Motorists traveling on southbound US Route 13 should expect delays due to ongoing construction work that has closed the right lane between New Sweden Street and Interstate 495.
The lane restriction is scheduled to remain in place until 5:00 AM, according to Delaware Department of Transportation officials.
Drivers are advised to use caution when traveling through the work zone and allow extra time for their commute during the overnight hours.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A costly mistake by Kansas City Royals rookie Carter Jensen led to his removal from Thursday’s starting lineup against the Minnesota Twins when the young catcher failed to wake up on time.
The 22-year-old Jensen admitted to reporters that he simply slept through his alarm clock. “I didn’t wake up to my alarm. Slept through it,” Jensen explained to The Kansas City Star and other media outlets. “Don’t really have an excuse — nor should I. It sucks. It happens. I feel like I let teammates down, coaches down. Just learn from it and just know it won’t happen again.”
While Jensen did make it to the ballpark, his late arrival prevented him from completing the necessary pregame preparation to start behind the plate. He was able to enter the contest during the final inning of Kansas City’s 5-1 defeat.
The scheduling mishap forced Salvador Perez, who had been slated to serve as the team’s designated hitter, to take over catching duties for the first eight frames of the game.
Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino expressed initial concern for his teammate’s wellbeing when Jensen couldn’t be reached. “First and foremost, I’m glad Carter’s OK,” Pasquantino shared with reporters. “I mean, that was kind of the initial thought when you’re trying to get a hold of his parents and everything like that — just make sure he’s OK.”
However, Pasquantino also emphasized that the rookie must use this incident as a learning opportunity. “There are some things that cannot happen, and that’s one of them,” Pasquantino stated. “So he’s going to have to wear it on the chin — same way anybody would have to. It can’t happen, and hopefully it doesn’t happen again. But it’s one of those things that you just can’t afford mistakes like that in this game. Just got to move forward the best that he can. I know he feels really bad.”
Despite the disappointment, Pasquantino indicated the team remains supportive of Jensen while acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. “I know it was not his favorite drive to the field this morning, but it wasn’t our favorite morning either, trying to figure out what was going on. He’ll learn from it, grow a little bit. We’re here for him, though. It’s not like anybody’s mad at him. Things happen. But you’ve got to learn from mistakes like that — and maybe get another alarm clock or something.”
The United Nations Security Council is preparing for a Friday vote on a modified resolution designed to secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz, after the original proposal faced significant revisions following pushback from China and Russia regarding the use of military force to reopen the vital shipping lane that Iran has effectively blocked.
According to the revised draft obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, the resolution now permits only defensive measures—not offensive actions—to guarantee safe vessel passage through the strait. This waterway typically handles one-fifth of global oil shipments, and Iran’s blockade during ongoing hostilities has caused energy prices to spike worldwide.
The original resolution proposed by Bahrain would have permitted nations to employ “all necessary means”—diplomatic language that encompasses potential military intervention—throughout “the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman” to maintain safe passage and prevent navigation interference.
Three permanent Security Council members with veto power—Russia, China, and France—had voiced concerns about approving military force. While the updated draft removes references to offensive military operations, these nations’ positions on the modifications remain unclear, making Friday’s vote particularly significant.
The current proposal permits countries to employ “all defensive means necessary and commensurate with the circumstances in the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent waters” to maintain passage and prevent interference with international shipping “for a period of at least six months.”
The resolution states that nations operating independently or through “multinational naval partnerships” may implement defensive measures after providing advance notice to the Security Council.
This development follows President Donald Trump’s Wednesday announcement that the United States and Israel would continue “extremely hard” bombardment of Iran over the coming two to three weeks, though he provided no clear timeline for ending the conflict. Iran has maintained retaliatory strikes throughout the region, and its control over the strait has created challenges for Trump and the international community as rising energy costs impact the global economy.
Prior to Bahrain’s release of the final draft, Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia stated the proposal “does not solve the puzzle.” He emphasized that ending hostilities would provide the real solution.
Chinese UN Ambassador Fu Cong criticized the original draft’s force authorization, describing it as “unlawful and indiscriminate.” During Thursday’s council session, he cautioned that such measures “would inevitably lead to further escalation of the situation and lead to serious consequences.” He called on the council “to proceed with caution” while actively pursuing de-escalation and diplomatic dialogue.
French UN Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont similarly advocated for de-escalation, stating to the council that “defensive measures that avoid any broad use of force need to be promoted.” He subsequently suggested the revised draft emphasizing defense could be acceptable.
On March 11, the Security Council passed a Bahrain-sponsored resolution denouncing Iran’s “egregious attacks” against Gulf states and demanding Tehran immediately cease its strikes, which began after the US and Israel initiated military action on February 28.
That measure passed 13-0 with Russia and China abstaining, and also criticized Iran’s Strait of Hormuz actions as threatening international peace and security while demanding an immediate halt to all shipping blockade activities.
The online retail giant Amazon will begin implementing a 3.5% fuel and logistics fee for third-party merchants using its platform beginning April 17, as energy costs continue climbing due to the Iran conflict.
The temporary fee will affect numerous sellers who utilize Amazon’s fulfillment services, the company confirmed to The Associated Press via email Thursday.
“Elevated costs in fuel and logistics have increased the cost of operating across the industry,” Amazon stated in their email response.
The Seattle-headquartered corporation explained it has been absorbing these cost increases until now, but like other major shipping companies, when expenses stay high, it introduces temporary fees to help offset some of these costs. The company emphasized its charge is “meaningfully” below surcharges imposed by other major shipping providers.
“We remain committed to our selling partners’ success and to maintaining broad selection and low prices for customers,” Amazon stated.
The fuel and logistics fee will impact sellers in the United States and Canada who use Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon service. Beginning May 2, the surcharge will also affect merchants using Buy with Prime and Multi-Channel Fulfillment services.
Amazon becomes part of an expanding group of shipping companies implementing surcharges to offset climbing energy expenses as the Iran conflict continues.
Both United Parcel Service and FedEx have raised their fuel surcharges. The United States Postal Service announced last week it would impose an 8% fuel surcharge affecting packages shipped beginning April 26. The postal service said this surcharge will stay active until January 17, 2027.
Couples preparing for marriage in India are turning to weight-loss medications as a quick solution to shed pounds before their wedding ceremonies, creating a new market for diabetes drugs repurposed for cosmetic use.
Medical facilities across India are capitalizing on this trend by offering specialized treatment plans. New Delhi’s Klarity Skin Clinic promotes a “Mounjaro bride” service, while other wellness centers have incorporated weight-loss injections into comprehensive pre-wedding makeover packages that traditionally focused on skincare and hair styling.
Through social media marketing, Klarity advertises “guided nutrition, Mounjaro and smart workouts” designed to help future brides prepare for their wedding day. The clinic declined to provide comments when contacted.
Medical professionals across the country report a surge in requests from engaged individuals seeking prescription weight-loss medications before their ceremonies. Eight physicians interviewed confirmed they’ve received numerous inquiries from brides-to-be and some grooms about obtaining these drugs. Most specifically request Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro, which became the first GLP-1 medication available in India for treating both diabetes and obesity. Doctors note it has gained more popularity than Novo Nordisk’s competing drug Wegovy.
“Over the last few months, over 20% of the queries we’ve received for obesity injections are from to-be brides, who also openly give us a timeline on how soon they are getting married,” explained Rajat Goel, a bariatric surgeon working at Hindivine Healthcare in New Delhi.
Goel emphasized that he only provides prescriptions to patients who meet medical criteria, refusing to prescribe the medications purely for appearance-related reasons.
Indian wedding celebrations represent major cultural events for families with sufficient resources, deeply rooted in tradition and social customs. Family-arranged marriages remain common, often accompanied by expectations regarding physical attractiveness and economic standing.
A 26-year-old Mumbai finance professional named Aditi sought medical consultation in November for a weight-loss prescription after traditional diet and exercise methods proved insufficient for her goals.
“When I see the result, I feel happy,” Aditi shared regarding her 22-pound weight reduction using Mounjaro before her February wedding ceremony. “If I am not happy, I don’t feel confident. I did not want to feel that way at the time of the wedding.”
Aditi represents one of six brides and one groom who discussed their pre-wedding weight-loss drug usage, though all requested anonymity due to social stigma. They described feeling pressured by society to achieve a specific appearance for their wedding day, with most discontinuing the injections shortly after their ceremonies.
Both Novo and Lilly introduced their obesity medications to the Indian market during the previous year. Industry analysts project this market will reach approximately $852 million by 2030. Mounjaro sales experienced significant growth following its launch, becoming the top-selling medication in the world’s most populated country.
Indian pharmaceutical companies began producing less expensive versions of Novo’s medication last month after the patent protection for semaglutide, the drug’s active component, expired, making treatment more accessible to consumers.
These medications are designed for adults meeting obesity classifications or those who are overweight with related health conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep disorders.
“Mounjaro has been approved by regulators for specific medical indications and is intended to be used only under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional,” Lilly stated in their official response.
The most affordable Mounjaro injection pen costs approximately $140 monthly in India, while the strongest dosage reaches about $275 per month.
Novo, which recently reduced Ozempic and Wegovy prices for the second time, currently sells the lowest Wegovy dosage for roughly $61 monthly and the highest concentration for approximately $175.
Novo emphasized that it discourages self-medication with semaglutide or any usage outside approved medical guidelines.
Health experts predict India could have more than 440 million overweight or obese residents by 2050, representing one of the globe’s largest concentrations, according to research published in The Lancet.
Akshitha, who married in Hyderabad last year, credited the medications with helping her lose 33 pounds, bringing her weight to 167 pounds before her wedding. She explained that a family physician recommended trying the injections when she expressed concerns about her weight.
“There’s so much chaos before the wedding, with all the planning and preparation. I knew I would not get time to go to the gym and be on a diet. That’s when these drugs looked like a better option,” she explained, adding she might consider using them again following a future pregnancy.
As local pharmaceutical companies introduce cheaper weight-loss medications to the market, India’s drug regulatory authority has expressed concerns about improper usage and increased oversight of unauthorized sales and marketing.
“We understand the curiosity, but this cannot be a quick fix,” stated Dr. Swati Pradhan, who founded the obesity and metabolic wellness clinic Live Light.
Dr. Pradhan reported prescribing the injections to only select engaged women who qualified medically and demonstrated additional health concerns, while requiring lifestyle modifications for lasting results.
For Priya, a 27-year-old technology worker from Bengaluru, weight-loss medications became her response to body-shaming from potential grooms’ families.
“I’ve had men and their families reject my proposal because of my weight. I was told I was fat,” Priya revealed.
She initially used Novo’s oral semaglutide, which received approval in India for diabetes treatment, as an off-label weight-loss solution and lost more than 26 pounds before transitioning to injectable Mounjaro.
Her search for a marriage partner continues.
HAVANA – The Cuban government declared Thursday its intention to release 2,010 inmates from correctional facilities across the Caribbean island nation, as reported by government-controlled media outlets.
This prisoner release represents the second amnesty announcement Cuba has made this year while diplomatic discussions with the United States remain ongoing.
The official government publication Granma described the prisoner release as a “humanitarian and sovereign gesture.”
The Trump administration is reportedly considering potential departures of several key officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel, according to a Thursday report from The Atlantic.
Sources with knowledge of White House planning told the publication that discussions are also underway regarding Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer potentially leaving their positions.
According to The Atlantic’s reporting, the timeline for any such moves remains unclear, and President Donald Trump has not reached final decisions on the matter.
Reuters was unable to independently confirm the details of the report at the time of publication.
Motorists traveling through a key intersection should plan for possible delays as construction crews continue work that requires periodic lane restrictions.
The intersection of Delaware Street and Ferry Cutoff Street is experiencing intermittent lane closures as part of ongoing construction activities. These temporary traffic restrictions are expected to remain in effect until 5 AM.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and consider alternate routes if possible while crews complete the necessary work in the area.
Drivers traveling on US Route 13 should expect delays overnight due to construction activities affecting southbound traffic lanes.
The Delaware Department of Transportation is conducting work along a stretch of the highway between Bayview Road and Shannon Boulevard that will result in periodic lane restrictions.
According to DelDOT, the construction-related lane closures will remain in effect until 4:00 AM, with traffic patterns returning to normal after that time.
Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when driving through the work zone area.
Delaware State Police are reaching out to the community for assistance in tracking down multiple sex offenders who have violated registration requirements.
The Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration Unit (SOAR) has released public notifications regarding both wanted and homeless sex offenders throughout the state.
Authorities are actively searching for several individuals who have either failed to register or update their current address information as required by law. The wanted sex offenders include Arthur Baugh, Stefan Ewell, Charles A. Fulton, Deangelo Hoskins, and John A. Martz.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of these individuals is urged to contact authorities at (302) 739-5882. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333.
Police emphasize that the individuals listed represent only a partial list of currently wanted sex offenders. The complete registry can be accessed through the Delaware Sex Offender Registry website.
Additionally, SOAR has issued notifications about homeless sex offenders, including Samuel Bishop, Eric Green, and Jesse Kincaid. These individuals are not wanted for registration violations but have recently reported being homeless.
If community members have information indicating that any of the listed homeless individuals are residing at a specific address, they should contact the same phone numbers provided for wanted offenders.
The homeless sex offender notifications are part of ongoing public safety efforts to keep communities informed about registered offenders in their area.
DETROIT — Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards has lost his chance at NBA postseason recognition after the team benched him Thursday evening against the Detroit Pistons due to a knee problem and illness.
The talented guard has appeared in 59 contests this season, though only 58 qualify under league standards, leaving him short of the required 65-game threshold with six regular season matchups remaining for Minnesota.
Edwards sat out the Detroit contest just one game after his return from a two-week absence, where he contributed 17 points in 23 minutes during a victory over Dallas. His comeback against the Mavericks followed a six-game stretch on the sidelines due to his troublesome right knee.
The accomplished player, who has earned four All-Star selections and two all-league honors, placed seventh in MVP consideration during both of the previous two campaigns.
Despite posting a personal-best average of 29.3 points per contest this season, Edwards will fall short of the 70-plus game mark he achieved in each of his initial five NBA seasons.
German federal police took a suspect into custody Thursday evening following threatening behavior aboard a high-speed passenger train, according to law enforcement officials. Multiple travelers sustained minor injuries during the incident when explosive devices were detonated.
The passenger rail service was traveling between Cologne and Frankfurt Thursday night when authorities ordered an emergency evacuation in Siegburg, located near Cologne. Federal police officers subdued and detained the individual, and investigators discovered a blade concealed in his bag, the German news agency dpa confirmed.
According to law enforcement, the individual had barricaded himself inside one of the train’s restrooms. The German publication Bild reported that the explosive devices were hurled into a passenger walkway. Authorities confirmed that multiple individuals received minor cuts and scrapes during the incident.
Officials have not yet released details about the detained individual’s identity or background.
President Donald Trump has elevated Todd Blanche, his former criminal defense attorney, from deputy attorney general to acting head of the Justice Department in a Thursday announcement.
The 51-year-old lawyer gained national recognition during the four years between Trump’s presidential terms by representing him in several high-profile criminal proceedings.
Blanche, who previously worked as a federal prosecutor and law firm partner, spearheaded Trump’s legal defense across multiple cases, including the Manhattan hush money trial that resulted in 34 felony convictions, as well as two federal cases initiated by special counsel Jack Smith that were later dropped.
In a social media statement, Trump described Blanche as “a very talented and respected Legal Mind.”
In his previous role as deputy attorney general, Blanche held the department’s number-two position.
Serving under Attorney General Pam Bondi, he handled daily departmental operations and emerged as one of its primary spokespersons and public representatives. His responsibilities included supervising the disclosure of Jeffrey Epstein government documents and making regular television news appearances.
A closer examination of Blanche’s professional background reveals his path to leading the Justice Department:
The Denver-area native earned his law degree from Brooklyn Law School through evening classes while simultaneously working as a paralegal at Manhattan’s U.S. attorney’s office, graduating with honors. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from American University in Washington, D.C.
Following law school, Blanche clerked for federal judges Denny Chin and Joseph Bianco, who now serve on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, before spending eight years as a federal prosecutor in the same Manhattan office where he had worked as a paralegal.
During his prosecutorial career, he spent two years leading the office’s violent crimes unit as co-chief, supervising approximately 24 prosecutors handling murder, kidnapping, and other serious violent crime cases.
In 2014, Blanche transitioned to private practice, joining WilmerHale’s Manhattan location. Three years later, in September 2017, he moved to Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP as a partner specializing in white collar defense and investigations.
Foreshadowing his future work with Trump, Blanche successfully defended Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign manager, securing dismissal of a mortgage fraud case in 2019 in the same New York courthouse where Trump would later face trial.
Blanche’s defense strategy centered on arguing that the Manhattan district attorney’s case too closely resembled federal charges that had already sent Manafort to prison, constituting double jeopardy.
In 2023, Blanche departed Cadwalader to join Trump’s legal team, informing colleagues of his decision to represent the former president just before Trump’s arraignment in the hush money case.
In his resignation email, he stated: “I have been asked to represent Trump in the recently charged DA case, and after much thought/consideration, I have decided it is the best thing for me to do and an opportunity I should not pass up.”
Even following his conviction, Trump was impressed by Blanche’s aggressive approach, his readiness to challenge witnesses and judges, and his composure during media appearances.
Trump subsequently appointed both Blanche and fellow defense attorney Emil Bove to senior Justice Department positions in his new administration, while nominating Bove for a judgeship on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last summer.
Beyond the hush money proceedings, Blanche defended Trump in both special counsel cases: the Washington-based 2020 election interference case and the Florida case involving allegations of retaining classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
In both matters, Blanche’s defense team successfully implemented a strategy focused primarily on postponing proceedings beyond the 2024 presidential election. Following Trump’s electoral victory, Smith moved to dismiss both cases, citing established Justice Department guidelines prohibiting the indictment or prosecution of sitting presidents.
Just ten days before Trump’s return to the presidency, Blanche appeared alongside him via video from Mar-a-Lago as a Manhattan judge imposed no punishment in the hush-money case.
“The majority of the American people also agree that this case should not have been brought,” Blanche told the judge, referencing the election outcome as public vindication.
“The American voters got a chance to see and decide for themselves whether this was the kind of case that should’ve been brought,” Blanche said. “And they decided.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Thursday that military personnel will now be permitted to carry their personal firearms on military installations for self-protection, marking a significant departure from decades-old policy.
Through a video message shared on X, Hegseth revealed he is issuing a directive instructing base commanders to approve requests from service members seeking to carry their privately owned guns “with the presumption that it is necessary for personal protection.”
The new policy requires commanders to provide detailed written justification for any rejected requests.
“Effectively, our bases across the country were gun-free zones,” Hegseth stated. “Unless you’re training or unless you are a military policeman, you couldn’t carry, you couldn’t bring your own firearm for your own personal protection onto post.”
The policy shift follows a series of violent incidents at military installations nationwide. Past tragedies have sparked debate about why armed service members cannot access weapons for protection, ranging from individual conflicts to mass casualty events like the 2009 Fort Hood shooting in Texas where an Army psychiatrist killed 13 people.
Hegseth referenced recent incidents, including last year’s shooting at Fort Stewart in Georgia that wounded five soldiers. In that case, an Army sergeant used his personal handgun before fellow soldiers subdued and arrested him.
“In these instances, minutes are a lifetime,” Hegseth explained. “And our service members have the courage and training to make those precious, short minutes count.”
Current Defense Department regulations have long forbidden military members from bringing personal weapons onto installations without senior commander approval, with stringent storage requirements.
Under existing rules, personnel must formally retrieve their firearms from secure storage for approved activities like hunting or target practice on base, then immediately return them afterward. Military police typically remain the only armed personnel on installations, except during training exercises or at designated shooting facilities where service weapons may be used without live ammunition.
Tanya Schardt from the Brady gun violence prevention organization criticized the change, noting that Defense Department leadership and military officials have historically opposed loosening current restrictions, which originated during President George H.W. Bush’s administration.
“Our military installations are among the most guarded, protected properties in the world, and they’ve never been ‘gun-free zones,’” Schardt stated. “If there is a problem with violent crime on these installations, then the Secretary of Defense has an obligation to alert the American people and describe how he’s working to prevent that crime.”
Federal authorities filed legal action Thursday against three states that have moved to shut down prediction market platforms, sparking a jurisdictional battle over who controls these emerging financial instruments.
Connecticut, Arizona and Illinois have all issued orders demanding companies like Kalshi and Polymarket halt operations, claiming these platforms violate state gambling prohibitions. Arizona escalated the dispute last month by bringing criminal charges against Kalshi, alleging violations of both gambling statutes and laws prohibiting election wagering.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission argues in its lawsuit that federal law gives it sole authority to oversee these market operators, not individual states.
CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig defended the agency’s position in a statement, saying “The CFTC will continue to safeguard its exclusive regulatory authority over these markets and defend market participants against overzealous state regulators.” Selig added that Congress previously “rejected such a fragmented patchwork of state regulations” due to concerns about increased fraud risk and inadequate consumer safeguards.
The Trump administration recently backed the prediction market companies in this ongoing legal fight, which could influence future sports betting regulations.
Connecticut’s top prosecutor pushed back against the federal challenge Thursday, with Attorney General William Tong claiming the administration is “recycling industry arguments” that courts nationwide have already dismissed.
“These contracts are plainly unlicensed illegal gambling under time-worn state law, and we will aggressively defend Connecticut’s commonsense consumer protection laws,” Tong stated.
Federal authorities detained eight individuals Thursday in connection with healthcare fraud schemes worth $50 million across the Los Angeles region.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, five cases focused on hospice facilities in Glendale, Artesia, Tarzana and Simi Valley that allegedly submitted Medicare bills for patients who weren’t terminally ill and didn’t meet hospice care requirements. Two additional arrests occurred in Idaho and Los Angeles for allegedly defrauding a West Coast labor union’s healthcare programs. An eighth person was taken into custody in Los Angeles for allegedly falsifying immigration medical paperwork.
The current administration has targeted California, particularly the Los Angeles region, as part of its nationwide anti-fraud campaign, claiming the Democratic-controlled state isn’t doing enough to prevent improper spending.
During a press conference announcing the charges, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, appointed by Trump, described California as the “kingdom of fraud.”
Governor Gavin Newsom’s office responded that the state has already taken aggressive action against hospice fraud, pointing out that Newsom enacted legislation in 2021 to halt new hospice licensing due to fraud concerns. The office also noted that the state has canceled over 280 hospice licenses within two years and currently has 300 providers under investigation.
“Glad the federal government is finally stepping up to do their part,” Newsom posted on X.
The administration has spotlighted fraud nationwide across federal benefit programs including Medicare and Medicaid. In March, President Donald Trump issued an executive order establishing an anti-fraud task force headed by Vice President JD Vance, which held its inaugural meeting last week. While most efforts have concentrated on Democratic-led states, Republican-controlled Florida was also requested to provide additional information about their methods for identifying, preventing and addressing Medicaid fraud.
“We are enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for criminals who defraud American taxpayers,” Essayli stated in announcing the California charges.
Dr. Mehmet Oz announced during a press conference that federal officials “took out” 221 hospices over the past 10 weeks. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which Oz oversees, did not immediately respond to requests for additional details about those actions. CMS certifies hospice providers to accept patients with government-subsidized health insurance.
