's planned merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, if the deal wins approval from shareholders and government regulators. Last week, Sony Pictures Entertainment said it would eliminate hundreds of jobs.

The lottery game that has made millionaires in the United States will expand this summer to include players in England, Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom.

An agreement was announced Tuesday between the Multi-State Lottery Association, which runs the lottery game, and Allwyn UK, which operates the U.K.'s National Lottery. The deal still must be approved by a U.K. gambling commission.

It will mark the first time a lottery outside the United States will contribute to the Powerball jackpot.

“We're constantly looking for ways to make sure that we're keeping Powerball culturally and commercially relevant,” said Matt Strawn, who heads Powerball and is chief executive of the Iowa Lottery. “And this really is the next natural progression in doing just that.”

The same jackpot amount will be available to players on both sides of the Atlantic with U.S. payouts in dollars and those in the U.K. in pounds.

For players in the U.S., nothing changes, including the $2 cost of a Powerball ticket and the long odds of winning the jackpot of 1 in 292.2 million, Strawn said. But with U.K. players buying tickets, a larger player pool will grow jackpots more quickly.

“Players consistently tell us in survey after survey that faster growing Powerball jackpots is what they'd like to see,” Strawn said. “Not surprisingly, the higher the jackpots grow the more people play the game in a particular drawing. The more people play, the higher sales grow. The higher sales grow, the higher the jackpots get, the more people play."

For U.K. players, Powerball will offer a chance at much larger jackpots than are now available at lotteries in the country and Europe.

The largest Powerball payout was just over $2 billion from a ticket bought in 2022 in California. EuroMillions, a lottery offered across nine European countries and also operated in the U.K. by Allwyn, paid the biggest prize to a U.K. player of £195 million ($265 million) in 2022.

“Our ambition is to bring more games, more innovation and more excitement to The UK National Lottery — and it doesn’t get more exciting than Powerball, with its transformative jackpots and life-changing contribution to good causes,” Allwyn UK Chief Executive Andria Vidler said in a statement.

Although jackpots will be the same in each country, estimated jackpot amounts will be different due to currency conversion rates and because the U.S. advertises prize amounts pretax, unlike in the U.K.

U.K. Powerball jackpots also will be paid over 30 years whereas in the U.S. jackpot winners have a choice between taking their winnings spread over years through an annuity or in cash — nearly all winners opt for cash.

All players will vie for the same jackpot prize, but smaller prizes will be different in the two countries.

Powerball is played in 45 U.S. states as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In the game, players choose numbers displayed on five white balls numbered 1 to 69 and one number from 1 to 26 on the red Powerball numbered. Drawings will continue to be held Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

More than 31 million people play at least one National Lottery game each year across the U.K.

The new agreement won't change how Mega Millions, the other large U.S. lottery game, operates.

La medición oficial difundida el martes por el Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas y Censos (INDEC) registró en marzo un aumento del 3,4% en el costo de vida, el más alto en un año, y suma nueve meses consecutivos de aceleración desde julio de 2025.

En febrero, la inflación había marcado 2,9%.

La inflación interanual se ubicó en 32,6% en el tercer mes del año y acumula 9,4% en 2026.

“El dato es malo. El dato no nos gusta ya que la inflación nos repugna”, expresó el presidente Milei en X tras conocerse la medición. “Sin embargo, hoy elementos duros que nos permiten explicar lo que ha pasado y especialmente esperar que a futuro la inflación retorne a su sendero decreciente”.

El dato oficial se conoció horas después que el Fondo Monetario Internacional (FMI) reajustó su previsión de inflación anual para este año a 30,4% en Argentina, casi el doble de la estimación anterior, y un menor crecimiento económico de 4% a 3,5% por una caída de la demanda global y las dificultades provocadas por la guerra.

En el presupuesto nacional para este año, el gobierno había proyectado una inflación de 10,1%, que a este ritmo será imposible de cumplir.

La medición de marzo estuvo marcada por un recalentamiento de los precios influido por aumento de los combustibles a causa del conflicto en Medio Oriente –en Argentina acumulan 20%--. El transporte subió 4,1% y la electricidad y el gas 3,7%.

También fue decisivo el rubro Educación (12,1%) en coincidencia con el inicio del ciclo lectivo.

Apoyo de Estados Unidos

En medio de las dudas entre inversores por el rumbo económico de Argentina, Estados Unidos volvió a respaldar este martes a su aliado sudamericano.

“Esta vez es diferente en Argentina. Argentina ha tenido un éxito fantástico”, expresó el secretario del Tesoro de Estados Unidos, Scott Bessent, al exponer en el Instituto de Finanzas Internacionales.

“Están acumulando reservas todos los días. 10 millones de personas han salido de la pobreza bajo el gobierno del presidente Milei. A él lo votaron los más pobres y los jóvenes, hay mucho optimismo ahí”, destacó el funcionario.

El apoyo del Tesoro estadounidense con una línea de swap —un acuerdo financiero para el intercambio de divisas entre bancos centrales—- de 20.000 millones y la intervención en el mercado de cambios mediante la compra de pesos fue decisiva para aquietar los mercados financieros en la previa a las elecciones legislativas de octubre, que ganó el oficialismo.

Promesa de desaceleración

Milei, un economista anarcocapitalista que llegó al poder en 2023 con la promesa de exterminar la inflación que atormenta a los argentinos desde hace décadas, sostiene que su plan de austeridad funcionó con éxito en la primera parte de su mandato hasta julio pasado cuando los precios comenzaron a acelerarse por la incertidumbre financiera que generó el resultado de las elecciones de medio término.

Pasado el temblor, el gobierno confía que la actual estabilidad cambiaria y caída de las tasas de interés contribuirán a desacelerar la inflación a partir de abril.

“La inflación va a tener certificado de defunción”, expresó el ministro de Economía, Luis Caputo, el lunes al asistir a una cumbre de negocios organizada por la Cámara de Comercio de los Estados Unidos en Argentina. “Entramos en un proceso virtuoso a partir de abril. Se vienen los mejores 18 años que la Argentina haya visto en las últimas décadas”.

El último Relevamiento de Expectativas de Mercado (REM) que publica el Banco Central prevé para abril una inflación de 2,7%.

On the corner where his first ice cream shop opened in 1978 — and where the first Free Cone Day was held a year later — Ben Cohen called on Ben & Jerry’s owner The Magnum Ice Cream Co. to sell the brand. Cohen said Magnum is stifling Ben & Jerry's social activism and he wants to see the brand sold to a group of socially-minded investors.

“Magnum prevented Ben & Jerry’s from putting out a post supporting Black History Month," Cohen said. "(Ben & Jerry's) wanted to come out with a post calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Magnum prevented that. We wanted to support the student protesters. Magnum wouldn’t allow that.”

“The longer this goes on, the more they’re destroying the brand equity,” Cohen added.

Ben & Jerry's other half, Jerry Greenfield, resigned from the company in September 2025, calling it a “painful” decision after nearly 50 years with the brand and bemoaning in his resignation letter the disappearance of its independence. Cohen is still a paid employee of the company, but said he has no authority or responsibilities.

Cohen believes Ben & Jerry's is now worth between $1.5 billion and $2 billion. He wouldn't name any of the investors who are interested in buying the brand, but said they're eager to talk to Magnum, which is based in Amsterdam.

However, Magnum said Tuesday that Ben & Jerry's is not for sale.

“Ben & Jerry’s is a proud and thriving part of The Magnum Ice Cream Company," Magnum said in a statement. “We remain fully committed to the Ben & Jerry’s model and its three-part mission — product, economic and social.”

Tuesday's protest was Cohen’s latest action in a years-long campaign to make Ben & Jerry’s an independent company again. Here's the scoop on Ben & Jerry's evolution:

Unilever acquisition

Unilever, a London conglomerate that also owns Dove soap and Hellmann’s mayonnaise, acquired Ben & Jerry’s in 2000 for $326 million, or the equivalent of $625 million today. At the time, Cohen and his co-founder, Jerry Greenfield, said the partnership would help the progressive Vermont-based ice cream company expand its social mission globally. As part of the deal, Unilever agreed that Ben & Jerry’s independent board would be free to pursue its social mission, including longstanding support for causes like racial justice, campaign finance reform and fair trade.

Controversy erupts

In 2021, Ben & Jerry’s announced it would stop serving Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and contested east Jerusalem. The move was condemned by Israel, and Unilever distanced itself from it. The following year, Unilever sold its Israeli business to a local company that said it would sell Ben & Jerry’s throughout Israel and the West Bank. Ben & Jerry’s sued Unilever in 2024, accusing it of silencing its statements in support of Palestinians in the Gaza war. Ben & Jerry’s said Unilever also blocked social media posts that were critical of President Donald Trump and threatened to dismantle Ben & Jerry’s independent board.

Magnum takes over

Unilever announced the spinoff of its ice cream business — including Ben & Jerry’s — in March 2024. It was part of a larger strategy at Unilever, which wants to focus more on health and wellness products and less on food. Magnum, which became an independent company in July 2025, is one of the world’s largest ice cream companies. It also owns brands like Breyers and Cornetto.

The global hitmakers will take over Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday, Dec. 3, marking one of the final stops on their massive 33-date North American tour.

The show at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens is expected to draw tens of thousands of fans, adding to the city’s growing reputation as a premier destination for major stadium concerts.

The tour kicks off June 26 in Denver and travels through major cities across the U.S. and Canada—including Chicago, Toronto, Los Angeles, Houston, and Las Vegas—before wrapping in Tampa on December 11.

The announcement follows a wave of excitement sparked by a surprise teaser the two artists dropped on Instagram last week, instantly generating buzz among fans eager to see the R&B icons share the stage.

Beyond the music, the tour will also have a philanthropic impact.

In partnership with Global Citizen, a new release from the tour states that $1 from every ticket sold will be donated to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, supporting access to education for children worldwide.

Both artists are coming off historic runs.

Usher’s Past, Present, Future tour sold more than 1.1 million tickets across North America, while Chris Brown’s Breezy Bowl XX World Tour became the highest-grossing tour ever by a solo Black American male artist, earning nearly $300 million globally, according to a news release.

Ticket Information

Tickets go on sale to the general public on April 27 at 12 p.m. local time, with multiple presales happening the week prior.

Fans can purchase tickets by clicking here.

The New York Post last week published the photos of Vrabel and Russini at the Sedona hotel and said they were taken before the NFL owners meetings that began in Phoenix on March 29.

“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published. When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful. In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts,” Russini said in a letter sent Tuesday to Athletic Executive Editor Steven Ginsberg and obtained by The Associated Press.

“Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept. Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”

Russini joined The Athletic in 2023 after nearly a decade at ESPN, where she held various roles, including “SportsCenter” anchor, NFL analyst and insider. She hosted a podcast for The Athletic and made appearances on their video platform.

Vrabel and Russini, who are both married, released statements to the Post after publication of the photos downplaying what the photos depict.

Russini said they “don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day.”

Vrabel told the newspaper: “Those photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable.”

Vrabel didn’t attend New England’s pre-draft news conference on Monday.

The New York Times reported Saturday that the digital outlet was investigating Russini’s conduct.

That decision came after Ginsberg previously told the Post that the photos “lacked essential context” and lauded her work with The Athletic.

“When this situation was brought to our attention last week, there were clear concerns, but we received a detailed explanation and it was our instinct to support and defend a colleague while we continued to review the matter," Ginsberg said in a note to staff on Tuesday announcing Russini’s resignation. “As additional information emerged, new questions were raised that became part of our investigation. While our investigation into Dianna’s conduct was ongoing, she chose to resign.”

Ginsberg said the review of Russini's work will continue.

Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a player with New England, is preparing for his second season as coach of the Patriots. He was the AP NFL Coach of the Year after leading the team to a 14-3 finish last season, which ended with a Super Bowl loss to Seattle. Vrabel previously won the AP NFL Coach of the Year award with Tennessee in 2021.

___

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

Not anymore.

Thanks to a variety of factors — especially money and technology — the MLB and NCAA versions of baseball have never been more similar. There's also been more movement between the two versions of the sport in recent years.

It's part of the reason Tony Vitello is now the manager of the San Francisco Giants despite never working or playing for a professional organization before he was hired — a first in MLB history. It's also a factor in why Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz was the AL Rookie of the Year in 2025 barely one year after finishing a decorated college career at Wake Forest.

“The college game has definitely taken a bigger step toward the pro game — mainly because of the almighty dollar,” said Arizona State coach Willie Bloomquist, who played 14 big league seasons.

“Essentially what’s happened, the Power 4 Conferences are basically the minor leagues."

Athletics general manager David Forst — who selected Kurtz with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 draft — said the first baseman's quick rise through the minors made him realize how good college baseball had become. Kurtz needed just 210 plate appearances in the minors before dominating MLB pitching, batting .290 with 36 homers and 86 RBIs over 117 games in 2025.

“There’s no doubt that top-level college baseball is High-A or Double-A now. It’s really close,” Forst said. “I never would have imagined a player like Nick Kurtz coming to the big leagues for us 11 months after he was drafted.

“That was unthinkable when I first started doing this. The timeline is squashed because these guys are coming out of college so ready, so physically advanced. Some of them — frankly — don’t need the minor league at-bats they used to need.”

One reason the college game has improved so much is an influx of cash. Coaching salaries have exploded over the past few decades: LSU's Jay Johnson is at the top of the scale at more than $3 million per year while Mississippi State's Brian O'Connor is second at $2.9 million.

Those are outliers, but it's not uncommon for power conference coaches to make more than $1 million.

The highest paid MLB managers make around $8 million per season, but top assistants like pitching and hitting coaches usually make six figures.

The advent of NIL money has also made playing college baseball more lucrative, even if payouts lag well behind their football and basketball counterparts. There's also the fact that top-level NCAA programs are investing in technology.

“We have one of the better pitching labs on the West Coast,” Bloomquist said. “I think it would rival a lot of professional organizations. From a data standpoint, it’s all trickled down to the college level.”

After retiring as a player, Bloomquist worked in the Arizona Diamondbacks' front office before getting hired by the Sun Devils. His pitching coach — Jeremy Accardo — spent 18 years in professional baseball as a player and coach.

Bloomquist said that MLB teams have become more comfortable trusting NCAA programs to develop professional talent instead of taking the risk of drafting an unproven 18-year-old straight out of high school. He added that it's probably one of the reasons that MLB felt comfortable cutting 40 minor league affiliates back in 2020.

In the 2025 MLB draft, 56 college players were selected in the top 90 picks.

“These guys trust (college) programs,” Bloomquist said. “They say, ‘We’ll just watch them in college in three years at a Power 4 program, see how they development and then we'll go get them.’"

