The Cleveland Guardians plan to promote Travis Bazzana, their historic first overall draft selection from 2024, to the major league roster for Tuesday’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays at home.
Multiple reports indicate that rookie Juan Brito, who had been starting at second base in five of the team’s previous seven contests, will be sent down to Triple-A Columbus to make room for Bazzana’s arrival.
The 23-year-old from Sydney, Australia, has compiled impressive statistics during his 24-game stint with Columbus, posting a .287 batting average along with two home runs and 10 runs batted in. His offensive production includes 15 extra-base hits and 21 walks, resulting in a .511 slugging percentage and .933 OPS.
After completing his college career at Oregon State from 2022-24, Bazzana moved swiftly through Cleveland’s farm system in 2025. However, oblique muscle injuries limited his playing time during the summer months, restricting him to just 26 appearances with Columbus.
Bazzana holds the distinction of being Cleveland’s first-ever top overall draft pick in franchise history. The organization secured this coveted selection despite having only a 2% probability of winning the draft lottery in December 2023.
Meanwhile, Brito has struggled at the plate, managing just a .176 batting average with no home runs and three RBIs across 51 at-bats. The 24-year-old player also sat out Monday’s 3-2 defeat to the Rays and has committed four defensive errors this season.
The Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit is considering moving its Louisiana tournament from its planned June dates to avoid competing with the World Cup for viewers and attendees, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Insiders say the golf organization has been collaborating with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry’s administration and state economic development officials to identify alternative dates in either September or October for the event.
The tournament is currently set to take place June 25-28 at Bayou Oaks at City Park. However, the FIFA World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19 across venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Beyond concerns about the World Cup drawing away audiences, sources indicate that factors like extreme heat and golf course conditions during Louisiana’s summer months are also influencing the potential schedule change.
An official announcement regarding the tournament’s status is expected Tuesday from LIV Golf, Governor Landry, and Louisiana Economic Development, according to the sources.
This development comes roughly two weeks after LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil publicly stated that the alternative golf series would move forward with its 2026 season as originally planned, despite ongoing speculation about potential funding challenges.
The Louisiana tournament represents the only LIV Golf event currently scheduled to overlap with World Cup competition dates.
The Cleveland Guardians are preparing to promote Travis Bazzana, their first overall selection in the 2024 amateur draft, according to a source with knowledge of the decision who spoke anonymously Monday evening. The young infielder may see his first major league action during Tuesday’s matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The source requested anonymity since Cleveland has not yet made an official announcement regarding the roster change.
Bazzana, 23, currently leads the Guardians’ prospect rankings and plays second base. During his 24-game stint with Triple-A Columbus, he has posted a .287 batting average while contributing two home runs and 10 RBIs.
To create roster space for Bazzana’s arrival, the team is anticipated to demote Juan Brito, who has struggled offensively with just a .176 batting average across 15 games and has struck out 17 times in 51 plate appearances.
Cleveland had promoted Brito from Columbus on April 7 when Gabriel Arias went on the injured list with a strained left hamstring.
During the recent World Baseball Classic, Bazzana demonstrated his abilities on the international stage, recording two hits including a home run while helping Australia defeat Chinese Taipei 3-0.
Last season presented challenges for Bazzana, as an oblique injury sidelined him for two months. Despite the setback, he managed a .239 batting average with nine home runs, 39 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases while playing for both Double-A Akron and Columbus.
President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s most recent peace offer aimed at ending the two-month-long conflict, according to a U.S. official, reducing prospects for resolving a war that has caused thousands of deaths, disrupted global energy markets, and contributed to rising inflation.
Tehran’s current proposal seeks to postpone negotiations about Iran’s nuclear activities until after the conflict concludes and maritime shipping disagreements in the Gulf region are settled.
Such an approach is expected to be unacceptable to Washington, which insists that nuclear matters must be addressed immediately. A U.S. official who was briefed on Trump’s Monday discussion with his advisers confirmed the president’s dissatisfaction with Iran’s offer, speaking anonymously.
White House spokesperson Olivia Wales stated the U.S. “will not negotiate through the press” and has “been clear about our red lines” as the Trump administration seeks to conclude the war against Iran that began in February with Israeli participation.
In 2015, Iran and several other nations including the United States reached an agreement that significantly limited Iran’s nuclear activities, which Tehran has consistently claimed serve only peaceful, civilian objectives. However, that accord collapsed after Trump withdrew from it unilaterally during his previous presidency.
Expectations for renewed diplomatic efforts have diminished since the president canceled a planned weekend trip by special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, where Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi made multiple visits over the weekend.
Araqchi also traveled to Oman and on Monday visited Russia, where he met with President Vladimir Putin and received supportive statements from a long-time Iranian ally.
OIL MARKETS SURGE AGAIN
As the opposing sides remain significantly divided, petroleum prices continued climbing, building on earlier gains during Tuesday’s early Asian trading session.
“For oil traders, it’s not the rhetoric that matters any more, but the actual physical flow of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, and right now, that flow remains constrained,” said Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at City Index and FOREX.com.
Ship-tracking information revealed that at least six vessels carrying Iranian oil have been turned back to Iran by the U.S. naval blockade in recent days, highlighting the war’s effect on maritime traffic.
Iran’s foreign ministry criticized U.S. seizures of Iran-connected tankers as “outright legalization of piracy and armed robbery on the high seas” in a social media statement.
Prior to the war, between 125 and 140 vessels typically passed through the strait daily, but only seven have done so in the past day according to Kpler ship-tracking information and satellite data from SynMax, with none transporting oil destined for international markets.
Facing declining approval ratings, Trump confronts domestic pressure to conclude a war for which he has provided the American public with varying justifications.
Speaking to reporters in Russia, Araqchi claimed that Trump had sought negotiations because the U.S. has failed to accomplish any of its goals.
Senior Iranian officials, speaking anonymously to Reuters, said the proposal Araqchi brought to Islamabad over the weekend outlined a phased negotiation process, with nuclear issues to be deferred initially.
The first phase would require ending the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran and securing guarantees preventing the U.S. from restarting hostilities. Subsequently, negotiators would address the U.S. Navy’s blockade of Iranian maritime trade and the status of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran seeks to reopen under its authority.
Only after these steps would discussions turn to other matters, including the ongoing disagreement over Iran’s nuclear program, with Iran continuing to seek some form of U.S. recognition of its uranium enrichment rights.
The Trump administration has dismissed every member of the National Science Board, eliminating the entire 22-person advisory panel in a sweeping action last Friday, according to former board members who spoke out Monday.
The independent advisory panel, created in 1950, serves to oversee the National Science Foundation and provide scientific guidance to both the president and Congress on matters involving science and engineering policy.
Board members received notice of their immediate dismissal on Friday, with no explanation provided for the mass termination, according to statements from former members Yolanda Gil and Keivan Stassun.
“Yes, all 22 current members of the National Science Board were terminated on Friday effective immediately. No reason was given,” stated Gil, who serves at the University of Southern California’s Information Sciences Institute.
The board consisted primarily of university professors, along with representatives from national laboratories, nonprofit organizations, and private industry, Gil explained to Reuters.
Stassun, a Vanderbilt University researcher, expressed his disappointment while confirming that Friday’s termination notice offered no justification for the dismissals.
“Seeing similar actions by the Administration across the federal government and especially with regards to scientific research, it seemed only a matter of time,” Stassun commented.
The board members had been serving six-year appointments before their abrupt removal.
Political analysts suggest this action fits a broader pattern by the Trump administration to restructure independent federal institutions by placing loyal appointees in key positions while removing voices that operate independently or critically.
When contacted for comment, the National Science Foundation referred all inquiries to the White House.
A White House representative indicated that the congressional authorities originally granted to the board upon its creation may require modernization, while emphasizing that the National Science Foundation’s operations “continue uninterrupted.”
A striking price comparison has emerged from China’s automotive market that highlights just how affordable electric vehicles have become in the world’s largest car marketplace.
Data from the Beijing Auto Show, which welcomed public visitors this week, reveals an extraordinary pricing gap between Chinese and American vehicle markets. While March statistics from Kelley Blue Book show the typical new vehicle in the United States carries a $51,456 price tag, Chinese consumers have access to more than 200 battery-powered vehicles priced below $25,000, according to automotive platform DCar.
The price difference becomes even more dramatic when examining China’s most popular budget electric models. Research compiled using DCar information identifies five top-selling Chinese electric vehicles that start under $12,000 – collectively costing less than one average American car.
Leading this affordable lineup is the Geely EX2, starting at $10,060. This compact electric vehicle claimed the title of China’s best-selling car of any type in 2025. Despite its budget price, the EX2 includes advanced features like front trunk storage, multiple cabin compartments, and a 14.6-inch touchscreen powered by Geely’s proprietary software. The highest-end version delivers approximately 255 miles of driving range under Chinese testing protocols.
Marketed in China as the “Star Wish,” the EX2 launched in 2024 and quickly expanded to international markets including Brazil, Indonesia, and Thailand. Auto analyst Felipe Munoz praised the vehicle’s interior experience, stating: “When you get in, you don’t feel like you are in a small car. It feels better in terms of quality and bigger in terms of size.”
At the budget end sits the Wuling Hongguang MiniEV, priced from just $6,560. This micro-vehicle embraces a deliberately simple, cheerful design philosophy reminiscent of earlier economy cars. For 2026, Wuling expanded the MiniEV to include four doors and improved rear passenger space, though it remains extremely compact by American standards – two previous-generation MiniEVs could fit in the parking space required for a Ford F-150.
The basic MiniEV reaches maximum speeds of 62 mph with a 127-mile battery range according to Chinese standards. Wuling also produces the retro-styled Bingo Pro, a larger subcompact starting just above $8,000 with highway capabilities and 250-mile range.
Chinese automotive giant BYD dominates the affordable electric segment with three models under $12,000: the Seagull at $10,200, Yuan UP at $10,945, and Qin Plus DM at $11,675. These three vehicles alone generated 700,000 sales in China over the past year.
The Seagull particularly impressed industry observers when it debuted three years ago, surprising analysts with its combination of performance, design, and pricing. The 2026 Seagull includes optional lidar technology for driving assistance and automated lane changes, plus fast-charging capabilities and up to 314 miles of range on premium versions.
BYD initially equipped the Seagull with a single “monoblade” windshield wiper as a cost-saving measure – a decision that drew mixed reactions from analysts who praised the innovation and drivers who complained about poor heavy-rain performance. The 2026 model returns to conventional dual wipers.
These ultra-affordable Chinese electric vehicles remain unavailable in American dealerships and may never reach U.S. shores, highlighting the vast differences in automotive markets shaped by local competition and consumer preferences.
International automobile manufacturers have reportedly issued warnings to the Trump administration about potentially discontinuing their most affordable vehicle offerings in the United States market, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Monday.
According to the report, these overseas car companies have informed Trump’s economic advisers that they may be unable to continue manufacturing and selling budget-friendly vehicles in America if the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement faces elimination or significant changes that don’t substantially lower tariffs on automobiles and automotive components produced in North America.
The communications were made to administration officials by sources familiar with the ongoing discussions, the Wall Street Journal indicated.
Reuters has not been able to independently confirm these reported discussions at this time.
Emergency responders continue working around the clock to rescue survivors trapped in twisted metal following a devastating train collision near Jakarta, Indonesia that has now claimed seven lives and left 81 people injured.
The tragic accident occurred Monday evening in Bekasi, located on the outskirts of Indonesia’s capital, when a commuter train and long-distance passenger train collided. Mohammad Syafii, who leads Indonesia’s search and rescue operations, explained during a Tuesday morning news briefing that extracting survivors requires extreme precision due to the dangerous conditions.
“We needed to involve personnel with certain skills to perform a measured extrication,” Syafii stated. “There are some victims who are alive to this minute and we’re hoping to extricate them, but they’re still pinned by the train material.”
Emergency teams have been observed using specialized cutting tools, including angle grinders, to slice through the damaged train cars in their efforts to reach those still trapped inside.
Bobby Rasyidin, who serves as chief executive of the government-owned railway company PT KAI, confirmed the updated fatality count of seven during the press briefing. According to Rasyidin’s account, the sequence of events began when the commuter train struck a taxi that had somehow ended up on the railway tracks, followed by the long-distance train slamming into a women-only car of the commuter train.
The taxi company involved, Green SM Indonesia, acknowledged through social media that the vehicle belonged to their fleet. The company, which operates as the Indonesian division of Vietnamese electric vehicle service Green and Smart Mobility JSC under the Vingroup umbrella, announced they have provided information to investigators to help with the ongoing probe.
Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee has launched a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Railway accidents occur with concerning frequency throughout Indonesia. Just last year, another train collision in West Java province resulted in four deaths and dozens of injuries.
Federal health regulators announced Monday their intention to revoke approval for a medication manufactured by Amgen that treats uncommon autoimmune conditions, following discoveries of serious safety issues and questionable approval processes.
The Food and Drug Administration’s drug evaluation division determined the medication, known as Tavneos, failed to demonstrate adequate effectiveness while also containing false information in its original approval submission.
Safety concerns escalated in March when federal investigators documented 76 instances of liver damage potentially linked to the medication. Among these cases, seven patients developed vanishing bile duct syndrome, a serious condition that can result in irreversible liver harm. Tragically, eight fatalities occurred within this group of affected patients.
The proposed withdrawal represents a significant regulatory action against the pharmaceutical company, highlighting ongoing concerns about drug safety monitoring and approval processes for treatments targeting rare medical conditions.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — A former worker at a nightclub where 236 people died in a roof collapse one year ago told a court Monday that the establishment’s owners had been warned about the building’s dangerous condition.
Gregory Adames gave testimony against brother and sister Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, who face charges of involuntary manslaughter and involuntary assault and battery in connection with the deadly incident at the well-known Jet Set club in Santo Domingo.
“They knew because I sent them photos, I sent them videos of all the problems that were there. That shouldn’t have happened; not a single person should have died there,” Adames said.
Legal representatives for the families of those killed requested that the court upgrade the charges against the siblings to voluntary manslaughter.
“We hope that happens,” Jean Carlos Martínez Segura, who represents nine families, told The Associated Press.
A conviction on voluntary manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while involuntary manslaughter has a maximum penalty of two years.
The court proceedings that began Monday are scheduled to resume Friday, with a judge ultimately determining whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial. Family members of the victims have expressed frustration with procedural delays and the pace of the legal process.
According to prosecutors, hundreds of pieces of evidence point to the siblings’ culpability. The pair were taken into custody last June.
Miguel Valerio, the Espaillats’ attorney, told reporters after their arrests: “Nobody wanted that to happen.”
Authorities have alleged that the Espaillats attempted to pressure or influence their workers. Antonio Espaillat is regarded as an influential business figure who operates high-end entertainment venues and owns numerous local radio stations.
The nightclub was packed with hundreds of patrons, including many prominent Dominican citizens, attending a concert on April 8, 2025, when the ceiling gave way. Among the fatalities were singer Rubby Pérez; Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi province and sister of Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz; and former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel. The collapse left more than 100 people injured, and emergency responders worked continuously to rescue survivors from the debris.
The Trump administration announced Monday it is pulling back the nomination of hospitality industry executive Scott Socha to head the National Park Service, offering no explanation for the decision.
Socha’s nomination had been announced in February amid ongoing turmoil at the park service, which has experienced massive personnel reductions as part of the administration’s efforts to dramatically shrink government agencies.
The park service remains under temporary leadership by acting director Jessica Bowron, who also serves as the agency’s comptroller. Throughout Trump’s previous presidency, the agency operated without a Senate-confirmed leader, relying instead on a succession of interim directors.
Socha currently serves as president for parks and resorts at Delaware North, a Buffalo, New York-based company that holds service contracts with multiple national parks and bills itself as among the globe’s largest private entertainment and hospitality enterprises. When announcing his nomination, a White House representative called Socha “totally qualified” to implement Trump’s vision for America’s park system.
However, environmental advocacy organizations raised concerns about whether Socha’s business background provided adequate preparation for managing hundreds of national parks and monuments spanning from iconic sites like the Statue of Liberty to isolated locations across Utah’s desert regions.
The park service has lost thousands of workers through terminations and departures since Trump returned to office.
“It’s very unfortunate that our parks have gone more than a year without a permanent director at a time when they need strong, steady leadership the most,” said Emily Douce from the National Parks Conservation Association on Monday. She emphasized that the next director must “undo the damage.”
The administration’s budget proposal for the upcoming year calls for reducing park service staff to 9,200 workers, representing nearly a 30% decrease from 2025 employment levels.
Operating funds for the park service would face cuts exceeding $1 billion, dropping to $2.2 billion for the 2027 fiscal year beginning in October.
Congressional lawmakers previously blocked similar reduction proposals for 2026 after park advocates and former agency personnel warned such cuts would essentially dismantle the organization.
The administration has also drawn criticism for removing or planning to eliminate national park displays addressing slavery, climate change, and the suppression of Native American cultures. A federal judge ruled in February that an exhibit about nine enslaved individuals owned by George Washington must be reinstalled at his former Philadelphia residence after the Trump administration removed it.
Government officials justify these actions as eliminating “disparaging” content under Trump’s directive from last year. Critics argue the administration seeks to sanitize American historical narratives.
Under Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s leadership, the park service has implemented a $100 fee for millions of international visitors to major destinations including Yellowstone and Grand Canyon. The agency has also added Trump’s photograph to annual passes for American citizens, prompting legal action from environmental groups claiming the practice violates federal law.
WASHINGTON — Entertainer Kid Rock and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took rides in Army Apache attack helicopters at a Virginia military installation Monday, according to a Pentagon official. The flights occurred just weeks after military aviators faced criticism for flying similar aircraft near the musician’s Tennessee property.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell described the helicopter rides as part of a “community relations event” supporting Freedom 250, a White House program organizing activities for America’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebration.
“Robert ‘Kid Rock’ Ritchie participated in multiple troop touches with service members and filmed videos for Memorial Day, America’s 250th birthday, and for his Freedom 250 tour,” Parnell stated.
The controversy began in March when Army helicopter crews flew Apache aircraft near the residence of Kid Rock, a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump. Those same helicopters also passed over a “No Kings” demonstration protesting the Trump administration in Nashville, raising concerns about flight safety and proper authorization.
Military officials initially launched an investigation into the March incidents involving pilots from the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell and suspended the crew members. However, Hegseth quickly stepped in to halt the inquiry.
Army leadership explained that the helicopters were conducting training exercises when they visited Kid Rock’s property and insisted their presence was unrelated to the nearby protest.
Flight tracking data shows Kid Rock’s private aircraft departed Nashville early Monday morning, touching down at Fort Belvoir in Virginia at 6:30 a.m.
Around 1 p.m., a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopter lifted off, completed several circuits around the installation, and returned to base approximately 10 minutes later, according to the Military Air Tracking Alliance, an organization that monitors global military aviation activity using open-source intelligence.
The Apache used for Monday’s flights was among four such helicopters, along with two H-60 Blackhawk aircraft, that had traveled to the Virginia base from Fort Campbell over the weekend.
Drop Site News initially reported Monday’s helicopter activities in Virginia.
