Category: U.S. News

A devastating house blast in Plainfield Township, Michigan early Tuesday morning resulted in one fatality and left another person fighting for their life, according to local officials.

The cause of the explosion and subsequent fire remains under investigation by authorities. The incident occurred around 4 a.m. in the township located north of Grand Rapids.

The Kent County Sheriff’s Office reported that when emergency responders reached the scene, the residence had been completely destroyed with burning debris scattered around the area. Officials confirmed one fatality at the scene.

Two heroic neighbors managed to rescue a woman from the wreckage after they heard her cries for help.

“I had to get in there and get her out,” neighbor Tim Johnson told WOOD-TV. He described how they “grabbed her arms and pulled her out as far as we could.”

Emergency crews transported the rescued woman to a local hospital where she remains in critical condition.

The powerful explosion was strong enough to shake Johnson’s nearby home. During the rescue effort, Johnson sustained second-degree burns to his head and hand.

Authorities announced Tuesday that the deadly blaze and blast at a Maine lumber facility that claimed a firefighter’s life and wounded twelve others was unintentional and began at the bottom of a storage silo.

The May 15 incident at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont resulted in the death of Andrew Cross, 27, from the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department. Those hurt in the incident included family members who operate the lumber facility as well as other emergency personnel. The blaze created massive clouds of dark smoke and necessitated hundreds of firefighters from multiple departments to bring it under control.

Quick ignition of dust particles led to a blast inside the silo that lifted it off its concrete foundation and released substantial amounts of sawdust and other debris, according to a Tuesday statement from the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office. The storage structure then collapsed and flames spread throughout the surrounding area, officials reported.

The fire marshal’s office indicated that investigators plan to return to the site in upcoming months for a more thorough examination.

“Investigators also determined the facility’s fire suppression system, which was located near the top of the silo, did not activate because temperatures at that elevation did not reach the activation threshold after the fire originated at the base of the silo,” the office’s statement said.

Facilities that process lumber are significant sources of flammable dust. Strong winds during the investigation postponed the release of findings, according to Maj. Aaron Turcotte, a spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety, who spoke last week.

“High winds throughout the day created difficult working conditions on scene, resulting in flying debris and periodic interruptions to investigative operations. Drone operations and aerial photography were particularly challenging due to the wind, causing delays in some scene documentation,” Turcotte said in a statement.

The blast in Searsmont, located approximately 95 miles northeast of Portland, prompted a large-scale emergency response to this remote area of the state. Personnel from the state fire marshal and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives launched an investigation following the explosion and fire, which required several hours to control.

Gov. Janet Mills subsequently directed that state flags be lowered to half-staff last week to honor Cross.

“My heart goes out to the family, friends and colleagues of Andrew Cross,” Mills said. “He died a hero.”

The company’s website characterizes Robbins Lumber as a “high-tech lumber manufacturer” operating since 1881 and owned by the same family for five generations. Christian Halsted, speaking for the family, stated following the fire that it was a “hugely devastating day for the family” and confirmed the family’s cooperation with investigators.

Wood and lumber products represent a vital and longstanding industry in Maine. According to the Maine Forest Products Council, the sector generated over $8 billion for the state’s economy in 2024 and employs approximately 29,000 people.

WASHINGTON — The Scripps National Spelling Bee has relocated to a prestigious new location this year after spending a decade and a half at a Maryland convention center. The competition now takes place at Constitution Hall, the capital’s premier concert facility.

However, participants in this week’s contest have varying opinions about the venue change.

“I feel like they should not have moved it. The old venue was better. Because it’s a bit of a hassle, getting on the bus and going there and then coming back,” said 14-year-old Yahya Mohammed, a three-time speller from Hoffman Estates, Illinois. “The old venue was more spacious, and it feels kind of isolated in the hotel.”

While Tuesday’s opening rounds commenced, contestants and their relatives found themselves admiring the historic importance of their new location and nearby attractions, though they also faced practical challenges including packed corridors, few food choices, and required transportation between their accommodations and the competition site.

The Daughters of the American Revolution constructed Constitution Hall in 1929, positioning it just blocks away from the Washington Monument and the White House. Participants are lodging at the adjacent J.W. Marriott, a popular destination for lobbyists and advocacy organizations, with what would typically be an easy walk across the Ellipse to reach the competition.

But the Ellipse currently features temporary barriers and security stations as workers assemble an outdoor octagon on the South Lawn of the White House for UFC Freedom 250, a June 14 event timed for President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and marking the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.

“Two very disparate forms of entertainment,” said Rajeev Malhotra of Boston, the father of speller Rajeev Malhotra, describing the bee and the mixed martial arts extravaganza.

Enhanced security measures were implemented at the venue, including guards and metal detectors at all entrances plus explosive-sniffing dogs walking the corridors. Just three blocks away three days prior, a gunman attacked a White House security checkpoint, wounding a bystander before Secret Service officers killed him.

At the previous location, the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland, contestants could move around the facility without restrictions, traveling between their rooms, the competition ballroom, and an extensive food court where they ate quick meals during final preparation sessions.

“Last year was better,” said Arpit Aggarwal of Columbia, Missouri, whose daughter, Ananya, is competing for the second time. “Everything was in one place.”

“It’s an adjustment,” Ananya’s mom, Deepti Bahl, said diplomatically.

Some participants welcomed the excitement of meeting in the downtown area, believing it better suited a national championship. The competition started in 1925 and occurred at various Washington hotels before relocating to suburban areas in 2011.

“I just love being here, right next to the National Mall. You can see the Smithsonian, you can see the Jefferson Memorial. It’s such a lively and unique city and I love being in the heart of it,” said three-time speller Oliver Halkett, a 14-year-old from Los Angeles. “There’s so much history, there’s so much culture. The memorials and the museums are fascinating to go to.”

Speller Andie Seavey of Fairbanks, Alaska, and her mom, Kristin, went to see the musical “The Great Gatsby” at the National Theater next door to the hotel.

Following Tuesday’s elimination of 80 contestants through stage spelling and vocabulary challenges, the remaining 167 participants returned to their hotel for a crucial written examination that selected approximately 100 who advanced to Wednesday morning’s quarterfinals. The championship ends Thursday evening.

Previous year’s winner Faizan Zaki claimed the National Spelling Bee title despite making an error and hearing the elimination bell from head judge Mary Brooks. He recognized his mistake early and told Brooks, “Just ring the bell.”

Faizan’s error allowed his two remaining opponents another opportunity, as all three made mistakes in that round.

Kushi Gottimukkala of Morrisville, North Carolina, represents one of several current contestants familiar with that experience.

During her regional competition, sponsored by the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, Kushi faced two other spellers for the final national berth. She incorrectly spelled “anchialine” and assumed she was finished, only to watch the other competitors also fail.

Kushi experienced the dramatic ups and downs but eventually succeeded.

“I was still thinking about the mistake, but I was also really grateful that I got a second chance, and so I took that into consideration and decided to focus on my next word,” she said.

Contestants must prepare for scenarios where spelling errors don’t necessarily mean elimination.

Oliver Halkett also participated in a competition where he misspelled but continued. He overcame the setback by concentrating solely on his next challenge.

“It’s a peculiar situation, but I think, above all, mental clarity is so important, especially in those latter rounds,” he said. “I close my eyes and do some deep breathing and I visualize the word, and it’s just me and the word. That’s how you have to approach every single word.

“Treat every word as if it’s your first and last word.”

Officials in Washington state are responding to a deadly industrial accident that occurred Tuesday when a tank filled with chemicals exploded at a packaging plant.

The blast happened at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility located in Longview, Washington, according to ABC News reports citing local authorities. The incident resulted in several deaths and left multiple workers with serious injuries.

Emergency responders are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tank explosion at the industrial facility.

A catastrophic chemical tank collapse at a Washington state paper manufacturing facility Tuesday morning resulted in multiple fatalities and severe injuries, according to company representatives and local emergency officials.

The tank failure occurred at 7:15 a.m. at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. facility in Longview, Washington. Company officials and law enforcement agencies released a combined statement confirming the incident produced “multiple critical injuries” along with an unspecified number of deaths. Emergency responders reported that victims sustained burn wounds and breathing-related injuries from the accident. Officials emphasized there was no danger to surrounding communities.

The official announcement came more than four hours following the tank failure, with authorities stating that rescue and recovery efforts were ongoing. Officials indicated they would not identify casualties until family members could be contacted.

Family members and friends gathered outside the company’s main entrance Tuesday, hoping to learn about employees they knew who worked inside the plant. These individuals refused to speak with an Associated Press journalist.

The manufacturing complex operates as both a pulp production facility and liquid packaging operation, creating materials for facial tissues, office paper, disposable cups and plates, beverage containers and similar products. The Washington State Department of Ecology reports the plant workforce totals approximately 1,000 employees.

The failed container held a chemical mixture called “white liquor,” a caustic solution composed primarily of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide that breaks down wood fibers during kraft paper manufacturing. Kraft paper serves as a strong packaging material used in shopping bags and various container applications.

Mike Gorsuch, battalion chief with the fire department in Longview, Washington, characterized the situation as a “mass casualty scene.” Emergency personnel decontaminated injured workers before transporting them to medical facilities in Longview and Vancouver, Washington, Gorsuch explained.

Approximately 40 fire and emergency medical personnel responded to the incident, supported by a specialized hazardous materials response team, according to Gorsuch.

Meanwhile, thousands of southern California residents remained displaced Tuesday following damage to a chemical storage tank at an aerospace manufacturing plant.

WASHINGTON – Federal safety investigators are urging aviation officials to overhaul their methods for evaluating runway safety during storm conditions, warning of increased dangers when aircraft attempt to land on water-soaked surfaces.

The National Transportation Safety Board issued the safety recommendations Tuesday following their analysis of 11 separate incidents where planes skidded beyond runway boundaries between 2008 and 2022, all involving landings on rain-soaked pavement.

Safety investigators specifically highlighted a 2019 incident involving a Boeing 737 that overran the runway in Jacksonville, Florida, which they attributed partly to “an extreme loss of braking friction due to heavy rain and the water depth on the ungrooved runway, which resulted in viscous hydroplaning.”

An employee terminated by an Indiana university following her Facebook comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been awarded $225,000 in a legal settlement that claimed her former workplace violated her constitutional free speech protections, her legal representatives announced Tuesday.