“We’re going to review every single hospice in California,” Oz declared.
In January, Oz posted a social media video outside an Armenian bakery in Los Angeles, claiming that approximately $3.5 billion in hospice and home care fraud had occurred in the city and “quite a bit of it” was operated by “the Russian Armenian mafia.” This prompted a civil rights complaint from Newsom’s office, which accused Oz of targeting Armenians with “baseless and racially charged allegations.”
Oz’s agency also revealed plans for a new, publicly accessible hospice scoring system using care metrics to better identify potentially fraudulent facilities.
The most significant Medicare fraud case announced Thursday involved an Artesia-based hospice facility whose owner filed over $9 million in fraudulent hospice claims to Medicare and received more than $8.5 million in payments, according to prosecutors.
The owner compensated beneficiaries and marketers for referring supposed hospice patients to her business. One couple reported they were each offered $300 monthly to enroll in hospice care despite not requiring it, and they received unnecessary items including nutritional shakes, over-the-counter vitamins and wheelchairs, prosecutors stated.
Another individual charged in a separate hospice fraud case is currently incarcerated in Seattle after being convicted in a previous hospice fraud case in December 2024. Her husband was arrested as a co-defendant Thursday morning.
Authorities also filed charges against a Los Angeles nurse who used a Tarzana hospice center to submit more than $3.8 million in claims, receiving approximately $3.4 million from Medicare. She remains at large.
Court dates have not been scheduled and it was not immediately known whether any of those arrested have obtained legal counsel.
The Salisbury University men’s golf squad delivered another strong performance Thursday, earning a bronze medal finish at the Elizabethtown Spring Invitational held at Hershey Country Club in Pennsylvania.
The Sea Gulls tied for third place at the tournament, marking yet another podium appearance for the team this season. The competition took place on Thursday afternoon at the prestigious Hershey venue.
This latest achievement continues Salisbury’s successful run in collegiate golf tournaments, demonstrating the team’s consistent competitive performance throughout the spring season.
CHESTERTOWN, Md. – Salisbury University’s women’s tennis squad started strong but ultimately succumbed to Washington College’s superior roster depth, losing 4-3 to the Shorewomen during Thursday’s competition at the Johnson Fitness Center.
The Sea Gulls jumped ahead early in the match but were unable to sustain their momentum against Washington College’s well-rounded team performance throughout the afternoon contest.
Myanmar’s military commander Min Aung Hlaing is poised for a parliamentary vote Friday that would install him as the nation’s president, cementing his authority five years following his military takeover of the democratically elected government.
The anticipated shift from military general to civilian leader comes after a heavily skewed election that saw an army-supported political party claim victory, which opposition voices and international leaders condemned as fraudulent theater designed to mask continued military control under democratic pretenses.
The 69-year-old military leader was the architect behind the 2021 military takeover that removed Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi’s administration and resulted in her detention, triggering mass demonstrations that evolved into countrywide armed opposition to military rule.
Parliamentary members from the Union Solidarity and Development Party, which secured 81% of contested positions, are anticipated to unite with the military’s designated legislators in supporting the former top military commander among three nominated candidates, with legislative proceedings beginning at 10 a.m. local time.
Min Aung Hlaing’s presidential ambitions — a role that experts believe he has pursued for years — remained secret until recent days and came alongside news of significant changes in Myanmar’s military leadership structure, which he has commanded since 2011.
This past Monday, while receiving his parliamentary nomination for president, Min Aung Hlaing selected Ye Win Oo, a former intelligence director known for unwavering allegiance to the general, as his replacement to head the armed forces.
The military transition and Min Aung Hlaing’s anticipated presidency represent what experts view as a calculated move to strengthen his authority over Myanmar while leading what appears to be a civilian administration, benefiting an armed forces that has directly governed the nation for five out of the last six decades.
“He has long harboured the ambition to trade his title of commander-in-chief for president and it appears his dreams are now becoming a reality,” said Aung Kyaw Soe, an independent Myanmar analyst.
Despite these political maneuvers, the internal conflict that has devastated Myanmar throughout most of the previous five years continues intensely, with anti-military groups — including survivors from Suu Kyi’s political organization and established ethnic minority forces — creating a unified coalition this week to challenge the military.
“Our vision and strategic objectives are to completely dismantle all forms of dictatorship, including the military dictatorship, and to collectively initiate a new political landscape,” the Steering Council for the Emergence of a Federal Democratic Union said in a statement on Monday.
Opposition forces may encounter heightened military action along with greater attention from bordering nations that might attempt to strengthen ties with the emerging government, according to analysts.
“Amidst global oil and fuel shortages and economic crises, maintaining organisational stability could become difficult,” analyst Sai Kyi Zin Soe said of the opposition.
“As these hardships grow, it may become even harder to build mutual understanding and trust between groups, reach firmer agreements, and sustain cooperation.”
More than 100 international law professors from prestigious American universities have released a formal letter expressing grave concerns that U.S. military operations against Iran could constitute violations of international law.
The legal scholars, representing institutions including Harvard, Yale, Stanford and the University of California, issued their statement Thursday following President Trump’s renewed threats this week to target Iran’s electrical grid and water treatment facilities.
In a Wednesday television address, Trump indicated the conflict could intensify unless Iran accepts Washington’s demands, suggesting potential attacks on the country’s energy sector and oil production capabilities.
The academics’ letter, published through the Just Security policy publication, states that actions by American forces and remarks from top U.S. officials “raise serious concerns about violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including potential war crimes.”
The letter specifically highlighted Trump’s mid-March statement suggesting the U.S. might launch attacks on Iran “just for fun,” as well as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s early March remarks claiming America doesn’t operate under “stupid rules of engagement.”
The legal experts expressed particular alarm about military strikes affecting educational institutions, medical facilities, and residential areas, pointing to an attack on a school that occurred on the conflict’s opening day.
Military officials announced in March they had upgraded their investigation into a devastating February 28 strike on an Iranian girls’ school after media coverage indicated the inquiry found U.S. forces were probably responsible. Iranian Red Crescent officials report 175 fatalities from that incident.
During Wednesday’s remarks, Trump issued additional threats against Iran, stating: “We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We are going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong.”
A prominent Muslim advocacy organization in the United States has criticized Trump’s language throughout the conflict, describing his threat to bomb Iran “back to the Stone Ages” as “dehumanizing.”
The current hostilities commenced February 28 when American and Israeli forces launched coordinated attacks against Iran. Tehran retaliated with its own strikes targeting Israel and Gulf nations hosting U.S. military installations. Combined U.S.-Israeli operations in Iran and Israeli attacks in Lebanon have resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced millions of people.
Australia’s groundbreaking social media age restriction has captured international attention, with lawmakers from Spain to Malaysia considering similar measures since the ban on users under 16 took effect in December.
The worldwide interest appears to have prompted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s administration to strengthen enforcement efforts this week, moving away from what officials had previously described as productive industry collaboration just two months earlier, according to technology policy analysts.
As the government takes a more assertive approach with platforms like Instagram and TikTok, Albanese’s center-left administration welcomes the international attention from at least eight countries expressing interest in comparable restrictions, while working to address reports that many teenagers continue using these platforms, experts note.
INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE MOUNTS
“The whole world’s watching Australia in this experiment, and therefore it looks like weak government to back down or pretend that the failures in reasonable efforts aren’t happening,” explained Jeannie Paterson, co-founder of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Ethics, who frequently provides government counsel on technology matters.
A representative for Communications Minister Anika Wells stated that global attention had not influenced her tougher position, refusing additional comment.
Following the ban’s implementation, officials announced in mid-January that social media companies had shut down 4.7 million accounts suspected of belonging to minors, leading industry observers to anticipate a potential one-year grace period for enforcement.
Government officials from Britain, Canada, and several U.S. lawmakers have reached out to Australian authorities regarding the social media restriction – a measure strongly supported by parents but opposed by the multi-trillion-dollar technology sector required to implement it.
However, these positive developments have been overshadowed by continued reports of minors maintaining social media presence.
On Tuesday, the government announced investigations into Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube, and Snapchat for potential law violations, collecting evidence for possible legal proceedings.
The eSafety regulator had previously indicated enforcement actions would only occur in cases of widespread non-compliance.
According to the regulator’s first detailed compliance assessment, nearly one-third of parents reported their under-16 child maintained at least one social media account. Among these cases, two-thirds said the platform never requested the child’s age.
Angela Flannery, former general counsel for the government’s Communications Department who now provides private sector guidance, noted, “The government is quite heartened generally by the number of other jurisdictions that are looking at imposing restrictions on the under-16s globally.”
However, considering Tuesday’s “disheartening” compliance findings, Flannery added, “They probably want to be seen to be taking action to keep encouraging other jurisdictions to enforce or to enact similar bans.”
Meta and Snap expressed commitment to ban compliance, TikTok refused comment, and Alphabet did not respond to requests regarding the government action.
U.S. COURT DECISIONS PROVIDE SUPPORT
The eSafety assessment revealed that cyberbullying and image-based abuse complaints – issues the government claimed the ban would address – remained unchanged, while parents reported inability to inform platforms about their underage children’s continued accounts. Minors failing age verification were being encouraged to retake tests until successful, the regulator found.
The restriction requires platforms to implement “reasonable steps” preventing under-16 users from maintaining accounts or face penalties up to A$49.5 million ($34 million).
Communications Minister Wells attributed the problem not to parent or child non-compliance but to Big Tech undermining government policy.
Recent U.S. court decisions likely encouraged Australia’s platform pursuit, according to sources familiar with the ban’s implementation, including last week’s trial verdict requiring Meta to pay $375 million in penalties for safety failures enabling child exploitation on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, plus another ruling finding Meta and Google negligent for creating social media platforms harmful to young people.
“The court cases in New Mexico and California have helped the court of public opinion,” said Julian Sefton-Green, a Deakin University new media professor advising the commissioner’s two-year ban impact study.
“They’re jury decisions, that social media is liable for the well-being of young people, so I think the government’s going to take heart from that.”
Rob Nicholls, a University of Sydney regulation researcher, suggested the lawsuits might encourage platform redesigns complying with Australian restrictions by prioritizing minor protection.
“The effect of that design change will be to reduce access for under-16s,” he explained. “If you’ve got to do it to avoid litigation in the States, you may as well do the same thing around the world.”
NASA’s four-person Artemis II crew concluded their initial day in space on Thursday by experimenting with photography equipment designed to document Earth’s gradual disappearance as they venture toward lunar orbit.
Speaking to Houston’s mission control while capturing images of his home planet using an iPhone, Commander Reid Wiseman described the challenge: “It’s like walking out back at your house, trying to take a picture of the moon. That’s what it feels like right now trying to take a picture of Earth.”
Located over 40,000 miles from Earth, where our planet looks like a diminishing illuminated sphere, Wiseman explained that photographing from such a vast distance created difficulties when adjusting exposure controls on both his GoPro camera and iPhone.
Mission Specialist Christina Koch shared with ground control her observations of “the beauty that we’re seeing.”
“You can actually make out the coastline of the continent, you can make out rivers because of the sunglare, you can see high thunderclouds … and you can see the South Pole lit up. It’s just phenomenal,” she said.
The expedition has encountered minor technical difficulties, including malfunctions with the spacecraft’s restroom facilities and initial troubles with Wiseman’s attempts to access Microsoft Outlook for email communication. Both issues have since been resolved.
The Artemis II team, which departed from Florida at 6:35 p.m. ET on Wednesday, carries multiple photographic devices aboard their Orion spacecraft for documenting their space journey. Their equipment includes compact GoPro action cameras, iPhones, and professional Nikon cameras—a trusted brand NASA astronauts have utilized on the International Space Station for many years.
The choice to provide the crew with iPhones came from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, a wealthy space traveler who participated in two commercial SpaceX Dragon flights and employed these devices during his own missions, according to NASA representatives.
While NASA hasn’t yet published any crew-captured photographs, the agency plans to share images later during more significant mission milestones. One anticipated shot is an “Earthrise” photograph, reminiscent of the iconic image captured by Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders in 1968 as his vessel circled the moon.
On their sixth day, the astronauts will reach approximately 252,000 miles from Earth—the farthest distance humans have ever traveled—where our planet will appear no bigger than a basketball beyond the moon’s dark far side.
The team is approaching a crucial orbital departure point that will propel them from Earth’s orbit onto a moon-bound path starting at 7:49 p.m. ET Thursday. This critical mission phase, called trans-lunar injection, combines the Orion service module’s propulsion system with orbital physics.
Throughout their opening day in space, the astronauts accomplished the first of numerous test goals, including a proximity operations exercise to assess Orion’s navigation capabilities.
Shortly following their successful launch, Koch notified Houston mission control about a red warning light indicating trouble with Orion’s restroom, located in a compact area within the crew compartment—itself only marginally larger than a minivan’s interior. Engineering teams resolved the problem after completing a proximity operations evaluation, NASA reported.
Space toilets are typically challenging to operate but remain crucial for extended missions, with designs differing significantly between spacecraft.
Both the ISS and Orion utilize a $24 million Universal Waste Management System, employing suction to gather waste, converting urine into drinking water, and packaging solid waste in containers that are later ejected into space.
The restroom features a custom-designed funnel and tube for urine collection plus a seat for solid waste. Both components can operate simultaneously, incorporating suggestions from female astronauts, NASA’s website indicates.
In comparison, Apollo mission astronauts from the 1960s and 1970s relied on basic collection bags attached to their bodies, storing waste in onboard storage areas or abandoning them on the lunar surface.
Orion’s toilet design more closely matches traditional bathroom fixtures and remains separated from the main cabin by a small privacy door.
“It’s the one place we can go during the mission where we can actually feel like we’re alone for a moment,” Artemis II astronaut Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency explained in a video last year.
HERSHEY, Pa. – Just days after Salisbury University’s men’s golf team achieved their breakthrough victory, the women’s golf squad has made their own piece of history by claiming their inaugural tournament championship.
The Sea Gulls dominated the field at the Elizabethtown Spring Invitational held Thursday at Hershey Country Club, marking a milestone moment for the program as they secured their first-ever tournament title.
The victory represents a significant achievement for Salisbury’s women’s golf program and continues a successful week for Sea Gulls athletics, with both golf teams now having broken through to claim their respective first tournament victories.
A California researcher has dedicated more than a decade and a half to an ambitious conservation mission in one of America’s most extreme environments.
Botanist Naomi Fraga has spent over 15 years pursuing seeds from the endangered Death Valley sage, working to secure specimens for preservation in a specialized storage facility that houses native California plant species.
The challenging quest takes place in the harsh desert landscape of Death Valley, where the rare sage species grows in extremely limited numbers. Fraga’s work represents a crucial effort to protect biodiversity by banking seeds from plants that face potential extinction.
The seed vault serves as an insurance policy for California’s native flora, allowing scientists to preserve genetic material that could be vital for future restoration efforts or research. The Death Valley sage represents just one of many rare species that conservationists are racing to protect before they disappear forever.
Family lawyers for a junior college basketball player from Oklahoma who passed away following a head injury sustained during competition are claiming the young athlete did not receive adequate medical attention before being allowed to return to play.
Twenty-year-old Ethan Dietz passed away on November 25 following a head injury he sustained during a basketball contest in Texas three days prior. Dietz was enrolled at Connors State College located in Warner, Oklahoma.
Following Dietz’s passing, the educational institution released limited information regarding the circumstances of his injury and the medical response provided. When contacted Thursday, a representative from the junior college, which enrolls approximately 3,000 students, declined to address inquiries about the medical treatment Dietz received following his injury.
“Connors State College’s top priority at this time remains caring for Ethan’s family, the team and the CSC community as they continue to mourn this heartbreaking loss,” the statement said. “The college is unaware of any active or pending litigation related to this matter and is unable to comment on any potential claim.”
In the weeks following Dietz’s passing, the institution announced that Bill Muse, who had served as both the men’s basketball head coach and athletics director at CSC for many years, would be leaving his position citing “personal reasons.”
Family attorney Michael Holden claimed in his statement that Dietz was not given immediate medical assessment and was allowed to continue participating in the game following his injury.
According to Holden, Dietz traveled back with his teammates on the two-hour bus journey home and was subsequently hospitalized after experiencing seizures while in his dormitory room. The legal team indicated they are conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death but have not yet initiated legal proceedings.
Attempts to reach the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office by phone and email on Thursday were unsuccessful. Holden’s statement referenced a coroner’s examination that determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head along with bleeding between the skull and brain.
The 6-foot-8 forward from Conway, Arkansas, was scoring an average of 11 points per game across eight contests during the previous season.
In the statement provided through Holden, Krystal Dietz expressed that her son aspired to play Division I basketball.
“He grinded year-round to better himself for the upcoming season,” Dietz said. “He had the discipline, dedication, and work ethic required to see that kind of dream through, had he only been given the time.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio leveled accusations against China on Thursday, claiming the nation is engaging in “bullying” tactics by temporarily detaining numerous Panama-flagged vessels in Chinese ports following Panama’s takeover of two vital Panama Canal terminals from a Hong Kong company subsidiary earlier this year.
Beijing has rejected these claims. Panama finds itself caught between competing U.S. and Chinese interests after President Donald Trump previously alleged that China controls the Panama Canal. The Trump administration views this crucial shipping waterway as vital to both economic and defense interests, with Trump repeatedly discussing plans to regain control of the canal.
“China’s decision to detain or otherwise impede Panama-flagged vessels engaged in lawful trade destabilizes supply chains, raises costs, and erodes confidence in the global trading system,” Rubio said on social media. “The United States stands with Panama against any retaliatory actions against its sovereignty and will always support our partners in the face of bullying.”
Data from Tokyo MOU, an Asia-Pacific port control organization with 22 member nations, reveals that in March, 92 of 124 ships detained in Chinese ports for inspection carried Panama flags – representing nearly 75% of all detentions. These vessels were typically held for periods ranging from one to ten days before release.
This represents a significant increase from earlier months, when Panama-flagged ships comprised just over 40% of detentions in February (19 of 45 ships) and approximately 30% in January (23 of 71 ships).
Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu dismissed the allegations, stating that America’s “repeated wrongful allegations only reveal its attempt to take control of the canal.” His statement did not acknowledge the increased detention rates of Panama-flagged vessels.
These developments follow Panama’s supreme court decision in January declaring the concession agreement held by a CK Hutchison Holdings subsidiary for the Balboa and Cristóbal terminals as unconstitutional.
Washington has pressured Panama and other regional nations to limit China’s influence throughout the Western Hemisphere, an area Trump has identified as a priority focus. The current administration has taken more assertive action in Latin America than previous U.S. governments have in recent decades, including the dramatic military operation that resulted in Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s capture in January.
The Federal Maritime Commission in Washington continues monitoring Panama-flagged ships experiencing delays or detentions in Chinese ports.
“Secretary Rubio’s statement highlights the disruptive effects of the government of China’s actions against Panama-flagged vessels,” said Laura DiBella, chair of the commission. She said the commission “is not aware of any other country in recent history conducting vessel safety inspections and detentions in a punitive manner.”
Panama’s leadership announced that APM Terminals, part of Denmark’s A.P. Moller-Maersk group, would temporarily manage the terminals during the contract transition period. DiBella noted that China’s Ministry of Transport had requested high-level meetings with Maersk officials in Beijing.
Panamanian officials have attempted to downplay the broader geopolitical implications surrounding the ship detentions. Government representatives did not respond to requests for comment regarding Rubio’s statements, though they have previously denied any connection between the detentions and China-Panama canal disagreements.
In March, Panama’s foreign minister, Javier Martínez, acknowledged the detention increase but characterized them as “part of routine maritime industry practices, because detentions also occur in other ports and to other flags.”
“We want to maintain a respectful relationship with China,” he added.
Following the January supreme court ruling, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that China would “take all measures necessary to firmly protect the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies.”
José Digeronimo, former president of the Panama Maritime Chamber, warned that actions targeting these ships could have a “huge impact” on Panama, which ranks among the world’s leading ship registry nations. These registrations generate approximately $100 million annually for the government.
Digeronimo likened ship registries to passport selection for vessel owners, who choose registration locations that “allow you to travel to the greatest number of countries without restrictions.” He warned that harassment from Chinese authorities could jeopardize this system.
“If the world’s main exporter starts imposing restrictions for using the Panamanian flag, the last thing you’ll want is to have the Panamanian one,” Digeronimo said.
Federal immigration authorities have detained the leader of Wisconsin’s biggest mosque, triggering claims from community supporters and local officials that his arrest stems from his vocal opposition to Israeli policies.
Salah Sarsour, who leads the Islamic Society of Milwaukee and holds permanent legal residency status, was apprehended Monday when approximately ten ICE officers encircled his vehicle outside his Milwaukee residence, the mosque organization reported.
Community advocates demanded his immediate freedom during a Thursday rally. Legal representatives stated authorities justified his detention by labeling him a foreign policy security risk, an allegation his defense team strongly disputes.
His lawyers contend the 53-year-old Palestinian native faces targeting due to his public statements against Israel and a juvenile conviction from Israeli military tribunals, which critics argue lack proper legal protections and disproportionately convict Palestinians. Israeli officials dispute these characterizations. The charges involved allegedly hurling stones at Israeli security personnel, defense attorney Munjed Ahmad explained.
“Our government should not be doing the bidding of a foreign government,” Ahmad said of Israel. “There’s no question in my mind is that this is to stifle the discourse on the Palestinian narrative.”
Legal counsel emphasized that Sarsour, originally from the Israeli-controlled West Bank territory, maintains a clean criminal history throughout his three-decade American residency. They noted federal authorities have been aware of his Israeli conviction since his 1993 arrival in the United States.
ICE and Department of Homeland Security officials did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.
Defense attorneys drew parallels between Sarsour’s situation and Mahmoud Khalil’s case, a former Columbia University student activist facing removal proceedings after being designated a foreign policy security concern.
Sarsour has led Wisconsin’s largest Islamic organization as board president for five years. His legal team confirms he possesses a green card and resides in the Milwaukee suburbs. His spouse and four grown children hold American citizenship.
During a packed press briefing, energetic supporters chanted demands for Sarsour’s freedom while sharing stories of his community assistance efforts. Multiple attendees recounted his childhood experiences, including claims of harsh treatment during Israeli detention.
“He was targeted because of one thing, because he dared stand up to the Israeli army,” Othman Atta, one of Sarsour’s attorneys, told the crowd. “And he was not a U.S. citizen.”
Religious leaders from various faiths praised Sarsour as an important community contributor.
“This appears to be just the latest example of how this administration seeks to silence opposition and intimidate those who speak and act differently,” said the Rev. Paul D. Erickson, bishop of the Greater Milwaukee Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
The detention also sparked criticism from political figures, including Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, who described the action as “an outrage.”
“He is a legal permanent resident. There is no substantive evidence he has done anything wrong,” Johnson said Thursday in a post on X. “This is another example of overreach and harm from the U.S. immigration authorities.”
Sarsour remains confined at an Indiana county detention facility. His legal team has submitted paperwork requesting his release.
“He is ready to fight tooth and nail to make sure that he’s not drug through the mud,” Ahmad said. “He wants to stay in this country.”
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama will be absent from Thursday evening’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers after suffering a right ankle injury.