Operating an Army Apache helicopter costs approximately $7,000 per flight hour, an Army official revealed, speaking anonymously to discuss information not cleared for public disclosure.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office criticized the flights on social media, questioning, “Why are taxpayers paying to fly Kid Rock around on $100 million helicopters?”
Newsom frequently opposes Trump administration policies and is considered a possible Democratic presidential contender in 2028.
Colorado Democratic Representative Jason Crow, who previously served as an Army Ranger, also used social media to ask: “Why is Pete Hegseth spending your taxpayer dollars to give Kid Rock ‘joy rides’ on Apache helicopters?”
When questioned about expenses related to public events involving celebrities or military demonstrations, defense officials typically maintain that such activities satisfy routine pilot training needs and therefore don’t create additional taxpayer costs.
Kid Rock also addressed a small gathering of military personnel in the Pentagon’s media briefing room and answered several questions, according to someone familiar with the event who requested anonymity due to concerns about potential retaliation.
Flight tracking records indicate Kid Rock’s aircraft returned to Nashville shortly after 3 p.m. Monday.
Apache helicopters normally operate with two crew members who are both qualified pilots, though one typically concentrates on operating the weapons systems. Carrying a passenger requires removing one crew member, which means Hegseth and Kid Rock would have flown in separate aircraft.
WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans introduced legislation Monday seeking federal approval and funding for President Donald Trump’s planned White House ballroom, citing security concerns following Saturday’s shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
The proposed legislation would allocate $400 million in federal funds to cover construction costs and underlying security infrastructure. While Trump previously indicated private funding would finance the ballroom, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a bill co-sponsor, stated Monday that private contributions should be limited to “buying china and stuff like that.”
During a Monday press conference, Graham acknowledged some may view the ballroom as Trump’s “vanity project,” but emphasized its necessity for safe presidential events, avoiding less secure locations like the Washington Hilton where Saturday’s dinner occurred. According to FBI court documents, the individual who allegedly attempted to breach the event with weapons had booked a hotel room at the venue.
“It would be insane” to hold future dinners at that location, Graham declared, stating he would advise any president against it, despite Trump’s expressed interest in rescheduling the event.
Cole Tomas Allen faced federal court proceedings Monday on charges of attempting to assassinate Trump following Saturday’s incident, during which gunfire erupted outside the ballroom. The president was quickly evacuated from the stage while thousands of attendees sought cover under tables.
Additional lawmakers announced plans to introduce their own ballroom authorization measures, including Representative Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Republican Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky and Tim Sheehy of Montana.
“It is an embarrassment to the strongest nation on earth that we cannot host gatherings in our nation’s capital, including ones attended by our president, without the threat of violence and attempted assassinations,” Sheehy wrote on social media platform X.
However, the initiative faces uncertain prospects for passage. Democrats have consistently opposed the ballroom construction since Trump began demolishing White House sections without congressional authorization, leading to ongoing legal challenges. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters the president should prioritize ending the Iran conflict, healthcare initiatives, and cost-of-living relief measures.
“These are the things that we should actually be focused on,” Jeffries stated.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Trump’s desire to isolate himself in a “walled palace, literally.”
Schumer urged Republicans to instead advance spending legislation funding the U.S. Secret Service, which operates under the Homeland Security Department and has been shuttered for over two months. The House has not yet acted on two department funding bills previously passed by the Senate.
“If Republicans truly want to improve security, they should join Democrats in funding the Secret Service, not Donald Trump’s luxury ballroom,” Schumer said.
Republicans also leveraged the incident to advocate for Homeland Security funding, criticizing Democrats for blocking immigration enforcement agency funding since mid-February.
The dinner disruption follows two previous attempts on Trump’s life and occurs amid increasing death threats against congressional members from both parties in recent years.
Graham noted the extraordinary nature of current times.
“I’ve been up here a while now, and I’ve never felt the sense of threat that exists today,” he said.
Alabama Senator Katie Britt, who co-sponsored the legislation with Graham, emphasized the proposal extends beyond Trump’s presidency.
“This will not be done until the end of his term,” she explained. “This is about future presidents. This is about our nation having a place to gather.”
Energy markets saw continued upward pressure Tuesday as diplomatic solutions to the U.S.-Iran conflict remain elusive, leaving the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping channel mostly blocked and preventing Middle Eastern oil supplies from reaching international markets.
According to a U.S. official speaking Monday, President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s most recent peace proposal. Iranian sources revealed Monday that Tehran’s offer deliberately sidestepped nuclear program discussions until fighting ends and Persian Gulf maritime disputes get resolved.
Trump’s rejection of Iran’s terms has created a diplomatic impasse, with Iran maintaining its closure of Strait of Hormuz shipping traffic—normally responsible for transporting approximately 20% of worldwide oil and natural gas consumption—while the U.S. continues its naval blockade of Iranian harbors.
June Brent crude contracts increased 45 cents, or 0.4%, reaching $108.68 per barrel by 0051 GMT, following Monday’s 2.8% surge to the highest closing price since April 7. The commodity has now posted gains for seven consecutive trading days.
June U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude jumped 58 cents, or 0.6%, to $96.96, after Monday’s 2.1% increase.
Previous diplomatic discussions between Washington and Tehran broke down last week when direct negotiations failed to produce results.
“For oil traders, it’s not the rhetoric that matters any more, but the actual physical flow of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, and right now, that flow remains constrained,” said Fawad Razaqzada, a market analyst at City Index and FOREX.com.
Razaqzada noted that even with a potential agreement, production shutdowns and supply chain complications could require months for full recovery.
Maritime tracking information confirmed major regional disruptions, showing six Iranian oil vessels were compelled to reverse course because of the American blockade.
Despite the restrictions, one liquefied natural gas vessel operated by the United Arab Emirates’ Abu Dhabi National Oil Company successfully navigated through the Strait of Hormuz and appears to be approaching India, according to Monday’s ship-tracking data.
Before the U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran commenced on February 28, daily vessel traffic through the strait typically ranged between 125 and 140 ships.
A New York resident has admitted his role in the deadly shooting of hip-hop icon Jason Mizell, known professionally as Jam Master Jay from the legendary group Run-DMC, federal prosecutors announced Monday.
Jay Bryant, age 52, entered his guilty plea during a Brooklyn court hearing, confessing to facilitating the 2002 murder that stemmed from a cocaine trafficking disagreement. Bryant now faces a potential 20-year prison sentence, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
Prosecutors say Bryant unlocked a fire escape door at Mizell’s recording studio, providing entry for two gunmen who carried out the fatal attack on the hip-hop pioneer.
The two shooters, Karl Jordan and Ronald Washington, were convicted in 2024 for Mizell’s murder in connection with drug trafficking activities. However, a federal judge later overturned Jordan’s conviction, determining that prosecutors hadn’t adequately proven their case.
Run-DMC, featuring Mizell alongside his bandmates, revolutionized hip-hop music during the 1980s by bringing the genre to mainstream audiences. Their chart-topping songs included “It’s Tricky” and their collaboration with Aerosmith on “Walk This Way” from their platinum-selling 1986 record “Raising Hell.”
Court evidence revealed that as Mizell’s entertainment career declined in the 1990s, he began trafficking cocaine to support his musical endeavors financially.
According to prosecutors, Mizell purchased cocaine in 2002 for distribution in Maryland through Jordan, who was his godson, and Washington, a close friend, along with additional accomplices. The dispute arose when Mizell excluded Jordan and Washington from a nearly $200,000 drug transaction due to conflicts between Washington and a Baltimore-based co-conspirator.
This disagreement ultimately resulted in the 37-year-old Mizell’s death, with prosecutors alleging that Jordan fired the fatal shot.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has claimed the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year award following one of the tightest voting contests in the honor’s recent memory, announced Monday by a worldwide panel of 100 media members.
The young star received the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy after edging out Charlotte Hornets player Kon Knueppel, his former teammate at Duke University, by a margin of 412-386 points. The voting breakdown showed Flagg securing 56 first-place selections compared to Knueppel’s 44.
Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe claimed the third position with 96 points, though he failed to receive any first-place recognition and earned just a single second-place nod. San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper garnered 5 points, while Memphis Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward received 1 point, rounding out the vote recipients.
The top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft fulfilled every expectation placed upon him during his debut season. Among qualifying first-year players, Flagg topped the scoring charts at 21.0 points per game while ranking second in assists with 4.5 per contest and third in rebounds at 6.7 per game.
“This is a truly great honor,” Flagg said in a statement. “I’m grateful to receive this award and thankful to everyone in the Dallas Mavericks organization who believed in me from Day 1.”
“None of this happens without my teammates, coaches and the people around me pushing me every day. I came here to compete and help this team win. This is just one step forward in what we’re building.”
The achievement places Flagg among elite company as just the fourth first-year player to post averages of at least 20 points, six rebounds and four assists per game since the NBA-ABA merger. He joins Larry Bird (1979-80), Michael Jordan (1984-85) and Luke Doncic (2018-19) in reaching those statistical benchmarks.
At 19 years and 112 days old as of April 12, Flagg becomes the second-youngest recipient of the award, trailing LeBron James by merely six days when James captured the honor in 2003-04.
Many analysts believed Knueppel had a strong case for the award after he established a new league record for three-point field goals made with 273, surpassing the previous rookie milestone by 67 shots. However, the fourth overall draft selection ranked third in scoring on his own team at 18.5 points per game, behind Brandon Miller’s 20.2 and LaMelo Ball’s 20.1.
The voting margin represents the second-closest decision in recent years, following Toronto’s Scottie Barnes’ narrow victory over Cleveland’s Evan Mobley four years ago by a 378-363 count, which remains the smallest gap under the current voting system established in 2002-03.
President Donald Trump has rejected a recent peace proposal from Iran, with a U.S. official citing concerns that the plan fails to address the nation’s nuclear activities, according to reports from Washington on Monday.
“He doesn’t love the proposal,” the U.S. official stated when describing Trump’s reaction to the Iranian initiative.
The president met with his senior national security team on Monday to review the proposal. Meanwhile, tensions between Washington and Tehran continue with no clear resolution in sight, as energy shipments from the Middle East remain disrupted.
According to Iranian sources who spoke earlier Monday, their proposal would postpone any nuclear program discussions until after the current conflict concludes and maritime shipping disputes in the Gulf region are settled. However, the United States maintains that nuclear matters must be addressed immediately as part of any agreement.
Pakistani mediators indicate that diplomatic efforts to narrow the divide between the two nations are still ongoing, sources report.
However, prospects for renewed peace negotiations have dimmed following Trump’s weekend decision to cancel a planned trip by special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.
Tensions flared at the United Nations Security Council on Monday as China’s deputy ambassador harshly criticized statements from Japan and the European Union regarding maritime security in disputed Asian waters.
During the council’s maritime security discussion, Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Ayano Kunimitsu expressed Tokyo’s deep worries about developments in both the East China Sea and South China Sea regions. She restated Japan’s stance against any forceful attempts to alter current territorial arrangements and interference with maritime and aviation freedoms.
European Union UN delegation chief Stavros Lambrinidis similarly addressed South China Sea disputes, noting how the conflicts disrupt vital commercial shipping routes and undermine international maritime law.
Both officials avoided directly naming China, despite Beijing’s extensive territorial claims throughout the South China Sea and ongoing disputes with Japan in the East China Sea.
China’s deputy UN representative Sun Lei dismissed the Japanese statements as “unwarranted” and said they “completely confound black and white.” He criticized the EU official for making “unsubstantiated and irresponsible remarks on the South China Sea issue.”
“In reality, the situation in the East and South China Seas remains stable overall and the South China Sea stands as one of the freest shipping lanes in the world,” Sun stated.
Sun accused Japan of recently deploying naval vessels “to flex their muscles and deliberately provoke tensions in the Taiwan Strait,” claiming this action sent a “gravely erroneous signal” to Taiwan independence supporters. China considers Taiwan, which governs itself democratically, to be Chinese territory.
The Chinese diplomat also referenced controversial Taiwan comments made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in previous months, saying these statements “have dealt a severe blow to China-Japan relations.”
Relations between the two Asian powers deteriorated significantly after Takaichi suggested in November that Japan might respond militarily if China attacked Taiwan.
Sun alleged that “right-wing forces are steering Japan’s security policy towards an offensive and expansionist posture” and warned that eight decades after World War Two, “a new militarism is resurging in Japan.”
He pointed to Japan’s loosened restrictions on weapons exports, deployment of strike missiles, and higher defense spending as evidence that Japan seeks “to pave the way for military expansion.”
Earlier this month, the Japanese destroyer JS Ikazuchi sailed through the Taiwan Strait, which China condemned as “a deliberate provocation.”
Meanwhile, China has significantly expanded its military capabilities in recent years, built installations on contested South China Sea islands, and conducted large-scale training exercises near Taiwan, raising alarm among regional neighbors and international partners.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials have announced a temporary lane closure affecting traffic flow from Old North Road to northbound US-13.
Construction crews are working in the area, forcing the closure of the left lane along this route. DelDOT indicates the lane restriction will stay in place until 7 AM.
Drivers traveling through this area should expect potential delays and are advised to allow extra time for their commute while the construction work continues.
Motorists traveling on Salem Church Road should prepare for continued traffic disruptions as intermittent lane restrictions remain in effect between Old Baltimore Pike and Gender Road until 5 a.m.
The temporary lane closures are affecting traffic flow in both directions along this stretch of roadway. Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when navigating through the work zone.
The restrictions are expected to be lifted by 5 a.m., after which normal traffic patterns should resume on Salem Church Road.
Motorists traveling along a section of Churchmans Road should prepare for traffic disruptions as construction crews continue their work in the area.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials report that drivers will encounter periodic lane closures along Churchmans Road in the stretch between Gooding Drive and King Court. The construction-related traffic restrictions are expected to remain in effect until 5 a.m.
Commuters are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when driving through the work zone area.
DALLAS — In one of the tightest NBA Rookie of the Year competitions ever recorded, Cooper Flagg has claimed the prestigious award, narrowly defeating his former Duke Blue Devils teammate Kon Knueppel in Monday night’s announcement.
The 19-year-old Flagg accomplished something not seen since Michael Jordan’s rookie campaign in 1984-85: leading his team in all four major statistical categories — points, rebounds, assists, and steals. This historic achievement helped him secure the honor despite playing for a struggling Dallas Mavericks squad that failed to reach the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Knueppel contributed significantly to the Charlotte Hornets’ remarkable turnaround, helping the franchise improve by 25 wins and nearly securing a playoff berth. The former college teammates finished as the top two rookies in scoring, marking the first time since UConn’s Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon in 2004-05 that former college teammates achieved this distinction. Philadelphia’s VJ Edgecombe rounded out the finalist trio.
The voting margin proved exceptionally narrow, with just 26 points separating the Duke alumni in balloting conducted by 100 league reporters and broadcasters. Each voter ranked their top three choices, awarding five points for first place, three for second, and one for third. This represented one of the closest margins in award history, surpassing only the 15-point difference when Scottie Barnes edged Evan Mobley in 2002.
A late-season surge may have sealed Flagg’s victory. His extraordinary 96-point performance across two games during the season’s final weekend likely influenced voters. The highlight came against Orlando, where Flagg erupted for 51 points, establishing a new NBA record for teenage scoring. This performance broke his own previous teenage record of 49 points, which he had set earlier against Knueppel’s Hornets in January.
“I see the games every night. I can check the box scores,” Flagg explained regarding how closely he monitored Knueppel’s performance. “I think also I was watching Kon just because that’s one of my brothers. We had such a good connection, and we’re gonna be there for each other for the rest of our lives. I was watching him as a fan as well, but there was obviously that competition at the same time.”
Knueppel, who turned 20 before beginning his professional career, established his own milestone by becoming the first rookie to lead the NBA in three-point field goals with 273 made shots. His stellar season included averages of 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while shooting an impressive 42.5% from beyond the arc. These numbers placed him alongside Larry Bird and Paul Pierce as the only NBA rookies to average 15 points and five rebounds while maintaining better than 40% three-point accuracy.
Charlotte’s success behind Knueppel’s contributions resulted in 44 victories before falling to Orlando in the play-in tournament’s final round.
Flagg’s situation proved more challenging than anticipated. The Mavericks had secured his services through a fortunate 1.8% lottery chance, expecting to compete for playoff positioning. However, injuries derailed those plans as center Anthony Davis missed significant time before being traded to Washington, while Kyrie Irving remained sidelined with a knee injury for the entire season.
Despite the team’s struggles, Flagg continued building an impressive resume following his Final Four appearance at Duke, where he became just the fourth freshman named AP men’s basketball player of the year. His professional achievements include joining Jordan as the only rookies since the 1976-77 NBA-ABA merger to record multiple 45-point games.
A memorable performance against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers showcased Flagg’s potential when he scored 45 points, surpassing the 41-year-old superstar for most 40-point games by a teenager with his fourth such performance. This game capped the crucial weekend that may have determined the rookie race outcome.
The Mavericks finished 26-56, returning to the draft lottery as Flagg shouldered a heavier burden than expected. His final statistics included 21.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals across 70 games.
“I think you talk about pressure and things like that, this season was a lot different going into it and what I was expecting and how the season ended up turning out,” Flagg reflected. “I think dealing with that and adjusting and kind of getting thrown in on the fly right away like that helped me long-term and throughout the season just getting really comfortable. I think I grew in a lot of different areas.”
The rookie announcement represents the sixth NBA award revealed since the regular season concluded. Previous winners include San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama claiming unanimous Defensive Player of the Year honors, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earning Clutch Player of the Year with 96 of 100 first-place votes, San Antonio’s Keldon Johnson taking Sixth Man of the Year, Boston’s Derrick White receiving the player-voted Sportsmanship Award, and Atlanta’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker capturing Most Improved Player.
Remaining announcements include MVP voting between Gilgeous-Alexander, Wembanyama, and Denver’s Nikola Jokic, plus Coach of the Year competition featuring Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff, San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson, and Boston’s Joe Mazzulla. Additional honors including Executive of the Year, the Twyman-Stokes Teammate Award, and the Hustle Award will be announced later this week.
A Manhattan court has overturned the murder conviction of Harry Ruiz, who spent a quarter-century behind bars for a killing he has always insisted he didn’t commit. The 58-year-old walked free Monday after new evidence surfaced suggesting prosecutors concealed crucial information during his original trial.
Ruiz was found guilty in 1994 for shooting Emmanuel Felix, described as a drug dealer in Harlem. Despite being released on parole in 2019, he continued fighting to clear his name.
“I feel like I can finally breathe again,” Ruiz told reporters Monday as he exited the courthouse surrounded by family members and legal counsel.
During Monday’s proceedings, Judge Robert Mandelbaum delivered sharp criticism toward Helen Sturm, the former prosecutor who handled Ruiz’s original case, calling her unwillingness to cooperate with the reinvestigation “troubling.” The judge stated, “To this court, that speaks volumes.”
When contacted by telephone, Sturm dismissed the judge’s remarks as “inappropriate” and said she had no obligation “to go over a case from 30 years ago.”
The case received fresh attention when NYPD Detective Carlos Vasquez discovered the file while working on a separate homicide and became persuaded of Ruiz’s innocence.
