Motorists traveling on northbound Coastal Highway should expect delays this afternoon due to ongoing mobile operations in the area.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials report that the northbound lanes of Route 1 between King Charles Avenue and Robinson Drive are experiencing traffic disruptions from the mobile operation.
The activity is expected to wrap up by 3 PM today. Drivers are advised to plan alternate routes or allow extra travel time when heading through this section of Coastal Highway.
No additional details about the nature of the mobile operation have been provided by DelDOT at this time.
A precious literary treasure that vanished almost four decades ago has finally made its way back home. The collection contained eight romantic letters penned by celebrated poet John Keats to Fanny Brawne, the woman he planned to marry.
The valuable book went missing nearly 40 years ago, leaving its rightful owner without these intimate pieces of literary history. After decades of absence, the correspondence collection emerged again last year.
This week marked the completion of the long journey back to its proper home, as the book was successfully returned to its legitimate owner. The recovery brings closure to a case that has spanned nearly four decades.
Listen to the Evening Delmarva Farm Report Update — April 23, 2026
DELMARVA — Fertilizer costs reached a 4-year high today as ongoing tensions in the Middle East continue to drive up farming expenses. David Widmar from Agricultural Economic Insights warned that prolonged conflict in Iran could push costs even higher for growers across the country.
The urea price spike has disrupted traditional fertilizer market patterns. Widmar said surging urea has created a price gap between urea and anhydrous ammonia. Usually, anhydrous has a $16 per acre advantage, but that spread has shifted significantly from historical norms. The escalating costs come at a challenging time for agricultural producers already dealing with various economic pressures.
Personnel
The Delaware Farm Bureau announced today that Noah Dixon from Felton has joined the organization as their new Agriculture Literacy Coordinator. Dixon will advance educational initiatives and advocacy efforts that benefit farming families and consumers throughout the state.
He will create educational resources, organize school and community programs, and foster relationships between agricultural producers and educational institutions statewide. Dixon previously interned with the Delaware Farm Bureau and served 2 years as a Delaware State FFA Officer.
Markets
Soybeans dropped today on profit-taking and technical selling. Corn at Laurel Grain Company is bringing $5.06 a bushel for May delivery. Soybeans at Laurel are $11.20 for May.
Forecast
Sunshine continues this afternoon with 71 degrees. Tomorrow looks mostly sunny with a high near 65 before rain chances return tomorrow night.
This article is based on the Delmarva Farm Report Update Evening Edition, April 23, 2026. Hosted by Tom Bradley.
MILWAUKEE — Sources close to the situation reveal that the Milwaukee Bucks are on the verge of completing an agreement with Taylor Jenkins to become their new head coach following Doc Rivers’ exit, according to information shared with The Associated Press on Thursday.
The source requested anonymity since the organization has not yet made an official announcement. ESPN was first to report the Bucks’ progress toward securing Jenkins for the position.
Jenkins spent six seasons leading the Memphis Grizzlies from 2019 through 2025, compiling a 250-214 coaching record that featured three consecutive postseason appearances between 2021 and 2023. Despite Memphis being playoff-bound, the organization dismissed him with nine contests remaining in the 2024-25 campaign, and the team subsequently suffered a first-round sweep by Oklahoma City, who went on to claim the championship.
The hiring would mark Jenkins’ second tenure in Milwaukee, where he previously served as an assistant under Mike Budenholzer during the 2018-19 campaign. That season saw the Bucks achieve the league’s top record at 60-22 before surrendering a 2-0 advantage in the Eastern Conference finals to Toronto, who captured the title that year.
Jenkins will inherit a Bucks franchise facing a pivotal offseason after posting a disappointing 32-50 record this past season, snapping their nine-year consecutive playoff streak.
The organization announced Rivers’ coaching departure on April 13, one day following their season’s conclusion. The 64-year-old Rivers had indicated during the campaign’s final weeks his desire to dedicate more time to his grandchildren.
Rivers concluded his Milwaukee tenure with a 97-103 record across 2½ seasons. His overall coaching career spans 1,194 victories against 866 defeats, placing him sixth among all-time NBA coaching wins.
Milwaukee’s primary offseason focus centers on the future of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has played his complete 13-year NBA career with the franchise.
The 31-year-old Antetokounmpo can enter free agency following next season unless he agrees to a four-year, $275 million extension in October. Alternatively, Milwaukee could explore trading him if they doubt his willingness to sign the extension.
When questioned about signing an extension after the team’s final game, Antetokounmpo responded: “It’s something I have to sit down with my family and see what’s best for me, what’s best for my family.”
By season’s end, tension had developed between Antetokounmpo and the organization regarding the nine-time All-NBA forward’s health situation. Antetokounmpo appeared in just 36 games this season, a career low.
Late in the season, Antetokounmpo expressed his readiness and desire to compete, while team officials kept him sidelined due to a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise. The NBA launched an investigation into the circumstances.
Jenkins previously collaborated with Antetokounmpo during his initial Milwaukee stint. He had served on Budenholzer’s coaching staff in both Atlanta and Milwaukee before Memphis recruited him in 2019, coinciding with their selection of Ja Morant as the second overall draft pick.
Under Jenkins’ leadership, Memphis advanced to the playoff’s second round in 2022 and suffered first-round eliminations in 2021 and 2023. His 250 career victories with the Grizzlies represent the franchise’s all-time record for coaching wins.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots leadership announced Thursday their backing of head coach Mike Vrabel’s choice to absent himself from Saturday’s draft activities while he pursues professional counseling, following recent publication of images showing him with veteran NFL journalist Dianna Russini at an Arizona vacation destination.
In an official statement issued before Thursday’s opening draft round, the organization declared: “The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being. Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment.”
The franchise expressed continued confidence in their draft preparation, stating: “We are confident in the leadership and communication Mike has established with our personnel staff throughout this pre-draft process. While he will not be present at the facility on Saturday, we know the draft evaluations are complete and Eliot Wolf and his personnel staff are prepared to execute our draft as planned this weekend.”
During a press briefing earlier this week, Vrabel acknowledged having “difficult conversations with people I care about,” referencing discussions with family members, coaching personnel, team leadership and players after the photographs became public through New York Post reporting.
According to the Post’s account, the images of Vrabel and Russini were captured in Sedona prior to the annual NFL meetings that commenced in Phoenix on March 29. League officials have indicated no formal investigation into Vrabel’s conduct is underway. Both Vrabel and Russini are married individuals. Russini departed her position at The Athletic last week.
Vrabel announced his intention to step away from Saturday’s draft proceedings in a Wednesday evening statement.
New England enters the draft weekend with 11 total selections available. This includes their lone first-round choice at No. 31 on Thursday night, plus single picks in both the second and third rounds scheduled for Friday.
The majority of their draft activity will occur Saturday during Vrabel’s absence, with the team holding two fourth-round selections, one fifth-round pick, four sixth-round choices and one seventh-round selection.
A rookie pitcher’s major league debut got off to the worst possible start when Washington’s James Wood launched his very first professional pitch for a home run, but JR Ritchie quickly turned things around to secure his first MLB victory.
The 22-year-old right-handed pitcher bounced back from that opening nightmare to guide the Atlanta Braves to a 7-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday, marking the team’s eighth victory in their last nine contests.
“One pitch into it I was like, ‘Oh no,’ but after that I bounced back really well,” Ritchie said. “Honestly, probably for the next year I will hate it. Then after that it will be like a funny, ‘Hey, first pitch of my big league career I gave up a nuke.’”
The 2022 draft pick, who was chosen 35th overall, settled in to pitch seven solid innings while surrendering only one additional run. His final line showed five hits allowed with seven strikeouts and two walks, as he threw strikes on 54 of his 89 total pitches. The young hurler showcased his arsenal by averaging 94.4 mph on 24 fastballs while also delivering 25 curveballs, 19 changeups, 10 sliders, seven cutters and four sinkers.
With his victory, Ritchie (1-0) made history as the first Braves pitcher since Matt Wisler in 2015 to surrender two runs or fewer while working seven-plus innings in his major league debut.
“Kids got a lot of weapons man, for right and left handed hitters,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “He’s in total control out there. That’s got to shake you up a little bit, first pitch you throw in the big leagues and it gets hit for a homer. But right back on the mound and attacking with all his stuff.”
The rookie received his promotion call from Triple-A Gwinnett manager Kanekoa Texeira at 8 p.m. Wednesday evening and didn’t arrive in the nation’s capital until approximately 2 a.m.
Wood connected on a 93.5 mph fastball thrown down the middle, while CJ Abrams added a fourth-inning home run on a changeup that missed below the strike zone.
The Nationals managed no hits following Daylen Lile’s two-out single in the fourth inning.
Before Thursday’s contest, Atlanta promoted both Ritchie and veteran right-hander Carlos Carrasco from the Triple-A Stripers while sending right-hander Didier Fuentes back to Gwinnett and placing left-hander Dylan Dodd on the 15-day injured list due to left spine inflammation, with the move backdated to Wednesday.
Ritchie had compiled a 3-1 record with an impressive 0.99 ERA across five starts at Triple-A Gwinnett to begin this season.
When questioned about whether Ritchie would receive another starting opportunity with Atlanta, manager Weiss indicated the organization would reach a decision within the next couple of days.
“The kid did a heck of a job and made a great case for himself,” Weiss said with a smile.
A Republican congressman from Georgia has filed legislation aimed at transferring Democratic-stronghold areas of Virginia back to Washington DC, following the state’s recent redistricting decision that could favor Democrats.
Rep. Rich McCormick announced Thursday his introduction of the Make DC Square Again Act, which would reverse a land transfer from the 1800s that gave southwestern portions of the nation’s capital back to Virginia in what historians call retrocession.
“The Make DC Square Again Act restores the original ten-mile-square District and ends the artificial advantage Virginia Democrats have recently gained from all the federal bureaucrats moving into Virginia,” McCormick stated.
The legislation faces slim chances of passage in a Congress struggling with basic governance issues. However, it represents another partisan maneuver as both parties jockey for control in the tightly contested House during this election cycle.
Advocates for DC statehood have condemned the proposal, arguing it demonstrates how the federal district gets treated as a “political football.”
“The residents of the district are not fully participating in the democracy of this country because we are not allowed to,” stated Alicia Yass, advocacy director at the American Civil Liberties Union of D.C. “Bills like this that mess around with the district just show how important it is for D.C. to have the full benefits and rights of a democracy.”
Some opponents of Virginia’s redistricting referendum want President Donald Trump to sign an executive order declaring the pre-Civil War transfer of Alexandria and Arlington to Virginia as unconstitutional.
“This order would be on better legal footing than many of President Joe Biden’s most egregious orders,” former Trump Justice Department chief of staff Chad R. Mizelle argued in a Fox News editorial.
The historical context involves Congress’s 1846 decision to return 31 square miles of DC territory to Virginia. This included Alexandria city and areas now housing the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery.
Both Virginia and Maryland had originally donated this territory for the federal capital, but local residents pushed for the 1847 return due to economic concerns and fears Congress might abolish slavery in the district, according to Alexandria city records. Virginia later joined the Confederacy with Richmond as its capital.
Debate over undoing this land transfer has persisted for decades. Some argue Congress lacked authority to return the territory and that local voting procedures didn’t meet congressional requirements for retrocession.
The feasibility of Congress reclaiming Virginia territory remains questionable. George Derek Musgrove, a University of Maryland Baltimore County history professor, expressed doubt about McCormick’s initiative, particularly since it stems from Virginia’s redistricting outcome potentially helping Democrats.
“It’s not even a retrocession bill. It’s really a Virginia voter suppression bill,” Musgrove observed.
The bill’s specific language was not immediately accessible.
The targeted region encompasses Alexandria city and Arlington County, both Democratic strongholds. During the 2024 presidential race, Kamala Harris captured 77% of votes in both areas, while Donald Trump received approximately 20%.
These blue voters supported Virginia’s redistricting referendum, which passed Tuesday and could help Democrats secure four additional House seats. However, returning this territory to DC would diminish that electoral benefit and require new district maps reflecting Virginia’s reduced size.
The affected region’s roughly 400,000 residents would likely forfeit complete representation in both congressional chambers.
McCormick’s bill references restoring the district’s “square” shape on maps. Other proposals exist as well.
The American Capital Project, an obscure organization supporting the territory’s return to DC, advocates for a presidential executive order invalidating the original legislation. This approach would eventually bring the matter before the Supreme Court to determine the original law’s constitutionality.
The American Capital Project’s funding sources and leadership remain unclear, as its website provides no contact details or organizational information.
Democrats have also pursued DC statehood initiatives. The Democratic-controlled House approved such legislation in 2021, though the Senate took no action. Some Senate Republicans then suggested incorporating the current district into Maryland to provide residents full congressional representation.
NEW YORK — Spirit Airlines is engaged in ongoing negotiations with federal officials regarding a potential financing agreement that could allow the low-cost carrier to successfully navigate bankruptcy proceedings without shutting down operations, according to the company’s legal representative.
During Thursday’s bankruptcy court proceedings in New York, Marshall Huebner from Davis Polk informed the court that information about the proposed agreement has been distributed to Spirit’s three main creditor groups.
The budget airline has faced financial difficulties for an extended period, having entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2024, following a previous filing in August 2005. According to Huebner, federal financing would enable the airline’s current restructuring efforts and enhance Spirit’s competitive position in the market.
Rising jet fuel prices linked to the Iran conflict have affected the entire aviation industry, prompting creditors to recently question whether Spirit can continue operating. This has raised concerns that the airline known for its distinctive yellow aircraft might be compelled to liquidate its assets and halt service.
President Donald Trump fueled speculation about potential assistance Tuesday when he suggested finding a buyer for the troubled carrier and indicated federal support might be available to maintain Spirit’s operations.
When questioned about possible government intervention, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy informed reporters that Trump had instructed the Department of Transportation to examine available alternatives.
Officials have not disclosed the financial terms or amount of the proposed aid package. However, The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg cited unnamed sources indicating the assistance could total $500 million, with the government potentially retaining rights to obtain a significant ownership stake in the Florida-based airline.
The White House Wednesday attempted to attribute Spirit’s financial troubles to the previous Biden administration, which filed a lawsuit in 2023 to prevent JetBlue Airways from acquiring Spirit for $3.8 million. More than a year before Trump assumed office, a federal judge in Dallas rejected the proposed Spirit-JetBlue combination, determining it would increase ticket prices for travelers.
However, various legislators and even Duffy have expressed reservations about government intervention to preserve Spirit. During a CBS interview broadcast Tuesday evening, the transportation secretary raised concerns about establishing a broader precedent.
“Then who else comes to my door?” Duffy said, referring to other airlines potentially requesting government aid. “The question will be, can we do anything to save Spirit and make it viable, or would we be putting good money into a company that inevitably is going to be liquidated?”
Multiple lawmakers from both parties have opposed a potential bailout. Texas Senator Ted Cruz posted on X Wednesday that such an agreement would be a “terrible idea.”
“If Spirit’s creditors or other potential investors don’t think they can run it profitably coming out of its second bankruptcy in under two years, I doubt the US Government can either,” Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton posted. “Not the best use of taxpayer dollars.”
Conversely, the union representing Spirit’s pilots has expressed “strong support” for a rescue package.
“Spirit is the reason so many Americans can afford to visit family, travel for work, or take a vacation,” said Capt. Ryan P. Muller, chair of the Spirit Airlines ALPA Master Executive Council. “When Spirit enters a market, fares go down.”
The airline’s modern aircraft fleet has attracted potential buyers, though previous acquisition efforts by competitors including JetBlue and Frontier have failed both before and during Spirit’s initial bankruptcy proceedings.
Financial markets took a sharp downturn Thursday as deteriorating diplomatic relations between the United States and Iran sent shockwaves through Wall Street, with technology stocks bearing the brunt of investor concerns.
The Nasdaq composite suffered its steepest decline in a month, dropping 0.9% as previously optimistic sentiment surrounding corporate earnings reports quickly evaporated. Meanwhile, crude oil prices climbed 4% for the fourth consecutive trading session, reflecting growing anxiety about potential supply disruptions.
Market analyst Jamie McGeever, writing from Orlando, Florida, examined the surprising durability of American stock markets despite mounting global uncertainties. In his analysis, McGeever questioned whether the greatest investment danger might actually stem from staying on the sidelines rather than traditional concerns like military conflicts, rising prices, or trade disputes.
The day’s trading revealed a mixed picture across different market segments. Six of the eleven major S&P 500 sectors declined while five posted gains. Technology companies fell 1.5%, contrasting sharply with utility stocks that climbed 2.8%.
Individual company performances varied dramatically. Texas Instruments surged 19% while ServiceNow plummeted 18%. IBM dropped 8% and Tesla declined 3.6%. After regular trading hours, Intel jumped 16% and AMD gained 5%.
Currency markets showed the dollar strengthening for three straight days. The Indian rupee headed toward its worst weekly performance since 2022, while Brazil’s real fell 1% – its largest single-day drop in a month – sliding back below 5.00 per dollar.
Bond markets reflected the uncertainty as U.S. Treasury prices fell and yields increased by 4 basis points on shorter-term securities. The yield curve flattened for the fourth consecutive day, though a five-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities auction proceeded without complications.
Asian markets mostly declined, with South Korea’s KOSPI being a notable exception by reaching new highs. European markets showed mixed results.
The private investment sector faced scrutiny following reports that Thoma Bravo, a private equity firm, is close to transferring software company Medallia to its creditors. This move would create a $5.1 billion equity loss for Thoma Bravo and its investment partners.
The situation particularly affected private credit giants Blackstone, KKR, and Apollo – Medallia’s primary lenders – whose shares all underperformed Thursday. Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman defended the private credit industry, but his company’s stock still fell 5.7% in its worst single-day performance in two months.
Anticipation is building for what could become the largest series of initial public offerings in market history. SpaceX is expected to go public in June, followed by OpenAI and Anthropic. These three companies, despite reportedly operating at losses, could collectively represent $3 trillion in market value according to LPL Financial projections.
The resilience of equity markets during ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts has surprised many observers. Traditional safe-haven investments including Treasury bonds, gold, and the Japanese yen have all declined since hostilities began. Bitcoin has gained 18%, though it had fallen 50% in the five months before the conflict started.
Looking ahead, market participants will monitor Middle Eastern developments, energy sector movements, and various economic indicators including Japanese inflation data, UK retail sales figures, German business sentiment measures, and U.S. consumer expectations surveys. Corporate earnings reports from major companies like Procter & Gamble will also influence trading.
WASHINGTON – By late summer, Kurt Olsen’s frustration had reached a breaking point.
President Donald Trump had brought Olsen aboard months before to hunt for proof of foreign meddling in American elections and to reexamine Trump’s 2020 defeat. The former Navy SEAL and attorney, known for disputing election results, was determined to validate the unfounded theory that voting machines from Dominion Voting Systems contained harmful software controlled by Venezuela, according to three individuals with knowledge of the situation.
However, a classified federal examination of Puerto Rico’s Dominion equipment revealed no signs of tampering after officials confiscated the machines in May and had a cybersecurity firm analyze them for several months.
When presented with these findings, Olsen lashed out at the contractor, Virginia-based Mojave Research Inc., in a September communication to Trump, the three sources revealed. In his anger, Olsen claimed the company was obstructing his efforts, working for the “deep state,” and secretly receiving funds from billionaire George Soros, a Democratic supporter frequently targeted by conservatives.
Mojave had been hired by Trump’s director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, to examine potential weaknesses in the machines Puerto Rico utilized during its 2024 gubernatorial race.
Olsen’s effort to undermine Mojave’s credibility has not been previously disclosed. Five individuals familiar with Olsen’s investigation told Reuters that when no evidence emerged from the Puerto Rico machines, the administration broadened its scope to Georgia, where FBI agents confiscated 2020 election ballots, and Arizona, where the FBI has requested voter documentation through subpoenas.
This reporting reveals the extensive authority Trump has given Olsen to utilize federal funds and personnel to pursue debunked election conspiracy theories – even after numerous court decisions rejected similar claims made by Trump supporters following the 2020 election.
Olsen’s investigation has employed personnel and resources from Gabbard’s ODNI, the Justice Department, and the FBI, four sources confirmed. At Trump’s direction, the CIA provided Olsen with “intelligence related to the 2020 election,” a CIA representative told Reuters. The official refused to elaborate on the intelligence specifics.
This investigation occurs as the Trump administration attempts to obtain state voter databases and impose requirements for voter registration and voting systems – powers the U.S. Constitution primarily assigns to states to prevent excessive federal control.
With Trump’s approval ratings declining due to increasing costs and the Iran conflict, Republicans are anticipated to face setbacks in November’s congressional midterm elections. This situation raises alarm among Democrats and election security specialists that the administration is preparing to contest the election’s validity.
White House representative Davis Ingle dismissed the Reuters coverage as “misinformation” from “a few disgruntled leakers,” stating it didn’t accurately represent the government’s efforts to ensure “critical infrastructure across all risk sectors remains secure.” He didn’t address questions about other administration actions to protect future U.S. elections. Olsen didn’t respond to interview requests.
Trump gave serious consideration to Olsen’s allegations about Mojave serving deep-state interests, two sources indicated.
In reaction, the company revealed its financial records to demonstrate it received no Soros funding, according to a September 8 company document to Gabbard reviewed by Reuters.
The document described Olsen’s Soros theory as “patently absurd and ridiculous.”
Olsen recommended ending the company’s contract, which occurred in October. Around the same period, Trump named Olsen as Director of Election Security and Integrity. He operates from the White House and answers directly to the president, two sources confirmed.
DNI representatives stated Mojave’s agreement concluded only because it had finished analyzing voting machines and that Gabbard would continue election security efforts.
“We believe, strongly, that this work has been shelved for reasons that have nothing to do with the mission of ensuring every American can trust our election outcomes,” Mojave responded to inquiries, without providing additional details.
Soros’ Open Society Foundations stated to Reuters that neither he nor the organization had ever collaborated with or hired Mojave Research and had never encountered the company.
MILLER ADVOCATED FOR FBI PARTICIPATION
Trump’s Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller shared Olsen’s disappointment with Mojave’s inability to demonstrate vote tampering in Puerto Rico, two sources reported, revealing previously undisclosed information.
They described an October 3 White House gathering where the Mojave team and Gabbard informed Miller, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt about their technical examination of Puerto Rico machines.
Miller, the sources indicated, advocated for expanding the investigation and including the FBI.
In January, federal agents confiscated ballots in Georgia’s Fulton County during a raid Gabbard attended, which FBI search documents show stemmed from an Olsen referral. In March, the FBI acquired Arizona election documentation through subpoena related to a 2021 Republican-commissioned audit of Maricopa County that verified Trump’s defeat.
Mojave began collaborating with Olsen last spring. Mojave CEO Jason Wareham stated Olsen became obsessed with claims like vote manipulation in Arizona but never provided supporting evidence. “I lost count the number of times Olsen said ‘Maricopa is a crime scene,’” Wareham wrote in the company’s statement to ODNI responding to accusations it was a Soros operation.
Eventually, what Wareham characterized as Olsen’s “cacophony” of speculation and conjecture caused Mojave to cease working with him, he noted in the statement.
Olsen launched his investigation focusing on a thoroughly discredited conspiracy theory – that software from Smartmatic USA Corp, a Florida company established by Venezuelans, has enabled foreign control of machines from Dominion Voting Systems, a separate Canadian-founded company. Dominion equipment was deployed in 27 states in 2024.
The theory stems from Dominion’s 2010 purchase of assets formerly owned by Smartmatic. Despite this transaction, Dominion and Smartmatic functioned as two separate entities. Dominion was acquired last year by Liberty Vote.
Neither Liberty Vote nor Smartmatic provided responses to comment requests.
Despite all his work, Olsen has produced no concrete evidence that Dominion machines were ever compromised, three sources confirmed. Reuters couldn’t determine whether Olsen has since expanded his investigation’s scope.