Georgia baseball coach Wes Johnson is another coach who has bounced between MLB and NCAA with success at both levels. He was hired as the pitching coach for the Minnesota Twins and had a strong 3 1/2-year run between 2019 and 2022 before going back to the college game. He helped develop 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes as LSU's pitching coach before landing the head job with the Bulldogs.

Johnson said there's little doubt that the college and pro games have never been more similar, but added that there are still real differences for players and coaches. The biggest is the schedule.

In college, the condensed schedule makes all 56 regular-season games feel huge. A three-game losing streak is the end of the world. In professional baseball, it's just a small bump in the road.

“With the Twins, we played 33 spring games, then played 162 in the season and then made the playoffs,” Johnson said. “It’s every day there. That's the hardest challenge you have when you go from college to the big leagues. We won 101 games in 2019 (in the regular season). That means we only lost 61 games.

"But that’s the most I’ve ever lost in my life in one year.”

Bloomquist agreed that the schedule is much different. He said age is a factor as well.

“There’s a different style in college than there is in professional baseball — to an extent that’s accurate," Bloomquist said. “There’s an intensity in college, motivating 18 to 20 year olds, as opposed to guys who are making $20 million. Can you relate to those guys in pro ball?”

San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman played in college at Cal State Fullerton before becoming a five-time Gold Glove winner the big leagues. Even though there are some differences — like many more native Spanish speakers in professional baseball — he wasn't worried about Vitello's transition.

“Winning baseball looks the same," Chapman said. "It’s pitching and defense, knowing how to run the bases and then managing personalities. He has a lot of experience with that.

“There will be a learning curve in some areas. You just can’t fully know how to run a Major League clubhouse unless you’ve been in one. But it’s not foreign to him. He’s a baseball guy.”

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

Desde el año pasado Washington ha endurecido el cerco contra el Cártel del Noreste — heredero de los antiguos Zetas -- que es señalado de traficar armas, drogas y personas y se caracteriza por sus prácticas sanguinarias y de extorsión. Dos personas y el popular rapero mexicano Ricardo Hernández Medrano, conocido como El Makabelico o Comando Exclusivo, fueron sancionados en agosto pasado por supuestos vínculos con la organización criminal.

Entre las empresas sancionadas el martes está Casino Centenario que funciona en la ciudad fronteriza de Nuevo Laredo, estado de Tamaulipas, y que maneja la Comercializadora y Arrendadora de México, S.A. de CV (CAMSA), señala un comunicado del Departamento del Tesoro.

Según las autoridades estadounidenses, el Casino Centenario funcionaría como presunto centro de almacenamiento de drogas y mecanismo para lavar dinero mediante actividades de juego.

El Tesoro también sancionó a Diamante Casino que tiene su sede en la localidad norteña de Tampico, Tamaulipas, el cual también está vinculada de manera operativa con la empresa CAMSA y maneja una página de apuestas en línea.

De manera simultánea, la Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera (UIF) de México dijo en un comunicado que presentó denuncias en la Fiscalía General de la República contra los sujetos sancionados por las autoridades estadoundeses por el delito de operaciones con recursos de procedencia ilícita y delitos fiscales, y se notificó a la Secretaría de Gobernación para proceder con la suspensión de actividades de los casinos.

Hace cinco meses las autoridades de México suspendieron 13 casinos por supuestas actividades de lavado de dinero.

Estados Unidos congeló bienes y propiedades de Eduardo Javier Islas Valdez, alias Crosty, identificado como presunto responsable del tráfico de personas en Nuevo Laredo y enlace en el cruce de migrantes hacia Texas; del abogado Juan Pablo Penilla Rodríguez, señalado de prestar supuestos servicios ilegales a miembros del Cártel del Noreste y del activista Jesús Reymundo Ramos.

Según las autoridades estadounidenses, Penilla Rodríguez asistió a uno de los líderes de Los Zetas, Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales, alias Z-40, quien fue enviado el año pasado a Estados Unidos junto con su hermano y cabecilla de la organización, Omar Treviño Morales, y otros 27 capos.

Al abogado Penilla Rodríguez se le señala como supuesto “intermediario” ante la actual cúpula del Cártel del Noreste y otros grupos. “Esta colaboración le ha permitido a Miguel Treviño mantener su liderazgo en el cartel a pesar de su encarcelamiento”, refirió el comunicado.

Por su parte, Ramos, quien dirige la ONG local Comité de Derechos Humanos de Nuevo Laredo, es identificado de presuntamente “liderar la campaña de desinformación” del Cártel del Noreste contra las autoridades mexicanas.

Desde hace años, el activista ha reunido información sobre abusos del Ejército y la policía, incluidos numerosos asesinatos en Nuevo Laredo.

“Bajo el pretexto del activismo, Ramos defiende exclusivamente a miembros violentos del cartel, presentando denuncias falsas contra el ejército mexicano, pagando a personas para que participen en protestas y protegiendo la reputación de sus miembros caídos o arrestados”, según el comunicado.

The Associated Press solicitó al activista una reacción sobre la sanción de Estados Unidos, pero no obtuvo de momento respuesta.

Ramos denunció en marzo del 2023 que sospechaba de que el Ejército mexicano y el gobierno estaban detrás de las denuncias que lo vinculaban al Cartel del Noreste, señalamiento que negó en esa oportunidad. Una investigación independiente encontró que el teléfono de Ramos fue hackeado con el programa espía israelí Pegasus en 2020.

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According to an arrest report, investigators responded to an apartment in the 1800 block of Northeast 154th Street just before 6:30 p.m. and found the bloodied victim.

Police said they also saw Vincent Lenard Dukes, the victim’s roommate of six months, “standing inside with blood on his white T-shirt.”

Investigators said Dukes, angry over the groceries being left out, stabbed his roommate in the torso with a pair of scissors and then stabbed him with a knife in the left leg.

Police said Dukes admitted to getting into the argument. They said Dukes claimed that he stabbed his roommate after being kicked.

Officers arrested Dukes on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Dukes was being held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $5,000 bond.

Según un informe de arresto, los investigadores respondieron a un apartamento en la cuadra 1800 de Northeast 154th Street poco antes de las 6:30 p.m. y encontraron a la víctima ensangrentada.

La policía indicó que también vieron a Vincent Lenard Dukes, compañero de cuarto de la víctima durante seis meses, “de pie dentro con sangre en su camiseta blanca”.

Los investigadores dijeron que Dukes, molesto porque las compras fueron dejadas afuera, apuñaló a su compañero en el torso con unas tijeras y luego lo apuñaló con un cuchillo en la pierna izquierda.

La policía señaló que Dukes admitió haber tenido la discusión. Indicaron que Dukes afirmó que apuñaló a su compañero después de que este lo pateara.

Los agentes arrestaron a Dukes por un cargo de agresión agravada con arma mortal.

Hasta la tarde del martes, Dukes permanecía detenido en el Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center con una fianza de $5,000 USD.

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According to arrest documents made public on Tuesday, a concerned elementary school counselor called the Broward Sheriff’s Office on Thursday after seeing the second-grader come in “with two black eyes, a large contusion on her forehead, dried blood coming from her ears and multiple scratches on her arms and neck.”

Deputies said the girl told her counselor that her stepmother, Melirose Joncky, had inflicted the severe injuries, further saying that an arm injury for which she was in a cast was also caused by the 42-year-old.

According to a BSO arrest report, the girl told investigators that on Wednesday, Joncky “pushed her down to the ground, pulled her by her feet, and forced her onto her stomach” and while on the ground, “walked on her back, jumping up and down, causing her pain.”

Joncky, deputies said, then “grabbed the back of her head and slammed it into the floor, causing a large abrasion to her forehead.”

According to the report, the girl additionally said that Joncky “had used phone chargers to hit her, which she explained were the cause of the multiple lacerations on her arm, legs, back and face.”

The girl also told investigators that her stepmother “choked her to the point she was unable to breathe” and “has used a kitchen knife and a pot to hit her on her head.“

“Another form of punishment was to force an entire bottle of hot sauce into her mouth, as well as a mouthful of salt,” BSO Detective Vanessa Encina wrote in the report.

The girl was taken to Coral Springs Medical Center and later Broward Health Medical Center for treatment, deputies said. Doctors determined she suffered fractures to her ribs, as well as fractures on one of her arms and feet. According to the report, they also found scalp hematomas, a “large contusion to the forehead” and neck swelling.

Deputies said a forensic medical examination found “ligature marks consistent with a phone cord,” as well as marks near the girl’s genitals.

According to the report, the girl told detectives that Joncky would “scratch her” on her pubic area and “pour hot sauce on her injuries.”

Deputies arrested Joncky on aggravated child abuse and child neglect charges on Thursday.

On Friday, she appeared in Broward County court with the assistance of a Haitian Creole translator. Prosecutors asked her to be held without bond.

A prosecutor noted that Joncky “admitted to the detective that she was aware of all the injuries the victim was suffering when she dropped her off” at school.

Her attorney asked the judge to grant a bond “so that she can fight this case from the outside.”

“She made it clear that she’s denying these allegations,” her attorney said. “She’s innocent.”

The judge ultimately ordered Joncky held without bond.

“I’ve never read anything like this,” the judge said. “Based upon what’s alleged in (the report), I’ve got serious concerns for the safety of the victim.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, online records show that she remained locked up in the BSO Main Jail.

According to earnings filings published last week, 7-Eleven's North American operator plans to close 645 stores in the 2026 fiscal year — outpacing the 205 locations it forecasts it will open during that same time.

Seven & i Holdings Co., the Japan-based parent of the convenience chain, noted that these closures “include the conversion to wholesale fuel stores.” Financial documents show that 7-Eleven Inc. has steadily opened new wholesale fuel stores in North America over recent years, which accounted for more than 900 locations as of December 2025.

The company did not immediately explain the closures or specify which locations could be impacted. The Associated Press reached out for further information.

According to the company's website, there are over 86,000 7-Eleven stores across 19 countries today. 7-Eleven Inc., the brand’s North American operator based in Texas, oversees more than 13,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada.

The convenience giant has closed hundreds of underperforming locations over the years, and the latest cuts arrive as higher prices strain consumers worldwide. The U.S. and Israel's war against Iran has especially rattled energy markets, with drivers now facing soaring gas prices.

Consumers were facing stubborn inflation even before the war. In North America specifically, Seven & i noted in its April 9 report, “although the economy remained robust, personal consumption also began to soften" for the 2025 fiscal year — "particularly among low-income households, as inflation continued to weigh on spending."

Openings for Seven & i subsidiaries outside of North America are set to outpace the stores they’re closing — including Seven-Eleven Japan, which expects to close 350 stores and open 550 locations, per financial filings.

Seven & i expects its revenue to fall 9.4% for the current fiscal year, totaling a projected nearly 9.45 trillion yen (about $59.5 billion).

The company has been looking for new opportunities for growth, and last year outlined a wider transformation plan aimed at boosting its convenience store offerings. Among goals, Seven & i has said it would invest in more fresh food offerings and expand its “7NOW" delivery service.

The changes also arrive under new leadership. Stephen Hayes Dacus became Seven & i's CEO last spring.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program cancels loans for qualified public service workers after they've made a decade’s worth of payments. It has long been open to those who go to work for the government, public schools, fire and police departments, public hospitals and nonprofits. But last fall, President Donald Trump's administration wrote a new rule that will empower Education Secretary Linda McMahon to kick employers out of the program if she decides their work has a “substantial illegal purpose.”

Set to take effect in July, the vaguely phrased rule is targeted at employers who support undocumented immigrants or transgender youth, potentially affecting borrowers who work at schools, public hospitals and legal aid groups.

On Tuesday, Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine of Virginia, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Cory Booker of New Jersey introduced a resolution to overturn the rule. A similar measure was brought forward in the House by another trio of Democrats: Joe Courtney of Connecticut, Alma Adams of North Carolina and Scott Peters of California. The lawmakers called the rule “a clear attempt to intimidate and punish certain organizations.”

Nicholas Kent, the Education Department's higher education chief, equated the Democrats' effort with “standing up for criminal activity.”

“This is a commonsense reform that will stop taxpayer dollars from subsidizing organizations involved in terrorism, child trafficking and child mutilation procedures that are doing irreversible harm to children,” Kent said in a statement. The rule, he said, will be enforced neutrally, "without consideration of the employer’s mission, ideology or the population they serve.”

While the Democrats' measure may get a vote, it's unlikely to pass.

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The Associated Press’ education 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.

Varias personas sufrieron lesiones leves en Kansas después de que las tormentas pasaran ahí el lunes, informaron autoridades. Tres personas resultaron con heridas menores en una zona rural del condado de Franklin, a unos 80 kilómetros (50 millas) al suroeste de Kansas City, según la policía. En Ottawa, una ciudad de unos 13.000 habitantes, las autoridades indicaron que hubo daños estructurales, pero no se registraron muertes ni heridos. También se dañaron líneas eléctricas y árboles, así como varios negocios, incluido uno en el que las paredes exteriores fueron derribadas.

Un equipo del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional inspeccionará los daños en el área de Ottawa el martes para determinar si un tornado pasó por allí, según Chelsea Picha, meteoróloga de la oficina del servicio meteorológico en Topeka.

En el vecino condado de Miami, dos personas reportaron lesiones leves, varias viviendas quedaron destruidas y vehículos recreativos y remolques de campamento volcaron, de acuerdo con la policía local. El suministro eléctrico en Hillsdale fue cortado hasta que la limpieza pudiera completarse de manera segura.

Tres tornados tocaron tierra en el sur de Minnesota, donde se reportaron algunos daños en granjas, según Jake Beitlich, meteorólogo de la oficina meteorológica local. También hubo reportes de granizo que causó daños a vehículos en la zona, agregó.

Un tornado tocó tierra cerca de Gilman, una localidad de unos 380 habitantes en el noroeste de Wisconsin, indicó Jeff Boyne, meteorólogo de la oficina del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional en La Crosse, Wisconsin, aunque precisó que los daños fueron menores. El servicio meteorológico seguía trabajando para determinar la clasificación del tornado. Las tormentas arrancaron el techo de una casa prefabricada en Steuben, una localidad de unos 120 habitantes en el suroeste de Wisconsin, explicó, pero no se han reportado heridos en el estado.

Varias escuelas en los alrededores del área de Madison se vieron obligadas a cerrar la mañana del martes debido a la falta de electricidad. Más de 25.000 clientes estaban sin suministro eléctrico en Wisconsin la mañana del martes, según poweroutage.us.

Los meteorólogos advirtieron sobre inundaciones en ríos y arroyos pequeños previstas hasta el final de la semana en la región de los Grandes Lagos superiores, con las lluvias más intensas esperadas durante la noche y hasta el miércoles, además de inundaciones repentinas dispersas.