The American Civil Liberties Union revealed the settlement in a federal case they brought last year representing Suzanne Swierc against Ball State University President Geoffrey Mearns.

Swierc held the position of director of health promotion and advocacy at Ball State’s Muncie, Indiana campus until her termination last September. Ball State pointed to Swierc’s personal Facebook comment regarding Kirk as the only basis for dismissing her, claiming it created “significant disruption” on campus.

The termination of Swierc breached her constitutional protections since she was “speaking as a private citizen on a matter of public concern,” stated Stevie Pactor, an ACLU lawyer in Indiana.

“The First Amendment does not allow government institutions to retaliate in those circumstances, and this settlement reflects that,” Pactor said in a statement.

Mearns stood by his decision to terminate Swierc in a Tuesday statement distributed to campus leadership, which a Ball State spokesperson provided to The Associated Press.

Mearns explained that negative reactions to Swierc’s comment posed risks to the institution’s student recruitment and donor contributions. He characterized the settlement’s “modest monetary payment” to Swierc as significantly lower than the expense of litigating her case.

Kirk, who established the conservative group Turning Point USA, died in a shooting incident on September 10 at a Utah university campus. Prior to his death, Kirk was recognized for mobilizing conservative young voters to support President Donald Trump’s successful bid for a second presidency.

Swierc joined numerous employees across public and private organizations who faced job losses after sharing social media content and images related to Kirk’s assassination. She represents one of several individuals who have secured legal settlements through court proceedings.

This month, a Florida state department agreed to a $485,000 settlement with a former state biologist dismissed after sharing a meme suggesting Kirk was indifferent to school shooting victims.

In January, Austin Peay State University in Tennessee brought back a professor and provided him a $500,000 settlement following his lawsuit over termination for sharing a 2023 news story titled: “Charlie Kirk Says Gun Deaths ‘Unfortunately’ Worth it to Keep 2nd Amendment.”

Legal cases from additional terminated employees remain active in the courts.

In her Facebook message, Swierc described Kirk’s death as a “tragedy.” However, she also characterized it as a “reflection of the violence, fear, and hatred he sowed.” She added: “If you think Charlie Kirk was a wonderful person, we can’t be friends.”

Swierc’s legal team noted that her Facebook account’s privacy controls restricted public access to her posts, though someone captured and widely distributed screenshots of her Kirk commentary online.

Ball State’s president reported that Swierc’s post generated numerous angry phone calls and emails directed at the university. Some threatened to stop financial contributions and at least one parent indicated plans to remove her children from the institution. Several callers made violent threats, Mearns reported.

“The reaction was extraordinarily damaging to our University’s reputation and image, and it was exceptionally disruptive to our mission and our people,” Mearns said in his statement.

Motorists traveling on Abelia Lane should plan for delays as construction crews continue work that requires periodic lane restrictions.

The roadway between Oakridge Court and Willow Creek Lane is experiencing intermittent lane closures that are expected to remain in effect until 5 PM today.

Drivers are advised to use alternate routes when possible or allow extra travel time when navigating through the construction zone.

During the ongoing conflict with Iran, tensions have emerged between the U.S. military and SpaceX regarding the cost of satellite internet services used in combat operations.

Military officials found themselves paying significantly more for Elon Musk’s Starlink network after SpaceX executives argued they deserved higher compensation for their satellite connectivity services used on kamikaze drones.

According to sources and Pentagon documents, SpaceX representatives met with defense officials shortly after U.S. bombing operations began, claiming the military was paying approximately $5,000 per terminal connection while actually utilizing a premium service tier valued at around $25,000.

The dispute centered on LUCAS suicide drones – an inexpensive American model similar to Iran’s Shahed drones that can hover over target areas before diving to strike. These unmanned aircraft rely on satellite connectivity for guidance and targeting.

SpaceX contended that these drones operated under conditions requiring their aviation-level subscription service rather than the less expensive ground or mobility packages. Military officials countered that the $25,000 monthly aviation fee was intended for traditional aircraft, not kamikaze drones that connect to Starlink for only minutes or hours.

Despite initial resistance, the Pentagon ultimately accepted SpaceX’s pricing demands, nearly doubling the cost of each LUCAS drone from roughly $30,000 per unit to accommodate the increased satellite service fees.

The disagreement highlights broader friction between the defense establishment and SpaceX over satellite service pricing in recent months. Additional conflicts have emerged regarding a proposed plan to provide Iranian civilians with direct cellular connections through Starlink to circumvent government communication restrictions.

SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment on the pricing disputes.

Pentagon representatives declined to discuss the specific pricing increases or their decision to pay higher fees. A military spokesperson stated that the Commercial Satellite Communications Office is actively seeking alternative providers.

However, no competing company offers services comparable to Starlink’s capabilities. The satellite network has become essential for modern military operations since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, providing global coverage that enables battlefield communications and precision targeting in remote locations.

SpaceX operates approximately 10,000 satellites, representing more than 60% of all satellites currently in orbit and significantly exceeding constellations being developed by competitors like OneWeb and Amazon Leo.

The military’s dependence on Starlink has created potential vulnerabilities, as demonstrated during the Ukraine conflict when Musk ordered service disconnections in certain areas in 2022, disrupting Ukrainian military advances. More recently, a global Starlink outage last summer interrupted Navy testing, leaving unmanned military vessels stranded at sea.

According to Clayton Swope, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, SpaceX maintains unusual leverage over the Pentagon because of its substantial commercial market beyond government contracts. The company generates about 20% of its total revenue from U.S. government work, per SEC filings.

“SpaceX certainly has the U.S. government over the barrel,” Swope said.

When U.S. operations against Iran began, Starlink was already integral to military systems, supporting everything from aerial attack drones to unmanned maritime vessels used for surveillance and strike missions. Starshield terminals were deployed across more than a dozen drone platforms when the bombing campaign launched.

Tensions escalated quickly after the February 28 assault on Iran began. On March 1, Musk responded to a social media post showing a LUCAS drone with an apparent Starlink terminal.

“It is a violation of commercial Starlink terms of service to use the terminal for weapon systems. This applies to all users and is shut down when discovered,” Musk posted. “There is a separate network called Starshield, which is operated by the US government.”

Pentagon officials denied any violation of their agreement with SpaceX.

Following this exchange, SpaceX executives met with defense officials to argue for higher service fees, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

While the Pentagon agreed to increased costs for drone satellite connections, senior officials including Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg remained concerned about the arrangement. During an April ceasefire, Pentagon representatives met with Terrence O’Shaughnessy, a retired four-star Air Force general now leading SpaceX’s defense operations, to revisit the pricing structure.

Currently, the Pentagon is considering purchasing more than 3,500 additional Starshield terminal subscriptions, including 100 at the higher aviation pricing tier. This potential deal could generate hundreds of millions in annual revenue for SpaceX, though final agreement terms remain unclear.

Starlink has proven crucial for other operations beyond direct military action. After Iran suppressed protests in January, resulting in thousands of deaths, the Trump administration smuggled over 6,000 Starlink terminals into the country to provide internet access to citizens.

As the conflict intensified, Iranian authorities began confiscating terminals and deploying jamming equipment in major cities to disrupt connections. Within a week of fighting beginning, Pentagon officials initiated discussions with SpaceX about implementing direct-to-cell service that could bypass these disruptions.

This capability, similar to 5G cellular service, would allow users to connect without requiring ground-based terminals. SpaceX, which generated $11.4 billion in Starlink revenue in 2025, proposed charging up to $500 million to launch this capability, plus $100 million monthly to operate it – a price that alarmed defense officials.

Whether an agreement has been reached for the direct-to-cell service remains unclear.

Authorities in California have allowed some residents to return to their homes following an incident involving a compromised chemical storage facility, though a significant number of people remain displaced.

While officials have cleared thousands of residents to go back to their neighborhoods near the compromised chemical storage facility, tens of thousands of others continue to wait for permission to return home.

Authorities in Southern California have allowed some residents to return to their homes after temperatures decreased sufficiently in a compromised tank holding dangerous chemicals, reducing the threat of a major explosion.

Emergency management officials announced that the risk of a significant blast at the GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems facility in Garden Grove has been eliminated, though smaller explosion or fire hazards persist, according to Orange County Fire Authority division chief Craig Covey during a Monday briefing.

A nighttime assessment of the container holding 6,000 to 7,000 gallons (22,700 to 26,500 liters) of methyl methacrylate, a highly combustible substance, revealed decreased internal pressure due to a fracture found on Sunday. This development allowed approximately two-thirds of displaced residents — around 34,000 people — to return home, Covey explained.

“It’s not over yet. We still have work to do,” Covey said. “We still have to mitigate a fire and very small explosion concern, and also a spill potential.”

Evacuation directives for Garden Grove residents, located near Los Angeles, began on Thursday when the tank experienced overheating, eventually affecting roughly 50,000 people by the weekend.

Authorities worked to reduce the tank’s temperature to prevent toxic discharge or detonation. The container’s internal temperature dropped to 93 degrees F (33.9 degrees C) on Monday, down from 100 degrees (37.7 degrees C) the previous day, Covey reported.

Orange County Health Director Regina Chinsio-Kwong emphasized safety assurances for returning residents. The federal Environmental Protection Agency warns that methyl methacrylate exposure can lead to severe breathing difficulties, neurological complications, and irritation of skin, eyes, and throat.

“There was no contamination. There were no fumes. There were not vapors that came from this incident,” she said at the news conference. “There was not a leak. So it should be, you should feel comfortable going home even if you’re across the street from that new zone line.”

Andrew Whelton, a Purdue University engineering professor specializing in environmental contamination research, suggested the tank might eventually cool sufficiently for crews to safely stabilize and empty the remaining contents without creating sparks or ignition.

Whelton warned that explosion risks continue while the chemical remains heated and reactive. He indicated temperatures must decrease to ambient conditions — approximately 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 to 21.1 degrees C) — before safety conditions improve significantly.

Rising internal tank temperatures caused methyl methacrylate — utilized in plastic manufacturing — to transform from liquid to vapor, increasing pressure and explosion potential, Whelton explained.

Portions of the methyl methacrylate may have already solidified into stable plastic resembling plexiglass, decreasing internal tank dangers, he noted.

Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen announced that the South Coast Air Quality Management District will conduct air monitoring for several months while the EPA examines sewer and storm drainage systems.

County health authorities indicated the chemical produces a distinctive odor that people can detect across wide areas without experiencing harm.

Officials have not specified what constitutes a catastrophic explosion but confirmed Monday that worst-case scenarios are no longer possible.

Kim Yen, a retired resident forced to evacuate her Garden Grove residence, said she has monitored news coverage closely and feels relieved learning the worst dangers have passed.

“I am happy and many of us are happy but, still, we are still on our evacuation,” she said.

Yen, whose home sits two blocks from the facility, expressed readiness to return while wanting safety confirmation first. She also voiced concern for emergency personnel.

“They are really our heroes,” Yen said.

A large Fountain Valley park, located southwest of Garden Grove, had a crowded parking lot Monday as displaced individuals sought temporary shelter or erected tents outside. Other visitors used the park for Memorial Day activities.

GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, the plant’s owner, operates as a British corporation manufacturing cockpit windows, canopies, and windshields for military and commercial aviation.

Technical experts from GKN Aerospace and the Orange County Fire Authority stripped external insulation from the tank to assist cooling efforts, according to a Monday company statement.

“We apologize for the ongoing disruption this incident is causing and our priority remains its safe resolution, so that residents can return to their homes as quickly as possible,” the statement said.

GKN Aerospace reports on its website employing approximately 16,000 workers across 32 production facilities in 12 countries, supplying technologies and components to major commercial and military aircraft manufacturers globally.

The facility’s reopening timeline remains undetermined.

GKN Aerospace agreed in 2025 to pay state regulators more than $900,000 to settle violations involving recordkeeping, permitting issues and nitrogen oxide emissions, according to a report on the South Coast Air Quality Management District website.

Interruptions at specialized aircraft component manufacturing sites create absorption difficulties for the global aerospace industry due to highly concentrated and already stressed supply chains, explained Richard Aboulafia, managing director of aerospace consulting firm AeroDynamic Advisory.

Aboulafia noted aerospace manufacturing differs from other industries because aircraft production volumes remain relatively limited, resulting in few suppliers for specialized components and systems.

“There’s just not a lot of margin in the system,” he said.

Not too long ago, public schools nationwide were in a race to provide every student with a laptop computer. Los Angeles middle school educator Anna Soffer recalls those days clearly: “The idea was that technology is the future, so we need to put tech in every child’s hands.”

Today, that discussion has completely reversed course. Following massive investments in laptops, tablets and educational applications, numerous schools are confronting a technological reality check. Screen usage has overwhelmed classrooms, and increasing numbers of parents, educators and school systems are demanding a reduction.

“The Chromebook is just a world of distraction,” explains Soffer, who instructs 6th grade English and history. While she prefers traditional pen-and-paper work, she must utilize laptops and digital applications for specific classroom activities. “Every day, I’m battling, ‘Who would you rather listen to, Ms. Soffer or Minecraft?’”

The district where Soffer works, Los Angeles Unified, recently made history as the first major school system to announce it will discontinue providing devices to its youngest learners. This decision is part of comprehensive screen-time regulations being implemented this fall throughout the nation’s second-largest educational system.

An extensive resolution approved last month by the Los Angeles school board mandates the district to remove devices through second grade; establish daily and weekly screen limitations for all upper grades; restrict YouTube access on school equipment; and prohibit device usage during lunch and recess at elementary and middle school levels. The district will also examine its educational technology agreements, which the teachers union reports total $1.6 billion.

The Los Angeles restrictions are strengthening reform movements emerging nationwide. In numerous instances, parents who previously advocated for school cellphone prohibitions, which have now become standard practice, have shifted their focus to a different concern: school-provided devices.

This movement for change is evolving into a public policy matter. According to Ballotpedia, at least 14 states have introduced legislation to restrict screen time in educational settings. Federal authorities issued an advisory last week cautioning that excessive screen usage among young people is developing into a significant public health issue.

In Los Angeles, worried parents established a coalition called Schools Beyond Screens last year and applied pressure on the district through school board appearances, social media campaigns and private discussions with administrators. Many express frustration about attempting to control screen time at home while schools mandate screen usage.

Katie Pace, a mother of three children, works diligently to minimize screen exposure. Her household contains one shared iPad and one television, prohibits screen time on weekdays, and bans screens from bedrooms. Her 8th grade daughter, Clementine, does not own a phone.

However, once Clementine boards the wifi-equipped school bus, her day becomes digitally focused.

During the 30-minute journey to school, Clementine views YouTube videos on her school Chromebook.

In Spanish class, coursework utilizes the Duolingo application, though many students rely on Google Translate for answers, Clementine reported. Frequently, children play games on their phones, which should be secured. In algebra, Clementine uses her finger on a touch screen to work through equations. In history, quizzes, tests and writing tasks are computer-based.

Nearly all homework assignments are digital. Previously, Clementine would return home and read books, her mother noted, but this no longer occurs. Reviewing her daughter’s device activity, Pace discovers she spends hours daily streaming music, creating Spotify playlists, and viewing makeup tutorials and cat videos on YouTube.

“It makes me furious,” stated Pace, a Schools Beyond Screens member. “My daughter went to middle school and was sent home with a screen addiction in her backpack.”

The initiative to provide every child with a device and bridge the “digital divide” began more than ten years ago but gained significant momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Education transitioned online immediately in March 2020. Schools hurried to supply students with necessary devices for remote learning. When the 2021-2022 academic year began, 96% of U.S. public schools reported providing digital devices to students requiring them, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Many schools redirected funding from textbooks, workbooks and printed materials to digital options. Educational technology, or edtech, grew into a multibillion dollar sector.

“During the pandemic, getting kids devices was a lifeline. Now, it’s time that we reset,” said Nick Melvoin, the school board member who authored the new resolution.

Melvoin believes few Los Angeles classrooms utilize screens effectively to enhance learning. Too frequently, he noted, teachers substitute instruction with online applications and employ screens “as a crutch.”

The difficulty, educators explain, is that technology has become so integrated with learning, particularly for older students, that disconnecting from screens at school is complex.

In the wealthy Philadelphia suburb of Lower Merion, parents initiated a petition drive for the option to remove their children from digital device requirements during school, questioning edtech’s advantages. The district has stated that opting out is impossible.

“If there’s really no evidence that it helps, and in fact there’s evidence that it’s harmful, what are we doing? Test scores are at their lowest point,” said Alex Bird Becker, one of the founders of PA Unplugged.

Other schools are discovering financial benefits to discontinuing home device distribution for every child.

The third-largest district in California, Fresno Unified, spends $4 million annually on laptop repairs and replacements. Partially to reduce expenses, the district has instructed its 40,000 elementary students to return their take-home laptops and will limit computer access to classroom use only this fall, spokesperson AJ Kato reported.

Near Los Angeles, the district stopped sending devices home for younger students this year partly due to expensive repairs, but also because they were used for “inappropriate Google searches” and video games, according to a parent memo. The district now keeps the devices in school storage carts.

A group of parents in Arlington, Virginia, met on a recent Saturday evening to discuss their children’s battles with screen addictions and other consequences of school-issued devices.

“None of us are Luddites. I know that technology adds value, but I also don’t want my son on YouTube all the time,” said LuAnn Oliver, who hosted the gathering in her living room. Her 6th-grade son has difficulty tracking online assignments and resisting the iPad’s temptation for video games. “We get reports on websites he’s visited. He’s visiting a game site in nearly every class.”

The district has ceased distributing iPads before first grade and is implementing new elementary school restrictions, but students in 6th through 12th grades will continue to receive mandatory school-issued devices.

Another mother, Jenny Sullivan, reported noticing her 4th grade son capitalizing random letters without correction because paper-based work is minimal. She also has social concerns: Her 6th grader avoids the afterschool program because everyone uses their iPad. “I’d rather be home,” he tells his mother.

Following a three-hour meeting, the parents developed a strategy to approach the school in the fall with a collective request to “opt-out of technology and opt-in to textbooks and paper.”

“Ten years from now,” said one mother, Kristina Jackson, “I can’t imagine us looking back with any other reaction than: How could we have been so naive that we just handed these devices to our kids.”

A grassroots initiative is taking shape across Connecticut as volunteers dedicate their time to revitalizing forgotten burial sites that have been left to deteriorate over time.

These dedicated individuals, who call themselves ‘cemetery citizens,’ are focusing their efforts on providing care and attention to abandoned graveyards that have suffered from years of neglect.

The volunteer-driven effort aims to restore these overlooked burial grounds, many of which serve marginalized communities whose final resting places have been forgotten by time and circumstance.

Through their restoration work, these volunteers are breathing new life into spaces that hold significant historical and cultural value for their communities.

Public debate has erupted in Dallas after city officials decided to paint over a whale-themed conservation mural to create space for FIFA World Cup promotional artwork. The environmental mural was replaced in preparation for the international soccer tournament scheduled to begin next month.

The decision to cover the conservation-focused artwork with World Cup promotional material has sparked disagreement among residents and observers about the city’s priorities in public art choices.

When Darrell Barber entered sixth grade as the newest student at his school, he quickly found himself facing harassment from bullies. However, his difficult situation took a positive turn when Marcus, a student in eighth grade, decided to intervene and became Barber’s defender.

The protective actions of the older student proved to be a pivotal moment that would have a lasting impact on Barber’s life trajectory.

With the nation’s 250th birthday on the horizon, enthusiasm for historical war reenactments is experiencing significant growth – and this rising popularity extends well beyond spectators to those eager to take part as costumed performers.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s most talented young spellers are gathering this week for the 98th Scripps National Spelling Bee, carrying forward a tradition that has lasted more than a century. The competition spans three days, starting Tuesday and wrapping up Thursday evening.

The inaugural competition took place in 1925, when the Louisville Courier-Journal extended invitations to other newspapers to organize local spelling contests and send their winners to the nation’s capital. Following many years at a convention facility in suburban Maryland, this year’s event returns to Washington at Constitution Hall, located just a few blocks from the White House.

A notable update for this year includes the addition of ESPN NFL analyst and recent “Celebrity Jeopardy!” champion Mina Kimes as the competition’s television host.

While this marks the 98th spelling bee, the champion will actually be the 111th winner due to interruptions during World War II from 1943 to 1945 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Multiple ties over the years, including an eight-way tie in 2019, have also contributed to the higher winner count.