The French sensation’s absence comes just 24 hours after he delivered a spectacular performance against the Golden State Warriors, recording 41 points, 18 rebounds, and three blocks in San Antonio’s decisive 127-113 road win.
Following that impressive showing, Wembanyama expressed his strong desire to capture the league’s Most Valuable Player Award, while he’s already viewed as a leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year recognition.
“I do care deeply about it,” Wembanyama shared with media regarding his MVP aspirations. “I think that of the greats that are in the Hall of Fame — or the best of all time — they have fought and grabbed everything they could grab early on in their career. If I want to make my spot among the greats, I got to try to not miss any occasion to put my name up there.”
The young center has appeared in 61 games this season but still needs to reach the 65-game minimum to qualify for major league honors. Following Thursday’s missed contest, he must participate in at least four of the Spurs’ remaining five regular season matchups to maintain his award eligibility.
The 22-year-old is posting impressive numbers this season, contributing 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per contest while connecting on 117 three-point attempts.
San Antonio enters the game with a 58-18 record after winning their last 10 games, positioning them just two games behind the defending champion Oklahoma Thunder for the Western Conference’s top playoff seed.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has implemented sweeping new tariffs on pharmaceutical imports and modified existing metal duties as his administration moves forward from last year’s failed global tariff strategy.
The president announced 100% tariffs on specific branded drug imports Thursday, while simultaneously restructuring duties on steel, aluminum and copper products. These measures arrive precisely one year after Trump’s previous comprehensive tariff program collapsed.
The pharmaceutical tariffs stem from a national security review of drug imports. Under the new policy, foreign manufacturers of patented medications must negotiate pricing agreements with the federal government and pledge to relocate production to American soil to completely avoid tariffs.
Companies that only relocate some manufacturing operations to the United States will face 20% tariffs, while those refusing both requirements will encounter the full 100% duty rate, according to administration officials.
However, the pharmaceutical tariffs include exceptions. Trade agreements with the European Union, Japan, South Korea and Switzerland will limit branded drug tariffs to 15%. Additionally, the United States and Britain reached a separate agreement guaranteeing zero tariffs on British-manufactured pharmaceuticals for three years minimum while Britain establishes U.S. production facilities.
Large pharmaceutical companies will have 120 days to meet compliance requirements before facing the 100% tariff rates, while smaller manufacturers receive 180 days, administration officials stated.
Regarding metals, Trump’s separate proclamation reduced tariff rates to 25% on numerous derivative products containing steel, aluminum and copper, while eliminating duties entirely on items with minimal metal content.
The 50% duty on raw steel, aluminum and copper imports remains unchanged. However, the administration will now calculate this rate based on U.S. sales prices rather than declared import values, which officials claim were frequently understated.
These metal tariff modifications aim to streamline what officials described as an overly complex system that created difficulties for importers trying to assess metal content values across thousands of products, ranging from farm equipment components to kitchen sinks and railway materials.
Items containing less than 15% metal content by weight, such as dental floss dispensers with small steel cutting blades, will no longer face these tariffs. The administration also announced reduced duties of 15% instead of 50% on certain metal-heavy industrial and electrical grid equipment through 2027 to support infrastructure and data center construction.
The metal tariff changes take effect Monday after midnight, according to the order.
These announcements coincide with the first anniversary of Trump’s “Liberation Day” declaration of “reciprocal tariffs” ranging from 10% to 50% on imports from all trading partners, including some uninhabited territories. Those tariffs, implemented under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, triggered months of Chinese retaliation, international trade negotiations and legal challenges from importers.
The Supreme Court ruled the IEEPA-based tariffs illegal in February, leading to a lower court directive requiring U.S. Customs and Border Protection to develop a refund plan for approximately $166 billion in collected tariffs.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer defended the IEEPA tariffs Thursday as a “reset button” for a dysfunctional global trading system. Greer credited the tariffs with encouraging companies to construct new American factories and compelling trading partners to offer concessions for U.S. exports.
“The best is yet to come as President Trump’s tariff program incentivizes domestic production, raises workers’ wages, and reinforces our critical supply chains,” Greer stated.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce criticized the new measures, arguing that Trump’s higher tariffs over the past year have already increased prices and created cost pressures across multiple industries. The organization warned the latest announcements could trigger additional price increases.
“A new, complex tariff scheme on pharmaceuticals will raise healthcare costs for American families,” said Neil Bradley, the Chamber’s policy chief.
“Changes to metals tariffs will likewise raise prices for consumers and add pressure to manufacturing, construction, and energy — industries that are already reeling from higher input costs and ongoing supply-chain challenges,” Bradley added.
However, Steel Manufacturers Association president Philip Bell commended the administration for “right-sizing” the metals derivatives list and updating valuation methods to ensure tariffs “remain precisely targeted to support the revitalization of the American steel industry without undermining broader economic goals.”
A Russian sailor who spent approximately eight months in detention after surviving an attack by Yemeni Houthi rebels on his vessel has returned to his homeland following medical care in Sanaa, according to Yemen’s foreign ministry on Thursday.
Russian media reports identify the sailor as Aleksei Galaktionov, who served as crew aboard a Greek-operated cargo vessel that Houthi forces destroyed in July 2025. The mariner sustained injuries during the assault.
“The Russian citizen was transported on a United Nations aircraft, in coordination with the U.N. envoy,” the foreign ministry stated through the Houthi-controlled news agency, noting that his release occurred after completing his medical treatment.
Officials indicated the arrangement came about through discussions with Russian authorities and Iranian representatives.
The remaining ship crew members gained their freedom in December, according to sources from the vessel’s operating company and maritime security officials who spoke with Reuters.
The Iranian-backed Houthis destroyed the Liberian-registered Eternity C, which carried 22 crew members and three security personnel, using maritime drones and rocket-propelled grenades during attacks spanning two days.
Houthi forces have targeted over 100 vessels in what they described as support operations for Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict. The group ceased their maritime attacks following a ceasefire announcement last October.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks baseball team suffered a 7-3 defeat to the Knights in the opening game of their series.
Jonathan Gonzalez Perez provided a bright spot for the Hawks despite the loss, collecting multiple hits for the ninth time this season. His performance leads the team in multi-hit games for the current campaign.
The Hawks will look to bounce back in the remaining games of the series after falling behind early in the matchup against the Knights.
A vehicle accident has prompted the closure of Route 9 at Dukes Farm Road, according to Delaware Department of Transportation officials.
The roadway remains impassable as emergency personnel work at the crash site. Motorists traveling in the area should plan for delays and consider using alternative routes.
DelDOT has not yet released information about the severity of the collision or when the roadway is expected to reopen to traffic.
This is a developing situation and updates will be provided as more information becomes available from transportation authorities.
A California-based dairy company has initiated a voluntary product recall following a request from federal health officials.
RAW FARM announced it is pulling certain cheese batches from distribution after the Food and Drug Administration issued an advisory regarding the products. The federal agency’s initial notice did not specify particular batch numbers or expiration dates for the affected items.
The dairy producer stated it is recalling the identified cheese batches as well as any products manufactured before those specific production dates. The company is cooperating fully with the FDA’s request for the voluntary removal of these items from the market.
Federal health officials have not yet released additional details about the specific reasons behind the recall advisory or the potential health concerns that prompted the action.
President Donald Trump issued an executive order Thursday that threatens to impose tariffs reaching 100% on certain patented medications from pharmaceutical companies that fail to negotiate pricing agreements with his administration over the next several months.
Under the new policy, pharmaceutical companies that agree to “most favored nation” pricing arrangements and actively construct manufacturing facilities in America for patented drugs and their components will face zero tariffs. Companies building U.S. facilities but lacking pricing agreements will encounter 20% tariffs initially, escalating to 100% within four years.
A senior administration official explained during a media briefing that companies have time to negotiate before facing maximum tariffs — 120 days for larger corporations and 180 days for smaller ones. The official, who spoke anonymously ahead of the order’s release, declined to name specific companies or medications at risk but mentioned that the administration has already negotiated 17 pricing agreements with major drugmakers, with 13 contracts finalized.
In his executive order, Trump justified the measures as essential “to address the threatened impairment of the national security posed by imports of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients.” The announcement coincided with the first anniversary of Trump’s “Liberation Day,” when he implemented broad import taxes on nearly all trading partners, causing significant stock market volatility. The Supreme Court overturned those Liberation Day tariffs in February.
Industry representatives expressed concern about the newly announced tariffs. PhRMA CEO Stephen J. Ubl warned that taxes “on cutting-edge medicines will increase costs and could jeopardize billions in U.S. investments.” He emphasized America’s substantial biopharmaceutical manufacturing presence and noted that imported medicines “overwhelmingly come from reliable U.S. allies.”
Since beginning his second term, Trump has implemented numerous import taxes on trading partners and consistently promised substantial levies on foreign-produced medications. However, the administration has leveraged tariff threats to secure agreements with major corporations including Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Bristol Myers Squibb throughout the past year, obtaining commitments for reduced pricing on new medications.
Several countries have established trade frameworks with the United States to limit pharmaceutical tariffs. The European Union, Japan, Korea and Switzerland will face 15% U.S. tariffs on patented drugs, matching previously established rates for most goods. The United Kingdom will encounter 10% tariffs, which Thursday’s order specified would “then reduce to zero” under future trade agreements. Britain previously announced it secured zero tariff rates for all exported medicines to America for at least three years.
Trump also updated his 50% tariffs on imported steel, aluminum and copper Thursday. Beginning Monday, tariff calculations for these metals will use the “full customs value” that American customers pay when purchasing foreign metal, which administration officials claim will prevent importers from avoiding higher payments.
Products manufactured entirely from steel, aluminum and copper will continue facing 50% tariffs from most countries. The administration is modifying how tariffs apply to derivative metals or finished products containing some of these materials without being entirely composed of them.
For products where metal comprises less than 15% of total weight, such as perfume bottle caps, only country-specific tariffs will apply, officials explained Thursday. Products with higher metal content, like predominantly steel washing machines, will face 25% tariffs on their complete value.
Thursday’s orders demonstrate Trump’s continued use of sectoral duties. The president invoked Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act for these levies, the same authority used for import taxes on automobiles, lumber and kitchen cabinets. Experts anticipate additional product-specific import taxes ahead.
This approach follows a Supreme Court ruling that eliminated tariffs Trump imposed using different legislation — the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act — which allowed immediate tariffs on any country at virtually any level.
While the February 20 court decision significantly impacted Trump’s economic strategy, the president retains multiple options for aggressive import taxation. Beyond sectoral levies, Trump implemented a 10% tariff on all imports using separate legal authority hours after the Supreme Court ruling, though this duty expires after 150 days. Approximately two dozen states have already challenged these new tariffs.
Trump maintains his steep import taxes are essential to recover wealth “stolen” from America. He argues they will reduce the nation’s longstanding trade deficit and restore domestic manufacturing. However, Trump has also employed tariffs for personal grievances or responding to political opposition. Disrupting global supply chains has proven expensive for businesses and households already facing rising costs.
Delaware State University recently organized a special event to honor the legendary Tuskegee Airmen while showcasing aviation opportunities to the community.
The university held a commemoration ceremony dedicated to the historic African American military aviators, combined with an aviation exposition that highlighted careers and opportunities in the aerospace industry.
The Tuskegee Airmen were groundbreaking African American pilots who served with distinction during World War II, breaking racial barriers while defending the nation. Their legacy continues to inspire new generations of aviators and aerospace professionals.
The event at DSU provided attendees with educational opportunities about aviation history and modern aerospace careers, connecting the heroic past of the Tuskegee Airmen with future possibilities in the field.
President Donald Trump issued an executive order Thursday establishing substantial tariffs on patented medications, potentially reaching 100% for pharmaceutical companies that fail to negotiate pricing agreements with his administration within the coming months.
Under the new framework, pharmaceutical manufacturers that execute “most favored nation” pricing agreements and actively construct U.S. facilities for domestic production of patented medications and their components will face zero tariffs. Companies building domestic facilities without pricing agreements will encounter 20% tariffs initially, escalating to 100% over four years.
A senior administration official briefing reporters indicated companies have several months to negotiate before maximum tariffs take effect — 120 days for larger corporations and 180 days for smaller ones. The official, who requested anonymity while previewing the executive order, declined to name specific companies or medications facing potential tariff increases but mentioned the administration has already secured 17 pricing agreements with major pharmaceutical companies, with 13 formally signed.
Trump justified the measures in his executive order as necessary “to address the threatened impairment of the national security posed by imports of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients.” The announcement coincided with the first anniversary of Trump’s “Liberation Day,” when he introduced comprehensive import taxes on nearly all countries worldwide, triggering significant stock market volatility. The Supreme Court overturned those Liberation Day tariffs in February.
Industry representatives expressed concern about the new tariff announcement. PhRMA CEO Stephen J. Ubl warned that taxes “on cutting-edge medicines will increase costs and could jeopardize billions in U.S. investments.” He emphasized America’s existing substantial biopharmaceutical manufacturing presence and noted that imported medicines “overwhelmingly come from reliable U.S. allies.”
Since beginning his second term, Trump has implemented numerous import taxes on trading partners and repeatedly promised substantial levies on foreign-produced medications. However, the administration has leveraged tariff threats to negotiate agreements with major corporations including Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Bristol Myers Squibb over the past year, securing commitments for reduced pricing on new medications.
Several countries have established trade frameworks with the U.S. to limit drug tariffs. The European Union, Japan, Korea and Switzerland will face 15% U.S. tariffs on patented pharmaceuticals, matching previously negotiated rates for most products, while the United Kingdom receives 10% rates that “will reduce to zero” under future trade agreements. Britain previously announced securing 0% tariff rates for all British medicines exported to America for at least three years.
Trump also announced modifications to his 50% tariffs on imported steel, aluminum and copper Thursday. Beginning Monday, tariff calculations on these metals will use the “full customs value” of what U.S. customers pay for foreign metal purchases, which administration officials claim will prevent importers from avoiding higher payments.
Products manufactured entirely from steel, aluminum and copper will maintain 50% tariffs for most countries. The administration is adjusting tariff calculations for derivative metals or finished products containing some metals but not made entirely from them.
Products with metal content below 15% of total weight, such as perfume bottle caps, will only face country-specific tariffs, officials explained Thursday. Products with higher metal content, like predominantly steel washing machines, will incur 25% tariffs on their complete value.
Thursday’s orders demonstrate Trump’s continued use of sectoral duties. The president invoked Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act for these levies, the same authority used for import taxes on automobiles, lumber and kitchen cabinets. Many anticipate additional product-specific import taxes ahead.
This approach follows a Supreme Court ruling that struck down tariffs Trump imposed using the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act to immediately impose tariffs on any country at virtually any level.
While the February 20 court decision significantly impacted Trump’s economic agenda, the president retains multiple options for aggressive import taxation. Beyond sectoral levies, Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all imports using separate legal authority hours after the Supreme Court ruling, though this duty expires after 150 days. Approximately two dozen states have already challenged these new tariffs.
Trump maintains his steep import taxes are essential to recover wealth “stolen” from the U.S. He argues they will reduce America’s longstanding trade deficit and restore domestic manufacturing. However, Trump has also employed tariffs for personal grievances or responding to political opposition. Disrupting global supply chains has proven expensive for businesses and households already facing rising prices.
MADISON, Wis. — The leader of Wisconsin’s massive university system, serving 165,000 students, is pushing back against the board of regents’ unexpected move to oust him from his position.
Jay Rothman, who has headed the Universities of Wisconsin since 2022, is refusing demands to step down or face termination, according to correspondence he sent to board members that The Associated Press obtained Thursday.
The university system president manages the entire network, encompassing the prominent Madison campus, 12 additional universities, and various satellite locations. Rothman answers to an 18-member board of regents, while campus chancellors and vice presidents report directly to him. He also manages administrative staff and operations across the system.
Rothman serves as the eighth leader of the UW System, established by state lawmakers in 1971.
The board’s desire to remove Rothman caught many off guard. Information about the situation surfaced through two letters Rothman wrote to regents following private meetings. No board member had previously voiced concerns about Rothman’s job performance in public forums. According to Rothman, regents have failed to explain their motivations for seeking his departure.
“When I asked you to articulate reasons for the Board’s conclusion and apparent lack of confidence in me, you merely noted that each Regent has his or her own perspective on the matter,” Rothman stated in a March 26 correspondence to the board’s leader. “You did not provide any tangible reasons for the Board’s determination.”
All 18 board members were contacted by the AP Thursday, but none responded to inquiries or offered statements.
Questions remain about whether the board possesses authority to terminate the president without justification. University representatives are researching legal parameters governing such actions.
In his communication to the board’s head, Rothman emphasized he had not been “provided any substantive reason or reasons for the Board’s finding of no confidence in my leadership.”
Given this lack of explanation, Rothman declared, “I am not prepared, as a matter of principle, to submit my resignation.”
Board members convened in private session Wednesday to address personnel issues. However, the meeting’s focus on Rothman’s status remained unknown until his letters became public Thursday.
In correspondence sent Wednesday to two regents, Rothman revealed they warned him of potential weekend termination proceedings if he refused to resign voluntarily.
Before joining the university system, Rothman built his career in law, eventually becoming chairman and chief executive of Milwaukee’s Foley & Lardner firm. The practice employs 1,100 lawyers across 22 national offices.
Regent Karen Walsh, who headed the presidential search effort, praised him in 2022 as a “servant leader” skilled at building consensus. She declined comment when reached Thursday.
Rothman earned his undergraduate degree from Milwaukee’s Marquette University and obtained his law degree from Harvard University.
His presidency has been characterized by efforts to secure additional state funding while facing federal reductions, managing campus free speech debates during pro-Palestinian demonstrations, and addressing enrollment declines that resulted in eight branch campus shutdowns.
In 2023, Rothman considered stepping down when regents initially rejected an agreement he negotiated with Wisconsin’s Republican-led Legislature regarding diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The board subsequently reversed course and approved the arrangement.
This leadership dispute emerges as the system prepares to find a new chancellor for its flagship Madison location. Current Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin is departing to assume the presidency at Columbia University.
Multiple international energy corporations are competing to acquire controlling interest in a highly productive offshore oil operation in the Gulf of Mexico, according to industry insiders familiar with the bidding process.
Companies including Shell, TotalEnergies, and BP have expressed interest in purchasing majority ownership of the Shenandoah deepwater drilling site, sources revealed. Spain-based Repsol and Chevron are also considering participation in the acquisition process.
The current owners of the Shenandoah operation recently launched a formal sale procedure, making 51% of the project available to prospective purchasers. Beacon Offshore Energy, which operates the field and receives backing from Blackstone, along with HEQ Deepwater, owned by Quantum Capital Group and Houston Energy, are the selling parties. The remaining ownership belongs to Navitas Petroleum of Israel.
Industry sources anticipate that preliminary offers will be submitted within the coming weeks. Additional participants from Middle Eastern and Asian energy sectors may also enter the competition process.
The final purchase price will vary based on several factors, including the actual percentage sold and fluctuations in crude oil markets, according to sources who requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of negotiations.
When contacted for comment, representatives from Total, Repsol, BP, Beacon, Quantum, Blackstone and Shell declined to provide statements. An HEQ spokesperson also refused to comment. Chevron’s response was more measured: “Chevron regularly evaluates its business opportunities and portfolio. We do not disclose our business development strategies,” a company spokesperson said.
The Shenandoah site represents an ultra-deepwater operation, with petroleum and natural gas reserves located approximately 30,000 feet below the ocean surface. Such drilling operations present significant technical difficulties due to extreme pressure conditions reaching 20,000 pounds per square inch, though industry specialists consider these locations among the most promising in the Gulf region.
Production at Shenandoah commenced in July, with Beacon announcing in October that four initial wells were meeting production targets of 100,000 barrels daily.
The attractiveness of American oil and gas properties has increased due to ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts, which have elevated crude prices while positioning these assets safely away from conflict zones with global distribution capabilities, one source explained.
Ukrainian officials reported that Russian military forces conducted continuous drone attacks against Kharkiv throughout Thursday, striking Ukraine’s second-largest city and wounding at least two civilians.
Throughout the day and into the evening hours, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov provided updates via Telegram, documenting attacks across four separate districts within the city. A city official confirmed that drone strikes hit at least 20 locations.
According to the mayor, several of the drone impacts sparked fires throughout the city, and an evening assault wounded two individuals, including an 8-year-old girl.
In southern Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia faced a separate Russian assault that struck a multi-story residential building and a local business, regional governor Ivan Fedorov reported. Officials said no casualties occurred in that attack.
Across the border in Russia’s Belgorod Region, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that drone strikes injured 13 people in multiple locations, with 11 of those casualties occurring in Shebekino village, located near the Ukrainian border.
Five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore has officially called it quits, announcing his retirement Thursday after a distinguished 13-year NFL career.
The 35-year-old defensive back, who earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year recognition during his career, sat out the entire 2025 season before making his retirement official.
“I have had an incredible 13 years in the League, and I cannot wait to see what this next chapter holds,” Gilmore wrote in his announcement on Instagram.
Throughout his professional career spanning 180 games with 173 starts, Gilmore recorded impressive statistics including 32 career interceptions, eight forced fumbles, and 617 total tackles while suiting up for six different franchises.
The cornerback’s career began with the Buffalo Bills from 2012 through 2016, followed by his most successful stint with the New England Patriots from 2017 to 2020. His final four seasons saw him play for a different team each year.
Gilmore reached his peak performance during the 2019 campaign with New England, when he topped the league with six interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns, while also deflecting 20 passes for the second consecutive year.
During New England’s championship run in the 2018 playoffs, Gilmore contributed two crucial interceptions that helped propel the Patriots to their Super Bowl victory. He earned first-team All-Pro recognition in both 2018 and 2019.
His career concluded with stops at the Carolina Panthers in 2021, Indianapolis Colts in 2022, Dallas Cowboys in 2023, and Minnesota Vikings in 2024.
The Rock Hill, South Carolina native played his college ball at the University of South Carolina from 2009 through 2011, where he intercepted eight passes for the Gamecocks before becoming the 10th overall selection in the 2012 NFL Draft by Buffalo.
The U.S. Department of the Interior announced Thursday it will implement new voluntary departure programs for its workforce as part of broader efficiency improvements across the agency.
The department revealed plans to launch a deferred resignation initiative alongside voluntary early retirement options, though officials did not specify how many workers would be affected or which divisions would be targeted by these measures.
Department representatives were unavailable for further details when contacted.
This workforce reduction strategy supports President Donald Trump’s wider initiative to decrease the federal government’s overall size.
The department also outlined plans to reassign more National Parks Service staff to positions that directly interact with visitors while updating various operational procedures, including permit processing systems.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum emphasized the benefits of these changes in Thursday’s announcement. “By modernizing our operations we’re strengthening our ability to carry out Interior’s mission and deliver world-class service for the American people,” Burgum stated.
Few foods can match the widespread appeal, dependability, and cherished status of the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. This budget-friendly handheld meal is now celebrating a remarkable milestone – 125 years since its creation.
Surprisingly, this simple sandwich that has become synonymous with lunch boxes and quick meals actually traces its origins back to the refined world of afternoon high tea, a far cry from its current reputation as an everyday comfort food.
The Seattle coffee giant Starbucks has finalized a major partnership agreement with Chinese investment firm Boyu Capital, transferring majority ownership of its China business operations, the company revealed on Thursday.