Two years ago, Manhattan’s post-conviction review team launched their own investigation and discovered that prosecutors had given $17,000 worth of cash payments and housing assistance to the mother of a 13-year-old girl who was the sole witness placing Ruiz at the crime scene.
Investigators found no record that defense attorneys were informed of these payments, which would have been legally mandated. Sturm refused to speak with investigators when they attempted to interview her about the matter.
“What do you want me to say? That I feel badly that he was convicted?” Sturm said during a phone conversation. “You don’t get a long sentence like this without evidence.”
She claimed not to recall specific case details but expressed confidence that prosecutors had properly followed disclosure requirements at the time.
The post-conviction investigation revealed that the teenage witness gave inconsistent testimony throughout the proceedings. During one courtroom moment, when asked to point out Ruiz, she mistakenly identified a spectator in the gallery instead.
Even with three relatives providing alibi testimony for Ruiz, the jury delivered a second-degree murder verdict. Judge Harold Rothwax, known by the nickname “Prince of Darkness” for his severe sentencing practices, gave the then-25-year-old defendant 25 years to life.
The review process also uncovered that a federal informant confessed in 2002 to arranging Felix’s murder for payment, stating Ruiz played no role. Another individual came forward that same year to support this version of events.
Court documents show that prosecutors working under former Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau knew about these statements but chose not to reopen the investigation or share the information with Ruiz’s appeals lawyers.
Current Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg released a statement saying extensive interviews and document analysis had uncovered new evidence that “significantly undermines the case presented at trial.”
Defense attorney Ron Kuby argued this case differed from typical wrongful convictions that stem from innocent mistakes or minor oversights.
“This wasn’t the result of some terrible mistake,” Kuby explained. “This conviction was obtained through repeated and calculated misconduct by a former district attorney’s office in suppressing evidence.”
Fighting back tears, Ruiz expressed hope that his vindication would encourage authorities to examine other questionable cases.
“There are a lot of people in there who are the same as me, who deserve justice,” he said. “I hope this never happens to anybody ever again.”
WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court has authorized the Defense Department to mandate journalist escorts on Pentagon property as the Trump administration contests a lower court ruling that blocked enforcement of its media access restrictions, according to a Monday decision.
The 2-1 decision from a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit represents an interim ruling in The New York Times’ legal challenge to the Pentagon’s revised press credential requirements. The majority indicated the government would likely demonstrate the escort provision’s legal standing.
The appellate panel approved the government’s motion to halt an April 9 ruling by U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman, who determined the Defense Department had violated his previous directive to reinstate Pentagon access for journalists.
Circuit Judges Justin Walker, J. Michelle Childs and Bradley Garcia considered the matter, with Childs providing the lone dissenting voice in the 2-1 decision.
“Reporters can hardly verify sources, gather information, or speak candidly with Department personnel with an escort looming over their shoulders,” Childs wrote.
Judge Friedman had determined the Pentagon’s updated credential requirements infringed upon journalists’ constitutional free speech and due process protections. He stated Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s administration attempted to circumvent his March 20 decision by establishing new regulations that remove all reporters from the facility without escort supervision.
Defense Department spokesperson Sean Parnell expressed satisfaction with the panel’s determination and anticipation for presenting the complete case before the same judges. Through a social media statement, Parnell claimed unrestricted Pentagon access has resulted in “regular unauthorized disclosure of sensitive and classified national defense information.”
“Since implementing the current access policy, the Department has seen a meaningful reduction in these unauthorized disclosures, which when they occur can endanger the lives of service members, intelligence personnel, and our allies,” he wrote.
Theodore Boutrous, representing The Times, characterized the panel’s determination as “a narrow, preliminary one” that “casts no doubt” on the publication’s constitutional claims.
“We look forward to defending the full scope of the district court’s rulings in The Times’s favor in this appeal,” Boutrous said in a statement.
Republican President Donald Trump appointed Walker to the bench. Democratic President Joe Biden nominated Garcia and Childs. Democratic President Bill Clinton selected Friedman.
A section of Valley Road in Hockessin has been closed to traffic following a collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian, according to New Castle County police.
The incident occurred on Valley Road, prompting authorities to block off the roadway from Southwood Road to Evanson Road while they investigate the crash.
New Castle County Division of Police officers are currently on scene handling the ongoing investigation. No timeline has been provided for when the road closure will be lifted.
Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes while police continue their work in the area.
A geopolitical expert specializing in Middle Eastern affairs says Iran’s current military strategy extends well beyond traditional combat zones, with the regime now targeting Iranian communities living overseas.
Ashkan Rostami, an Italian Persian analyst who studies Iran, Israel, and Middle Eastern regional politics as part of the Institute for a New Middle East, spoke with The Media Line about how Tehran is adapting its approach during the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel.
According to Rostami, while military operations continue, Iranian authorities are simultaneously reaching out to diaspora populations, particularly those residing in European nations, as part of their wartime strategy.
The analyst highlighted concerning developments including diplomatic efforts to raise funds and troubling indicators that the regime may once again be involving minors in its military operations.
Rostami emphasized that this expansion of Iran’s conflict strategy to include overseas communities represents a significant shift in how the regime operates when facing international pressure.
A newly published UNICEF study reveals that Afghanistan faces the potential loss of more than 25,000 women working in education and healthcare by 2030 unless current Taliban policies restricting female participation are reversed.
The report, made public on Monday, highlights how Taliban leadership has prohibited women from holding most government positions and restricted educational opportunities for girls to age 12 and younger.
According to the study, these policies have already impacted no fewer than 1 million girls, with projections showing this number could reach 2 million by 2030 without policy changes. UNICEF has urged Taliban authorities to reverse the prohibitions implemented following their return to control in 2021.
The research, titled “The Cost of Inaction on Girls’ Education and Women’s Labour Force Participation in Afghanistan,” documents a sharp drop in qualified women joining teaching and medical professions.
UNICEF projects that as many as 20,000 female educators and 5,400 healthcare professionals could be eliminated from the workforce by 2030, representing approximately 25% of Afghanistan’s 2021 professional workforce in these areas. An additional 9,600 medical workers could be lost by 2035, the study indicates.
“Afghanistan cannot afford to lose future teachers, nurses, doctors, midwives, and social workers, who sustain essential services,” stated UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “This will be the reality if girls continue to be excluded from education.”
The report emphasizes that women medical professionals are essential for treating female patients, while women educators are preferred for instructing girls in schools that separate students by gender.
UNICEF estimates this workforce reduction could cost Afghanistan’s economy at least AFN 5.3 billion ($84 million) annually, equivalent to approximately 0.5% of the nation’s total economic output.
The organization has called on Afghanistan’s current leadership to protect professional training opportunities and permit women’s participation in the workforce.
Me’Arah O’Neal, daughter of basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, revealed Monday on social media that she’s switching universities, moving from the University of Florida to Kentucky for her basketball career.
The decision comes after O’Neal completed an impressive second year with the Gators, averaging 13.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. Her departure follows the dismissal of head coach Kelly Rae Finley after Florida struggled to a 5-11 conference record and tied for 12th place in the SEC during the 2025-26 season.
Taking to Instagram to share her decision, O’Neal explained her reasoning. “After a lot of thought and intentionality with my next steps, I’ve made the tough decision to enter the transfer portal,” she wrote on Instagram. “With faith and high expectations, I’m ready to power forward and embrace wherever God takes me next.”
Basketball runs deep in the O’Neal family, with Me’Arah joining her siblings who have also competed at the collegiate level. Her brother Shareef played for UCLA and LSU, sister Amirah suited up for LSU and Texas Southern, while brother Shaqir played at Sacramento State.
Her famous father has been vocal about her athletic abilities, recently praising her versatility on his podcast. “My baby is the best athlete in the family because she can do it all,” Shaquille O’Neal said about Me’Arah recently on his podcast. “She’s not an old-school player. She’s the new pick-your-type player, so I’m going to give her the title. She can shoot, she can dribble. She can’t be fazed when it comes to certain things.”
At Kentucky, O’Neal will join head coach Kenny Brooks’ program, which advanced to the Sweet 16 during March Madness. The Wildcats are bringing back their top scorer Clara Strack, an all-SEC first-team honoree, along with Asia Boone, who contributed 10.1 points per game while shooting 36.5% from beyond the arc.
Kentucky’s roster will also feature three McDonald’s All-Americans in their incoming class: Maddyn Greenway, Savvy Swords, and Emily McDonald. Additionally, the team has added UConn transfer Ayanna Patterson for the upcoming season.
Star Entertainment, the troubled Australian casino company, announced Tuesday that it successfully reduced its quarterly financial losses through expense reductions and increased revenue from operator fees.
The gaming corporation’s losses before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization dropped to A$1 million (approximately $718,600) for the quarter ending March 31, a significant improvement from the A$24 million loss recorded during the same three-month period in the previous year.
The financial turnaround comes as the embattled casino operator works to stabilize its operations amid ongoing challenges in the gaming industry.
Motorists traveling on northbound US Route 13 should expect delays due to ongoing construction work that has forced the closure of the right lane.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that the right lane is blocked between Hamburg Road and Federal School Road as crews continue their work.
The lane restriction is scheduled to remain in effect until 5:00 AM, when normal traffic patterns are expected to resume.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and merge safely into the left lane when approaching the work zone.
Motorists traveling on Kruger Road between US-113 and Kings Road should prepare for ongoing traffic disruptions as periodic lane restrictions remain in effect until 6 AM.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures along this stretch of roadway during overnight hours. Officials have not specified the reason for the lane restrictions or provided details about the nature of work being conducted.
Commuters are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when navigating through the affected area. The lane closures are scheduled to conclude by 6 AM.
Motorists using northbound US-113 should plan alternate routes as the left turn lane at Kruger Road remains blocked to traffic until 6 AM.
The Delaware Department of Transportation has temporarily closed the turning lane, forcing drivers who need to make left turns at that intersection to seek alternative routes during the closure period.
The restriction affects only the northbound direction of US-113 at the Kruger Road intersection, with the closure expected to lift at 6 AM.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials have temporarily shut down the right turn lane along Wood Branch Road in the area stretching from US-113 to Speedway Road.
The lane closure is scheduled to remain in effect until 6:00 AM, according to DelDOT’s traffic incident reporting system.
Drivers traveling through this corridor should anticipate potential delays and may want to consider alternative routes during the closure period.
DelDOT has not provided specific details about the reason for the lane restriction or whether the closure could be extended beyond the current timeline.
Buffalo has finally broken free from a record-setting 14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought and now stands on the brink of achieving their next milestone.
If the Sabres can defeat Boston at home during Tuesday’s Game 5, they’ll advance to the second round for the first time since 2007.
“You can expect this to be the hardest game that we’re going to have to play short-term here, because they’re in the nothing-to-lose-and-everything-to-gain category,” said Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, whose previous tenure with Buffalo lasted 15 years and included their most recent playoff run and series win — along with four conference finals appearances and one Stanley Cup finals appearance.
Boston, under first-year head coach Marco Sturm, is struggling after suffering a devastating 6-1 defeat on Sunday that put them in a 3-1 hole.
“They know that if they don’t put whatever they can put into the game,” Ruff said, “they’re done.”
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away across the Canadian border, another squad that has dramatically surpassed predictions finds itself close to advancing. Anaheim needs to close out their series on Edmonton’s home ice, but this fearless young roster is eager to deliver the organization’s first series win in nine years.
“We just believe in ourselves,” center Ryan Poehling said, discussing the overtime victory in Game 4 that gave them a 3-1 advantage after trailing by two goals on Sunday. “We’ve done it all year, and I think it just teaches you throughout a season that you’re never out of it. The belief on the bench is something that you truly feel when you go out there for offensive play. It’s a great way to play hockey for us.”
In Dallas, Tuesday night will also feature a Game 5, though no championship celebration will occur after Minnesota tied their series on Saturday.
Game 5 Details: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT (TNT)
Series Standing: Sabres ahead 3-1
Boston lost their composure during their Game 4 collapse. Defenseman Nikita Zadorov was fined $5,000 by the league on Monday for cross-checking Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman yelled at his own coaching staff as he left the ice after being removed from the contest.
“We have an extremely high competitive group. We all have a standard that we all carry ourselves to, and it wasn’t met. So that was just emotion,” Swayman told reporters. “It’s moved on now, and we have a job to do going into Buffalo.”
Buffalo is eager to hit the ice before an energized home crowd.
“When I came in last season, there was lots of talk of, ‘This is a hockey city, not a football city,’ and that was pretty hard to believe as an outsider coming in. You can see the passion for the Bills and just everything around that,” Sabres left wing Beck Malenstyn said. “But then I think throughout this year, we’ve slowly grown to see just how supportive and passionate this fan base is.”
Game 5 Details: Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT (ESPN2)
Series Standing: Tied 2-2
This physical matchup between two strong clubs that finished second and third in the Western Conference during regular season play shows dramatically different results depending on player situations. Minnesota has controlled even-strength action, outscoring Dallas 10-3. However, Dallas’s power play has been unstoppable with eight goals in 19 chances, while their penalty kill has allowed just three scores in 19 situations.
While Dallas prepared Monday for another crucial contest, they showed confidence in their 5-on-5 play due to consistent shot production. They top all playoff teams this postseason with 141 shots on goal, including 102 at even strength, ranking fifth among playoff squads.
“We just have to take the next step and get some loose pucks, get some tips,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said.
Just one Dallas player maintains a positive rating in even-strength play this series: defenseman Nils Lundqvist. However, he’ll miss Game 5 after accidentally taking a skate blade to the face during a Game 4 collision. Gulutzan expressed hope for Lundqvist’s return later in the series.
“Sometimes the puck goes in. Sometimes it doesn’t. It’s hockey,” Stars captain Jamie Benn said.
Minnesota’s power play has clearly struggled without right wing Mats Zuccarello, who hasn’t appeared since sustaining an upper-body injury in Game 1, though his Monday practice participation offered hope.
“We’ll see how he felt and what his response is from that,” coach John Hynes said. “But it is definitely a step in the right direction.”
Game 5 Details: Tuesday, 10 p.m. EDT (TNT)
Series Standing: Ducks ahead 3-1
As both clubs traveled back to Canada, hockey fans continued discussing the dramatic conclusion to Sunday night’s Game 4 and the unique process officials used to reach what appeared to be the accurate decision on Ryan Poehling’s narrow overtime winner for Anaheim.
However, that wild conclusion didn’t change this series’ overall direction: The attacking Ducks seem capable of overcoming any problems created by their inconsistent defensive performance, while Edmonton appears increasingly exhausted as they try to begin their fifth straight extended playoff campaign.
“We just believe in each other, and kind of no matter the score, we just continue to compete,” said Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe, who leads all Stanley Cup playoff scorers with eight points. “It’s something that’s been huge for us all year, and it’s something nice to have in your back pocket right now.”
Edmonton faces elimination after surrendering two leads in Game 4 despite strong play from new goaltender Tristan Jarry. Anaheim has completed more multi-goal rallies than any team this season under coach Joel Quenneville, who surpassed Al Arbour for second-most playoff coaching wins in NHL history during Game 4.
The Ducks have captured three consecutive games in this series, scoring 20 goals across four contests as they pursue their franchise’s first playoff series triumph since 2017. But this veteran Edmonton core has faced major postseason challenges before. They delivered their strongest defensive effort of the series on Sunday, so no visible panic exists as they work to force a Game 6 return to Southern California.
ABUJA, Nigeria — At least 29 people were killed when Islamic State fighters launched a deadly assault on a village in northeastern Nigeria during overnight hours, officials confirmed Monday. The violence represents the latest bloodshed in Africa’s most populated nation as it continues wrestling with widespread security threats.
The deadly raid occurred late Sunday evening in Guyaku village, located within Gombi local government territory in Adamawa state, state leadership reported.
ISIS operatives took credit for the deadly assault through a statement posted on the Telegram platform.
During a Monday visit to the attacked community, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri called the violence tragic and completely unacceptable.
Nigeria continues confronting numerous security threats, particularly across northern regions where militant activity has persisted for more than twenty years. The United States deployed military advisors to the West African country in February to assist local forces in combating the security crisis.
Two primary ISIS-affiliated militant organizations operate within Nigeria, though officials have not yet determined which group carried out the Guyaki assault.
The Islamic State West Africa Province, known as ISWAP, maintains operations throughout northeastern areas including Adamawa state, while another ISIS-connected organization called Lakurawa typically targets communities in north-central Sokoto and Kebbi states.
The village attack coincided with a separate incident where armed raiders struck an orphanage in north-central Nigeria, kidnapping 23 students. Authorities later freed 15 children and reported that “intensive operations” continue to “secure the safe return of the remaining eight victims and apprehend the perpetrators.”
Student abductions have become a defining characteristic of Nigeria’s security crisis, with security experts noting that criminal organizations view educational institutions and children as “strategic” targets for gaining public attention.
The orphanage raid occurred in an “isolated area” of Lokoja, the capital city of Kogi State, according to state commissioner Kingsley Femi Fanwo. He noted that the targeted facility, Dahallukitab Group of Schools, was functioning without proper authorization.
No organization has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping in a region experiencing rising numbers of ransom-motivated abductions. Officials did not specify the ages of the taken children, though the designation “pupil” in Nigeria typically refers to kindergarten through primary school students, generally ages 12 and under.
ABUJA, Nigeria — Armed men stormed a children’s facility in Nigeria’s north-central region and kidnapped 23 students, with officials confirming Monday that 15 have been successfully recovered.
The incident occurred in a remote section of Lokoja, the capital city of Kogi State, state commissioner Kingsley Femi Fanwo confirmed in an official statement. He noted that the targeted institution, Dahallukitab Group of Schools, was functioning without proper authorization.
While no organization has taken credit for the assault, the area has experienced a surge in ransom-driven abductions in recent months.
Officials did not specify the ages of the kidnapped children, though in Nigeria the designation “pupil” typically applies to elementary and kindergarten students, generally those 12 years old and younger.
“Intensive operations are ongoing to secure the safe return of the remaining eight victims and apprehend the perpetrators,” Fanwo said.
School-based abductions have become a defining characteristic of safety concerns across Africa’s largest country by population. Security experts note that criminal organizations view educational institutions and their students as “strategic” targets for maximum public impact.
The West African nation faces widespread security challenges, particularly across northern territories where militant activity has persisted for over ten years.
Key Islamic extremist organizations include Boko Haram along with its splinter group ISWAP. Additionally, the Islamic State-affiliated Lakurawa organization operates in northwestern border communities adjacent to Niger.
An unexpected passenger joined a Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta on Friday evening when a woman delivered her baby just moments before the aircraft touched down in Portland, Oregon.
Ashley Blair, traveling from Tennessee, welcomed daughter Brielle Renee Blair into the world at 35,000 feet with assistance from two off-duty paramedics who happened to be aboard the Boeing 737. The newborn weighed a healthy 5 and a half pounds, arriving approximately two weeks earlier than expected.
Blair had planned to reach Oregon in time to have her baby alongside her mother, but labor began roughly 30 minutes before the scheduled landing at Portland International Airport.
Paramedic Tina Fritz explained to The Associated Press that she and colleague Kaarin Powell were returning from a Dominican Republic vacation when flight crew asked them to assist. The pair had already been helping a nurse care for another passenger when the situation with Blair developed.