En Michigan, la gobernadora Gretchen Whitmer declaró el estado de emergencia el viernes en el complejo de esclusas y represa de Cheboygan, ya que las nevadas récord de marzo y las lluvias recientes han elevado el nivel de agua. El lunes se estaban agregando más bombas para ayudar a empujar el agua hacia el lago Hurón. Hasta las 7 a. m. del martes, el nivel del agua estaba 19,5 centímetros (7,68 pulgadas) por debajo de la parte superior de la estructura, según un sitio web estatal.

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

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Mascherano said he made the decision to end his tenure as head coach, thanking the club for its trust, the staff for their work, and the players for helping create “unforgettable moments.”

He also expressed appreciation for the fans and said he will always remember the club’s first major title in 2025 and continue wishing Inter Miami success in the future.

“I would like to thank the Club for the trust they placed in me, every employee who is part of the organization for the collective effort, but especially the players, who made it possible for us to experience unforgettable moments,” Mascherano wrote in a statement. “I also want to thank the fans and La Familia, because none of this would have been possible without them.I will always carry with me the memory of our first star, and wherever I am, I will continue to wish the Club all the best moving forward.”

Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas said Mascherano will remain a key part of Inter Miami’s history, crediting him for his leadership during one of the most successful periods in club history, including MLS Cup success and a strong run at the FIFA Club World Cup. Mas said the club respects his decision and is grateful for his contributions.

In his first season, Mascherano led Inter Miami to one of its most successful campaigns, winning two major trophies, including its first MLS Cup title and the Eastern Conference championship.

The team set a league record with 101 goals across the regular season and playoffs and played 58 matches across all competitions in 2025.

Internationally, Inter Miami became the first MLS club to reach the knockout stage of the FIFA Club World Cup, the first Concacaf team to beat European opposition in an official international match, and the first U.S. team to win a game in the tournament.

The club also reached the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup and advanced to a second Leagues Cup final in three appearances.

Mascherano leaves alongside his coaching staff, who joined in January 2024.

A news release from the team states that Guillermo Hoyos will serve as interim head coach for upcoming matches.

Hoyos brings more than 20 years of coaching and playing experience across multiple countries, including Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Bolivia, Greece, and Cyprus, and has also worked in youth development at FC Barcelona. Since joining Inter Miami, he has overseen the club’s professional development pathway and served as sporting director.

The news release also states that Chief Soccer Officer Alberto Marrero will assume the duties of sporting director effective immediately.

Inter Miami is 3-3-1 on the season and sit third in the Eastern Conference with 12 points. Their next match is on Saturday as they face the Colorado Rapids at Empower Field at Mile High at 4:30 p.m.

Mascherano dijo que tomó la decisión de poner fin a su etapa como entrenador, agradeciendo al club por la confianza, al cuerpo técnico por su trabajo y a los jugadores por ayudar a crear “momentos inolvidables”.

También expresó su agradecimiento a los aficionados y señaló que siempre recordará el primer gran título del club en 2025 y continuará deseándole éxito a Inter Miami en el futuro.

“Quiero agradecer al club por la confianza que depositaron en mí, a cada empleado que forma parte de la organización por el esfuerzo colectivo, pero especialmente a los jugadores, que hicieron posible que viviéramos momentos inolvidables”, escribió Mascherano en un comunicado. “También quiero agradecer a los aficionados y a La Familia, porque nada de esto habría sido posible sin ellos. Siempre llevaré conmigo el recuerdo de nuestra primera estrella, y dondequiera que esté, seguiré deseándole lo mejor al club en el futuro”.

El copropietario de Inter Miami, Jorge Mas, dijo que Mascherano seguirá siendo una parte clave de la historia del club, atribuyéndole su liderazgo durante uno de los períodos más exitosos en la historia del equipo, incluyendo el éxito en la MLS Cup y una destacada participación en la Copa Mundial de Clubes de la FIFA. Mas indicó que el club respeta su decisión y agradece sus contribuciones.

En su primera temporada, Mascherano llevó a Inter Miami a una de sus campañas más exitosas, ganando dos títulos importantes, incluido su primer campeonato de la MLS Cup y el título de la Conferencia Este.

El equipo estableció un récord de liga con 101 goles entre la temporada regular y los playoffs y disputó 58 partidos en todas las competiciones en 2025.

A nivel internacional, Inter Miami se convirtió en el primer club de la MLS en alcanzar la fase eliminatoria de la Copa Mundial de Clubes de la FIFA, el primer equipo de Concacaf en vencer a un rival europeo en un partido internacional oficial y el primer equipo de Estados Unidos en ganar un partido en el torneo.

El club también llegó a las semifinales de la Concacaf Champions Cup y avanzó a una segunda final de la Leagues Cup en tres participaciones.

Mascherano se marcha junto a su cuerpo técnico, que se unió en enero de 2024.

Un comunicado del equipo señala que Guillermo Hoyos será el entrenador interino para los próximos partidos.

Hoyos cuenta con más de 20 años de experiencia como entrenador y jugador en varios países, incluidos Argentina, México, Chile, Bolivia, Grecia y Chipre, y también ha trabajado en el desarrollo juvenil en el FC Barcelona. Desde su llegada a Inter Miami, ha supervisado la ruta de desarrollo profesional del club y se desempeñaba como director deportivo.

El comunicado también indica que el director de fútbol, Alberto Marrero, asumirá las funciones de director deportivo con efecto inmediato.

Inter Miami tiene un récord de 3-3-1 en la temporada y se ubica en el tercer lugar de la Conferencia Este con 12 puntos. Su próximo partido será el sábado, cuando enfrenten al Colorado Rapids en el Empower Field at Mile High a las 4:30 p.m.

Según los documentos de detención que se hicieron públicos el martes, una consejera escolar de primaria, preocupada por la situación, llamó a la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Broward el jueves tras ver a la niña de segundo grado llegar con “dos ojos morados, una gran contusión en la frente, sangre seca que le salía de los oídos y múltiples arañazos en los brazos y el cuello”.

Los agentes dijeron que la niña le contó a su consejera que su madrastra, Melirose Joncky, le había infligido las graves lesiones, y añadieron que una lesión en el brazo por la que llevaba una escayola también fue causada por la mujer de 42 años.

Según un informe de arresto de la BSO, la niña declaró a los investigadores que el miércoles, Joncky “la empujó al suelo, la jaló de los pies y la obligó a tumbarse boca abajo” y, mientras estaba en el suelo, “caminó sobre su espalda, saltando arriba y abajo, causándole dolor”.

Según los agentes, Joncky “la agarró por la nuca y la estrelló contra el suelo, provocándole una gran abrasión en la frente”.

Según el informe, la niña también declaró que Joncky “había usado cargadores de teléfono para golpearla, lo que, según explicó, fue la causa de las múltiples laceraciones en su brazo, piernas, espalda y rostro”.

La niña también declaró a los investigadores que su madrastra “la estranguló hasta el punto de que no podía respirar” y que “utilizó un cuchillo de cocina y una olla para golpearla en la cabeza”.

“Otra forma de castigo consistía en obligarla a tragarse una botella entera de salsa picante, además de un puñado de sal”, escribió la detective Vanessa Encina de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Broward en el informe.

Según informaron los agentes, la niña fue trasladada al Centro Médico de Coral Springs y posteriormente al Centro Médico Broward Health para recibir tratamiento. Los médicos determinaron que sufrió fracturas en las costillas, así como fracturas en un brazo y en un pie.

Los agentes indicaron que un examen médico forense reveló “marcas de ligadura compatibles con un cable de teléfono”, así como marcas cerca de los genitales de la niña.

Según el informe, la niña declaró a los detectives que Joncky la “arañaba” en la zona púbica y le “echaba salsa picante en las heridas”.

El jueves, los agentes arrestaron a Joncky por cargos de abuso infantil agravado y negligencia infantil.

El viernes compareció ante el tribunal del condado de Broward con la ayuda de un traductor de criollo haitiano. La fiscalía solicitó que permaneciera detenida sin derecho a fianza.

Un fiscal señaló que Joncky “admitió ante el detective que era consciente de todas las lesiones que sufría la víctima cuando la dejó” en la escuela.

Su abogada solicitó al juez que le concediera la libertad bajo fianza “para que pueda defenderse en este caso desde fuera”.

“Dejó claro que niega estas acusaciones”, dijo su abogado. “Es inocente”.

Finalmente, el juez ordenó que Joncky permaneciera detenido sin derecho a fianza.

“Nunca había leído nada parecido”, dijo el juez. “Basándome en lo que se alega en (el informe), me preocupa seriamente la seguridad de la víctima”.

Según los registros en línea de este martes por la tarde, permanecía recluida en la cárcel principal de la BSO.

Lonna Drewes said during a news conference that the assault occurred at a hotel in Southern California. She said she had one glass of wine that evening and believes Swalwell drugged her before raping her. Swalwell dropped out of the California governor’s race on Sunday and said he would resign from Congress this week following earlier allegations of sexual assault from a different woman.

“I did not consent to any sexual activity,” Drewes said.

Attorney Sara Azari released a statement Tuesday on Swalwell's behalf saying he “categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation of sexual misconduct and assault that has been leveled against him." She pledged to "pursue every available legal remedy against those responsible for orchestrating this reprehensible campaign of lies.”

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussion of sexual assault. If you or someone you know needs help, please call 1-800-656-4673 for the national sexual assault hotline in the U.S.

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Drewes' allegation comes a day after Swalwell said he would resign from Congress following other allegations of sexual misconduct, including at least two other alleged incidents of nonconsensual sex. Other women have accused him of sending them inappropriate messages and nude photos. Swalwell denied the prior accusations of sexual assault but said he had made unspecified errors in judgment.

Drewes said she did not undergo a rape kit but disclosed the alleged assault to people close to her and documented it in her journal. She said she discussed the alleged rape during therapy sessions at a sexual assault center in Connecticut.

Attorney Lisa Bloom said those journal entries, along with text messages and photographs, will be included in the forthcoming report to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Drewes said she was working as a model and owned a fashion software company based in Beverly Hills when she met Swalwell. He offered to help her with connections to further her company and knew she had an interest in local politics.

She had met him twice before the night when she says he raped her. That night, the two met at a restaurant opening and were set to attend a political event, she said. On their way to the event, Drewes said Swalwell wanted to stop back at his hotel room to get some paperwork. By the time they reached the room, she said her limbs felt heavy and she felt like she had been drugged.

Swalwell raped her and later choked her, causing her to lose consciousness, she said.

In a letter read on the House floor, Swalwell said his resignation is effective as of 2 p.m. Tuesday.

“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff and constituents for mistakes in judgment I have made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegations made against me,” a clerk said in reading the letter. “However I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has called a June special election to fill his seat.

Swalwell's abrupt downfall followed allegations published in the San Francisco Chronicle and later by CNN.

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The pump has the capacity to handle nearly 11,000 gallons per minute, taking flood water out of the Durrs and Dorsey Riverbend neighborhoods while capturing debris and sediment, preventing pollutants and trash from entering adjacent waterways.

“We’re entering the rainy season,” Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Pam Beasley-Pittman said. “Whew. Thank you. We got this done.”

The pump, which Beasley-Pittman said will bring “faster drainage, safer streets and greater peace of mind for families and businesses,” also features a backup generator, an electrical building and a transformer pad on site.

Three years prior, the two neighborhoods were one of several in Fort Lauderdale left inundated after record-breaking rain.

“I’ve never seen so much water in my life,” Dorsey Riverbend resident Zachary Bailey said. “It was actually knee-deep.”

The pump project is just one of many the city plans to complete over the next decade.

“This project is just a milestone,” Fort Lauderdale City Manager Rickelle Williams said. “We have many more to go.”

It’s part of the “Fortify Lauderdale” initiative, which is being broken into two phases.

Crews have finished projects in two other low-lying neighborhoods: Edgewood and River Oaks.

Up next to complete phase one will be the Progresso, Victoria Park, Southeast Isles and Melrose Manors neighborhoods. Those projects are expected to be complete within three years.

By 2034, city officials say they hope to have projects done in more than a dozen more neighborhoods.

La bomba tiene la capacidad de manejar casi 11,000 galones por minuto, extrayendo el agua de inundación de los vecindarios Durrs y Dorsey Riverbend mientras captura escombros y sedimentos, evitando que contaminantes y basura ingresen a vías fluviales cercanas.

“Estamos entrando en la temporada de lluvias”, dijo la comisionada de Fort Lauderdale Pam Beasley-Pittman. “Uf. Gracias. Logramos completar esto”.

La bomba, que según Beasley-Pittman brindará “drenaje más rápido, calles más seguras y mayor tranquilidad para familias y negocios”, también cuenta con un generador de respaldo, un edificio eléctrico y una plataforma para transformador en el lugar.

Tres años antes, ambos vecindarios estuvieron entre varios en Fort Lauderdale que quedaron inundados tras lluvias récord.

“Nunca había visto tanta agua en mi vida”, dijo Zachary Bailey, residente de Dorsey Riverbend. “Llegaba hasta las rodillas”.

El proyecto de la bomba es solo uno de muchos que la ciudad planea completar en la próxima década.

“Este proyecto es solo un hito”, dijo la administradora de la ciudad de Fort Lauderdale, Rickelle Williams. “Tenemos muchos más por delante”.

Forma parte de la iniciativa “Fortify Lauderdale”, que se divide en dos fases.

Los equipos ya completaron proyectos en otros dos vecindarios de baja elevación: Edgewood y River Oaks.

Los próximos en completar la fase uno serán los vecindarios Progresso, Victoria Park, Southeast Isles y Melrose Manors. Se espera que esos proyectos estén terminados en un plazo de tres años.

Para 2034, funcionarios de la ciudad esperan haber completado proyectos en más de una docena de vecindarios adicionales.

Matt Floca, the performing arts institution's new executive director and chief operating officer, is leading a series of tours this month that show water damage and intrusion to expansion joints, marble slabs and exterior pavers. Participants are guided through the building's water and HVAC systems, as well as the parking garages and loading docks that are said to need repairs.

The sessions began earlier this month while Congress was in recess and included staff for a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the top Democrats on Capitol Hill. A representative for Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser was also included on the tour.

Similar access has been provided for several corporate and individual donors and in the coming weeks, Floca is expected to provide tours for the lawmakers themselves and members of the media.

Assessing a suddenly controversial operation

Once one of Washington's relatively few apolitical spaces, the Kennedy Center has become a source of controversy during President Donald Trump's second term. Shortly after returning to office, Trump ousted the institution's previous leadership and replaced it with a handpicked board of directors.

The president's name was added to the building's facade and its programming took a Trump-friendly turn, serving as a venue for events such as the premiere of first lady Melania Trump's documentary, “Melania.”

Trump's move to shutter the building for two years starting in July, which was approved by the board last month, has spurred lawsuits and an outcry that the closure is merely a response to plunging sales as artists canceled Kennedy Center performances in droves.