KNOWN VULNERABILITIES, NOT BREACHES
Mojave, the cybersecurity firm, identified software weaknesses in Puerto Rico’s Dominion machines but found no indication they had been exploited.
Recognizing these vulnerabilities could impact machines throughout the U.S., Mojave suggested a comprehensive plan to address them. The company recommended analyzing additional machines, creating a task force to guide states on software updates, providing financial assistance for implementation, and imposing penalties on non-compliant states. One source believed states would need to start implementing these recommendations in May to finish before November’s midterm elections.
Another source said Mojave discovered problems similar to those identified in a 2021 study by Alex Halderman, a University of Michigan computer science professor, and a 2022 warning from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). These flaws affected a specific Dominion touchscreen voting model called ImageCast X used in Georgia and three other states in 2020.
Like Mojave, neither Halderman nor CISA discovered evidence that Dominion systems had ever been compromised.
Dominion created fixes for the vulnerabilities CISA identified in 2022. States are responsible for implementing changes to their voting systems. Reuters couldn’t confirm which states had installed the patches.
The three sources said they weren’t aware of any administration efforts to address potential problems Mojave found in Puerto Rico. “The administration has ignored real evidence of severe vulnerabilities,” one source stated. The White House didn’t respond to questions about plans to address report findings. Puerto Rico’s election board didn’t respond to comment requests.
In 2023, Fox News agreed to pay Dominion $787.5 million to resolve a defamation lawsuit regarding false vote-rigging allegations involving Smartmatic. In 2024, conservative media company Newsmax agreed to pay $40 million to settle a defamation case filed by Smartmatic, admitting that its claims about the company manipulating the 2020 election were “untrue.”
Professor Halderman told Reuters the concept of Smartmatic software in Dominion machines is “technically incoherent,” since the two companies’ products use different platforms and programming languages.
TAMPA HOTEL GATHERING
Nevertheless, Olsen maintained his theory. On June 19, he met with at least three former Smartmatic employees at a Tampa hotel to discuss it, according to three sources familiar with the meeting.
Also attending this previously unreported session, two sources said, were an FBI agent assigned to ODNI, a computer engineer from Olsen’s team, and Andrew “Mac” Warner, an attorney and political DOJ appointee who has alleged CIA interference in the 2020 election. The DOJ didn’t respond to questions about Warner’s participation.
The former Smartmatic workers provided no proof that Dominion machines were compromised in any election, sources said. Instead, they presented a computer demonstration claiming to show how foreign actors could exploit Dominion equipment using a previously classified hacking tool called “Eternal Blue” developed by the U.S. National Security Agency, two sources reported.
This meeting occurred shortly after ODNI’s May seizure of Dominion machines in Puerto Rico, first reported by Reuters.
In briefings between June and October, Olsen pressured Mojave to search more intensively for suspicious software in the Puerto Rico machines, one source said. When Mojave found no trace of such code, the person said, Olsen repeatedly told the team it was “clearly doing it wrong.”
The world’s top gold mining corporation exceeded Wall Street’s earnings projections for the first three months of the year on Thursday, driven by historically high gold valuations that compensated for decreased mining output. However, Newmont cautioned investors about anticipated production declines and rising operational expenses in the upcoming quarter.
The mining giant projects that approximately 23% of its total attributable output will be delivered during the second quarter of 2026, marking a slight decrease from first-quarter performance levels.
Operating costs per unit are anticipated to climb significantly compared to the previous quarter, driven by increased sustaining capital expenditures, reduced silver production, and higher costs applicable to sales from the Boddington, Tanami, Lihir and Penasquito operations.
Additional cost pressures may emerge from rising oil prices and the full quarterly impact of increased royalty payments in Ghana, according to company officials.
Gold valuations reached unprecedented peaks during the first quarter, fueled by safe-haven investment demand and expectations of interest rate reductions, before moderating after the U.S.-Israel tensions with Iran triggered crude oil-driven inflation concerns. Despite the pullback, prices remained substantially higher than year-ago levels.
The company’s average realized gold price for the quarter reached $4,900 per ounce, a significant increase from $2,944 per ounce during the same period last year.
“Supported by our enhanced capital allocation framework, we have doubled the size of our share repurchase program with an additional $6 billion authorization, following the full execution of our previous program,” CEO Natascha Viljoen said.
Company stock climbed 1.8% in after-hours trading following the announcement.
Newmont’s gold production for the quarter totaled 1.30 million ounces, down from 1.54 million ounces produced in the previous year.
The production decrease resulted from reduced output at Boddington due to bushfire impacts, lower ore grades at Tanami during planned mining sequences and heavy rainfall conditions, plus decreased grades and scheduled maintenance activities at Lihir and Cerro Negro facilities.
The company reported adjusted earnings of $2.90 per share for the quarter ending March 31, significantly exceeding analysts’ consensus estimate of $2.18 per share, based on LSEG data compilation.
Odessa High School’s FFA and Agriscience Team has secured the Delaware Envirothon Championship title for the second consecutive year, marking another victory in the state’s premier environmental education competition.
The championship took place at Sussex Academy, where teams from across Delaware competed in this year’s event. The 2026 competition represents a significant milestone, marking three decades of the Envirothon program in Delaware.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control sponsors this educational competition, which welcomes participation from high school students throughout the state. The program challenges students to demonstrate their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management.
This back-to-back championship demonstrates the continued excellence of Odessa High School’s environmental science program and their students’ dedication to understanding natural resource conservation.
The University of Delaware Blue Hens baseball squad is preparing to hit the road for a significant Conference USA series against Liberty University.
The team will make the journey to Virginia to take on the Liberty Flames in what represents an important conference matchup for both programs.
This series comes as the Blue Hens continue their Conference USA campaign, with each game carrying weight in the overall conference standings and postseason positioning.
The matchup against Liberty provides Delaware with another opportunity to showcase their skills against conference competition as they work toward their season goals.
Drivers traveling on Irish Hill Road should plan for delays today as construction work has forced the closure of one southbound lane at the Canterbury Road intersection.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that the southbound lane restriction on Irish Hill Road (Route 31) at Canterbury Road will remain in place until 5 PM today due to ongoing construction activities.
Motorists are advised to use alternate routes or allow extra travel time when passing through the area during the closure period.
Delaware Department of Transportation crews are conducting construction work that has forced the closure of one westbound lane on Upper Pike Creek Road at New Linden Hill Road.
The right lane heading west is currently blocked to traffic as workers complete their project. DelDOT officials say the lane restriction will stay in place until 4:30 PM this afternoon.
Motorists traveling through the area should expect delays and consider alternate routes if possible. Drivers are advised to use caution when approaching the work zone and merge safely into the open lane.
Drivers should expect delays on Doncaster Road this afternoon as construction crews continue work that requires periodic lane restrictions.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that the roadway between East Edinburgh Drive and Freeport Road will experience intermittent lane closures through 6 PM today due to ongoing construction activities.
Motorists are advised to plan alternate routes or allow extra travel time when navigating through the affected area during the closure period.
Supporters of Wyoming’s abortion laws currently being challenged in court believe these measures could help address the state’s population decline. However, critics argue that restricting reproductive rights won’t solve the fundamental problem of young residents departing due to limited economic prospects.
The debate highlights a broader discussion about what factors truly influence population growth and retention in rural states facing demographic challenges.
Facebook’s parent company Meta announced Thursday it will eliminate approximately 8,000 positions, representing roughly 10% of its total staff, as the social media giant continues investing heavily in artificial intelligence technology and recruiting high-priced AI specialists.
The workforce reduction aims to boost operational efficiency and free up resources for new business investments, according to company officials. Bloomberg first broke the story, also reporting that Meta plans to keep approximately 6,000 current job openings vacant.
In a separate development Thursday, Microsoft announced plans to offer voluntary departure packages to thousands of its American employees.
The Redmond, Washington-based technology company will extend these offers in early May to roughly 8,750 workers, representing 7% of its domestic workforce, according to two sources with knowledge of the initiative who requested anonymity.
Unlike the immediate job cuts implemented by technology companies such as Meta and Oracle, Microsoft’s approach provides an alternative through voluntary departures. However, the cost-cutting measures likely stem from similar industry pressures requiring massive investments in artificial intelligence capabilities. Meta has already cautioned shareholders that its 2026 operating expenses will increase substantially to between $162 billion and $169 billion, primarily due to infrastructure investments and compensation packages for AI specialists commanding exceptionally high salaries.
Wedbush financial analyst Dan Ives praised Meta’s workforce reduction in a Thursday investor briefing.
Ives described the move as part of a broader approach utilizing AI technology to “automate tasks that once required large teams, allowing the company to streamline operations and reduce costs while maintaining productivity driving an increased need for a leaner operating structure.”
Microsoft has invested billions operating an expanding worldwide network of data facilities that support cloud computing platforms, artificial intelligence systems, and its productivity software suite, including the AI-powered Copilot assistant.
CNBC earlier Thursday obtained a company memo from Microsoft’s chief people officer Amy Coleman announcing the voluntary retirement initiative.
“Our hope is that this program gives those eligible the choice to take that next step on their own terms, with generous company support,” Coleman stated in the memo, according to CNBC’s reporting.
RHODE ISLAND COAST (TV Delmarva) — Towering wind turbines reaching three times the height of the Statue of Liberty were actively generating clean energy off Rhode Island’s shoreline Thursday, delivering power to the regional electrical grid.
Multiple wind energy developments continue advancing along the Atlantic seaboard despite President Donald Trump’s campaign to eliminate America’s offshore wind sector. Trump frequently expresses his disdain for wind energy and describes the turbines as unsightly.
Associated Press reporters journeyed approximately 100 miles offshore and observed three out of five regional wind installations. Two facilities are operating at full capacity, two are nearing completion, and one remains roughly half-finished.
Initial turbines from the Revolution Wind development were easily spotted from about 5 nautical miles away, with visibility extending further on clear days. The massive structures formed orderly rows across the horizon, with several rotating in gentle breezes.
The turbines’ immense scale became apparent from even a mile’s distance.
Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind represent offshore energy developments designed to supply electricity to approximately 1 million residences throughout Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York.
The journey to Revolution Wind’s location required roughly 90 minutes, traveling more than 15 miles south of Rhode Island’s shoreline.
Several turbine blades began rotating as morning winds strengthened. Personnel were working within the wind farm’s central hub, a substantial gray substation facility.
Revolution Wind has reached over 90% completion. The project recently started supplying electricity to New England’s power network and remains scheduled for completion this year.
At the adjacent Sunrise Wind site, construction has achieved nearly 50% completion. The area features a combination of installed turbines and vacant yellow foundations awaiting their towers and blades. A vessel equipped with massive cranes for installing offshore wind components was positioned nearby.
One spinning turbine’s tip seemed to reach the cloud line.
South Fork Wind, America’s inaugural large-scale offshore wind facility, sits adjacent to the Revolution Wind location.
Currently in its second year of commercial operation, its dozen turbines generate sufficient electricity for more than 70,000 New York homes.
A vessel serving as a mobile headquarters for wind farm technicians was positioned beside one turbine Thursday. The workers had crossed the ship’s gangway onto the turbine and were stationed at its foundation.
When South Fork launched in 2024, Biden administration representatives described it as merely the start — significant new wind installations would appear along American coastlines to address climate change, generate employment and speed the country’s clean energy transition.
Under a year later, Trump resumed the presidency and directed a temporary suspension of leasing and permitting for wind energy developments. His administration has halted work on wind farms currently under construction, negotiated a $1 billion payment to a French energy corporation to abandon U.S. offshore wind development and implemented additional review requirements for wind and solar projects. Federal courts have overturned several of his directives blocking wind energy advancement, including a Tuesday decision preventing the administration from enforcing some policies that slow clean energy development.
While wind energy faces restrictions, American electricity demand is surging dramatically with few alternatives available in space-limited coastal states for major new energy projects in coming years, which increases utility costs, according to Hillary Bright, executive director of offshore wind advocacy organization Turn Forward.
“These energy policies are really hitting people at home, in their pocketbooks,” she said. “Offshore wind ultimately can be a part of that solution.”
The nearest installation to shore is the Block Island Wind Farm, located in state waters near Block Island, Rhode Island.
These five turbines started operating in 2016, establishing this as America’s first offshore wind facility. Its turbines are shorter than those at later projects, but still appear massive at close range. They substituted for polluting diesel generators that previously powered Block Island.
Vineyard Wind completed construction in March, becoming the first wind farm to reach this milestone during Trump’s current presidency.
The facility is anticipated to achieve full operation in upcoming months, powering over 400,000 Massachusetts homes and businesses.
Two additional major U.S. offshore wind farms remain under construction: Empire Wind, a New York offshore wind development, and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, a Virginia offshore wind project.
“This is a major commercial industry in the United States of America,” Jason Grumet, CEO of the American Clean Power Association, said in an interview. “Whether the president is enthusiastic about it or not, we have massive energy projects that are either bringing power to the grid or near completion.”
A Michigan-based snack company has issued an urgent recall for one of its trail mix products after discovering it contains allergens not listed on the packaging.
Ferris Coffee & Nut Co., located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, announced the voluntary recall of a specific production batch of Frederik’s by Meijer Vanilla Bourbon Trail Mix sold in 9-ounce containers. The company discovered the product contains wheat and soy ingredients that were not disclosed on the product label.
Health officials warn that individuals with allergies or severe reactions to wheat or soy face the possibility of dangerous or potentially fatal allergic responses if they consume this product.
Consumers who purchased this trail mix are advised to check their packages and avoid eating the product if they have sensitivities to the undeclared ingredients. Those with questions about the recall can contact the company directly.
ATLANTA — Three faculty members at Emory University in Atlanta have launched legal action against their employer following their detention during a campus demonstration last year related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The professors contend the institution violated its own policies on free expression when it summoned law enforcement officers to forcibly end the gathering, leading to 28 people being taken into custody.
Philosophy Professor Noelle McAfee, one of the three plaintiffs, stated: “The judicial system would find that Emory failed to protect its students, to protect its staff, to protect the educational mission of the university. So this isn’t just about people’s individual rights. It’s our educational mission to train people in free and critical inquiry, to be able to learn how to engage with others, to be fearless.”
University spokesperson Laura Diamond responded that Emory considers the legal challenge to be unfounded. “Emory acts appropriately and responsibly to keep our community safe from threats of harm,” Diamond stated. “We regret this issue is being litigated but we have confidence in the legal process.”
This case represents one instance of how last year’s nationwide campus demonstrations continue to create ongoing legal battles at prestigious universities. While numerous lawsuits have emerged from students and faculty claiming discrimination related to the protests, the Emory case stands out because McAfee, along with English and indigenous studies Professor Emilio Del Valle-Escalante and economics Professor Caroline Fohlin, all maintain their tenured positions and faced no criminal convictions.
The civil action filed in DeKalb County State Court seeks reimbursement for legal expenses the three professors incurred defending against misdemeanor charges that were ultimately dropped, plus additional monetary damages. McAfee explained she is taking legal action against her employer “to try to get them to be accountable and to change.”
The three faculty members maintain they were merely observing on April 25, 2024, when students and others established tents on the university’s central quadrangle to demonstrate against the war. They argue Emory violated its own guidelines by bringing in Atlanta police officers and Georgia state troopers without exploring other options first.
McAfee faced disorderly conduct charges after she reportedly shouted “Stop!” at an officer who was roughly detaining a demonstrator. Del Valle-Escalante says he was attempting to assist an elderly woman when he was detained and charged with disorderly conduct. Fohlin reported that when she objected to officers restraining a protester on the ground, she was forcibly thrown face-down and arrested, resulting in a concussion and spinal injury. Fohlin was charged with misdemeanor battery against an officer.
On that day, Emory maintained that those detained were outsiders who had unlawfully entered university grounds. However, 20 of the 28 arrested individuals had connections to the university. The professors say following their arrests, they became targets of threats and harassment, reflecting broader criticism from conservatives who accused universities of failing to shield Jewish students from antisemitism while permitting disorder.
Across the country, advocates describe a “Palestine exception” where universities are prepared to restrict pro-Palestinian speech and demonstrations. Palestine Legal, an organization providing legal support for such expression, reported Tuesday that it received 300% more requests for legal assistance in 2025 compared to its typical annual volume before 2023, primarily from college students and faculty.
Following her arrest, McAfee continued serving as president of the Emory University Senate, a body that develops policy recommendations and had participated in creating the university’s open expression guidelines. She said she questioned then-President Gregory Fenves in fall 2024 about why Emory police weren’t dismissing charges against her and the others. According to McAfee, Fenves responded that he wanted “to see justice.” The open expression policy was subsequently updated after 2024 to explicitly ban tents, camping, building occupations, and demonstrations occurring between midnight and 7 a.m.
Regardless of policy changes, McAfee believes students now fear protesting at Emory, saying the university has abandoned what Atlanta Civil Rights leader John Lewis termed “good trouble.” “Students know right now that any trouble is not going to be good trouble at Emory, that they could get arrested,” she said. “So students are afraid.”
UNITED NATIONS — Cuba’s top diplomat at the United Nations declared Thursday that his nation refuses to bow to American pressure regarding the release of political detainees, while warning that Cuban leadership is readying itself for potential U.S. military intervention threatened by President Donald Trump.
Speaking with The Associated Press, Cuban UN Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán emphasized that matters involving imprisoned dissidents “are not on the negotiating table.” The freedom of political detainees had emerged as a central American requirement during recent diplomatic discussions held in Cuba — the first such meetings between the two nations in ten years.
“We have our legal system, like here in the U.S., they have their legal system,” he stated. “So we have to respect both of our internal affairs.”
A U.S. diplomatic team conducted confidential discussions in Havana beginning April 10, attempting to pressure Cuba into implementing significant economic and governmental reforms or face ongoing economic sanctions and possible American military escalation. While neither nation has revealed the participants’ identities, Guzmán disclosed the American side included undersecretary of state-level officials, while Cuba sent deputy foreign minister-level representatives.
Relations between Washington and Havana have deteriorated significantly in recent months, particularly due to American energy sanctions that have worsened Cuba’s existing economic difficulties and other challenges facing the Caribbean island.
Trump has warned of imposing tariffs on nations that provide petroleum to Cuba and suggested America might have “the honor of taking Cuba” after potential military actions in Venezuela and Iran. The State Department has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding Guzmán’s statements.
The energy restrictions, combined with the island’s critical water and electricity shortages, have intensified poverty and food insecurity throughout Cuba as extended power outages continue.
In late March, a Russian vessel delivered 730,000 barrels of fuel — Cuba’s first such shipment in three months. According to Guzmán, this delivery satisfied only a small portion of the country’s operational energy requirements.
Additional American concerns raised during this month’s meetings focused on foreign nations’ influence over the island, according to previous AP reporting. U.S. officials also presented proposals for compensating hundreds of thousands of legal claims filed by Cuban Americans whose properties, enterprises, and land were confiscated following Fidel Castro’s rise to power in 1959.
Guzmán acknowledged that such compensation discussions occurred during the meetings and that Havana shows willingness to consider them. However, he emphasized this could only proceed alongside corresponding economic relief from the longstanding U.S. trade embargo against Cuba.
“There is not only this claim but also the claim from our side because the embargo has an economic impact,” he explained. “This is a highway with two directions.”
When questioned about Cuban officials’ confidence in diplomatic solutions given American threats, Guzmán expressed cautious optimism about establishing a “new approach” to bilateral relations, while noting that the Trump administration’s recent foreign policy actions have heightened their vigilance.
“We have been seeing what is happening all around the world, in our region, in the Middle East, so we are not a naive person,” he said. “We are preparing for all the scenarios. And I insist, our first option — what we really want — is a successful dialogue with the U.S. government.”
However, he added that should American military aggression occur, “we are ready to fight back.”
Facebook’s parent company Meta announced Thursday it will eliminate approximately 8,000 positions, representing roughly 10% of its total staff, as the social media giant continues investing heavily in artificial intelligence technology and recruiting high-paid AI specialists.
According to Bloomberg’s initial reporting, the company cited efficiency improvements and strategic reinvestment as reasons for the workforce reduction. Meta also plans to keep approximately 6,000 current job openings vacant.
In a separate development Thursday, Microsoft revealed plans to offer voluntary retirement packages to thousands of its American workers.
The Redmond, Washington-based technology company will extend these voluntary departure offers in early May to approximately 8,750 employees, representing 7% of its domestic workforce, according to two sources with knowledge of the initiative who requested anonymity.
Unlike the immediate job cuts implemented by technology companies including Meta and Oracle, Microsoft’s approach provides an alternative through voluntary departures. However, the cost-saving measures appear connected to similar industry-wide changes requiring substantial artificial intelligence investments. Meta has already informed investors that its 2026 operating expenses will increase substantially to between $162 billion and $169 billion, primarily due to infrastructure development and compensation for artificial intelligence specialists commanding exceptionally high salaries.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives expressed support for Meta’s workforce reduction in a Thursday investor note.
Ives characterized the move as part of a broader approach utilizing AI technology to “automate tasks that once required large teams, allowing the company to streamline operations and reduce costs while maintaining productivity driving an increased need for a leaner operating structure.”
Microsoft has invested billions operating an expanding worldwide network of data centers that support cloud computing services, artificial intelligence systems, and its productivity software suite, including the AI-powered Copilot assistant.
CNBC previously reported on an internal memorandum from Microsoft’s chief people officer, Amy Coleman, announcing the voluntary departure program.
“Our hope is that this program gives those eligible the choice to take that next step on their own terms, with generous company support,” Coleman stated in the memo, according to CNBC’s reporting.
BATON ROUGE, La. — A violent confrontation between rival groups erupted into gunfire Thursday at a Louisiana shopping center, leaving 10 people wounded and sending shoppers scrambling for safety.
The shooting occurred when two groups began arguing in the food court area of the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge before pulling out weapons and firing at each other, according to Police Chief TJ Morse.
“Unfortunately there were some innocent people in the area who might have also caught some rounds,” he said.
The gunmen escaped before law enforcement could respond to the scene, leaving no suspects in custody. Mayor Sid Edwards issued a stern warning to those responsible.
“To the thugs that did this, we’re going to catch you,” Edwards said.
All 10 victims were transported to area medical facilities with varying degrees of injuries, with at least two requiring surgical procedures, Morse confirmed. The police chief is asking anyone who witnessed the violence to share any video footage they may have captured.
Despite the ongoing manhunt, Morse attempted to reassure the community about public safety.
“Right now there is no known threat to the public,” he said. “Right here is the safest place in Baton Rouge.”
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry acknowledged the incident and urged residents to stay away from the mall area.
WBRZ-TV staff member Nikki Lee described arriving at the shopping center shortly after the violence unfolded.
“I drove up and walked in right after the shooting,” Lee told the TV station. “There was already a helicopter and already lots of police officers going through the parking lots.”
She was among numerous shoppers who were moved to a secure location during the police investigation.
This marks Louisiana’s second major gun violence incident this week. On Sunday morning in Shreveport, a man killed eight children, including seven of his own, during a domestic attack that spanned two residences. The shooter’s wife and another woman sustained life-threatening injuries in that incident.
The University of Delaware Blue Hens men’s lacrosse squad is set to conclude their regular season campaign with a road game against Saint Joseph’s University.
This final matchup of the regular season represents the culmination of the Blue Hens’ preparation heading into potential postseason tournament play. The team will travel to face the Hawks as they look to finish their regular season schedule on a strong note.
The conclusion of regular season play marks an important milestone for the Delaware program as they prepare for what could be postseason competition ahead.
Intel Corporation delivered promising news to investors Thursday, projecting second-quarter earnings that significantly exceed analyst predictions, driven by surging demand for the company’s server processors in AI-powered data centers.
The tech giant’s stock price climbed approximately 12% during after-hours trading following the announcement.
Intel anticipates generating between $13.8 billion and $14.8 billion in revenue for the upcoming quarter, surpassing the $13.07 billion forecast compiled by LSEG analysts.
Following several years of strategic missteps that left the once-dominant semiconductor manufacturer struggling to compete in the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence market, CEO Lip-Bu Tan implemented a comprehensive turnaround strategy. This plan focuses on strengthening Intel’s financial position through asset divestments and workforce reductions.