Originally outlined last November, this strategic partnership is designed to accelerate Starbucks’ expansion efforts in China, the world’s second-largest economy, where domestic competitors such as Luckin and Cotti have been capturing market share through competitive pricing strategies.
Under the completed agreement, investment funds managed by Boyu Capital will control a 60% ownership stake in Starbucks’ Chinese retail locations. Starbucks will maintain the remaining 40% while continuing to provide brand licensing and intellectual property rights to the joint venture. Notably, Boyu’s founding team includes a grandson of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin.
Molly Liu, who serves as chief executive officer of Starbucks China, explained in a company statement that this partnership will enable “hyper-localization” of the Starbucks brand throughout the Chinese market.
The coffee chain currently operates roughly 8,000 locations across China. Through this new partnership with Boyu, Starbucks has set an ambitious target to more than double that presence, aiming to reach 20,000 stores in the country.
A Colorado appellate court has mandated a new sentencing hearing for Tina Peters, the former county clerk who received a nine-year prison term for interfering with voting equipment while investigating alleged fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
The three-judge panel on Thursday maintained Peters’ conviction on all seven criminal charges, including attempting to influence a public servant and dereliction of duty, but determined that the trial judge inappropriately factored in her constitutionally protected statements about election irregularities when determining her punishment.
Peters, a Republican, has gained support from former President Donald Trump, who has characterized her as a political prisoner and has pressured Colorado officials and Democratic Governor Jared Polis to secure her release. Polis indicated last month he might consider granting clemency in her case.
The appeals court criticized trial judge Matthew Barrett for allowing Peters’ beliefs about election fraud to influence her sentencing, noting that Barrett had labeled her a “charlatan” who continued to peddle “snake oil that’s been proven to be junk time and time again” during the 2024 proceedings.
“The trial court’s comments about Peters’s belief in the existence of 2020 election fraud went beyond relevant considerations for her sentencing. Her offense was not her belief, however misguided the trial court deemed it to be, in the existence of such election fraud; it was her deceitful actions in her attempt to gather evidence of such fraud,” the appellate panel stated in their decision.
Peters faced criminal charges in 2022 after a security breach occurred in her office, resulting in voting machine passwords appearing on a conservative website. She has consistently maintained her innocence throughout the legal proceedings.
The court provided no guidance regarding what Peters’ new sentence should be, and she remains incarcerated while awaiting the resentencing hearing.
Although Trump issued a federal pardon for Peters in December, the appeals court noted that presidential pardoning authority does not extend to state-level criminal offenses. Peters’ legal representatives, Peter Ticktin and John Case, have not yet responded to media inquiries about the ruling.
Scientists at Delaware State University have achieved a significant breakthrough in agricultural research, uncovering new insights into how strawberries develop resistance to diseases.
The research findings from DSU could have important implications for strawberry cultivation and crop protection strategies. This discovery adds to the university’s growing reputation in agricultural science and plant research.
The study represents another step forward in understanding plant disease resistance mechanisms, which could benefit both commercial growers and the broader agricultural community.
A Manhattan federal judge has dismissed the sexual harassment allegations that actress Blake Lively filed against her “It Ends With Us” co-star Justin Baldoni, though two retaliation claims from her lawsuit will proceed.
Judge Lewis J. Liman issued the written decision on Thursday, addressing the lawsuit Lively filed in December that included sexual harassment among more than a dozen accusations against Baldoni.
The legal battle became more complicated when Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios filed their own lawsuit against Lively and her spouse, Ryan Reynolds of “Deadpool” fame, claiming defamation and extortion. However, the judge threw out Baldoni’s counter-claims last June.
The romantic drama “It Ends With Us,” based on Colleen Hoover’s popular 2016 novel that explores themes of domestic violence, hit theaters in August 2024 and performed better than anticipated at the box office, earning $50 million in its opening weekend. Despite its commercial success, the film’s premiere was overshadowed by rumors of tension between the two lead actors.
Lively gained recognition through her role in 2005’s “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and became widely known for portraying Serena van der Woodsen on “Gossip Girl” from 2007 to 2012. She has since appeared in major films such as “The Town” and “The Shallows.”
Baldoni became well-known for his performance in the television series “Jane the Virgin,” later transitioning to directing with 2019’s “Five Feet Apart.” He also authored “Man Enough,” which examines and questions conventional masculine stereotypes.
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon confirmed Thursday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has requested the resignation of the Army’s highest-ranking uniformed leader, Gen. Randy George, during ongoing military operations against Iran.
An unnamed Pentagon source, speaking confidentially about the sensitive personnel decision, verified that George has been directed to pursue early retirement from his position as Army chief of staff, a role he has occupied since August 2023.
This dismissal of George represents another addition to the extensive list of over a dozen high-ranking military officials who have been terminated by Hegseth since assuming his position last year.
The development was initially disclosed by CBS News.
George brings extensive military credentials as a West Point graduate and infantry specialist who participated in combat operations during the original Gulf War and later deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. His career included serving as the principal military advisor to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin between 2021 and 2022 under the Biden presidency, prior to advancing to senior Army leadership positions.
George managed to survive Hegseth’s first wave of dismissals in February, which eliminated several top military commanders, including Adm. Lisa Franchetti, who led the Navy’s uniformed personnel, and Gen. Jim Silfe, the Air Force’s second-in-command. President Donald Trump simultaneously dismissed Gen. Charles “C.Q.” Brown from his role as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Following that initial purge, over a dozen additional senior military generals and admirals have either accepted early retirement or faced removal from their positions.
The departures included George’s second-in-command, Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Mingus, who held the position for under two years before Trump unexpectedly selected Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve as his replacement. LaNeve had been functioning as Hegseth’s principal military advisor after being transferred from his command of the Eighth Army in South Korea, where he served less than twelve months.
Financial markets worldwide experienced significant turbulence Thursday, with oil prices jumping dramatically and stock markets declining after President Donald Trump suggested the conflict with Iran would continue, dashing hopes for a quick resolution to the Strait of Hormuz closure.
Crude oil prices skyrocketed, with U.S. oil climbing 11% while global markets struggled. The volatility reflects ongoing uncertainty about when the critical shipping route might reopen.
Market analyst Jamie McGeever noted that employment data scheduled for Friday could reveal additional economic challenges. The upcoming nonfarm payrolls report is anticipated to show modest job growth of 60,000 positions, with unemployment holding steady at 4.4%.
However, beneath these seemingly stable numbers lie concerning trends. Job creation has essentially stalled over the past six months, with employment gains averaging near zero. This stagnation comes at a particularly challenging time as the Middle East conflict continues to pressure the economy.
Thursday’s trading session exemplified how expectations about the Strait of Hormuz reopening continue to drive market sentiment. Trump’s Wednesday remarks indicating no immediate ceasefire or resolution sent stocks tumbling and oil soaring. Some of these movements reversed slightly Thursday following news that Iran and Oman would collaborate on monitoring shipping traffic through the strait, raising hopes for eventual reopening. The conflict has now entered its sixth week.
Adding to market concerns, private credit markets faced additional stress as Blue Owl announced withdrawal restrictions on two of its funds following unprecedented redemption requests. This development has intensified worries about asset valuations and potential risks within the private lending sector.
The restriction on investor withdrawals represents the latest example of investors seeking to exit private credit investments, only to face limitations. Such moves typically heighten rather than calm investor concerns and are likely to attract increased regulatory scrutiny.
Thursday’s market performance showed mixed results across regions. Asian markets suffered significant declines, with Japan falling 2% and South Korea dropping 5%. European markets outside the UK posted modest losses, while Wall Street showed mixed performance. The FTSE 100 managed a 0.7% gain.
Within U.S. sectors, real estate led gains with a 1.5% increase, while technology advanced 0.7%. Consumer discretionary stocks declined 1.5%. Individual stock movements included Intel rising 5% and Tesla falling 5%.
Currency markets saw the dollar strengthen broadly, while the Indian rupee surged 2% for its best single-day performance since 2013 following central bank measures to limit foreign exchange speculation.
In commodities, Brent crude jumped 7% to $108 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude’s 11% surge to $111 represented its largest dollar gain in five years. Gold declined 2%.
Looking ahead to Friday’s trading, many global markets will remain closed, though U.S. bond markets will operate until noon. Investors will focus on Middle East developments, energy market movements, and the release of March employment data and manufacturing surveys.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed Thursday that his nation could share its naval defense knowledge with countries working to maintain open shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz during Middle East tensions.
During his evening video message, Zelenskyy revealed that Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha participated in an online conference focused on ensuring the Strait of Hormuz remains accessible, with representatives from approximately 40 nations attending.
“Ukraine has relevant expertise concerning sea waterways, concerning the defence and reopening of maritime traffic,” he said.
“If (our) partners are ready to act we will consider how we can strengthen them, how we can apply our expertise, knowledge and technological potential.”
The Ukrainian leader did not elaborate on specific assistance plans.
Throughout four years of conflict, Ukrainian military forces have created innovative maritime technologies, including unmanned naval vessels, allowing them to achieve significant victories against Russian naval forces in the Black Sea while preventing Moscow from gaining control of those waters.
Last week, Zelenskyy began visiting Middle Eastern nations as part of an initiative to share defense technologies Ukraine has created while defending against drone attacks, many of which originated from Iranian designs.
The president announced he expects to receive an update Friday from Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s chief negotiator in peace settlement discussions.
On Wednesday, Zelenskyy revealed that Ukraine has established partnerships with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan, while maintaining communications with Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq. Government officials are also discussing potential agreements with Turkey and additional nations.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – A United Nations document reveals that investigators have confirmed four separate incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse involving personnel from a UN-supported security mission operating in Haiti during the previous year.
The UN report, which carries a February 16 date, was initially made public by the Ayibo Post news outlet on Friday.
According to the document, “All the allegations were found to be substantiated by investigations conducted by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.” However, the report does not specify what actions were taken against those responsible or provide additional details about the outcomes of these investigations.
INDIANAPOLIS — The University of Illinois basketball team’s path to Saturday’s Final Four matchup against UConn tells a unique story of international recruitment and strategic trust in overseas talent.
Head coach Brad Underwood built his championship-contending roster by placing faith in assistant coach Geoff Alexander’s ability to identify and recruit what they call the “Balkan Bloc” — a collection of European players who now form the core of the Fighting Illini’s success.
The strategy paid off dramatically, with four of Illinois’ leading six scorers hailing from southeastern Europe. This marks the team’s fifth NCAA Tournament game this season as they prepare for their national semifinal rematch with the University of Connecticut.
“We knew we needed positional size. We knew we were recruiting shooting. They do it as well as anybody in the world in my opinion,” Underwood explained Thursday. “Geoff has spent many, many trips going over there, developing relationships, and now Orlando (Antigua) comes back and we’ve just invested heavily in doing that. We believe in it.”
This international approach isn’t new territory for Underwood, who previously utilized similar recruiting strategies at Western Illinois alongside Antigua. The coaching staff has successfully developed overseas talent including Kasparas Jakucionis, who became the 20th overall pick by the Miami Heat in last year’s draft, and Canadian player Will Riley, selected 21st by Utah and later traded to Washington.
The current roster showcases this international foundation through players like All-American Keaton Wagler, whom Underwood recruited sight unseen based on Alexander’s recommendation, transfer Andrej Stojakovic, and returning hometown player Kylan Boswell.
Boswell, a Champaign native who transferred back from Arizona, has become a cornerstone of the team’s success. “I think going home has helped. The way he has handled himself. He’s just been elite,” Underwood said of Boswell. “He’s been a joy to coach. He’s been unselfish. He’s been a guy that is all about winning.”
Freshman David Mirkovic from Montenegro has emerged as a tournament standout, posting 27 and 19 points in the opening victory over Penn. The 19-year-old stands 6-foot-9 and weighs 250 pounds, providing crucial rebounding alongside the team’s twin towers.
The Ivisic brothers, Zvonimir and Tomislav — nicknamed Z and Tommy by their coach — represent the team’s 7-foot tandem that anchors the frontcourt. “Their chemistry is unbelievable. Their competitiveness is unbelievable. They go at each other all the time,” Underwood observed. “They’re very different people, even though they’re twins, and yet their synergy is really fun to see.”
The coach credits the twins with helping other international players adjust to American college basketball. “I think for lack of a better word, those two set the tone for the other guys from over there. And just their comfort of being in the States, even though Z wasn’t with us the whole time, they’ve helped ease some of the transition and the challenges that lie for the others.”
Stojakovic has overcome injury setbacks, including preseason knee problems and an in-season ankle issue that limited him to 21 starts. When Boswell returned from his own hand injury, Stojakovic embraced a bench role and has excelled as a reserve player.
“The one thing he’s done is he’s accepted defending. He’s accepted rebounding,” Underwood noted. “We all know his offense can come and that he’s a very capable guy there. But now he has just adjusted. I couldn’t have asked for anything more coming off the bench. He’s done that in a way that has helped us grow and play our best basketball.”
A Manhattan federal judge has thrown out the bulk of actress Blake Lively’s sexual harassment allegations against Justin Baldoni, her co-star and director from the 2024 film “It Ends With Us.”
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman issued the ruling on Thursday, concluding more than a year of bitter legal battles surrounding the romantic drama production.
Judge Liman struck down Lively’s sexual harassment allegations against Baldoni and other parties, determining the court lacked jurisdiction since she had filed under California legislation while the alleged misconduct occurred in different locations.
However, the judge allowed certain claims to move forward, including a retaliation allegation against Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios production company, along with contract disputes and aiding and abetting charges against multiple parties.
Representatives for both Lively and Baldoni have not yet responded to requests for statements regarding the decision.
The high-profile case has captured Hollywood’s attention, potentially involving celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Gigi Hadid, and Hugh Jackman, who Lively claims may possess information relevant to her allegations.
Judge Liman had previously scheduled a May 18 trial date, contingent on his determination about which portions of Lively’s case could proceed.
The 38-year-old actress initiated legal action against Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and additional defendants in December 2024, demanding unspecified monetary damages for alleged harassment, defamation, privacy violations, and civil rights infractions under federal and state regulations.
Lively alleged that the defendants fostered a sexually inappropriate work environment during filming, then conspired to prevent her and others from exposing the toxic conditions they established.
The 42-year-old Baldoni maintained that he addressed Lively’s complaints immediately upon receiving them and was justified in engaging crisis management professionals after Lively began making public criticisms against him.
The controversy emerged publicly in December 2024 when Lively submitted a formal complaint to the California Civil Rights Department before filing her lawsuit. The New York Times subsequently published a related piece titled “‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine.”
Baldoni filed counter-defamation suits against Lively and her spouse, actor Ryan Reynolds, claiming they attempted to ruin his professional standing. However, Judge Liman dismissed that case last June, along with Baldoni’s defamation action against the Times.
“It Ends With Us” featured Lively as a florist who wed a neurosurgeon portrayed by Baldoni. The storyline follows the marriage’s deterioration as Baldoni’s character turns abusive, echoing patterns from Lively’s character’s family history, ultimately leading to separation when she reunites with her former romantic partner who became a chef and restaurant proprietor.
Despite receiving lukewarm critical reception, the film earned over $351 million in global box office revenue, according to Box Office Mojo data.
Delaware Department of Transportation crews are conducting litter removal operations along a busy stretch of Interstate 495 today.
The cleanup work is happening between the Port of Wilmington and Claymont, with crews focusing their efforts on the right shoulder of the highway.
According to DelDOT, the litter removal activities are expected to wrap up by 5 p.m. today.
Motorists traveling through the area should exercise caution and be aware of the crew presence along the roadway during the cleanup operation.
Native American casino leaders gathered in San Diego this week with one major concern dominating their annual convention discussions: the explosive rise of online prediction markets.
During both public sessions and private meetings, tribal officials addressed the rapid expansion of betting platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi, expressing concerns about threats to their carefully regulated position in America’s gaming landscape.
The tribal gaming sector brings in over $40 billion annually, with these revenues supporting healthcare, housing, education and essential social programs across Native American communities. Meanwhile, prediction market applications see billions of dollars change hands during major events like the Super Bowl.
David Bean, who chairs the Indian Gaming Association, has criticized prediction markets for mischaracterizing their services to avoid a carefully established system of federal, state and tribal regulations.
“This is no innovation,” Bean stated during Wednesday’s press conference. “This is unlawful gambling dressed up as finance.”
The organization urged Congress to impose stricter controls on prediction markets and revealed plans for a defense fund to back legal challenges against these platforms.
Companies including Kalshi, Polymarket and Robinhood maintain their users participate in futures trading rather than gambling activities. These firms reject allegations of regulatory avoidance.
These prediction platforms enable users to bet on outcomes ranging from NCAA tournaments to international conflicts. What began as a specialized tool in political science has surged in both popularity and controversy following the 2024 election cycle.
Platform operators describe their customers as trading “event contracts” with other users. They contend their services differ fundamentally from gambling and should fall under Commodity Futures Trading Commission oversight, similar to agricultural or petroleum markets.
While the commission reviews potential new prediction market regulations, the Trump administration has expressed support for these platforms, which currently face legal action from over a dozen states and four tribal governments.
During the 1970s tribal self-determination movement, Native communities sought economic development tools to address widespread poverty. Bingo halls and card games emerged in community centers and temporary structures across reservations nationwide.
Brookings Institution fellow Patrice Kunesh explained that tribes, with limited taxation authority, utilized this revenue source to reconstruct their governments following decades of federal oversight.
“Tribes were asserting sovereignty. That rankled the states,” Kunesh observed.
Following a 1987 Supreme Court ruling that prevented California from closing card rooms on two reservations, states pushed Congress for gambling regulation authority. This led to the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, creating what Kunesh termed a tribal compromise.
This legislation broadened tribal gaming options, allowing informal bingo operations to evolve into sophisticated casino resorts worth billions. The Act also established strict oversight requirements and mandated state-tribal gaming agreements.
Tribal gaming has faced competition before. When the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act passed, commercial casinos operated legally in just two states. That figure has expanded to 27 states, while the industry now competes with legal sports betting in 39 states and growing online casino markets.
Former National Indian Gaming Commission Chairman Jonodev Chaudhuri notes prediction markets stand out because they rapidly entered online gaming with minimal regulation. He characterized this year’s convention atmosphere as collectively anxious.
“There’s an intensity in the discussions that is more pointed than I’ve seen perhaps ever in these rooms,” Chaudhuri remarked.
The Indian Gaming Association indicated studies examining financial impacts are currently underway.
Four tribal nations have filed federal lawsuits against Kalshi and Robinhood, alleging violations of federal law and state-tribal agreements. In legal responses, these platforms argue they operate financial markets rather than casinos or sportsbooks and don’t conduct business on tribal territory.
The Ho-Chunk Nation, one of Wisconsin’s 11 federally recognized tribes with exclusive gaming rights under state compact, joins these legal challengers. Ho-Chunk President Jon Greendeer described the battle as David versus Goliath, with tribal social services at stake.
“We’re taking on somebody who makes more money on one event than we do in an entire year,” Greendeer stated.
The Indian Gaming Association has submitted supporting briefs in the expanding litigation against prediction platforms while preparing resources for potential legal action. Congressional appeals face uncertainty given Trump administration support for the prediction market sector.
“We’re seeing some hesitancy from lawmakers who don’t want to upset the big boss,” Bean commented.
According to National Indian Gaming Commission data, tribal gaming enterprises achieved record revenues of nearly $44 billion in 2024.
Less than half of America’s 576 federally recognized tribes operate gaming facilities. Many tribal casinos, especially in remote locations, generate only enough income for basic government functions and social programs.
Kunesh notes that Indian Gaming Regulatory Act compliance costs significantly reduce tribal revenues. The law also enables states to negotiate revenue-sharing arrangements with tribes, typically in exchange for some market exclusivity.
“People think tribes are making money hand over fist. That’s a terrible misunderstanding,” Kunesh emphasized.
Kentucky’s Republican-controlled legislature has successfully overridden Democratic Governor Andy Beshear’s veto to pass legislation that may shield international chemical company Bayer from state-level legal action claiming the company didn’t adequately warn users that its popular herbicide could lead to cancer.
Wednesday’s veto override by Kentucky’s General Assembly occurs just weeks ahead of U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments in a case that might establish nationwide protection from such liability claims. This development also coincides with Bayer’s request for a Missouri court to approve a $7.25 billion settlement agreement that could resolve tens of thousands of lawsuits claiming its Roundup herbicide triggered non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The coordinated efforts across state legislatures and court systems underscore what has emerged as a critical financial concern for the German-based corporation, which is also recognized for its pharmaceutical products. The issue has also exposed differing perspectives within President Donald Trump’s supporter base and the Make America Healthy Again movement.
Here’s an overview of the legislation and legal battles involving Bayer:
Monsanto introduced Roundup herbicide in 1974 featuring glyphosate as its primary active component. The product rapidly became among the most extensively utilized herbicides in farming. Roundup is engineered for use alongside genetically modified seeds that can withstand the herbicide’s lethal effects, enabling farmers to increase production while preserving soil through reduced tillage.
Bayer incorporated Roundup into its product line when it purchased Missouri-headquartered Monsanto in 2018. Along with the acquisition came an increasing volume of legal claims alleging glyphosate triggers a cancer type called non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Approximately 200,000 Roundup-related legal claims have been filed against Bayer.
The corporation challenges the cancer-causing allegations. However, Bayer has stated the litigation expenses are jeopardizing its capacity to maintain sales of glyphosate-based products in American agricultural markets. The company has already eliminated glyphosate from its updated Roundup versions intended for home use.
While certain research links glyphosate to cancer, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined it is unlikely to cause cancer in humans when applied according to instructions. The federally approved Roundup label contains no cancer warnings.
Most lawsuits center on allegations that Roundup’s producer failed to alert customers about potential cancer risks.
Bayer has partnered with an agricultural organization coalition called Modern Ag Alliance to attempt preventing similar future claims. They have supported legislation in various states stating that federally approved pesticide labels adequately fulfill any state law requirements to warn customers.
North Dakota and Georgia were the initial states to implement this legal protection last year. Kentucky joined as the third state when legislators voted to overturn Beshear’s veto.
“Farmers need clear, consistent rules to plan for the future and keep their operations profitable,” Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, executive director of Modern Ag Alliance, said while praising the Kentucky law.
Beshear, a former state attorney general, pointed out that numerous other products already display warning labels, including cosmetics, personal hygiene items and household cleaning products.
However, the Kentucky legislation “would allow dangerous pesticides to be sold without having labels warning of the risks of using them. It flies in the face of making America healthy,” Beshear said in his veto message.
The Supreme Court will hear arguments April 27 regarding a Missouri case where a jury awarded $1.25 million to a man who developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after applying Roundup in a St. Louis community garden. Jurors found Monsanto responsible for inadequate risk warnings.
Bayer argues federal pesticide regulations supersede failure-to-warn claims under state laws, since states cannot mandate additional labeling requirements.
Trump’s administration has supported Bayer, changing the stance of former President Joe Biden’s administration and creating tension with some Make America Healthy Again agenda supporters who oppose granting companies legal immunity from such claims.
The case has attracted significant attention. Agricultural groups, business associations, healthcare organizations, plaintiffs’ lawyers and state officials have collectively submitted approximately 30 separate legal briefs urging the high court to rule either for or against Bayer’s claim of federal legal protection.