The tours are intended to cut through that and show that the Kennedy Center, which began construction in 1965, is in genuine need of a fundamental update.

“As the July closure approaches, the Trump Kennedy Center is leading with transparency and making sure Congress and the public understand what’s at stake and why the work can’t wait,” Floca said in a statement.

In addition to staff for Schumer, Jeffries, and Bowser, the recent tour included representatives for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., Sens. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., Mark Warner, D-Va., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., along with Reps. Sam Graves, R-Mo., and Rick Larsen, D-Wash.

By virtue of their positions, these lawmakers are ex officio members of the Kennedy Center's board. Kennedy Center spokesperson Roma Daravi said working with both parties was a “top priority” as the institution implements Trump's vision for the renovation.

None of the participants discussed the tour on the record.

Need for repairs is not disputed

Trump secured nearly $257 million from Congress to repair the Kennedy Center. Those who are arguing against its closure haven't disputed the need for routine maintenance and repairs. They say the more substantial changes Trump has hinted at are in the works and should go through the typical review process that governs many major projects in the nation’s capital.

Trump has suggested changes at the Kennedy Center could be so dramatic that the steel supporting the structure could be “ fully exposed.”

According to a lawsuit filed last month against Trump, the Kennedy Center and others in the administration, “Demolition, new construction, major reconstruction, major renovation, or major aesthetic transformation of the Kennedy Center would permanently destroy historic fabric, degrade the monumental core’s vistas and public grounds, and compromise the Kennedy Center’s memorial purpose and architectural integrity, causing permanent, irreversible harm that no subsequent remedy can fully undo."

The Kennedy Center is entering a critical period before its anticipated July closure, which will produce staff reductions.

In the meantime, the Kennedy Center is still hosting shows, including the musical “Chicago,” which Trump attended this month. Performances of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” are on the calendar from June 18 through July 5. Comedian Bill Maher will be presented the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on June 28, just before the closure begins.

The Kennedy Center is part of Trump's broader effort to leave a lasting imprint on the Washington cityscape. He demolished the East Wing of the White House last year and wants to replace it with a ballroom, an effort that is also tangled in litigation.

The president also unveiled plans on Friday for an arch that would stand between the Lincoln Memorial in the east and Arlington National Cemetery toward the west and within a traffic circle connecting Washington with northern Virginia.

La líder progresista mexicana ha actuado de forma cuidadosa con Trump durante más de un año, respondiendo a provocaciones con un tono mesurado y atendiendo las solicitudes de Estados Unidos para endurecer las acciones contra los cárteles criminales más que sus predecesores, en un esfuerzo por contrarrestar amenazas de aranceles y de acción militar estadounidense contra las bandas.

Pero tras el aumento de muertes de ciudadanos mexicanos bajo custodia de agentes de inmigración y la decisión del gobierno de Trump de imponer un bloqueo energético a Cuba —un aliado clave de México—, Sheinbaum ha adoptado una postura más dura.

“Se apreció cierta elevación en el tono de la presidenta”, comentó Palmira Tapia, analista del Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas. “Hubo un cambio, que es más vocal la presidenta”.

Muertes bajo custodia del ICE

La crítica más reciente de Sheinbaum se produjo el martes, un día después de que el mexicano Alejandro Cabrera Clemente, de 49 años, murió en un centro de detención del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE, por sus siglas en inglés) en Luisiana, la decimoquinta muerte de un ciudadano mexicano bajo custodia en Estados Unidos en poco más de un año.

El gobierno de México calificó rápidamente las muertes de inaceptables y señaló que los centros de detención del ICE son “incompatibles con estándares de derechos humanos, y protección de la vida de las personas”.

Durante una conferencia de prensa el martes, Sheinbaum añadió que solicitó investigaciones sobre la muerte de los 15 migrantes, y ordenó a los cónsules mexicanos que visiten los centros de detención a diario.

Dijo que su gobierno plantearía las muertes de personas bajo custodia ante la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, y que consideraba la posibilidad de acudir a las Naciones Unidas. Su gobierno ya había dicho que presentaría un escrito legal en apoyo a una demanda de detenidos por las malas condiciones en los centros de detención.

“Vamos a defender a los mexicanos en todas las instancias”, afirmó Sheinbaum, y agregó que “hay muchos mexicanos que su único delito es no tener papeles”.

Las medidas del gobierno de Sheinbaum se suman al creciente rechazo en Estados Unidos a la aplicación de las políticas migratorias de Trump. Cerca de 6 de cada 10 adultos en Estados Unidos dicen que el mandatario “ha ido demasiado lejos” al enviar agentes federales de inmigración a ciudades estadounidenses, según una encuesta AP-NORC de febrero.

“El creciente descontento en torno a las actividades del ICE en Estados Unidos crea una plataforma más cómoda para que integrantes del gobierno mexicano expresen preocupaciones sobre el destino de los ciudadanos mexicanos”, señaló Carin Zissis, vicepresidenta de estrategia de contenido del Consejo de las Américas.

“Cabeza fría”

Sheinbaum ha mantenido lo que ha descrito como “cabeza fría” ante las provocaciones de Trump, quien ha ejercido más presión sobre América Latina que cualquier líder estadounidense en décadas. En apenas unos meses, el gobierno del republicano depuso al presidente de Venezuela, impuso un bloqueo petrolero a Cuba y amenazó con una intervención militar contra los cárteles mexicanos.

La mandataria mexicana debe equilibrar el mantenimiento de una relación sólida con Trump mientras subraya repetidamente la soberanía de México para satisfacer a su propia base. Sus mesuradas respuestas se asemejan más a las de una abogada que a las de la jefa del movimiento político populista más poderoso de México.

Su gobierno ha actuado con mayor dureza contra los cárteles que su predecesor y reforzó las relaciones comerciales de cara a las renegociaciones del Tratado entre Estados Unidos, México y Canadá, o T-MEC.

Aunque Trump ha lanzado pullas públicas contra Sheinbaum —en un momento dado, sugirió que los cárteles tienen mayor control sobre México que su gobierno—, también ha señalado periódicamente que su relación es cordial.

“Ella es realmente una buena persona, me cae muy bien”, dijo el mes pasado, antes de imitar a la líder mexicana con una voz aguda.

Diferencias por Cuba

Pero los cambios geopolíticos en la región, y el aumento de muertes en instalaciones del ICE, también han abierto la puerta para que Sheinbaum adopte una postura más firme.

El principal punto de fricción entre ambos gobiernos ha sido Cuba. La solidaridad con el adversario de Estados Unidos ha sido una piedra angular del carácter político de México desde la revolución cubana, que Fidel Castro, Ernesto “Ché” Guevara y un grupo de exiliados planearon célebremente mientras estaban en Ciudad de México. Es un tema particularmente sensible para su partido progresista Morena, cuyo fundador llevó a Sheinbaum al poder.

La relación encontró un obstáculo a finales de enero, cuando Trump anunció que impondría aranceles a cualquier país que envíe petróleo a Cuba. La medida afectó directamente a México, que durante años ha enviado petróleo a la isla.

Aunque Sheinbaum pausó a regañadientes los envíos de petróleo a Cuba, ha cuestionado constantemente la presión del gobierno de Trump por un cambio de régimen.

“Mexico tiene todo el derecho de enviar combustible ya sea por razones humanitarias o comerciales”, expresó Sheinbaum a inicios de la semana.

Ha descrito el bloqueo energético de Trump a Cuba como “injusto” y acusó al gobierno estadounidense de “estrangular” a los cubanos con sanciones. La líder mexicana ha enviado cargamentos de alimentos y otra ayuda, e incluso donó 1.000 dólares de su propio dinero a los esfuerzos de auxilio como un gesto simbólico.

“Este es un tema Rubicón para ella”, dijo Arturo Sarukhán, exembajador de México en Estados Unidos.

Aun así, las acciones de la líder mexicana han generado desaprobación en Washington.

Sheinbaum anunció recientemente que su país seguiría contando con médicos cubanos para trabajar en el país, distanciándose de otras naciones de Centroamérica y el Caribe que han cancelado sus programas ante la presión de Estados Unidos.

Esto fue recibido con amenazas veladas por parte del gobierno de Trump, que señaló las restricciones de visas impuestas a funcionarios centroamericanos con vínculos con lo que el secretario de Estado estadounidense, Marco Rubio, calificó como un “entramado de trabajo forzado”.

La Casa Blanca no comentó el martes sobre el endurecimiento de las posturas de Sheinbaum, ni sobre el aumento del número de muertes de ciudadanos mexicanos bajo custodia del ICE.

Mayor margen de maniobra

El tono más audaz que Sheinbaum adoptó en fechas recientes sugiere un cálculo de que su gobierno puede ofrecer resistencia en algunos frentes políticamente importantes, siempre y cuando también avance en el fortalecimiento del comercio y el cumplimiento de las solicitudes del gobierno de Trump en materia de seguridad y migración, dijo Zissis.

Al mismo tiempo, el alza de los precios de la energía debido a la guerra con Irán ha hecho que Estados Unidos dependa más de aliados en México, señalaron ella y otros analistas, lo que ha llevado a Washington a dar marcha atrás en cualquier medida drástica contra los cárteles mexicanos o Cuba, al menos en el corto plazo.

“Estamos en un momento en el que, debido a acontecimientos globales, enfrentamos distintas incertidumbres económicas. Eso le da a Estados Unidos y a México más razones para trabajar juntos”, sostuvo.

Al mismo tiempo, el exembajador Sarukhán dijo que Sheinbaum tendrá que tener cuidado de no poner en riesgo las próximas renegociaciones del T-MEC, para las cuales su gobierno ha hecho esfuerzos minuciosos para construir una base sólida.

“Lo que va a ser interesante de aquí en adelante es si puede seguir teniendo su pastel y comérselo también”, dijo Sarukhán.

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Weissert informó desde Washington D.C.

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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.

Daniel Moreno-Gama made his first court appearance on state charges with disheveled hair and wearing an orange jail uniform. The 20-year-old, whose attorney said is autistic, kept his gaze down during the brief hearing and softly answered “yes” when asked by a judge whether he agreed to continue his arraignment. San Francisco Judge Kenneth Wine ordered him held without bail and set his arraignment for May 5.

Authorities say Moreno-Gama, of Spring, Texas, hurled the incendiary device at Altman’s home Friday, setting an exterior gate on fire before fleeing on foot. Less than an hour later, Moreno-Gama went to OpenAI’s headquarters about 3 miles (5 kilometers) away and threatened to burn down the building, they said. They said he traveled to the city from Texas.

No one was injured at Altman’s home or the company's offices. San Francisco Deputy Public Defender Diamond Ward called the case a “property crime, at best,” and said that prosecutors are pursuing higher charges to curry favor for Altman. Moreno-Gama also faces federal charges.

“It is unfair and is unjust for the San Francisco district attorney and the federal government to fearmonger and to exploit the mental illness of a vulnerable, young man by turning a vandalism case into an attempted murder, life exposure case to gain support of a billionaire, and to get political points at the expense of true justice for everyone involved,” Ward said.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins disputed that he was overcharged, saying Moreno-Gama carried out a “targeted attack on Mr. Altman” and that prosecutors had evidence to back up the charges. She said prosecutors would act the same whether the victim was a “billionaire or a CEO or any average San Franciscan.”

“Regardless of a victim's status, they all deserve justice and they all deserve safety,” she said.

Moreno-Gama’s parents said in a statement he has never harmed anyone and recently began having mental health issues.

“We have been trying our best to address these issues and get him effective treatment, and we are very concerned for his well-being,” they said.

Authorities said Moreno-Gama, who works part-time at a pizzeria and is attending community college, expressed hatred of artificial intelligence in his writings, describing it as a danger to humanity and warning of “impending extinction,” according to court filings.

“This was not spontaneous. This was planned, targeted and extremely serious,” FBI San Francisco Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo said during a news conference Monday.

Moreno-Gama is charged in California state court with two counts of attempted murder and attempted arson. He tried to kill both Altman and a security guard at Altman’s residence, Jenkins alleged. Officials have not said whether Altman was home at the time, prosecutors said.

Jenkins said the state charges carry penalties ranging from 19 years to life in prison.

On Monday morning, FBI agents went to Moreno-Gama’s home in a Houston suburb where they spent several hours before leaving. He has also been charged by federal prosecutors with possession of an unregistered firearm and damage and destruction of property by means of explosives. Those charges carry respective penalties of up to 10 years and 20 years in prison.

“We will treat this as an act of domestic terrorism, and together with our partners, prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law,” U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian said.

The document in which Moreno-Gama discussed his opposition to AI also made threats against Altman and executives at other AI companies, officials said.

“If I am going to advocate for others to kill and commit crimes, then I must lead by example and show that I am fully sincere in my message,” Moreno-Gama wrote, according to authorities.

Advocacy groups that have issued grave warnings about AI’s risks to society condemned the violence.

Anthony Aguirre, president and CEO of the Future of Life Institute, said in a written statement Friday that “violence and intimidation of any kind have no place in the conversation about the future of AI.”

Another group, PauseAI, said in a statement that the suspect had no role in the group but joined its forum on the social media platform Discord about two years ago and posted about 34 messages there, none containing explicit calls to violence but one that was flagged as “ambiguous.”

Discord said Monday that it has banned Moreno-Gama for “off-platform behavior.”

The audience at CinemaCon got previews of J.J. Abrams' original science fiction thriller “The Great Beyond,” with Glen Powell and Jenna Ortega, Cruise with a potbelly in “Digger,” the Owens sisters in “Practical Magic 2,” Milly Alcock’s “Supergirl” in an intergalactic fight and the first seven minutes of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Three.”

Villeneuve said this third film is a “thriller” that is “more intense and definitely more emotional” than the previous films, while Chalamet spoke about how his character has become his worst vision 17 years after “Part Two.”

The studio saved “Dune: Part Three” for the epic finale, but there were highlights throughout the nearly two and a half hour showcase.

Bullock even got Kidman to say her iconic AMC Theaters line, “we come to this place for magic,” which she reluctantly did to much applause in the room of exhibitors.

“I didn’t think anyone would clap,” Kidman said with a laugh.

The two reunite for the “Practical Magic” sequel, which opens in September.

Earlier in the presentation, Cruise also got a big reception from the audience in a rare standing ovation as a devoted and vocal advocate of the big screen experience. This time he doesn’t have a “Top Gun” or a “Mission: Impossible,” but a boisterous satire in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s “Digger,” opening in October.

“The movie is wild. It’s funny,” said Cruise.

Iñárritu called Cruise’s performance “a high-wire act.”

“We know that he’s fearless — the stunts, the planes, the jumps — but I have to say embodying this character, this is another kind of fearless,” Iñárritu said. “This role could possibly be the most challenging.”