Tan has also negotiated substantial investments and partnerships with major players including the federal government, SoftBank, and Nvidia, providing Intel with essential resources for its manufacturing operations while boosting investor confidence in the company’s future prospects.
Although Intel initially missed opportunities during AI’s early growth phase, the company now sees potential in advanced central processing units as cloud service providers transition from developing AI models to implementing them in real-world applications.
“The CPU (is) having a renaissance here,” Chief Financial Officer Dave Zinsner told Reuters during an interview. “We’re starting to be a meaningful beneficiary of the AI investments that are happening.”
While graphics processing units handle the complex mathematical calculations needed for content generation, central processing units are more effective for tasks performed by autonomous AI systems with advanced reasoning abilities.
Intel’s success in meeting market demand will ultimately depend on the company’s capacity to produce processors efficiently without encountering manufacturing delays or supply chain disruptions.
The semiconductor company achieved a significant victory Wednesday when it secured Tesla, owned by Elon Musk, as the first major client for its cutting-edge 14A manufacturing process. This partnership involves producing chips for Musk’s Terafab initiative, a sophisticated AI chip facility planned for Austin, Texas.
Earlier this month, Intel strengthened its AI processor collaboration with Google’s parent company Alphabet and became part of Musk’s Terafab project alongside SpaceX and Tesla to manufacture processors for robotics and data center applications.
The company’s data center and AI division generated $5.1 billion in revenue, outperforming projections of $4.41 billion.
Intel’s share price has surged more than 80% year-to-date and nearly 48% in April alone, as investors show renewed confidence in central processing units—the type of chip Intel has specialized in for decades.
However, competition remains intense in the CPU market, with rivals including Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices, and Arm developing competing products to capture market share.
Intel reported a first-quarter loss of 73 cents per share due to over $4 billion in restructuring expenses. When adjusted for these charges, the company earned 29 cents per share, beating the anticipated 1 cent estimate.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has selected a business executive with extensive government contracting experience to lead the Transportation Security Administration, according to sources who spoke with Reuters on Thursday.
The president intends to nominate David Cummins for the position. Cummins currently serves as a senior vice president at Serco North America, where he manages the company’s portfolio of federal, state, and local civilian government clients. His nomination follows Trump’s recent proposal to privatize significant portions of TSA operations while eliminating close to 10,000 positions.
The TSA leadership position has remained vacant for over 15 months since Trump dismissed David Pekoske, the former administrator, during his first day back in the White House in 2025.
Colombia’s government-owned petroleum company Ecopetrol announced Thursday it has reached an agreement to purchase approximately 26% of Brazilian energy company Brava, with plans to potentially secure majority ownership of the firm.
According to separate regulatory filings from both companies, the Colombian state enterprise intends to initiate a public tender offer aimed at acquiring sufficient shares to gain control of the Brazilian energy company.
The proposed offer on Brazil’s B3 stock exchange would value Brava shares at 23 reais ($4.60) per share, according to Ecopetrol’s announcement. This pricing represents a premium of 27.8% above Brava’s average share price over the past 90 days based on trading volume.
Brazilian antitrust authorities at CADE must give their approval before the transaction can be finalized.
Following the announcement on Thursday, Brava’s stock price declined by 1%, erasing some of the gains the company had seen earlier in the trading session.
MILTON, DE — Young readers and their families will gather for a day of literary fun when Sussex County Libraries presents their fourth annual Children’s Book Festival on Saturday, May 2.
The free celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Milton Public Library, located at 121 Union Street in Milton. Festival-goers will receive complimentary guide books and tote bags when they arrive, available while supplies remain.
Seventeen writers specializing in children’s literature will attend the event, featuring board books, picture books, and chapter books. Notable guests include Nancy Viau, Kathy MacMillan, Jonathan Roth, and Delaware-born author and illustrator Jay Cooper. The festivities extend into nearby Milton Park, where families can enjoy face painting and visit a petting zoo courtesy of The Little Farm. Pony rides will be available for a modest charge, and food trucks will offer refreshments for purchase. Browseabout Books will set up on-site, giving families the opportunity to buy copies of their preferred books.
Young attendees and teenagers can participate in interactive games, creative activities, and educational stations designed for hands-on learning. Sussex County librarians will join forces with volunteers from the Milton Arts Guild, Milton Theatre, and Milton Lions Club of Delaware to facilitate various activities. Information booths will showcase Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Read Aloud Delaware, Literacy Delaware, Kindergarten Readiness Teams, and additional literacy organizations.
Event parking will be available at H.O. Brittingham Elementary School, with complimentary shuttle transportation operating every quarter-hour between the school and festival locations throughout the day.
The Children’s Book Festival receives partial funding from the Town of Milton, the Milton Community Foundation, and Friends groups of Sussex County Libraries. Additional details can be found at https://www.facebook.com/sussexcbf/.
Contact: Rachel Lynch, County Librarian at (302) 855-7890 or [email protected]
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — A Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach is facing criminal charges after being accused of domestic violence involving his daughter.
Dave Merritt, 54, was hit with a misdemeanor domestic battery charge on Thursday following a complaint filed by Johnson County prosecutors in Kansas. Court documents allege Merritt inflicted bodily harm on his daughter.
The Chiefs organization acknowledged they are aware of Merritt’s arrest but declined to provide any statement. Merritt was scheduled to appear before a judge Thursday.
Before transitioning to coaching, the 54-year-old Merritt had a career as an NFL linebacker. He has since established himself as one of the league’s top defensive backs coaches. Merritt joined the Chiefs coaching staff in 2019, and throughout his coaching career, including his tenure with the New York Giants, he has been part of five Super Bowl championship teams.
The Trump administration has shifted medical marijuana into a less restrictive drug category, marking a significant step toward greater federal recognition of cannabis already approved in most states.
Acting Attorney General signed the directive Thursday, moving state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III classification under federal drug regulations.
This change could open new opportunities for scientific research into cannabis treatments and boost profitability for marijuana businesses, though federal prohibition remains in place.
Under current federal law, marijuana possession carries penalties including fines and incarceration. Distribution and growing operations face even harsher consequences, with potential prison terms ranging from five years to life based on quantities involved. Thursday’s directive doesn’t alter these criminal penalties.
Instead, the order modifies how federal agencies oversee state-approved medical marijuana programs.
The reclassification moves medical cannabis from Schedule I status — shared with heroin and LSD as substances with high abuse potential and no accepted medical value — into Schedule III alongside ketamine and certain anabolic steroids. Schedule III substances are considered to have moderate to low dependency risks.
Recreational marijuana remains classified as Schedule I even in states permitting adult use. However, the Justice Department has set a June 29 hearing to evaluate broader marijuana reclassification to Schedule III.
Current tax law prohibits business expense deductions for companies involved in Schedule I or II drug trafficking.
Moving medical marijuana to Schedule III status could generate substantial savings for licensed retailers by allowing deductions for advertising, marketing, facility costs, and employee wages related to sales operations.
However, many licensed operators serve both medical patients and recreational customers, creating challenges in determining which expenses qualify for deductions.
“In a lot of ways, it’s kind of nonsensical because these medical products are the same cannabis, the same methods of creation,” said Chicago attorney Irina Dashevsky, who oversees cannabis-related business for the Greenspoon Marder law firm.
“From a business perspective, there’s a lot of complications,” added Rachel Gillette, a Denver attorney who leads that cannabis industry practice at the Holland & Hart law firm. “It just makes it extremely messy.”
Questions remain about whether tax benefits apply only going forward or retroactively. The Justice Department has urged the Treasury Department to extend deductions back to full tax years when businesses operated under state medical marijuana licenses.
American attitudes toward marijuana have shifted considerably over recent decades, though support varies by political affiliation. Gallup polling shows legalization support climbed from 23% in 1985 to 64% last year.
This represents a slight decrease from 70% support recorded a few years earlier, driven primarily by changing Republican opinions. GOP support for marijuana legalization fell from 55% to 40% since 2023, while Democratic backing remained relatively stable, dropping slightly from 87% to 85%. Independent voter support declined modestly from 69% to 66%.
More than 20 Republican senators, including several close Trump supporters, wrote to the president last year requesting marijuana remain Schedule I. They maintained cannabis poses ongoing dangers and claimed reclassification would “undermine your strong efforts to Make America Great Again.”
Medical marijuana programs currently operate in 40 states plus Washington, D.C. Recreational adult-use laws have expanded rapidly over the past 12 years to include 24 states and the nation’s capital.
Cannabis use has grown alongside state legalization efforts.
Federal surveys from 2024 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found over 64 million Americans aged 12 and older — representing 22% of the population — used marijuana within the previous year. This marked an increase from 19% in 2021.
The reclassification could drive further increases in usage rates.
Dr. Smita Das, an addiction psychiatrist at Stanford University, noted rising rates of cannabis use disorder nationwide.
“We’ve already had kind of a decrease in risk perception related to cannabis over the years with the state legalization, both for medical and recreational purposes, and this will probably just add to that,” Das said.
Delaware’s Police Officer Standards and Training Commission is taking a prominent role in addressing officer safety concerns while strengthening law enforcement education throughout the First State.
Executive Director Sean Moriarty represented the commission at the 2026 Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety held in Baltimore on April 21. The event brought together highway safety experts, police leadership, and academic researchers from across the nation.
Moriarty collaborated with Dr. Steve James and Brett Cowell to deliver a presentation titled “Dangerous Driving: Tired Cops and Cognitive Impairment Screening.” Their session focused on understanding how exhaustion impacts police officers’ ability to make sound decisions, perform their duties effectively, and maintain safety standards.
Meanwhile, the commission is working to enhance training capabilities throughout Delaware’s law enforcement community. Between April 13 and 17, the agency teamed up with New Castle County Police Department to conduct a Certified Instructor Course at the Lt. Joseph Szczerba Police Academy.
This training initiative is designed to equip officers with the skills needed to provide uniform, professional-grade instruction across Delaware’s police departments.
Nostalgic cereal lovers who remember hunting for prizes in their breakfast boxes will get that experience again soon.
WK Kellogg Co. announced Thursday that it will include toys with select breakfast cereals for the first time in more than ten years.
Beginning Sunday, limited edition packages of Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, AppleJacks and Corn Pops will contain plastic figurines designed after characters from Disney and Pixar’s upcoming “Toy Story 5.” The film is set to premiere in theaters this June.
Cereal box prizes were once a standard feature of breakfast cereals, but they slowly vanished as companies sought to reduce expenses and parents raised concerns about potential safety risks including choking hazards. The company faced backlash in 2004 when it distributed Spider-Man timepieces containing mercury batteries inside cereal packages.
Company officials said the “Toy Story 5” partnership seemed ideal for bringing back the tradition, given the film’s theme about toys navigating a technology-focused society.
“Bringing toys back inside the box reintroduces that sense of discovery through a simple, screen-free moment of play that parents can now share with their own kids,” said Laura Newman, a vice president of brand marketing at Kellogg.
NEW YORK — Federal investigators revealed Thursday that a firefighter involved in last month’s deadly runway collision at LaGuardia Airport initially couldn’t tell who air traffic control was warning when they shouted “stop, stop, stop” over the radio.
The National Transportation Safety Board released preliminary findings showing that safety systems failed to prevent the March 22 crash that claimed the lives of both pilots aboard an Air Canada regional jet. The airport’s crash prevention technology didn’t sound any alarms in the control tower, and runway crossing lights remained illuminated until just three seconds before impact, according to the report.
The fire truck’s turret operator told investigators that after hearing the controller’s first warning, he then heard “Truck 1, stop, stop, stop” and understood the command was meant for them. However, by that point their vehicle had already entered the runway as Air Canada Express Flight 8646 was touching down and racing toward them.
According to the turret operator’s account to investigators, he spotted the aircraft’s lights on the runway as their truck made a left turn onto the tarmac.
The urgent warnings came after controllers had given the fire truck permission to cross the runway just 12 seconds before the incoming plane made contact with the ground.
The CRJ900 aircraft arriving from Montreal was carrying more than 70 passengers and crew. Pilots Antoine Forest, 24, and Mackenzie Gunther, 30, died in the collision. Approximately 40 individuals, including the fire truck’s two occupants, required hospital treatment.
One flight attendant, still secured in her seat, survived despite being ejected onto the runway surface.
The fire truck was at the front of a six-vehicle emergency response team that included four fire engines, a boarding stairs truck, and a police car. They were responding to reports of a concerning odor in the passenger cabin of a departing United Airlines flight.
LaGuardia’s control tower was experiencing unusually heavy traffic that evening due to flight delays that more than doubled the scheduled arrivals and departures after 10 p.m., based on information from aviation data company Cirium.
Aircraft were arriving every few minutes, with twelve flights landing between 11 p.m. and the time of the collision less than 40 minutes later. Simultaneously, controllers were managing the emergency response to the cabin odor that was causing flight attendants to feel sick.
LaGuardia operates one of 35 sophisticated surface monitoring systems at major U.S. airports designed to prevent dangerous runway intrusions and collisions. These systems provide controllers with tower displays showing real-time positions of all aircraft and ground vehicles.
The ASDE-X system failed to function properly because the fire truck lacked the required transponder equipment, investigators determined. The close grouping of multiple emergency vehicles also prevented the system from activating its warning alerts.
Air traffic control recordings show Flight 8646 received landing clearance for Runway 4 at 11:35 p.m.
Approximately two minutes afterward — and 25 seconds before the collision — the fire crew requested permission to cross that same runway, which lay between the airport’s fire station and the United Airlines aircraft’s parking position.
Five seconds later, as Flight 8646 approached the runway at slightly over 100 feet altitude, controllers authorized the fire truck to proceed across.
Then, with just nine seconds remaining before impact, the controller urgently radioed: “Stop, stop, stop, stop. Truck 1. Stop, stop, stop, stop.” The aircraft’s wheels touched down one second later.
This marks LaGuardia’s first fatal crash in 34 years.
JOHANNESBURG — Nearly 10 months have passed since former Zambian President Edgar Lungu died in a South African medical facility, yet his remains continue to be the center of an extraordinary legal dispute that has prevented his burial.
The deceased leader’s relatives have insisted on laying him to rest in South Africa due to the intense animosity between Lungu and Zambia’s current President Hakainde Hichilema. Meanwhile, Zambian officials have pursued legal action to gain control of the body and bring it home for an official state ceremony.
The ongoing saga took another dramatic turn this Wednesday when Zambian authorities announced they had secured possession of Lungu’s remains with help from South African officials, only to have a judge immediately order the body returned to the funeral facility where the family had been keeping it.
The 68-year-old former president passed away on June 5 of the previous year from an undetermined medical condition while receiving treatment in South Africa. His relatives immediately made arrangements to conduct burial services there, declining to transport his body back to Zambia for any ceremony that would include Hichilema’s participation.
According to a family representative, this decision honored Lungu’s final request that Hichilema should not come “anywhere near his body” during burial proceedings. In response, the Zambian administration filed legal proceedings to obtain custody, claiming that conducting a state funeral served the country’s best interests.
Officials in Zambia have already designated and prepared a burial site for Lungu at a national cemetery where other former presidents rest. That grave site continues to sit vacant.
The relationship between Lungu and his successor Hichilema had been marked by deep hostility throughout their years as political opponents in the southern African country.
In 2016, Lungu emerged victorious over Hichilema in the presidential race. The following year, Hichilema spent four months behind bars on treason accusations after he allegedly refused to move aside for the presidential convoy on a public road. Human rights organizations criticized the arrest, and authorities eventually dropped the charges and freed him.
Following Hichilema’s rise to power in 2021, Lungu maintained that law enforcement officers were targeting him with harassment and had essentially confined him to his residence. His relatives stated that officials temporarily blocked him from traveling abroad to receive medical care. The Hichilema administration rejected these accusations.
Reports indicate that Lungu managed to reach South Africa by quietly making his way to an airport and purchasing his airline ticket on the spot.
The Zambian government’s legal effort to claim Lungu’s remains disrupted funeral arrangements that his family had scheduled in South Africa last June. The court filing forced family members, who had already dressed in mourning clothes for the service, to abandon the ceremony and rush to a courthouse for an emergency hearing.
A South African judge eventually sided with the Zambian government’s position and ordered the body’s return to Zambia. The court established May 12 as the deadline for transferring custody.
Late Wednesday, Zambian officials declared they had successfully taken possession of Lungu’s body, moving it from a private mortuary in Pretoria, South Africa’s capital, to a different location while preparing for transport back to Zambia.
However, a court quickly mandated that the government immediately return the remains to the family, finding officials in contempt for attempting to remove Lungu’s body ahead of the court-established timeline.
Additional legal proceedings may now emerge after the judge ordered both Zambian officials and the South African authorities who assisted in moving the body to explain why they should not face contempt charges.
During multiple congressional hearings, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. consistently pushed back against lawmakers who mentioned Medicaid reductions included in President Donald Trump’s comprehensive 2025 tax and spending legislation.
Democratic representatives expressed worries about potential impacts on rural medical facilities and the possibility of vulnerable populations losing healthcare coverage during budget discussions. Kennedy repeatedly interjected to dispute the existence of any reductions.
“There are no cuts to Medicaid,” Kennedy stated. “We are increasing Medicaid spending by 47% over the next 10 years. Increasing spending by 47%. How is that a cut? That is only a cut in Washington, D.C.”
Healthcare policy specialists characterize Kennedy’s statements as misleading political rhetoric, noting that natural spending increases driven by demographic shifts and healthcare cost inflation don’t eliminate the reality of funding reductions.
Trump’s legislation from last year implemented substantial Medicaid modifications, including new employment requirements and eligibility adjustments, to help compensate for revenue losses from extensive tax reductions and additional spending. These changes are projected to reduce the healthcare program’s expenditures by approximately $1 trillion across ten years.
Kennedy’s position relies on projections showing year-over-year Medicaid spending growth over the coming decade, arguing this proves no reductions occurred. His team referenced a February Congressional Budget Office analysis demonstrating 47% growth across ten years to support this stance.
However, policy analysts clarify that without the tax and spending legislation, Medicaid expenditures would have experienced greater growth.
“This is an old, sort of tired argument that’s been used by conservatives to justify spending cuts by saying, well, if spending is still growing in nominal terms, somehow there wasn’t a cut,” explained Edwin Park, a research professor at Georgetown University. “The federal government is spending nearly a trillion dollars less than it otherwise would have in the absence of the legislation.”
Sara Rosenbaum, professor emerita at George Washington University’s public health school, noted Kennedy’s assertions represent a familiar pattern from Medicaid critics throughout her five-decade career studying the program.
“It’s absurd,” Rosenbaum stated. “They cut a trillion dollars.”
Republicans and the Trump administration defend the Medicaid changes as essential for eliminating fraudulent use of government resources by ineligible individuals. They frame these modifications as part of their healthcare fraud prevention efforts to improve program affordability.
“To be clear, HHS is taking steps to ensure Medicaid serves those it is intended to support,” said Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Andrew Nixon. “These actions are not cuts — they are focused on addressing waste, fraud, and abuse to better position the program for those who rely on it.”
Park warned that the legislation’s stricter enrollment processes would also impact qualified Americans, leading to “many more uninsured people, and people going without needed care.”
A federal judge in San Antonio has authorized the release of a woman and her five children from immigration detention, despite their connection to a man accused of carrying out a deadly firebombing in Colorado.
U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ruled Thursday that Hayam El Gamal and her children can leave the family detention facility in Dilley, Texas, under specific conditions. El Gamal and her 18-year-old child must submit to electronic monitoring as part of their release. The judge rejected government attorneys’ attempts to halt his decision pending an appeal.
El Gamal, who was born in Saudi Arabia and holds Egyptian citizenship, has been detained with her family since June. Her husband, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, faces accusations of hurling two Molotov cocktails at demonstrators who were rallying for awareness about Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The attack resulted in injuries to 13 people, including an 82-year-old woman who later succumbed to her injuries. El Gamal has expressed shock over her husband’s alleged actions.
Federal officials say Soliman, also an Egyptian citizen, was residing in the United States without legal status. He faces prosecution in both state and federal courts for the attack. Prosecutors allege he spent a year planning the assault and was motivated by a desire “to kill all Zionist people.” Soliman has entered not guilty pleas to state charges, including murder, as well as federal hate crime allegations.
Following the attack, the Trump administration announced plans for the family’s rapid deportation. White House social media statements declared they “COULD BE DEPORTED AS EARLY AS TONIGHT” and revealed that six one-way tickets had been purchased, with their “final boarding call coming soon.”
Judge Biery’s release order came despite an immigration appeals court rejecting the family’s request to remain in the country and issuing deportation orders. This decision followed a federal magistrate judge’s Monday recommendation that the family should be freed from detention.
Defense attorneys contend the deportation directive came from “political leadership” in Washington, an allegation that government lawyer Anne Marie Cordova disputed. Individuals with final deportation orders typically face mandatory detention.
Biery had previously prevented the family’s deportation until Thursday’s hearing could take place. Family attorney Chris Godshall-Bennett informed the judge they plan to petition the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to halt deportation proceedings while pursuing asylum and permanent residency status.
Another federal judge had initially blocked the family’s immediate removal following the attack. Since that time, the family has made multiple attempts to secure bond release and return to Colorado while their asylum petition moves through the system.
The magistrate judge’s recommendation for release this week followed defense arguments that the family had not received fair treatment during immigration proceedings.
WASHINGTON – The State Department announced Wednesday that American officials will monitor next month’s parliamentary election in The Bahamas following a formal request from the Caribbean nation’s opposition leadership.
The decision to send U.S. Embassy personnel comes after Bahamian opposition leader Michael Pintard reached out to U.S. Ambassador Herschel Walker, asking for international oversight of the May 12 vote due to concerns about electoral integrity.
“The United States regularly supports open, transparent, and competitive democratic electoral processes by deploying embassy election observers accredited by the host government’s election officials,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement. “U.S. Embassy Nassau plans on doing so in The Bahamas.”
Prime Minister Philip Davis called the early election this month, moving up the vote from its originally scheduled October date. Pintard, who hopes to unseat Davis, cited worries about the electoral system in his letter to the American ambassador.
The opposition leader specifically highlighted issues with “the accuracy and maintenance of the country’s voters’ register,” warning these problems “may undermine public confidence if not addressed through transparent and independent scrutiny.”
Harrison Thompson, who oversees elections in The Bahamas, defended the current system in a Monday statement. He explained that the Parliamentary Registration Department conducts legal reviews of voter rolls to make necessary corrections and remove invalid entries as required by law and evidence.
“Where a party identifies a concern, that concern is reviewed. Where a correction is required, that correction is made. This has always been the practice,” Thompson stated.
The Organization of American States also announced Monday it would dispatch observer teams to The Bahamas, continuing its tradition of monitoring elections in the region from previous years.
The U.S. monitoring effort follows years of election-related controversies, including former President Donald Trump’s ongoing false claims about fraud in the 2020 presidential race and other recent elections.
Additional photographs have emerged showing New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel in what appears to be an intimate encounter with former NFL reporter Diana Russini dating back to 2020.
The New York Post’s Page Six released the images on Thursday, just one day after Vrabel announced he would skip the final day of Saturday’s NFL draft to begin counseling sessions.
This latest development follows the initial controversy that erupted on April 7 when the Post first published images of Vrabel and Russini, who was working as an NFL correspondent for The Athletic at the time, appearing to hold hands and embrace at an upscale resort in Sedona, Arizona.
The most recent photographs were allegedly captured at Tribeca Tavern during the early morning hours of March 11, 2020, and seem to depict the two sitting intimately at the bar and sharing a kiss. “They were kissing and they were all over each other. He had a ring on,” a witness told Page Six.
The March 11, 2020 date is significant as it marks the day the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. At that time, Vrabel was serving as head coach for the Tennessee Titans and was married to his current wife, while Russini was engaged to her now-husband.
The 50-year-old coach provided a statement to the Post regarding Thursday’s revelations.
“As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend. This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.