“We found Blair was indeed in labor and contractions were getting close,” Fritz recounted. With 153 passengers packed into the full aircraft, the paramedics quickly relocated nearby travelers to create space for the emergency delivery.
When standard medical supplies weren’t available, Fritz and Powell made do with creative alternatives. Fellow passengers donated blankets while a flight attendant provided a shoelace to secure the umbilical cord. Powell even removed her own shoelace to fashion a tourniquet for starting an IV line.
The dramatic moment intensified when Blair announced: “OK, it’s time. I got to push.”
Just as the delivery reached its critical phase, flight attendants instructed the paramedics to return to their seats for landing.
“We’re like, ‘No! No!’” Fritz remembered responding.
Blair managed three powerful pushes, and according to Fritz, “the baby came out really quickly. It was nice.”
Powell successfully cut the umbilical cord before taking her seat with the newborn in her arms. Fritz settled beside them just as the aircraft’s wheels made contact with the runway.
“Baby pinked up right away,” Fritz observed. “She was gorgeous. Mom was a rock star.”
Once the plane began moving toward the gate, the infant was returned to Blair, prompting celebration and photo opportunities among passengers and crew.
Portland Airport Fire & Rescue personnel met the aircraft and confirmed both mother and baby were in good health. The new family was then transported to a nearby hospital for standard observation, according to Port of Portland representative Molly Prescott.
Delta Airlines issued a statement expressing gratitude to the medical volunteers and crew members who provided assistance. The airline emphasized that customer health and safety remains their primary concern and extended best wishes to the family.
Fritz, who has maintained contact with Blair since the birth, noted that the new mother has been somewhat overwhelmed by media attention surrounding the unusual delivery.
“I feel like we’re friends now forever,” Fritz shared.
A Nevada court has handed down a life sentence to Nathan Chasing Horse, the actor known for his role in ‘Dances With Wolves,’ following his conviction for sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls.
Judge Jessica Peterson delivered the sentence on Monday after a jury found Chasing Horse guilty on 13 charges, primarily involving sexual assault. Three women came forward as accusers, with one victim being just 14 years old when the abuse started. While convicted on multiple counts, he was found not guilty on certain other charges.
During the sentencing hearing, victims and their relatives shared with Judge Peterson how they continue dealing with lasting trauma from Chasing Horse’s actions and described losing trust in their spiritual beliefs after he misused his authority as a religious leader.
Dressed in his navy blue detention center clothing, Chasing Horse looked straight ahead while victims delivered their impact statements. He maintained his innocence regarding all accusations.
‘This is a miscarriage of justice,’ he stated to the judge during Monday’s proceedings.
This sentencing concludes a multi-year legal battle to bring the former actor to justice, beginning with his arrest and indictment in 2023. His initial detention sent shockwaves throughout Indigenous communities, prompting law enforcement agencies in other states and Canada to file additional criminal charges that remain unresolved.
Canadian authorities in British Columbia filed sexual assault charges against Chasing Horse in February 2023, stemming from an alleged incident in September 2018 near Keremeos, a community located four hours east of Vancouver. The Canadian case was put on hold in November 2023 due to his U.S. legal proceedings but resumed the following year.
According to Damienne Darby, communications counsel for the British Columbia Prosecution Service, Canadian prosecutors will determine their next course of action once Chasing Horse completes all appeals in his U.S. case.
Additionally, Alberta authorities maintain an active warrant for Chasing Horse. The Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service confirmed following his January conviction that they continue coordinating with the Alberta Crown Prosecutors Office regarding the outstanding warrant.
Chasing Horse’s origins trace back to the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, home to the Sicangu Sioux, part of the seven-tribe Lakota nation. After gaining recognition for portraying Smiles a Lot, a young Sioux tribal member in Kevin Costner’s Academy Award-winning movie ‘Dances With Wolves,’ Chasing Horse became a fixture at powwows and healing ceremonies throughout Indigenous territories.
Nevada prosecutors argued during the trial that Chasing Horse leveraged his standing as a Lakota medicine man to target and exploit Indigenous women and girls.
Deputy District Attorney Bianca Pucci informed jurors that Chasing Horse created a ‘web of abuse’ spanning nearly two decades that trapped numerous women.
The jury listened to testimony from three women describing sexual assaults by Chasing Horse. Guilty verdicts were returned on charges connected to all three victims.
Several victims recounted participating in his ceremonial practices or seeking his assistance for medical issues.
One victim, Corena Leone-LaCroix, was 14 in 2012 when Chasing Horse allegedly convinced her that spirits required her to surrender her virginity to save her cancer-stricken mother. He then sexually assaulted her and threatened that revealing the abuse would result in her mother’s death, according to Pucci. The assaults persisted for years, Pucci explained. The Associated Press generally withholds names of alleged sexual assault victims unless they publicly identify themselves, as Leone-LaCroix has done.
Chasing Horse rejected all allegations, while his defense attorney challenged the primary accuser’s reliability, labeling her a ‘scorned woman.’ His legal team requested a new trial, claiming a witness lacked proper qualifications to discuss grooming tactics and that the statute of limitations had run out. The court rejected this request.
Victims and family members testified about struggling with their spiritual beliefs following Chasing Horse’s actions. Mothers of the victims described how Chasing Horse violated their trust and corrupted sacred practices.
‘Even to this day I struggle to regain my faith and spirituality,’ one victim’s mother testified.
Another victim spoke about ongoing medical complications from an ectopic pregnancy resulting from the assault, which required surgical intervention.
‘I am choosing to see this moment as a fresh start. I will rebuild my life, reclaim my voice and continue fighting for the future I deserve,’ one victim declared.
Dr. Crystal Lee, who leads United Natives, an organization supporting sexual abuse victims, expressed hope that the sentencing brings closure to the victims. Lee emphasized that Chasing Horse’s case demonstrates the critical need to hold prominent perpetrators responsible and trust victim accounts.
Chasing Horse exploited both his celebrity status and religious authority to harm victims, similar to other faith leaders who misuse their positions, Lee explained.
‘I think it makes us question who we trust and why we trust,’ Lee observed.
Utah authorities have filed murder charges against a California man in connection with a fatal January shooting at a Salt Lake City church that claimed two lives during a funeral service, according to court records made public Monday.
John Vea Uasike Jr., 32, was arrested April 14 on six felony counts, including two murder charges and firearms violations, the Salt Lake County district attorney’s office announced.
An attorney representing Uasike could not be identified. The deadly incident occurred January 7 in the rear parking area of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints facility.
Authorities determined the violence stemmed from a confrontation among acquaintances who had gathered for a funeral service. Officials previously stated the attack appeared unrelated to religious hatred, noting all victims were adults.
The congregation primarily serves members of Tongan heritage, according to the church’s website. LDS missionaries first introduced their religion to Tonga, a South Pacific island nation, during the 1890s. Utah now houses over 25% of America’s Tongan community, near the church’s main headquarters.
The fatal victims were identified as Vaea Tulikihihifo, 46, and Sione Vatuvei, 38.
Court documents reveal eyewitnesses observed Uasike retrieving a firearm from a dark SUV before aiming it at another person’s head, according to newly released charging papers.
Bystanders attempted to defuse the situation and restrained Uasike’s gun hand, but he discharged two rounds skyward, causing people to take cover and flee, Salt Lake City detective Steven Bigelow stated in the court filing.
Uasike then moved around the vehicle and allegedly opened fire toward the church building and mourners, fatally wounding two individuals and injuring others, Bigelow documented.
One witness reported someone shot back at Uasike, who sustained a gunshot injury and received hospital treatment before traveling to California, Bigelow noted.
A federal grand jury separately indicted two additional men in February on gun-related charges connected to the shooting incident, which wounded six other people.
Global music icon Taylor Swift has submitted legal paperwork seeking trademark protection for her voice and image in what experts describe as a defensive move against artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes.
Swift’s legal team filed the applications on Friday with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, listing her company TAS Rights Management as the owner of two audio recordings and one photograph.
The first audio sample features Swift stating: “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift, and you can listen to my new album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’ on demand on Amazon Music Unlimited.”
In the second recording, she says: “Hey, it’s Taylor. My brand new album ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ is out on October 3 and you can click to presave it so you can listen to it on Spotify.”
The photograph shows the performer on stage wearing a sequined costume while holding a pink guitar.
Neither Swift’s representatives nor the attorneys handling the case responded to requests for comment on Monday.
The singer has become a frequent target of AI-generated content, including fraudulent advertisements, fake political statements, and inappropriate imagery.
Actor Matthew McConaughey has successfully obtained similar trademark protections. He explained to the Wall Street Journal in January that “we want to create a clear perimeter around ownership with consent and attribution the norm in an AI world.”
Trademark lawyer Josh Gerben, who first reported Swift’s applications on his blog Monday, explained that the filings “are specifically designed to protect Taylor from threats posed by artificial intelligence.”
“While existing ‘Right of Publicity’ laws offer some protection against unauthorized use of a famous individual’s likeness, trademark filings can provide an additional layer of protection,” Gerben noted.
According to Gerben, protecting a celebrity’s recorded voice through trademark law represents an untested legal approach.
“Historically, singers relied on copyright law to protect their recorded music,” Gerben explained. “But AI technologies now allow users to generate entirely new content that mimics an artist’s voice without copying an existing recording, creating a gap that trademarks may help fill.”
The attorney said Swift’s photograph filing serves a similar protective function.
“By protecting a distinctive visual, down to Swift’s commonly worn jumpsuit and pose, Swift’s team may gain additional grounds to pursue claims against manipulated or AI-generated images that evoke her likeness,” he wrote.
Iran’s Deputy Defense Minister Reza Talaei-Nik engaged in diplomatic discussions with top defense officials from Russia and Belarus on Monday, according to state media reports from the region.
The Iranian official first met with Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov in Kyrgyzstan, where the Russian minister emphasized Moscow’s established stance that Middle Eastern conflicts must be settled through diplomatic channels only. Belousov expressed confidence that Russia and Iran would maintain their mutual support, as reported by the state-run TASS news agency.
Talaei-Nik subsequently visited Belarus, a key Russian ally, for discussions with Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin about the current Middle East crisis. According to Belarus’ Defense Ministry, as cited by the state BelTA news agency, both leaders reached consensus that the only path forward involves “a return to the sphere of a political-diplomatic settlement and the intensification of the process of negotiations.”
The Belarusian ministry’s statement indicated the talks “confirmed the mutual interest of Minsk and Tehran for a further deepening of their joint interaction.”
Meanwhile, in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin conducted a separate meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. Putin commended the Iranian people for their efforts to maintain independence despite pressure from the United States and Israel, pledging that Moscow would provide all possible assistance to Tehran.
A heated diplomatic exchange erupted at the United Nations on Monday when Iran was chosen to serve as one of 34 vice presidents for a major nuclear non-proliferation conference, drawing sharp criticism from American officials.
The month-long gathering to examine the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty began at UN headquarters in New York. Vietnam’s UN Ambassador Do Hung Viet, who chairs the conference, announced that Iran received its nomination from “the group of non-aligned and other states.”
Christopher Yeaw, who leads the US Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation, strongly condemned Iran’s appointment during the proceedings.
“It is indisputable that Iran has long demonstrated its contempt for the non-proliferation commitments of the NPT,” Yeaw stated, adding that Tehran has refused to work with the UN nuclear watchdog to address concerns about its atomic activities.
Yeaw characterized Iran’s selection as “beyond shameful and an embarrassment to the credibility of this conference” and called it an “affront” to the treaty itself.
Iran’s representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Reza Najafi, fired back at the American criticism.
“It is indefensible that United States, as the only state ever to have used nuclear weapons, and the one that continues to expand and modernize its nuclear arsenal… seeks to position itself as an arbitrator of the compliance,” Najafi responded, dismissing the US statements as “baseless and politically motivated.”
The nuclear dispute remains central to the ongoing two-month conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. President Donald Trump emphasized again on Sunday that Iran must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.
Tehran has consistently maintained that it only wants to enrich uranium for peaceful energy purposes, while Western nations worry the material could be weaponized. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons, though both the IAEA and US intelligence agencies have concluded that Tehran operated a nuclear weapons development program until shutting it down in 2003.
Iranian sources revealed on Monday that Tehran has proposed a new framework to resolve the current crisis, suggesting that nuclear program discussions be postponed until the war ends and Gulf shipping disputes are settled.
Following a Monday meeting with his national security team about the conflict, Trump’s administration made clear its position remains firm. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters that “the president’s red lines with respect to Iran have been made very, very clear, not just to the American public, but also to them as well.”
Two major U.S. cities have emerged as frontrunners to land a Major League Soccer franchise if the Vancouver Whitecaps decide to relocate from Canada, according to a Monday report from The Athletic.
Las Vegas and Phoenix top the list of potential new homes for the soccer club, though Major League Soccer officials refused to provide comment on the speculation.
According to the report, a special committee consisting of MLS team owners convened earlier this month to discuss what lies ahead for the Whitecaps organization, with relocation being one possibility on the table. Other cities including Indianapolis and Sacramento have also shown interest in attracting an MLS team.
League officials have already held discussions with a Las Vegas group seeking to establish a soccer club in the city, the report indicates. Additionally, a different investment group called Starr Vegas has announced an ambitious $10 billion development project for the Las Vegas Strip that would feature a 50,000-capacity soccer venue, though this group has not yet initiated talks with MLS.
The Whitecaps face a deadline pressure as their current agreement to play at BC Place expires at the conclusion of 2026, forcing the organization to secure alternative stadium arrangements in Vancouver.
“Since December 2024, ownership has prioritized finding a buyer committed to keeping the team in Vancouver, and to date, no solution has been found,” the Whitecaps said in a club statement provided to The Athletic.
Any potential move would require approval from MLS ownership and involve both a purchase price and relocation fees. San Diego FC, the league’s newest member as of last season, paid $500 million in expansion fees, and the report suggests any incoming group would face costs exceeding that half-billion dollar threshold.
The Whitecaps entered into exclusive discussions with Vancouver city officials last December, establishing a negotiation window extending through 2026 to explore building a new stadium and entertainment complex at Hastings Park. However, no progress updates have emerged since the club and city signed their Memorandum of Understanding.
The franchise boasts a rich history dating to 1974 when it launched in the North American Soccer League, competing there until the league’s dissolution in 1984. The team then moved through various leagues including the Canadian Soccer League starting in 1986, plus the American Professional Soccer League, United Soccer League, and USSF Division 2 Pro League before joining MLS in 2011.
Despite the uncertainty, Vancouver has achieved recent success as four-time defending Canadian Championship winners and following their historic first MLS Cup final appearance, where they fell 3-1 to Inter Miami CF. The team has started the 2026 season strongly, trailing the Supporters’ Shield leader by just three points after nine games while posting a 7-1-0 record at BC Place.
The nation’s highest court recently examined arguments concerning warning label requirements for Roundup, one of the most widely used herbicides in America.
The legal battle centers on how manufacturers must disclose potential health risks associated with the glyphosate-based product, which has become the subject of extensive litigation linking it to cancer diagnoses.
Thousands of plaintiffs have filed lawsuits claiming the popular weed killer caused their cancer, creating a massive legal challenge for Bayer, the German company that acquired Monsanto and inherited these legal disputes.
The Supreme Court’s eventual ruling will likely determine the future of these numerous pending cases and could reshape how agricultural chemical companies communicate product risks to consumers.
Roundup remains a cornerstone product for farmers and homeowners nationwide, making the court’s decision particularly significant for both the agricultural industry and public health advocates who have raised concerns about glyphosate exposure.
Legal experts anticipate the justices’ decision will establish important precedent for product liability cases involving agricultural chemicals and the adequacy of current warning systems.
Dover’s police force has unveiled its yearly performance report for 2025, showcasing twelve months of law enforcement achievements alongside a significant centennial celebration for the department.
The comprehensive document chronicles the agency’s 100th year of operation, representing ten decades of police work in Delaware’s capital city. During 2025, officers combined active patrol tactics with ongoing community outreach efforts, strengthening their dedication to resident safety and neighborhood well-being.
In terms of daily operations, the force concentrated heavily on street patrols, criminal case work, and targeted enforcement activities. Investigation teams recorded impressive success rates in major crimes, such as shootings, armed robberies, and break-ins, while specialized units completed hundreds of cases that resulted in important arrests, narcotics confiscations, and the removal of unlawful weapons from streets.
The agency’s Emergency Communications Center processed over 93,000 service requests throughout the year, with dispatchers answering more than 95% of urgent calls within a 10-second timeframe—showcasing quick response capabilities during emergencies.
Neighborhood policing continued as a fundamental aspect of departmental operations. Personnel took part in various community events, programs for young people, and collaborative initiatives designed to build stronger connections with citizens and enhance overall living conditions. The department’s Behavioral Health Unit also maintained its vital function in handling mental health and addiction-related incidents, offering expert responses and decreasing recurring problems.
Police Chief Thomas A. Johnson, Jr. emphasized that the document demonstrates his staff’s professional approach and determination. “This report highlights not only our operational successes, but also our continued commitment to the community we serve. As we move forward, we remain focused on strengthening partnerships, adapting to new challenges, and upholding the highest standards of public safety.”
The 2025 yearly summary additionally acknowledges staff accomplishments, details training and hiring initiatives, and presents a thorough examination of each division’s work.
Citizens can access the complete document, which provides detailed information about the department’s ongoing efforts to improve security, establish community trust, and support Dover residents.
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football program is celebrating as five of its former players advance to professional opportunities in the National Football League.
Cornerback Nate Evans has secured a contract with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent, while four additional Fightin’ Blue Hens received invitations to participate in rookie minicamp sessions.
The players earning minicamp opportunities include offensive lineman Fintan Brose with the Las Vegas Raiders, defensive tackle Nick Karika with the New York Jets, safety Mysonne Pollard with the Tennessee Titans, and kicker Nate Reed also with the Las Vegas Raiders.
This represents a significant achievement for the Delaware football program, demonstrating the caliber of talent developed within the university’s athletic system.
The nation’s highest court grappled Monday with a modern privacy dilemma as justices heard arguments about law enforcement’s use of so-called ‘geofence’ warrants to obtain location data from technology companies.
During Monday’s oral arguments, Supreme Court justices directed sharp questions toward attorneys representing both sides of the case. The typical ideological divisions between conservative and liberal justices appeared muddled, with members from both camps expressing concerns about different aspects of the legal issue.
The case centers on whether police need specific warrants to access digital location information that companies like Google collect from smartphones and other devices. These geofence warrants allow investigators to request data showing which devices were present in a particular area during a specific time period.
The legal battle highlights the ongoing tension between individual privacy rights in the digital age and law enforcement’s need for investigative tools to solve crimes. The court’s eventual ruling could significantly impact how police departments nationwide conduct investigations using location technology.
ATLANTA — A one-time University of Alabama defensive lineman admitted his guilt Monday in a federal courtroom for swindling investors out of millions through an elaborate disguise scheme where he posed as professional football players.
Luther Davis, 37, accepted responsibility for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges in Atlanta federal court. His co-conspirator, CJ Evins, 29, who allegedly helped orchestrate the fraudulent operation, also entered guilty pleas on identical charges.