‘Originality is not risky’

Pam Abdy and Mike DeLuca, the co-chairs and CEOs of the studio’s motion picture group, kicked off the presentation reflecting on their successes since coming into the job in 2022 and their vision for the future with a mix of franchises and original films.

The studio is coming off a banner year, with over $4.4 billion in global box office with hits like “Sinners,” “A Minecraft Movie” and “Weapons,” and multiple Oscar wins, including best picture and best director for “One Battle After Another” as well as best actor for Michael B. Jordan.

“Originality is not risky,” DeLuca said. “Derivative sameness is.”

Abdy noted that not everything is going to work, either, but that just comes with taking big swings. One thing they’re especially optimistic about is Generation Alpha’s enthusiasm for the movie theater experience.

“We are at a crucial, critical moment in time with this audience,” Abdy said. “The Letterboxd generation is only growing.”

They announced that Warner Bros. will be releasing Sean Baker’s follow-up to “Anora,” “TI AMO!” under their new label Clockwork next year.

There was also a breakneck video rundown of their 2027 releases, with stars and filmmakers getting about 30 seconds each, often from set, to tease their films: Margot Robbie on her “Ocean’s” prequel set in 1962; Keanu Reeves, floating in the water in the Dominican Republic, on getting eaten by sharks in “Shiver”; Gollum being, well, Gollum; and Nancy Meyers on the set of her romantic comedy that she called “a bit of a love letter to the world of making movies.”

The Paramount question

This year is not just business as usual, with its pending acquisition by another legacy studio, Paramount, looming.

Both Villeneuve and Abrams were among the over 1,000 signers of an open letter published Monday to a website called BlocktheMerger.com. Some attendees at the convention have also been wearing #blockthemerger pins as well.

Nothing was discussed from the stage Tuesday. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav did not make an appearance during the program either. But it's something that's on the minds of many at the convention.

Greg Marcus, whose company's Marcus Theaters is the fourth largest theater circuit in the United States with 78 locations in 17 states told The Associated Press on Monday that he was concerned as well for what it means for moviegoers and the price of tickets.

“The concentration of power at the studio level has allowed them to raise the cost of going to the movies to the consumer quite significantly,” Marcus said. “Our margins are no better. We’re not making more money. And yet the cost to the consumer has far outpaced inflation.”

Michael O’Leary, the president and CEO of the movie theater trade organization, reiterated his group’s opposition to the merger Tuesday morning.

“Consolidation results in fewer films being produced for movie theaters,” he said. “We believe this transaction will be harmful to exhibition, consumers and the entire industry.”

O'Leary told reporters that the decision is in the hands of regulators now.

Not everyone in the business of making and releasing movies is opposed to a Paramount-owned Warner Bros. James Cameron is, in fact, a supporter. He also publicly opposed the idea of a Netflix-owned Warner Bros. because of the possible implications for theaters. But he doesn't have the same fears with Paramount.

Speaking to the AP last week on behalf of the upcoming big screen concert film “Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D),” which is being released by Paramount, Cameron said “I’m a supporter of it. I know it’s controversial.”

Cameron worked with Paramount Skydance chair and CEO David Ellison closely on “Terminator: Dark Fate.” Ellison has promised to grow the combined Paramount-Warner Bros. slates to some 30 theatrical releases a year.

“I know David quite well. And I know that he really cares about movies. And he’s a natural born storyteller and thinks like almost an old school entrepreneurial producer that was a storyteller that loves storytelling and loved putting on spectacular shows,” Cameron said. “He’s the right man for the job to run a major studio, and now it looks like he’s going to have two of them, you know, swept under his leadership, which doesn’t bother me at all.”

Brian Hooker, de Onsted, en el sur de Michigan, estaba bajo custodia policial desde el 8 de abril después de ser interrogado por las autoridades. Le comentó a CBS News poco después de su liberación que quiere creer que su esposa sigue con vida y que planea volver a salir a buscarla lo antes posible.

“No podré dejar de buscarla”, expresó Hooker, visiblemente emocionado.

Las autoridades lo dejaron en libertad tras consultar con fiscales que recomendaron no presentar cargos por el momento, mientras continúan las investigaciones.

Hooker dijo a la policía que Lynette Hooker, de 55 años, cayó por la borda la noche del 4 de abril mientras viajaban en una lancha a motor de 2,4 metros (8 pies) desde Hope Town hasta Elbow Cay, un grupo de pequeñas islas en el extremo oriental de Bahamas. Indicó que Lynette tenía las llaves de la embarcación, lo que hizo que el motor se apagara y lo obligó a remar hasta la orilla.

“Fuertes corrientes posteriormente se la llevaron y él la perdió de vista”, señaló la policía en un comunicado.

Tras llegar a tierra, Brian Hooker alertó a alguien sobre la desaparición de su esposa a primera hora del día siguiente, según las autoridades.

Hooker niega las acusaciones, acuerdo con su abogada, Terrel Butler. Ella no respondió a un correo electrónico enviado el lunes por The Associated Press en el que se solicitaban comentarios sobre la liberación de Hooker.

La Guardia Costera de Estados Unidos abrió una investigación aparte de la que realizan las autoridades en Bahamas.

La pareja llevaba casada más de 20 años y relataba sus aventuras navegando por el Caribe en su página de Facebook “Sailing Hookers”. En 2023 publicaron videos de la compra de un velero al que llamaron Soul Mate en la localidad costera de Rockport, Texas, y luego de emprender una travesía por el Golfo de México desde la ciudad portuaria de Kemah, Texas.

La vivienda de la pareja en Onsted está a unos 120 kilómetros (70 millas) al suroeste de Detroit.

La hija de Lynette Hooker, Karli Aylesworth, le dijo a NBC News que es poco probable que su madre “simplemente se cayera” de la embarcación, al señalar que era una navegante con experiencia. Añadió que la pareja llevaba años navegando en sus travesías.

La pareja tenía antecedentes de conflictos: se acusaron mutuamente en 2015 de agresión, según un informe policial de Kentwood, Michigan, obtenido por NBC.

Brian Hooker, que estaba intoxicado y sangraba por la nariz, le dijo entonces a la policía que su esposa lo había golpeado varias veces en la cara, según el informe. Les dijo a los agentes que Lynette también estaba ebria. Ella fue arrestada y pasó la noche en la cárcel. La policía se negó a emitir una orden judicial porque no estaba claro “quién inició la agresión”.

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Contribuyeron a esta nota los corresponsales Audrey McAvoy en Honolulu y Safiyah Riddle en Montgomery, Alabama.

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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.

Sky 10 sobrevolaba la escena en North Krome Avenue y West Okeechobee Road a las 12:15 p.m., donde el vehículo quedó calcinado a un lado de la vía.

La carretera fue cerrada al tránsito.

Funcionarios de Miami-Dade Fire Rescue confirmaron que una persona fue trasladada en helicóptero al HCA Florida Kendall Hospital.

No se dieron a conocer más detalles de inmediato.

Leer en español

Sky 10 was above the scene on North Krome Avenue and West Okeechobee Road at 12:15 p.m. as the vehicle was scorched on the side of the roadway.

The road was shut down to traffic.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials confirmed that one person was airlifted to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital.

No other details were immediately released.

Officers with the Florida City Police Department said they responded just after 10 p.m. to the area of Northwest 12th Street and Northwest Fifth Avenue after reports of a man who had been shot.

Police said they found the victim lying on the ground with gunshot wounds to his chest and hand. They said emergency responders provided aid at the scene before transporting him to Jackson South Medical Center for treatment.

According to an arrest report, investigators recovered two .40-caliber spent casings near the location of the shooting near the 400 block of Northwest 12th Street.

Detectives later learned that the suspect, Mendez Nerette, who the victim knew as “Zoe,” had traveled to Doral and contacted police there, stating he wanted to speak with investigators about the incident and turning over a gun he allegedly used in the shooting.

Police said Nerette waived his Miranda rights and gave a statement to detectives describing a confrontation that began at an abandoned apartment where he said he was gathering belongings.

Nerette claimed a man confronted him at a back door, accused him of breaking into a car, and struck him in the head with a baseball bat after telling him “you broke into my car and stole my stuff,” according to the report.

Police said Nerette told investigators that after fleeing and later returning to retrieve his belongings, he encountered the same man again, and the confrontation escalated a second time.

Nerette told officers he then fired two shots, striking the victim before running from the area, the report states.

Police said the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office was notified of the case.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Nerette was being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. He was also ordered to have no contact with the victim.

Como parte de un acuerdo con la fiscalía, la exfuncionaria electa de 51 años se declaró culpable este martes de un cargo de hurto mayor en tercer grado en relación con un caso de corrupción de 2024 en el que las autoridades la acusaron de acumular alrededor de $100,000 USD en compras personales con una tarjeta de crédito del distrito.

Los fiscales alegaron que Navarro utilizó la tarjeta oficial para comprar comida, comestibles, electrodomésticos, vacaciones y más.

Al menos dos de las compras resultaron inusuales: los investigadores dijeron que compró un par de “vientres de embarazo artificiales de silicona” tras una ruptura con su novio, en un aparente intento, cuando tenía 48 años, de convencerlo de que estaba embarazada, durante un período en el que lo seguía y acosaba.

Antes de la ruptura, las autoridades alegan que utilizó la tarjeta del distrito para comprar artículos para el negocio de batidos de su novio en Hollywood.

Como parte del acuerdo, los fiscales aceptaron retirar un cargo adicional de hurto mayor, además de dos cargos de fraude organizado. Bajo el acuerdo, fue sentenciada a 14 meses de prisión seguidos de libertad condicional.

También deberá pagar más de $101,000 USD en restitución.

Navarro no podrá postularse para un cargo público durante su período de libertad condicional de tres años, el cual puede finalizar a la mitad por buen comportamiento.

Las autoridades la detuvieron inmediatamente después de la audiencia judicial del martes.

La fiscal estatal de Miami-Dade, Katherine Fernandez Rundle, emitió un comunicado tras la declaración de culpabilidad el martes, señalando en parte que Navarro “ha admitido su culpabilidad y ha aceptado su sentencia” en lugar de “intentar evitar las consecuencias de sus acciones”.

“No hay duda de que yo y mi equipo de fiscales e investigadores de corrupción pública continuaremos asegurando que nuestro gobierno funcione para el pueblo de Miami-Dade, y no para el beneficio financiero de quienes ocupan cargos o posiciones”, dijo Fernandez Rundle.

Geoff Yang, chairman of the Masters competitions committee, issued a code-of-conduct warning to the Garcia on the fourth tee. The conduct policy was new to the Masters this year.

“I want to apologize for my actions Sunday at The Masters tournament,” Garcia said in a social media post. “I respect and value everything that The Masters and Augusta National Golf Club is to golf. I regret the way I acted and it has no place in our game. It doesn't reflect the respect and appreciation I have for The Masters, the patrons, tournament officials and golf fans around the world.”

Garcia, the 2017 champion, began with a bogey and then hit a weak fade on the par-5 second hole that was headed to the bunker. He recoiled his driver onto the tee, and then turned and slammed his club into the turf.

Without repairing the damage, Garcia then smacked his driver against a wooden bench holding a water cooler, and the head of the club was left dangling from the shaft.

Garcia declined to discuss what was said by the official, saying after his round, “I’m not going to tell you.” When asked about it again he replied, ”Next question."

He also did not apologize for his behavior after his closing 75 to finish in 52nd place among the 54 players who made the cut.

“Just obviously not super proud of it, but sometimes it happens,” Garcia said.

Garcia has not finished in the top 10 in the 29 majors he has played since beating Justin Rose in a playoff at Augusta National in 2017. He has missed the cut six times in eight appearances at the Masters since winning.

Asked about his record, Garcia said, “Bad golf.” When a reporter asked him to be more specific, Garcia said, “Bad shots.”

Garcia was disqualified in 2019 at the Saudi International for damaging greens in frustration. His antics over the years include angrily kicking off his shoe when he slipped during a tee shot at the World Match Play in 2001, and the shoe nearly struck an official.

He also spit into a cup during a World Golf Championship at Doral after three-putting.

The PGA Tour has been developing the code-of-conduct policy the last few years, and the Masters was the first tournament to put it into effect. The PGA Championship also be using it next month at Aronimink Golf Club.

After the warning, a second violation during the tournament is a two-shot penalty, while a third violation would mean disqualification.

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

Barely four months later, Mascherano is done with the club.

Mascherano is out as Inter Miami’s coach, the team announcing that stunning development on Tuesday with the club off to a 3-1-3 start and sitting in third place in MLS' Eastern Conference — but winless in its first two matches at its new stadium.

The team said Mascherano cited personal reasons, much like his predecessor, Gerardo “Tata” Martino, did in November 2024 when he stepped aside in the move that ultimately led to Mascherano joining the club and reuniting with Messi. Mascherano and Messi were teammates with Barcelona and Argentina's national team.

In Mascherano's place is another Argentine with ties to Barcelona — Guillermo Hoyos, who is credited, at least on some level, with discovering Messi at the Spanish club’s academy and predicting that he could become an all-time great.

“I would like to thank the club for the trust they placed in me, every employee who is part of the organization for the collective effort, but especially the players, who made it possible for us to experience unforgettable moments,” Mascherano said in remarks released by the team.

Mascherano's entire coaching staff has also left the club, though the team did not reveal any specifics as to why. Mascherano was 27-9-11 in 47 regular-season and playoff matches with Inter Miami.

“Javier will forever be part of this club’s history. ... We respect his decision and are deeply grateful for everything he contributed,” managing owner Jorge Mas said in comments released by the team. “Wishing him nothing but the very best in his professional and personal future.”

It is the latest in a line of surprising moves around the club in recent months, including Jordi Alba — another longtime Messi teammate — deciding to leave the final two years of his contract on the table and retire after last season. His retirement announcement came just days after the team held a retirement ceremony for another longtime Messi teammate, Sergio Busquets.

And now, Mascherano is out as well.

In barely over a year, he not only got the team its first MLS Cup but helped the Herons reach the knockout stage of the Club World Cup, the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the Leagues Cup final. The team clearly was disappointed by falling flat in the CONCACAF Champions Cup earlier this year — getting ousted in the round of 16 after making some offseason moves largely with that trophy in mind.

But even amid the frustration with not advancing in that tournament, few would have thought Mascherano's time with the club would soon be ending.

“I will always carry with me the memory of our first star, and wherever I am, I will continue to wish the club all the best moving forward,” Mascherano said. “I have no doubt that the club will continue to achieve success in the future.”

Hoyos and Messi have a relationship that goes back for more than 20 years.

Hoyos famously touted Messi as a potential all-time great back when the then shaggy-haired kid was playing for Barcelona's B team. Messi was 16 at the time, in the very earliest days of a career that would see him win eight Ballon d'Or trophies, the World Cup and four Champions League titles. Messi has referred to Hoyos in interviews over the years as a mentor of sorts.