“I have always wanted to lead by example and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be,” Vrabel continued. “This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result.”
Vrabel plans to be present with the Patriots on Thursday evening when they make their first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft at the 31st overall selection, and will also participate in the late second and third round selections on Friday. However, he will be absent for the final four rounds taking place on Saturday.
Russini stepped down from her position at The Athletic last week while the New York Times-owned publication conducted an investigation into the nature of her relationship with Vrabel.
When the Arizona photographs first surfaced, Vrabel dismissed them, stating the pictures “show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable.”
Vrabel took over as Patriots head coach before the 2025 season, returning to one of his former teams as a player, and led New England to Super Bowl LX. The Seattle Seahawks won that championship game 29-13.
Last season, Vrabel received his second AP NFL Coach of the Year award, having previously won the honor in 2021 while leading the Titans. He served as Tennessee’s head coach from 2018 through 2023.
The nation’s commercial red meat industry has experienced a 2 percent increase in production compared to the previous year, according to new data from federal agricultural officials.
The latest livestock slaughter statistics reveal continued growth in the red meat sector, indicating steady demand and production capacity across American agricultural operations.
This upward trend in meat production reflects the ongoing strength of the country’s livestock industry and its ability to meet consumer demand for red meat products.
The American Soybean Association operates as a producer-driven organization, relying on farming volunteers who serve as board members and guide emerging agricultural leaders.
Behind each agricultural policy victory lies extensive work and numerous individuals consistently championing soybean producers. The ASA’s governing documents establish specialized advocacy teams to help distribute responsibilities and enhance focus among soy leaders. These teams monitor policy developments, create advocacy strategies, and provide guidance in targeted policy areas. ASA directors chair each advocacy team.
FARM POLICY ADVOCACY TEAM
The Farm Policy team tackles economic sustainability and financial services matters. ASA Director Geoff Ruth from Rising City, Nebraska, chairs this team. Ruth represents a seventh-generation farming family, cultivating soybeans, corn, and cover crop rye. His leadership experience spans multiple boards, including the Shelby-Rising City Public School Board of Education, Nebraska Soybean Association, Nebraska Farm Service Agency, and various local community committees.
When asked about his 2026 priorities as team chair, Ruth emphasized the urgency of current challenges.
“There is no shortage of issues facing soybean farmers and agriculture as a whole in 2026. It is important for me as chair of the Farm Policy Advocacy Team to stay engaged and focused on the challenges and opportunities that lie before us in the soybean industry,” Ruth said. “At the top of the list of priorities is encouraging Congress to pass a farm bill. We are long overdue for an updated farm bill, and continued extensions of the previous farm bills are not the security and stabilization that agriculture needs in these uncertain times.”
Ruth noted that issues evolve rapidly, sometimes changing by the minute, making timely evaluation and response crucial for their advocacy team.
Regarding his motivation for leadership, Ruth expressed gratitude for the opportunity.
“It is an honor to serve as chair of the Farm Policy AT. I have always enjoyed serving people, whether that be as the current president of my local board of education, church council leadership, Nebraska Soybean Association, the Farm Service Agency as a member of the State Board, or even as a youth basketball/football/softball coach,” Ruth explained.
He advised aspiring leaders to embrace difficult challenges. “For those who have an interest in leadership, be willing to do the hard thing. Saying ‘yes’ and being outside your comfort zone is one of the hardest first steps when it comes to leadership,” Ruth said.
CONSERVATION & PRECISION AG ADVOCACY TEAM
The Conservation & Precision Ag team handles conservation, agricultural technology, checkoff and research, soy foods and nutrition, biobased consumer products, livestock, and labor issues. ASA Director Denise Scarborough from LaCrosse, Indiana, leads this team. She farms with her husband Mark, producing soybeans, commercial corn, seed corn, and wheat. The couple also operates an excavating business, and Scarborough works as a commercial and agricultural lender at First National Bank of Monterey.
Scarborough’s involvement includes Indiana Farm Bureau service at local, state, and national levels, plus volunteering with 4-H, Purdue Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching, youth sports, and her church. She has served as an Indiana Soybean Alliance director since 2017.
Discussing her 2026 goals, Scarborough emphasized shifting from reactive to proactive approaches.
“I think some of the personal goals are to be proactive instead of reactive. When President Trump took office for the second time, we didn’t know what to fully expect, and it caused us to be reactive to what was happening,” Scarborough said. “When the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) report came out, we didn’t imagine that we would have to defend the soybean as much as we are.”
She highlighted Indiana’s position as the leading high oleic soybean producer and the unexpected need to defend healthy soybeans against ultra-processed food concerns.
BIOFUELS & INFRASTRUCTURE ADVOCACY TEAM
The Biofuels & Infrastructure team focuses on energy policies related to biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel, plus infrastructure matters involving ocean shipping, inland waterways, railways, roads, broadband, and industrial biobased products. ASA Director Drew Peterson from Salem, South Dakota, chairs this team. Peterson represents a fifth-generation farming family, raising soybeans and corn while operating a cow-calf and cattle feeding business with his father Steve, alongside his wife Lauren and their two children.
Peterson joined the South Dakota Soybean Association as a Corteva Young Leader in 2019, served as board vice president for three years, participates in the South Dakota Ag Foundation, and has been a state legislator for four years.
“Coming into 2026, my main goal was to get finalized Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z) guidance in place,” Peterson said. “Not only would this certainty be good for soybean producers, but it will also help our country with energy security in a volatile geopolitical climate across the globe.”
Peterson emphasized infrastructure investment needs. “Continued investment in inland waterways and rail improvements are needed to keep our transportation infrastructure resilient, no matter where our whole bean and soybean byproducts need to be transported,” he said.
REGULATORY ADVOCACY TEAM
The Regulatory team addresses biotechnology, crop protection, pesticidal tools, and other regulatory activities. ASA Director Andrew Moore from Dalton, Georgia, chairs this team. Moore farms with his father and uncle in Northwest Georgia, using double crop production to raise nine different row crops or cereal grains on a five-year rotation. In 2008, they added value through vertical integration, constructing an Expeller Press™ oilseed processing facility and pellet mill for manufacturing animal feeds.
Moore’s 2026 priorities focus on strengthening advocacy capabilities.
“As chair of the advocacy team in 2026, my priorities are to further strengthen our soy team members’ capacity to advocate effectively on near-term regulatory issues impacting soy farmers,” Moore said. “This includes identifying and defining emerging regulatory challenges that are moving through the pipeline and are likely to affect farmers in the future.”
He stressed the importance of farmer participation. “Getting involved matters because participation makes our voices stronger and ensures they are heard,” Moore said.
TRADE POLICY & INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS ADVOCACY TEAM
The Trade Policy & International Affairs team handles trade, market access, tariff and non-tariff barriers, international food aid, aquaculture, federal grain standards, fertilizer, and tax issues. ASA Director Josh Gackle from Kulm, North Dakota, chairs this team. He farms 2,800 acres of soybeans while also producing corn, wheat, and barley. Gackle began ASA board service in late 2017, served as ASA president in 2024, and has been active with the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association board and committees. He also serves on the Kulm City Council.
“TPIA plays a key role in maintaining and increasing existing demand and building new demand for U.S. soybean farmers’ international markets,” Gackle said. “The AT works closely with the state soybean associations, WISHH, USSEC, and USB to build on these priorities.”
Gackle emphasized the organization’s broader impact. “ASA is one of the most impactful organizations when it comes to government policy that affects our farm and business operations. There is power in numbers, and our organizations make sure our voice as farmers and rural America are heard by decision makers at the local, state, and national level,” he said.
A federal agriculture program has opened new international markets for American soybean producers by transforming Cambodia’s fish farming industry and creating lasting demand for U.S. soy products.
The American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health program, working through the USDA’s Food for Progress initiative, recently completed its Commercialization of Aquaculture for Sustainable Trade project in Cambodia. The program focused on strengthening the Southeast Asian nation’s fish farming sector while establishing commercial relationships that boost demand for American soybean meal.
The initiative targeted Cambodia’s heavy reliance on fish protein, which accounts for nearly three-quarters of the country’s protein consumption. Program organizers identified an opportunity to connect improved fish farming methods with increased use of U.S. soy-based feeds.
Training sessions taught fish farmers more systematic feeding methods, improved pond design techniques, and strategies to boost production while minimizing fish mortality. These enhancements enabled farmers to achieve superior growth rates and operational efficiency while demonstrating the benefits of premium feeds containing soybean meal.
The program also brought innovative equipment to Cambodia. Solar-powered drying structures helped minimize food waste by protecting fish from weather conditions and contamination risks that typically occur when products are dried outdoors on tables. The technology proved especially valuable during Cambodia’s monsoon season. Additional improvements included floating cage systems and specialized pond raceways that enhanced fish health and operational efficiency.
Ten feed distribution companies received training in modern aquaculture methods, with emphasis on how quality feeds improve fish performance. The project also supported the creation of the Cambodian Aquaculturist Association, which now connects over 1,300 producers, feed manufacturers, and industry partners to promote advanced farming practices and sector cooperation.
The training programs produced measurable results in industry standards. Before the project began, only approximately 3% of fish producers had earned Good Aquaculture Practices certification, which allows access to premium markets. Following the program’s implementation, that percentage jumped to 51%, with 63 producers obtaining the valuable certification.
The initiative also developed institutional markets for fish products through collaboration with the USDA McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, managed by the World Food Programme and partner organizations. Government purchases of fish for school meal programs are establishing sustainable markets for aquaculture production, which reinforces demand for the quality feeds necessary to support continued growth.
Feed manufacturers now purchasing U.S. soy have become important players in Cambodia’s agricultural sector. Companies like AgriMaster Feed Mill are buying American soybean meal to produce feeds distributed throughout Cambodia. Another major producer, M’s PIG, has expanded into aquaculture while increasing its feed manufacturing capacity, demonstrating the expanding opportunities across Cambodia’s livestock and feed sectors.
“Projects like CAST show how strategic partnerships can build lasting markets for U.S. soybean farmers,” said WISHH Executive Director Gena Perry. “By helping farmers and feed companies adopt better practices and high-quality feeds, we’re creating demand that benefits producers overseas and soybean growers here at home.”
The organization’s efforts are now expanding into additional sectors within Cambodia. Kirisu Dairy, the country’s first modern dairy operation, utilizes 120 tons of soybean meal annually to feed its dairy cattle. Similar to the aquaculture sector’s development, as Cambodia’s milk consumption increases, its dependence on U.S. soy for dairy feed may expand accordingly. The program has already collaborated with employee Senghong Khlit to provide expertise in feed management and quality standards.
With continued funding from USDA programs and soybean industry investments, the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health continues working with Cambodian aquaculture, dairy, and poultry industry leaders to expand production capabilities, improve feed systems, and strengthen commercial relationships for U.S. soy products.
Agricultural leaders from the American Soybean Association are venturing beyond their home farms to explore international markets, gaining fresh insights into the global impact of their crops. Through partnerships with the U.S. Soybean Export Council, these farmer-directors are connecting directly with overseas customers, observing their products being utilized, and establishing relationships that extend well past their local operations.
These international missions involve face-to-face meetings with foreign buyers, facility tours, and participation in worldwide agricultural events, bringing the complete soybean supply chain into focus for participating farmers. The experiences go beyond simple travel, demonstrating the vital link between American agricultural operations and international market needs.
These opportunities allow farmers to tell their production story while developing better understanding of the customers and markets that depend on their crops. Many participants find these trips serve as compelling evidence that their local farming efforts have significant global impact.
Michigan Farmer Attends Tokyo Sustainability Conference
Janna Fritz from Michigan took part in Tokyo’s Soy Sustainability Symposium, where international partners convened to examine sustainability practices, innovation developments, and soybean industry trends. Her participation allowed her to demonstrate how American farmers are adapting to changing market demands while continuing to provide superior, environmentally responsible products to worldwide customers.
Illinois Producer Joins Indonesia Trade Mission
Ryan Frieders from Illinois joined a USDA-organized Agricultural Trade Mission to Jakarta alongside the U.S. Soybean Export Council, meeting with buyers and industry executives in a crucial Southeast Asian growth market. His visit concentrated on building stronger partnerships and demonstrating the benefits of American soybeans through direct discussions with regional business partners.
North Dakota Director Travels to Thailand Conference
Justin Sherlock from North Dakota journeyed throughout Asia with the Export Council, connecting with customers and industry representatives from over 20 nations during Bangkok’s Southeast Asia U.S. Agricultural Cooperators Conference. His experience highlighted the significance of relationship building, customer need assessment, and promoting the advantages American soybeans offer in international markets.
“What really sets U.S. soy apart is that when customers buy from us, they’re not just buying a commodity – they’re buying a partnership and a support system,” Sherlock said.
Illinois Farmer Visits Middle East Markets
Scott Gaffner from Illinois traveled to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia with both the Export Council and American Soybean Association, working with partners to enhance relationships and explore new opportunities for American soybeans. His visits demonstrated the strength of established markets like Pakistan while revealing growth possibilities in developing markets such as Saudi Arabia, where demand for U.S. soybeans continues expanding.
“These in-person engagements matter because they build trust, reinforce the value of U.S. farmers in global markets, and open doors for expanded demand that ultimately benefits producers back home,” Gaffner explained.
The federal government has reclassified medical marijuana under a less restrictive drug category, marking a significant policy shift in how the substance is regulated at the national level.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the immediate reclassification of medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III status. This change places medical cannabis in the same category as substances such as ketamine, codeine-containing Tylenol, and anabolic steroids.
The reclassification represents a departure from the previous federal stance that categorized marijuana alongside the most heavily restricted controlled substances. Schedule I drugs are typically defined as having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, while Schedule III substances are recognized as having accepted medical applications despite some potential for dependency.
Atlanta Falcons defensive player James Pearce Jr. has reached an agreement to participate in a pretrial diversion program that will address three felony charges connected to a February 7 domestic incident involving his former girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson.
Attorney Jacob Nunez announced Thursday that his client will complete a six-month diversion program. “Upon completion of the six months without violation, the state will dismiss all felony and misdemeanor charges,” Nunez told The Associated Press.
In a joint statement, Nunez and co-attorney Yale Sanford said, “James is focused on moving forward, rejoining his teammates and the Atlanta Falcons organization as a whole, performing at the highest level, and continuing to be a team player on and off the field.”
The Falcons organization has not yet responded to questions regarding Pearce’s standing with the team.
This development coincides with NFL draft day, marking one year since Atlanta selected Pearce as the 26th overall pick in the 2025 draft. The rookie defensive end topped the team with 10.5 sacks and established a franchise rookie record with 45 quarterback pressures.
However, the pending legal issues have created uncertainty about his future with the organization. New head coach Kevin Stefanski revealed on April 8 that Pearce was absent from the team facility when voluntary offseason activities began.
When asked about Pearce earlier this week, General Manager Ian Cunningham stated there were no developments to report. “Everything is status quo,” Cunningham said Monday.
The Miami-Dade County Florida State Attorney’s Office filed the charges on March 13, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence. Prosecutors also brought a misdemeanor stalking charge, while dropping an additional count of aggravated battery of an officer.
Police reports indicate Jackson told investigators she tried to escape from Pearce by driving toward the Doral police station for assistance when Pearce “intentionally collided into the rear of her vehicle with his SUV” before officers arrived on scene.
The arrest affidavit states that Pearce initially ignored police commands to “get on the floor.” According to the police narrative, Pearce then attempted to flee in his vehicle and struck an officer’s left knee “intentionally in an attempt to evade arrest.”
CHICAGO — The Philadelphia Phillies made a significant roster move Thursday, cutting ties with veteran pitcher Taijuan Walker while promoting right-hander Nolan Hoffman from their Triple-A affiliate in Lehigh Valley.
Walker departed the team’s clubhouse hours before Thursday’s matchup with the Chicago Cubs. The 33-year-old was completing the fourth and final year of his $72 million deal with Philadelphia.
The roster shuffle came after the Phillies sent pitcher Alan Rangel down to Triple-A following Wednesday’s 7-2 defeat to Chicago, marking their eighth consecutive loss.
Walker, now in his 14th MLB campaign, earned All-Star recognition with the New York Mets in 2021 and delivered his best Philadelphia performance in 2023 with 15 victories and a 4.38 ERA. However, his production has declined significantly since then, posting a combined 9-19 record with a 5.67 ERA across the last three seasons.
This year proved particularly challenging for Walker, who managed just one win against four losses while posting a 9.13 ERA through five appearances. Wednesday’s outing at Wrigley Field saw him surrender five runs on eight hits over four innings in a relief role, earning the loss. His removal from the rotation became inevitable with ace Zack Wheeler scheduled to return Saturday.
Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski revealed the organization attempted to trade Walker’s contract on multiple occasions without success.
“We know and he knows that he gave every effort that he possibly could to try to get people out and it just wasn’t working,” Dombrowski said. “Maybe a change of scenery will help him.”
Manager Rob Thomson emphasized the decision stemmed purely from on-field results.
“It’s just all performance based. I hope that people understand,” Thomson stated.
Despite the disappointing end, Thomson acknowledged Walker’s contributions, particularly his strong 2023 campaign.
“We had a really good year out of him the first year (2023) with the 15 wins,” Thomson noted. “With the injuries we had last year, this guy took down 125 innings and basically helped us get to the playoffs.”
Thomson also praised Walker’s character and professionalism throughout his Philadelphia tenure.
“He’s one of the best teammates and one of the best people I’ve been around,” Thomson said. “This guys a pro, performance aside.
“He tried everything, being the opener and trying to get some velo back, which he did. It didn’t work out, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort on his part.”
Agricultural technology is experiencing a groundbreaking transformation as scientists harness the power of gene editing to revolutionize soybean cultivation, according to industry experts.
For centuries, farmers have depended on improved seeds to maintain productivity amid changing environmental conditions. From early plant breeding methods to contemporary techniques, each advancement has helped reduce risks, safeguard harvests, and optimize resource utilization. Currently, gene editing stands as one of the most significant breakthroughs in breeding technology, offering a biological solution that can deliver improvements with unprecedented speed and accuracy.
The most sophisticated and widely recognized gene editing technology is the CRISPR-Cas system, which stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. This revolutionary tool enables researchers to make incredibly precise modifications to plant and animal genetic material. Functioning like molecular scissors equipped with a genetic guidance system, CRISPR-Cas technology locates specific sections within a plant’s DNA and creates targeted cuts. This process activates the plant’s inherent repair mechanisms, which can then be utilized to generate a variety of desired modifications.
Scientists often compare CRISPR-Cas to a word processing program for genetic material. Researchers can now remove or substitute individual components within the genetic blueprint. Importantly, this technique operates within the plant’s existing natural DNA structure, serving as a breeding enhancement tool that works alongside traditional breeding methods and other biotechnologies.
Thanks to major technological breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and genetic research working together, gene editing can now achieve results that previously required up to ten years to accomplish. The modifications created through CRISPR-Cas technology mirror changes that might happen naturally or through standard breeding practices—but with greater speed and precision. Certain genes can be deactivated, while others can be enhanced, reduced, or improved in their performance.
However, maximizing seed potential requires more than scientific innovation alone. As an internationally traded product, grain must comply with specific regulations established by each importing country. The seed industry promotes worldwide regulations grounded in solid scientific evidence that foster innovation by removing unnecessary regulatory burdens. Significant advancement is occurring, with increasing numbers of countries acknowledging gene editing as an innovative breeding method that should be exempt from restrictive GMO regulations, instead choosing a regulatory consultation approach.
Looking forward, farmers face mounting pressure to increase production while using fewer resources. Although no single solution exists, gene editing represents a significant advancement, combining thousands of years of breeding expertise with modern tools and capabilities designed to address current agricultural challenges. This new generation of seed innovations will deliver enhanced performance, improved efficiency, and greater durability in an increasingly challenging farming landscape.
The Evolution of Plant Breeding
Gene editing marks a critical advancement in the 12,000-year evolution of plant breeding. Understanding the significance of this technology requires examining its historical foundation.
First Generation Breeding: Humans selected and crossbred plants with desirable characteristics they preferred. This informal method—while effective, was extremely slow and labor-intensive—spanned the initial 10,000 years of breeding history.
Second Generation Breeding: Following Gregor Mendel’s breakthrough discovery of genetic inheritance laws in the late 1800s, humans began enhancing selection methods through statistical analysis and controlled experiments. This research ultimately resulted in breeder Norman Borlaug earning the Nobel Peace Prize for boosting wheat production by 70%.
Third Generation Breeding: After scientists understood DNA’s structure, breeders began incorporating genetic and genomic information to support and accelerate breeding choices. Genetic markers provided the capability to identify desirable traits and forecast the genetic potential of untested plant groups.
Fourth Generation Breeding: Currently, the combination of artificial intelligence, genomics, and gene editing enables scientists to comprehend and tackle some of the most complex aspects of crop systems—creating opportunities for substantial beneficial improvements.
Following a devastating school bus crash in West Virginia that left one child requiring leg amputation and severely injured two others, federal safety officials have made their first-ever recommendation for mandatory alcohol detection technology on all new school buses.
The National Transportation Safety Board issued the recommendation Thursday after investigators found that impaired driving among school bus operators extends far beyond isolated incidents.
“There’s a higher expectation for school bus drivers than many other types of drivers,” explained Kris Poland, deputy director of the NTSB’s Office of Highway Safety. “We expect that the drivers are attentive, not fatigued, not impaired and are driving as safely as possible.”
The proposed alcohol detection systems would prevent buses from starting if they sense driver impairment. While the NTSB hasn’t calculated implementation costs, similar ignition interlock devices typically required for DUI offenders cost between $75-$150 for installation plus approximately $100 monthly for monitoring.
Implementation would require action from federal regulators, states, or Congress for widespread adoption. The recommendation targets alcohol specifically rather than other substances because investigators determined alcohol caused the West Virginia incident, and reliable testing for drugs like marijuana isn’t readily available with established legal impairment thresholds.
This follows a previous NTSB recommendation that Congress approved requiring alcohol detection in all new passenger cars, though that rule remains stalled in regulatory processes.
Alcohol contributes to roughly one-third of the nation’s 37,000 annual traffic fatalities, making it a persistent concern for the NTSB. While exact statistics on school bus driver impairment proved difficult to obtain, investigators uncovered sufficient evidence to justify the new safety measures.
Federal highway safety agencies don’t separately track school bus driver DUIs from other commercial operators, and data often excludes non-fatal incidents. However, a 2020 Stateline.org investigation revealed at least 118 school bus drivers faced drunk driving accusations over five years, according to Meg Sweeny, lead author of the NTSB’s West Virginia crash report.
In that tragic incident, the driver lost vehicle control after striking a driveway culvert along a rural roadway. All 19 students sustained injuries, though most were minor. The driver received a prison sentence of up to 110 years.
Even though impaired bus drivers represent a small percentage of all operators, the cases remain concerning, said Peter Kurdock, general counsel for Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.
“Children going to and from the schoolhouse are America’s most precious passengers,” Kurdock stated. “So we should be doing all we can to make the bus as safe as possible.”
However, Kurdock anticipates resistance from owners of the nation’s half-million school buses, similar to industry opposition against the NTSB’s long-standing seat belt recommendations for school buses.
While several states mandate seat belts, most school buses lack them partly because the vehicles are considered inherently safe. Even when seat belts are installed, student compliance remains questionable, prompting the NTSB to issue an urgent recommendation last fall following a Texas crash for districts to ensure proper usage.
The three largest school bus companies operating 80,000 daily routes and primary manufacturers didn’t respond to requests for comment on the NTSB recommendation. The National School Boards Association also hasn’t provided immediate feedback.
The NTSB emphasizes that school bus transportation remains generally safe.
Among nearly 1,000 fatal school bus crashes in the decade preceding 2023, 70% of approximately 1,100 deaths occurred in other vehicles rather than the buses themselves, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data.
Only 113 school bus passengers died during that period, demonstrating the large yellow vehicles’ safety effectiveness when children remain properly seated. The NTSB believes mandatory seat belts with enforcement would significantly improve outcomes.