Neither defendant spoke to reporters as they exited the courthouse. Federal Judge Steven Grimberg set Davis’s sentencing hearing for October, while Evins will face sentencing in August. Both men could receive up to seven years behind bars, though prosecutors have agreed to seek reduced sentences under their plea agreements.
During Monday’s proceedings, federal prosecutor C. Brock Brockington explained how the defendants created fraudulent banking and email accounts to convince financial institutions they were either representing specific athletes or were the players themselves. The duo eventually targeted more prominent players with larger contracts, according to testimony.
A players’ union security team discovered that athletes’ contracts were being illegally used as loan collateral, Brockington stated.
Throughout 2024, Davis donned various disguises during video conferences with potential investors, masquerading as three separate NFL players. Court documents reveal he used makeup combined with a wig during one call, just a wig for another meeting, and a do-rag-style head covering for a third video session. Prosecutors identified the impersonated players only by their initials.
The NFL players never gave Davis and Evins permission to secure loans using their identities. Beyond the costume changes, federal authorities say Davis created counterfeit driver’s licenses featuring photos of the athletes downloaded from the internet.
The fraudulent operation generated approximately $20 million through at least 13 bogus loans, money that Davis and Evins spent on property purchases, expensive jewelry, and luxury vehicles, according to criminal charges filed last month.
Davis was part of Alabama’s national championship team in 2010.
Cloud storage company Box Inc. is introducing an artificial intelligence-powered tool designed to streamline routine corporate tasks such as invoice processing and document data extraction, according to company CEO Aaron Levie.
Speaking at Reuters’ Momentum AI summit in New York on Monday, Levie announced that Box would roll out the new service, dubbed Box Automate, within a day of his announcement. The platform represents an expansion of the company’s existing AI capabilities aimed at helping businesses organize and utilize their extensive data collections.
The new service allows companies to deploy AI agents – automated programs requiring minimal oversight – to handle unstructured business documents and integrate with existing workflows. According to Levie, the technology can process massive volumes of invoices and extract essential information from “every one of those invoices,” potentially handling up to 10 million documents.
Box hopes the new automation service will encourage customers to upgrade to the company’s Enterprise Advanced subscription tier, which provides the necessary tools for building the AI agents that power these automated processes.
PITTSBURGH — An inflatable bounce house took center stage in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ locker room prior to Monday evening’s matchup with St. Louis, thanks to National League Cy Young Award recipient Paul Skenes.
The star pitcher arranged for the children’s play structure as part of a delayed birthday party for rookie infielder Konnor Griffin, who reached the milestone age of 20 last Friday and marked the occasion by launching his inaugural big league home run during a victory over Milwaukee.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t get to get in it, but I love it,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said of the bounce house. “Teammates, it’s good camaraderie and I know that Konnor’s a great sport about it. There are not too many guys that get to celebrate their 20th birthday in the big leagues. Really cool.”
Griffin stepped onto the major league stage for the first time on April 3 following his promotion from Triple-A Indianapolis. His arrival was quickly followed by a substantial $140 million, nine-year deal signed just five days afterward.
After earning Minor League Player of the Year honors in the previous season, Griffin currently maintains a .224 batting average alongside his single home run and six successful base thefts across 22 appearances. The Pirates selected him as their top choice in the 2024 amateur draft.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Monday that she does not anticipate diplomatic tensions with the United States following the deaths of two CIA operatives in an accident within Chihuahua state — operatives who Mexico claims lacked proper authorization to conduct activities on Mexican territory.
Speaking at her regular morning press conference, Sheinbaum indicated her desire to put the incident behind both nations, though she emphasized her expectation that the U.S. will honor Mexico’s constitutional framework and national security regulations in future operations.
“Let us hope this is an exceptional case … and that a situation like this never happens again,” she said.
According to Mexico’s Ministry of Security, which released information Saturday, one American operative had crossed into Mexico with visitor status, while the second had used diplomatic credentials for entry. Officials stressed they had no knowledge of foreign intelligence personnel conducting operations within Mexican borders.
The CIA has refused to provide any statement regarding the matter.
Sources familiar with the intelligence operation confirmed to The Associated Press last week that the deceased Americans were indeed CIA personnel, though they requested anonymity given the classified nature of the circumstances.
The Trump administration and Mexican officials previously established a framework last year designed to facilitate coordination and information sharing on security matters while maintaining respect for both nations’ sovereignty.
Sheinbaum emphasized Monday that complete transparency regarding the Chihuahua operation remains necessary, calling on the Attorney General’s Office and other relevant agencies to pursue the matter following upcoming Senate discussions.
Chihuahua Governor María Eugenia Campos, a leading opposition politician, has been summoned to appear in Mexico City Tuesday along with State Attorney César Jáuregui for testimony.
The presence of CIA and Drug Enforcement Administration personnel in Mexico has generated disputes for many years. These operations typically become public knowledge only when incidents occur — similar to a 2012 shooting involving a U.S. Embassy vehicle near Mexico City that left two CIA operatives injured.
The Toronto Blue Jays have sidelined veteran pitcher Max Scherzer for at least 15 days after placing him on the injured list Monday due to right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation.
The 41-year-old right-handed pitcher has been tantalizingly close to a career milestone, sitting just one strikeout away from 3,500 for more than a week. He was unable to reach that mark during recent defeats against Arizona on April 18 and Cleveland last Friday.
Scherzer’s performance against Cleveland was particularly challenging, as he failed to record any strikeouts while surrendering seven earned runs over 2 1/3 innings on 82 pitches, pushing his earned run average to 9.64. However, following that game, Scherzer stated, “I would not characterize this start as the fault of my forearm.”
Reports indicate the forearm tendinitis has been bothering Scherzer since the beginning of April.
“The doctor said, ‘Hey, take five or seven days, let this all heal, and then ramp back up and you’ll see,’” Scherzer explained Monday. “‘Your body will tell you how fast you can ramp up.’”
The team has not yet announced who will take Scherzer’s scheduled Wednesday start. Left-hander Eric Lauer was expected to transition to relief duties when Trey Yesavage returns from the injured list Tuesday for his season debut against Boston, but Lauer may now remain in the starting rotation given Scherzer’s absence. Yesavage has been recovering from a right shoulder impingement.
The Blue Jays promoted reliever Chase Lee to fill the roster spot Monday, though another roster adjustment will be necessary for Yesavage’s activation.
Scherzer joins an extensive list of injured Blue Jays players this season, which includes more than a dozen teammates. Among them are designated hitter George Springer with a fractured left big toe, outfielders Addison Barger (sprained left ankle), Anthony Santander (torn left shoulder labrum), and Nathan Lukes (hamstring strain). Also sidelined are catcher Alejandro Kirk (fractured left thumb), starting pitchers Bowden Francis (elbow surgery), Jose Berrios (stress fracture in right elbow), Cody Ponce (torn right knee ACL), and Shane Bieber (right elbow inflammation), plus reliever Yimi Garcia (elbow injury).
Currently sitting fourth in the American League East division with a 12-15 record, the Blue Jays began a three-game home series against Boston on Monday.
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel returned to his duties Monday following a two-day absence during which he sought family counseling after controversy erupted over his relationship with former sports journalist Dianna Russini.
The 50-year-old coach was spotted at Salt Lake City’s airport on Saturday while the NFL draft’s final rounds were taking place.
According to ESPN, Vrabel maintained ongoing communication through email and text with the Patriots organization throughout his time away and has now resumed his complete coaching duties. However, team officials painted a different picture, with vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf stating the organization deliberately limited contact to give Vrabel space.
“We kind of talked through things and made the decision that the time away really needs to be time away, so we were not in contact with Mike (Saturday) other than some just, ‘Hope everything’s going OK’ kind of texts early (in the) morning,” Wolf explained.
Vrabel acknowledged the need for family counseling after the alleged affair became public knowledge.
“This is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be. This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person,” he stated.
Both Vrabel and Russini are married to other people. The New York Post released photographs showing the pair together in Sedona, Arizona, prior to league meetings in Phoenix last month. Following an internal investigation by The Athletic’s parent company, the New York Times, Russini stepped down from her position as the publication’s top NFL reporter.
Last Tuesday, Vrabel addressed the media directly about the situation and its aftermath.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced during the draft that the league will not pursue disciplinary action or additional investigation under its off-field conduct policies.
Vrabel took over as Patriots head coach before the 2025 season, returning to the franchise where he once played. Under his leadership, New England reached Super Bowl LX, though they fell to the Seattle Seahawks 29-13.
Last season marked Vrabel’s second AP NFL Coach of the Year recognition, adding to his first award in 2021 during his tenure with Tennessee. He served as the Titans’ head coach from 2018 through 2023.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy indicated Monday that budget airlines seeking $2.5 billion in federal assistance to combat soaring jet fuel expenses would require Congressional authorization for any potential aid package.
Speaking to reporters during a Baltimore event on Monday, Duffy emphasized the significant financial scope of the airlines’ funding request and the legislative hurdles involved.
“I don’t have that money – can’t just pull it out of the couch cushions. There would have to be a lot of government engagement and a bipartisan effort to find the funds for them,” Duffy explained to media members. He added that “Congress would have to get involved as well with that kind of number.”
The Transportation Secretary stressed that any such requests would require thorough examination before moving forward with the substantial funding proposal from the nation’s low-cost carriers.
House Speaker Mike Johnson announced Monday that Republicans plan to alter legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security before bringing it to a vote, potentially creating delays in critical funding just days after a shooting incident at a Washington event where President Donald Trump was present.
The legislation, which received unanimous approval twice in the Senate, represents part of a Republican strategy to resolve the partial shutdown affecting homeland security operations that began in mid-February. Previous negotiations stalled over disagreements regarding reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol operations, following deadly shootings of two American citizens earlier this year.
The proposed funding would cover all DHS operations except for ICE and Border Patrol agencies. House Republicans were anticipated to consider the measure this week, following a vote on separate $70 billion funding for the two immigration enforcement agencies that gained Senate approval last week. The House plans to vote Wednesday on the budget resolution containing funding directions for ICE and Border Patrol.
Funding urgency for the Secret Service has grown since Saturday’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, where prosecutors allege a gunman attempted to assassinate Trump. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has warned that current departmental funding, which also covers the Transportation Security Administration, will be exhausted in early May.
However, Johnson informed reporters that the Senate’s legislation funding DHS minus ICE and Border Patrol requires modifications.
“We have a modified version that I think is going to be much better for both chambers. It doesn’t change most of the substance. But it makes sure that we’re not going to orphan the primary agencies of DHS,” Johnson explained to reporters, though he declined to elaborate on specifics.
Conservative House Republicans have opposed the Senate legislation, arguing they prefer comprehensive funding for all DHS agencies, including ICE and Border Patrol.
Any altered legislation would require another Senate vote, where Democratic opposition could block the 60 votes typically needed for passage.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Johnson’s Senate counterpart, told reporters that both the DHS funding measure and the ICE and Border Patrol budget framework would ultimately ensure adequate financing for all homeland security functions.
“We did everything we can to ensure that everything is appropriately funded,” Thune stated. “Hopefully that will be enough to get the House in a comfortable position.”
The budget resolution scheduled for House consideration this week serves as a preliminary step toward separate ICE and Border Patrol funding legislation that would bypass Senate Democratic resistance using a procedural tool known as budget reconciliation. This funding would extend through Trump’s presidential term, ending in January 2029.
Last year, Republicans approved approximately $130 billion in ICE and Border Patrol funding, separate from their regular annual appropriations.
Federal immigration authorities have implemented new screening procedures that will examine applicants’ previous statements for what officials describe as extremist perspectives, prompting criticism from free speech advocates who fear constitutional violations.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Monday that immigration officials will conduct enhanced reviews of green card and naturalization candidates whose past comments raise red flags about their beliefs and values.
This announcement followed weekend reporting by the New York Times revealing internal documents showing the Trump administration’s new guidelines could result in green card denials for immigrants who participate in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, voice criticism of Israel, or engage in flag desecration.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesperson Zach Kahler explained the agency’s position: “Certain behaviors and statements may raise serious concerns for USCIS personnel reviewing an applicant’s file, including espousing terrorist ideologies, expressing hatred for American values, advocating for the violent overthrow of the United States government, or providing material support to terrorist organizations.”
According to the Times report, federal training materials specifically highlight criticism of Israel as potentially problematic, pointing to social media content stating “Stop Israeli Terror in Palestine” alongside crossed-out Israeli flags as examples of concerning speech.
Immigration personnel received instructions to consider these expressions as “overwhelmingly negative” factors in their evaluations.
The policy has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers and advocacy organizations who view it as government overreach.
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen challenged the approach on social media, writing: “Trump plans to deny legal residency in the U.S. based on whether he agrees with your speech. Since when did it become ‘anti-American’ to criticize the actions of a foreign government?”
Civil liberties organization Defending Rights and Dissent condemned the measures, stating: “This is an incredibly disturbing attack on free speech, with the government deciding who can enter the country based purely on their expression of political views.”
The current administration has intensified enforcement actions against pro-Palestinian activism through multiple channels, including deportation attempts against foreign demonstrators, funding threats to universities hosting protests, and increased monitoring of immigrants’ digital communications.
Last year, officials announced plans to screen immigration applications for what they termed “anti-Americanism” and antisemitism.
Administration officials maintain that pro-Palestinian movements promote antisemitic views and support extremist causes.
However, activists and some Jewish organizations argue that federal authorities incorrectly equate legitimate criticism of Israel’s Gaza military operations and Palestinian territory occupation with antisemitism, while treating Palestinian rights advocacy as extremist support.
One deportation case involved Tufts University graduate Rumeysa Ozturk, where authorities based their action solely on an editorial she co-wrote for the student newspaper criticizing the university’s response to Israel’s Gaza conflict.
Drivers using Foulk Road should expect delays this afternoon as construction crews have shut down the right lane of southbound traffic.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that the lane closure affects the stretch of Foulk Road between Weldin Road and Powder Mill Road. Work crews are expected to wrap up their activities and reopen the lane by 5 PM today.
Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when passing through the construction zone. Traffic may be heavier than usual in the remaining open lane during the afternoon commute.
Motorists traveling on southbound Interstate 95 are encountering lane restrictions near the Churchman Road exit due to a vehicle collision.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that the left lane is currently blocked on I-95 South in the area just before drivers reach the Churchman Road exit. The crash is causing traffic backups for commuters using this busy stretch of highway.
DelDOT officials are monitoring the situation and working to clear the roadway. Drivers are advised to use caution when traveling through the area and to consider alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.
No additional details about the crash or any potential injuries have been released at this time.
Questions about presidential security protocols have emerged following a shooting incident that took place during Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington.
The incident occurred outside the ballroom where the annual event was being held on April 25, prompting an immediate response from Secret Service counter assault teams who took positions on the venue’s stage.
The shooting has sparked concerns among security experts and the public about the proximity the suspected shooter achieved to the president and whether current Secret Service protective measures proved adequate for the high-profile gathering.
Members of the Secret Service’s specialized counter assault unit were photographed maintaining their positions on stage following the security breach, highlighting the serious nature of the incident at one of Washington’s most prominent annual media events.
Correctional officers across New York state are sounding the alarm about what they describe as a prison system in complete disarray. In an unusual show of unity, both staff members and incarcerated individuals are making urgent appeals to state officials to address the widespread dysfunction they witness daily.
The calls for intervention highlight the severity of conditions within New York’s correctional facilities, where those working and living inside the system say fundamental changes are desperately needed.
DENVER — Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards faces a minimum one-week absence due to a hyperextended left knee and bone bruise, the team officially announced Monday ahead of Game 5 in their first-round NBA playoff matchup against Denver.
Medical imaging revealed no structural damage to Edwards’ knee, providing some relief to the organization after the injury occurred during the second quarter of their Game 4 win against the Nuggets. However, his participation in potential second-round playoff action remains uncertain. Team officials have labeled his condition as week-to-week, suggesting Edwards could miss the start of any subsequent playoff series before receiving medical clearance to play.
“With the two injuries we had in one game, it was as positive as you can get it,” guard Mike Conley told reporters after the team’s pregame shootaround in Denver. “Obviously we want him to get healthy. We want him to be recovered as quickly as he can, but his health is No. 1. He knows his body. When his body’s ready, he’s going to fight through it. We know if we can get out of the series, we’ll get him back.”
The Timberwolves entered Game 5 holding a commanding 3-1 series advantage over Denver but also suffered another significant loss when starting guard Donte DiVincenzo sustained a ruptured right Achilles tendon during the early moments of Game 4, ending his postseason and sidelining him for most of next season.
Edwards finished the regular season with an average of 28.8 points per game, ranking third in the NBA behind Dallas’ Luka Doncic and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from Oklahoma City. This season marked Edwards’ most injury-plagued campaign, missing 21 games primarily due to a right knee issue.
Delaware transportation officials are alerting drivers about upcoming overnight construction that will impact traffic on Interstate 495 in New Castle County.
The Delaware Department of Transportation will be conducting bridge deck repairs on the Christina River Bridge, requiring lane closures in both directions of I-495. The construction schedule includes work on Wednesday and Thursday nights, April 29th and 30th, followed by additional work Monday and Tuesday nights, May 4th and 5th.
Each night of construction will run from 8:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. the following morning. DelDOT is advising drivers to exercise caution when traveling through the work zone and to plan for possible minor delays during these overnight hours.
WASHINGTON — Supreme Court justices appeared split Monday during oral arguments over whether thousands of cancer-related lawsuits against Roundup’s manufacturer should be blocked from proceeding in state courts.
The high-stakes legal battle follows years of massive litigation resulting in billion-dollar jury awards against Bayer, the German conglomerate that acquired Monsanto, Roundup’s original producer.
Some justices appeared receptive to Bayer’s position that federal approval of Roundup’s labeling should shield the company from state-level legal challenges, given that EPA regulators have concluded the herbicide probably doesn’t cause cancer. However, other justices questioned whether such protection would inappropriately prevent states from adapting to new scientific findings.
The Trump administration is supporting Monsanto’s legal stance, creating tension with certain Make America Healthy Again advocates who favor stricter pesticide regulations.
At the center of Monday’s arguments was Missouri resident John Durnell’s lawsuit. Durnell claims he contracted non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma following two decades of applying Roundup as his neighborhood association’s designated “spray guy” for parks in his historic St. Louis area.
A jury determined the company had inadequately warned Durnell about potential cancer risks and granted him $1.25 million in damages. His case represents one among thousands of similar legal actions, some resulting in multibillion-dollar judgments.
Scientific opinion remains sharply divided regarding glyphosate, Roundup’s active component, and its cancer-causing potential. While the World Health Organization’s cancer research arm labeled the substance “probably carcinogenic” in 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency maintains it poses minimal cancer risk when properly used.
The EPA approved Roundup’s current labeling without cancer warnings, and Bayer contends it must comply with federal guidelines rather than varying state regulations that form the basis of Durnell’s and similar lawsuits.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson noted that EPA conducts labeling reviews every 15 years, potentially creating lengthy gaps given rapid scientific progress.
Chief Justice John Roberts questioned whether requiring companies to wait for EPA reviews would restrict state courts’ authority. “Throughout that long process, in response to information that suggests there is a risk that’s not on the label, the states cannot do anything?” he asked.