Hoyos is Messi's coach now, though how long that'll be the case remains a bit unclear. As part of Tuesday's moves, the team also said chief soccer officer Alberto Marrero is assuming the duties of sporting director, filling the spot vacated by Hoyos.

___

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

What was once a quieter, more exclusive space is now drawing a wider crowd — from beginners to seasoned players.

At the center of it all, is the Sunrise Center for Excellence in Chess. The program has expanded the game’s reach through tournaments, weekly open play and community events.

“What chess teaches is for you to just think one or two moves ahead in life,” said Sunrise Mayor Mike Ryan, who helped build the program with support from the city commission. “A lot of folks don’t know where to go to learn how to play. They’re scared to go find a teacher. So the city of Sunrise set up a free open play every Saturday morning, and we have instructors there.”

On a recent Saturday at the Sunrise Athletic Complex, that mission was playing out in real time — open play unfolding alongside a tournament, both drawing a steady crowd.

The junior players took the boards first.

Parents were escorted out of the gym, left to watch through the windows as the room sharpened and the focus set in.

“We’ve got to create some discipline for the parents as well,” Ryan said. “That they can’t help them. They have to let them go do their thing.”

The tournament is just one part of a broader effort to make chess more accessible and inviting.

Ryan said the idea grew out of his time with the PTA, where he saw both the benefits of the game and the barriers to entry — clubs that often drew in students who already knew how to play, leaving others out.

With backing from the city commission, the center was created to change that — offering a space where players of all levels can learn, compete and connect.

“It’s never been about trophies,” he said. “We’re going to measure our success by whether the students feel like they’re more confident. Are they more engaged? Are they going to become better architects, better lawyers, better doctors, better mayors? Smarter and prepared for life ... and that’s really been the focus.”

For players like Jacorey Bynum, that access has made a difference.

A local athlete, Bynum first discovered chess after showing up to play basketball and noticing games nearby. What began as curiosity turned into commitment — and eventually, a title as a National Master.

“It’s all about gameplan,” said Bynum. “Like at the start of the opening I know what I’m going to do and what I want to do.”

Parents say the appeal extends beyond competition — pointing to a space that’s diverse, welcoming and open to all.

Eric Kuhn said his children are learning that every move matters — and every mistake teaches.

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

The latest entrant is Olivia Troye, who was an aide to former Republican Vice President Mike Pence and has become a vocal critic of President Donald Trump. She announced Tuesday that she'll run in Virginia's newly created 7th Congressional District, joining an already crowded field.

Voters will decide April 21 whether to adopt a Democratic-drawn congressional map that could help the party win four more U.S. House seats, a rare and enticing prospect for ambitious Democrats.

“I just feel like we need people that are going to stand up and fight,” Troye said. “And I’m not seeing that right now, across the Democratic and Republican parties."

The proposed district where Troye wants to run was designed to be an easy general election win for Democrats, taking in territory that is now part of six different districts.

About a half-dozen Democrats have announced plans to run in the district if voters approve the new boundaries. They include Dorothy McAuliffe, Virginia's former first lady, and former federal prosecutor J.P. Cooney, who served as a deputy to special counsel Jack Smith and was fired by Trump.

The sprawling district would have a population center in the heavily Democratic northern Virginia suburbs of Washington and would stretch deep into rural areas that favor Republicans.

Crowded primaries also are shaping up in some of the other newly formed districts, though the 7th District has an unusually deep stable of prominent candidates.

Virginia is the latest state to push a partisan redistricting plan beforethe 2026 midterms, when Democrats are looking to gain the House majority and the power it would give them to stymie Trump’s agenda.

Virginia's map aims to give Democrats the edge in 10 of the state's 11 U.S. House districts, replacing the current map that elected a congressional delegation with six Democrats and five Republicans.

Trump instigated a redistricting arms race last year when he pressed Texas Republicans to adopt new boundaries aimed at giving Republicans as many as five new House seats there. California voters responded with a plan favoring Democrats. Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio have adopted Republican-friendly maps.

Democrats in Maryland this week rejected a plan to adopt a map favoring their party, while Florida Republicans are pressing ahead with their own redistricting plan.

Federal investigators said that they are still searching for the suspects who assaulted Offset last Monday night outside of Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, just north of Miami. Throughout the assault, a single shot was fired into Offset's leg before an unsuccessful attempt to remove the rapper's watch, the statement said. Offset, who rose to fame as part of the influential hip-hop trio Migos, was hospitalized for a couple of days, but swiftly returned to the stage at a performance at a music festival at the University of Arkansas on Saturday.

The suspects fled the scene in two Chevrolet SUVs that went in separate directions: A black Suburban that fled towards Hollywood, Florida, and a Tahoe that fled southbound towards Miami.

Following the shooting, officers detained two people, but law enforcement hasn't shared evidence to directly tying either one to the shooting.

One of the people detained was rapper Lil Tjay, born Tione Jayden Merritt. He was arrested in connection with an altercation that occurred before the shooting, the Seminole Police Department in Florida said. He was charged with disorderly conduct and operating a vehicle without a valid license. His lawyer, Dawn M. Florio, told The Associated Press last week that Lil Tjay did not have a gun and was not charged with any weapons or gun-related crimes. He was swiftly released after posting bond.

Offset, born Kiari Kendrell Cephus, launched his career with Migos, one of the most popular hip-hop groups of all time. The Atlanta trio is celebrated for their rapid-fire triplet flow, an often-imitated delivery that changed the trajectory of trap.

The group had several multiplatinum selling singles, including “Bad and Boujee,” which went No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart, “Stir Fry,” and “Narcos.” Migos released four full-length albums across their career.

More than three years ago, Offset’s cousin Takeoff, another member of Migos, was shot and killed at a Houston bowling alley.

“We want the World Cup to serve the people here, and not a cash cow for the few,” said Jonathan Alingu with Central Florida Jobs with Justice.

With matches less than 100 days away, dozens of labor and community groups gathered in downtown Miami on Tuesday, demanding answers from FIFA and the local host committee.

“For the past two years we have been trying to have a seat with the stakeholders so that the Miami host committee prioritizes human rights,” said Kris Beckford with the South Florida AFL-CIO.

Nearly 30 organizations, from labor unions to community advocates, rallied outside the Miami-Dade Government Center.

Their concerns centered on worker rights, fair pay and public safety.

Katherine Passley with Beyond the Bars says, “Mega events like this don’t just bring fans, they bring exploitation, they bring over policing, they bring systems that profit off of our most vulnerable.”

Advocates say they’ve met with organizers multiple times but claim little has changed.

“Right now, FIFA has said that host cities are expected to implement human rights protections, but expectations are not enforcement, and promises are not protection,” added Passley.

Immigration advocates added their voices, pointing to broader human rights concerns.

“When the games are being played, when there are events like the fan fest, there should be a suspension of the 287G agreements, at least while these events are happening, so that local police are not mandated to assist in this immigration enforcement,” said Thomas Kennedy with the Florida Immigrant Coalition.

With global attention soon heading to South Florida, organizers say they want transparency and real change.

“The door is open from us to the county and host committee to engage,” said Alingu.

Local 10 has reached out to FIFA for comment but has not yet received a response.

Iran responded with threats on all ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, taking aim at U.S.-allied countries.

At least two tankers approaching the strait Monday turned around soon after the U.S. blockade began, vessel tracker MarineTraffic said in a post on X.

The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations agency said the blockade restricted “the entirety of the Iranian coastline, including ports and energy infrastructure.” Its notice to mariners said transit through the strait to or from non-Iranian places was not reported to be impeded though ships “may encounter military presence.”

The U.S. blockade and Iran’s threatened retaliation set up an extraordinary showdown that posed serious risks for the global economy and raised the specter that the ceasefire could collapse and the fighting could resume. Talks aimed at permanently ending the conflict — which began Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran — failed to reach an agreement this past weekend.

Trump says the blockade has begun

“We can’t let a country blackmail or extort the world because that’s what they’re doing,” Trump said of Iran at the White House, where he announced the blockade had started.

He suggested the U.S. remains willing to engage with Iran.

“I can tell you that we’ve been called by the other side,” Trump said, adding that “they want to work a deal.”

Discussions between the U.S. and Iran about a second round of in-person negotiations are underway, two U.S. officials and a person familiar with the development said Monday. A diplomat from one of the mediating countries said Tehran and Washington have agreed to more talks.

All four spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic negotiations.

Iran’s effective closure of the strait, through which a fifth of global oil transits in peacetime, has sent oil prices skyrocketing, pushing up the cost of gasoline, food and other basic goods far beyond the Middle East.

Before the U.S. blockade, Tehran had allowed some ships perceived as friendly to pass while charging considerable fees, leading to accusations it is holding the global economy hostage.

Some analysts are doubtful that the United States can restore normal shipping through force alone. And it’s not clear how the blockade will work or what the dangers might be to U.S. forces.

The question is essentially who can endure the most pain: Could a blockade make Iran’s economic situation untenable and force it to concede? Or will it drive global oil and other prices so high that Trump is forced to back down?

The blockade could have far-reaching effects

The U.S. military’s Central Command announced the blockade would be enforced “against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas” on the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

CENTCOM’s decision to allow ships traveling between non-Iranian ports to transit the strait was a step down from Trump’s earlier threat to blockade the waterway.

In a social media message, Trump said Iran’s navy had been “completely obliterated” but still had “fast attack ships.” Trump warned that “if any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED.”

Iran issued threats of its own.

“Security in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is either for everyone or for NO ONE,” the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported Monday. “An Iranian military statement said: “NO PORT in the region will be safe.”

The threats halted the limited ship traffic that resumed in the strait since the ceasefire, according to a report from Lloyd’s List Intelligence. Marine trackers say over 40 commercial ships have crossed since the start of the ceasefire last week, down from 100 or more vessel passages per day before the war.

The blockade is intended to pressure Iran, which has exported millions of barrels of oil since the war began, much of it likely carried by so-called dark transits that evade Western sanctions and oversight.

But the effects will be felt far beyond Iran. The price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, hovered Monday just under $100 per barrel. It cost roughly $70 per barrel before the war.

Iran says ‘if you fight, we will fight’

Top-ranking Iranian officials threatened retaliation.

Ebrahim Rezaei, a spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’s National Security Commission, dismissed U.S. the threat of a U.S. blockade as “more bluffing than reality.”

“It will make the current situation (Trump) is in more complicated and makes the market — which he is angry about — more turbulent,” he said in a post on X.

The Iranian parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, addressed Trump in a statement: “If you fight, we will fight.”

Meanwhile, Iran’s representative to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, demanded compensation from five Middle Eastern countries — Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates — that Iran says violated international law by aiding the war effort against it, the Islamic Republic’s state-run media reported.

Legal experts are watching

U.S. military officials have offered few details about how the blockade will actually work.

The U.S. Navy has 16 warships, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, in the Middle East, a defense official said. A second defense official said no American warships are in the Persian Gulf, which forms most of Iran’s coastline. Both spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations.

Under international law, the blockade must be impartially enforced. Legal experts will also be watching to see if the U.S. allows humanitarian aid to reach Iran.

“How it is carried out will determine whether it is lawful or not,” said Todd Huntley, a retired Navy captain and director of Georgetown University’s national security law program.

Ceasefire holds after talks end without agreement

The blockade threat came after marathon U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks in Pakistan ended without an agreement on Saturday.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said the talks stalled after Iran refused to accept American terms on refraining from developing a nuclear weapon. Vance told FOX News Channel’s “Special Report” that some progress was made on nuclear issues, but he felt Iran’s negotiators couldn’t make a deal without approval from Tehran.

Iran has insisted its nuclear program is peaceful. However, it has pushed forward with steps that could give it the ability to build a nuclear weapon, including enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels and developing long-range missiles potentially capable of delivering a bomb.

Iran’s ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, said the main sticking points for Tehran were its nuclear program, war reparations and sanctions relief.

The ceasefire expires April 22. The fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, 2,089 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed.

___

Corder reported from The Hague, Netherlands, Frankel from New York. Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel; Farnoush Amiri at the United Nations; Aamer Madhani, Matthew Lee, Konstantin Toropin, Collin Binkley, Ben Finley and David Klepper in Washington; Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut; Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi; Jill Lawless in London; Ghaya Ben MBarek in Tunis, Tunisia; and Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia, contributed to this report.

As hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to celebrate the historic win by pro-European candidate Péter Magyar, music from some of Hungary's most popular — and most Orbán-critical — performers filled the air. Teenagers scaled Budapest’s iconic Chain Bridge and blasted revolutionary anthems by artists whose songs captured young people’s frustrations with the regime.

On the city’s trams, buses and subway cars, young people led chants and played AI-generated fan music dedicated to Magyar.

In front of Hungary's neo-Gothic parliament building, a group called “More Techno to Parliament!” celebrated Orbán's defeat with a rave.

Such scenes underscored the important role young people played in the push to end Orbán’s autocratic rule.

Before the election, a poll by 21 Research Center showed that 65% of voters under 30 supported Magyar's Tisza party, while only 14% backed Orbán, 62.

Marcell Szabó-Temple, a 26-year-old architect, grew up on the outskirts of Budapest in a family where adults didn’t talk about politics in front of the children. In the 2018 election — the first in which he could vote and which Orbán won easily — he felt ambivalent about the political process.

But then Szabó-Temple entered university and experienced a political awakening. Although he went to the country’s top engineering school, he said the state of higher education shocked him. Studying under what he described as an outdated curriculum in a crumbling building made him wonder: “Was this really all they could achieve in 12 years of governance? If so, we need something better.”

More difficulties were to come. In 2022, more than 20 Hungarian universities were disqualified from the European Union’s Erasmus exchange program as a consequence of an Orbán scheme to place control of universities in the hands of public foundations headed by political appointees.

Critics warned Orbán's move was an attempt to take control of academia and stifle critical thought. Many university students and leadership protested the overhaul, but it was carried out anyway.

No longer able to study abroad, and disenchanted by another overwhelming victory by Orbán in the 2022 election, Szabó-Temple said he felt “like the world went silent for the next few years.”

“I stopped caring about politics, again,” he said. “It was like being back in high school: I didn’t even want to hear the news.”

But when Magyar, 45, broke into Hungarian politics in 2024, Szabó-Temple felt a greater hope for change than he ever had before.

Once an insider in Orbán's Fidesz party, Magyar campaigned heavily on repairing Hungary's relationship with the EU, and restoring its Western orientation that had drifted increasingly close to Russia under Orbán.

He frequently addressed young people at hundreds of rallies held across the country during his campaign, urging them to take the country's future into their own hands.

Meanwhile, a new generation of musical stars, many of whom grew to fame on the internet, began producing more political content. While outlooks for young people looked increasingly dire due to economic crises and deep social divisions, the music became openly critical of Orbán’s regime.