Indian heritage contestants have dominated recent competitions, claiming 30 of the last 36 championships, including last year’s victor, Faizan Zaki.

Scripps, the Cincinnati-based media company, will broadcast and stream the competition across its various channels and platforms.

Tuesday’s preliminary rounds will be available on Scripps Sports Network and spellingbee.com from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT.

Wednesday’s quarterfinals stream on Scripps Sports Network and spellingbee.com from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by semifinals from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the same platforms. ION will air tape-delayed semifinals from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Thursday’s finals will air on ION from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Both semifinals and finals will also be available on additional Scripps-owned channels and services: ION Plus, Bounce, Grit, Laff, The Spot, Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, Laff More, Scripps News and Scripps Sports Network.

Participants earn their spots by succeeding in regional competitions organized by sponsors nationwide. Eligibility requires spellers to be no older than 15 and not have progressed beyond eighth grade.

Competitors must navigate two preliminary rounds featuring words from a pre-distributed list. These include one spelling challenge and one multiple-choice vocabulary test.

Successful preliminary round participants take a written spelling and vocabulary examination, with approximately the top 100 scorers moving to quarterfinals. All test words and subsequent round words come from the Merriam-Webster Unabridged dictionary.

During quarterfinals and semifinals, contestants face elimination through oral spelling and vocabulary challenges at the microphone.

Roughly a dozen spellers reach the finals. When two contestants remain, Scripps may employ a lightning-round tiebreaker called a “spell-off” to crown the winner.

This year’s competition features 247 spellers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, three U.S. territories and five additional countries: The Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.

Sarv Dharavane of Dunwoody, Georgia, returns as the highest-finishing competitor from 2025, having placed third last year as an 11-year-old fifth-grader. Even with a loss this year, he maintains two more years of eligibility.

Additional notable competitors include:

— Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Rancho Cucamonga, California, who placed third in 2024. He has excelled in recent competitions, capturing victories at the South Asian Spelling Bee, the SpellPundit National Spelling Bee and the Words of Wisdom Spelling Bee.

— Oliver Halkett, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Los Angeles who tied for seventh place last year.

— Esha Marupudi, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Chandler, Arizona, who also tied for seventh place last year.

The champion receives a custom trophy and more than $50,000 in cash and prizes. Prize distribution includes:

— First place: $52,500 in cash, reference works from Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster, a custom trophy and commemorative medal, and $1,000 in flight credits from Delta Air Lines.

— Second place: $25,000.

— Third place: $15,000.

— Fourth place: $10,000.

— Fifth place: $5,000.

— Sixth place: $2,500.

— All other finalists: $2,000.

Emergency responders battling a dangerous chemical tank situation in southern California announced Monday that they have successfully eliminated the threat of explosion after working through the night.

The crisis began Thursday when a container holding highly combustible methyl methacrylate started experiencing dangerous temperature increases at the GKN Aerospace plant located in Garden Grove, a community housing approximately 172,000 residents about 20 miles south of Los Angeles.

The situation escalated by Saturday, prompting California Governor Gavin Newsom to issue an emergency declaration while authorities ordered evacuations affecting tens of thousands of local residents. Officials warned the container could potentially burst and release as much as 7,000 gallons of poisonous chemicals, or detonate and threaten additional storage tanks nearby.

Emergency crews found reason for optimism when a fracture developed in the container during the weekend, which helped reduce internal pressure and allowed temperatures to drop somewhat.

“That is incredibly positive news,” Craig Covey, a division chief at the Orange County Fire Authority, said in a video statement.

Memorial Day represents a dual purpose in American culture – serving as a solemn tribute to military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice while also marking the unofficial beginning of summer with extended weekends filled with travel and retail sales on everything from bedding to yard equipment.

Here’s an examination of this national holiday and its transformation over time:

Memorial Day Date

The observance occurs on the final Monday in May each year. In 2025, the holiday falls on May 25.

Purpose of Memorial Day

The day serves as a time for contemplation and honoring military personnel who lost their lives during their service to the United States, as documented by the Congressional Research Service.

Part of the observance includes the National Moment of Remembrance, which calls upon all Americans to stop their activities at 3 p.m. for a brief period of silence.

Historical Background

The holiday’s roots extend back to the American Civil War, a conflict that claimed the lives of over 600,000 military personnel from both Union and Confederate forces from 1861 through 1865.

The initial nationwide commemoration of what was originally known as Decoration Day took place on May 30, 1868, following a call from a Union veterans’ organization to place blooming flowers on military graves.

This tradition was already being practiced widely. Waterloo, New York, established a formal ceremony on May 5, 1866, and was subsequently recognized as the holiday’s official birthplace.

However, Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, claims its initial observance dates to October 1864, according to Library of Congress records. Additionally, women in certain Confederate states had begun decorating graves prior to the war’s conclusion.

David Blight, a Yale history professor, highlights May 1, 1865, when approximately 10,000 individuals, many of whom were Black, organized a parade, listened to speeches and honored Union soldiers’ graves in Charleston, South Carolina.

A group of 267 Union soldiers had perished at a Confederate prison facility and were initially placed in a mass burial site. Following the war’s end, Black church members relocated them to separate graves.

“What happened in Charleston does have the right to claim to be first, if that matters,” Blight told The Associated Press in 2011.

Authorities have provided updated details about a Saturday shooting incident that took place in the area surrounding the White House, including revealing the name of the individual believed to be responsible for the gunfire.

Memorial Day stands as an official American holiday dedicated to honoring military personnel who died in service, yet it has transformed into the unofficial beginning of summer featuring extended weekends filled with travel and sales on everything from bedding to gardening equipment.

Here’s how this significant holiday developed and changed over time:

The observance occurs on May’s final Monday. For this year, that date is May 25.

The day serves as a time for contemplation and honoring those who lost their lives during military service, as noted by the Congressional Research Service.

Part of the holiday includes the National Moment of Remembrance, which asks all Americans to stop at 3 p.m. for silent reflection.

The holiday’s roots extend back to the American Civil War, a conflict that claimed over 600,000 military lives from both Union and Confederate forces from 1861 through 1865.

The initial nationwide celebration of what was originally known as Decoration Day took place on May 30, 1868, following a Union veterans’ organization’s request to adorn military graves with blooming flowers.

This tradition had already become common practice. Waterloo, New York, started formal ceremonies on May 5, 1866, and later received recognition as the holiday’s official birthplace.

However, Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, claims its first ceremony occurred in October 1864, based on Library of Congress records. Additionally, women in certain Confederate states had decorated graves prior to the war’s conclusion.

David Blight, a Yale history professor, highlights May 1, 1865, when approximately 10,000 people, predominantly Black Americans, organized a parade, listened to speeches and honored Union graves in Charleston, South Carolina.

A total of 267 Union soldiers had perished at a Confederate prison facility and received burial in a collective grave. Following the war’s end, Black church members provided them with separate burial sites.

“What happened in Charleston does have the right to claim to be first, if that matters,” Blight told The Associated Press in 2011.

By 1869, The New York Times warned that the holiday risked becoming “sacrilegious” and losing its “sacred” nature if it emphasized spectacle, feasts and speeches over remembrance.

During an 1871 Decoration Day address at Arlington National Cemetery, abolitionist Frederick Douglass expressed worry that Americans were losing sight of the Civil War’s central issue: slavery.

“We must never forget that the loyal soldiers who rest beneath this sod flung themselves between the nation and the nation’s destroyers,” Douglass said.

His worries proved justified, according to Ben Railton, a professor of English and American studies at Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts.

Despite approximately 180,000 Black men fighting for the Union Army, the holiday became essentially “white Memorial Day” in numerous communities, particularly following the emergence of the Jim Crow South, Railton told the AP in 2023.

During the 1880s, then-President Grover Cleveland reportedly spent the holiday fishing, and “people were appalled,” Matthew Dennis, an emeritus history professor at the University of Oregon, told the AP.

However, when the Indianapolis 500 conducted its first race on May 30, 1911, an AP story omitted any reference to the holiday or related disputes.

Dennis explained that Memorial Day’s significance weakened somewhat following the establishment of Armistice Day, commemorating World War I’s conclusion on Nov. 11, 1918. Armistice Day achieved national holiday status by 1938 and received the new name Veterans Day in 1954.

In 1971, Congress shifted Memorial Day from its fixed May 30 date to the final Monday of May. Dennis noted that establishing the three-day weekend acknowledged Memorial Day’s evolution into a broader commemoration of the deceased and a leisure occasion.

One year afterward, Time Magazine observed that the holiday had transformed into “a three-day nationwide hootenanny that seems to have lost much of its original purpose.”

Even during the 1800s, cemetery ceremonies were accompanied by recreational activities including picnics and running competitions, Dennis noted.

The holiday also developed alongside baseball and automobiles, the five-day work schedule and summer holidays, according to the 2002 publication “A History of Memorial Day: Unity, Discord and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

During the mid-1900s, a limited number of businesses started opening in defiance of the holiday.

After the holiday switched to Monday, “the traditional barriers against doing business began to crumble,” authors Richard Harmond and Thomas Curran wrote.

Today, Memorial Day shopping events and travel have become firmly embedded in the country’s collective habits.

The Beatles legend’s contemplation of “Days We Left Behind” through his latest studio release and John Travolta’s tribute to 1960s aviation glamour highlight this week’s fresh entertainment options arriving on streaming platforms.

Entertainment reporters from The Associated Press have curated additional noteworthy releases: the second season of Netflix’s “Four Seasons” featuring Tina Fey debuts, Atlanta hip-hop artist Latto launches “Big Mama,” and Nicolas Cage appears in a fresh live-action production drawing from Spider-Man.

— In “Dead Man’s Wire,” available Thursday on Netflix, Bill Skarsgård portrays a troubled ordinary man who takes Dacre Montgomery’s mortgage industry worker captive. Film Writer Jake Coyle noted in his Associated Press review that “it plays a little loose with facts but the righteous rage of ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ is present enough in Gus Van Sant’s … thriller that’s as deeply 1970s as it is contemporary.”

— Following its Cannes Film Festival debut, John Travolta’s “Propeller One-Way Night Coach” arrives Friday, May 29 on Apple TV. Travolta serves as writer, director and narrator for this 60-minute tribute to 1960s air travel elegance, following a flight-obsessed child’s cross-country journey with his mother. The production, adapted from Travolta’s own novel, has garnered largely mixed critical reception.