Attorneys representing Durnell maintain that federal regulations don’t prevent Bayer from adding cancer risk warnings to satisfy state legal requirements.
However, Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Elena Kagan expressed concerns that exposure to varying state legal standards could create corporate compliance challenges and weaken federal regulatory effectiveness. “Do you think it’s uniformity when each state can require different things?” Kavanaugh inquired.
While Bayer contests the cancer allegations, the company has allocated $16 billion for case settlements and proposed a comprehensive settlement this year. Simultaneously, it has lobbied state governments to enact legislation preventing new lawsuits, with several states agreeing.
Bayer has confronted over 100,000 Roundup-related claims, primarily from residential users. The company has eliminated glyphosate from Roundup products marketed to U.S. homeowners and gardeners. Bayer has indicated it may need to withdraw glyphosate from American agricultural markets if litigation continues.
The American Farm Bureau Federation warned in court filings that removing the herbicide would create “immediate, devastating risk to America’s food supply” during a period when agriculture already faces significant challenges.
Environmental advocacy groups argue Bayer seeks to avoid jury trials due to its poor performance in state courts.
The pesticide issue has created divisions between the current administration and supporters of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s MAHA movement, who also criticized an executive order promoting increased glyphosate production.
Kennedy has repeatedly stated his belief that glyphosate causes cancer, while acknowledging the executive order’s necessity for food security and national defense purposes.
Dozens of MAHA activists and supporters demonstrated outside the Supreme Court Monday during what they termed a “People vs. Poison” protest against Monsanto’s efforts to avoid legal accountability.
The Supreme Court is anticipated to issue its ruling before the end of June.
WASHINGTON — Two additional energy companies will receive substantial payments from the Trump administration to abandon their offshore wind development projects, officials announced Monday.
The Interior Department revealed that Bluepoint Wind and Golden State Wind have reached agreements to terminate their offshore wind leases in return for compensation totaling approximately $900 million. Both firms have committed to avoiding future offshore wind ventures in American waters.
Bluepoint Wind had been developing an early-stage project in waters off New Jersey and New York, while Golden State Wind was planning a floating wind installation along California’s central coastline.
According to Interior officials, these arrangements mirror the recent agreement with French energy giant TotalEnergies, which received a $1 billion payment in March to abandon developments off North Carolina and New York. That company has redirected its investment toward fossil fuel initiatives.
These agreements emerge after federal courts blocked the administration’s attempts to halt offshore wind development. In December, a federal judge struck down Trump’s executive order stopping wind energy projects, ruling it violated the law. The judge sided with attorneys general from 17 states and Washington, D.C., who contested the directive.
Two weeks following that ruling, the administration directed five major East Coast wind projects to cease construction, citing national security issues. However, developers and states filed lawsuits, and federal judges permitted all five projects to continue, determining the government failed to demonstrate an immediate security threat requiring construction stoppage.
Democratic lawmakers and environmental organizations have raised concerns about the TotalEnergies agreement’s legality and potential negative impacts on America’s economy and environment.
Ocean Winds, a partnership between EDP Renewables and international energy company Engie, holds ownership stakes in both Bluepoint and Golden State projects. Bluepoint’s lease originally cost $765 million, while Golden State Wind can recover roughly $120 million in lease payments, Interior stated.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum criticized the original lease agreements, claiming companies purchased projects that only remained economically feasible through substantial taxpayer subsidies when they submitted bids in 2022 under former President Joe Biden.
“Now that hardworking Americans are no longer footing the bill for expensive, unreliable, intermittent energy projects, companies are once again investing in affordable, reliable, secure energy infrastructure,” Burgum stated. “We welcome each of the projects’ willingness to actually support baseload power and lower utility bills for American families.”
Both wind projects were designed as major installations capable of supplying electricity to over 1 million households upon completion, supporting New Jersey, New York, and California’s renewable energy objectives.
Bluepoint Wind represents a collaboration between Ocean Winds and Global Infrastructure Partners, which is owned by investment firm BlackRock. Global Infrastructure Partners has pledged up to $765 million for a domestic liquefied natural gas facility. Interior plans to cancel the offshore wind lease and reimburse the company for its LNG project investment.
Golden State Wind operates as a joint venture between Ocean Winds and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. Under the new agreement, Golden State Wind can reclaim approximately $120 million in lease costs after investing an equivalent amount in oil and gas assets, infrastructure, or Gulf Coast projects.
Company representatives expressed gratitude for the administration’s collaborative approach.
Michael Brown, CEO of Ocean Winds North America, described the agreement as providing “clarity” for the company and its investors. “Our priority remains disciplined capital allocation and delivering reliable energy solutions that create long-term value for ratepayers, partners and shareholders,” Brown explained.
During his second presidential term, Trump has prioritized fossil fuel development, arguing it will reduce household energy costs, improve grid reliability, and maintain America’s competitive edge in artificial intelligence technology.
Motorists traveling on Route 13 northbound should expect delays this evening as construction crews have closed the right lane in a busy section of the highway.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that the right lane closure is affecting traffic between Discount Land Road and Boyce Road. Work crews are expected to complete their activities and reopen the lane by 8 PM today.
Drivers are advised to use caution when approaching the work zone and allow extra time for their commute through this area of Sussex County.
Motorists traveling along Coastal Highway should expect delays this afternoon as construction work forces lane closures at a busy intersection.
Delaware Department of Transportation crews have shut down the right lanes traveling both north and south on Route 1 where it meets Route 26 (Garfield Parkway). The construction-related restrictions are expected to remain active until 3:30 PM today.
Drivers are advised to use caution when approaching the work zone and allow extra travel time for their commute through the area.
Delaware State Police have released the identity of a Lewes man who lost his life in a deadly single-vehicle accident that occurred on Sunday.
Officials say Anthony Hunt, age 26 and a resident of Lewes, was the person killed in the crash.
Investigators with the Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident. Authorities are requesting that any individuals who may have witnessed the incident reach out to Master Corporal R. Albert at (302) 703-3266. Those with information can also send a private message through the Delaware State Police Facebook page or contact Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333.
For individuals who have been affected by crime, witnessed traumatic events, or experienced the sudden loss of a family member, support services are available around the clock. The Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit and Delaware Victim Center provide assistance and resources through their 24-hour toll-free helpline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). Those seeking help may also reach out via email at [email protected].
A Massachusetts seafood operation has rescued an extraordinary crustacean from the dinner plate, donating an incredibly unusual lobster to researchers due to its stunning split coloration.
The remarkable specimen displays standard brown coloring along one half of its body while showing vivid orange hues on the opposite side, with this dramatic contrast extending completely from head to tail.
Officials at Wellfleet Shellfish Company in Eastham, Massachusetts, announced Monday they’ve received numerous calls about the fascinating creature over recent days. The business has transferred the lobster to Woods Hole Science Aquarium in Falmouth, Massachusetts, where it will become a public exhibit once the facility completes renovations.
“The lobster is now with Woods Hole Science Aquarium’s animals currently being housed in holding tanks at the Marine Biological Laboratory during the aquarium’s construction period. When the aquarium reopens, the lobster will be on display, offering visitors a rare look at one of the ocean’s most striking natural anomalies,” the shellfish company said in a statement.
Local fishermen hauled in the unique lobster during their April 16 fishing operations off Cape Cod. While unusually pigmented lobsters frequently appear at New England fishing docks throughout spring and summer months, this split-colored variety represents an exceptionally uncommon discovery.
American lobsters typically display mottled brown shells, but genetic mutations can alter the proteins responsible for binding pigments, creating color variations. Some specimens appear blue or orange, others show calico-style spots, while certain brightly colored varieties earn the nickname “cotton candy” lobsters.
According to University of New England marine sciences professor Markus Frederich, split-colored lobsters develop when two separate lobster eggs merge and mature as a single organism, as he explained to The Associated Press in 2024. While scientists have estimated the probability of various lobster color mutations, Frederich notes these calculations remain rough approximations.
Representatives from Wellfleet Shellfish Company described their split-colored discovery as a “remarkable and exciting find.”
Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers made it clear during Monday’s media day that questions about her personal relationship with teammate Azzi Fudd are off-limits moving forward.
The two former University of Connecticut players have reunited in Dallas after being selected in consecutive WNBA first rounds, with Fudd becoming this year’s top overall draft choice. Both athletes publicly confirmed their romantic involvement last July, following their 2025 NCAA championship victory with the Huskies.
During Fudd’s recent introductory media session, team officials prevented her from discussing the relationship, with a Wings spokesperson saying they would “respectfully decline from commenting on our players’ personal lives.”
Speaking just days before Dallas opens preseason play against Indiana on April 30, Bueckers addressed the matter directly.
“There is something I want to address, and I only plan on addressing it once. If we continue to get asked about it, we will refer to this moment in time or use the time to deflect and talk about our teammates,” Bueckers stated. “Quite frankly, I believe me and Azzi’s personal relationship is nobody’s business but our own. And what we choose to share is completely up to us. … Me and Azzi have always been utmost professionals. We’ve always conducted ourselves as such. We’ve never let anything that happens off the court carry onto the court, and that’s what we’ll continue to do.”
The 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year, who posted impressive numbers with 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, also emphasized that she played no role in Dallas selecting Fudd with the first pick.
“Azzi Fudd was the No. 1 draft pick because she earned it,” Bueckers explained. “It had nothing to do with me and everything to do with who she is as a human being, as a basketball player, her resilience, her strength and her career-best year at UConn.”
“Azzi is a great individual person, her own great individual person, and should be celebrated as such,” she added.
Fudd’s final collegiate season supported that assessment, as she recorded career-high averages of 17.3 points, 3.1 assists and 2.5 steals while shooting 48.1% from the field and 44.7% from three-point range. The Huskies compiled a perfect 38-0 record before falling to South Carolina in the Final Four.
A vehicle collision has forced authorities to shut down the intersection where Glasgow Avenue meets Belgrave Avenue, creating traffic delays in the area.
The crash has completely blocked access through the intersection, prompting officials to redirect traffic while emergency responders and cleanup crews work at the scene.
Drivers traveling through the area are advised to find alternative routes until the roadway can be safely reopened to normal traffic flow.
No additional details about the circumstances of the accident or potential injuries have been released at this time.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials have completely shut down a section of Airport Road due to flood conditions making travel unsafe.
The roadway closure affects traffic in both directions between Hope Center and MacArthur Drive, where standing water has made the road impassable for vehicles.
DelDOT is monitoring the situation and has not provided an estimated time for reopening the affected stretch of roadway.
Drivers are encouraged to seek alternative routes and avoid the area until flood waters recede and normal traffic patterns can resume.
NEW YORK — The King of Pop’s music catalog experienced a dramatic surge in popularity following the debut of the new biographical film about his life. Data shows Michael Jackson’s streaming numbers jumped nearly 95% across the United States during the movie’s opening weekend compared to the week before.
Industry analytics firm Luminate tracked the significant increase in listening activity tied directly to the release of the big-budget biographical picture.
The film “Michael” exceeded all expectations at theaters, bringing in $97 million across U.S. and Canadian box offices during its first weekend. Industry projections had initially estimated around $50 million in ticket sales, later revised to $70 million before the actual numbers came in much higher.
The movie’s success translated directly into music consumption. Jackson’s songs were streamed 31.7 million times on Friday and Saturday, April 24-25, compared to just 16.3 million plays during the same days the previous week. This represents the 95% spike in listening activity.
The Jackson 5, where the future superstar began his career as the youngest member, also benefited from renewed interest. The legendary group saw their streaming numbers climb 85%, going from 1.3 million plays to 2.4 million during the same weekend comparison period.
Apple Music reported that Jackson dominated their charts following the film’s release. By Monday, eight of his songs appeared on the platform’s Daily Top 100 Global Chart, with “Billie Jean” reaching the 11th position.
Music identification app Shazam recorded an even larger increase, with Jackson-related searches climbing 140% when comparing the April 24-26 weekend to the previous week. Seven Jackson tracks currently appear on Shazam’s worldwide top 200 list.
Despite the commercial success, “Michael” received poor reviews from film critics. The Associated Press reviewer Jake Coyle gave the movie just one-and-a-half stars out of four, calling it “a kind of fantasy film, one that relives the extraordinary highs of Michael Jackson while turning a blind eye to the lows.”
Accomack County, Virginia has scheduled a public auction of properties with outstanding real estate tax bills for a two-week period in the summer of 2026.
County Treasurer James A. Lilliston, Sr. will oversee the tax sale running from July 1 through July 15, 2026, according to an official notice posted by the county.
The auction is being held under special court authorization and follows Virginia state law Section 58.1-3975, which allows counties to sell properties when owners fail to pay their real estate taxes.
Property owners with delinquent tax bills still have time to settle their accounts before the scheduled sale date. The county has posted official notice of the upcoming auction on its website for public review.
Tax sales are a standard tool used by Virginia localities to collect overdue property taxes and clear unpaid debts from county rolls.
A suspect accused of planning an attack during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner made his initial court appearance Monday morning for his arraignment hearing.
The defendant is facing multiple serious charges, including attempted assassination of the president, according to court documents.
The arraignment marks the first formal court proceeding in the case following the alleged incident at the high-profile media event.
BAGHDAD — A prominent Iraqi parliamentary coalition selected Ali al-Zaidi, a banking executive with no previous government experience, as their choice for the nation’s next prime minister on Monday.
The Coordination Framework, which represents a group of Shiite political parties with ties to Iran, made the announcement following discussions at the government palace. The decision concluded weeks of internal negotiations among coalition members as they sought to identify a consensus candidate to head Iraq’s upcoming administration.
Despite having support from the leading parliamentary group, the proposed government still faces uncertainty in securing the necessary legislative approval.
The coalition had initially indicated support for former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whom the U.S. government considers too closely aligned with Iran. President Donald Trump openly opposed al-Maliki’s potential appointment and warned of possible aid cuts to Iraq if he received the position.
Though al-Maliki maintained his stance following Trump’s public objection, the coalition ultimately chose to pursue a different candidate to break the impasse.
In their official statement naming al-Zaidi, the Coordination Framework expressed gratitude to both al-Maliki and current Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani for their “historic and responsible positions” in stepping aside to help resolve the political stalemate. Al-Sudani released his own statement offering congratulations to al-Zaidi.
Al-Zaidi, who serves as chairman of Al-Janoob Islamic Bank, gained prominence during the final rounds of candidate discussions due to his financial expertise and relationships within Iraq’s business and investment communities. He has never served in an elected or appointed government role.
After receiving the nomination, al-Zaidi pledged to work toward making Iraq “a balanced country, regionally and internationally.”
“This appointment comes at a sensitive time that requires concerted efforts from all political and social forces,” he stated.
According to Iraq’s constitutional framework, the nominated prime minister must present a complete Cabinet proposal to parliament within 30 days, requiring approval from at least 167 lawmakers to gain official confirmation.
The incoming administration will need to address significant challenges stemming from the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has affected Iraqi territory, while disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz have impacted the oil revenue that forms the backbone of Iraq’s economy.
Additional obstacles facing the new government include addressing widespread corruption, managing armed groups operating outside official state control, and determining the role of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a collection of Shiite militia groups that technically fall under Iraqi military command but largely operate independently.
DAKAR, Senegal — A devastating series of coordinated strikes by extremist militants and separatist forces has rocked Mali in what security experts are calling the most extensive terrorist operation the West African nation has witnessed in more than ten years.
The weekend offensive presents a significant test for Russia’s expanding influence in the region, as Mali’s military leadership has increasingly relied on Moscow for security assistance while severing ties with traditional Western partners including France.
Security analysts described Monday how the scope of the weekend violence was extraordinary, both in terms of the number of simultaneous targets and their strategic importance, though government officials have yet to provide official casualty figures.
The coordinated strikes hit multiple locations simultaneously throughout Mali — targeting Bamako’s main airport, the military stronghold of Kati nearby, and several key cities in the country’s northern and central regions including Kidal and Sevare. A car bombing near the capital claimed the life of Mali’s defense minister at his residence.
According to the separatist Azawad Liberation Front, fighters have successfully seized control of Kidal, the strategically important northern city whose previous capture by similar rebel alliances more than a decade ago triggered the current security crisis.
Mali sits within the Sahel region, an expansive territory below the Sahara Desert that has emerged as the global epicenter for extremist violence in recent years.
Data from the Institute for Economics and Peace’s Global Terrorism Index shows this region now represents 51% of all violent extremism fatalities worldwide, a dramatic increase from just 1% two decades earlier. Since 2019, deaths from extremist attacks have surged nearly ten times over.
For more than a decade, Mali has struggled with militants connected to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, alongside a persistent separatist insurgency in its northern territories.
This marks the second time Tuareg separatists and jihadist organizations have joined forces. Their previous collaboration in 2012 resulted in the capture of much of northern Mali, leading to governmental collapse and ultimately requiring French military intervention.
The al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM, known formally as Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, has significantly expanded its operations recently, capturing extensive territory and implementing a fuel blockade around Mali’s capital. The group maintains active operations in neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, while extending its reach into coastal nations including Benin, Ivory Coast and Togo.
JNIM approached the weekend offensive with substantial financial resources. The organization generates revenue through local taxation, cattle theft, and control over natural resources like gold mining operations, while using siege tactics, kidnappings and explosives to dominate transportation corridors.
According to Ulf Laessing, who heads the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the group possessed a “full war chest” before launching the attacks, reportedly after collecting at least $50 million in ransom payments for releasing an Emirati member of Dubai’s royal family and two business associates who were kidnapped near Bamako last year.
In Mali’s northern region, Tuareg-led separatist movements have maintained a long-running campaign to establish an independent nation called Azawad. These groups consolidated in 2024 to form the Azawad Liberation Front, or FLA, which collaborated with JNIM during the weekend assault.
Despite fundamental ideological disagreements, JNIM and the FLA share common objectives in forcing Mali’s military from territories they control in the north and center, while also seeking to expel Russian fighters supporting Mali’s security operations, explained Rida Lyammouri, a senior fellow at Morocco’s Policy Center for the New South.
Military leaders who seized power through coups now govern Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, having promised citizens improved security while condemning previous democratic governments as corrupt and overly dependent on France.
Even with years of French military deployment and U.N. peacekeeping efforts, terrorist incidents had increased since 2014, government territorial control had eroded, and civilian casualties had mounted, creating the public frustration that enabled military takeovers.
These nations have pivoted toward Russia for security partnerships while expelling traditional allies including U.S. forces and U.N. peacekeeping missions, establishing their own regional security arrangement called the Alliance of Sahel States.
Mali’s primary security partner is now the Africa Corps, a newly established Russian military formation answering directly to Moscow’s defense ministry. Security analysts estimate approximately 2,000 Russian troops are currently deployed in the country.
However, the Sahel’s security situation has deteriorated since military governments assumed power beginning with Mali in 2020, with analysts reporting record numbers of attacks and civilian deaths from both Islamic militants and government forces.
Laessing noted that French forces and U.N. peacekeepers had effectively compensated for the largely absent state presence, especially in central and northern Mali. Their departure reduced employment opportunities for locals, making them more vulnerable to jihadist recruitment efforts.