Audiences broke out in anti-government chants during concerts at summer festivals. Government officials scolded young people for the signs of disrespect.

The musical movement reached its apex two days before the election when over 100,000 people packed a sprawling square in Budapest for a “system-breaking” concert. Over 50 artists performed, and urged young people to vote for change.

After Orbán's defeat, Szabó-Temple said he plans to move back to Hungary from Portugal, where he's on a work exchange.

“There was a growing sense among young people that if we can’t change the regime now, we might not want to live in Hungary for the rest of our lives. I certainly felt like that,” he said.

Like many of Hungary's youth, he has high expectations for Tisza.

“We put our faith in them and we expect them to deliver,” he said. “If they do, I will settle down and build a family in Hungary.”

___

Iván L. Nagy contributed.

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According to an arrest report obtained Tuesday by Local 10 News, the incident occurred Sunday at a Shell gas station located at 2414 N. Federal Highway.

Hanoi Lugo, 53, of Miami, was arrested later that night on a charge of firing a weapon in public or on residential property.

According to the report, someone called 911 and reported that a Hispanic man carrying a gun strapped to his chest was yelling, “Get away from me!” before firing into the ground.

Police said officers were eventually able to locate Lugo, who was “yelling unintelligible comments at random passerby.”

Police said they ordered Lugo to show his hands, however he initially refused to comply, keeping his hands behind his back.

According to the report, Lugo eventually followed commands to show his hands and sit on the ground.

A loaded Glock was located in the west alleyway of the gas station, authorities said.

Police said the gas station owner said he did not witness the shooting, but did hear a single loud bang, which he believed to be a gunshot.

In addition to the Glock, officers also confiscated an assault rifle that was found in Lugo’s van, the report stated.

As of Tuesday morning, Lugo was being held at the Broward County Main Jail on a $5,000 bond.

A motive for Lugo’s alleged actions is unclear.

Según un informe de arresto obtenido el martes por Local 10 News, el incidente ocurrió el domingo en una gasolinera Shell ubicada en 2414 N. Federal Highway.

Hanoi Lugo, de 53 años y residente de Miami, fue arrestado esa misma noche por un cargo de disparar un arma en público o en una propiedad residencial.

De acuerdo con el informe, alguien llamó al 911 y reportó que un hombre hispano con un arma sujeta al pecho gritaba “¡Aléjense de mí!” antes de disparar al suelo.

La policía indicó que los agentes finalmente lograron ubicar a Lugo, quien estaba “gritando comentarios ininteligibles a transeúntes al azar”.

La policía dijo que los agentes le ordenaron mostrar las manos, pero inicialmente se negó a cumplir, manteniéndolas detrás de la espalda.

Según el informe, Lugo finalmente obedeció las órdenes de mostrar las manos y sentarse en el suelo.

Las autoridades informaron que una pistola Glock cargada fue localizada en un callejón al oeste de la gasolinera.

La policía indicó que el dueño de la gasolinera dijo que no presenció el tiroteo, pero sí escuchó un fuerte estruendo que creyó era un disparo.

Además de la Glock, los agentes también confiscaron un rifle de asalto que fue encontrado en la camioneta de Lugo, según el informe.

Hasta la mañana del martes, Lugo permanecía detenido en la cárcel principal del condado Broward con una fianza de $5,000 USD.

El motivo de las acciones de Lugo no está claro.

The world has buzzed at the extraordinary clash between the U.S.-born pope and the American president. Trump called Leo “weak” and captive to the “radical left’’ on social media this week, after the pope called Trump’s threats toward Iran “truly unacceptable.’’

At the Vatican, visitors had Leo’s back while he's away on a 10-day trip to Africa.

“It’s just ridiculous, because if the pope is not speaking about peace, and is not taking care about every people in the world, he’s not the pope,’’ said Joerg Soler, who was visiting the Vatican from Switzerland.

“It’s completely inappropriate,’’ said Mariella Acciaioli, a French tourist. “Things are getting too much. We need to mobilize everyone, especially our leaders, to deal with this behavior that is going beyond every limit.”

U.S. tourist Paul Sarauskas expressed disbelief at Trump’s unprecedented broadside, calling it "absurd.''

“I think he needs to keep his nose out of religion. He’s telling the pope what to do. He’s telling the pope how to do his job,’’ Sarauskas said. “Where the pope just wants to do good things, right? He wants to talk about peace, about helping other people, whereas the current administration is doing something completely opposite. They’re just tearing people apart. They’re talking about division and war and hate.”

Trump clearly expected the American pope to be “subservient” to the United States, said Italian journalist Massimo Franco, who has a new book, “Popes, Dollars and Wars,’’ about U.S.-Vatican relations.

“A pope must be a pope. He must respond to a wider community. And if he sees that Trump’s policy risks to give a distorted view of the United States, I think the pope is helping the United States as well, not just the United States, to find the right path,'' Franco said.

The Rev. Antonio Spadaro, a prominent Italian Jesuit theologian and undersecretary to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education, said Trump’s fury “against a moral voice” shows that “the president is powerless.”

“He can’t bring the pope to the same terrain where he has brought everyone else, where he can dominate with language,’’ Spadaro told Italian Radio 24.”In this sense, the moral force of the church is evident. It is not a counter-power but a space in which power is being judged by criteria that power itself cannot control.”

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According to one arrest report, Miguel Gabriel Andres was part of “a group of individuals believed to be involved in ongoing motor vehicle thefts throughout the area involving Honda vehicles and air bags.”

Many of the thefts took place in Hialeah, according to arrest documents.

Andres, who has addresses in North Miami and Palmetto Bay, also faces charges out of Miami Gardens. Investigators with that city’s police department said that Broward County authorities, specifically Miramar police, are also investigating him.

Authorities said he would pull up in either a Nissan Altima or his mother’s Ford Explorer and break into vehicles. In the Miami Gardens case, he and his group are also accused of stealing a Honda.

Investigators said they’ve even caught Andres in the act, but he’s “fled several times” and managed to get away.

Authorities said just after 1:45 a.m. Monday, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper spotted the Explorer near Northeast 159th Street and Sixth Avenue, in Miami-Dade’s unincorporated Biscayne Gardens area, and pursued Andres for two blocks before stopping the SUV with a PIT maneuver.

Troopers said “Andres and two other occupants exited the vehicle” and then ran off. It’s not clear whether authorities were able to capture the two other occupants, but they did take Andres into custody.

Andres now faces more than a dozen charges, including multiple counts of burglary, grand theft and fleeing and eluding.

As of Tuesday, records show he was being held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a bond of nearly $60,000.

Según un informe de arresto, Miguel Gabriel Andres formaba parte de “un grupo de individuos presuntamente involucrados en robos continuos de vehículos en el área, particularmente de autos Honda y sus airbags”.

Muchos de los robos ocurrieron en Hialeah, según documentos de arresto.

Andres, quien tiene direcciones en North Miami y Palmetto Bay, también enfrenta cargos en Miami Gardens. Investigadores de ese departamento indicaron que autoridades del condado Broward, específicamente la policía de Miramar, también lo investigan.

Las autoridades dijeron que llegaba en un Nissan Altima o en una Ford Explorer de su madre y forzaba la entrada a los vehículos. En el caso de Miami Gardens, él y su grupo también están acusados de robar un Honda.

Los investigadores indicaron que incluso lo han sorprendido en el acto, pero “ha huido en varias ocasiones” y logró escapar.

Las autoridades informaron que poco después de la 1:45 a.m. del lunes, un agente de la Patrulla de Carreteras de Florida vio la Explorer cerca de Northeast 159th Street y Sixth Avenue, en el área no incorporada de Biscayne Gardens en Miami-Dade, y persiguió a Andres por dos cuadras antes de detener la SUV con una maniobra PIT.

Los agentes indicaron que “Andres y otros dos ocupantes salieron del vehículo” y luego huyeron corriendo. No está claro si las autoridades lograron capturar a los otros dos ocupantes, pero sí detuvieron a Andres.

Andres ahora enfrenta más de una docena de cargos, incluyendo múltiples cargos de robo a vehículo, hurto mayor y fuga para evadir a las autoridades.

Hasta el martes, los registros indican que permanecía detenido en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight con una fianza de casi $60,000 USD.

Crowder’s group hadn’t taken on individual clients before. The tiny policy and advocacy shop she had joined months earlier focused on researching and reforming the state’s criminal-justice system. But when a judge asked her to represent Kennard, she agreed. When he was released, the story ricocheted nationally. That case reshaped the organization’s trajectory.

It convinced Crowder that pairing policy research with direct legal work could unlock reforms that data alone had not.

In a state dominated by a Republican supermajority and long resistant to criminal justice reform, Alabama Appleseed has become one of the South’s most unexpectedly effective advocacy groups. While expanding its programs, it has kept its focus narrow, zeroing in on freeing older inmates who received harsh sentences for nonviolent crimes committed decades earlier. Personal stories gave its research a human face to engage lawmakers and supporters. And it built coalitions in unlikely places — persuading conservative lawmakers, faith leaders, and national funders that a small, locally rooted organization could have outsize impact.

Those choices transformed the group from a four-person research shop into a 10-person, $1.4 million organization supported by national grantmakers like the NFL. Part of the broader Appleseed Network of justice centers across the United States and Mexico, Alabama Appleseed was among the first to directly represent incarcerated people. It also runs reentry services, has won bipartisan policy changes, and has come within a few votes of passing sweeping sentencing reform — offering a model for how small nonprofits can influence large public systems.

“Alabama Appleseed is doing hard work in a hard system in a state where not everyone is pumped up about rehabilitation,” says Rachel Estes, director of outreach at Canterbury United Methodist Church, which partners with Appleseed clients through its Books to Prisons program. “In a state where it’s just not top of mind, they’ve done an excellent job of educating people, of advocating for people, and helping be a liaison of this really weird thing called incarceration and prison.”

A crisis and a pivot

A former crime reporter who later became a lawyer, Crowder spent years covering Alabama’s troubled prison system before deciding she “couldn’t sit on the sidelines anymore,” she says. She joined Alabama Appleseed in early 2019, when its annual budget was under $400,000 and its work centered on fines, fees, and racial disparities. Staff worked out of a rickety historic house in Montgomery. “There were opossums in the roof,” she says.

That same year, the U.S. Department of Justice released a scathing report detailing unconstitutional violence, corruption, and deadly conditions inside Alabama’s men’s prisons. The findings briefly opened a window that allowed for passage of several legislative reforms. But even some lawmakers who expressed outrage balked at meaningful sentencing reforms. For Crowder, it underscored the limits of a relying on a data-driven approach to policy change.

Crowder shifted the organization’s focus toward two goals: reducing the number of people entering prison and helping those serving extreme sentences get out.

In the past, Alabama Appleseed relied on other organizations for client stories. “We offered little more than putting their face and their terrible plight on the pages of a report,” Crowder said. “That always seemed exploitative to me.”

Taking individual cases filled a gap in legal services and gave the organization firsthand insight into how sentencing laws played out in real lives.

As more people were freed, letters poured in. Just as demand for help was growing, an unexpected opportunity arrived.

A boost from the NFL

In late 2019, the National Football League invited Appleseed to apply for funding and received a $100,000 grant to support reentry work in 2020 as part of the NFL's Inspire Change program, which started in 2017 as its social-justice platform and has helped steer more than $460 million in grants to nonprofits.

Crowder used the funds to hire another lawyer. Their next case was Ronald McKeithen, who had served 37 years for robbery. After his release, he joined Appleseed’s staff and now works on reentry support.

Today the organization has a full-time staff attorney, a part-time attorney, a case manager, a social worker, and a reentry team serving more than 30 formerly incarcerated people.

Other major funders, including Arnold Ventures, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the Just Trust, have also supported Alabama Appleseed’s policy and sentencing-reform work.

Clare Graff, the NFL’s vice president of social responsibility, said the group’s scale never deterred the league. “It doesn’t much matter what the number is when the number is literally one individual’s freedom,” she said.

Lessons in focus — and restraint

By working directly with incarcerated clients, the organization learned that positive, relatable stories often persuade lawmakers more effectively than grim statistics.

But storytelling alone isn’t enough. “More people just need lawyers or reentry services. There needs to be a moment where the services available catch up to the stories,” she added.

Alabama Appleseed has also learned when not to be the messenger. Sometimes a pastor, a victim’s advocate, or a conservative lawmaker can make the case more effectively.

That discipline has helped the group win support from both parties and from Republican Gov. Kay Ivey. Twice, legislation it supported — a Second Chance Act, which would create a process for judges to review certain life-without-parole sentences — came within a few votes of passing.

Pragmatism has been central to its effectiveness, said Kevin Ring of Arnold Ventures. The organization works with anyone who can help move reform forward — prosecutors, victims’ advocates, faith leaders, and lawmakers from both parties. “They only want to see lives changed and saved,” he said.

A model beyond Alabama

Alabama Appleseed’s approach has influenced other affiliates in the Appleseed Network.

“They were one of the first ones to especially do the sort of client work that they do,” says Benet Magnuson, executive director of the Appleseed Foundation.

Within Alabama, Crowder is focused on expanding reentry support and preparing to revisit second-chance legislation.

With new support from the NFL, the group is collaborating with Appleseed centers in Oklahoma and Missouri to support women serving long sentences that are a result of abusive or coercive relationships.

Crowder says she’s learned to remain hopeful while focused on an issue littered with failures. “There are too many people talking about what’s wrong, what’s broken, what’s unjust. What sets Alabama Appleseed apart is: Yes, we identify all of those things — but then we step up and say, here’s how to make it better.”

_____

Eden Stiffman is a senior editor at the Chronicle of Philanthropy, where you can read the full article. This article was provided to The Associated Press by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as part of a partnership to cover philanthropy and nonprofits supported by the Lilly Endowment. The Chronicle is solely responsible for the content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.

The firings are the latest wave of terminations of employees involved in cases criticized by conservatives or because they were perceived as insufficiently loyal to President Donald Trump's agenda. The terminations came before the release of a report accusing the Biden administration of biased prosecutions under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act or “FACE Act."

“This Department will not tolerate a two-tiered system of justice,” Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, said in a statement. "No Department should conduct selective prosecution based on beliefs. The weaponization that happened under the Biden Administration will not happen again, as we restore integrity to our prosecutorial system.”

The report is the first released from the Justice Department's “Weaponization Working Group,” created by former Attorney General Pam Bondi to scrutinize the federal prosecutions of Trump and other cases criticized by conservatives.

Biden’s attorney general, Merrick Garland, and Jack Smith, the special counsel who prosecuted Trump, have said they followed only the facts, the evidence and the law in their decisions. Critics of the Trump administration say Bondi — who was fired by Trump this month — and Blanche are the ones who politicized the agency, with the norm-breaking actions that have stirred concern that the institution is being used as a tool to advance Trump’s personal and political agenda.