Among these is a group of former EPA officials who argue state lawsuits should proceed. Roundup’s manufacturer never requested EPA to include cancer warnings on its labels, so the absence of such labeling “cannot be understood as an implicit rejection of such a warning” and should not prevent failure-to-warn lawsuits, their court filing states.
A St. Louis Circuit Court judge granted preliminary approval last month to a proposed settlement designed to resolve most pending and future failure-to-warn claims involving Roundup. This initiated a notification period allowing people to opt out of the settlement by June 4.
The proposed agreement requires Bayer to make yearly payments into a special fund for up to 21 years, totaling as much as $7.25 billion. Individual compensation amounts would differ based on Roundup usage patterns, age at diagnosis and non-Hodgkin lymphoma severity.
An agricultural, industrial or turf worker with extended Roundup exposure would receive an average of $165,000 if diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease before age 60, according to the proposed settlement. Individuals diagnosed at age 78 or older would receive an average of $10,000.
The settlement would reduce risks from an eventual Supreme Court decision. Patients would be guaranteed settlement payments even if the Supreme Court favors Bayer. Additionally, Bayer would be shielded from potentially higher costs if the high court rules against it.
DALLAS — Federal authorities have filed charges against rapper Pooh Shiesty and eight co-defendants, alleging they held three men at gunpoint and kidnapped them during a January incident in Texas connected to a recording contract disagreement with Gucci Mane’s music label.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Dallas, the victims’ identities are being withheld, with court documents identifying them only by initials. Federal prosecutors indicate that one victim, identified as R.D., owns 1017 Records, the music label operated by Gucci Mane, legally known as Radric Delantic Davis.
Representatives for Gucci Mane have not responded to requests for comment regarding the allegations.
The incident occurred on January 10 when the three victims traveled to Dallas believing they were attending a business meeting, according to federal court documents filed in the Northern District of Texas. Authorities allege that Pooh Shiesty, whose real name is Lontrell Williams Jr., organized the meeting under the pretense of discussing his recording contract terms with 1017 Records.
Federal prosecutors claim that once the victims entered the recording studio, Pooh Shiesty pulled out an AK-style weapon and coerced one victim into signing a document releasing him from his recording agreement. The remaining defendants then brandished guns and stole watches, jewelry, money and other valuables from the victims. One victim was reportedly strangled until nearly losing consciousness, according to the charges.
Court documents also allege that another defendant blocked the studio door with his body to prevent the victims from escaping.
Attempts to reach Pooh Shiesty for comment have been unsuccessful. At the time of the alleged Texas incident, he was serving home detention for a previous federal firearms conspiracy conviction from Florida.
Bradford Cohen, who represented Pooh Shiesty in the firearms case, has not responded to phone calls or emails from reporters.
In Memphis, Tennessee, FBI agents executed court-authorized search warrants Wednesday at a residence in Cordova. Public property records indicate the home belongs to Pooh Shiesty.
Gucci Mane is considered a founding figure of trap music along with Atlanta contemporaries T.I. and Jeezy. His career took off in the mid-2000s with the hit single “Icy” and he subsequently built an extensive discography through numerous mixtapes and studio albums. He has mentored artists like Young Thug and received a Grammy nomination for his collaboration on Lizzo’s track “Exactly How I Feel.”
The Atlanta-based artist continues releasing new music and pursuing business projects, including his upcoming 2025 album “Episodes” and his 2017 autobiography, “The Autobiography of Gucci Mane,” which chronicles his artistic journey and personal challenges including his diagnosis with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. In recent years, he has publicly advocated for sobriety and personal stability.
WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly requested that Army Chief of Staff Randy George resign from his position and enter immediate retirement, according to sources familiar with the matter.
CBS News reported the development on Thursday, citing individuals with knowledge of the decision. The request involves one of the military’s highest-ranking positions, as the Army Chief of Staff serves as the service’s senior uniformed officer.
Cuban demonstrators mounted bicycles and electric tricycles Thursday for a government-organized protest along Havana’s famous waterfront boulevard, with President Miguel Diaz-Canel joining the cycling caravan in opposition to American economic sanctions.
The procession traveled past the United States Embassy in Cuba’s capital city, with riders displaying flags and protest signs condemning the economic restrictions put in place during the Trump presidency that continue to impact the island nation’s fuel supplies.
The demonstration occurred one day following Cuba’s senior diplomat in Washington extending a public invitation for American assistance in rebuilding Cuba’s struggling economy through ongoing diplomatic discussions that have not yet produced concrete outcomes.
Rally participants expressed openness to diplomatic engagement with the United States while insisting on mutual respect between the nations.
“I believe that genuine dialogue between both governments is possible, but international law and our country’s autonomy must be respected,” said Sheila Ibatao, a Havana law student and participant.
President Diaz-Canel participated silently without delivering remarks during the demonstration.
While Cuban officials frequently stage major demonstrations outside the American Embassy, Thursday’s event was notably smaller and more subdued, reflecting the mobility challenges created by ongoing fuel shortages that have severely impacted public transit systems.
Some relief may be coming as a Russian oil tanker arrived in Cuba this week, delivering 700,000 barrels of crude oil that could ease shortages in the near term.
The Trump administration, which has imposed tariff threats on nations exporting oil to Cuba and banned Russian oil imports, stated it permitted the Russian vessel to dock at Cuba’s Matanzas port for humanitarian purposes.
Federal labor officials have ordered Amazon to enter contract negotiations with union representatives for roughly 5,000 warehouse employees at the company’s Staten Island facility, according to a Wednesday ruling from the National Labor Relations Board.
The decision requires the retail giant to sit down with Amazon Labor Union officials to discuss wages, workplace conditions, and other employment issues. The union, which was established in 2022, has since partnered with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
In its decision, the NLRB determined that Amazon “has engaged in unfair labor practices” by declining to enter discussions with the union or acknowledge its validity as a bargaining representative.
Amazon has rejected the federal board’s determination and indicated plans to challenge the ruling in court.
“Representatives of the NLRB improperly influenced this election,” the company said in a statement, suggesting they planned to appeal.
“We’re confident an unbiased court will overturn the original certification, and we look forward to the opportunity for our team to fairly voice their opinions.”
The Teamsters organization praised the decision, describing it in a statement as a “historic victory for Amazon Teamsters nationwide and a testament to worker power.”
Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX has raised its sights on a valuation exceeding $2 trillion for its planned stock market debut, according to a Bloomberg News report Thursday that cited sources with knowledge of the discussions. If achieved, this would mark the biggest initial public offering ever recorded.
The space exploration company and its financial advisors are presenting this ambitious valuation figure to potential investors as they prepare for the public stock launch, Bloomberg reported.
According to the news outlet, discussions remain fluid and the IPO details may still undergo modifications.
SpaceX has not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the reported valuation target.
The rocket manufacturer, headquartered in Starbase, Texas, recently filed confidential documentation with federal securities regulators and aims to debut on the stock market before year’s end.
This public offering follows Musk’s recent combination of SpaceX with artificial intelligence company xAI, a transaction that assigned a $1 trillion value to the aerospace firm and $250 billion to the creator of the Grok chatbot technology.
Military authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo announced that 43 civilians lost their lives during a Wednesday evening assault by militants with ties to the Islamic State in the nation’s eastern region.
The deadly incident occurred around 7 p.m. local time in Bafwakoa village, situated in Mambasa territory within Ituri province, close to the town of Niania, according to officials who spoke with Reuters.
Congo’s armed forces attributed the violence to the Allied Democratic Forces, a Ugandan militant organization operating in eastern Congo that has been recognized as an Islamic State affiliate.
The military statement indicated that 44 residential structures were destroyed by fire during the attack.
Christian Alimasi, a local customary official in Mambasa territory, described the brutal nature of the assault, stating that some casualties resulted from machete attacks while others perished when trapped in their burning homes. He also confirmed that two individuals were taken captive by the attackers.
Despite combined military efforts between Congolese and Ugandan forces that began in 2021 to combat the group, ADF assaults against civilian populations have grown more frequent in recent months across portions of Ituri and the adjacent North Kivu province.
Research data from Insecurity Insight, an organization that examines verified violent incidents targeting civilians, indicates that the ADF was responsible for approximately 25% of documented civilian violence in eastern Congo from 2020 through 2025.
The federal government has launched legal challenges against three states that have attempted to impose restrictions on prediction market platforms, marking the most significant federal intervention in the rapidly growing betting sector to date.
The lawsuits target state efforts to regulate companies like Kalshi, an online prediction market platform, with states citing gambling regulations as justification for blocking operations. However, federal authorities are pushing back against these state-level restrictions.
This legal battle represents the Trump administration’s most aggressive approach to establishing federal oversight of prediction markets while preventing individual states from implementing their own regulatory frameworks for the controversial and expanding industry.
The outcome of these federal lawsuits could determine whether states maintain authority to regulate prediction markets within their borders or if federal rules will take precedence in governing these platforms nationwide.
A Florida-based drone manufacturer with financial ties to Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump is actively marketing defensive interceptor systems to Middle Eastern nations currently facing Iranian drone attacks.
Powerus, which announced last month that the president’s two eldest sons joined the company with equity stakes, is conducting demonstrations across Gulf nations to showcase how their anti-drone technology could defend against Iranian strikes.
“Our team is doing many demos across the Middle East right now for our interceptors,” co-founder Brett Velicovich stated in a text message to reporters. “We have very incredible tech that can save lives.”
The timing raises ethical questions, as these same nations depend on U.S. military protection under the leadership of the Trump brothers’ father, who initiated the current conflict with strikes against Iran alongside Israel more than a month ago.
“These countries are under enormous pressure to buy from the sons of the president so he will do what they want,” commented Richard Painter, who previously served as chief White House ethics attorney under President George W. Bush. “This is going to be the first family of a president to make a lot of money off war — a war he didn’t get the consent of Congress for.”
Velicovich, an Army veteran who previously encountered similar Russian-made drones now deployed by Iran, defended the business arrangement. “We are at war, my friend, we are in an arms race and America will lose if we don’t build fast,” he explained. “We should be thankful anyone is trying to invest in American manufacturing now. That idea transcends politics.”
The company declined to identify specific countries involved in the sales discussions or provide additional details about ongoing negotiations.
Established by former U.S. Army Special Operations personnel approximately one year ago, Powerus initially focused on civilian drone applications including agricultural fertilizer distribution and wildfire suppression. The company is now rapidly expanding into military drone production.
Recent fundraising efforts brought in $60 million from investors, and the company plans to access additional capital through a reverse merger with a Trump-owned entity that trades on the Nasdaq and operates several Florida golf courses. This merger strategy allows private companies to become publicly traded more quickly by acquiring existing public companies rather than conducting traditional initial public offerings.
The venture targets a portion of the Pentagon’s $1.1 billion allocation designed to strengthen domestic drone manufacturing capabilities, filling gaps created when the previous Trump administration prohibited such imports from China.
Since their father’s return to office, the Trump sons have diversified their investments beyond traditional real estate and hospitality ventures into cryptocurrency, prediction markets, and federal contractors producing rocket components and rare earth materials.
When asked about potential conflicts of interest last month, Eric Trump responded: “I am incredibly proud to invest in companies I believe in. Drones are clearly the wave of the future.”
The Trump Organization, where both sons serve as executives, did not respond to requests for comment, though the company has previously rejected conflict of interest allegations. The brothers have indicated they plan to pursue business opportunities more aggressively during their father’s current term, citing their perceived restraint during his previous presidency.
Iranian intelligence officers arrested prominent human rights attorney Nasrin Sotoudeh at her Tehran residence during an overnight operation, her daughter confirmed Thursday.
The 64-year-old award-winning lawyer has built her reputation defending political activists, opposition figures, and women charged for refusing to wear mandatory headscarves. Sotoudeh has faced multiple imprisonments and was recently released on bail due to medical concerns.
Her spouse, Reza Khandan, who is also a recognized activist, remains incarcerated at Tehran’s notorious Evin prison facility.
Speaking to The Associated Press from Amsterdam, daughter Mehraveh Khandan explained she learned of her mother’s detention through intermediary messages from relatives in Iran. Communication restrictions and internet limitations implemented since January have made outside contact nearly impossible.
The arrest occurs as Iranian officials have escalated their suppression of opposition voices and political dissidents while conflict with the U.S. and Israel continues. Since hostilities began February 28, authorities have reportedly detained hundreds of individuals, frequently for speaking with international media outlets. Officials have also increased executions of imprisoned demonstrators who received death sentences. Human rights organizations say this intensified repression aims to create fear and prevent future uprisings.
Just prior to her detention, Sotoudeh participated in an interview published Monday by an overseas Persian news organization, discussing the ongoing conflict and stating that the Islamic Republic’s actions “have exposed us to death.” She also criticized government suppression of January protests—the most significant demonstrations against the Islamic Republic in recent decades—which authorities met with severe force.
Khandan expressed concern for her mother, who suffers from heart problems, citing potential U.S.-Israeli strikes on detention centers and noting that “our regime became even more brutal after this war started.”
Sotoudeh’s detention follows reports that Iran’s imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi may have experienced a heart attack.
Mohammadi’s French attorney Chirinne Ardakani informed AP Thursday that her legal team discovered Mohammadi’s condition during a brief prison visit last week.
“She appeared extremely emaciated, pale, weak, and had difficulty moving. In fact, she was even accompanied to the waiting room by a nurse. We learned from Narges Mohammadi that she had a heart attack on March 24th, that she was found unconscious in her cell, and that it was actually her fellow inmates who took her to the infirmary,” Ardakani said.
Beyond health worries, airstrikes occurred near Zanjan Prison in northwestern Iran where Mohammadi is detained, creating additional safety concerns, the attorney noted.
The 53-year-old rights lawyer, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 while imprisoned, was arrested in December during a trip to the eastern Iranian city of Mashhad and received an additional seven-year prison sentence. Mohammadi’s health continues deteriorating.
During a brief Thursday phone call, Sotoudeh informed her family that Intelligence Ministry agents detained her—the same agency responsible for her previous arrests, Khandan reported.
Sotoudeh instructed her family to contact prosecutors regarding her detention. Officials have not disclosed the reason for her arrest. Intelligence agents also seized all communication equipment from the residence, including her father’s devices, Khandan added.
The European Union awarded Sotoudeh the prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2012. Her former clients include Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi and numerous activists arrested during the government’s repeated suppression of demonstrations.
Khandan worried that news of the dissent crackdown might be overshadowed by ongoing warfare.
“It is hard for our voice to be heard in this time,” Khandan said. “The regime had (some) limits before. They don’t have (them) anymore.”
ORLANDO, Fla. — Two state governors have approved new legislation mandating enhanced citizenship verification for voters, as comparable federal measures championed by President Donald Trump remain stuck in congressional debate.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the legislation on Wednesday, prompting civil rights organizations to immediately file a federal lawsuit claiming the new requirements will create barriers for eligible voters.
Starting January 1st, the Florida measure will demand voters present birth certificates, passports, or naturalization papers to prove citizenship when election officials question their eligibility by comparing voter registration data with motor vehicle department records.
Civil rights advocates argued in their federal court filing in South Florida that “Many eligible voters do not have these documents and cannot obtain them for a variety of reasons — including because they were born without a birth certificate in the segregated South, because their documents were destroyed in a hurricane, or because they cannot afford the hundreds of dollars it costs to replace them.”
President Trump has been vigorously promoting similar federal voting legislation that would require documentary citizenship proof for federal election registration, including U.S. passports, naturalization certificates, or birth certificates combined with government-issued photo identification. The House approved the measure, but it stalled in the Senate before lawmakers’ spring break.
Florida’s new law also eliminates credit cards, student identification cards, and retirement community IDs as acceptable voting identification, while mandating that driver’s licenses display citizenship status beginning in July 2027.
Governor DeSantis defended the legislation as enhancing Florida’s electoral system security and transparency. “In Florida, we will always stand up for election integrity,” the Republican governor stated.
Mississippi’s version, also signed Wednesday, mandates local voter registration officials conduct additional citizenship verification when applicants cannot provide driver’s license numbers on their forms. The law, effective July 1st, also directs the secretary of state to perform yearly voter roll audits using U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement online databases to identify potential non-citizens who may need to verify their voting eligibility.
“This is another win for election integrity in Mississippi (and America),” Republican Governor Tate Reeves wrote on social media. “We will continue to do everything in our power to make it infinitely harder – with a goal to make it impossible – to cheat in our elections!”
The Southern Poverty Law Center warned the Mississippi law might prevent hundreds of thousands of residents from voting who lack passports, birth certificates, or whose names don’t match their birth documents due to marriage-related name changes.
This year, four Republican-controlled states – Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota, and Utah – have passed laws strengthening citizenship documentation requirements for voters. Michigan advocates have gathered 750,000 petition signatures attempting to place a constitutional amendment regarding voter citizenship documentation on November’s ballot.
The Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature has also approved similar legislation, though it awaits Democratic Governor Laura Kelly’s decision. Kelly has until next week to sign or veto the bill and hasn’t announced her intentions publicly, despite regularly rejecting previous GOP election measures. Override supporters would require a two-thirds majority, but Republican opposition suggests the House may lack sufficient votes.
Kansas efforts to prevent non-citizen voter registration remain influenced by a significant political controversy – a 2013 requirement that first-time state voter registrants provide citizenship documentation.
That previous law prevented more than 31,000 eligible U.S. citizens from registering, representing 12% of all first-time Kansas registration attempts. Federal courts eventually ruled the law unconstitutionally burdened voting rights, and enforcement ceased in 2018.
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has adjusted its strategy for downsizing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, presenting a revised proposal that would maintain a larger workforce than initially planned while still implementing substantial reductions.
The updated blueprint calls for reducing the bureau’s workforce from its current authorized level of 1,700 employees to approximately 550 staff members. This represents a significant change from the administration’s original goal of cutting personnel to around 200 workers.
Court filings and internal documents released this week detail the modified approach, which emerged from ongoing litigation between the CFPB’s employee union and Russell Vought, who serves as Trump’s budget director and acting head of the consumer protection agency.
The National Treasury Employees Union, representing bureau workers, has voiced strong opposition to the workforce reductions and pledged to fight any staffing changes.
“Vought’s insistence that CFPB can meet its statutory obligations with only one-third of the staff is laughable, and an insult to the intelligence of the judges. Everyone knows Vought doesn’t want CFPB to exist at all,” stated Cat Farman, who leads the CFPB’s union.
The staffing cuts would require federal court approval to move forward, as the union continues its legal challenge.
Trump administration officials defend the reductions as necessary due to budget constraints. Congressional lawmakers reduced the CFPB’s operating budget by nearly half through the One Big Beautiful Bill that Trump signed into law last year.
“It would be mathematically impossible to comply with the law without a workforce restructuring and reduction,” explained Geoffrey Gradler, the bureau’s deputy director.
If enacted, the proposed cuts would affect multiple divisions within the agency. The supervision unit, responsible for monitoring bank compliance with federal consumer protection and banking regulations, would lose approximately five out of every six positions. The enforcement division would see staff levels drop by roughly 80 percent.
Since Trump began his second term, the CFPB has largely ceased normal operations. Agency employees received instructions to halt their work shortly after the inauguration, with remaining activities focused primarily on reversing initiatives from the Biden administration and even some programs from Trump’s first presidency.
The consumer protection bureau became an early focus of the Department of Government Efficiency when Elon Musk led the initiative. Musk posted on social media platform X that the CFPB should “RIP” after DOGE personnel were assigned to the agency. The administration initially attempted to eliminate approximately 90 percent of the workforce, affecting around 1,500 employees, before a federal judge intervened to block the action.
WORCESTER, Mass. — Three Massachusetts State Police officers entered not guilty pleas Thursday on charges stemming from the death of a police recruit who sustained fatal brain injuries during training boxing exercises last September.
The officers face charges in connection with the death of 25-year-old Enrique Delgado-Garcia, who passed away at a hospital on September 13, 2024. Delgado-Garcia had lost consciousness during what investigators described as dangerous and unauthorized boxing training the previous day.
Special prosecutor David Meier, assigned by the state’s attorney general to handle the investigation, announced in February that the three training staff members face charges of involuntary manslaughter and causing serious bodily injury during a training program. The unit supervisor also faces perjury charges related to grand jury testimony.
Lieutenant Jennifer Penton, who held the rank of sergeant when initially charged, appeared in Worcester Superior Court alongside Troopers Edwin Rodriguez and David Montanez before Judge J. Gavin Reardon Jr. Each defendant repeatedly stated “not guilty” as the charges were announced. A fourth officer, Casey LaMonte, has an arraignment scheduled for April 14.
The courtroom was filled with observers, while family members of Delgado-Garcia watched silently from one side. Outside the courthouse, several people displayed signs showing support for the deceased recruit.
All three defendants were released without bail but must follow specific conditions, including avoiding contact with potential case witnesses. The judge set June 16 for a pretrial conference with defense lawyers.
According to Meier’s investigation, dangerous sparring exercises caused Delgado-Garcia’s initial head injury. The following day, training staff allegedly allowed a boxing match to continue despite safety concerns, resulting in “multiple blunt force injuries to the head and massive brain bleeding” for the recruit.
Brian Williams, president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts, defended the charged officers when the indictments were announced in February, stating “the veteran training staff indicted today are entitled to the same presumption of innocence and due process guaranteed to every citizen.”
Williams added that the association supports its members and will mount a strong defense while collaborating with the department on training improvements.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell emphasized in February the importance of conducting an independent and unbiased investigation. The case followed demands from advocacy organizations and Delgado-Garcia’s loved ones for accountability in his death.
“The family is relieved there has been progress in the case from the beginning,” said their lawyer, Mike Wilcox, at the time, noting there was “light at the end of the tunnel in terms of accountability.”
Recent tragedies nationwide have increased scrutiny of police academy training methods and curriculum content.
An Associated Press investigation titled “Dying to Serve” revealed that over 30 recruits have died during law enforcement training since 2015, with deaths caused by intense or violent exercises, heat exposure, physical strain, and various medical emergencies.
Recruit deaths have increased as departments recruit non-traditional candidates while maintaining established academy practices. Investigators typically classify these deaths as tragic but unavoidable medical events, with criminal charges rarely considered.
The Massachusetts charges are believed to mark the first criminal case related to a police academy recruit’s death in recent years. In reviewing 37 recruit deaths since 2005, the AP found no other instances resulting in criminal charges.
Alternative forms of accountability, including civil litigation and workplace safety investigations, have also been uncommon. Families often face difficulties obtaining federal death benefits, despite congressional legislation clarifying recruit eligibility.
Recently, the family of San Francisco police recruit Jon-Marques Psalms, who died after collapsing during combat training in August 2025, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the department alleging negligence. The city attorney’s office responded that its “thoughts and prayers” were with the family following Psalms’ “tragic” death and that it was reviewing the complaint for a court response.
Sixteen major pharmaceutical companies have reached agreements with the Trump administration to align American prescription drug costs with prices charged in other developed countries, securing three-year exemptions from import tariffs in return.
The pharmaceutical manufacturers have committed to implementing “most-favoured-nation” pricing strategies, offering medications directly to patients via a newly established government website called TrumpRx.gov, and pledging substantial investments in U.S. operations.