Russian assistance has proven insufficient to address this gap, with their forces now retreating. On Monday, Africa Corps announced via Telegram that its fighters had withdrawn from Kidal, just two days after an FLA spokesperson declared their forces had assumed control.
Kidal remains central to Mali’s ongoing security crisis. In 2012, Tuareg separatists and jihadist groups captured the city along with most of northern Mali. When Malian government forces and Russian Wagner group mercenaries retook the city in 2023, it represented a major victory.
The FLA announced Saturday it had negotiated an agreement permitting Africa Corps forces and the Malian army to withdraw from Kidal, with a convoy departing under rebel protection from the former U.N. peacekeeping facility.
In recent months, JNIM has systematically targeted fuel tankers traveling from Senegal and Ivory Coast, creating a crisis in Bamako even before Middle East conflicts tightened global fuel markets.
Fuel shortages resulted in extensive lines at gas stations, while the Malian military began escorting some fuel convoys to the capital for limited relief.
A temporary ceasefire was established in late March but subsequently failed. Attacks on supply routes resumed before the weekend offensive.
Analysts believe JNIM’s strategy involves using the blockade to pressure businesses and residents to withdraw support from Mali’s military leadership, weakening the government’s credibility and control. However, experts suggest the militants do not appear interested in assuming power themselves.
RIO DE JANEIRO — Stage construction for Shakira’s highly anticipated weekend performance on Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Copacabana Beach got back underway Monday, one day after work stopped following the tragic death of a construction worker at the site.
The Colombian superstar has remained silent regarding the workplace fatality that claimed the life of a crew member.
Police reports indicate that Gabriel de Jesus Firmino, age 28 and working as a locksmith, lost his life Sunday when two stage lift mechanisms crushed him after another employee accidentally triggered the machinery. Detective Ângelo Lages informed reporters that authorities are examining the Brazilian staging company for potential violations of worker safety protocols.
The Grammy-winning artist, who has been touring internationally for the first time since 2018 in what has become a record-breaking world tour, plans to perform without charge this Saturday evening at the renowned beach venue. The location previously hosted Lady Gaga’s free performance last year, which drew an estimated 2 million spectators in what became the pop star’s largest audience ever.
Beachgoers interviewed at the scene expressed sympathy for the deceased worker’s family while supporting the decision to continue with the planned show.
“It is a sad thing that this happened,” said Anita Costa, a 41-year-old singer, as she strolled near the stage on Monday morning. “But the concert should go on.”
Event promoters released a statement Monday offering their condolences and expressing solidarity with the construction company, its employees, and the family affected by what they called a tragic workplace incident.
The Goldey-Beacom Lightning softball team wrapped up their regular season campaign with disappointing results, suffering consecutive defeats against Felician University in New Jersey.
The Lightning fell in both ends of a doubleheader, losing the first contest by a narrow 3-2 margin before dropping the second game 5-1. Both losses came as part of Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play during their road trip to Nutley, New Jersey.
The close first game showed the Lightning’s competitive spirit, but they were unable to secure a victory in either matchup to close out their regular season schedule.
Drivers traveling on Spring Lake Drive are experiencing intermittent lane restrictions between Darby Road and Green Ridge Road as work crews continue operations in the area.
Traffic control personnel are using flagging operations to guide vehicles through the affected section of roadway. The lane closures and flagging will remain in place until 6:30 PM today.
Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when driving through the work zone. Drivers should be prepared for possible delays and follow the directions of flagging personnel.
HARRISBURG, Pa. — An Arizona man who oversaw troubled voter registration operations in Pennsylvania during the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election received a one-month jail sentence Monday after entering guilty pleas to three misdemeanor charges.
Guillermo Sainz Gurrola, who lives in Phoenix, also received a $1,000 fine and probation terms for three counts of solicitation of registration. Prosecutors said he created illegal financial rewards for registration workers who achieved certain targets.
Six registration canvassers still face pending charges including forgery, unsworn falsification, tampering with public records, and violations of election and voter registration statutes, according to the attorney general’s office. One individual also faces identity theft allegations.
Defense lawyer Timothy M. Stengel chose not to comment but noted his client offered an apology during court proceedings. Officials had initially identified the defendant as Guillermo Sainz, though Stengel and court records show his full name as Guillermo Sainz Gurrola.
According to Stengel, Monday’s guilty plea covered registration activities in Lancaster, Berks and York counties.
Court documents reveal that Sainz Gurrola worked for Field+Media Corps and “instituted unlawful financial incentives and pressures in his push to meet company goals to maintain funding which in turn spurred some canvassers to create and submit fake forms to earn more money,” investigators stated in their affidavit.
Everybody Votes provided funding for Field+Media, working to boost voter registration in minority communities. The court filing noted that Everybody Votes cooperated completely with investigators and had contractual language forbidding payments based on registration numbers.
Sainz Gurrola supervised Pennsylvania activities between May and October 2024.
The probe started weeks before the general election after Lancaster County election officials identified potentially fraudulent voter registration documents. Investigators discovered the forms contained fake identities, suspicious penmanship, dubious signatures, wrong addresses and additional concerning elements.
During the final weeks of the presidential campaign, then-candidate Donald Trump highlighted the incident, claiming “cheating” had occurred with “2,600” votes. However, the Lancaster situation involved approximately 2,500 questionable voter registration documents, not actual ballots or cast votes.
Both President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump demanded Monday that ABC terminate late-night host Jimmy Kimmel following his controversial comment describing the first lady as having “the glow of an expectant widow.”
Kimmel made the contentious remark during last Thursday’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” while performing a mock comedy routine supposedly for the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. The actual dinner event was interrupted two days later when an armed individual carrying guns and knives attempted to breach the Washington ballroom where the Trumps and numerous political leaders were assembled.
“People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate,” Melania Trump wrote in a social media statement that her husband later repeated.
ABC has not yet responded to requests for comment.
The comedian has consistently made the president a target of his humor and intensified his approach following conflicts with the administration last autumn. ABC previously suspended Kimmel, with several network affiliates removing him from their programming after he made remarks about deceased conservative figure Charlie Kirk – actions that Trump’s FCC chairman Brendan Carr supported. The network and stations eventually reinstated Kimmel.
Wearing formal attire and positioned at a podium Thursday evening, Kimmel performed his satirical routine for the correspondents’ dinner with fabricated “cutaway” shots to the Trumps and other figures using existing video footage.
Addressing Melania in his fake “audience,” he stated: “Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.”
“I appreciate that so many people are incensed by Kimmel’s despicable call to violence, and normally would not be responsive to anything that he said but, this is something far beyond the pale,” the president posted on his Truth Social platform. “Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired” by ABC and its parent company Walt Disney Co., he declared.
The first lady characterized Kimmel’s “hateful and violent rhetoric” as designed to create division in America. “A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him,” Melania Trump posted. “Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described it as part of broader rhetoric from Democrats and certain media figures that “has helped to legitimize this violence.”
“Who in their right mind says a wife would be glowing over the potential murder of her beloved husband?” Leavitt questioned. No evidence suggests Kimmel was making references to violence.
Kimmel’s routine also acknowledged Melania Trump’s Sunday birthday, commenting: “She’s planning to celebrate at home the same way she always does — looking out a window and whispering, ‘What have I done?’”
He additionally remarked: “Before we go any further, Melania, this is Donald. Donald, this is Melania. That was my impression of Jeffrey Epstein.”
Cole Tomas Allen, the California resident arrested for allegedly attempting to storm the correspondents’ dinner Saturday evening, faces charges of attempted presidential assassination.
NEW YORK — Jessica Mann thought her courtroom ordeal was behind her when Harvey Weinstein was convicted in 2020.
The accuser had endured three grueling days on the witness stand, detailing allegations that the former Hollywood producer raped her while explaining the complex relationship that followed. Her emotional testimony, which included moments of sobbing so intense that proceedings had to be halted early, helped secure a conviction that marked a major milestone for the #MeToo movement.
But on Monday, six years after first coming forward, Mann found herself walking past Weinstein in a New York courtroom once again, preparing to tell her story to yet another jury.
Mann described meeting Weinstein at a friend’s engagement celebration in early 2013. She recalled he was dressed in formal wear and appeared cheerful, prompting her to approach and introduce herself.
At the time, Mann was pursuing an acting career while living in Los Angeles, she told the court. During their second encounter that same evening, she testified that Weinstein spoke extensively about his film industry success and talent for identifying promising performers.
“He said I was really pretty, prettier than Natalie Portman,” Mann recounted, repeating testimony from previous trials. She explained that she provided her contact information, believing the interaction would lead to career opportunities rather than a personal relationship.
“He was interested in my look. I thought I just got discovered,” she stated.
Weinstein, who maintains his innocence regarding all sexual assault allegations, observed from his wheelchair at the defense table while Mann spoke. He periodically conferred with his attorney during her testimony. Mann avoided eye contact with Weinstein except when asked to identify him in the courtroom.
Mann’s allegations of a 2013 sexual assault at a Manhattan hotel are being heard again due to a complex series of legal developments. Weinstein’s initial conviction was reversed on procedural grounds unrelated to Mann’s testimony. A subsequent retrial involving multiple accusers ended with jurors unable to reach a decision on Mann’s case, leaving only her rape charge to be heard again.
“I am ready, willing and able to endure this as many times as it takes for justice and accountability to be served,” Mann declared in a previous statement.
That resolve is now being put to the test once more.
Mann faces potentially days of examination from both prosecutors and Weinstein’s new defense team. Similar to previous legal representatives, they have characterized Mann as an ambitious aspiring actress who willingly engaged with a powerful industry figure, had consensual intimate relations, benefited from his connections and invitations, then turned against him following media reports about other women’s accusations. Those 2017 news stories sparked the broader #MeToo movement.
The 40-year-old Mann grew up in a small Washington state community and received training as a hairstylist, but harbored dreams of acting and relocated to Los Angeles in her twenties. Financial struggles sometimes left her sleeping in her vehicle, though she had secured some commercial and film roles before encountering Weinstein.
Excited by the Oscar-winning producer’s apparent interest in her career prospects, Mann accepted his invitations to spend time together, beginning with a book shopping excursion focused on cinema, she testified. Within weeks, she has stated, Weinstein began making unwanted sexual advances that she reluctantly accepted.
She has described entering into a confusing relationship with the then-married entertainment executive. While sometimes appreciating his professional support, she also resented his sexual expectations while remaining constantly aware of his industry influence.
In March 2013, Mann and a companion visited New York, where she planned to meet Weinstein for breakfast with her friends. Previous trial testimony detailed how he isolated her in a hotel room, prevented her from leaving by blocking the door, and ultimately assaulted her despite her verbal objections of “I don’t want to do this” and “no.”
Following the alleged assault, Mann continued meeting with Weinstein and engaging in what she described as mostly consensual intimate encounters. Over approximately four years, she sent him messages including “miss you,” “there is no one else I would enjoy catching up with that understands me quite like you” and “I love you, always do. But I hate feeling like a booty call.”
Defense attorneys have pointed to these communications as evidence of a genuine caring relationship. Mann has maintained she was attempting to navigate a complex situation with an unpredictable individual.
The Associated Press typically does not name individuals who report sexual assault unless they consent to identification, as Mann has chosen to do.
Despite an unprecedented flow of real-time information from credible sources, conspiracy theories began circulating online within moments of Saturday night’s shooting incident.
The violence that erupted during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner with President Donald Trump in attendance unfolded before hundreds of the country’s top journalists and news executives, who immediately began providing comprehensive coverage from inside the venue.
The result was continuous, verified reporting from numerous trusted news organizations — far from any shortage of reliable information. Yet baseless conspiracy theories from across the political spectrum emerged rapidly, particularly claims suggesting the entire incident was orchestrated. Some theories ignored established facts entirely, while others twisted accurate information to support false conclusions.
University of Maryland professor Jen Golbeck, who researches conspiracy theories, explained that institutional distrust combined with difficulty distinguishing truth from falsehood creates ideal conditions for such speculation. However, she noted that conspiracy theories can gain traction even amid abundant factual reporting due to their appeal as entertainment.
“The thing about conspiracy theories that makes people enjoy them, even if they’re not politically extreme, is that you get to go looking for breadcrumbs,” she said. “It’s a way to feel smart and accepted when you come up with a nugget to contribute and people like it.”
While the immediate presence and coordinated reporting of hundreds of professional journalists prevented some false narratives from taking hold, many conspiracy theories still gained momentum online.
A widespread but baseless claim suggested the shooting was deliberately planned, either to divert attention from matters like the Iran conflict or to advance Trump’s White House ballroom renovation project. This theory gained traction partly because Trump referenced the incident as justification for his ballroom plans, and because the Justice Department is citing it in efforts to convince preservationists to abandon their legal challenge to the $400 million construction project.
Other unfounded speculation, lacking any credible support, implicated the Israeli government or military — a claim that often serves as an antisemitic stereotype. Additionally, press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s pre-dinner Fox News interview comment that “there will be some shots fired tonight in the room” — clearly referring metaphorically to Trump’s planned remarks — was misconstrued as advance knowledge of the actual shooting.
Many conspiracy theorists drew connections between Saturday’s incident and the July 2024 assassination attempt against Trump at his Butler, Pennsylvania rally, pointing to similarities like delays in removing the president from danger. Some cited footage showing Vice President JD Vance being evacuated first as supposed proof that Trump and Secret Service agents had prior knowledge of the attack.
University of Minnesota professor Emily Vraga, who specializes in political misinformation research, explained that increased information doesn’t always improve understanding, particularly during politically divisive periods when people selectively choose facts to construct their preferred narratives.
“We just can’t process that much information,” she explained. “And so when there is just this flood of information and it’s contradictory and ever-changing as new information comes in, that can actually reinforce this tendency to go to a simplified, understandable narrative. And that narrative can include conspiracy theories.”
She added, “Meaning doesn’t have to be tied to reality.”
NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware’s men’s basketball team has added a new player to their roster through the transfer portal, with head coach Martin Ingelsby announcing Monday the signing of DeShawn Harris-Smith for the 2026-27 season.
Harris-Smith comes to the Blue Hens program after completing his previous season playing for Georgetown University. The addition represents another strategic move by Coach Ingelsby to strengthen the team’s lineup through the transfer market.
The announcement marks the latest roster development for the Fightin’ Blue Hens as they continue building toward the upcoming season. Harris-Smith will bring his Georgetown experience to Newark when he officially joins the Delaware program.
TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State receiver Rylen Bourguet raced along the sideline before executing a perfect fake curl route that left her defender behind. She caught the perfectly timed pass for a game-winning touchdown that capped off last week’s first-ever Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic.
The dramatic finish exemplified the excitement surrounding the inaugural tournament held on Arizona State’s campus, showcasing the rapid expansion of women’s flag football in NCAA Division I athletics.
Bourguet believes such thrilling moments will become increasingly frequent as the sport gains momentum nationwide. With flag football making its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, featuring both men’s and women’s divisions, Bourguet has her sights set on representing Team USA.
“It was so awesome — it blew everything I’ve ever experienced out of the water,” Bourguet said of the Fiesta Bowl tournament. “It’s great to see how much it’s taking off at the youth level, the high school level and now the collegiate level. Seeing what it’s become is so surreal — very excited for the generations to come that are going to play the sport.”
The championship event demonstrated why flag football ranks among America’s fastest-expanding sports. Eight universities participated: Arizona State, Alabama State, Georgia, UCF, Florida, Grand Canyon, Charlotte and USC.
UCF claimed the tournament crown with a 19-7 victory over Florida in the championship game, which aired on ESPNU. According to Fiesta Bowl’s Scott Leightman, approximately 1,500 complimentary tickets were distributed to fans during the two-day competition.
Erik Moses, the Fiesta Bowl’s executive director, expressed such enthusiasm about the tournament’s success that he anticipates expanding to 12 or 16 participating teams in future years. He noted that corporate sponsors like Oakley were eager to support the event.
“It is easy to say that women’s sport is having a moment,” Moses said. “But we’re more interested in making sure that this is a movement and not just a moment.”
Bourguet praised the tournament’s professional atmosphere, describing it as the most impressive women’s flag football competition she had witnessed. The event featured dedicated media sessions, athlete gift packages, food truck vendors, and a DJ providing entertainment across two playing fields.
Among the eight participating universities, Alabama State stands alone in providing scholarships, while the remaining seven operate as club sports. This landscape may shift rapidly: flag football has joined the NCAA’s Emerging Sports for Women initiative, and Nebraska recently declared its intention to elevate women’s flag football to varsity status.
Georgia coach Caroline Caplinger anticipates this transformation will accelerate. Her primary role involves working with RCX Sports, which operates NFL FLAG and coordinates clinics and showcases nationwide, including a recent event in Pittsburgh during the NFL draft.
Caplinger reports nearly 100 NCAA Division I club teams currently exist across the country, representing a dramatic increase from roughly 10 teams in 2019. NFL FLAG research indicates 4.1 million girls aged 6-17 participated in flag football last season, up from 2.9 million in 2022.
High school participation reached 68,800 girls in 2024, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations’ most recent survey — a 60% jump from 2023 numbers.
“I definitely foresee by 2028 that one, or a couple, Power 4 conferences deciding to make this a varsity sport,” Caplinger said. “I know it’s on track to become a championship status. It’s really grabbing the attention of colleges, at the Division I, II, III and NAIA level. It’s a rapid-fire transition and spreading across the country.”
“I definitely see this sport, that within the next five years, this sport having a true NCAA championship.”
Multiple factors drive flag football’s growth, particularly among women. The sport requires minimal equipment investment while showcasing football’s athletic demands without the physical punishment of tackle football.
Caplinger observes that much of women’s flag football expansion occurs within Southeastern Conference territory, a region with deep football traditions. Florida pioneered widespread high school flag football programs.
Several tournament participants recently transitioned from volleyball, basketball and soccer backgrounds. However, as more high schools adopt the sport annually, many current players have extensive flag football experience.
“It’s one of the first times that football is really accessible to women — that they get to be on the field and really experience a version of the game,” Caplinger said. “The young women on my team love watching the (men’s) Georgia Bulldogs go play, they’re out there every Saturday and sometimes even travel for the away games.”
“They love football, they understand it and this gives them a chance to play football, grow their knowledge of the sport and be even more invested in a sport they love watching. It really only takes one passionate girl to come to a school and get everyone else on board.”
Media icon Oprah Winfrey has signed a major partnership agreement with Amazon that will bring her podcast exclusively to the tech giant’s platforms.
The multi-year contract between Winfrey’s Harpo Entertainment and Amazon-owned Wondery grants the streaming service exclusive distribution and advertising control over “The Oprah Podcast,” both companies revealed on Monday. Beginning this summer, the show will double its frequency to twice-weekly episodes, with Wondery handling distribution of both audio and video content throughout Amazon’s ecosystem.
The partnership extends beyond just the podcast, as Amazon has secured access to the complete archive of “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” the legendary daytime program that aired for 25 years from 1986 through 2011. The deal also includes Winfrey’s popular book club and “Favorite Things” content franchises.
Company officials did not reveal the financial details of the arrangement.