— HBO Max presents “Miss You, Love You” on May 29, written and directed by Jim Rash, starring Allison Janney as a newly widowed woman forced to coordinate her husband’s memorial service alongside a stranger: her distant son’s assistant, portrayed by Andrew Rannells. HBO Max also debuts Charli xcx’s “The Moment” the same day, a self-referential mockumentary exploring Brat summer’s conclusion and extraordinary fame’s challenges.

— YouTube will host the streaming premiere of Markiplier’s “Iron Lung” on May 31. This indie horror game adaptation, independently funded and theatrically released, generated over $50 million in worldwide box office revenue.

— The former Beatle examines “Days We Left Behind” through his 18th studio effort, “The Boys of Dungeon Lane,” releasing Friday. This particularly nostalgic and contemplative piece from the collection contemplates a well-lived life’s early years — featuring gentle piano accompaniment and subtle vocal harmonies. The album’s appeal extends further with the debut collaboration between Macca and Ringo Starr, essential listening for Beatles enthusiasts. “The world around us wasn’t safe, the place was falling down/But it was my hometown/And it was home to us,” they perform together. The emotional impact could move listeners to tears, were it not such an infectious tune.

— The Atlanta hip-hop artist returns with “Big Mama.” The familiar title connects to her 2024 Grammy-nominated track from “Sugar Honey Iced Tea.” She’s labeled this upcoming release her “retirement album,” and if accurate, she’s concluding powerfully: “Somebody” delivers relaxed pop-trap vibes; “GOMF” (meaning “Get Out My Face”) reimagines the popular ’00s Soulja Boy track “Yahhh!” with Latto’s distinctive confidence. This collection serves romantic souls, ambitious women, and everyone between.

— Nicolas Cage headlines a fresh live-action production drawing from the Marvel character, presented with noir styling. Located in Depression-era New York’s harsh landscape, Cage portrays Ben Reilly, a private investigator bearing the burden of serving as the city’s sole masked vigilante battling widespread corruption. Audiences may select between monochrome and color presentations. “Spider-Noir” releases eight episodes Wednesday on Prime Video.

— Hulu’s chaotic crime-comedy “Deli Boys” continues with its second season Thursday. Pakistani American siblings, portrayed by Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh, receive a deli chain inheritance following their father’s death, initially believing they’ve secured financial stability until discovering the establishments served as drug smuggling operations. Poorna Jagannathan portrays their aunt who has assumed control of the enterprise.

— Netflix launches “Four Seasons” Season 2 Thursday. The series follows a friend group managing relationships and life’s challenges. Tina Fey serves as co-creator and star alongside Colman Domingo, Will Forte, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Marco Calvani and Erika Henningsen. The show adapts Alan Alda’s 1981 film sharing the same title.

— “Criminal Minds: Evolution” Season 19 begins with dual episodes Thursday on Paramount+. The new installments feature imprisoned serial killer Elias Voit (Zach Gilford) assisting the BAU in tracking similar criminals while serving his life sentence. Season 19’s primary antagonist is a copycat killer who admires Voit. Original series veterans return, including Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Aisha Tyler, Adam Rodriguez and Paget Brewster. Connor Storrie from “Heated Rivalry” will make a guest appearance.

— While filmmakers continue deliberating the next James Bond casting choice, global gamers can assume the role in “007 First Light.” Developer IO Interactive presents this as a beginning story, featuring Bond in his twenties as a fresh MI6 recruit pursuing a rogue operative. Anticipate numerous international settings, sophisticated weapons and equipment, stylish attire and naturally, an alluring romantic partner. Players can “go silent or go loud,” choosing stealthy mission approaches or aggressive combat tactics. IO’s expertise with the international “Hitman” franchise qualifies them for this project. Obtain your license to kill Wednesday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch 2 or PC.

— “Mina the Hollower” features a mouse skilled at tunneling, useful for escaping or ambushing the dangerous creatures inhabiting her eerie environment. She wields a whip for combat and can discover additional weapons and items enhancing her capabilities. The action unfolds in a vibrant, pixel-art 2D environment reminiscent of 1980s classics like “The Legend of Zelda.” Developer Yacht Club Games, creators of retro indie hit “Shovel Knight,” promises a “bone-chilling yet heartwarming tale inspired by Victorian Gothic horror.” Begin exploring Friday, May 29, on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch, PC or Mac.

NEW YORK (AP) — Hidden within a massive warehouse in New York City, skilled craftspeople have spent years creating some of the most cherished children’s characters in entertainment history, working largely out of public view.

The famous puppet workshop established by the Muppets’ legendary creator is now pulling back the veil of secrecy for the first time.

For the first time ever, the renowned studio has begun welcoming visitors to its Queens facility through guided tours, giving enthusiasts the chance to witness puppet construction firsthand, observe puppeteering techniques, and capture memories alongside famous characters.

The workshop’s creative supervisor, Jason Weber, explained that these $150 tours represent a chance to honor the skilled workers who breathe life into these celebrated characters.

“There is a level of expertise here that we’re sharing. It’s not just going to a pop-up store or something like that,” he said during a recent visit. “Things are made one-of-a-kind, made by hand with artisans who have been trained for years and decades.”

Beyond creating Kermit, Miss Piggy and the Muppet family, the studio’s founder was also responsible for Big Bird, Cookie Monster and other beloved “Sesame Street” personalities, plus the “Fraggle Rock” cast. The visionary creator passed away in 1990.

The workshop began operations in Manhattan during the 1960s and has relocated several times throughout the city. The current Queens location has housed the operation since 2009. A second facility operates in Los Angeles, though it remains closed to public visits.

Saturday tours last 80 minutes and begin in a specially designed exhibition space featuring authentic show props and creations. This area serves as the only location where photography and videography are permitted, since much of the working studio contains ongoing projects or confidential materials.

Disney currently holds ownership of “The Muppets,” while Sesame maintains rights to Big Bird and other characters originally developed for the enduring television program, which produces episodes at a nearby studio.

The exhibition room showcases an Oscar the Grouch installation featuring the “Sesame Street” character positioned in his signature trash can amid piles of artificial refuse.

Additional highlights include an intimidating black throne from “The Dark Crystal,” the creator’s 1982 fantasy film, and a full-scale operational Junior Gorg puppet from “Fraggle Rock,” which demands several operators to control.

The production floor bustles with extraordinary creatures in different phases of completion. Drawers and containers fill nearly every available space, overflowing with vibrant furs, textured materials and pre-made puppet components, wardrobe pieces and accessories.

“Everything we do is custom. Everything we do is bespoke,” said Melissa Creighton, the shop’s director.

During a recent tour, team members were actively preparing costumes and components for various ongoing productions, including a “Fraggle Rock” musical scheduled to debut this month at a Times Square area theater.

Previous studio work includes the horror film “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” the children’s adventure “Where the Wild Things Are” and the 1990s television comedy “Dinosaurs.”

Senior puppet builder Sierra Schoening described her position at the studio as her ultimate career aspiration. She grew up loving “The Labyrinth,” the creator’s 1986 musical fantasy featuring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly.

“I just really always wanted to know how those illusions were made,” Schoening said as she took a break from fashioning a set of new creations. “I know all the secret sauce, and I’m making the secret sauce now.”

Emergency crews in Southern California are racing against time to prevent a catastrophic blast from a compromised chemical storage tank that developed a crack over the weekend, forcing roughly 50,000 people to flee their homes.

The crisis began Thursday when the container started overheating and releasing vapors at a facility in Garden Grove, a community of approximately 170,000 people located about 40 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. Local and state emergency personnel are working frantically to avoid a disaster scenario, though no injuries have been documented so far.

Emergency responders have continuously doused the tank with water to lower the temperature of the chemicals inside. Internal temperatures climbed to 100 degrees Sunday, marking a 10-degree Fahrenheit jump from Saturday’s readings, Democratic state Sen. Tom Umberg reported.

Emergency crews discovered the tank had developed a crack over the weekend, which may reduce the likelihood of a catastrophic blast, and no hazardous chemicals appeared to have escaped, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Wayhowe Huang reported.

“There’s still the danger of a possible explosion,” he said.

Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a state emergency declaration Saturday and requested President Donald Trump authorize federal emergency assistance to support local and state response efforts.

The container at GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, a manufacturer of components for civilian and military aircraft, contains 6,000 to 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a substance used in plastic component production.

Air quality testing around the evacuation perimeter showed pollution levels remained within acceptable ranges, and specialized monitoring equipment is being deployed to detect any gas releases, state and federal environmental agencies reported Saturday.

The primary objective for emergency crews is cooling the chemical contents to prevent either a leak or explosion.

Unmanned aircraft are tracking temperatures every 10 minutes to detect any dangerous increases. Protective barriers have been installed to stop the chemical from entering storm water systems or reaching waterways and the nearby coastline if a spill occurs, Orange County Fire Authority division chief Craig Covey announced on social media.

When internal temperatures increase, methyl methacrylate transforms from liquid to gas form and builds pressure, Purdue University engineering professor Andrew Whelton explained, noting that the crack might allow product or pressure to escape, decreasing explosion risk.

“Think of a soda can. If you leave it in a hot car it can explode,” Whelton said. “But if you put a hole in the can, the product is released and the can itself doesn’t explode.”

Emergency personnel are hesitant to deliberately puncture the tank due to concerns that a spark could ignite the dangerous and combustible gas. The most catastrophic outcome would be an explosion spreading the chemical across a wide area while launching debris, he explained.

Overhead photographs captured by The Associated Press revealed deserted streets throughout the area Sunday, with multiple emergency shelters operating. At a high school in adjacent La Palma, evacuees rested in vehicles or on blankets and sleeping bags on the pavement.

Garden Grove borders Anaheim, which houses Disneyland’s two theme parks that remain outside the evacuation zone. Park representatives confirmed they are closely watching developments.

Contact with methyl methacrylate can result in severe breathing difficulties, nervous system issues, and irritation to skin, eyes, and throat, according to chemical safety documentation.

Whelton emphasized that if an explosion happens, authorities must perform comprehensive air quality testing specifically for methyl methacrylate rather than general volatile organic compound screening, as officials conducted following a 2023 train accident in East Palestine, Ohio, which released over 115,000 gallons of vinyl chloride after authorities deliberately opened five tank cars and burned the chemical.