Attorney Todd Spodek, whose New York firm has handled thousands of drunk driving cases, doesn’t believe the recommendation infringes on driver rights. He sees no viable argument that alcohol screening creates excessive burden.
Spodek emphasized that safety benefits from ensuring driver sobriety far exceed any inconvenience concerns.
“If you’re in a position of control of something like that, you should be held to a higher scrutiny,” Spodek explained. “It’s a minor inconvenience with a tremendous upside.”
Scientists have uncovered evidence that colossal octopuses stretching more than 60 feet in length dominated ancient oceans during the dinosaur era 100 million years ago.
Research published Thursday in the journal Science examined fossilized jaw remains, showing these enormous sea creatures with eight arms competed alongside other apex marine predators of their time.
University of Alabama paleontologist Adiel Klompmaker, who was not part of the research team, described the discovery in an email, stating “These krakens must have been a fearsome sight to behold.”
While most people associate late Cretaceous ocean dominance with razor-toothed sharks and large marine reptiles like mosasaurs and plesiosaurs, these giant octopuses have been overlooked in discussions of prehistoric sea life.
The challenge in studying ancient octopuses stems from their soft tissue composition, which rarely fossilizes well, making size estimates difficult. Additionally, many scientists have underestimated soft-bodied invertebrates as serious contenders among top predators, despite octopuses possessing powerful beaks made of hardened chitin capable of crushing shells and bones.
Researchers examined jaw fossils from 15 ancient octopus specimens previously discovered in Japan and Vancouver Island, Canada. Using an innovative method called digital fossil mining, they identified 12 additional jaw specimens from Japan by scanning rock cross-sections to locate hidden fossils.
By comparing these ancient jaws to modern octopus specimens, scientists calculated that these prehistoric creatures measured between 23 and 62 feet in total length. Co-author and Hokkaido University paleontologist Yasuhiro Iba noted in an email that the largest jaw significantly exceeded the size of any contemporary octopus.
The research team observed extensive damage on the largest specimens’ jaws, including scratches, chips, and worn edges. According to Iba, this wear pattern indicates “the animals repeatedly crushed hard prey such as shells and bones.”
Without preserved stomach contents, researchers cannot definitively determine these creatures’ exact diet or confirm direct competition with other apex predators. They likely fed on fish and snails, capturing prey with their flexible tentacles before crushing it with their powerful beaks.
American Museum of Natural History paleontologist Neil Landman, who was not involved in the study, suggested that discovering octopus fossils in additional locations could provide better insight into their role in ancient marine ecosystems.
“It’s a big old planet,” Landman explained. “So we have lots to look at to piece together the marine ecosystem through time.”
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s state treasurer has blocked approval for over $1 million in taxpayer-funded security enhancements installed at Governor Josh Shapiro’s private residence, improvements that were implemented following last year’s arson attack at the official governor’s mansion.
Republican Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced Thursday that she cannot authorize public funds to cover security system installations and other protective measures at private property, even when that property belongs to the state’s governor.
Pennsylvania State Police had requested Treasury Department reimbursement for the contractor payments, but Garrity stated during a press conference at her office that authorities “appear to have simply ignored the statutory limits and restrictions on spending and procurement.”
According to Garrity, law enforcement officials have alternative pathways to secure taxpayer funding for the completed work, which included constructing a protective fence. These options involve seeking explicit legislative approval for the expenditures or utilizing the state’s dispute resolution system for contractor-agency disagreements.
Governor Shapiro, widely viewed as a potential presidential candidate for 2028, is seeking a second gubernatorial term this year. After surviving last year’s assassination attempt, he became a leading advocate against political violence.
Garrity, who holds the state GOP endorsement and faces no primary challenger in Pennsylvania’s May 19 election, is anticipated to be Shapiro’s primary challenger this fall. She insisted her decision was not politically motivated, stating “I don’t play these kind of political games.” State police officials did not immediately respond to inquiries about the treasurer’s ruling.
The residential security improvements remained largely confidential until state police disclosed them to legislators last fall. A Cabinet member overseeing state property explained to lawmakers that “the threat to a high-profile elected official like Governor Shapiro does not end when he leaves the Governor’s Residence.”
State authorities have declined to specify the exact nature of these security enhancements for safety considerations. Shapiro continues to reside in his private Abington home in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two of their four children.
The residential modifications have triggered legal disputes between the Shapiro family and a neighboring property owner regarding ownership rights to land situated between their properties.
Last year, legislators authorized more than $22 million for renovations and security enhancements at the official governor’s residence, where the Shapiro family frequently stays. These improvements included installing a tall “anti-climb” iron barrier, significantly higher than the fence previously scaled by attacker Cody Balmer.
Balmer entered a guilty plea last year for attempting to murder Shapiro. Through his plea agreement, Balmer received a 25 to 50-year prison sentence, considerably less than the potential penalty if the case had proceeded to trial.
The attacker scaled a 7-foot iron security barrier during nighttime hours, avoided two state troopers positioned at the residence, and ignited the building using gasoline-filled beer bottles. This occurred just hours after Shapiro had conducted a Passover seder celebrating the Jewish holiday’s opening night.
The blaze forced Shapiro, his family members, and visiting relatives to evacuate as emergency responders fought the fire. The 1960s-era residence along Harrisburg’s Susquehanna River sustained significant damage but has since undergone complete restoration.
Federal safety officials are calling for mandatory alcohol detection technology on all new school buses following a devastating crash in West Virginia that left one student with an amputated leg and two others seriously hurt when their intoxicated driver lost control of the vehicle.
The National Transportation Safety Board issued its first-ever recommendation Thursday for alcohol detection systems that would prevent school buses from starting if the driver shows signs of impairment. The move comes after investigators found that impaired school bus drivers represent a more widespread issue than initially understood.
“There’s a higher expectation for school bus drivers than many other types of drivers,” explained Kris Poland, deputy director of the NTSB’s Office of Highway Safety. “We expect that the drivers are attentive, not fatigued, not impaired and are driving as safely as possible.”
The safety board did not provide cost estimates for installing such systems or identify who would cover the expenses. Similar ignition interlock devices required for DUI offenders typically cost between $75 and $150 for installation, plus approximately $100 monthly for monitoring services.
Implementation would require action from federal regulators or state governments, though Congress would need to pass legislation for nationwide adoption. The recommendation targets alcohol specifically rather than other substances because investigators determined alcohol caused the West Virginia incident, and reliable testing methods for drugs like marijuana are not yet available.
This recommendation builds on a previous NTSB proposal that Congress approved requiring alcohol detection systems in all new passenger cars, though that rule remains stalled in the regulatory process.
Drunk driving concerns have long troubled the NTSB, as alcohol contributes to roughly one-third of the approximately 37,000 annual traffic fatalities. While investigators could not establish precise statistics on impaired school bus drivers, they discovered sufficient evidence to justify the new safety measures.
Federal highway safety agencies do not maintain separate records for school bus driver DUIs versus other commercial drivers, and data often excludes incidents that do not result in fatal crashes. However, a 2020 Stateline.org investigation revealed at least 118 school bus drivers faced drunk driving accusations over a five-year period, according to Meg Sweeny, lead author of the NTSB’s West Virginia crash report.
In that tragic incident, the driver veered off a rural road after striking a driveway culvert, injuring all 19 children on board. While most students sustained minor injuries, the driver received a prison sentence of up to 110 years last year.
Peter Kurdock, general counsel for Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, expressed alarm at the number of impaired driving cases among bus drivers, despite representing a small fraction of all drivers.
“Children going to and from the schoolhouse are America’s most precious passengers,” Kurdock stated. “So we should be doing all we can to make the bus as safe as possible.”
Kurdock anticipates resistance from owners of the nation’s half-million school buses, similar to industry opposition to the NTSB’s ongoing recommendation for seat belts on school buses.
While several states have mandated seat belts, most school buses lack them partly because the vehicles are considered relatively safe. Even when seat belts are installed, the NTSB noted that students may not use them, prompting an urgent recommendation last fall following a Texas crash for districts to ensure proper usage.
The three largest school bus companies operating approximately 80,000 buses daily, along with major bus manufacturers, did not respond to requests for comment on the NTSB recommendation. The National School Boards Association also had no immediate response.
The NTSB emphasizes that most school bus transportation remains safe. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s latest data, of nearly 1,000 fatal crashes involving school buses in the decade leading to 2023, 70% of the approximately 1,100 deaths occurred in other vehicles rather than on the buses themselves.
Only 113 school bus passengers died during that timeframe, demonstrating the general safety of these large yellow vehicles as long as children remain properly seated. The NTSB believes installing seat belts and ensuring their use would significantly improve safety outcomes.
New York attorney Todd Spodek, whose firm has handled thousands of drunk driving cases, does not believe the recommendation would infringe on bus drivers’ rights. He sees no viable argument that alcohol screening would be excessively burdensome for drivers.
“If you’re in a position of control of something like that, you should be held to a higher scrutiny,” Spodek noted. “It’s a minor inconvenience with a tremendous upside.”
A Michigan court has dismissed the state from a major lawsuit stemming from a catastrophic 2020 dam collapse that devastated communities and left more than 100 homes destroyed while draining a beloved recreational lake.
Court of Claims Judge James Redford ruled Thursday that while he recognizes the “real and lasting damages” caused by the Edenville Dam catastrophe, the disaster resulted from continuous heavy rainfall and an extraordinary century-level flood event in the Midland region, rather than state-approved water levels at Wixom Lake.
The judge referenced expert testimony indicating that reducing the lake’s water level prior to the incident would likely not have averted the tragedy.
“This does not mean that what plaintiffs suffered and continue to suffer is not an immensely difficult and heavy burden,” Redford wrote in his comprehensive 100-page decision following a January trial held in Grand Rapids.
Legal representatives for thousands of affected residents had filed suit against Michigan, alleging that choices made by state environmental officials played a role in the dam’s failure and harmed both property values and residents’ ability to enjoy Wixom Lake, located 150 miles northwest of Detroit.
Had Judge Redford sided with the property owners, the litigation would have proceeded to determine monetary damages. Attorneys involved in the case have not yet responded to requests for comment.
The judge rejected comparisons made by plaintiff attorneys between this dam failure and the 2014-15 Flint water contamination crisis, where state actions directly caused lead contamination in the water supply system.
The privately-operated dam along the Tittabawassee River generated hydroelectric power until federal authorities revoked its operating license in 2018. The reservoir created by the dam forms Wixom Lake. When the collapse occurred, the dam was being transferred to local residents’ control, unleashing a massive water surge that also overwhelmed the nearby Sanford Dam downstream and inundated Midland.
Water levels climbed more than 5 feet beyond normal and reached 3 feet higher than the previous record set in 1929. The eastern soil embankment of the dam became unstable and failed under the pressure. Restoration efforts for Wixom Lake are currently underway.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission commissioned an investigation into the failures at both Edenville and Sanford dams. Their 2022 findings concluded the disaster was “foreseeable and preventable” but could not be “attributed to any one individual, group or organization.”
WASHINGTON — Civil rights organizations across the nation are rallying together after federal prosecutors filed criminal charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center, with activists calling the move a politically driven attack on civil liberties.
Following the indictment announcement, civil rights leaders immediately began coordinating their response through conference calls, discussing strategies to defend the Alabama-based organization that has monitored hate groups since its founding in 1971. The SPLC has gained recognition for its work tracking white supremacist organizations and advocating on issues including voting access, immigration policy, and police reform.
During these strategy sessions, organizers emphasized the importance of winning public support alongside the legal battle, resulting in numerous statements backing the SPLC and plans for demonstrations.
Legal counsel for various civil rights organizations warned activists to brace themselves for potential similar prosecutions, lengthy court battles that could drain their finances, and government reviews of their personnel and internal records.
This coordinated effort marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tension between advocacy groups and the Justice Department since President Donald Trump returned to office last year. Movement leaders say they’re committed to standing with the SPLC throughout its legal challenges.
“This represents a transparently obvious assault on civil rights and freedoms designed to protect those who promote replacement theory ideology and other extremists. Our coalition will not remain silent,” stated Maya Wiley, who leads the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, which represents hundreds of advocacy organizations.
More than 100 activist organizations released a joint statement Tuesday pledging support for groups facing what they called “unjust targeting” by federal authorities, with the SPLC among the signatories.
“An attack on one is an attack on all,” the coalition stated. “We will share knowledge, resources, and support with any organization threatened by abuses of power.”
Federal prosecutors allege the SPLC, known for pursuing legal action against hate organizations like the Ku Klux Klan, broke federal law by operating a network of paid sources within extremist movements. The Justice Department contends these payments essentially funded hate groups while misleading the organization’s supporters.
The charges include wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, filed in federal court in Alabama where the SPLC operates.
“The SPLC is manufacturing racism to justify its existence,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche declared during a news conference announcing the prosecution. Blanche pledged the department “will hold the SPLC and every other fraudulent organization operating with the same deceptive playbook accountable.”
Veteran civil rights leaders characterized the allegations as a dishonest and partisan action that could embolden extremist movements.
“The indictment is transparently political and represents the Justice Department attacking itself,” said Marc Morial, who heads the National Urban League. “It places the Justice Department in the position of essentially defending white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan and others.”
Activists also see the prosecution as part of the administration’s wider dismantling of civil rights protections and the Justice Department’s targeting of Trump’s political adversaries.
The SPLC has become a frequent target of conservative criticism in recent years, with critics objecting to the watchdog organization’s designation of several right-wing groups involved in Republican politics as hateful or extremist.
Last October, FBI Director Kash Patel ended the bureau’s longstanding anti-extremism collaborations with both the SPLC and the Anti-Defamation League, which fights antisemitism. Patel described the SPLC as a “partisan smear machine.”
Neither the Justice Department nor the SPLC provided responses to requests for comment.
Advocates reject the Justice Department’s portrayal of the SPLC’s mission, which civil rights activists credit with combating extremist organizations nationwide.
“The issue is that the indictment essentially argues that using donor funds to fight the Klan, Neo-Nazis and other white supremacist groups constituted fraud against SPLC’s supporters, when that is precisely why people contributed to the organization,” explained Norm Eisen, who founded Democracy Defenders Action, a legal organization that assists groups in disputes with the Trump administration.
Eisen continued: “The idea that using informants and protecting their identities to prevent white supremacist violence is problematic is contradicted by the fact that this approach is not only what the SPLC employed, but also standard practice for the FBI itself.”
Civil rights groups are now bracing for additional legal action targeting organizations that oppose or challenge the Trump administration. Over the past year, organizations have examined their record-keeping practices, tax compliance procedures, and audit policies to protect against potential investigations or lawsuits.
Some advocacy groups have also discussed establishing new organizational frameworks that might better resist legal challenges. During recent strategy calls, activists have considered restructuring certain groups as for-profit entities or creating new financial channels for donations to ensure staff compensation if an organization’s assets face seizure or freezing.
This preparation represents a dramatic change for many civil rights leaders who previously viewed the Justice Department under both Democratic and Republican leadership as a dependable partner in major civil rights cases.
“What we are witnessing in real time is an administration attempting to leverage its authority to target individuals and organizations that disagree with its political ideology,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson, who described the Justice Department as being “weaponized by dangerous forces.”
For other leaders, the SPLC prosecution evokes memories of an earlier period when the Justice Department surveilled — and sometimes prosecuted — civil rights leaders to disrupt their work.
“We’re not retreating, but we are realistic. Anyone could face some type of risk if you’re targeted by this administration,” said Juan Proaño, who leads the League of United Latin American Citizens, a civil rights organization challenging the Trump administration over executive actions concerning birthright citizenship and mail-in voting.
“That’s their goal; they want this to create a chilling effect,” Proaño added.
Drought conditions remain a growing concern across the Mid-Atlantic this week, with the most significant impacts centered on the Maryland Western Shore, where severe drought (D2) continues to expand.
According to the latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor, a large portion of the Maryland Western Shore is now classified under D2, or severe drought. This level of drought indicates widespread impacts, including stressed crops, reduced soil moisture, and increasingly strained water resources. The expansion of D2 conditions highlights the persistence of long-term rainfall deficits that have been building since last year.
Across Delmarva, conditions are somewhat less intense but still notable. Much of Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland remain in abnormally dry (D0) to moderate drought (D1). While there have been minor week-to-week fluctuations, the overall trend continues to reflect lingering dryness, particularly in deeper soil layers. These deficits are becoming more important as the region enters the heart of the growing season.
The primary driver behind these conditions continues to be a prolonged stretch of below-normal precipitation dating back to the fall. Even with occasional rain events, the region has struggled to make meaningful progress in reducing long-term deficits. In many areas, groundwater levels and streamflows remain below normal, a clear signal that drought conditions extend beyond just surface dryness.
Agriculture is beginning to feel the impacts more directly, especially across the Maryland Western Shore where D2 drought is in place. Soil moisture shortages are making it increasingly difficult for crops to establish early in the season, and without consistent rainfall, stress on vegetation is expected to increase. On Delmarva, impacts are more gradual but still concerning, particularly for farmers relying on consistent spring moisture.
Looking ahead, there is some potential for relief. A developing pattern may bring periodic rainfall to the region over the coming weeks, including a system expected this weekend that could deliver a beneficial soaking rain. However, one or two rainfall events will not be enough to eliminate the drought. It will take a sustained period of above-normal precipitation to fully reverse the long-term deficits in place.
Until then, drought conditions will remain a key issue across both Delmarva and the Maryland Western Shore, with continued impacts expected for agriculture, water resources, and even elevated fire risk during dry and breezy periods.
President Donald Trump is set to reveal on Thursday a new partnership with pharmaceutical company Regeneron designed to reduce medication costs as part of his administration’s most-favored-nation drug pricing program.
Under the terms of the agreement, Regeneron will reduce prices for both existing and upcoming medications within Medicaid and offer its cholesterol medication Praluent for $225 through the White House’s discount drug platform TrumpRx, according to details first reported by NOTUS and verified by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
This announcement arrives as the Trump administration continues highlighting economic relief efforts before November’s midterm elections, with American families reporting financial strain from elevated healthcare, fuel, grocery, and other essential living costs.
The partnership represents one of several most-favored-nation agreements the Trump administration has negotiated with pharmaceutical companies to align U.S. drug costs with those in other developed countries. Following Trump’s public correspondence last July to leadership at 17 major pharmaceutical firms regarding this matter, Regeneron becomes the last of those companies to reach an agreement with his administration.
The deal also includes Regeneron’s pledge to invest approximately $10 billion in domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing, according to NOTUS reporting. Trump’s previous agreements have typically provided companies with tariff relief in exchange for such manufacturing commitments.
While Trump and his Department of Health and Human Services have promoted his drug-pricing agreements as groundbreaking, the specific terms of these contracts have remained confidential.
When congressional members requested contract details this week, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. indicated his department would release available information that doesn’t contain proprietary data or trade secrets. Both Trump and Kennedy have encouraged Congress to make these agreements legally binding.
Medication costs for American patients vary based on multiple elements, including market competition for treatments and insurance benefits. The majority of Americans receive coverage through employment, individual insurance markets, or government programs such as Medicaid and Medicare, which provide protection from most expenses.
While Medicaid patients, covered under the joint state and federal program for low-income individuals, currently pay minimal co-payments of just a few dollars for prescriptions, reduced drug prices could benefit state budgets that support these programs.
A Delaware farmer has earned national recognition for his commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable farming practices.
James “Jay” Baxter received the 2026 Northeast Regional Conservation Legacy Award from the American Soybean Association at the recent Commodity Classic conference. The honor celebrates farmers who demonstrate excellence in protecting natural resources while maintaining productive operations.
Baxter was one of four regional winners selected from across the United States, with Tennessee farmer Alex Forsbach taking home the top national prize.
The Delaware farmer’s recognition comes from his dedication to practices that protect water quality in his community. Baxter employs no-till farming methods, plants cover crops, and carefully manages nutrients to prevent runoff from reaching local waterways.
“This isn’t just about our farm, it’s about our community and the resources we all share,” Baxter explained during the awards ceremony.
His farming philosophy extends beyond immediate productivity gains to long-term environmental responsibility.
“At the end of the day, we want to leave this land better than we found it,” he stated.
Baxter’s approach reflects the unique challenges faced by farmers in Delaware, where agricultural decisions directly impact surrounding communities and shared natural resources.
The national winner, Alex Forsbach from Tennessee, has dedicated more than ten years to developing conservation systems based on patience and consistency. His operation focuses on no-till practices and cover crops, which have gradually improved his soil’s organic matter, structure, and ability to retain moisture.
“It doesn’t happen overnight,” Forsbach noted. “You have to stay consistent and trust the process.”
As the top honoree, Forsbach emphasized the importance of knowledge sharing among farmers.
“If we want to keep farming strong into the future, we have to be willing to learn and help others along the way,” he said.
The other regional winners included Lewis Unruh from Kansas, who won the Midwest Regional Award, and Jon and Cathy Nelson from South Dakota, who captured the Upper Midwest Regional Award.
Unruh continues a family tradition of conservation that began with contour farming to prevent erosion. His current operation incorporates no-till methods, cover crops, and enhanced water management systems.
“We’ve always believed that if you take care of the soil, it will take care of you,” Unruh shared.
The Nelson family from South Dakota built their award-winning operation on adaptability and continuous learning. Their farm features no-till practices, varied crop rotations, and techniques specifically designed to build soil health over time.
“You have to be willing to try things, learn from them, and keep adapting,” Jon Nelson explained.
The couple also believes in sharing successful practices with other farmers. “If something works for us, we want to share it,” Cathy Nelson said. “That’s how agriculture moves forward.”
The Conservation Legacy Awards program was established to honor farmers who enhance their operations while safeguarding the natural resources essential to their success. The American Soybean Association runs the program with support from industry partners including BASF, Bayer, Nutrien, Valent USA, and the United Soybean Board through soy checkoff funding.
A national committee comprising farmers, conservation experts, agronomists, and natural resource professionals evaluates all applications. Each year, the program recognizes regional leaders and selects one national winner whose operation exemplifies conservation excellence.
Common practices among all winning operations include prioritizing soil health through no-till farming and cover crops that prevent erosion and enhance soil structure. Water management remains crucial, whether through contour farming or careful nutrient application. Precision technology helps farmers apply inputs more efficiently.
Beyond specific techniques, these farmers share a mindset focused on building systems that improve over time.
As agriculture confronts challenges including narrow profit margins, increasing input costs, and growing sustainability expectations, these award winners deliver an important message: conservation practices complement rather than compete with productivity goals.
For the 2026 Conservation Legacy Award recipients, recognition at Commodity Classic represents a significant achievement. However, their real work continues in their fields, season after season, as they demonstrate that environmental stewardship forms the foundation of agriculture’s future.
Delaware transportation officials are inviting the public to participate in an online information session regarding a bridge project in Newark.
The Delaware Department of Transportation has scheduled a virtual public meeting to discuss Bridge 1-555, which carries Library Avenue traffic over Amtrak’s railroad tracks. The online session is set for Monday, April 27th, beginning at 5:00 pm.
Community members can join the discussion through a Zoom webinar format. DelDOT encourages public participation in the virtual meeting to learn more about the bridge project and provide input.
Three student-athletes from Goldey-Beacom College’s esports program have been recognized with end-of-season honors following another dominant year for the Lightning.
The Wilmington-based college’s esports teams claimed three championship titles in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference during this academic year, continuing their strong tradition in competitive gaming.
The spring season concluded with three Lightning players earning individual recognition for their outstanding performances throughout the campaign.
Goldey-Beacom has established itself as a powerhouse in collegiate esports competition, with multiple conference championships demonstrating the program’s consistent excellence and the high level of talent among its student-athletes.
Officials with the Delaware State Fire Commission have begun a nationwide recruitment process to identify the next leader of the Delaware State Fire School.
The incoming director will function as the primary executive and administrative leader for the state fire training institution, maintaining direct reporting responsibilities to the Delaware State Fire Commission.
According to the commission, the role encompasses comprehensive oversight responsibilities for the fire school’s operations.