Last July, President Trump sent correspondence to leaders of 17 major pharmaceutical corporations, requiring them to align their U.S. drug pricing with the lowest rates available in other developed countries. Sixteen companies have publicly confirmed their participation in these arrangements.
PFIZER
In September, the pharmaceutical giant committed to reducing prescription medication costs for American consumers, offering discounts reaching 85% through the TrumpRx.gov platform.
The company stated that most of its primary care medications and select brand-name drugs, including the rheumatoid arthritis treatment Xeljanz, dermatitis medication Eucrisa, and post-menopausal osteoporosis drug Duavee, will feature average price reductions of 50%, with potential savings reaching 85%.
JOHNSON & JOHNSON
In January, the healthcare corporation agreed to reduce medication prices for American consumers, including offerings through the TrumpRx.gov website.
The company has not revealed specific agreement details, including information about adjusted pricing or covered medications.
ASTRAZENECA
The British-Swedish pharmaceutical company committed in October to lowering prescription drug costs for American patients, providing discounts up to 80% via TrumpRx.gov.
NOVO NORDISK
The Danish diabetes and weight-loss medication manufacturer agreed in November to decrease pricing for its semaglutide products, including Wegovy and Ozempic, for American consumers through Medicare, Medicaid, and direct-payment options.
Monthly costs for Ozempic and Wegovy will drop from $1,000 and $1,350 respectively to $350 when purchased via TrumpRx.
The company will also supply commonly prescribed insulin medications, including NovoLog and Tresiba, at $35 monthly through TrumpRx.
ELI LILLY
In November, the Indianapolis-based company agreed to provide Medicare recipients with its weight-loss medications Zepbound and orforglipron, marketed as Foundayo, for no more than $50 monthly, plus additional reductions for cash-paying patients through LillyDirect.
Zepbound multidose pens will cost $299 monthly at the lowest dosage, with higher doses priced up to $449, while Foundayo will start at $149 monthly for the lowest dose via LillyDirect.
The company will also make Emgality, a migraine medication, available at $299 per pen, and Trulicity, a diabetes treatment, at $389 monthly through TrumpRx.
ABBVIE
The Illinois-based pharmaceutical company agreed in January to lower medication prices through Medicaid and expand direct-to-consumer availability via TrumpRx for treatments including Humira and Synthroid.
BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB
In December, the company announced it will supply its popular blood-thinner Eliquis to Medicaid recipients at no cost as part of its Trump administration agreement.
The company also committed to donating more than seven tons of active pharmaceutical ingredients for Eliquis production.
GILEAD SCIENCES
In December, the biopharmaceutical company stated it will offer selected treatments for HIV, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and COVID-19 at reduced prices for Medicaid recipients.
The company committed to pricing future medications equally with other major developed nations and making its hepatitis C treatment, Epclusa, available at discounted cash prices through TrumpRx and its own patient program.
EMD SERONO
In October, the German pharmaceutical unit and Trump administration announced the company would sell fertility treatments, including Gonal-f, Ovidrel, and Cetrotide, directly to patients with an 84% combined discount off list prices when all three are used for IVF procedures.
The company committed to offering all new U.S. drug launches at prices matching those charged in other developed nations.
MERCK
In December, the American pharmaceutical company announced it will sell diabetes medications Januvia, Janumet, and Janumet XR — which face generic competition next year — directly to consumers at approximately 70% below list prices.
If approved, the company’s experimental cholesterol medication enlicitide will also be available through direct-to-consumer channels, including TrumpRx.
ROCHE
In December, the Swiss company’s Genentech division stated it would reduce prices for many medications under Medicaid to levels comparable with those in other wealthy nations.
The company also agreed to offer influenza treatments through TrumpRx.gov and its own direct-patient program.
NOVARTIS
In December, the Swiss pharmaceutical giant committed to launching new medications in the United States at prices comparable to other developed countries.
The company also agreed to make multiple sclerosis drug Mayzent and cancer treatments Rydapt and Tabrecta available through its direct-patient platform and TrumpRx.gov.
AMGEN
The biotechnology company stated it will add cholesterol medication Repatha at $239 monthly, migraine treatment Aimovig, and arthritis drug Amjevita at $299 monthly to its direct-patient program, representing 60% to 80% reductions from list prices.
SANOFI
In December, the French pharmaceutical company committed to providing lower-cost medications via TrumpRx and other direct-patient platforms, with average savings of approximately 70% on treatments for infections, heart conditions, and diabetes.
The company also agreed to align Medicaid pricing for several medications with rates in other high-income countries.
GSK
In December, the British pharmaceutical company agreed to make most inhaled respiratory treatments and other medications available to patients through a direct-patient platform with savings reaching 66%.
The company also committed to reducing prices for certain Medicaid medications and launching new drugs with a “more balanced pricing approach” across developed nations.
BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM
In December, the German pharmaceutical company stated it would make its medications available through TrumpRx.gov at discounted rates.
REGENERON
In April, the biotechnology company indicated it expects to announce an agreement with the Trump administration “in the near future.”
Among the 17 major pharmaceutical companies that received correspondence from President Trump in July, it remains the only one that has not finalized such an agreement.
Detroit Pistons star guard Cade Cunningham will undergo another medical assessment next week as he continues his recovery from a collapsed left lung injury, team officials confirmed Thursday.
The All-Star player has been sidelined for eight contests since sustaining the injury during Detroit’s March 17 matchup with the Washington Wizards.
With four additional games scheduled during his continued absence, Cunningham appears unlikely to meet the NBA’s 65-game minimum requirement for postseason award consideration. Having appeared in 61 contests this season, only two games would remain on the schedule if his recovery timeline proceeds as anticipated.
The NBA’s playoff tournament is scheduled to commence April 18.
This season, the 24-year-old guard has posted averages of 24.5 points per game along with 9.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds.
Since Detroit selected him as the first overall draft choice in 2021, the two-time All-Star has compiled career averages of 22.6 points, 7.9 assists and 5.4 rebounds across 269 games, all as a starter.
Delaware State Police are working to determine what caused a deadly three-car collision that claimed one life Wednesday evening on Route 896 in Newark.
The fatal accident happened around 6:50 p.m. on April 1, 2026, along South College Avenue near Old Baltimore Pike. A 45-year-old Newark resident driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee was heading north when his vehicle veered across the center median into the southbound lanes, according to investigators. The Jeep collided head-on with a Chevrolet Silverado, and the impact also involved a Subaru Ascent traveling in the same direction.
The Jeep’s driver was rushed to a local medical facility where he succumbed to his injuries. Authorities are withholding his identity pending family notification.
Emergency responders also transported the Silverado’s operator, a 42-year-old Newark man, to the hospital where he remains in critical condition.
The Subaru’s driver, a 42-year-old Middletown resident, escaped without injuries.
The crash scene required extensive cleanup and investigation, forcing authorities to shut down the roadway for about five hours.
Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit continues examining the circumstances that led to the tragedy. Investigators are seeking witnesses or anyone with relevant information to contact Corporal K. Oakes at (302) 365-8483. Tips can also be submitted through the Delaware State Police Facebook page or Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333.
Those affected by violent crimes or sudden deaths can access support through the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit and Delaware Victim Center, available around the clock at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (800-842-8461) or via email at [email protected].
Farmers across the nation maintained stable pricing for their peanut harvests during the week that concluded on March 28, according to new federal agricultural data.
Growers received an average of 22.0 cents per pound for all categories of farmer stock peanuts, showing no fluctuation from the previous reporting period.
The pricing information comes from the latest weekly agricultural market report tracking commodity values paid to producers nationwide.
New federal agriculture statistics show the nation’s cheese manufacturing industry produced 1.16 billion pounds during the reporting period, according to data released by government officials.
The production figures represent a 3.9 percent increase when compared to February 2025 numbers, but show a notable 9.0 percent decrease from January 2026 levels. These statistics do not include cottage cheese manufacturing in the overall totals.
The data comes from the latest federal tracking report on dairy industry performance across the United States, providing insight into national food production trends.
Each evening before starting his Uber driving shift, 74-year-old Stu Goldberg opens a small notebook containing his personal safety reminders. The handwritten notes include “No tickets. Full stops” and “Careful backing up. Watch for pedestrians and bikes.”
The Plainview, New York resident holds a doctorate in neuropsychology and spent years operating his own business. When he first retired, driving strangers around the city wasn’t part of his plan. However, financial realities forced him back into the workforce, navigating New York’s streets during nighttime hours.
“I like the freedom. I like the flexibility. I like meeting people,” Goldberg said. “I like that most of the time I can get, once or twice a day, a good conversation with somebody.”
This scenario reflects a nationwide trend of Americans choosing to “unretire” in recent years. Following lengthy careers in healthcare, education, and corporate settings, many are re-entering employment due to inadequate retirement funds, increasing expenses, and the need to remain engaged.
Many are turning to gig economy opportunities through smartphone applications and online platforms. Tasks like transporting passengers and packages, pet sitting, or handling laundry services appeal to them because they offer schedule control and the option to work when convenient.
“We’re living longer, so people are working longer because they have to fund those extra years,” said Carly Roszkowski, vice president of financial resilience at the nonprofit organization AARP. “And this concept of retirement for most people as like a cliff or a day they’re working towards really isn’t a reality for most.”
Goldberg had hoped to pursue teaching after closing his software and telemarketing business. However, he discovered that occasional adjunct statistics instruction wouldn’t provide sufficient income.
“Uber came up, and it was not a bad choice for me because I was comfortable driving people,” he said. “I felt it could be a good way to make money and keep most of it.”
According to AARP’s January 2025 survey, approximately 20% of Americans over 50 who haven’t retired report having zero retirement savings.
Industry professionals and retirees note that gig work offers both benefits and drawbacks, including minimal employment protections and potentially inadequate pay that may not cover work-related costs ineligible for tax deductions.
Barbara Baratta, age 72, concluded her pediatric nursing career in 2018. After becoming restless during her initial retirement years, she registered with Rover, a pet care application that connects her with dog walking opportunities and allows her to use her medical background administering pet medications.
The activity helps maintain her fitness level. “I get my steps in and do hill climbing,” she said.
On a cold afternoon in her New Jersey neighborhood, with wind chill dropping temperatures into the twenties, Baratta worked to encourage Barley, a mixed-breed dog combining pit bull, beagle, and shepherd characteristics, to venture outside.
“Barley, if you turn this way, the wind will be blowing behind you,” she said gently, leading the dog down a wide street.
Baratta enjoys the physical demands of dog walking. Despite completing two half-marathons recently, she acknowledges that “being older and not having knees that are totally great” creates challenges on steep or uneven surfaces. She recommends that people her age carefully consider which animals they agree to walk.
“Some dogs are big and strong, which can be an issue, a lesson I learned very early on,” Baratta said. “An 80-pound dog, … they’re going to pull, they’re going to run away.”
Goldberg warns that driving can strain the back and legs, while locating restrooms during shifts becomes increasingly problematic with age.
Retirement can bring feelings of isolation and lengthy days. Part-time employment offers opportunities for human connection.
Baruch Schwartz, 78, worked as a wedding photographer for many years until the physical demands became too challenging for full-time work. He began driving for Uber and Lyft and finds fulfillment in feeling useful. “I feel like I’m on a mission,” he said after transporting a passenger home from kidney dialysis treatment.
Operating as an Uber driver provides Goldberg opportunities to encounter diverse individuals. During one evening shift, he discussed the film “Braveheart” with a Scottish historian. Another passenger sought his advice about proposing to his girlfriend.
“I’m amazed at what people will tell me about their relationships,” Goldberg said.
The appeal of gig platform employment includes schedule autonomy. Baratta’s flexible hours enabled her to provide childcare for her grandchildren.
Goldberg valued the scheduling freedom during a recent family death. However, between that unexpected travel and dental surgery, with no paid time off or sick leave benefits, he lost several days of earnings.
“When that happens, even though you have the flexibility, which you like, and you don’t have to call anybody and say ‘I’m not driving today,’ you still don’t make the money that day. And you’re still paying insurance,” Goldberg said.
Before committing to gig work, individuals should investigate what portion of earnings the company retains.
“The house always wins, so the amount of money you are going to get as a driver or delivery worker is very much controlled by the platform,” said Alexandrea Ravenelle, a sociologist and gig economy researcher at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “There are no workplace protections, so if you get injured on the job, if you have any types of problems, if you have a car accident, for instance, you are entirely out of luck.”
Goldberg encountered three severe potholes within three weeks, spending $144 each time for tire replacements. Despite working, he lost money during those weeks.
“I’d say most drivers are not happy with the money that they’re making, unless they’re working more hours than I’m willing to do,” Goldberg said. “You have to put in the hours, and that is what a lot of people don’t anticipate.”
LisaKay “LK” Foyle, 64, from Orange, Texas, discovered methods to increase her earnings through Poplin, an application connecting her with clients requiring laundry assistance. Her seniority on the platform allows her to select high-paying express orders while declining lower-rate jobs.
Foyle is amazed by the condition of some families’ clothing: “all the socks are inside-out, all the underwear is in the pants, and you’ve got to check every single pocket, or you’re washing marbles or frogs or the snacks they had that day.”
Baratta’s dog walking earnings supplement multiple small pensions and Social Security payments. She charges $20 for thirty-minute walks, excluding travel time to locations. Rover retains approximately 20% of her fees. Her monthly income of $1,000 to $2,000 helps cover expenses.
“The dogs and cats are delights,” Baratta said. “I’m not becoming rich doing this, … but I’ve met a lot of great families doing it.”
WASHINGTON — A groundbreaking fossil discovery has provided researchers with their first clear view of when our planet shifted from basic plant life and primitive organisms to the sophisticated creatures that would dominate Earth and eventually evolve into modern species.
The evolutionary leap occurred several million years before scientists previously believed possible.
Over 700 ancient specimens unearthed in China’s Yunnan province provide insight into life from 539 million years ago, during the final stages of the Ediacaran period. This era was characterized by simple yet unusual creatures that existed in a flat, two-dimensional ocean environment, never moving vertically through the water column, according to researchers.
However, research published Thursday in the journal Science reveals that many specimens from this collection represent more sophisticated organisms that lived three-dimensional lives, swimming vertically through water and actively feeding. These characteristics were previously believed to have emerged at least 4 million years later during the Cambrian period’s famous “explosion” of complex life forms.
“This really is the first window we have into how basically the modern animal-dominated biosphere was formed and developed and came through this weird Ediacaran transitional interlude,” explained co-author and paleontologist Frankie Dunn from Oxford University’s Museum of Natural History. “We go from a two-dimensional world, and within the geological blink of an eye, animals have diversified. They’re everywhere. They’re doing everything, and they’re changing biogeochemical cycles. They’ve changed the world.”
The discovery site sits near a UNESCO Chengjiang world heritage location known for other fossil finds. Despite its unremarkable roadside appearance, the area contains distinct geological layers that allow researchers to literally traverse different time periods, Dunn explained. One particular section offers a unique “snapshot” where evolutionary forces converged.
According to Dunn, this fossil collection contains both strange life forms from earlier periods that eventually vanished, alongside early examples of organisms that would develop into contemporary animals. The key feature of these more advanced creatures is their bilateral symmetry — bodies that mirror each other on left and right sides.
Almost all current animal life on Earth possesses matching left and right features, plus a distinct head and rear opening. Before this Chinese discovery, scientists had only observed evidence of this symmetrical body structure in fossil tracks, never the actual creatures themselves.
“Now we know what’s making them because we have those fossils for the first time,” stated study co-author Ross Anderson, also from Oxford’s Museum of Natural History.
Previously, paleontology faced a significant contradiction. Genetic studies examining mutation and evolution rates indicated that humans and starfish shared their earliest common ancestor during the Ediacaran period, but physical fossil evidence was missing to support this timeline, Dunn noted. Researchers dubbed this disagreement the “rocks versus clocks” debate.
“What our new fossil site tells us is that actually perhaps the rocks and the clocks are in closer agreement than we thought,” Dunn said.
Emily Mitchell, a Cambridge University paleontologist not involved in the study, commented that the research “makes a huge amount of sense because the Ediacaran contains animals, we know there must have been a transitional stage between them and the Cambrian fauna. But until now we didn’t really have any evidence of this.”
While some external researchers, including Jonathan Antcliffe from the University of Lausanne, questioned whether sufficient evidence exists to classify these as complex animal fossils, most experts consulted by The Associated Press agreed with the classification.
Now that researchers understand when this biological explosion occurred, they face new questions and are developing theories to explain it.
“I’m really interested in understanding, not just when it happened, which is interesting, but how it happened and why it happened the way that it happened,” Dunn said. “So whether there are feedbacks that we can disentangle between Earth and life or between life and life. Once you have Ediacaran on the sea floor, is it inevitable that you’ll end up with something approaching a Cambrian explosion? They’re the kinds of questions that I find really interesting.”
While life on Earth began 3 billion years ago, it required another 2.4 billion years before complex animals developed. Then they rapidly multiplied, diversified and dominated the planet, Dunn explained.
This acceleration likely occurred because Earth needed to develop sufficient oxygen levels and evolution required genetic modifications to take effect, according to University of California at Berkeley paleontologist Charles Marshall, who was not involved in the research.
“The Cambrian explosion was sudden because of the already rich developmental system that was in place,” Marshall noted.
“What fundamentally changed across this period is the way the animals on the planet interacted with each other,” said Duncan Murdock, curator at Oxford’s museum where many study authors work. “Once animals turned up and started eating each other and churning up the sediment, they changed the planet forever. And the planet that we live on is very much built on the foundations from the Ediacaran and Cambrian.”
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarus lawmakers have given final approval to legislation establishing penalties for individuals who advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, mirroring restrictive policies implemented by neighboring Russia.
The nation’s upper legislative chamber completed approval of the measure Thursday after the lower house endorsed it last month. The legislation now awaits the anticipated signature of authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko before taking effect.
Under the new law, promoting what officials term “propaganda of homosexual relations, gender charge, refusal to have children and pedophilia” will result in financial penalties, community service requirements, and potential 15-day detention.
While Belarus removed criminal penalties for homosexuality in 1994 following the Soviet Union’s dissolution, the country does not permit same-sex marriage and provides no legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. Lukashenko, who has maintained authoritarian control over the 9.5 million-person nation for more than thirty years, has openly ridiculed homosexuality.
Western nations have imposed multiple rounds of sanctions on Belarus for both human rights violations and permitting Russia to launch attacks on Ukraine from Belarusian territory during the 2022 invasion.
Authorities have already closed LGBTQ+ organizations in Belarus, with security personnel conducting frequent raids on nightclubs hosting private gatherings for gay individuals. Human rights advocates report that the country’s primary security service, which retains its Soviet-era designation KGB, has used intimidation tactics against LGBTQ+ community members to force their cooperation.
“LGBTQ+ people had faced beatings, arrests, persecution and mockery even before the bill’s approval, but now law enforcement agencies have received legal grounds for repressions,” said Alisa Sarmant, the head of TG House, a Belarusian group championing transgender rights.
TG House has recorded what it describes as a minimum of 12 incidents targeting LGBTQ+ individuals in Belarus during the previous three months, including law enforcement action at a Minsk nightclub last month during a private gay gathering.
According to Sarmant, the new legislation has created anxiety among transgender individuals who worry they may lose access to essential medications. TG House reports receiving hundreds of requests from LGBTQ+ people seeking mental health support and assistance with relocation to other countries.
“The Belarusian authorities have lumped together gays, lesbians, transgender people, and pedophiles, creating additional grounds for social rejection and stigmatization,” Sarmant said. “Belarus is copying Russia’s sad experience, creating unbearable conditions for LGBT+ people.”
Russia has similarly implemented restrictive legislation limiting LGBTQ+ rights. Russian law prohibits gender changes on government documents, gender-affirming medical treatment, and any public display of gay or transgender identity. Officials have classified the LGBTQ+ movement as extremist, with participants facing potential six-year prison sentences.
ROME — Pope Leo XIV performed the sacred foot-washing ceremony exclusively with priests during this year’s Holy Thursday observance, marking a return to longstanding Vatican customs that his predecessor had modified to include broader participation.
The pontiff carried out the ritual with 12 clergy members, including 11 priests he had ordained the previous year and Rev. Renzo Chiesa, who leads the Rome Diocese’s main seminary.
Using a golden vessel, Leo poured water over each priest’s feet before toweling them dry and offering a ceremonial kiss. During his sermon, the pope described this as a “gratuitous and humble gesture” that reveals “the true omnipotence of God.”
“Indeed, through this act, Jesus purifies not only our image of God – from the idolatry and blasphemy that have distorted it – but also our image of humanity,” Leo stated during his address at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, which serves as the pope’s official cathedral as Rome’s bishop.
“For we tend to consider ourselves powerful when we dominate, victorious when we destroy our equals, great when we are feared,” the pontiff continued, drawing on his frequent opposition to warfare. “In contrast, as true God and true man, Christ offers us the example of self-giving, service and love.”
This Holy Thursday ceremony represents a cornerstone of each year’s Holy Week observances, commemorating Christ’s washing of his disciples’ feet during their final meal before his crucifixion.
Pope Francis had transformed this Vatican ritual beginning with his inaugural Holy Thursday in 2013, deliberately incorporating women and individuals from different religious backgrounds among the 12 participants. Before Francis, papal tradition limited the ceremony to Catholic men at the Roman basilica.
Leo’s choice to restore clergy as the central focus of this ritual represents both a revival of historical practice and aligns with his apparent mission to support Catholic priests and acknowledge their contributions.
Francis frequently challenged priests and condemned what he termed the “clerical” mindset that elevated clergy above ordinary believers. Francis viewed this hierarchical thinking as contributing to power abuses exemplified by the sexual abuse scandals within the church.
However, Leo has emphasized protecting priests’ welfare and dignity. He dedicated his April prayer focus to struggling clergy members facing despair due to isolation, burnout, or spiritual uncertainty.
“Let them feel they are not mere functionaries or lonely heroes, but beloved sons, humble and cherished disciples, and pastors sustained by the prayer of their people,” Leo stated in the prayer intentions the Vatican published this week.
He requested divine guidance to help the faithful support their priests, “to listen without judging, to give thanks without demanding perfection,” and to provide spiritual accompaniment through prayer.
Federal inspectors have uncovered 49 safety violations at the United States’ largest immigration detention center, revealing conditions that put detainees at risk of excessive force, illness, and other dangerous situations.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Detention Oversight conducted the congressionally required inspection during a three-day period in February at Camp East Montana located in El Paso, Texas, according to a report ICE published online this week.
The inspection documented 49 deficiencies, defined as violations of detention standards or policies, spanning areas such as force and restraint procedures, security protocols, medical treatment and additional concerns. This marked the first inspection report released by the oversight office since Camp East Montana was rapidly constructed and began operations last summer.
The violation count at this facility stands out dramatically compared to other detention centers. No other inspection conducted by the oversight office this year has found more than 13 deficiencies.
“This report is scathing. Camp East Montana gets an F,” said attorney Randall Kallinen, who represents the family of a 36-year-old detainee who died there in January — one of at least three deaths since its opening. “It’s very dangerous. Not only are the detainees in danger of excessive force, they are also in danger of improper or negligent medical care and mental health care, as well as danger from other detainees.”