The Biden administration brought cases against dozens of defendants under the FACE Act, which makes it illegal to physically obstruct or use the threat of force to intimidate or interfere with a person seeking reproductive health services, and prohibits damaging property at abortion clinics and other centers. It was signed into law in 1994, when clinic protests and blockades were on the rise along with violence against abortion providers such as Dr. David Gunn, who was murdered.

The Trump administration alleges in the report that prosecutors under Biden often “ignored and downplayed” attacks against pregnancy resource centers or houses of worship, which are also protected under the law. It also claims that the Biden administration pushed for harsher sentences against anti-abortion activists than it did in cases against abortion-rights defendants. Trump last year pardoned anti-abortion activists convicted of blockading abortion clinic entrances, calling them “peaceful pro-life protesters.”

Kristen Clarke, who led the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division under Biden, defended the prosecutions, saying the attorneys "enforced the law even-handedly and put public safety at the center of this work.”

“The Civil Rights Division brought law enforcement leaders, crisis pregnancy center representatives, faith leaders, and reproductive health care staff together to address the real violence, threats of violence, and obstruction that too many people face in our country when it comes to reproductive health care," Clarke said in an emailed statement on Tuesday.

Former Civil Rights Division attorneys accused the Trump administration of cherry-picking emails and other documents to paint a misleading picture of prosecutions that were supported by evidence presented to judges and juries. Maura Klugman, who was a deputy chief in the division’s special litigation section until last year, described one of the fired lawyers, Sanjay Patel, as an ethical and “respected career prosecutor who would never go out of bounds.”

The firings are part of a broader personnel purge that has shaken career Justice Department lawyers, generally insulated from changes in administrations, thanks to long-recognized civil service protections.

Justice Connection, a network of former department employees, said the agency leadership’s “cruelty and hypocrisy are on full display in this report.”

“They insist on zealous advocacy by career staff in advancing the President’s priorities, while shaming and firing those who did just that in the prior administration,” Stacey Young, a former department lawyer who founded Justice Connection, said in a statement. "They’ve put career employees on notice: if they do their jobs, they face potential termination if future political leadership disagrees with the policy goals of prior leadership.”

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The shooting occurred around 9:15 p.m. Friday at CW Thomas Park, located near the 800 block of Northwest Second Street, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators said the preliminary investigation revealed that the victim, Cardal Wyche, was shot following an altercation with several people.

BSO deputies and Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue crews said they responded to the scene and found Wyche suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

Authorities said paramedics transported him to Broward Health Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 9:44 p.m.

Detectives are asking anyone with information about the shooting or those involved to contact BSO Homicide Detective Kevin White at 954-321-4215 or submit a tip through the SaferWatch app.

Anonymous tips can be provided to Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477, online at browardcrimestoppers.org, or by dialing **TIPS from any cellphone in the United States.

La balacera ocurrió alrededor de las 9:15 p.m. del viernes en el parque CW Thomas, ubicado cerca de la cuadra 800 de Northwest Second Street, según la Oficina del Sheriff de Broward.

Los investigadores indicaron que la investigación preliminar reveló que la víctima, Cardal Wyche, fue baleada tras un altercado con varias personas.

Agentes de BSO y equipos de rescate de bomberos del sheriff de Broward respondieron a la escena y encontraron a Wyche con una aparente herida de bala.

Las autoridades dijeron que los paramédicos lo trasladaron al Broward Health Medical Center, donde fue declarado muerto a las 9:44 p.m.

Los detectives solicitan a cualquier persona con información sobre la balacera o los involucrados que se comunique con el detective de homicidios de BSO Kevin White al 954-321-4215 o envíe una pista a través de la aplicación SaferWatch.

Las denuncias anónimas pueden hacerse a Broward Crime Stoppers al 954-493-8477, en línea en browardcrimestoppers.org o marcando **TIPS desde cualquier teléfono celular en Estados Unidos.

The end of Maryland's legislative session this week marked the demise of Democratic efforts to reshape the state's U.S. House districts. But Florida lawmakers are to begin a special session Monday for a Republican attempt at congressional redistricting. And Virginia voters are deciding Tuesday on a Democratic redistricting plan that could help the party win several additional House seats in this year's election.

Voting districts typically are redrawn once a decade, after each census. But President Donald Trump triggered an unusual round of mid-decade redistricting last year when he urged Texas Republicans to redraw House districts to give the GOP an edge in the midterm elections. California Democrats reciprocated, and redistricting efforts soon cascaded across states.

So far, Republicans believe they could win nine additional seats in states where they have redrawn congressional districts, while Democrats think they could gain six seats elsewhere because of redistricting. But that presumes past voting patterns hold in November. And that’s uncertain, especially since the party in power typically loses seats in the midterms and Trump faces negative approval ratings in polls.

Democrats need to gain just a few seats in November to wrest control of the House from Republicans, potentially allowing them to obstruct Trump’s agenda.

Where redistricting remains in play

Officials in more than a dozen states debated or floated redistricting proposals. The immediate focus is on two states — one led by Republicans, the other by Democrats.

Florida

Current map: eight Democrats, 20 Republicans

Proposed map: Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has called a special legislative session to begin Monday on congressional redistricting. Republicans haven't yet publicly released a specific plan.

Challenges: The state constitution says districts cannot be drawn with intent to favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent.

Virginia

Current map: six Democrats, five Republicans

Proposed map: A new U.S. House map passed by the Democratic-led General Assembly could help Democrats win up to four additional seats. For the map to take effect, voters would have to approve a constitutional amendment allowing mid-decade redistricting. That amendment is on Tuesday's ballot.

Challenges: The state Supreme Court ruled the referendum can proceed, but it has yet to rule whether the effort is legal. The court is considering an appeal of a Tazewell County judge’s ruling that the amendment is invalid because lawmakers violated their own rules while passing it.

Where new House districts were approved

New U.S. House districts have been adopted in six states since last summer. Four took up redistricting voluntarily, one was required to by its state constitution and another did so under court order.

Texas

Current map: 13 Democrats, 25 Republicans

New map: Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a revised House map into law last August that could help Republicans win five additional seats.

Challenges: The U.S. Supreme Court in December cleared the way for the new districts to be used in this year’s elections. It put on hold a lower-court ruling that blocked the new map because it was “racially gerrymandered.”

California

Current map: 43 Democrats, nine Republicans

New map: Voters in November approved revised House districts drawn by the Democratic-led Legislature that could help Democrats win five additional seats.

Challenges: The U.S. Supreme Court in February allowed the new districts to be used in this year’s elections. It denied an appeal from Republicans and the Department of Justice, which claimed the districts impermissibly favor Hispanic voters.

Missouri

Current map: two Democrats, six Republicans

New map: Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a revised House map into law last September that could help Republicans win an additional seat.

Challenges: A Cole County judge ruled the new map is in effect as election officials work to determine whether a referendum petition seeking a statewide vote complies with constitutional criteria and contains enough valid petition signatures. The Missouri Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit claiming mid-decade redistricting is illegal. It's scheduled to hear arguments in May on claims the new districts violate compactness requirements and should be placed on hold pending the potential referendum.

North Carolina

Current map: four Democrats, 10 Republicans

New map: The Republican-led General Assembly gave final approval in October to revised districts that could help Republicans win an additional seat.

Challenges: A federal court panel in November denied a request to block the revised districts from being used in the midterm elections.

Ohio

Current map: five Democrats, 10 Republicans

New map: A bipartisan panel composed primarily of Republicans voted in October to approve revised House districts that improve Republicans’ chances of winning two additional seats.

Challenges: None. The state constitution required new districts before the 2026 election, because Republicans had approved the prior map without sufficient Democratic support after the last census.

Utah

Current map: no Democrats, four Republicans

New map: A judge in November imposed revised House districts that could help Democrats win a seat. The court ruled that lawmakers had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters when adopting the prior map.

Challenges: A federal court panel and the state Supreme Court, in February, each rejected Republican challenges to the judicial map selection.

Where redistricting efforts were denied

Governors, lawmakers or partisan officials pushed for congressional redistricting in numerous states. In at least five states, those efforts gained some initial traction but ultimately fell short in either the legislature or court.

Maryland

Current map: seven Democrats, one Republican

Proposed map: The Democratic-led House in February passed a redistricting plan backed by Democratic Gov. Wes Moore that could help Democrats win an additional seat.

Challenges: The legislative session ended in April without the Democratic-led Senate voting on the redistricting plan. The state Senate president said there were concerns it could backfire on Democrats.

New York

Current map: 19 Democrats, seven Republicans

Proposed map: A judge in January ordered a state commission to draw new boundaries for the only congressional district in New York City represented by a Republican, ruling it unconstitutionally dilutes the votes of Black and Hispanic residents.

Challenges: The U.S. Supreme Court in March granted Republicans' request to halt the judge’s order, leaving the existing district lines in place for the 2026 election.

Indiana

Current map: two Democrats, seven Republicans

Proposed map: The Republican-led House passed a redistricting plan in December that would have improved Republicans’ chances of winning two additional seats.

Challenges: Despite pressure from Trump to adopt the new map, the Republican-led Senate rejected it in a bipartisan vote on Dec. 11.

Kansas

Current map: one Democrat, three Republicans

Proposed map: Some Republican lawmakers mounted an attempt to take up congressional redistricting.

Challenges: Lawmakers dropped a petition drive for a special session on congressional redistricting in November, after failing to gain enough support.

Illinois

Current map: 14 Democrats, three Republicans

Proposed map: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in October proposed a new U.S. House map that would improve Democrats’ chances of winning an additional seat.

Challenges: The Democratic-led General Assembly declined to take up redistricting, citing concerns about the effect on representation for Black residents.

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Authorities identified the suspect as Karen Barrios, of Hallandale Beach.

The crash happened just before 6:30 p.m. Saturday on Marina Mile Boulevard near the southbound Interstate 95 exit ramp, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators said a BSO sergeant was heading westbound on Marina Mile Boulevard when he observed the crash in the westbound lanes.

They said a white Buick, driven by Barrios, was stopped on the left side of the roadway with front-end damage, while a gray Jeep was against a wall on the right side, facing eastbound in the westbound lanes, with significant rear passenger-side damage.

The report states that sergeant briefly checked on Barrios, who indicated she was OK.

He then turned his attention to the occupants of the Jeep, who had visible injuries. Deputies said Barrios then fled the scene headed west without providing information or rendering aid.

Deputies said a second sergeant followed Barrios and located her shortly after in a parking lot in Dania Beach.

According to deputies, Barrios showed several signs of impairment, including “glassy eyes, slurred speech, and unsteadiness on her feet.”

Investigators determined the Jeep, carrying three people, was traveling westbound on Marina Mile Boulevard when Barrios exited the I-95 ramp and failed to yield the right-of-way.

Deputies said her car struck the rear passenger side of the Jeep, causing it to flip multiple times.

They said at least two people in the Jeep suffered multiple cuts. All three occupants told deputies they wished to press charges, the report states.

Deputies later detained Barrios and noted a “strong odor of alcoholic beverages coming from her breath.” They said she refused medical treatment and declined to perform field sobriety exercises at the scene.

According to the report, Barrios told deputies she is “blind in both eyes,” later clarifying she has partial vision issues and said she suffers from seizures if she does not take her medication, though she reported not having a seizure at the time of the crash.

Deputies said she later participated in a sobriety test but showed multiple signs of impairment, including losing balance, missing heel-to-toe steps, and making an improper turn.

Barrios was taken into custody and transported to BSO’s breath alcohol testing center, though her blood alcohol level was not listed in the report.

Jail records show she is facing one count of DUI, three counts of DUI causing damage to property or injury, and one count of hit-and-run involving serious bodily injury.

As of Tuesday morning, she was not listed as an inmate in the Broward County Main Jail.

Las autoridades identificaron a la sospechosa como Karen Barrios, de Hallandale Beach.

El choque ocurrió poco antes de las 6:30 p.m. del sábado en Marina Mile Boulevard, cerca de la rampa de salida hacia el sur de la Interestatal 95, según la Oficina del Sheriff de Broward.

Los investigadores indicaron que un sargento de BSO se dirigía hacia el oeste por Marina Mile Boulevard cuando observó el accidente en los carriles en esa dirección.

Señalaron que un Buick blanco, conducido por Barrios, estaba detenido en el lado izquierdo de la vía con daños en la parte delantera, mientras que un Jeep gris estaba contra un muro en el lado derecho, orientado hacia el este en los carriles hacia el oeste, con daños significativos en la parte trasera del lado del pasajero.

El informe indica que el sargento verificó brevemente el estado de Barrios, quien dijo que estaba bien.

Luego dirigió su atención a los ocupantes del Jeep, quienes presentaban lesiones visibles. Los agentes dijeron que Barrios huyó de la escena hacia el oeste sin proporcionar información ni prestar ayuda.

Los agentes indicaron que un segundo sargento siguió a Barrios y la localizó poco después en un estacionamiento en Dania Beach.

Según los agentes, Barrios mostraba varios signos de deterioro, incluyendo “ojos vidriosos, habla arrastrada e inestabilidad al caminar”.

Los investigadores determinaron que el Jeep, con tres personas a bordo, circulaba hacia el oeste por Marina Mile Boulevard cuando Barrios salió de la rampa de la I-95 y no cedió el derecho de paso.

Los agentes dijeron que su vehículo impactó la parte trasera del lado del pasajero del Jeep, provocando que volcara varias veces.

Indicaron que al menos dos personas en el Jeep sufrieron múltiples cortaduras. Los tres ocupantes dijeron a los agentes que deseaban presentar cargos, según el informe.

Posteriormente, los agentes detuvieron a Barrios y notaron un “fuerte olor a bebidas alcohólicas en su aliento”. Indicaron que ella rechazó tratamiento médico y se negó a realizar pruebas de sobriedad en el lugar.

Según el informe, Barrios dijo a los agentes que está “ciega de ambos ojos”, aclarando después que tiene problemas de visión parcial y que sufre convulsiones si no toma su medicamento, aunque indicó que no tuvo una convulsión en el momento del choque.

Los agentes señalaron que luego participó en una prueba de sobriedad, pero mostró múltiples signos de deterioro, incluyendo pérdida de equilibrio, fallas al caminar talón con punta y un giro incorrecto.

Barrios fue puesta bajo custodia y trasladada al centro de pruebas de alcoholemia de BSO, aunque su nivel de alcohol en sangre no fue incluido en el informe.

Los registros de la cárcel indican que enfrenta un cargo de DUI, tres cargos de DUI causando daños a la propiedad o lesiones, y un cargo de fuga tras un accidente con lesiones corporales graves.

Hasta la mañana del martes, no aparecía como reclusa en la cárcel principal del condado Broward.