The Delaware Farm Bureau has brought Noah Dixon from Felton aboard as their new Agriculture Literacy Coordinator.
Dixon’s responsibilities will include advancing the organization’s goals of supporting and safeguarding Delaware’s agricultural sector through educational initiatives and advocacy efforts that benefit farming families and consumers throughout the state. His position focuses on helping people understand the origins of food and fiber products by creating educational resources, organizing school and community programs, and fostering relationships between agricultural producers and educational institutions statewide.
“I am excited for the chance to educate Delaware’s youth about the significance of agriculture as an industry and in their lives,” said Dixon. “Young people are our future, and when we feed into them, the future is a stronger and brighter place.”
Dixon brings valuable experience from his previous internship with the Delaware Farm Bureau, where he worked directly with the organization’s programs and agricultural education efforts. His background also includes significant involvement with the National FFA Organization, including a two-year tenure as a Delaware State FFA Officer and ongoing volunteer work with the state chapter. Additionally, he completed a marketing internship with the Delaware Department of Agriculture.
Currently pursuing his education at Delaware State University, Dixon is expected to complete his general agriculture degree in May 2026. During his time at the university, he has participated in Collegiate FFA activities and helped establish the DSU Collegiate Farm Bureau.
Those interested in scheduling an agricultural literacy visit can reach Dixon at [email protected].
Delaware State Police have taken a 42-year-old Dover resident into custody on multiple felony charges, including her fifth driving under the influence offense, after a vehicle collision in Felton.
Authorities identified the suspect as Ashley Green following the incident that occurred on April 21, 2026, around 12:15 p.m. A concerned citizen flagged down a state trooper to report that a red car had collided with a pole along Main Street in Felton. Upon investigation, the officer discovered a red Chevrolet HHR that had crashed into a mailbox and come to rest on the curb near the intersection of Main Street and Dundee Road.
When the trooper made contact with Green, who was behind the wheel, she appeared to be engaged in a phone conversation, though officers determined no one was actually on the other end of the call. The suspect displayed multiple indicators of intoxication, according to police reports. Green became combative when ordered to step out of her vehicle and physically fought against officers’ attempts to arrest her. During the struggle, authorities deployed a taser, but Green continued to resist and allegedly spat on multiple troopers before they could successfully place her in custody.
A background investigation revealed that Green has been convicted of four previous DUI-related offenses, making this her fifth such charge.
Following her arrest, Green was transported to Troop 3 headquarters for processing. She appeared before Justice of the Peace Court 7 for arraignment and was subsequently ordered held at the Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution under a $12,003 secured bond.
The charges filed against Green include:
5th Offense Driving a Vehicle under the Influence of any Drug (Felony)
Resisting Arrest with Force or Violence (Felony)
Offensive Touching of Another with Saliva, Urine, Feces, or Other Bodily Fluid – 4 counts
A newly published book sheds light on the hidden battle against hate groups that flourished in America following World War II. Stephen J. Ross’s latest work, ‘The Secret War Against Hate,’ chronicles the emergence of racist and anti-Semitic organizations during the latter decades of the 1900s, along with the covert intelligence operations that sought to dismantle them.
Ross documents how these extremist movements gained momentum in post-war America, as well as the underground network of operatives who infiltrated these groups to gather evidence and bring their leaders to account through the legal system.
BYU basketball star AJ Dybantsa confirmed Thursday that he will enter the NBA draft, where he’s anticipated to be among the top selections.
The forward from Massachusetts dominated college basketball this season, posting the nation’s highest scoring average at 25.5 points per game while also contributing 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per contest during his single collegiate campaign.
Dybantsa becomes the first player since Larry Bird’s 1978-79 season at Indiana State to achieve those statistical benchmarks while earning consensus All-American recognition.
“Now the work starts again, all over again,” Dybantsa said. “I’ve had a lot of NBA players tell me that it kind of restarts once you get there. I’m just looking forward to that next step, being a rookie and learning from all the vets.”
The announcement took place at the Davis School in Dybantsa’s native Brockton, Massachusetts, a city known for producing boxing legends Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler.
“It’s the city of champions,” Dybantsa said. “I just want to be considered like one of those champions.”
Despite his professional basketball aspirations, Dybantsa plans to continue his education at BYU while pursuing his NBA career. He attended the Davis School through elementary school and credits the institution with teaching him valuable lessons about the importance of academics.
“My mom wanted me to stay in college to graduate,” Dybantsa said. “But I told my mother that I’m going to declare for the draft and also finish and get my degree online. I’ll probably finish within the next four years.”
The draft’s selection order remains undetermined until the lottery scheduled for May 10. Washington, Indiana, and Brooklyn each hold identical 14% chances of securing the first overall pick. When questioned about his preferred destination, Dybantsa’s response was straightforward.
“Whatever team drafts me, bro,” Dybantsa said.
The confident young player already has his sights set on basketball immortality, hoping to one day return to Massachusetts for another significant speech at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
“The next speech — the next big, big speech — I should have is the Hall of Fame speech,” Dybantsa said. “So, we should be good.”
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama will make the trip to Portland with his teammates for this weekend’s playoff games while he works through the NBA’s required concussion protocol procedures.
Head coach Mitch Johnson declined to confirm Thursday whether Wembanyama would be available for Game 3, stating the young star is making progress but his availability against Portland remains up in the air.
“He looks good,” Johnson commented, adding that team officials have not yet begun discussing a timeline for Wembanyama’s return to action.
The French center was present at the team’s training facility Thursday for the second day running, wearing a black hoodie and gray sweatpants. According to teammate Julian Champagnie, Wembanyama managed to take some practice shots.
“He was only around for a little bit this morning,” Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox noted Thursday. “Obviously, we just want him to be healthy.”
The 7-foot-4 center — who became the first player ever to win Defensive Player of the Year unanimously and is among three MVP finalists — sustained his head injury during San Antonio’s Game 2 defeat to Portland Tuesday evening, exiting in the second quarter.
Friday’s Game 3 in Portland will continue the series currently knotted at one game each, with Game 4 scheduled for Sunday in the same city. The Spurs were set to depart for Portland Thursday afternoon.
The NBA’s concussion protocol requires players to complete specific stages before receiving medical clearance. The recovery process starts with low-intensity activities including stationary cycling, light jogging, agility exercises and basketball drills without contact, with neurological testing following each phase.
Medical staff will also compare Wembanyama’s current test results against his preseason baseline neurological assessment before allowing him to advance through the return-to-play stages.
“It’s pretty straightforward,” Johnson explained. “Obviously, we hope he’ll be back at some point. But we’ll allow the protocol to play out. And again, there’s nothing more important than his health.”
A prolonged absence for Wembanyama would severely impact San Antonio, which posted the NBA’s second-best regular season record thanks largely to the versatile French big man. The team managed a 12-6 record during games he missed in the regular season.
This season, Wembanyama posted averages of 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a league-leading 3.1 blocks per contest. He joined his teammates Wednesday night for a celebration where the squad wore cowboy hats to honor Keldon Johnson’s Sixth Man of the Year recognition.
“We know that he’s chomping at the bit to get back on the court and be with his guys,” Johnson said.
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department’s inspector general announced Thursday it has launched an investigation into how officials handled the congressionally mandated disclosure of Jeffrey Epstein investigation documents.
The watchdog’s examination will scrutinize the department’s methods for gathering, examining and censoring materials before their public release, as well as how officials responded to privacy issues that emerged once the files became available. Survivors of Epstein’s crimes voiced concerns that inadequate redactions had revealed their private details.
This investigation represents one of the first major reviews by the inspector general since Trump began his second presidency, targeting what became a politically charged issue during his previous administration. At that time, Justice Department leaders initially resisted releasing the documents but eventually yielded to congressional legislation and public demands to disclose millions of pages of previously classified records.
The Epstein matter has created ongoing challenges for the department over the past year. Federal investigators and Justice Department officials initially stated in an unsigned declaration that no additional records from the sex trafficking probe would be disclosed, but they changed their position after Congress enacted legislation that Trump signed into law.
When the department eventually published the documents, it faced criticism from multiple directions. Victims argued that careless redaction work had revealed their identities, while others alleged that potentially damaging information about Trump had been deliberately excluded from the release.
Epstein died by suicide in a New York detention facility in August 2019, approximately one month following his indictment on federal charges related to sex trafficking.
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump’s anticipated presence at this weekend’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner has sparked fresh debate about the annual Washington gathering that celebrates journalism while bringing reporters together with the officials they cover.
The administration’s hostile relationship with news media throughout Trump’s second term — including verbal attacks on individual journalists, ongoing legal battles with major outlets like The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Associated Press, and limiting media access at the Pentagon — makes his attendance particularly controversial.
The annual event, nicknamed the “nerd prom” for its spectacle of formally-dressed reporters, already faces criticism for creating uncomfortable dynamics between journalists and their subjects.
“This is sort of a critical moment for these dinners and it will be interesting to see what happens going forward,” said Lisa Stark, a former ABC News reporter.
Stark and longtime colleague Ian Cameron have organized a petition calling on journalists attending Saturday’s event to “speak forcefully” in defense of press freedom with Trump present. More than 350 former journalists, including Dan Rather and former ABC White House correspondent Sam Donaldson, have signed the petition. Some reporters are discussing visible demonstrations such as wearing First Amendment-themed lapel pins.
Since Calvin Coolidge became the first president to attend in 1924, chief executives have traditionally appeared at the dinner, often enduring comedic roasting from entertainers like Stephen Colbert, Colin Jost and Trevor Noah. Trump previously attended as a guest in 2011, visibly uncomfortable as President Barack Obama made jokes at his expense. This marks his first attendance as sitting president.
“The only thing more insulting for the press than Trump not coming is Trump coming,” Kelly McBride, NPR ombudsman and head of the Poynter Institute’s ethics and leadership center, wrote last week.
“This man mocks you, sues you, and targets you for prosecution,” former AP White House correspondent Ron Fournier wrote on Substack, questioning why journalists would share dinner with Trump after detailing his actions against the press. HuffPost announced its journalists won’t attend Saturday as a form of protest.
WHCA president Weijia Jiang of CBS News declined immediate comment. However, Todd Gilman, former White House bureau chief for the Dallas Morning News and current Arizona State University journalism professor, argued that avoiding Trump wouldn’t be appropriate for the press. He noted the president will generate news regardless, depending on his remarks at the event.
Gilman emphasized that correspondents aren’t honoring Trump by including him at the dinner, addressing what he called a common misunderstanding.
Separately, CBS parent company Paramount is reportedly hosting a dinner Thursday honoring Trump at the Institute of Peace, which was renamed for Trump last year. Paramount is currently seeking government approval for its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Should Trump remain for the entire dinner Saturday, he’ll witness awards being presented to journalists he has criticized, including CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. The Wall Street Journal will be recognized for reporting on Trump’s birthday message to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — a story that prompted Trump to sue the publication. The Associated Press, currently in court battles with Trump over access issues, will also receive honors.
Questions about journalists socializing with powerful figures they cover aren’t new. The New York Times stopped participating in 2011 for these reasons. The Atlantic magazine described the “slow, awkward death” of the correspondents dinner in 2018.
McBride suggested correspondents should recognize that “a red-carpet schmoozefest with the powerful sources they cover was never a good idea.” News organizations will face scrutiny this weekend for hosting administration officials at their tables, such as CBS News reportedly inviting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Many attending journalists defend the event’s networking opportunities as professionally valuable. Gilman has brought Mexican ambassadors as guests — important contacts for a Texas newspaper reporter. NPR journalist Eric Deggans wrote on Substack about securing an interview with media mogul Byron Allen through a WHCD connection.
“Even if you’re not sitting with an administration official, you have the opportunity to walk up to someone, say hi, break the ice and give them a business card,” Gilman explained. “It puts a face to the name, so maybe they’ll return your call the next time.”
TAMPA, Fla. — University of South Florida police are asking the public for help finding two graduate students who have been missing for more than a week.
Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27 years old and originally from Bangladesh, disappeared on April 16 from the Tampa campus, according to university police officials.
The couple was pursuing their doctoral degrees in different fields. Limon was working toward his PhD in geography, environmental science and policy, while Bristy was studying chemical engineering. Police say Limon was last spotted at his residence in a student housing complex, and Bristy was seen about an hour afterward at a campus science facility.
University police were notified last Friday by a friend of the couple who had been unable to reach either student.
Campus police spokesperson Larry McKinnon stated Thursday that investigators do not suspect the pair was taken into custody by federal immigration authorities.
Those close to the students say their sudden silence is highly unusual for them.
“It doesn’t feel normal,” said Md. Rakibuzzaman, who studies at the University of Georgia and maintains a close friendship with Limon. He described the situation to Tampa’s WFLA television as “a pretty complex puzzle to me.”
Zubaer Ahmed, who is Limon’s younger brother, spoke with WTVT and revealed their last conversation occurred three days before the disappearance. During that call, Limon mentioned being extremely occupied with his dissertation research, which focuses on applying generative artificial intelligence to examine Florida’s diminishing wetland areas. Ahmed also shared that while the couple had discussed marriage possibilities, they were prioritizing the completion of their academic programs.
LONDON – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed mounting alarm Thursday regarding foreign nations employing proxy groups to execute attacks within the United Kingdom, vowing to introduce new laws in response to recent incidents.
The capital has experienced multiple attacks in recent weeks – primarily involving arson – targeting locations with Jewish connections. Counter-terrorism investigators are examining several of these cases, though law enforcement officials state they are not presently classified as terrorist acts.
UK officials have increasingly identified hostile foreign government activity as a factor behind recent events, cautioning that international governments may attempt to work through criminal organizations or intermediaries to avoid direct responsibility.
“I’m increasingly concerned that a number of countries are using proxies for attacks in this country,” Starmer stated during his visit with Jewish community members at Kenton United Synagogue, which suffered an arson attack this past Sunday.
The blaze resulted in minimal smoke damage to one interior room with no reported injuries. On Tuesday, a 17-year-old British youth entered a guilty plea to arson charges that did not endanger lives in relation to the incident.
“We have to deal with malign state actors,” the Prime Minister declared, emphasizing that addressing this threat would require new government legislation.
“I want this country to be a place where everybody feels safe and secure. This is not just a battle for the Jewish community,” Starmer emphasized. “It is our battle. The Britain that I want is a Britain where people can practice their religion, their faith, in safety and security.”
Spain’s banking giant Santander announced Thursday it will temporarily halt its stock repurchase program while awaiting a crucial shareholder vote on its massive acquisition of American lender Webster Financial.
The temporary pause on share buybacks will begin April 24 and continue through May 26, aligning with Webster Financial’s scheduled shareholder meeting to vote on the $12.2 billion purchase agreement, according to regulatory filings submitted by Santander.
Company officials indicated the share repurchase program will restart on May 27 and continue operating until August 20.
Santander first revealed its plans to acquire Webster Financial in February as part of a strategic move to establish a stronger presence in America’s retail banking sector.
This year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner will break tradition by featuring a mind-reader rather than the typical stand-up comedian as its main entertainment.
Oz Pearlman, a professional mentalist, will take center stage at the annual Washington D.C. event that brings together political figures and members of the press corps.
In an interview with NPR, Pearlman expressed his goals for the performance, saying he aims to “unify, delight and puzzle the crowd” during his act. However, he remained secretive about his planned tricks and methods.
The mentalist recently appeared on Fox Business Network’s “Varney & Co.” show, demonstrating his abilities on television before his upcoming White House appearance.
This departure from the dinner’s usual comedy format represents a unique approach to entertaining the gathered politicians and journalists at one of Washington’s most high-profile annual events.
Three farmers received top honors at the American Soybean Association’s yearly recognition ceremony during Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas, including a Delaware farmer who received the organization’s highest award.
The ceremony celebrates outstanding contributions to the soybean industry, honoring volunteer work and exceptional leadership. Awards recognize state-level volunteer service, leadership accomplishments spanning five or more years, and lifetime contributions to the soybean sector. Nominations are typically accepted from June through October, with a judging panel making final decisions.
Iowa Farmer Dave Walton Wins Outstanding State Volunteer Recognition
The American Soybean Association presented Iowa farmer Dave Walton with the Outstanding State Volunteer Award. This recognition honors dedicated volunteers who have contributed exemplary service for at least three years in any aspect of their state association’s activities.
Walton has committed more than ten years to advancing soybean farmers’ causes, holding important positions on the Iowa Soybean Association board, the ASA Executive Committee, the Iowa Biodiesel Board, and the Clean Fuels Alliance America board.
His efforts have bolstered the soybean sector through relationship-building with government officials, industry executives, and fellow farmers. Walton has exceeded expectations in advocacy work, playing a crucial part in developing his state’s biodiesel agenda.
While accepting his award, Walton credited his success to teamwork with his wife and oldest son, who enabled him to dedicate time to volunteer activities throughout the years. He also expressed gratitude to fellow directors who challenged him and helped him grow as both a leader and individual.
Currently serving as ASA’s vice president, Walton is positioned to become president in 2027. “I have a couple years left at the national level, and I have a lot more things to accomplish here in the next few years, so I got to get going,” he stated. “It’s going to go fast, but we have a lot of work to do and I have a good team around me, both at the director’s level and the staff level, so we’re going to get some things done in the next two years. I’m looking forward to it.”
North Dakota’s Monte Peterson Earns Distinguished Leadership Award
The ASA Distinguished Leadership Award honors soybean producers or association staff who demonstrate exceptional commitment and successfully guide others toward achieving goals that benefit soybean farmers. North Dakota farmer Monte Peterson received this year’s Distinguished Leadership Award.
Peterson has championed soybean farmers since 2006 when he joined the North Dakota Soybean Council board. He also held a position on the American Soybean Association board from 2014 through 2023.
Throughout his ASA tenure, Peterson led the Trade Policy & International Affairs Committee. He gained recognition for simplifying complex issues, including the China trade conflict, and directing efforts to remove trade obstacles and expand markets.
From 2017 to 2023, Peterson served on the U.S. Soybean Export Council board, holding positions as vice chair, chair, and past chair. Leading the USSEC board during the COVID-19 pandemic, he participated in hundreds of virtual meetings while maintaining crucial trade relationships and reinforcing U.S. soy’s reputation as a dependable, high-quality product.
Through the ASA Corteva Young Leader Program, Peterson worked with emerging farmer leaders, motivating them to participate in committee activities and explaining how national policies impact their farming operations.
Upon receiving his award, Peterson acknowledged the opportunities he had to collaborate with strong leadership and committed board members from ASA, USSEC, and North Dakota Soybean Growers Association, whose guidance continues to advance the soybean industry.
“Any leadership that I’ve shown has been the result of standing shoulder to shoulder with individuals who bring insight, who bring energy and integrity to the work that we do. If I’ve managed to look like a leader at all, it’s only because I’ve been surrounded by people who lift me up, that keep me on track, and occasionally remind me where I’m supposed to be next. Thank you for this recognition and for your confidence in me,” he said.
Delaware’s Richard Wilkins Receives Pinnacle Award, ASA’s Top Honor
The American Soybean Association honored the late Richard Wilkins from Greenwood, Delaware, with its most prestigious recognition, the Pinnacle Award. This industry-wide acknowledgment celebrates a lifetime of work showing the highest level of contribution and leadership within the soybean community and sector.
Throughout his 53 years of service, Wilkins consistently displayed innovative leadership that enhanced the soybean industry’s sustainability and cohesion. He fulfilled numerous roles as a soybean farmer advocate, including membership in the Mid-Atlantic Soybean Association, former ASA president, and former state executive director of Delaware’s Farm Service Agency.
Wilkins started farming in 1972 with just three acres of soybeans on leased land, growing to 65 acres by his high school graduation in 1976. These early experiences fostered a lifelong appreciation for hard work, innovation, and producer-led leadership – values that shaped his contributions at every level of the soybean community.
At the state level, Wilkins participated on the Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council, representing farmers during increasingly complex nutrient management requirements. In this role, he advocated for science-based, practical approaches that helped producers meet environmental regulations while maintaining yield and economic sustainability.
In 2015, Wilkins became ASA president and guided the organization through significant national policy discussions, particularly during the proposed Vermont GMO labeling law crisis. Under his direction, ASA rallied farmers and stakeholders to inform policymakers, leading to a consistent national food labeling standard that prevented confusion, protected consumers, and maintained market stability.
During the Awards Celebration, Wilkins’ wife, Donna, and his nephew, Chris, received the award on his behalf. Donna shared that Richard’s life passion involved continuing public education, mentoring future generations, and protecting agriculture’s future. She also read a letter Wilkins wrote to the ASA board in 2010 when deciding to run for ASA vice president. Wilkins wrote, “It is incumbent upon us as farmer leaders to advocate for policies that achieve societal wishes for a clean and safe food supply, but let’s also allow the American agribusiness industry to grow and prosper… I am driven by a passion to serve the industry that I have been a part of my entire life.”
Wilkins will be remembered for ensuring fair and equitable representation for smaller soybean-producing states within the American Soybean Association. His lasting impact will be measured not only by the policies he helped create and the markets he expanded, but also by the leaders he guided.
Maryland officials are asking residents to share their thoughts on upcoming management strategies for four state forests in the 2027 fiscal year. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has opened a public comment period for proposed Annual Work Plans covering Chesapeake/Pocomoke, Green Ridge, Potomac-Garrett, and Savage River state forests.
Citizens have until May 29, 2026, to submit their feedback on these comprehensive planning documents. These yearly plans serve as roadmaps for department officials to set priorities within each forest’s broader management strategy. The documents outline approaches for forest composition, establishment, growth, health, and quality improvements, plus construction and maintenance initiatives.
The opportunity for public input represents the third and final phase of an extensive review process. Initially, natural resource experts specializing in wildlife habitats, fisheries, recreation, forest management, water quality, and ecologically important species conduct internal evaluations. Next, local citizen advisory groups examine the proposals before the public comment window opens.
Once community feedback concludes, individual forest managers will examine all input, make necessary adjustments, and complete their respective plans. Residents can submit comments through an online form available on the Maryland Forest Service website. The finalized plans will take effect on July 1, 2026.
Those interested in reviewing the proposed state forest annual work plans can access them through the Maryland Forest Service website.
WILMINGTON – Delaware Governor Matt Meyer’s administration has opened the application process for student interns to work in the governor’s office during the summer of 2026.
The governor’s office is seeking Delaware students interested in gaining firsthand experience with state government operations through the newly launched internship initiative.
“We’re excited to launch our office’s Summer 2026 internship program, giving students from across Delaware critical knowledge about what it takes to manage state government,” Governor Matt Meyer said. “We’re looking for folks who understand the importance of [the content appears to be cut off in the original source].
Students interested in applying for the internship positions can now submit their applications to the governor’s office.
As spring planting season continues across the country, agricultural advocates are pressing federal regulators to accelerate approval processes for crop protection products that farmers say are essential for healthy yields.
The debate over pesticide labeling has intensified as consumers increasingly see products marked “glyphosate-free” in grocery stores. According to Madelyn Derks, Director of Government Affairs for the American Soybean Association, this creates a disconnect between consumer perceptions and farming realities, where pesticides like glyphosate serve as crucial tools for protecting crops from harmful pests and weeds.
The Environmental Protection Agency provided some relief to growers on February 6th when it announced new dicamba labeling for use on dicamba-resistant soybeans and cotton over the next two growing seasons. The timing proved critical for farmers preparing for planting, though the new regulations include challenging restrictions such as temperature limits and mandatory buffer zones that may complicate weed management during optimal spraying periods.
However, numerous new active ingredients and applications for existing products remain stuck in EPA approval processes, some waiting for months. This regulatory bottleneck comes at a particularly difficult time as agricultural input costs continue climbing, with pesticides facing the heaviest impact from tariffs at an average rate of 12 percent.
The situation has worsened over time, with the average approval timeline for new crop protection products extending from 11.3 years to 12.3 years. Agricultural groups worry that the growing EPA backlog puts American farmers at a competitive disadvantage compared to international producers who have faster access to innovative products.