These findings emerge as ICE’s parent organization, the Department of Homeland Security, has halted plans to purchase warehouses designed to accommodate 7,000 or more immigrants in single locations. According to ICE data from February 5, Camp East Montana operates as the largest detention facility, holding approximately 3,000 detainees daily, most of whom are men without criminal convictions.
The inspection occurred before ICE decided last month to remove the primary contractor, Acquisition Logistics LLC, following intense criticism regarding Camp East Montana’s conditions. Despite having no prior experience in detention operations, the company received a contract valued at up to $1.3 billion to construct and manage the facility. Both the company and its president, Ken Wagner, did not respond to requests for comment.
A more seasoned contractor, Amentum Services, assumed control of Camp East Montana operations on March 12. Federal records indicate their nearly $453 million no-bid contract for detention, transportation and medical services extends through September 30.
Detainees typically remain at Camp East Montana for days or weeks while awaiting deportation or transfer to other facilities.
U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar, an El Paso Democrat who has visited and spoken with detainees at the facility multiple times, described the inspection results as “a drop in the bucket of what is so profoundly wrong with that facility.” She noted detainees have repeatedly reported medical neglect and other issues.
Escobar stated conditions remain unchanged and questioned whether poor conditions are intentionally maintained to encourage detainees to accept voluntary deportation.
“ICE is completely uninterested in really creating any change or holding the contractor accountable,” she said.
An ICE spokesperson indicated the new contract will deliver enhanced medical care, increased on-site personnel and stronger ICE oversight.
The inspection report revealed multiple safety failures during Acquisition Logistics’ management period. Facility staff failed to document whether they performed mandatory checks designed to prevent self-harm and suicide attempts, issues that 911 records show have been significant problems at the location.
Acquisition Logistics declined to share staffing level information with ICE, preventing officials from determining whether personnel numbers were adequate for maintaining security, the report stated. In one case, a detainee escaped when no staff member was assigned to monitor perimeter fencing.
Inspectors discovered tools and equipment were “unsecured and unaccounted for throughout the facility” and staff did not maintain proper ammunition inventory records.
Security personnel who used or observed the use of force and restraints like handcuffs sometimes failed to complete required written reports, according to the findings.
Supervisors also neglected to document their observations, staff members failed to record or preserve video footage in certain instances, and the facility did not conduct post-incident reviews to evaluate whether chemical agents or other force methods were appropriately used.
Medical personnel failed to isolate a detainee showing tuberculosis symptoms, an airborne disease, and did not inform ICE about the case.
The facility also responded slowly to twelve medical care grievances filed by detainees, taking six to 14 business days to address complaints, the report noted.
Despite these issues, the report assigned the facility an “acceptable/adequate” rating and recommended ICE collaborate with the new contractor “to resolve the deficiencies that remain outstanding.”
The report disputed one frequent detainee complaint regarding insufficient food portions. It stated the food service program, operated by subcontractor Disaster Management Group, provided dietitian certification confirming the “average daily caloric provision of the menu” satisfied federal guidelines.
Federal environmental officials announced Thursday their intention to add microplastics and pharmaceutical drugs to an official watchlist of drinking water contaminants, marking the first time these substances would receive such designation and potentially paving the way for future regulatory limits on water systems.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated the agency is addressing public concerns about plastic particles and drug residues appearing in tap water. The announcement also serves to support Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s MAHA initiative, which has been advocating for stricter environmental contamination controls for several months.
The agency’s Contaminant Candidate List tracks pollutants in drinking water that currently fall outside Safe Drinking Water Act regulations. Officials are releasing the sixth draft version of this list, triggering a 60-day period for public input, with final approval expected by mid-November.
Research has documented microplastic presence in drinking water supplies and human organs including hearts, brains and reproductive tissues. Medical experts and researchers continue evaluating potential health risks, though they acknowledge legitimate reasons for concern. Similarly, pharmaceutical compounds entering water systems through human waste pose growing challenges, as standard treatment facilities cannot effectively filter these substances.
While the EPA utilizes this list for research priorities, funding decisions and regulatory planning, the agency seldom advances pollutants from the list to establish actual concentration limits in public water supplies. In March, officials announced they would not create regulations for any of nine pollutants from their most recent review cycle.
“It’s the beginning of a very long process that routinely ends in nothing,” said Erik Olson, a senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council who works on drinking water protection.
However, advocates pushing for stronger plastic pollution controls view the announcement positively.
“Including it in the list would be the first step toward eventually regulating microplastics in public water supplies and hopefully this is not the last step,” said Judith Enck, a former EPA regional administrator who now heads up Beyond Plastics.
Dr. Philip Landrigan, director of the Global Observatory on Planetary Health at Boston College, acknowledged the EPA’s positive direction but warned that without controlling accelerating plastic manufacturing growth, which drives pollution, these efforts will have minimal impact. The United States participates in international negotiations for a global plastic pollution treaty but maintains strong opposition to production restrictions.
Food & Water Watch praised the listing while noting it doesn’t meet their monitoring demands. The EPA employs its Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule to gather information on suspected drinking water pollutants.
This collaborative effort between Kennedy and Zeldin emerges as MAHA movement activists have established tentative political relationships with the EPA while voicing disappointment over delayed action on their priorities, particularly pesticide oversight.
The movement faced controversy earlier this year regarding President Donald Trump’s executive order partially aimed at increasing production of glyphosate, a disputed herbicide component. Kennedy expressed disappointment with the directive but acknowledged its necessity for agricultural stability and national security.
EPA officials have previewed an upcoming MAHA agenda addressing forever chemicals, plastic contamination, food standards, Superfund site cleanups and lead pipe replacement. In February, EPA press secretary Brigit Hirsch informed The Associated Press the agenda was nearing completion.
The Safe Drinking Water Act’s 1996 amendments require EPA publication of the Contaminant Candidate List every five years. Subsequently, the agency must evaluate whether to regulate at least five listed contaminants. Across five review cycles, EPA has determined regulatory action was unnecessary or inappropriate for most examined pollutants.
Trump has advocated for reduced environmental regulations. Last May, EPA announced intentions to eliminate restrictions on certain less common “forever chemicals” in drinking water, approximately one year after the Biden administration established the nation’s first comprehensive standards. The NRDC and fellow environmental organizations are working to preserve the complete Biden-era regulation.
The updated draft list encompasses four contaminant categories — microplastics, pharmaceuticals, PFAS and disinfection byproducts — plus 75 individual chemicals and nine microorganisms potentially present in drinking water supplies, according to EPA officials.
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Attorney General Pam Bondi will be leaving her position at the Department of Justice.
In a social media announcement, Trump designated Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to take over as acting attorney general. However, sources close to the situation indicate the president has privately considered Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin for the permanent appointment.
Bondi’s departure concludes a turbulent period during which the Trump loyalist dramatically altered the Justice Department’s traditional independence from White House influence, implemented widespread dismissals of longtime department staff, and pursued investigations targeting the president’s political opponents.
Following his appointment, Blanche expressed gratitude on social media platform X, stating: “Thank you to President Trump for the trust and the opportunity to serve as Acting Attorney General.” He praised Bondi for leading the department with “strength and conviction.”
“We will continue backing the blue, enforcing the law, and doing everything in our power to keep America safe,” Blanche added in his statement.
Blanche brings extensive legal experience to the role, having previously served as a federal prosecutor before representing Trump as his criminal defense lawyer in two cases filed by the Justice Department during President Joe Biden’s term. He also played a crucial role defending the president in the New York hush money prosecution and was promoted to deputy attorney general under Bondi’s leadership last year.
Trump praised his outgoing attorney general in his Truth Social announcement, describing Bondi as a “loyal friend” and adding: “We love Pam, and she will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector.”
The personnel change drew immediate reaction from Capitol Hill, with Republican Representative Nancy Mace welcoming the news. “I welcome it,” Mace declared in response to earlier speculation about Bondi’s potential removal.
“Bondi handled the Epstein Files in a terrible manner and seriously undermined President Trump,” Mace stated, referencing her ongoing criticism of the department’s management of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents.
Bondi’s tenure faced mounting pressure over several controversial issues, particularly the Justice Department’s management of files connected to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking case, which generated significant criticism from conservative allies despite her close ties to Trump. She also encountered difficulties fulfilling Trump’s expectations regarding prosecutions of political adversaries, with courts and grand juries rejecting multiple investigations.
The former Florida attorney general initially promised upon taking office that politics would not influence Justice Department operations. However, she quickly launched investigations into Trump’s opponents, prompting widespread criticism that the law enforcement agency had become a vehicle for advancing the president’s personal and political interests.
The head of Wisconsin’s massive university system is refusing to step down after being given an ultimatum to resign or face termination, according to correspondence obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday.
Jay Rothman, who has led the 25-campus Universities of Wisconsin system serving 165,000 students since 2022, revealed in a March 26 letter to the Board of Regents that he was presented with the stark choice but provided no explanation for the board’s demands.
In his correspondence to board chair Amy Bogost, Rothman stated he was informed his choices were to resign or retire, and if he refused, the board “was prepared to terminate my employment despite all that has been accomplished.”
The revelation follows a closed-door emergency session held by the Board of Regents on Wednesday evening to address personnel issues.
Board President Amy Bogost offered limited comment when contacted by the AP, stating: “The Board is responsible for the leadership of the Universities of Wisconsin and is having discussions about its future. We don’t comment on personnel matters.”
When approached for additional remarks via email Thursday, Rothman kept his response brief.
“I believe my letter speaks for itself,” he said.
Rothman’s leadership period has been characterized by his push for increased state funding while facing federal budget reductions, managing campus free speech controversies during pro-Palestinian demonstrations, and addressing dropping student numbers that resulted in eight satellite campus shutdowns.
In his letter to Bogost, Rothman wrote: “Since to date you have not provided any substantive reason or reasons for the Board’s finding of no confidence in my leadership, I am not prepared, as a matter of principle, to submit my resignation.”
The university president also highlighted upcoming leadership transitions in his correspondence, pointing out that the system must find a replacement for the Madison flagship campus chancellor this year. Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin is departing to assume the presidency at Columbia University.
“I do not believe my resignation at this time is in the best interests of either the Universities of Wisconsin or the state of Wisconsin,” Rothman stated.
In his letter, Rothman expressed that he has committed his “heart and soul to the mission of the Universities of Wisconsin” and described his shock upon learning that “an unidentified majority of the Board of Regents had lost confidence” in his leadership abilities.
“When I asked you to articulate reasons for the Board’s conclusion and apparent lack of confidence in me, you merely noted that each Regent has his or her own perspective on the matter,” Rothman wrote to Bogost. “You did not provide any tangible reasons for the Board’s determination.”
Before taking the university system helm in 2022, Rothman served as chair and CEO of Milwaukee-based law firm Foley & Lardner, bringing no previous background in higher education administration to the role.
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources has announced their schedule of upcoming educational events and workshops for the public.
These programs are designed to provide educational opportunities for residents interested in wildlife conservation, outdoor recreation, and natural resource management.
The department regularly hosts various workshops and events throughout the state to engage communities in wildlife education and conservation efforts.
Those interested in participating can find more information about specific dates, locations, and registration details through the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Two major federal agencies revealed Thursday their plans to begin tracking microscopic plastic particles and pharmaceutical compounds in America’s drinking water systems, marking the initial phase of evaluating potential health dangers and developing new safety regulations.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. celebrated the joint initiative as an achievement for President Donald Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement, which has focused on reducing recommended childhood vaccinations and encouraging whole food consumption in updated nutritional standards.
The Environmental Protection Agency will now add these microscopic plastics and pharmaceutical substances to its sixth Contaminant Candidate List, triggering testing and surveillance requirements under the Safe Drinking Water Act while securing research funding that could lead to future regulations if these materials pose threats to public water supplies.
Environmental advocates and MAHA supporters have previously criticized Zeldin and the EPA for not adequately responding to their concerns about microscopic plastics and for failing to implement stricter pesticide regulations.
Kennedy’s supporters and his “MAHA” movement played a significant role in Trump’s 2024 election victory.
Last year, seven state governors from locations including New Jersey and Michigan, along with 175 environmental and public health organizations, submitted a legal petition demanding the EPA include microscopic plastics on its monitored contaminants registry. Officials update this registry every five years.
These tiny plastic fragments have been found throughout the environment, from human tissue to water supplies to ocean floors and Arctic ice formations. Research studies have connected them to cancer risks and reproductive system damage.
During Kennedy’s 2024 Democratic primary campaign, he promised to address plastic contamination, including manufacturing processes. He subsequently supported Republican nominee Trump, whose administration recently advised nations to reject proposals limiting plastic production in a potential United Nations pollution control agreement.
Pharmaceutical substances contaminate water sources through incorrect disposal methods and human biological waste.
“By placing microplastics and pharmaceuticals on the Contaminant Candidate List for the first time ever, EPA is sending a clear message: we will follow the science, we will pursue answers, and we will hold ourselves to the highest standards to protect the health of every American family,” Zeldin said in a statement.
Officials will also establish human health safety standards for 374 pharmaceutical compounds requiring monitoring.
Researchers in Amsterdam have created an extraordinary handbag using collagen extracted from Tyrannosaurus rex fossil remains, marking a groundbreaking demonstration of laboratory-produced leather technology.
The distinctive teal-colored purse was revealed Thursday at Amsterdam’s Art Zoo museum, where it sits displayed on stone within a cage beneath a T-rex replica. The unique creation will go up for auction next month with bidding expected to start above half a million dollars.
The innovative material was developed by extracting ancient protein fragments from dinosaur fossils and introducing them into cells from an unidentified animal species to generate collagen, which was then processed into leather.
“There were a lot of technical challenges,” explained Thomas Mitchell, CEO of The Organoid Company, one of three firms involved in producing the so-called “T. rex leather” handbag.
The Organoid Company, a genomic engineering firm, previously partnered with creative agency VML in 2023 to produce a massive meatball by combining woolly mammoth DNA with sheep cells.
Che Connon, CEO of Lab-Grown Leather Ltd., which handled the leather production from the engineered collagen, noted that the T-Rex connection provided additional “oomph” to the project.
“It’s not just about a green alternative to leather, it’s a technological upgrade,” Connon stated regarding laboratory-produced leather.
However, several scientists not involved in the project have raised doubts about calling it “T. rex leather,” arguing that material from other animals would be necessary for the process.
Melanie During, a Dutch vertebrate paleontologist from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, explained that collagen in dinosaur bones exists only as broken fragments that cannot recreate authentic T. rex skin or leather.
Thomas R. Holtz Jr., a University of Maryland paleontologist, echoed similar concerns, noting that any collagen found in T. rex fossils originates from bone interior rather than skin. He added that even perfectly matched proteins would lack the complex fiber structure that gives animal leather its characteristic qualities.
Mitchell responded to the criticism by saying, “I would say that when you do something new for the first time, there is always criticism.”
“And I think we’re really grateful for that criticism. It’s the bedrock of scientific exploration… I think this is the closest anyone has gotten and will probably ever get to create something that’s T. rex,” Mitchell added.
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in China’s Yunnan Province that’s changing our understanding of when complex animal life first emerged on Earth.
Researchers have uncovered approximately 700 fossils of small, soft-bodied creatures that lived between 546 and 539 million years ago during what’s known as the Ediacaran Period. These ancient specimens show that animal life was diversifying in Earth’s early oceans much sooner than scientists previously understood.
The fossil collection, called the Jiangchuan Biota, consists of carbonaceous films – dark, flattened carbon layers that formed when organisms were compressed during fossilization. This preservation method captured incredible detail, including internal organs and structures used for feeding and movement.
What makes this find particularly important is that it demonstrates rapid animal diversification was already happening during the Ediacaran Period, well before the famous Cambrian Explosion that scientists have long studied. The Cambrian Explosion saw the emergence of early forms of most major animal groups we see today.
“We found a fossil site which gives us new information about the rise of complex animal life, before the Cambrian Explosion. We found evidence of animal groups that are otherwise found only about 520 million years ago – after the peak of the Cambrian Explosion – existing in the late Ediacaran Period, more than 20 million years earlier,” explained paleontologist Frankie Dunn from the University of Oxford, who co-authored the study published Thursday in Science journal.
During the Ediacaran era, Earth looked vastly different than today. The planet was emerging from an extreme ice age known as Snowball Earth, continents sat in completely different locations, and oxygen levels in the atmosphere were far lower than current levels.
Within this alien environment, the first animal life was taking hold in the seas. The oldest confirmed animal fossils date to roughly 574 million years ago and resembled fern fronds or feathers. Previously known Ediacaran animals included sponges and cnidarians – the group that includes jellyfish and corals.
“If you were to peer back into the Cambrian, you would be able to recognize much of the animal life around you, but this is not the case during the Ediacaran, where recognizable animals would likely be few and far between. Our new site shows a world in transition, moving into the complex animal-dominated world we see around us today,” Dunn noted.
Among the most significant discoveries were the oldest known members of deuterostomes – a vast animal group that includes vertebrates like humans, though these ancient creatures bore little resemblance to modern forms.
The fossil collection featured bilaterian animals – creatures with bodies that could be split into matching halves. While most animals today share this body plan, it represented a revolutionary development during the Ediacaran Period.
The specimens included animals with U-shaped bodies that anchored themselves to the ocean floor with stalks and used paired tentacles on their heads to capture food. These were early relatives of modern starfish and acorn worms.
Researchers also found what they nicknamed the “bugle worm” due to its resemblance to the musical instrument. This creature had a worm-like body attached to the seafloor and featured a proboscis that could turn itself inside out.
“When we were collecting fossils in the field, we were all surprised by how diverse the fauna was and how abundant the fossils were,” Dunn said.
“We expected to see more and more evidence of animals in the Ediacaran, but animals like the bugle worm tell us that not all of these will be forms that we could predict from the living diversity of animal life or even from the Cambrian Explosion,” Dunn added. “This tells us that there is still a lot to learn about the radiation of animal life and the nature of the transition from the Ediacaran to the Cambrian.”
Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX has been in conversations with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund regarding a potential $5 billion investment as part of the company’s upcoming stock market debut, according to two individuals with knowledge of the discussions.
The proposed investment would help protect the Saudi fund’s current ownership position of slightly less than 1% in the Texas-based space company, sources revealed.
The aerospace manufacturer has been securing major investors well in advance of its public offering, according to three additional sources. SpaceX hopes to generate an unprecedented $75 billion through the IPO, potentially surpassing previous massive public offerings like Saudi Aramco’s 2019 debut and Alibaba’s 2014 launch.
The space exploration company is working to assess market appetite for such a large-scale transaction, sources indicated, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the private nature of the negotiations. Officials emphasized that no definitive agreements have been reached and any potential deal could still be modified.
Neither SpaceX nor the Saudi Public Investment Fund provided responses when contacted for comment.
Major institutional investors known as anchor investors typically pledge to purchase predetermined amounts of stock before public marketing begins, demonstrating market confidence and supporting overall demand for the shares. While SpaceX pursues these large-scale institutional backers, a substantial portion of the stock allocation is anticipated to be directed toward high-net-worth clients of the investment banks managing the offering.
The Starbase, Texas-headquartered company has recently filed confidential documentation with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is planning to go public sometime this year.
The University of Delaware has set the standard for academic excellence across Conference USA, with 430 Blue Hens student-athletes earning recognition on the Commissioner’s Honor Roll – the most of any school in the conference.
Conference USA Commissioner Judy MacLeod made the announcement Thursday from Dallas, revealing that Delaware’s student-athletes led all member institutions in this academic achievement.
This recognition demonstrates the Blue Hens’ dedication to maintaining high standards in both athletic competition and academic pursuits, setting them apart from their conference peers in the classroom.
The Justice Department will be looking for new leadership after President Trump removed Pam Bondi from her position as Attorney General.
Bondi’s dismissal follows mounting concerns within the administration regarding her management approach and specifically how she dealt with files related to the Epstein case.
The former Florida Attorney General had been serving in the nation’s top law enforcement role, but internal tensions over her leadership style ultimately led to her departure from the department.
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Attorney General Pam Bondi will no longer serve in her role, bringing to a close a turbulent period during which the former Florida attorney general dramatically altered the Justice Department’s traditional independence from presidential influence and conducted widespread dismissals of career staff while aggressively pursuing investigations into Trump’s political adversaries.
The decision comes after months of intense criticism surrounding the Justice Department’s management of documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking case, which drew harsh condemnation from conservative supporters despite Bondi’s loyalty to Trump. Additionally, Bondi faced challenges in fulfilling Trump’s expectations to pursue criminal charges against his political opponents, with several investigations being dismissed by courts or grand juries, while others remain without filed charges.
Trump has designated Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to serve temporarily in the top position, although sources close to the matter indicate the president has privately considered Lee Zeldin, who currently leads the Environmental Protection Agency, for the permanent appointment.
When Bondi assumed leadership of the department last year, she promised to avoid political interference in Justice Department operations. However, she rapidly initiated investigations targeting Trump’s critics, prompting widespread concern that the law enforcement agency had become a weapon for settling political scores and advancing the president’s personal interests.
Her leadership brought unprecedented chaos to the department, including the termination of career prosecutors viewed as insufficiently devoted to Trump and the voluntary departure of hundreds of additional staff members. Her exit adds to a pattern of instability at the Justice Department that has characterized Trump’s presidency, with several attorneys general either forced out or stepping down after failing to satisfy his expectations for the position.
Bondi disputed claims that she had injected politics into the Justice Department, arguing her goal was to rebuild the institution’s reputation following what she characterized as excessive actions by President Joe Biden’s Democratic administration, which had pursued two federal criminal cases against Trump. Her supporters maintained she redirected the department’s focus toward addressing illegal immigration and violent crime, bringing necessary reforms to an agency they believed had unfairly targeted conservatives.
Bondi’s public support of the president represented a dramatic shift from previous attorneys general, who typically maintained careful distance from the White House to preserve the neutrality of investigations and prosecutions. Bondi positioned herself as Trump’s primary advocate and defender, offering praise and support during congressional testimony and displaying a banner featuring his image on the Justice Department building’s exterior.
She advocated for ending what she termed the “weaponization” of law enforcement that she claimed occurred during the Biden administration, despite assertions from Biden’s attorney general Merrick Garland and special counsel Jack Smith that their decisions were based on facts, evidence, and legal principles. Critics argued that Bondi herself had politicized the agency to serve the president’s agenda.
“You’ve turned the People’s Department of Justice into Trump’s instrument of revenge,” Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary committee, said at a February hearing.
During that hearing, Bondi delivered an aggressive performance while providing limited substantive responses, angrily attacking Democratic questioners with personal insults, celebrating Trump’s impact on stock market performance — “The Dow is up over 50,000 right now” — and openly declaring her alignment with a president she portrayed as a victim of past impeachments and investigations.
Even Republican lawmakers eventually questioned her leadership, with the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee issuing a subpoena last month requiring her to participate in a private interview regarding the Epstein documents.
During Bondi’s tenure, the department launched investigations into numerous Trump opponents, including Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, New York Attorney General Letitia James, former FBI Director James Comey, and former CIA Director John Brennan. The prominent prosecutions of Comey and James ended quickly when a judge dismissed the cases, ruling that the prosecutor who filed them had been illegally appointed.
While Trump frequently praised and supported Bondi publicly, he also displayed signs of frustration with her progress in prosecuting his rivals. In one notable social media message last year, Trump urged Bondi to accelerate prosecutions of his opponents, including James and Comey, stating: “We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility.”