Orange County health authorities noted the chemical has a distinctive odor that people may detect across a wide area without experiencing harm.

Several Garden Grove residents initiated a class-action federal lawsuit Saturday against GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, the company operating the facility housing the tank. Legal representatives for the residents contended that property values in the surrounding neighborhood will inevitably suffer regardless of the outcome.

GKN Aerospace declined to address the lawsuit but has issued apologies to residents and businesses required to evacuate. The company stated Sunday it was “working around the clock to mitigate the risk of a leak.”

GKN Aerospace agreed in 2025 to pay state regulators more than $900,000 to settle violations involving recordkeeping, permitting issues and nitrogen oxide emissions, according to a report on the South Coast Air Quality Management District website.

WASHINGTON — A 21-year-old individual identified as Nasire Best opened fire in the direction of a White House security checkpoint on Saturday night, prompting Secret Service personnel to discharge their weapons in response, the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department reported. During the exchange of gunfire, an innocent bystander sustained injuries.

The incident represents a photo collection assembled by Associated Press photo editors.

An innocent person caught in gunfire during a deadly confrontation at a White House security checkpoint continues to recover in serious but stable condition as of Sunday.

According to the Secret Service, the unidentified bystander sustained a gunshot injury that officials described as non-life-threatening. Officials have not disclosed the circumstances surrounding how the person was wounded.

Law enforcement agencies have provided limited information regarding the Saturday evening incident. The District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department reported that the gunman, 21-year-old Nasire Best from Dundalk, Maryland, began firing rounds at a White House security checkpoint before Secret Service personnel responded with deadly force. Best was transported to a medical facility where he was declared deceased.

President Donald Trump was inside the White House when the gunfire erupted.

This marks the third shooting incident involving the president within the last month, following an armed individual who attacked the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in April carrying firearms and blades, and another shooting where Secret Service agents wounded a gunman who fired at them near the Washington Monument earlier this month.

Through a Truth Social message, Trump characterized the Saturday shooter as having a “possible obsession with our Country’s most cherished structure.” He also leveraged the incident to advocate for the ballroom construction project he wants built where the White House’s former East Wing once stood, stating the shooting “goes to show how important it is, for all future Presidents, to get, what will be, the most safe and secure space of its kind ever built in Washington, D.C.” Trump is requesting $1 billion from Congress for White House campus security enhancements, including the proposed ballroom.

Court documents from the District of Columbia reveal Best had previously encountered law enforcement at the White House. He was taken into custody last July for trying to breach White House property at a separate checkpoint. He ignored officers’ orders to halt, declared himself to be Jesus Christ and expressed a desire to be detained.

Best competed in track and field events at Dundalk High School, earning his diploma in 2023.

A woman claiming to be Best’s mother spoke with The Washington Post, saying she discovered the shooting through social media and struggled to accept the news. She defended her son, stating he “was never violent, regardless of what people are posting.”

Emergency responders battling to prevent a dangerous chemical explosion in Southern California received encouraging news Sunday when specialists discovered what appears to be a crack in the pressurized tank.

The container holds methyl methacrylate, a combustible substance used in plastic production and manufacturing processes. Officials have warned since Friday that the tank could burst, releasing as much as 7,000 gallons of poisonous material, or detonate and threaten additional storage units at the GKN Aerospace facility.

Evacuation directives went into effect Friday for Garden Grove residents, a community located approximately 30 miles south of Los Angeles. The mandatory evacuation zone encompasses tens of thousands of people.

TJ McGovern, interim fire chief of the Orange County Fire Authority, announced through a social media video that expert teams Saturday evening identified “a potential crack in the tank, which could potentially be relieving some of the pressure in there.”

McGovern characterized finding the possible fissure as “positive intel.”

Emergency officials continue working to confirm whether the suspected crack has actually decreased tank pressure, according to an Orange County Fire Authority spokesperson who spoke with Reuters. Reducing internal pressure would help prevent a catastrophic blast, the spokesperson explained.

While authorities currently concentrate on pressure monitoring, the spokesperson noted the crack might eventually enable officials to slowly remove the hazardous chemicals.

Craig Covey, division chief of the Orange County Fire Authority, reported Saturday that the tank’s interior temperature was climbing approximately one degree hourly and had peaked at 90 degrees. However, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated early Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” that local teams were working to maintain tank stability by keeping temperatures below 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

“I’m being told this morning that the most likely scenario is one of a low-volume release, where the local authorities are going to be able to monitor, neutralize and contain the threat,” Zeldin told CNN.

Response teams prepared for potential spillage by identifying methods to construct barriers and redirect the liquid into containment areas at the industrial location, preventing it from reaching storm drainage systems, waterways or coastal areas, Covey explained.

Public health authorities expressed concerns that chemical vapors could trigger serious breathing complications during extended exposure. Environmental monitoring equipment positioned throughout Garden Grove detected no hazardous substances or contaminants Sunday, the EPA reported.

Detection devices placed near the tank have not registered any airborne chemical releases, the fire authority spokesperson confirmed.

Neither the Orange County Fire Authority nor the Garden Grove mayor’s office responded to Sunday comment requests. Saturday briefings revealed firefighters were investigating whether increased cooling water flow could slow internal chemical reactions sufficiently to lower pressure and avoid explosion.

The emergency situation started Thursday at the GKN Aerospace plant, which manufactures and tests aircraft windows and canopies for civilian and military aviation, the company’s website states.

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Orange County on Saturday.

Emergency officials in Southern California continue working around the clock to address a critical situation involving a compromised chemical storage container at an aerospace company that has forced tens of thousands from their homes.

The container at GKN Aerospace holds approximately 6,000 to 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a dangerous substance used in manufacturing plastic components. The vessel became overheated last week and started releasing toxic fumes into the surrounding air in Garden Grove, located in Orange County. Weekend reports from officials indicated the container could discharge its entire contents or potentially detonate if temperatures continue rising.

While no one has been hurt, evacuation orders affected more than 50,000 people throughout the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Emergency responders have been continuously dousing the container with water to lower the temperature of the heating chemicals and avoid a potential blast.

The substance methyl methacrylate appears as a clear, combustible liquid utilized in creating resins, plastics and dental prosthetics, and falls under federal hazardous material regulations. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the compound can cause irritation to respiratory systems, eyes and skin, while higher concentrations may lead to impaired breathing capacity, lightheadedness and cognitive issues. Air quality testing conducted around the evacuation area has shown pollution levels remain within acceptable ranges.

Officials report the container’s release valves have malfunctioned, creating uncertainty about how to handle the chemical contents while overheating dangers persist. Local emergency management warned that without intervention, the situation could result in either a massive chemical discharge or an explosion.

Emergency crews have concentrated efforts on maintaining the container temperature below 85 degrees Fahrenheit to reduce internal pressure. EPA chief Lee Zeldin stated Sunday that the most probable outcome involves a “low-volume release” of the tank’s materials, allowing officials to “monitor, neutralize, and contain the threat.”

Rising internal temperatures would create pressure buildup as the methyl methacrylate transforms from liquid to gas form, heightening explosion risks that could ignite additional containers at the location.

An explosion releasing the chemical airborne would spread it across a broader area and could generate dangerous inhalation vapors, warned Orange County’s top health officer, Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong.

Dr. Chinsio-Kwong explained that inhaling the vapor could irritate eyes, nasal passages and lungs, potentially causing throat soreness, burning eyes and dizziness. She noted the chemical produces a fruit-like smell, though detecting the odor doesn’t necessarily indicate health consequences will occur.

Extended exposure to methyl methacrylate can lead to severe breathing complications or loss of consciousness. The evacuation area sits west of Anaheim, where Disneyland’s two entertainment parks operate without evacuation requirements. Dr. Chinsio-Kwong assured that individuals beyond the evacuation boundary face no health concerns.

Sunday reports from officials suggested the container may have developed a fracture, which could reduce explosion probability. Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Wayhowe Huang reported emergency teams discovered the potential crack during overnight operations. Despite the crack, he said the container showed no signs of releasing toxic material into the environment.

Zeldin indicated a controlled, small-scale chemical release would enable officials to monitor the situation and reduce container pressure. GKN Aerospace announced Sunday afternoon its continued cooperation with local emergency services, stating “the situation remains ongoing.”

New research demonstrates that providing summer employment opportunities for teenagers produces significant reductions in criminal activity rates. According to the findings, these youth employment initiatives create substantial positive impacts on community safety.

Economist Sara Heller discussed the research data, which indicates these seasonal work programs for young people deliver meaningful results in crime prevention. The study highlights how structured summer employment can serve as an effective tool for reducing problematic behavior among teenagers during the months when school is not in session.

CENTERVILLE, Mass. — At 106 years old, Freeman Johnson holds the distinction of being America’s oldest living Pearl Harbor survivor, though he witnessed none of the December 7, 1941 attack that changed history.

During the Japanese assault, Johnson was deep within the USS St. Louis working on boiler repairs, completely unaware of the chaos unfolding above deck. The Massachusetts resident, who celebrated his 106th birthday in March, missed seeing his fellow sailors manning antiaircraft weapons and downing an enemy torpedo aircraft.

“While all the rigamarole was going on topside, I was inside a steam drum. Couldn’t see anything, absolutely nothing,” said Johnson, a Centerville, Massachusetts, resident whose living room is filled with mementos and photos of his Navy service, including photos of the St. Louis and him as a young sailor, along with a collection of Navy challenge coins and ribbons representing the places he visited. He still has his military identification tag — popularly known as dog tag.

By the time Johnson reached the surface, the light cruiser had already maneuvered past enemy midget submarines and escaped to open waters. As a fireman aboard the vessel, Johnson remained largely uninformed about the attack’s details even as they sailed into the Pacific.

“We were way out to sea, way out. You couldn’t see any land at all. All you saw was ocean,” he said. “I was just a sailor, just a swabbie, I was not an officer. They don’t tell you anything if you don’t need to know. And I didn’t need know it. So they tell you nothing.”

During school visits, students frequently questioned Johnson about feeling frightened during the attack. “You’re not scared. You’re too busy to be scared,” he said, his gravelly voice rising. “Besides, you don’t know what you’re scared of. You can’t see anything. What are you afraid of?”