The American Soybean Association has launched multiple advocacy campaigns to emphasize the importance of EPA’s science-based approval process and the need for farmer access to effective crop protection tools. The organization has identified particular concerns within the Make America Healthy Again movement, noting that both the movement and farmers share the common goal of providing affordable, nutritious food to American families.
Agricultural advocates argue that EPA should prioritize making new and innovative pesticide products available to growers more quickly. They contend that continued delays in registration approvals only weaken U.S. agricultural competitiveness at a time when global market position is increasingly important.
Industry representatives maintain that pesticides remain a fundamental component of producing healthy and sustainable food supplies, regardless of farming location or consumer purchasing preferences in grocery stores.
Baseball icon Sandy Koufax has been selected to receive Baseball Digest’s annual Lifetime Achievement Award, becoming the sixth recipient of the prestigious honor.
The Hall of Fame left-hander received the recognition Thursday, an award designed to celebrate “a living individual whose career has been spent in or around Major League Baseball and who has demonstrated outstanding character and has made significant contributions to the game.”
Previous recipients of this distinction include Willie Mays, who received the first award in 2021, broadcaster Vin Scully in 2022, manager Joe Torre in 2023, skipper Dusty Baker in 2024, and announcer Bob Costas in 2025.
“It’s a great honor to be recognized along with the previous award winners,” the 90-year-old Koufax said in a news release. “I thank the distinguished panel.”
The legendary pitcher began his professional career with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955, the same year the franchise captured its first World Series title. Following the team’s relocation to Los Angeles, Koufax established himself as one of the sport’s most formidable hurlers throughout the 1960s.
During his stellar career, the southpaw captured three Cy Young Awards, earned an MVP honor, and claimed five straight National League ERA championships. His achievements include three seasons with 25 or more victories, leading the major leagues in wins each time, plus seven All-Star selections between 1961 and 1966.
Koufax’s pitching mastery included four no-hit performances, one of which was a perfect game. He earned World Series MVP honors on two occasions, guiding the Dodgers to championships in 1963 and 1965, and was also part of their 1959 title team.
Arthritis in his throwing elbow forced Koufax into early retirement following the 1966 campaign at just 30 years old. His exceptional career earned him entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972, making him the youngest inductee at that time. The Dodgers honored him by retiring his No. 32 jersey later that year, and he was selected for MLB’s All-Century Team in 1999.
“The name Sandy Koufax has become a synonym for ‘great pitcher,’” Baseball Digest publisher David Fagley said. “It’s hard to believe it has been 60 years since he last pitched so brilliantly for the Dodgers but, since his retirement, Sandy has been a remarkable representative of our national game, a symbol of class and dignity.”
A panel of 21 veteran baseball participants and observers, including journalists, broadcasters, former athletes, and executives, voted to select Koufax for this year’s award.
Home loan costs have decreased for three consecutive weeks, providing relief to potential buyers during the ongoing spring real estate season.
Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the standard 30-year home loan rate declined to 6.23% from the previous week’s 6.3%. This represents a significant improvement from the 6.81% rate recorded one year ago.
Current rates have reached their lowest point since March 19, when they stood at 6.22%.
Homeowners looking to refinance also received good news, as 15-year fixed mortgage rates decreased to 5.58% from 5.65% the prior week. Freddie Mac noted this compares favorably to the 5.94% rate from twelve months ago.
Home loan costs fluctuate based on various economic factors, including Federal Reserve policy choices and bond market investor sentiment regarding economic growth and inflation expectations.
Recent rate reductions mirror declining yields on 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds, which financial institutions reference when setting home loan prices.
Thursday’s midday bond trading showed the 10-year Treasury yield at 4.30%, slightly down from 4.32% seven days earlier. This yield had dropped to just 3.97% in late February before the Iranian conflict began.
Just weeks ago in February, 30-year mortgage rates briefly dipped below 6% for the first time since late 2022. However, they climbed again last month when the Iran war caused energy price spikes and inflation concerns.
Both bond yields and mortgage rates have experienced significant fluctuations during the ongoing conflict, despite diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Iran to reach a ceasefire agreement.
The war has intensified inflation fears and economic uncertainty while consumer confidence in employment markets weakens. Combined with unstable mortgage rates, these factors have created uncertainty for the spring buying season.
America’s housing market has struggled since 2022 when rates began rising from pandemic lows. Previously-owned home sales remained essentially unchanged last year, hitting a three-decade low. Sales have continued declining through the first quarter of this year compared to the same period previously.
“Looking ahead, mortgage rates will likely continue to be volatile throughout the spring,” Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS, said in an email. “For the market to regain full momentum, we will need to see more than just a temporary dip in rates. Rather, we need sustained stability in the global energy market and a clearer sign that domestic inflation is back on a downward trajectory.”
JOHANNESBURG — President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed South Africa’s national police commissioner on suspension following criminal charges tied to alleged corruption involving a multimillion-dollar government contract.
Commissioner Fannie Masemola made his initial court appearance Tuesday and is scheduled to return for proceedings along with 12 other high-ranking police officials facing accusations of fraud, corruption, and money laundering. The charges stem from allegations that a contract was improperly given to a domestic company. Masemola’s specific charges relate to his role as the financial oversight officer for the police department.
During a Thursday news conference, President Ramaphosa announced that Puleng Dimpane, who oversees financial management within the police service, would serve as interim police commissioner during Masemola’s legal proceedings.
“I have agreed with General Masemola that he be deemed to be on precautionary suspension pending the conclusion of the case,” Ramaphosa said.
The suspension comes after extensive corruption accusations within South Africa’s law enforcement and judicial systems were exposed through an investigative commission that Ramaphosa established in the previous year.
Masemola is charged with four violations of the Public Finance Management Act, legislation that governs how the government awards contracts, in connection with a 360 million-rand ($21 million) agreement for providing health and wellness services to police personnel. Authorities allege that certain officers accepted kickbacks from the companies that won the bidding process.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine has obtained a massive financial boost from the European Union with the approval of a 90 billion-euro ($106 billion) loan package designed to support the nation’s ongoing defense efforts.
The substantial funding was officially authorized on Thursday, following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s announcement that repairs to the Ukrainian portion of the Druzhba pipeline were complete and oil deliveries to Slovakia and Hungary would restart — requirements tied to releasing the money.
The loan approval faced months of delays due to internal disagreements within the 27-member European Union, particularly opposition from former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, considered Moscow’s strongest supporter within the bloc. Orbán’s electoral defeat earlier this month removed a major barrier to finalizing the agreement.
The timing of this financial assistance proves crucial for Ukraine’s survival. International Monetary Fund projections indicate Ukraine confronts a funding shortfall of approximately 136 billion euros ($158 billion) through the next two years.
This EU assistance is projected to address roughly two-thirds of Ukraine’s financial requirements for 2026 and 2027. Government officials cautioned that without this support, Kyiv risked depleting resources needed for essential government operations and military activities by spring. Initial funding disbursements are anticipated within the coming months.
Ukraine will receive access to 45 billion euros ($53 billion) for the current year’s remaining period, plus an additional 45 billion euros ($53 billion) throughout 2027.
The loan structure allocates approximately one-third of the money toward supporting Ukraine’s governmental budget, while remaining funds will finance defense needs, including military equipment purchases and expanding domestic weapons manufacturing capabilities.
European Union leadership initially agreed to this loan in December 2025, but progress stalled for months due to disagreements concerning the Ukraine-controlled segment of the Druzhba oil pipeline.
Last December, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia consented to allow their EU partners to secure the funds through international borrowing, provided the three nations weren’t required to participate directly.
The pipeline system, which transports Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary, ceased operations in late January following Ukrainian officials’ reports of damage from Russian military strikes. Hungarian and Slovakian leadership claimed Ukraine intentionally disrupted supplies, escalating the matter into a significant political conflict within the EU.
The loan received final approval after Hungary and Slovakia confirmed Ukraine had restored pipeline operations this week. Zelenskyy announced completion of necessary repairs, eliminating the last barrier to authorization.
Thursday’s final procedural step involved unanimous approval of modifications to the EU’s long-term budget framework to accommodate future expenditures. This requirement explained why Hungary and Slovakia’s cooperation was essential.
European Union leadership has established that Ukraine will only begin loan repayment after Russia provides war reparations.
Instead of utilizing Russia’s frozen central bank assets as loan collateral, member nations chose a more conservative strategy. European leaders decided they would secure borrowing to provide Ukraine with the necessary funds.
Worries about possible Russian retaliation and legal complications prompted them to maintain the asset freeze until Moscow concludes its military campaign and compensates Ukraine for war damages.
Mining giant Freeport-McMoRan saw its stock price tumble over 8% Thursday after announcing that operations at its massive Indonesian mining facility are recovering more slowly than projected following last year’s devastating flood that claimed lives and halted production.
The Phoenix-headquartered corporation, which leads the world in publicly traded copper mining operations, now anticipates restoring just 65% of output at its Grasberg facility by the latter half of 2024, a significant reduction from its earlier projection of 85% recovery.
This setback occurs amid skyrocketing global copper demand driven by expanding artificial intelligence sectors and power generation infrastructure, limiting Freeport’s ability to capitalize on market opportunities. Copper serves as a crucial component in motors, computing equipment, battery systems, and electrical wiring due to its superior conductivity properties.
The production delays stem from necessary modifications to ore-loading equipment at the underground facility. Since operations ceased in September, unexpected groundwater infiltration has made the extracted materials significantly wetter, necessitating the installation of specialized equipment called “spillminators” – advanced mining chutes created by South African firm CAN Engineering Worx to prevent dangerous mud surges.
“We understand the engineered solution to this issue, but it will take time to make modifications,” stated CEO Kathleen Quirk, noting the problem emerged in recent weeks. “We’re confident in the ability to restore large-scale production safely.”
The company has also postponed plans to transition the facility’s energy source from coal to natural gas by approximately 18 months due to the incident.
Freeport now projects the mine will yield 800 million pounds of copper and 700 million ounces of gold in 2024, down from previous estimates of 1.1 billion pounds of copper and roughly 800 million ounces of gold. The Grasberg operation represents the world’s second-largest copper extraction site and the planet’s biggest gold mining facility.
Jefferies analyst Chris LaFemina noted that despite Freeport’s confidence in addressing restart challenges, “the market will question the guidance and is now unlikely to give Freeport the benefit of the doubt on the planned ramp.”
While the company faces no concerns regarding sulfuric acid availability – essential for copper refining – despite Middle East conflict-related supply disruptions because it produces the chemical at its own smelting facilities, rising diesel costs have increased annual expenses by $500 million.
First-quarter copper output dropped 23.7% to 662 million recoverable pounds, while gold production plummeted 66.2% to 97,000 recoverable ounces. However, copper prices surged 36.7% during the January-March period due to supply constraints, limited inventories, and strong demand, helping offset volume declines.
The company posted adjusted earnings of 57 cents per share for the quarter ending March 31, surpassing analysts’ average prediction of 46 cents according to LSEG data.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Thursday her selection of economist Roberto Lazzeri to serve as Mexico’s new ambassador to the United States, marking a significant diplomatic change during crucial trade negotiations between the North American partners.
The nomination, which requires confirmation by Mexico’s Senate, would see Lazzeri take over from current Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma, who has served in the role since 2021 under former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Speaking at her daily morning briefing, Sheinbaum praised Lazzeri’s qualifications, noting that “He worked for a long time in the finance ministry” and “He has a very good relationship with the whole Mexican government and also with U.S. counterparts.”
Lazzeri currently leads two major Mexican development institutions, Nafin and Bancomext, and has extensive experience managing the federal government’s public debt obligations. His selection comes at a critical time as discussions intensify around reviewing the trade agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The timing is particularly significant given Mexico’s heavy economic dependence on its northern neighbor, with approximately 80% of Mexican exports heading to U.S. markets. Mexican officials are working to secure relief from the comprehensive tariffs that President Donald Trump implemented last year, while also seeking greater predictability in trade relations to restore investor confidence that has been shaken by the unpredictable nature of recent trade policies.
Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard acknowledged Wednesday that tariffs affecting Mexico’s automotive, steel, and aluminum industries will likely continue even if the trilateral trade agreement is successfully renewed.
WASHINGTON – The Biden administration is preparing to reveal a pharmaceutical pricing agreement with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals this Thursday, according to an individual with knowledge of the negotiations.
Among 17 major pharmaceutical corporations that received correspondence from former President Donald Trump last July regarding drug pricing negotiations, Regeneron remained the only company that had not yet finalized such an arrangement.
When contacted by Reuters for a statement, Regeneron did not provide an immediate response.
The pharmaceutical company’s stock price climbed more than 2% during Thursday morning market activity.
American Airlines’ top executive has firmly shut down speculation about a potential merger with United Airlines, describing such a combination as harmful to competition and consumers.
During Thursday’s first-quarter earnings call, CEO Robert Isom made it clear that American has zero interest in joining forces with its Chicago rival, despite earlier suggestions from United’s leadership about approaching the Trump administration regarding a possible deal.
“We’re going to be roommates, and we’re not getting married,” Isom stated, referring to the two airlines’ ongoing competition at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
The comments come as airlines face increasing operational challenges at crowded airports. The Federal Aviation Administration recently imposed flight limits at O’Hare for the summer season after carriers had scheduled more operations than the facility could accommodate.
Isom emphasized American’s commitment to maintaining its Chicago presence, saying “No one’s going to kick us out of Chicago.” He indicated the two carriers would remain “roommates for a long, long time” while competing in the same market.
Without the FAA’s intervention to reduce congestion, O’Hare “would have likely been in a delay program for the very first flight of the day,” according to Isom. He noted that federal measures to address the crowding would enable American to restore its schedule to approximately 500 daily departures from the airport.
While rejecting merger talks, Isom signaled that American is pursuing a different growth strategy through enhanced partnerships. The airline is reportedly in preliminary discussions with Alaska Airlines about expanding their existing collaboration.
Sources indicate the talks could involve bringing Alaska into American’s international joint business arrangements spanning both Atlantic and Pacific routes. The two carriers currently maintain what they call a “West Coast International Alliance” that includes shared booking codes, mutual loyalty program benefits, and connections between Alaska’s West Coast network and American’s international flights.
However, American’s pilot union has already voiced opposition to any expanded partnership, warning it would “vigorously defend” contract provisions related to shared flights. The union criticized plans that would result in “more of our flying done by another airline,” arguing this approach wouldn’t help American become “a globally competitive airline.”
Isom assured that any partnership expansion would comply with existing labor contract restrictions. He emphasized that American sees significant potential to strengthen its relationship with Alaska Airlines while staying within those boundaries.
The CEO also mentioned that while American remains receptive to opportunities involving available assets, the company currently has no active acquisition plans under review.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced on April 23rd that it is reducing restrictions on specific cannabis products while speeding up efforts to reclassify marijuana as a less harmful substance. This development represents one of the most significant changes to American drug policy in decades.
The reclassification effort would mark an initial step toward bridging the substantial gap between state and federal cannabis regulations, given that marijuana is already permitted in various forms across more than 40 states nationwide.
Currently, marijuana is classified in the same category as heroin and LSD. The proposed reclassification would shift it to Schedule III, placing it in the same group as codeine-containing Tylenol and ketamine.
Medical cannabis has been legalized in various forms across 47 states, three U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.
The following breakdown shows which states permit recreational marijuana use versus those allowing only medical applications:
States permitting recreational use: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Maryland, and Colorado. Washington D.C., Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands also allow recreational use.
States allowing medical use only: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Wyoming.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has proposed new legislation that would expand food purchasing options for Americans receiving government nutrition assistance.
The Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act, filed by Senators Jim Justice of West Virginia, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, and Michael Bennet of Colorado, seeks to allow people using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to buy hot rotisserie chicken at grocery stores.
Representative Rick Crawford of Arkansas has filed matching legislation in the House of Representatives.
Currently, SNAP regulations prohibit the purchase of prepared hot foods, limiting recipients to cold or uncooked items. The proposed change would specifically add hot rotisserie chicken as an exception to this rule.
According to the bill’s sponsors, the legislation would not require additional government spending or expand overall SNAP funding levels.
President Javier Milei’s administration in Argentina has suspended journalist access to the presidential palace Casa Rosada on Thursday, claiming concerns about “illegal espionage” activities.
Government spokesperson Javier Lanari announced the decision on X, explaining that fingerprint access systems for reporters had been disabled as a “preventative measure” following a military complaint.
“The sole purpose is to ensure national security,” Lanari stated.
The action came one day after Milei posted photographs of two reporters from local TV station TN on social media, calling them “DISGUSTING TRASH.”
“I would love to see those filthy scum who carry journalist credentials, (95%) come out to defend what these two criminals did,” Milei wrote, apparently referring to footage the television network broadcast showing Cabinet Chief Manuel Adorni walking through Casa Rosada corridors.
A Reuters correspondent who regularly covers stories from the presidential palace confirmed being denied entry Thursday morning.
Since assuming office in December 2023, Milei has maintained an antagonistic relationship with news media, frequently engaging in public disputes with reporters through social media posts and during interviews. Press freedom organizations have expressed alarm about the deteriorating relationship between his administration and journalists.
Delaware State Police are conducting an investigation into a deadly pedestrian accident that took place Wednesday evening in New Castle.
Authorities were called to North DuPont Highway’s southbound lanes near Bacon Avenue around 9:50 p.m. on April 22, 2026, following reports of a vehicle striking a pedestrian. Initial findings show that a Ram 2500 pickup truck was driving behind a large truck when it switched lanes. At that moment, a pedestrian walked from Manor Park Shopping Center into the roadway, directly into the pickup’s path. The Ram’s front end collided with the pedestrian.
A 71-year-old New Castle resident was declared deceased at the crash site. Police are withholding his identity pending family notification.
The pickup truck’s operator, a 53-year-old New Castle man, along with his passenger, sustained no injuries in the incident.
Traffic was diverted for roughly three hours as investigators examined and cleared the accident scene.
The Delaware State Police Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing their examination of this incident. Officials are requesting that anyone who saw the collision or possesses video footage contact Sergeant J. Jefferson at (302) 365-8484. Tips can also be submitted through private Facebook messages to Delaware State Police or by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
Those affected by crime, witnessing incidents, or experiencing sudden loss can receive support through the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit and Delaware Victim Center, available around the clock at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). Email assistance is also available at [email protected].
Weekly applications for unemployment benefits saw a small increase last week, though the numbers continue to reflect a relatively stable job market according to federal data released Thursday.
The Labor Department announced that unemployment benefit requests for the week that concluded April 18 climbed to 214,000, marking an increase of 6,000 from the prior week’s total of 208,000. This figure exceeded economists’ predictions of 210,000 new claims, as surveyed by FactSet.
These weekly unemployment applications serve as a key indicator of job market stability, providing near real-time insight into layoff trends across the nation.
Economic uncertainty has intensified due to the ongoing Iran conflict, now entering its eighth week, despite a current ceasefire between Iran and the United States. The situation continues to create questions about potential impacts on both domestic and international economic conditions.
While U.S. stock markets have recovered to reach new peaks, oil prices remain elevated at approximately $94 per barrel. Though this represents an improvement from earlier monthly highs of $112, it still marks a 40% increase compared to pre-war levels. Elevated fuel costs continue to burden both businesses and consumers with increased expenses.
Inflation pressures have intensified, with consumer prices jumping 3.3% in March compared to the same period last year, according to recent Labor Department findings. This represents a significant acceleration from February’s 2.4% rate and marks the steepest annual increase since May 2024. Monthly price increases of 0.9% from February to March represented the largest such jump in nearly four years, driven primarily by the most substantial monthly gasoline price surge in six decades.
These inflation developments arrive as prices already exceed the Federal Reserve’s 2% goal, reducing prospects for near-term interest rate reductions. While lower rates typically stimulate economic growth and job creation, they also tend to accelerate inflationary pressures.
Federal Reserve policymakers implemented three rate cuts to conclude 2025 due to concerns about employment market weakness, but have maintained current levels throughout this year. The central bank’s next rate decision meeting is scheduled for next week.
March employment data revealed stronger-than-anticipated job growth, with employers adding 178,000 positions and reducing unemployment to 4.3%. This positive development followed February’s unexpected loss of 92,000 jobs. Additionally, payroll revisions removed 69,000 positions from December and January totals, indicating continued labor market pressures.
Several major corporations have announced workforce reductions recently, including Morgan Stanley, Block, UPS, and Amazon.
Since recovering from pandemic-related economic disruption, weekly unemployment claims have generally remained between 200,000 and 250,000. However, hiring momentum began declining approximately two years ago and further decreased in 2025, attributed to President Trump’s unpredictable tariff implementations, federal workforce reductions, and persistent effects of elevated interest rates designed to combat inflation.
Last year’s job creation totaled fewer than 200,000 positions, a sharp decline from approximately 1.5 million added in 2024, according to FactSet analysis.
Economic experts describe the current employment landscape as a “low-hire, low-fire” environment that maintains historically low unemployment rates while making job searches more challenging for those seeking employment.
Thursday’s Labor Department report indicated the four-week average of jobless claims, which smooths weekly fluctuations, increased by 750 to reach 210,750.
Total Americans receiving unemployment benefits for the week ending April 11 rose by 12,000 to 1.82 million.
When residents of South Africa’s most populated province turn on their taps or step into the shower, six out of every ten drops likely originated in the mountainous kingdom of Lesotho, their tiny landlocked neighbor.
A massive new bridge that opened this week will strengthen this vital water partnership, allowing one of the world’s poorest nations to almost double its water sales to South Africa’s major industrial center. The increased revenue will provide crucial income for Lesotho, where half of all residents struggle below the poverty threshold.
Stretching 825 meters long and towering 90 meters above the landscape, the Senqu Bridge represents a key component of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. This infrastructure will boost annual water transfers from the current 780 million cubic meters to more than 1,270 billion cubic meters.
The bridge spans across the future reservoir of the still-under-construction Polihali Dam, guaranteeing uninterrupted transportation once water levels reach their planned height.
This transboundary water initiative ranks among the world’s largest such projects and represents South Africa’s biggest international investment ever. Beyond water transfers, the project enhances Lesotho’s hydroelectric capacity, strengthening energy independence and decreasing dependence on imported power.
Project expenses currently exceed 53 billion rands ($3.2 billion), featuring more than 120 kilometers of underground tunnels that direct water from Lesotho’s highland areas into South African waterways. Initial construction started in 1990 following a 1986 agreement between both nations, with the current second phase scheduled for completion between 2028 and 2029.
The 2.4 billion-rand ($144-million) bridge stands as the largest among three bridges supporting water infrastructure in the country’s northeastern region. Engineers celebrate it as a remarkable achievement, constructed at an elevation exceeding 2,500 meters above sea level.
“South Africa is a water-scarce country and the waters of Lesotho’s highlands are vital to our country’s development. We remain forever grateful to the great Basotho nation for making water resources available to us,” South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa said during the launch of the bridge.
Bridge construction generated approximately 1,200 employment opportunities, primarily benefiting Lesotho citizens. Government officials declared an economic emergency last year as joblessness reached roughly 30%.
“The royalties and infrastructure that flow from this project are not incidental benefits. They are central to our development finance strategy,” said Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane.
Outstanding construction work includes a 38-kilometer tunnel linking the Polihali and Katse water reserves.
“The project must deepen impact on the people, strengthen accountability in delivery and ensure that its benefits are not abstract but are felt in the daily lives of the people affected,” Matekane said.
Lesotho’s financial struggles have intensified due to U.S. trade penalties reaching 50% on the nation’s primary textile and mining exports. The country has also experienced significant reductions in American foreign assistance that previously supported most healthcare programs.
NEW YORK — In a move that could dramatically transform the entertainment industry, Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders have given their approval for an $81 billion acquisition by Paramount, the company behind CBS and hit films like “Top Gun.”
The preliminary vote count showed overwhelming shareholder support for the massive buyout, which carries a total value of approximately $111 billion when including existing debt obligations. The transaction would create one of the largest media conglomerates in the world.