Bondi supervised the departure of thousands of career employees through both terminations and voluntary resignations, including attorneys who had prosecuted violent attacks against police during the January 6, 2021 Capitol incident, along with environmental, civil rights, and ethics enforcement officials, counterterrorism prosecutors, and others.
She faced significant difficulties managing early missteps involving the Epstein documents that frustrated conservatives hoping for explosive government revelations about the case, which has long captivated conspiracy theorists. Bondi herself contributed to conspiracy theories during a 2025 Fox News Channel appearance by suggesting that Epstein’s “client list” was available on her desk for examination. The department subsequently admitted that no such document existed.
Bondi faced ridicule after arranging to distribute binders of Epstein documents to conservative influencers at the White House, only for it to be discovered that the materials contained no new information. Despite promises that additional files would be made public, the Justice Department announced in July that no further releases would occur, leading Congress to pass legislation forcing the agency to comply.
The Epstein document mishandling prompted extraordinary public criticism from White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, a close personal friend of Bondi’s, who told Vanity Fair that the attorney general “completely whiffed.” The Justice Department’s eventual release of millions of pages of Epstein files did little to reduce criticism, prompting a House committee with support from five Republicans to subpoena Bondi for sworn testimony.
Bondi, who served as Trump’s defense attorney during his first impeachment trial, was his second choice to lead the Justice Department after former Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida withdrew his nomination amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations.
SAN FRANCISCO — Federal attorneys have filed an appeal challenging a court decision that prevented the Pentagon from imposing penalties on artificial intelligence company Anthropic following a contract disagreement over military AI applications.
Justice Department lawyers submitted their appeal notice Thursday in San Francisco federal court, seeking to overturn U.S. District Judge Rita Lin’s ruling from the previous week.
Judge Lin’s decision prevented the Defense Department from designating Anthropic as a supply chain threat and stopped implementation of President Trump’s social media order directing federal agencies to cease using the company’s Claude chatbot system.
The judge criticized what she called “broad punitive measures” implemented by the Trump administration and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, describing them as seemingly arbitrary and potentially devastating to Anthropic’s business. She particularly questioned Hegseth’s use of unusual military powers typically reserved for foreign enemies.
“Nothing in the governing statute supports the Orwellian notion that an American company may be branded a potential adversary and saboteur of the U.S. for expressing disagreement with the government,” Lin wrote.
Pentagon leadership strongly criticized the ruling, with U.S. Defense Undersecretary Emil Michael, who serves as the Pentagon’s top technology official, calling Lin’s decision a “disgrace” on social media. He argued it would interfere with Hegseth’s “full ability to conduct military operations with the partners it chooses.”
Lin delayed implementation of her ruling for one week, providing the Pentagon time to file their appeal with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She clarified that her order doesn’t force the Pentagon to purchase Anthropic’s services or prevent switching to alternative AI providers.
The AI company has simultaneously pursued a separate, more focused legal challenge in the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., targeting a different Pentagon regulation aimed at labeling Anthropic a supply chain threat.
The conflict between Trump, Hegseth, and Anthropic became public on February 27th following failed contract negotiations. The breakdown occurred when the company insisted on restrictions preventing its AI technology from being used in fully autonomous weapons systems or for surveilling American citizens. Pentagon officials maintained they should have unrestricted use of Claude for any lawful military purpose.
Multiple organizations filed court documents supporting Anthropic’s position, including Microsoft, various industry associations, technology workers, former military commanders, and a coalition of Catholic theologians.
The Democratic Republic of Congo announced Thursday that it has officially ended a devastating mpox outbreak that persisted for two years and resulted in more than 2,200 suspected fatalities across the nation.
Health Minister Roger Kamba informed reporters that officials had determined the outbreak had concluded and no longer constituted a national emergency situation.
The central African nation served as the epicenter of the infectious viral disease outbreak that expanded into surrounding countries throughout 2024, leading the World Health Organization to issue a global health emergency declaration when the disease crossed international boundaries. The WHO lifted its global emergency status in September.
According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Congo recorded over 161,000 suspected mpox cases throughout the outbreak spanning 2024 into this year, with approximately 37,000 cases verified through laboratory testing.
The Africa CDC reported 2,286 suspected fatalities, though only 127 deaths received laboratory confirmation.
Scientists first discovered mpox, previously called monkeypox, in 1958 during outbreaks of a “pox-like” illness among monkeys. Until recent years, human infections primarily occurred among individuals in central and western Africa who had direct contact with infected wildlife.
In 2022, researchers confirmed the virus could transmit through sexual contact for the first time, sparking outbreaks across more than 70 nations that had never previously documented mpox cases.
According to WHO data, mpox typically presents with rash and fever symptoms, though it may occasionally lead to severe complications. The majority of patients make complete recoveries.
Mississippi’s legislature has approved legislation that would make distributing abortion-inducing drugs a felony offense carrying up to a decade in prison, sending the measure to Republican Governor Tate Reeves for his signature.
Legal scholars warn the criminalization could result in the imprisonment of desperate Mississippi residents and discourage physicians from prescribing these medications for legitimate medical uses, including treating postpartum bleeding and managing miscarriage complications.
The restrictions on abortion pills were incorporated into broader drug trafficking legislation that received approval Tuesday with a 76-38 House vote and 37-15 Senate passage. The GOP holds majorities in both legislative chambers.
“I think we’re going to end up trapping a lot of people into the criminal justice system simply because they want to have autonomy over their own bodies,” said Rep. Zakiya Summers, a Democrat from Jackson, who voted against the bill.
Republican Representative Celeste Hurst from Sandhill, who authored the amendment, stated her goal was preventing abortion medications like mifepristone and misoprostol from reaching Mississippi.
“The intent is to keep doctors from out of state from circumventing our current law,” Hurst told Mississippi Today.
However, Mississippi faces virtually insurmountable challenges in prosecuting out-of-state providers who mail abortion pills across state boundaries, according to Mary Ziegler, an abortion law specialist and professor at University of California at Davis School of Law. Protective legislation in states where abortion remains legal shields providers, patients and assistants from external investigations, legal action and criminal charges, Ziegler explained to Mississippi Today.
“I think lawmakers are imagining this will be primarily used against doctors or drug manufacturers in blue states,” Ziegler said. “But it will be much harder for prosecutors to actually get those people into court than it will be for them to get someone whose partner has these drugs.”
The legislation’s ambiguous wording makes it particularly problematic, Ziegler noted. While the bill specifies that possession becomes criminal only with distribution intent, Ziegler anticipates Mississippi residents using the medications personally could face prosecution.
The clinical exemption language also lacks clarity. The measure states Mississippi healthcare providers would face charges only when prescribing abortion-inducing medication specifically to terminate pregnancies, not when treating miscarriages or stopping hemorrhaging. Even with this exception, the bill will likely create a chilling impact on medical care, Ziegler warned.
In both scenarios, Ziegler explained, “the differentiator is intent, which is really, really hard to prove.”
Such legislation stems primarily from anti-abortion advocates’ frustration that abortion rates have risen in recent years, Ziegler observed.
The Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs ruling in a Mississippi case eliminated constitutional abortion protections. While initially hailed as a major anti-abortion victory, national abortion numbers have actually climbed since then, largely through expanded access to mailed abortion medications.
“That’s kind of a hollow thing for the state if that happens and then the number of abortions doesn’t go down,” Ziegler said. “It’s like, what did you really accomplish?”
Republican Senator Daniel Sparks from Belmont, among six legislators who finalized the bill’s language, told Mississippi Today he backed the amendment to strengthen enforcement of Mississippi’s abortion prohibition.
“The state of Mississippi has been pretty clear of where they are about their pro-life position,” Sparks said. “If people are circumventing that through the mail or through other mechanisms, then I think we’re trying to be consistent with what the law is.”
Democratic Senator Bradford Blackmon from Canton, who opposed the legislation, called it “outrageous,” “ridiculous” and “unnecessary” to classify abortion medication alongside controlled substances and impose one to ten-year prison sentences. Ultimately, Blackmon argued, the law will disproportionately harm low-income women.
“The wealthy Mississippians are still going to be able to go where they want to get abortions,” Blackmon said.
Legal representatives for Mahmoud Khalil, a former graduate student at Columbia University battling removal from the United States, have requested that Judge Emil Bove remove himself from the appeals court panel considering his case due to Bove’s prior position as a senior Justice Department administrator who handled investigations of student demonstrators.
This week, Khalil’s legal team petitioned the entire bench of 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals judges — excluding Bove — to examine and overturn a January decision by a three-judge 3rd Circuit panel that moved the Trump administration closer to detaining and removing the pro-Palestinian advocate.
In his capacity as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General at the Justice Department, Bove “directed immigration enforcement investigations and decisions against student protesters on college campuses,” including Columbia University, according to Khalil’s attorneys.
The immigration enforcement activities overseen by Bove “demonstrates the existence, or at least the appearance of, a conflict of interest” that should prevent him from participating in Khalil’s appeal, his lawyers argued.
Since September, Bove has served as a judge on the Philadelphia-headquartered 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Before joining the Justice Department, he worked as one of President Donald Trump’s defense attorneys, handling his criminal cases including the New York hush-money prosecution that resulted in Trump’s conviction on 34 felony charges.
The recusal determination rests solely with Bove. Justice Department attorneys representing the government in Khalil’s appeal “sees no basis for recusal but defers to Judge Bove,” court documents indicate.
Speaking through the 3rd Circuit court, Bove refused to provide comment.
When undergoing judicial confirmation, Bove recognized that his Justice Department role, which involved supervising criminal and civil cases nationwide, “could give rise to actual or potential conflicts” and pledged to step aside “in cases that I was personally involved in should any such matter come before the court.”
Khalil, who holds legal permanent residency status, became the first individual whose detention was made public during enforcement actions targeting non-citizens who openly opposed Israel and its military operations in Gaza.
He continues living in the United States with his American citizen wife and their infant son while challenging the January decision that determined a New Jersey federal judge who ruled in his favor lacked authority to handle the case. Federal statutes mandate that detention and removal challenges must first proceed through the separate immigration court system, the ruling stated.
The three-judge panel’s 2-1 ruling did not address the central question in Khalil’s case: whether the Trump administration’s attempt to remove Khalil from the country based on his campus activities and criticism of Israel violates constitutional protections. He subsequently spent three months confined in a Louisiana immigration detention facility, causing him to miss his son’s birth.
The Trump administration has characterized Khalil as leading activities “aligned to Hamas,” although they have not provided evidence supporting this assertion and have not charged him with any criminal wrongdoing. They have also alleged he failed to provide complete information on his permanent residency application.
Khalil, who was born in Syria to Palestinian parents and possesses Algerian citizenship, has rejected these accusations as “baseless and ridiculous,” characterizing his arrest and detention as a “direct consequence of exercising my right to free speech as I advocated for a free Palestine and an end to the genocide in Gaza.”
The government justified Khalil’s arrest using a rarely invoked law that permits the removal of non-citizens whose political views are considered threatening to U.S. foreign policy objectives.
In February 2025, one month prior to Khalil’s arrest, Bove helped write a memorandum regarding the Justice Department’s creation of a task force focused on “Investigating and prosecuting acts of terrorism, antisemitic civil rights violations, and other federal crimes committed by Hamas supporters in the United States, including on college campuses.”
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Authorities in South Florida are treating the death of a city vice mayor as a domestic violence case, with her spouse now facing murder charges.
Nancy Metayer Bowen, who served as Vice Mayor of Coral Springs, was discovered deceased at her residence Wednesday morning when police officers conducted a welfare check, according to Chief Brad Mock during a press briefing. Her spouse, 40-year-old Stephen Bowen, has been taken into custody, and investigators are not seeking any other suspects, Mock stated.
Jail records from Broward County show Stephen Bowen faces charges of premeditated murder along with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. He remains detained at the county’s primary detention facility. Court documents do not indicate legal representation for the accused, and attempts by The Associated Press to reach Stephen Bowen or family members were unsuccessful, with one call being disconnected.
According to her official city biography, Metayer Bowen made history as Coral Springs’ first Black and Haitian American woman to serve as commissioner when voters chose her in 2020. She secured reelection in 2024 and received appointment to her second one-year vice mayoral term this past November. Her professional background included work as an environmental scientist, and prior to her commission service, she spearheaded environmental justice initiatives throughout Florida with emphasis on community resilience.
Metayer Bowen held the position of vice chair within the Florida Democratic Party. Party Chair Nikki Fried issued a statement recalling an embrace with Metayer Bowen at a leadership gathering two weeks prior, “never imagining it would be one of our last moments together.”
“She loved her community deeply and believed, with every fiber of her being, that a better and more equitable future was possible for all of us,” Fried said. “Above all, Nancy was my friend and a friend to everyone who has ever believed that democracy was worth fighting for. The world is less bright without her in it.”
City Manager Catherine Givens spoke at Wednesday’s press conference about Metayer Bowen’s dedication to Coral Springs, located approximately 20 miles northwest of Fort Lauderdale.
“She wasn’t just a leader. She was the light in every room that she entered. She was a steady voice in difficult times, a compassionate soul who lifted others up and a friend to so many,” Givens said. “Our hearts are truly broken.”
HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders have secured veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins in a new agreement announced Thursday by his representative Mike McCartney, positioning the experienced signal-caller to mentor anticipated top draft selection Fernando Mendoza.
Under the financial arrangement, Atlanta will cover $8.7 million of Cousins’ salary this season while Las Vegas pays the remaining $1.3 million. An additional $10 million in guaranteed compensation is scheduled for next March, with the Raiders holding a two-year option worth $80 million.
Cousins acknowledged his new team by posting “The Autumn Wind…” on social media, referencing the iconic Raiders anthem that plays before each home contest and gained recognition through NFL Films.
The move aligns with statements from Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak and general manager John Spytek, who previously indicated their preference against starting a rookie quarterback immediately. The rookie in question is widely expected to be Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy recipient who guided Indiana to an improbable national championship.
“Ideally, you don’t want him to start from Day One,” Kubiak explained Tuesday during the NFL owners meetings. “You’d love him to be able to learn behind somebody. That’s in a perfect world. It doesn’t always work out that way. Sometimes they have to play from Day One and it’s our job as coaches to get them ready to go. I think it does help the player if they can sit behind a mature adult and watch how they run the show.”
The 37-year-old Cousins brings 14 years of professional experience, most recently spending two seasons with Atlanta. The Falcons had committed to a four-year, $180 million contract before surprisingly selecting Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall just six weeks afterward.
During his Atlanta tenure, Cousins compiled a 12-10 record while starting 22 of 34 possible games. However, his 16 interceptions in 2024 topped the league despite appearing in only 14 contests. Atlanta subsequently released him before free agency began.
Throughout his career with Washington, Minnesota, and Atlanta, Cousins holds an 88-77-2 record as a starter. His most successful campaign came in 2022 when he led Minnesota to a 13-4 season.
Mendoza showcased his abilities Wednesday during a pro day workout at Indiana’s facility, with representatives from all 32 NFL teams in attendance.
PITTSBURGH — Baseball’s most highly-regarded prospect will make his major league debut this Friday when the Pittsburgh Pirates face Baltimore in their home opener.
According to a source with knowledge of the team’s plans, the Pirates will promote 19-year-old shortstop Konnor Griffin, who is widely considered the sport’s premier prospect. The source requested anonymity since the roster decision has not been formally announced.
Griffin’s arrival in the majors was never a question of if, but rather when, and his blazing start at Triple-A Indianapolis provided the answer. In just 16 at-bats, the teenager posted a remarkable .438 batting average while collecting three doubles, driving in one run, and swiping three bases.
Standing 6-foot-3, Griffin was selected ninth overall in last year’s amateur draft and has advanced rapidly through Pittsburgh’s minor league system. During the 2025 season, he compiled impressive numbers across Single-A and Double-A levels, hitting .333 with 21 homers, 94 RBIs, and 65 stolen bases over 122 games.
The young prospect participated in Pittsburgh’s major league spring training and nearly made the opening day roster. Despite launching three home runs during exhibition play — more than any teenager in spring training over the past 20 years — Griffin also struggled with strikeouts, fanning more than a dozen times.
Pittsburgh began the season with Jared Triolo manning shortstop and Nick Gonzales at third base. Griffin’s promotion will likely shift Triolo, who won a Gold Glove as a utility player, to third base.
Although the Pirates have discussed a long-term contract extension with Griffin that would cover his arbitration-eligible years, the source indicated his promotion is based purely on performance. The organization views Griffin as their strongest option at shortstop.
Griffin joins a Pirates squad that stands 3-3 after winning two of three games in Cincinnati. The team boasts one of baseball’s most promising young pitching staffs, headlined by defending Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, who earned his first win of the season on Wednesday.
Pittsburgh addressed their offensive struggles during the offseason by acquiring All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe through a trade and signing free agents Ryan O’Hearn and Marcell Ozuna. Lowe has already connected for three home runs this season, contributing to the Pirates’ 10 homers through six games — tied for the major league lead with Los Angeles Angels. Last season, Pittsburgh finished with the fewest home runs in baseball by a significant margin.
Homebuyers across the nation are facing fresh challenges as mortgage rates have surged for the fifth consecutive week, hitting their peak level in almost seven months during what’s typically the busiest season for house hunting.
Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the standard 30-year fixed mortgage rate increased to 6.46%, up from the previous week’s 6.38%. This marks the highest point since September 4th, when rates reached 6.5%. For comparison, rates stood at 6.64% during the same period last year.
Rising borrowing costs can increase monthly payments by hundreds of dollars for potential homeowners, significantly reducing their purchasing power in an already challenging market.
Just five weeks earlier, the average rate had fallen below 6% for the first time since late 2022, but escalating oil prices linked to Middle East conflicts have sparked renewed inflation fears, driving rates upward.
Homeowners looking to refinance are also feeling the pinch, as 15-year fixed-rate mortgages climbed to 5.77% from 5.75% the week prior. Freddie Mac noted this compares to 5.82% one year ago.
Multiple elements drive mortgage rate fluctuations, including Federal Reserve policy choices, bond market investor sentiment regarding economic outlook and inflation expectations. These rates typically mirror movements in the 10-year Treasury yield, which serves as a benchmark for lenders when setting home loan prices.
Thursday’s midday bond trading showed the 10-year Treasury yield at 4.3%, declining from 4.42% seven days earlier. The yield was merely 3.97% in late February, before Middle East tensions drove oil prices higher.
As oil costs increase inflation expectations, Treasury yields climb accordingly, which pushes mortgage rates upward. Elevated inflation could also prevent the Federal Reserve from reducing interest rates. While the central bank doesn’t directly control mortgage rates, its decisions regarding short-term rates significantly influence bond investors and ultimately impact 10-year Treasury yields.
America’s housing sector has struggled since 2022, when mortgage rates began climbing from pandemic-era record lows. Previously owned home sales remained essentially stagnant last year, hitting a three-decade low point. Sales have continued their sluggish pace this year, dropping in both January and February compared to the same months in 2023.
The recent rate surge creates additional obstacles for would-be buyers, potentially dampening home sales during the market’s traditionally most active period.
Although current 30-year mortgage rates remain below last year’s levels, the upward trend has already reduced mortgage application activity.
The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that mortgage applications decreased 10.4% last week compared to the prior week, with much of the decline attributed to fewer refinancing applications.
“Looking ahead, stability in the mortgage rate environment will be key to bringing buyers back into the market,” MBA CEO Bob Broeksmit said in a statement.
NEW YORK — After an eight-year hiatus, Topps is making its return to the NFL trading card market following a new licensing agreement secured by Fanatics Collectibles with the National Football League and its Players Association.
The company’s comeback will begin with the 2025 Topps Chrome Football collection, scheduled for release on April 15th. This inaugural set will feature exclusive one-of-one Rookie PREM1ERE Patch Autograph Cards alongside one-of-one NFL Honors Gold Shield Autograph Cards.
The special rookie collectibles will showcase fabric pieces from jerseys worn during players’ debut regular-season appearances, including materials from top draft selection Cam Ward. Meanwhile, the NFL Honors series will highlight gold shield patches from 2024’s award recipients: Josh Allen who claimed MVP honors, Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley, Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II, Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels, and Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse.
Fanatics Collectibles became Topps’ parent company through a 2022 acquisition. Their new partnership grants exclusive trading card licensing rights for the NFL and NFLPA, extending to worldwide distribution channels.
KAMPALA, Uganda — A dozen individuals expelled from the United States touched down in Uganda Thursday, marking the initial group to arrive under a newly established bilateral agreement between the two countries, according to the Uganda Law Society.
Legal representatives condemned the deportation process, stating the individuals were “effectively dumped in Uganda through an undignified, harrowing and dehumanizing process.” The group arrived via private charter aircraft, the law society noted in their statement.
These expulsions are occurring as part of President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement efforts, aimed at discouraging illegal border crossings and removing individuals already in the country unlawfully, particularly those with criminal backgrounds and others difficult to return to their native countries.
Both the State Department and Department of Homeland Security have justified third-country deportations as an efficient method for rapidly removing individuals residing illegally in America. These deportation practices have sparked numerous legal challenges both domestically and in receiving nations.
The practice draws criticism partly because individuals may be transferred to nations with which they share no cultural connections. Last August, officials briefly contemplated sending Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a prominent figure in an ongoing immigration case, to Uganda.
America has established agreements with no fewer than seven African countries to accept certain migrants. These partnerships span from Ghana in West Africa to Eswatini in southern Africa, with the latter receiving $5.1 million from Washington to accept up to 160 deportees, based on State Department documentation.
Whether Uganda received similar compensation remains unclear.
The law society accused officials of placing deportees at the discretion of “unnamed, private interests on either side of the Atlantic,” while announcing plans to pursue legal action against what they termed “international illegality.”
Neither the identities nor countries of origin of the deportees were disclosed.
Okello Oryem, Uganda’s state minister overseeing foreign affairs, stated he was traveling and unaware of the arrivals.
A representative from the American Embassy in Kampala did not respond to inquiries regarding the deportees’ welfare.
Last month, Oryem informed The Associated Press that Uganda anticipated “planeloads” of deportees from America. He explained the agreement stemmed from pan-African solidarity and humanitarian concerns for Africans unwanted abroad.
Ugandan officials previously indicated their arrangement with Washington involves accepting African-origin deportees without criminal histories.
Motorists traveling on Christina Avenue in Wilmington are encountering periodic lane restrictions today due to ongoing construction work.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that the construction activity is taking place on Christina Avenue, also known as Route 9, in the stretch between Terminal Avenue and A Street.
Officials say drivers should expect intermittent lane closures in the area, with the work scheduled to conclude by 3 PM today.
Commuters are advised to allow extra travel time and consider alternate routes if possible while crews complete the construction project.
As NASA prepares for the Artemis II mission, it represents humanity’s first journey back toward the moon in more than five decades. The last time astronauts ventured to lunar territory was in 1972, a year that also witnessed some memorable cultural milestones.
That pivotal year in space exploration coincided with David Bowie introducing his iconic Ziggy Stardust character and releasing “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.” Movie theaters were showcasing “The Godfather” for the first time, while McDonald’s was launching its now-famous Egg McMuffin breakfast sandwich.
The lengthy gap between moon missions highlights just how much time has passed since humans last explored beyond Earth’s orbit, with an entire generation growing up during this absence from lunar exploration.