This acquisition adds Winfrey to Amazon’s growing roster of high-profile podcast personalities. Last year, Wondery signed a similar exclusive agreement for “New Heights,” the popular show hosted by NFL stars Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs and his brother Jason Kelce, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Winfrey debuted “The Oprah Podcast” just last month in December 2024. In Monday’s announcement, she expressed her enthusiasm for the expanded platform, stating the podcast “allows me to continue the work I feel called to do – opening the door for conversations that matter.” She described the broader distribution opportunity as one “I embrace.”
Starting in July, Wondery will make “The Oprah Podcast” available across Amazon’s various services, including Prime Video, Amazon Music, Fire TV Channels, and Audible. Despite the exclusive Amazon deal, the podcast will remain accessible on YouTube and other major streaming platforms.
Drivers using Old Orchard Road should expect delays today as construction crews have shut down the right lane of northbound traffic.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that the lane closure affects the stretch of Old Orchard Road between E Austin Street and Savannah Road. Work crews are expected to complete their activities and reopen the lane by 4 PM this afternoon.
Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time and use caution when passing through the construction zone. Traffic is being reduced from multiple lanes to a single northbound lane during the work period.
The terrorist organization Islamic State announced Monday that it was behind a deadly assault in Nigeria’s Adamawa state that left a minimum of 29 people dead, according to a declaration the group made through the Telegram messaging platform.
The acknowledgment of responsibility came through an official statement released by ISIS on Monday, confirming their involvement in the violent incident that occurred in the northeastern Nigerian state.
Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo Lopez has been temporarily shifted to relief duties while he addresses mechanical problems with his pitching form, manager Walt Weiss announced to media on Sunday.
The right-handed pitcher started this season in Atlanta’s second spot in the rotation after making only one appearance in 2025 before requiring season-ending shoulder surgery. Lopez posted an impressive 2.18 ERA across his first four outings this year, but struggled significantly in his most recent appearance, surrendering four runs on five hits plus three walks during just one inning in last Tuesday’s 11-4 defeat against Washington.
“We see him as a starter,” Weiss explained. “He’s working through some things, delivery wise, that type of thing, and he’s getting right there. And when he’s right, he’s one of our best starters. He was our No. 2 coming out of camp, even with some of the issues at the end of spring training.”
“So we see him as a starter long term, but right now, trying to iron some things out. He’s going to help us out of the pen in the short term,” the manager added.
The veteran pitcher brings significant experience in both starting and relief roles throughout his major league career. Across 11 seasons and 273 total appearances, including 128 starts, Lopez holds a 48-55 record with a 3.93 ERA.
His 2024 campaign with Atlanta marked a career highlight, earning his inaugural All-Star selection and placing 11th in National League Cy Young Award balloting. That season saw him compile a stellar 1.99 ERA with 148 strikeouts against 42 walks across 135 2/3 innings pitched.
Meanwhile, Atlanta has retained 22-year-old right-hander JR Ritchie on the major league roster following his impressive debut performance Thursday against Washington, where he surrendered two runs on five hits while recording seven strikeouts over seven innings. Ritchie is scheduled for his first home appearance Wednesday when the team faces Detroit.
The Braves also anticipate the return of right-hander Spencer Strider, who could make his season debut as early as this weekend during the team’s series in Colorado. Strider began the year on the injured list due to an oblique strain.
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 27, 2026 — A coalition of nearly 400 agricultural organizations, spearheaded by the National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation representing over 5 million farmers, is pressing Congress to address regulatory challenges stemming from California’s Proposition 12 in the upcoming Farm Bill.
The agricultural groups delivered a formal letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), outlining their opposition to the California law that affects farming operations across state lines.
The coalition presented several key arguments in their appeal to congressional leaders:
• Congressional action is the only viable solution to address Prop 12’s widespread impact, as confirmed by the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that placed responsibility squarely with federal lawmakers rather than regulatory agencies.
• The California law has generated widespread uncertainty throughout rural communities, particularly affecting smaller farming operations that lack the financial resources to renovate facilities to meet the new requirements.
• Bipartisan support exists for addressing the Prop 12 challenges. Former Trump administration Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated: “[Proposition 12] is not just affecting California. It’s affecting multitudes of other states, multitudes of other parts of the ag community, including our hog family farms.”
• Biden administration Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also voiced support for congressional intervention, saying: “California’s Proposition 12 is not a narrow issue, nor is it a regional one. It goes to the heart of whether farmers across the country can operate under consistent, responsible, science-based standards—or be subject to a shifting patchwork of mandates they cannot control and cannot afford. When I served as Secretary of Agriculture the Supreme Court of the United States made clear, resolving these interstate challenges is the responsibility of Congress. I encouraged Congress to act then, and I am again encouraging Congress to act now. The farm bill presents a clear and immediate opportunity to provide that certainty and uphold the principles that have long sustained American agriculture and the affordability of our food supply.”
• The American Veterinary Medical Association has questioned the effectiveness of Prop 12’s housing mandates, stating: “the arbitrary housing requirements in Prop 12 do not objectively improve animal welfare and may unintentionally cause harm.”
• The California law could trigger a complex web of conflicting state regulations. Oklahoma is considering legislation with even stricter housing requirements than Prop 12, which would force producers to make additional costly modifications to access different state markets.
• Construction costs for compliant facilities are significantly higher, with university research showing new barns meeting Prop 12 standards cost 25-40% more per sow than traditional housing, plus an estimated 15% increase in operating expenses per animal due to reduced efficiency.
• Consumer food prices have risen substantially since implementation. North Dakota State University economists found that prices for affected pork products in California have jumped nearly 20% on average since Prop 12 took effect.
• The regulatory burden is accelerating consolidation in the pork industry, as smaller producers close operations due to compliance costs they cannot afford.
The proposed 2026 House Farm Bill aims to preserve farming freedoms while respecting state authority over practices within their own borders. However, the coalition argues that California’s Proposition 12 exceeds these boundaries by imposing requirements on agricultural operations in other states.
The National Pork Producers Council and the broader coalition of agricultural groups are advocating for congressional passage of the House Farm Bill with provisions addressing the Prop 12 complications.
The American Farm Bureau Federation has published additional economic analysis examining how state laws affect interstate agricultural commerce, available through their Market Intel reports.
A Newark resident is facing serious criminal charges following a violent confrontation that left one person injured with a neck wound on Friday afternoon.
Police officers were called to respond to a disturbance in a church parking lot in the 300 block of East Main Street at around 2:57 p.m. on April 24, 2026.
According to the police investigation, Eric Pitts, age 54 and a Newark resident, had been part of a previous dispute that escalated into violence. Authorities determined that during the altercation, Pitts used a knife to slash the victim’s neck area.
The incident occurred in broad daylight at the religious facility’s parking area, prompting immediate law enforcement response to the scene.
Pitts was subsequently taken into custody by Newark police officers. The department has not released additional details about the victim’s condition or the circumstances that led to the initial disagreement between the parties involved.
The case remains under investigation as authorities work to piece together the full sequence of events that resulted in the violent encounter.
Northampton County, Virginia officials have announced that residents can now submit applications for the county’s property tax assistance program designed to help elderly and disabled homeowners.
The Real Estate Tax Relief initiative targets qualifying residents who are either seniors or individuals with disabilities, offering financial relief on their annual property tax obligations.
County officials have set a deadline of May 1, 2026, for all applications to be submitted for consideration in the program.
Eligible residents who wish to participate in this tax relief opportunity should contact the Northampton County Commissioner of Revenue office for application materials and specific qualification requirements.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service has issued its most recent evaluation of crop development and field conditions nationwide.
The federal agency’s latest assessment provides farmers, agricultural professionals, and industry stakeholders with current information about planting advancement and growing conditions for key crops across the country.
These regular reports from the USDA division help track the progress of the nation’s agricultural season and provide valuable data for market analysis and farming decisions.
BOGOTA, Colombia — Security fears are mounting in Colombia as rebel forces have unleashed a series of devastating attacks in the nation’s southwest, just weeks before voters head to the polls in a May presidential race where public safety tops the agenda.
Since Friday, insurgent organizations have carried out 26 strikes using explosives and unmanned aircraft, Colombia’s defense ministry reports. The deadliest incident occurred Saturday when a bomb detonated along a major highway connecting Cali and Popayan, claiming 21 lives by Monday’s count.
The southwestern territory has long been plagued by conflict, with criminal organizations battling for decades to dominate this strategic zone that serves their illegal enterprises — from unlawful mining operations to narcotics smuggling and coca plant cultivation used in cocaine production.
Officials have identified the FARC-EMC organization as responsible for the fatal highway bombing near a Pan-American Highway tunnel. This faction operates under Nestor Vera, better known as Iván Mordisco, a former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia fighter who rejected the government’s 2016 peace agreement.
Political risk expert Sergio Guzmán, based in Bogota, believes Mordisco’s organization may be showcasing its destructive capabilities while working to “establish its credibility” with Colombia’s incoming administration for potential future negotiations.
“Part of what they are doing is establishing leverage towards the future,” Guzmán said.
Current President Gustavo Petro, himself a former guerrilla fighter, has pursued dialogue with remaining insurgent factions through his “total peace” initiative.
His administration has extended ceasefire offers to multiple organizations hoping to advance peace discussions, though experts argue this approach has backfired by allowing these groups to reorganize, reequip, and tighten their community control.
Organizations such as the FARC-EMC impose taxes on residents in territories they occupy while forcing young people into their military ranks.
“The government’s peace policy has been naïve,” said Javier Garay, a political science professor at Colombia’s Externado University. “They thought that if they had a condescending attitude towards these groups they would receive a positive response.”
The FARC-EMC began peace discussions with Colombian officials in late 2023, but Mordisco’s wing withdrew from negotiations in April 2024 and has maintained armed resistance since.
International Crisis Group Colombia expert Elizabeth Dickinson notes that Mordisco’s forces maintain particular strength in Cauca and Valle del Cauca provinces, where they compete for control over drug smuggling corridors and illegal gold extraction sites.
For two years, Mordisco’s fighters have employed drone strikes and vehicle bombs to counter Colombian military operations in the Micay Canyon, an isolated coca-growing region under FARC-EMC influence.
According to Dickinson, these recent southwestern attacks demonstrate the group’s ability to maintain its “asymmetrical war” against government forces.
Colombia’s defense minister announced Sunday that rebel-imposed kidnappings and community lockdowns in Cauca have declined over the past year due to government interventions.
However, opposition politicians have criticized the total peace approach and hope to capitalize on security concerns by promising stricter anti-crime measures.
Constitutional term limits prevent Petro from seeking reelection, but his party’s nominee, Iván Cepeda, has pledged to continue rebel negotiations.
Cepeda condemned the recent southwestern violence on social media, calling for investigations into whether the attacks aim to disrupt the electoral process.
“It is worrying that these terrorist actions are happening in a region where there is ample support for our political project,” Cepeda said.
Colombian citizens will select from 14 presidential candidates on May 31, including Cepeda and conservative contenders Abelardo de la Espriella and Paloma Valencia.
While Cepeda supports continuing Petro’s “total peace” strategy, his conservative opponents advocate confronting rebel groups with increased military force before resuming any peace negotiations.
Guzmán observed that this weekend’s violence “deepens the discomfort” with Colombia’s security climate — where a presidential candidate was murdered last year — but both political camps will attempt to benefit from the renewed conflict.
“Government supporters will use the attacks as an opportunity to say that that this is exactly why we need to reach urgent agreements with (rebel) groups,” Guzmán said. “Detractors will say this is why we need to more aggressively attack them.”
WASHINGTON — The nation’s highest court appeared split Monday during arguments over whether thousands of cancer-related lawsuits against Roundup’s manufacturer should be blocked.
The legal battle reached the Supreme Court following an avalanche of court cases that resulted in some billion-dollar judgments against Bayer, the global chemical giant that acquired Monsanto, Roundup’s original producer.
Some justices appeared to support Bayer’s position that state-level lawsuits should be prohibited since federal authorities have concluded Roundup probably does not cause cancer. However, other justices questioned lawyers about whether this approach improperly prevents states from adapting to evolving scientific studies.
Monsanto has support from the Trump administration, creating tension with certain Make America Healthy Again advocates who seek stricter pesticide regulations.
The opposing side includes John Durnell from Missouri, whose legal case claims he contracted non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma following more than two decades as his neighborhood’s designated “spray guy,” applying Roundup in parks throughout his historic St. Louis area.
A jury determined the corporation failed to adequately warn him about potential cancer risks and granted him $1.25 million in damages. His case represents one among thousands of similar legal actions, some resulting in multi-billion dollar compensation awards.
Scientific disagreement continues regarding cancer risks and glyphosate, Roundup’s primary component. In 2015, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer labeled the substance as “probably carcinogenic,” while the Environmental Protection Agency has concluded it likely poses no cancer risk to humans when properly used.
The EPA approved labeling without cancer warnings, and Bayer contends it must comply with federal requirements rather than state regulations under which Durnell and others have filed suit.
Attorneys representing Durnell argue that federal regulations do not prevent Bayer from including more comprehensive warnings on products as required by state laws.
While Bayer contests the cancer allegations, the company has allocated $16 billion for case settlements and proposed a comprehensive settlement this year. Simultaneously, it has lobbied states to enact legislation preventing new lawsuits, with several states complying.
Bayer has confronted over 100,000 Roundup-related claims, primarily from residential users. The company has eliminated glyphosate from Roundup products sold to U.S. homeowners and gardeners. Company officials indicate they may need to withdraw glyphosate from American agricultural markets if litigation continues.
Agricultural producers associated with the Modern Ag Alliance, an organization established by Bayer, express concern this could damage the farming sector during an already challenging period.
Environmental organizations claim Bayer seeks to exclude juries from lawsuits due to its defeats in state courts.
Pesticide issues have created divisions between the administration and supporters of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s MAHA movement, who also opposed an executive order designed to increase glyphosate production.
Kennedy has consistently stated that glyphosate causes cancer, while acknowledging the executive order was essential for food security and national defense purposes.
Dozens of MAHA activists and supporters gathered Monday outside the Supreme Court for their “People vs. Poison” demonstration to oppose Monsanto’s attempts to avoid legal accountability.
The Supreme Court’s ruling is anticipated by late June.
AUSTIN, Texas — Teenage staff members at Camp Mystic received zero emergency preparedness training and hesitated to take action during the devastating 2025 flood that claimed 27 lives, according to findings presented to Texas legislators on Monday.
Legislative committee investigator Casey Garrett delivered a comprehensive report detailing how the all-girls Christian camp’s culture of strict obedience, combined with inadequately prepared young staff and delayed response to flood warnings, contributed to the July Fourth tragedy that killed 25 campers and two teenage counselors.
“There was never any real training, no drills of any kind,” Garrett explained during the committee’s inaugural hearing examining the flood that devastated the Guadalupe River camp. She emphasized that neither staff nor campers knew proper procedures for flood emergencies.
The victims included camp owner Richard Eastland, who died attempting to evacuate children to safety. Most of those who perished were under 10 years old, with several attending their first camp experience.
Garrett, a Houston lawyer who previously worked on the legislative investigation into the 2022 Uvalde school shooting, highlighted the absence of adequate emergency protocols throughout her presentation to the packed committee room filled with grieving family members.
The investigation revealed disturbing survival stories, including one camper who described floodwater rising so high in her cabin that her chin nearly touched the ceiling before she escaped. Another counselor reported having to submerge girls underwater to push them through flooded cabin doorways.
Committee members viewed harrowing footage showing water bursting through building cracks and heard cellphone video from a stranded camper calling for help in the darkness as flood waters raged around her.
A critical flaw identified was the camp’s inadequate evacuation procedures. The only guidance provided to girls in flood-prone areas was a single paragraph instructing them to “stay in their cabins unless told otherwise by the office,” claiming all structures were built in “high, safe locations.” State inspectors had approved this plan just two days before the disaster.
When conditions deteriorated, some counselors eventually took initiative, pushing children through cabin windows so they could climb uphill to safety.
“It wasn’t a plan. It wasn’t a safe plan, It was an option taken, thank God,” Garrett stated. “It was very ad hoc.”
Several staff members told investigators they were too frightened to move children to higher ground without explicit authorization, fearing disciplinary action from camp leadership.
The report described an “obedience-encouraged” environment controlled by Richard Eastland, whom family and staff called “The General” and “The Eagle.”
“He ruled,” his widow Tweety Eastland told investigators, with several Eastland family members present at Monday’s hearing.
“He was running the show over there … You just really didn’t cross him,” Garrett observed.
The camp depended almost entirely on Richard Eastland for flood emergency decisions. His son Edward testified in recent legal proceedings that any comprehensive evacuation strategy existed only in his father’s mind.
Richard Eastland’s body was discovered in his vehicle alongside several girls he had attempted to drive to safety. Edward Eastland survived after floodwaters swept him into a tree, while camp security officer Glenn Juenke also survived despite being trapped in a flooded cabin with campers.
Despite the tragedy, Garrett acknowledged Richard Eastland’s positive impact, describing him as a beloved leader who taught countless girls to fish and had a special talent for comforting homesick first-time campers.
“We do know Dick Eastland loved every little girl who came to Camp Mystic,” Garrett said.
The camp’s plans to partially reopen in late May, expecting nearly 900 girls this summer, have sparked outrage among victims’ families. Several prominent state officials have urged regulators to reject or postpone the camp’s license renewal, currently under review.
State regulators have already identified nearly two dozen deficiencies in the camp’s proposed safety plan, including inadequate flood warning monitoring and evacuation procedures.
Following last year’s tragedy, Texas legislators enacted new requirements for detailed emergency planning, staff training, and warning system installation.
Since the Legislature won’t reconvene until January 2027 and the committee lacks authority over camp licensing, lawmakers indicated they plan to use these findings to develop new regulations for all camps statewide.
“Texas’ grief is enduring,” stated Sen. Pete Flores. “We cannot change what happened, but we can change how we prepare for and respond to the next emergency.”
Federal health authorities are reporting a concerning outbreak of salmonella infections connected to backyard chickens and other poultry, with 34 confirmed cases across 13 states showing troubling resistance to standard antibiotic treatments.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the infections occurred between February 26 and March 31, resulting in 13 hospitalizations. Patients range from 1 to 78 years old, though children under age 5 represent more than 40% of those affected.
Cases have emerged in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Ohio, Tennessee, Wisconsin and West Virginia. Health officials warn additional cases may surface in other states as investigations continue.
Birds such as chickens, ducks, geese, guinea fowl and turkeys can harbor salmonella bacteria that causes human illness. Nearly 80% of patients interviewed had been in contact with backyard poultry, and over 90% of poultry owners had acquired their birds since January from sources including farm supply retailers.
Laboratory testing reveals bacterial samples from all 34 patients show potential resistance to at least one standard salmonella treatment drug. Some samples demonstrated resistance to four additional commonly prescribed antibiotics. When infections cannot respond to antibiotic therapy, patients face increased risk of severe complications or death.
This represents the latest in a series of similar outbreaks investigated by the CDC in recent years. A 2025 outbreak affected more than 500 individuals across 48 states, hospitalizing 125 people and causing two fatalities.
Young children, elderly adults and individuals with compromised immune systems face the highest risk of severe illness from these bacteria. Health officials emphasize thorough handwashing after handling poultry, their feed or equipment as the most effective prevention method. The CDC strongly advises against kissing or cuddling backyard birds.