Johnson assumed the title of oldest survivor following the December death of World War II Navy veteran Ira “Ike” Schab, who was 105. Schab’s death leaves just 11 survivors remaining from the surprise assault that claimed more than 2,400 military lives and drew America into the global conflict. Memorial Day on Monday honors the nation’s fallen service members.

Annual commemoration ceremonies occur at the military installation’s waterfront for Pearl Harbor veterans. Approximately 2,000 survivors participated in the 50th anniversary gathering in 1991. Recent decades have seen only dozens attend, with just two making the journey in 2024 from an estimated 87,000 troops stationed on Oahu that fateful day. No survivors traveled to Hawaii last year.

Throughout most of his life, Johnson shunned public attention and rarely discussed surviving the attack. After all, he was among tens of thousands of sailors present during that devastating day. He remembered his late wife Ruth “thought that was something special” so she contacted the Navy and “the girl laughed at her.”

Now as the oldest survivor, he’s gained local fame and reluctantly represents one of World War II’s most pivotal moments. Johnson arrived at his 106th birthday celebration in a limousine, surrounded by television cameras. He receives correspondence from around the globe and people regularly call him a hero during public outings.

Despite being hard of hearing, requiring a walker for mobility, and battling congestive heart failure, Johnson can recount his wartime experiences with remarkable precision. The 19-year-old was jobless and living with family in Waltham when he feared being drafted, prompting him to enlist in the Navy because he believed it would be less demanding physically than Army service.

“As a kid, I walked. If I wanted to go somewhere, I walked or took my bicycle. But I didn’t want to walk from France to Germany,” he said, sitting in a recliner, dressed in an oversized flannel shirt and waving his hands like an orchestra conductor.

“It’s a long way carrying a knapsack with you … Water for a day, food for a day, a 9-pound Springfield rifle all on your back and walking through the mud,” he said. “No thanks. That’s why I joined the Navy.”

Johnson’s recollections focus less on combat aboard the St. Louis and later the USS Iowa, and more on their historical importance. He participated in commissioning the Iowa and remembered the battleship’s preparations in November 1943 before carrying President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Tehran Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

The vessel was fitted with two elevators and a bathtub. Most ammunition and oil were removed to reduce weight as it navigated the Potomac River to collect Roosevelt, then reloaded before heading to sea.

“It was a big meeting,” Johnson said, recalling how the crew were photographed with Roosevelt. “I don’t know what they talked about, but I didn’t need to know. We picked him back up, brought him home.”

Johnson also observed the war’s conclusion from the Iowa. He was positioned on the Iowa’s mast observing surrender ceremonies approximately one mile away in Tokyo Bay aboard the USS Missouri on Sept. 2, 1945.

“I could see the boats coming up with the Marines escorting the Japanese onto ship and sitting around a table,” he said. “It was all over. That was the end of the war. A bunch of us got together — the war is over. Let’s go home.”

Currently, his daughter Diane Johnson frequently accompanies him. They share a home and annually travel on Dec. 7, often participating in Pearl Harbor memorial events, including the 65th and 80th anniversary ceremonies in Hawaii. She regularly prompts conversations and insists he has “a responsibility” to tell Pearl Harbor’s story, particularly to young people unfamiliar with the bombing.

“It’s kind of overwhelming when you think of it. Well, the 106 is what gets me,” she said. “When I think about his history, he’s at the beginning, he’s at middle, he is at the end when he witnessed the surrender. It’s something.”

Johnson gained increased recognition several years ago when Diane Johnson heard local television reporting that the state’s last survivor had passed away. She contacted them to set the record straight, raising his visibility. Johnson also began regular appearances in the Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Parade, frequently leading from the front.

“I wish more people were like him today. He just gets on and doesn’t complain about anything,” said Desmond Keogh, the chairman of the parade who has accompanied Johnson. “It’s what this country was all about. They were just a different generation. They did what was best for their country.”

Despite all the Pearl Harbor attention, the straightforward Johnson, recognized for his distinctive laugh and playful grin, doesn’t consider it his life’s defining experience.

That honor belongs to marrying his late wife after the war and raising three daughters. He also spent years working in a machine shop, then a convenience store, and finally delivering meals to elderly residents — retiring from all positions, the final one at age 90.

“Pearl Harbor just happened. I can’t put it any other way,” he said.

Officials in Southern California continue preparing for a potential disaster as a malfunctioning chemical tank threatens to explode or leak, forcing 40,000 residents from their homes with no clear timeline for their return during Memorial Day weekend.

The pressurized container overheated Thursday and started releasing vapors at a business facility in Garden Grove, located roughly 40 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, the Orange County Fire Authority reported. No injuries have occurred so far.

However, emergency responders face a critical problem: the tank’s valves are either damaged or “gummed up,” making it impossible for crews to extract the chemical or reduce pressure buildup, explained Craig Covey, Orange County Fire Authority division chief.

Emergency teams are primarily focused on finding methods to lower the temperature of the chemical contents to prevent a leak or explosion. Should cooling efforts fail, Purdue University engineering professor Andrew Whelton noted that a controlled leak would be preferable to contain most of the substance. The most dangerous outcome would be an explosion spreading the chemical across a wide area while sending debris flying.

Should internal temperatures keep rising, pressure will continue mounting as the methyl methacrylate transforms from liquid to gas, since the pressure relief mechanisms have stopped functioning. Whelton explained that firefighters would likely avoid puncturing the tank due to concerns about creating sparks that could ignite the volatile, flammable gas.

Temperature monitoring through drones occurs every 10 minutes to detect any increases, while teams prepare containment measures to prevent potential leaks from reaching waterways or the ocean, Covey reported on social media platform X during an evening update.

“Sitting back and allowing these tanks to fail is unacceptable,” Covey stated, while acknowledging no guarantees exist that tanks won’t rupture and leak. “Our goal is to protect your homes — no damage to them — and protect the environment.”

Tank cooling efforts seemed successful Friday, though Covey later corrected his assessment the next day, revealing that drone readings measured external rather than internal temperatures.

“Unfortunately I do have to report that the temperature was 90 degrees,” Covey announced, representing an increase from 77 Fahrenheit recorded the previous morning.

Temperature control remains crucial since the liquid chemical’s flashpoint reaches 50 Fahrenheit, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Garden Grove residents received initial evacuation orders, which later expanded to portions of five additional Orange County communities: Cypress, Stanton, Anaheim, Buena Park and Westminster. Some evacuees with pets prepared to spend nights in vehicles.

Multiple shelters continued operating Saturday, including facilities at three high schools.

Marco Solano, 32, stayed Friday night at his parents’ residence, expressing frustration while monitoring news for updates about returning home.

“I don’t think that they should have dangerous chemicals in a neighborhood area, especially that dangerous that they have to evacuate people,” Solano commented. “But again, it’s not up to me. I don’t make the laws. I don’t make the rules. We just have to do what is best I guess.”

Solano, who works multiple jobs, described feeling extremely tired and weak, believing the chemical leak stress was worsening his anemia and ulcerative colitis.

“This has been affecting me quite a bit,” he said.

After work Friday, Solano visited his apartment to collect belongings and observed other residents who hadn’t evacuated, causing him concern for their safety.

The compromised tank sits at GKN Aerospace, a manufacturer of commercial and military aircraft components. It contains 6,000 to 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a substance used in plastic parts production.

Methyl methacrylate exposure can trigger severe breathing difficulties and loss of consciousness. The chemical may also cause neurological issues and irritation to skin, eyes and throat, according to safety documentation. Orange County health authorities noted the chemical produces a distinct odor that residents might detect across large areas without experiencing harm.

Whelton compared the tank’s chemical volume to the catastrophic 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which he investigated when more than 115,000 gallons of vinyl chloride was released after officials deliberately opened five tank cars and burned the chemical. This incident involves significantly less material.

“Many of these are acute, fast-acting effects. But the longer somebody stays in contact with it, the more potential for significant damage that occurs,” Whelton explained.

In case of explosion, officials anticipate “severe structural damage and significant harm” within the blast zone nearest the tank.

Should an explosion release chemicals into the atmosphere, Whelton emphasized the importance of conducting detailed air monitoring specifically for methyl methacrylate rather than generic volatile organic compound testing used in East Palestine. Standard tests, typically performed with portable detectors, may fail to identify this particular chemical. Indoor testing of buildings and residences might be necessary before residents return.

Weather conditions will significantly influence the direction of any chemical plume following an explosion. Officials are creating maps to predict various scenarios identifying the most affected areas.

Containment barriers have been installed to block chemicals from entering storm drainage systems or reaching nearby creeks and ocean in case of spillage, Covey reported.

Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a state emergency declaration for Orange County, providing state resources to local agencies and allowing state properties and fairgrounds to serve as emergency shelters if needed.

Garden Grove borders Anaheim, which houses Disneyland’s two theme parks that remain outside evacuation zones. Park representatives said they’re monitoring the situation and assisting affected employees.

GKN accepted a payment of more than $900,000 to state regulators in 2025 to resolve violations related to recordkeeping, permitting problems and nitrogen oxide emissions, based on South Coast Air Quality Management District website information.

WASHINGTON — An individual who opened fire at Secret Service officers near a White House security checkpoint has died following a shootout with federal agents, authorities confirmed.

According to the U.S. Secret Service, initial findings show the individual came to a checkpoint around 6 p.m. ET Saturday, “pulled a weapon from his bag and began firing at posted officers.”

Federal agents fired back, striking the gunman, who was rushed to a local medical facility where he was later pronounced dead, the Secret Service reported.

An innocent bystander sustained injuries during the incident, though law enforcement officials remain uncertain whether the wounds came from the initial gunfire by the suspect or from rounds fired by responding officers.

The Secret Service confirmed none of their personnel were harmed in the exchange, and President Donald Trump — who was present at the White House during the shooting — remained “unaffected.”

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Earlier reporting follows below.

WASHINGTON — Federal agents shot an individual in the vicinity of the White House on Saturday, with a bystander also sustaining gunshot wounds, according to a law enforcement source.

Both victims were reported in critical condition, the source revealed while requesting anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak about the ongoing investigation.

White House press corps members on duty Saturday heard multiple gunshots and received instructions to take cover in the press briefing room.

The Secret Service posted on X that they were “aware of reports of shots fired near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW” — located one block from the White House — and were “working to corroborate the information with personnel on the ground.” They promised an update would follow.