Should regulators give their blessing, this mega-deal would significantly alter Hollywood’s landscape by further concentrating control among fewer major corporations. The entertainment industry has already seen substantial consolidation in recent years, with Paramount itself being purchased by Skydance just last year.
The merger’s impact would be felt across multiple sectors of the media business, from streaming platforms to movie production and television news.
Under the new ownership structure, Paramount Skydance would control both the Paramount+ streaming service and Warner’s HBO Max platform. Company leadership has indicated plans to merge these services into a single streaming offering.
While specific details about the combined platform remain unclear, including its eventual name, Paramount CEO David Ellison has suggested that HBO would maintain some operational independence, particularly in content creation.
“Our view point is, HBO should stay HBO,” Ellison stated during a recent conference call. “They built a phenomenal brand, they are a leader in this space and we just want them to continue doing more of it. But by bringing the platforms together, all of our content will be able to reach even a broader audience than we can do standalone.”
Warner brings an impressive content portfolio to the table, including popular series like “The Pitt,” “Game of Thrones,” and “Sex and the City” through its HBO platform. The company’s film library features major franchises including “Harry Potter,” along with recent hits like “Sinners,” “Barbie,” and “Superman” through its ownership of DC Studios. Paramount contributes its own valuable catalog, featuring franchises such as “Top Gun,” “Titanic,” “The Godfather,” and “Yellowstone.”
According to streaming analytics from JustWatch, HBO Max captured roughly 12% of U.S. on-demand subscriptions during the first quarter of this year, while Paramount+ held about 3% market share. Even when combined, their joint platform would trail behind Prime Video’s 17% share and Netflix’s 19% dominance. Disney maintains the largest presence with approximately 27% of the market split between Hulu and Disney+.
The acquisition would also bring Warner’s Discovery+ service under Paramount’s control, adding to the company’s existing portfolio that includes Pluto TV and BET+.
Industry observers have raised concerns about the consumer impact of this consolidation. While Paramount executives tout the benefits of expanded content libraries and improved competitive positioning against larger rivals, critics argue that reducing platform options could ultimately lead to higher subscription costs for consumers, especially as streaming prices continue to rise across the industry.
The merger would unite two of Hollywood’s most historic studios, further concentrating legacy film production among fewer companies.
Ellison has outlined plans for the combined entity to produce more than 30 films annually, maintaining Paramount and Warner Bros. as separate operational units. During a high-profile appearance at CinemaCon, he committed to a 45-day exclusive theatrical window for new releases, emphasizing a “complete commitment” to the cinema industry.
However, concerns persist about potential job losses and project decisions under the new ownership structure. Regulatory documents suggest the company will seek cost reductions through workforce cuts and eliminating redundant operations, as Paramount takes on substantial debt to finance the acquisition.
Warner Bros. recently enjoyed significant success with both commercial hits and critical acclaim. The studio earned 30 Oscar nominations from films including “Sinners,” “Weapons,” and “One Battle After Another,” with the latter winning Best Picture. In contrast, Paramount received no nominations. Warner Bros. films captured 21% of the 2025 domestic box office through releases like “A Minecraft Movie,” “Superman,” and “Sinners,” while Paramount managed only 6%, primarily from “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.”
The entertainment sector has undergone significant consolidation over the past decade. Disney’s acquisition of most 20th Century Fox assets nearly ten years ago reduced the “big six” studios to five major players. If this Warner sale proceeds, the industry would enter a “big four” era, with an expanded Paramount joining Disney, Universal, and Sony as the dominant forces.
One of the most scrutinized aspects of this deal involves CNN’s future under Paramount ownership, which would place it alongside CBS under the same corporate umbrella. This pairing would bring together two major American television news operations, though whether CNN would maintain its separate brand identity remains uncertain.
The prospect of Paramount controlling CNN has generated considerable concern, particularly given President Trump’s history of criticism toward the network and his connections to the Ellison family. Larry Ellison, the Oracle founder and billionaire father of David Ellison, is providing significant financial backing for his son’s acquisition bid.
CBS has already undergone notable editorial changes since Skydance’s takeover less than a year ago. The network has made deliberate moves to attract more conservative viewership, including appointing Free Press founder Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News. Industry watchers anticipate similar transformations at CNN should the Warner acquisition succeed.
Trump administration officials have been vocal about CNN’s potential ownership change. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told reporters in March that “the sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better,” following White House criticism of CNN’s coverage regarding the U.S. and Israel’s conflict with Iran.
Ellison has pledged that editorial independence “will absolutely be maintained” under Paramount’s control. “It’s maintained at CBS. It’ll be maintained at CNN,” he told CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” in March, while expressing his company’s desire to appeal to “the 70%” of viewers he described as center-left or center-right.
The Justice Department’s antitrust division’s acting head has stated that their regulatory review will remain apolitical. Nevertheless, skeptics point to the timing of Skydance’s Paramount acquisition approval by the Federal Communications Commission, which came just weeks after the company paid Trump $16 million to settle litigation related to CBS’s “60 Minutes” program editing. Trump has maintained his public criticism of “60 Minutes” since the settlement.
CNN represents just one component of Warner’s extensive cable television portfolio. The proposed merger would substantially expand Paramount’s television presence beyond its current holdings.
Warner’s cable networks include Discovery, TNT, TBS, Food Network, Cartoon Network, and Animal Planet, all of which would transfer to Paramount ownership upon deal completion. Paramount already operates a substantial broadcast portfolio featuring CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, Comedy Central, Showtime, and additional networks.
Law enforcement officials have detained a North Carolina man who they believe was plotting to carry out a mass shooting at a major festival in New Orleans, apprehending him at a Florida hotel with a weapon and substantial ammunition.
While officials did not specify which event was targeted, the timing coincides with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, widely known as JazzFest, which began Thursday and continues through May 3. This annual celebration of Louisiana’s musical heritage, cuisine, and cultural traditions drew approximately 460,000 attendees in the previous year, according to event organizers.
The Chapel Hill, North Carolina resident was wanted on terroristic threat charges by the Department of Public Safety, according to an online statement from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday. Federal agencies had flagged the suspected threat, though the specific agency was not disclosed. The FBI’s New Orleans office has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Deputies from the Okaloosa sheriff’s department made the arrest Wednesday evening at a Destin hotel in Florida’s Panhandle region without any complications. Law enforcement officers seized a handgun along with roughly 200 rounds of ammunition from his hotel room, the department reported.
According to the sheriff’s office, federal authorities reached out to them regarding a North Carolina man who was traveling through their area while allegedly en route to conduct a mass shooting at a major Louisiana festival.
The suspect has been charged as a fugitive from justice and will be transferred to Louisiana to face additional charges. Information about legal representation was not immediately available.
Louisiana State Police spokesperson Trooper Danny Berrincha confirmed that his agency continues to work with the FBI to investigate the incident.
“At this time, there are no known direct threats to any festivals in Louisiana,” he added.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell praised the law enforcement response, saying “Job well done!” She noted that the successful operation involved “coordination extended to law enforcement agencies in multiple states from North Carolina to Florida.”
NAHUNTA, Ga. — Devastating blazes across southern regions have compelled hundreds of Georgia families to abandon their homes within moments, creating anguish as they wonder about the fate of their properties and livestock.
This week’s infernos, occurring amid severe drought conditions affecting Georgia and Florida, have sent smoke plumes across vast distances, prompting additional air quality alerts throughout the Southeast on Thursday.
Fueled by powerful winds and minimal moisture in the air, the two largest blazes in southern Georgia have expanded quickly over recent days, claiming more than 50 residences in countryside communities. The escalating danger prompted additional evacuations and school shutdowns Wednesday.
“I don’t know if I have a house standing or not,” said Denise Stephens, who was forced to evacuate because of the fast-moving Brantley County fire near Georgia’s coast. “I know what it’s taken from other people, but I don’t know what I have left standing.”
The Brantley County blaze, responsible for most property destruction, held steady through the night, according to Thursday’s sheriff’s office report.
“While this stability is encouraging, wind conditions remain unpredictable and could cause conditions to change rapidly,” according to the update, which said the blaze is about 15% contained.
Officials have not yet determined what sparked these wildfires, though southern Georgia and northern Florida are experiencing exceptionally arid conditions.
The National Weather Service cautioned motorists in southeastern Georgia early Thursday that sight distance might drop to half a mile on certain roadways as wildfire smoke drifted through the region.
Sight distance proved particularly challenging in Clinch and Echols counties — close to the Pineland Road fire, the state’s largest, weather officials reported.
Across the border in Florida, firefighting crews were combating more than 130 wildfires, primarily concentrated in the state’s northern regions. These blazes have remained smaller compared to those burning further north.
A government-appointed investigation in Tanzania has disclosed that no fewer than 518 individuals lost their lives during violent clashes surrounding the country’s October elections, marking the first time officials have publicly acknowledged the extent of the deadly turmoil.
The investigative panel, however, attributed responsibility for the bloodshed to demonstrators themselves, sparking outrage among opposition leaders who denounced the findings as prejudiced.
United Nations human rights officials had previously estimated that hundreds perished in violence stemming from the barring of prominent opposition candidates from both presidential and parliamentary races. Opposition party leaders have claimed the death toll reached into the thousands.
Tanzanian officials had previously refused to discuss casualty numbers, stating they were waiting for the commission’s findings. President Samia Suluhu Hassan established the panel in November. Government representatives have consistently denied human rights organizations’ accusations that security personnel employed disproportionate force.
During a formal presentation of the findings to Hassan, commission leader Mohamed Chande Othman indicated the death count might actually be higher due to challenges in victim identification. Rather than evaluating law enforcement’s conduct, he suggested establishing a criminal investigation panel to examine particular incidents.
Chande stated the commission possessed “indisputable evidence” that the violence was orchestrated and financed by “trained people” without identifying these individuals.
“Organisers used various techniques, including using people without deep understanding and desperate youth, while encouraging simultaneous acts of violence across different locations,” he said.
Hassan, who was proclaimed the presidential victor with almost 98% of votes, has characterized the demonstrations as an effort to topple her administration and claimed they received international funding, though she has not presented supporting evidence.
The commission’s findings were not released to the public immediately, and their eventual publication remains uncertain. During the presentation ceremony, Hassan declared the report was “the property of the president.”
Tanzania’s primary opposition organization, CHADEMA, dismissed the commission’s investigation, stating in a Thursday announcement that a government facing accusations of conducting violent abuses cannot examine its own actions.
Chande confirmed receiving claims that individuals were shot inside residences and businesses, including near a restaurant in Mwanza, a northern city.
Reuters investigations revealed that police forces killed more than a dozen unarmed young men at the restaurant, located far from any known demonstrations. People who witnessed other events in Mwanza and two additional cities also informed Reuters they observed officers firing at individuals who were not participating in protests.
Government officials stated at the time they took force-related concerns seriously but noted that many accusations were founded on unconfirmed and misrepresented information.
Rising energy prices stemming from the Iran conflict are severely limiting the reach of international humanitarian organizations, forcing them to assist fewer people during a time of increasing global need, according to the head of a major aid group.
Jan Egeland, who leads the Norwegian Refugee Council and previously served as the UN’s chief humanitarian official from 2003 to 2006, explained Thursday how escalating fuel costs are impacting operations worldwide for his organization, which ranks among the world’s top non-governmental groups focused on helping displaced populations.
Speaking to international media from the NRC’s Oslo headquarters, Egeland detailed the financial strain his organization faces. “We have 1,500 vehicles in our operations; they run on diesel. In some countries, it’s twice the cost now to run those,” he explained.
The energy crisis extends beyond transportation costs, affecting all aspects of humanitarian work. “The generators needed in the places we haven’t solarized yet are much more expensive, so running a school or a hospital (is more expensive),” Egeland noted.
Food procurement has also become significantly costlier, he said: “The food that we have to purchase on the market — local markets, regional markets — has become much more expensive per family in need. And our staff find it very hard to live on the salary that we can give them compared to before.”
These mounting expenses mean the NRC will reach fewer people this year despite “exploding” humanitarian needs, particularly as donor nations have shifted funding toward defense spending, Egeland warned. “Through this year, fewer people will get assistance because of the cost increase,” he stated.
The NRC has maintained operations in Palestinian territories since 2009, including throughout the recent Gaza conflict. However, the organization faces new challenges after losing its Israeli registration, despite a February ruling by Israel’s Supreme Court that temporarily prevented the government from closing Gaza operations of multiple aid groups.
While the NRC retains local personnel in Gaza, it cannot deploy international staff to support them. “We have already had to relocate our headquarters to Amman,” Egeland said. “We do remote leadership management from Amman.”
Egeland offered mixed assessment of recent diplomatic developments, calling President Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan “wonderful” because “it stopped the massacres and the full-scale war.”
However, he expressed concerns about current conditions: “But we are now frozen in some halfway house where Israel is still militarily there. They’re still destroying homes. Hamas is not disarmed and the aid groups are denied access. This is no peace. This is no implementation. The Trump peace plan is in grave danger.”
Israeli officials maintain they are not restricting supplies to Gaza’s more than 2 million residents. Nevertheless, Palestinian authorities and international relief organizations report that aid deliveries remain inadequate, despite January ceasefire agreements that promised increased humanitarian access.
An Italian technology company that specializes in turning around struggling businesses is moving forward with plans for a massive stock market debut in the United States, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Bending Spoons, headquartered in Milan and named after a reference from the film “The Matrix,” has selected several major investment banks to handle what could be a $20 billion initial public offering, two individuals with knowledge of the plans revealed.
The company has chosen Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Allen & Co, Bank of America, BNP Paribas and Jefferies to organize the potential listing, according to one source.
Industry insiders suggest the public offering could assign a valuation of approximately $20 billion to the company. The sources requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the discussions.
The stock market launch is anticipated within the next several months, with one source indicating it might occur before the start of summer in the northern hemisphere, depending on how financial markets perform.
When contacted for comment, Bending Spoons, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, BNP Paribas and Jefferies all declined to provide statements. Representatives from Allen&Co and Bank of America did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
The technology firm has expanded its operations by purchasing other tech companies, including video platform Vimeo and applications WeTransfer and Evernote. These acquisitions helped boost the company’s valuation to roughly $11 billion during a funding round conducted last year.
During a November interview with Reuters, Chief Executive Luca Ferrari indicated the company was prepared for a public listing and suggested it might happen within this year, though he avoided making firm commitments to any specific timeline.
Ferrari had previously stated that if Bending Spoons moved forward with an IPO, it would likely choose to list on U.S. exchanges, pointing to the typically higher valuations that technology companies receive in American financial markets.
Financial markets are anticipating numerous IPOs in what could become a record-breaking year, though uncertainty and economic disruption from the Iran conflict might affect some companies’ plans.
According to sources, Bending Spoons may also try to schedule its listing to avoid competing with some trillion-dollar companies that are also planning to go public, such as SpaceX.
Ferrari shared with Reuters in November that the company projected its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization would climb to $1.4 billion by 2026, up from an expected $700 million in 2025.
Formula One officials announced Thursday that drivers will receive an additional 30 minutes of practice time ahead of the Miami Grand Prix scheduled for May 3rd, following a month-long break in racing and recent safety modifications to competition rules.
The fourth round of the championship marks the sport’s return after Middle Eastern races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled due to the Iran conflict, creating an unusual gap in the racing calendar.
During the racing hiatus, officials implemented technical rule modifications to address safety concerns and competitive issues that emerged during the season’s opening three events.
The International Automobile Federation announced that following discussions with all involved parties, Friday’s practice session will be extended from one hour to 90 minutes, running from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. local time.
Officials cited several factors for the decision: the extended time since the last race, the recent rule adjustments, and Miami’s sprint weekend format. The compressed schedule includes just one practice session before Friday’s sprint qualifying, followed by Saturday’s 100-kilometer sprint race and Sunday’s qualifying for the main event.
Mercedes has dominated the early season, capturing victories in all three completed races, with Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli currently sitting atop the championship standings.
Shareholders of Warner Bros Discovery gave their blessing Thursday to a massive $110 billion acquisition by Paramount Skydance, though they voted down lucrative executive pay packages connected to the transaction.
The compensation proposal would have allowed CEO David Zaslav to collect as much as $887 million upon completion of the sale.
Regulatory scrutiny is now the next hurdle, with authorities in both the United States and United Kingdom preparing to review how the combination might affect market competition.
In late March, the U.S. Department of Justice issued subpoenas requesting details about potential impacts on studio production, content licensing, streaming market dynamics and movie theater operations.
Paramount emerged victorious from an extended bidding battle against Netflix, securing the Warner Bros acquisition and establishing CEO David Ellison as a major player in the shrinking entertainment industry.
The proposed combination has drawn significant pushback from performers, directors and cinema operators who worry about losing a major studio and the resulting effects on creative professionals, theater operators and film audiences.
“Shareholder approval marks another important milestone towards completing our acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery,” a Paramount spokesperson said.
Company officials anticipate finalizing the transaction during the third quarter of this year.
The consolidation would leave just four major American film studios remaining and result in job cuts, reduced creative projects and fewer options for audiences, according to more than 4,000 entertainment industry workers and consumers who penned an open letter urging California Attorney General Rob Bonta to pursue legal action blocking the merger.
Ellison has assured cinema owners that the combined Paramount and Warner Bros would distribute no fewer than 30 movies annually if regulators approve the deal.
Still, industry experts predict Hollywood’s total film production will decline as theater visits drop and major studios concentrate on a smaller number of high-budget productions.
Worcester County’s Fire Training Center will conduct an emergency services training program during the week of June 15-19, 2026.
The training session is scheduled to begin Monday, June 15 at 8:00 a.m. and conclude Friday, June 19 at 4:00 p.m. at the Fire Training Center facility.
The program appears to be part of ongoing professional development opportunities for emergency responders in the Worcester County area. Additional details about specific training components or registration requirements were not immediately available.
As Delaware emerges from an unusually harsh winter and residents anticipate the arrival of summer activities, state agricultural officials are encouraging everyone to support local growers through farmers markets and roadside produce stands that will soon begin their seasonal operations.
The Delaware Department of Agriculture is highlighting the upcoming opening of numerous farmers markets and farm stands throughout the state, where visitors can purchase fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables bearing the Delaware Grown label.
State agriculture officials note that the Food Products Inspection section works year-round to guarantee that all Delaware Grown items meet strict standards for proper storage, handling, and labeling requirements.
With winter’s grip finally loosening across the First State, these seasonal agricultural venues are preparing to welcome customers seeking fresh, locally-sourced produce while supporting Delaware’s farming community.
NEW YORK — The New York Mets finally had something to celebrate Wednesday night as superstar Juan Soto returned from injury to help end their devastating 12-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins.
Soto, who had been sidelined since April 3 with a right calf strain, was activated from the injured list and contributed immediately, going 1-for-3 with a single and a walk while serving as the designated hitter.
“He looked really good,” manager Carlos Mendoza said.
But the joy of Soto’s comeback was quickly overshadowed when shortstop Francisco Lindor suffered what appeared to be a similar injury, leaving the game in the fifth inning with left calf tightness. Lindor is scheduled for an MRI Thursday.
“Here we go again,” Mendoza said. “We’ve got to wait and see what we’re dealing with.”
The four-time All-Star received an enthusiastic welcome from fans when he stepped into the batter’s box in the first inning, with portions of the small crowd rising to their feet. Though he flew out to center field, his deep drive allowed Bo Bichette to advance from second to third base, setting up the game’s first run when Bichette came home on Lindor’s two-out infield hit.
Soto’s night included a lineout to right field in the third inning, a walk in the fifth, and a single in the eighth before being caught stealing while attempting to take second base.
“I don’t think it’s going to be any pressure,” Soto said before the game. “I’m just going to be myself and be out there, definitely help as much as I can to get out of this and put the team in the right spot again.”
The slugger has now recorded hits in all nine games he’s appeared in this season. He also made history by becoming the first major league player to draw 900 walks before his 28th birthday.
“It makes a big difference just to add his name in the lineup. But also, I said it yesterday: You can’t put all the pressure on him,” Mendoza said. “It’s going to take all of us to get out of this. It’s not just Juan Soto.”
To make room on the roster, the Mets sent third-string catcher Hayden Senger to Triple-A Syracuse after Tuesday’s 5-3 defeat to Minnesota.
Despite starting the year with baseball’s highest opening-day payroll at $352.2 million, the Mets entered Wednesday with the worst record in the majors at 8-16. During their losing streak, which began April 8 with a 7-2 loss to Arizona, New York was outscored 67-22 while managing just a .194 batting average and .284 slugging percentage. The 12-game skid marked their longest since August 2002.
“I feel like we have a great lineup. We have guys who are going through tough times right now. They can’t get a hit or anything, and it’s part of it. We all go through that stuff,” Soto said. “But it’s tough when kind of like most of the lineup is going through it. It makes it a little hard to win games like that.”
The team plans to ease Soto back into action gradually. He’s expected to play outfield Thursday night, after which the organization will “reassess,” according to Mendoza. The six-time Silver Slugger Award winner will receive complete rest days as needed going forward.
“We need to be flexible and we have to stay on top of things with him,” Mendoza explained. “If we see that there’s a couple of games, two or three games where he does a lot of running on base, going first to third, first to home, second to home, in the outfield, then we’ll have to adjust. And hopefully that’s the case. That means he’s on base and we’re scoring a lot of runs. So, yeah, I think it’s fluid. But at the same time we just have to be smart with him.”
Soto’s injury occurred during a 10-3 victory over San Francisco on April 3, when he hurt himself running from first to third on Bichette’s RBI single. The Mets managed to win their next three contests without him before falling into their lengthy slump.
“It’s a little uncomfortable when you see it from the outside,” Soto said. “It’s just a tough time, but we’re going to get out of it.”
The outfielder is in year two of his record-breaking $765 million, 15-year deal signed as a free agent in December 2024. Before his injury, he was hitting .355 with one home run and five RBIs.
Rather than completing a minor league rehabilitation assignment, Soto prepared for his return through workouts at Citi Field while the team was traveling last week.
“Felt like he got what he needed here,” Mendoza said. “Plenty of at-bats. We brought a lot of pitchers in here. We were able to simulate a lot of the things that you do on a rehab assignment.”
Both Soto and Mendoza emphasized that the player is completely healthy and did not return ahead of schedule. This marked Soto’s first injured list stint since 2021 with Washington, when a strained left shoulder kept him out from April 20 through May 3.
The European Union announced Thursday it is withdrawing 2 million euros ($2.4 million) in financial support from the Venice Biennale after Russia decided to participate in the renowned contemporary art exhibition for the first time since launching its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier confirmed Thursday that officials have notified the Biennale foundation about the funding withdrawal. The art organization now has 30 days to justify its choice to welcome Russia back to the 61st edition of the show, which opens May 9.
“We are strongly condemning the fact that the Fondazione di Biennale has allowed for the Russian Pavilion to open again,” Regnier stated.
Russian artists pulled out of the 2022 exhibition following their country’s attack on Ukraine, and Russia did not mount a display in 2024, instead allowing Bolivia to use its permanent pavilion space. The last time Russia took part in the International Art Exhibition was 2019.
In defending its position, the Biennale foundation issued a statement explaining that it “does not have the authority to prevent a country from participating. Any country recognized by the Italian Republic may request to participate.”
The organization noted that because Russia owns its pavilion, constructed in 1914 within the historic Giardini grounds, it only needed to notify organizers of its intention to take part.
“La Biennale di Venezia rejects any form of exclusion or censorship of culture and art. The Biennale, like the city of Venice, continues to be a place of dialogue, openness and artistic freedom, encouraging connections between peoples and cultures, with the constant hope for an end to conflicts and suffering,” the foundation stated.
The Venice Biennale stands as the globe’s most established and significant contemporary art showcase, featuring a central exhibition alongside individual country pavilions that participating nations curate independently. This year’s event will include presentations from 99 countries, with 29 housed in the Giardini and others distributed throughout the Arsenale and various city locations.
The Biennale has previously resisted calls to ban other nations, including Iran and Israel, from taking part in the exhibition.