FBI Director Kash Patel posted on social media that officers were responding to reports of gunfire and promised to “update the public as we’re able.”

President Donald Trump remained inside the White House throughout the incident.

Physical evidence of the shooting remained visible on sidewalks adjacent to the White House grounds, with yellow police tape stretching across walkways and Secret Service personnel marking dozens of spots with orange evidence markers. Emergency medical supplies, including what looked like purple medical gloves and standard paramedic equipment, were scattered at the scene.

ABC News senior White House correspondent Selina Wang captured dramatic footage on X showing the moment she heard what “sounded like dozens of gunshots” and took cover. Wang had been recording a routine social media update about Trump’s earlier Saturday comments regarding a potential Iran deal when the gunfire erupted.

The video shows Wang speaking briefly before the sound of gunshots causes her to widen her eyes and duck down in the media tent positioned along the White House driveway where news crews conduct their broadcasts. Wang’s footage had been shared thousands of times and viewed over 3 million times by Saturday evening.

The Metropolitan Police Department advised on X that the Secret Service was handling the scene and urged the public to stay away from the area. The location is close to where a shooter attacked two West Virginia National Guard members last November.

U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, succumbed to her injuries in that attack. Andrew Wolfe, then 24, suffered critical wounds. Rahmanullah Lakanwal faces charges in connection with that shooting.

Saturday’s gunfire occurred roughly one month following what authorities described as an assassination attempt against the president on April 25 during his appearance at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner at a Washington hotel. Cole Tomas Allen, of Torrance, California, recently entered a not guilty plea to charges of attempting to kill Trump and remains in federal detention.

After that incident, Secret Service agents shot a suspect who they said had opened fire on officers near the Washington Monument, also in the White House vicinity. Michael Marx, 45, of Midland, Texas, was charged in federal court in connection with the May 4 shooting. A teenage bystander suffered wounds in that incident.

Federal authorities launched an investigation Saturday after receiving reports of gunfire in the nation’s capital near the White House.

The Secret Service announced Saturday that agents were aware of reports indicating shots had been fired in Washington, D.C., specifically at the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, located close to the White House. Officials stated they were actively working to verify these reports through coordination with officers stationed in the area.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that FBI agents were present at the location, providing assistance to Secret Service personnel.

WASHINGTON — Authorities are currently investigating reports of gunfire in the area surrounding the White House.

Police and other law enforcement agencies have been dispatched to respond to the incident involving reported gunshots near the presidential residence.

Emergency responders battling a dangerous chemical tank situation in Southern California discovered Saturday that internal temperatures are climbing despite round-the-clock cooling operations, according to the incident commander.

Tens of thousands of residents in Garden Grove, a Los Angeles suburb, remain under mandatory evacuation orders as crews work to prevent a potential explosion.

The governor of California issued a state of emergency declaration for Orange County, with his office urging residents to comply with evacuation directives.

Craig Covey, division chief of the Orange County Fire Authority, reported that emergency teams re-entered the hazardous area overnight after drone surveillance on Friday indicated that water spray operations were helping control the situation.

However, Covey explained in a Saturday morning social media video that drone measurements only captured exterior vessel temperatures, not the chemical contents within. When crews accessed the tank’s internal gauge, they discovered temperatures had risen to 90 degrees Fahrenheit from the previous reading of 77 degrees when responders had withdrawn.

The internal temperature was climbing approximately one degree per hour, according to Covey. “That’s the bad news,” he stated.

Since Friday, authorities have cautioned that the container holding methyl methacrylate – a combustible chemical utilized in plastics and manufacturing – could burst and release as much as 7,000 gallons of toxic substances or detonate and threaten surrounding tanks.

Covey said Saturday that fire crews were investigating whether increased cooling water flow could slow the chemical curing reaction inside the vessel sufficiently to reduce pressure and avoid an explosion.

“Letting this thing just fail and blow up is unacceptable to us,” Covey declared. “Our goal is to find something and not allow that to happen.”

The emergency situation started Thursday at the GKN Aerospace plant in Garden Grove, a community of approximately 172,000 residents located roughly 30 miles south of Los Angeles. According to the company’s website, the facility focuses on manufacturing and testing aircraft windows and canopies for both commercial and military use.

GKN stated it is collaborating with “all relevant experts” to resolve the crisis.

“We sincerely apologize for the significant disruption to the many local residents and businesses who have had to be evacuated,” a company spokesperson said in a Saturday statement.

Authorities broadened evacuation zones Friday as explosion risks intensified. Garden Grove Police Chief Amir El-Farra told the Orange County Register that roughly 15% of people within the evacuation area are declining to leave.

Covey reported that crews transitioned from a “defensive” approach to an “offensive” strategy overnight with assistance from chemists on the manufacturer’s emergency response team. The objective was to neutralize a nearby 15,000-gallon tank and minimize its explosive danger if the smaller vessel fails.

“We did put people in harm’s way last night,” Covey acknowledged.

Emergency shelters have been established in Garden Grove and neighboring Anaheim and Cypress.

Health authorities expressed concern that chemical vapors could trigger serious breathing issues with extended exposure. Air quality monitoring systems had not detected vapor as of the most recent health assessment referenced by officials.

“You are safe as long as you are out of the zone that was determined to be an evacuation zone,” Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong of the Orange County Health Care Agency said Friday.

Covey added that teams were also preparing for potential spillage by identifying methods to contain and redirect the liquid into a holding area at the industrial site, preventing it from reaching storm systems, waterways or the ocean.

“We are not giving up,” Covey emphasized.

Authorities spent Saturday searching through a New York City shipyard for clues about what triggered a deadly blast and fire that claimed one life and left more than 30 firefighters and emergency workers injured.

Officials offered few new details about the incident that unfolded Friday afternoon in Staten Island’s Mariners Harbor area on the north shore. Investigation teams continued their work at the scene while some firefighters remained on standby as a safety measure, authorities reported.

Emergency crews rushed to the shipyard around 3:30 p.m. Friday after receiving reports of flames, thick smoke, and two workers stuck in a below-ground area, according to city Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore. Within less than an hour, while firefighters and medical teams were actively responding, a powerful explosion struck the location, officials reported.

One civilian lost their life in the incident, while another sustained injuries. Officials confirmed that a fire marshal and one firefighter suffered severe injuries, with 29 additional firefighters experiencing minor to moderate harm and four medical personnel receiving minor injuries. Hospital staff treated all the wounded.

“We got very lucky this day,” Bonsignore stated during Friday evening’s press briefing. “We got lucky in the sense that none of our people were killed. It’s unfortunate we had one fatality, and they did everything they could to get to that person.”

Officials had not disclosed the identity of the deceased person by Saturday.

Fire marshal Christopher Cuccaro, who was among the seriously injured, sustained a skull fracture and bleeding in the brain, reported the fire department’s chief medical officer Dr. David Prezant. Medical staff listed his condition as critical but stable.

“We will be watching him very carefully over the next 24 hours to make certain there is not subsequent brain swelling. As long as there is not, he should do well,” Prezant explained during Friday’s press conference.

Both Cuccaro and the other severely injured firefighter were hurt by the blast’s shock wave, Prezant explained. The second firefighter was recovering “very well,” he noted.

“Thankfully both of these firefighters do not have penetrating injuries and do not have blast injury damage to their organs, to their heart, lungs or abdomen,” Prezant stated.

The blaze and explosion took place inside a metal building measuring 150 feet by 150 feet located at the shipyard’s rear section, Bonsignore reported. Approximately 200 firefighters and medical personnel arrived to handle the emergency.

Local resident Richard Oviogor, who was nearby during the incident, described hearing two separate explosions and experiencing what felt like a “big shock wave” when speaking with WABC-TV.

The surrounding area houses multiple businesses, including a coffee roasting operation and a storage facility. The shipyard was previously under the ownership of the Bethlehem Steel Company, which constructed naval vessels for the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Emergency shelters stayed operational across Southern California on Saturday while officials continued efforts to prevent a dangerous chemical storage tank from exploding near Disneyland’s theme parks.

The Orange County Fire Authority reported no injuries after the pressurized container began overheating Thursday and started releasing vapors in Garden Grove. Officials issued mandatory evacuation orders affecting 40,000 residents, with emergency shelters established by Friday evening at three high schools and other locations.

Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey explained that authorities fear the tank could rupture and spill its contents or potentially explode. The container sits at GKN Aerospace, a facility that manufactures components for commercial and military aircraft. The tank contains between 6,000 and 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a chemical used in plastic manufacturing.

Fire crews are using drone technology to track the tank’s temperature, and by Friday evening, cooling efforts showed positive results, Covey reported.

“It is not OK with me just to sit back and watch this thing blow up or fail. That is not acceptable to me,” Covey stated in a social media update. “Our group is going to do everything they can to come up with a third, a fourth, a fifth option that is not that, that is not failure, and we can get all of you back home as soon as possible. I ask you to continue to be patient.”

Officials also requested that residents avoid calling 911 with non-emergency matters, particularly suggestions for resolving the crisis, Covey noted.

“I know that everybody’s thinking they’re going to give us some really good ideas on how to fix that,” he stated. “While we really appreciate the intent of that, trust me, I have the best people around working on solutions.”

The evacuation zone initially covered Garden Grove residents but expanded Friday to include parts of five additional Orange County communities: Cypress, Stanton, Anaheim, Buena Park and Westminster.

Garden Grove sits approximately 38 miles south of downtown Los Angeles and less than a mile from Disneyland’s two theme parks, which remain outside the evacuation area. The community hosts one of the nation’s largest Vietnamese populations, and local Vietnamese television networks have been translating official updates and encouraging residents to take the emergency seriously.

Covey said emergency teams constructed sandbag barriers to contain the toxic substance and prevent it from entering storm drainage systems or reaching nearby waterways and the ocean if a spill occurs.

When the chemical becomes overheated, it can produce vapors dangerous to human health, according to Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, the Orange County health officer. Exposure can trigger breathing problems, eye irritation and burning, nausea and headaches.

Emergency crews initially succeeded in neutralizing one of two compromised tanks, but Covey announced Friday morning that the remaining container was “in the biggest crisis.”

GKN Aerospace released a statement saying the company was “fully focused on working with emergency services, specialized hazardous material teams and the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of the local community, our employees and everyone else involved.”