DOVER — Delaware Governor Matt Meyer announced today his selection of Robert P. Storch for the state’s inaugural Inspector General position.
Meyer emphasized the need for independent monitoring of state operations, stating that Delaware’s government institutions have gone without proper oversight for an extended period.
“For far too long, Delaware’s institutions have lacked the independent oversight that Delawareans deserve,” Meyer commented during the announcement. “With a seasoned leader like Robert Storch at the helm, I am confident that the new Office of the Inspector General will ensure that the actions taken [by state government] meet the highest standards.”
The newly established Office of the Inspector General represents a significant step toward increased transparency and accountability in Delaware state government operations.
Motorists in the area should plan alternate routes as a portion of Frederica Road remains blocked to southbound traffic for construction work.
The road closure spans from East David Street to Market Street and is scheduled to remain in effect until 4 PM today, according to DelDOT traffic alerts.
Drivers are advised to seek alternative routes and allow extra travel time while crews complete their work on this section of roadway.
A University of Maryland Eastern Shore track and field athlete delivered a strong performance at the Morgan State Legacy Meet, capturing second place in the triple jump competition.
The UMES women’s track and field squad finished in tenth position overall at the meet, showcasing competitive performances across multiple events.
In a standout individual achievement, Mkabela crossed the finish line first in the 5000-meter race, earning a victory for the Hawks at the Morgan State competition.
The meet provided valuable competition experience for the UMES athletes as they continue their outdoor track and field season.
Banele Mkabela claimed the top spot in the 5000-meter race during the Morgan State Legacy Meet, delivering a standout performance for their university’s outdoor track and field team.
The victory at the collegiate competition showcased Mkabela’s distance running abilities as they outpaced the field in the demanding 5000-meter event.
The Morgan State Legacy Meet provided a competitive platform for college athletes to demonstrate their skills in various track and field disciplines, with Mkabela’s triumph highlighting the strength of their university’s distance running program.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore men’s volleyball player Joshua Hightower has been recognized with dual honors from the Northeast Conference, earning both Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week awards.
This marks Hightower’s inaugural Player of the Week recognition, though he has previously claimed Rookie of the Week honors once before this season.
Additionally, Hawks teammate Valentine received Defensive Player of the Week recognition, marking his seventh such honor this season and demonstrating his consistent defensive excellence throughout the campaign.
The weekly awards highlight the strong performance of UMES volleyball players in conference competition and showcase the program’s talent across multiple categories.
Authorities have released the identity of the victim killed in Saturday’s deadly two-vehicle collision in Wilmington as 72-year-old James Matthews of Newark, Delaware.
The crash investigation remains active under Delaware State Police Troop 2’s Collision Reconstruction Unit. Officials are seeking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or possesses relevant details to reach out to Master Corporal R. Kunicki at (302) 365-8417. Tips can also be submitted through private messages to the Delaware State Police Facebook page or by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
For those affected by crime or sudden loss, support services are available around the clock. The Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit and Delaware Victim Center provide assistance through their 24-hour helpline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). Support can also be accessed by emailing [email protected].
Delaware State Police are looking into a deadly collision involving a bicycle that happened Sunday evening in Laurel.
According to authorities, the incident took place on April 19, 2026, around 9:10 p.m. near the intersection of Shiloh Church Road and Turkey Knob Road. A bicyclist was pedaling west along Shiloh Church Road when a Ford Explorer, also heading in the same direction, collided with him. Police say the SUV’s front right section hit the bicycle, throwing the rider from his bike.
The cyclist, whose name has not been released, was transported to a nearby medical facility where he later died from his injuries.
The Explorer’s operator, a 75-year-old Delmar resident, was unharmed in the collision.
Traffic on the roadway was halted for about three hours as investigators examined the scene and cleared the area.
The case remains under review by Delaware State Police Troop 7’s Collision Reconstruction Unit. Authorities are seeking anyone who may have seen the crash or has relevant information to reach out to Master Corporal K. Argo at (302) 703-3264. Tips can also be submitted through private messages to the Delaware State Police Facebook page or by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
Those affected by crime or sudden loss can access 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) or via email at [email protected].
Community members are invited to participate in a memorial 5K race honoring Lt. Joseph Szczerba this Thursday evening in Wilmington.
The commemorative run and walk event is scheduled for Thursday, April 23, 2026, beginning at 6:30 PM. Participants will gather at Abessinio Stadium, located at 1021 West 18th Street in Wilmington.
Organizers are encouraging residents to participate in the event as a way to pay tribute to the fallen hero while bringing the community together. The race serves both as a memorial tribute and an opportunity for neighbors to unite in remembrance.
Those interested can either run or walk the 5K course, with the focus being on honoring Lt. Szczerba’s memory and supporting his continuing legacy in the community.
Delaware health officials are reporting encouraging news in the fight against cancer, with new statistics showing death rates from the disease have been steadily falling across the state.
The Delaware Division of Public Health announced Monday that cancer mortality rates dropped by an average of 1.5% each year between 2008 and 2022, representing a significant improvement in health outcomes for residents.
The data, released from Dover on April 20, 2026, provides the most recent analysis of cancer trends affecting Delawareans over more than a decade.
State health officials compiled the statistics as part of their ongoing effort to track disease patterns and mortality rates throughout Delaware. The information helps guide public health initiatives and resource allocation for cancer prevention and treatment programs.
The declining death rates suggest that improved screening methods, earlier detection, and advances in cancer treatment may be having a positive impact on patient outcomes statewide.
Additional details about the cancer incidence and mortality findings are available through the state’s public health alerts system, according to the Division of Public Health announcement.
Delaware’s poultry industry saw mixed results in March, with egg production climbing while fewer chicks intended for egg-laying operations emerged from hatcheries.
According to new agricultural data, the state’s egg production rose 5 percent during March when compared to the same month in the previous year. This increase comes despite a concerning trend in hatchery numbers.
The number of newly hatched chicks bred specifically for egg production dropped by 3 percent during the reporting period. This decline could signal potential challenges for future egg supply in the coming months.
Meanwhile, the broiler chicken sector showed positive growth, with hatcheries producing 3 percent more meat-type chicks compared to March of last year. This uptick suggests continued strong demand for poultry meat products.
The contrasting trends between egg production and chick hatching rates highlight the complex dynamics within Delaware’s vital poultry industry, which serves as a cornerstone of the state’s agricultural economy.
Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey has secured his place in NFL history, signing a four-year, $28 million contract extension on Monday that makes him the league’s most expensive kicker ever.
The remarkable deal for the 31-year-old athlete includes $20 million in guaranteed money and establishes him as the first NFL kicker to earn $7 million per year, according to his representative Todd France. Aubrey’s journey to this milestone contract represents an extraordinary path from alternative careers to professional football stardom.
Aubrey holds the NFL record for most successful field goals from 60 yards or beyond, having connected on six such attempts throughout his career. His overall accuracy stands at an impressive 88.2 percent, converting 112 of 127 field goal attempts since entering the league.
The kicker’s unconventional route to the NFL began in the Dallas suburbs where he attended high school before playing collegiate soccer at Notre Dame. Toronto FC selected him in the 2017 MLS draft, launching his professional soccer career.
While working as a software engineer in Arlington, the same city where the Cowboys play at AT&T Stadium, Aubrey’s spouse motivated him to explore opportunities in football kicking. He spent two seasons competing in the USFL before joining Dallas ahead of their 2023 training camp.
Aubrey immediately made his mark by establishing an NFL record for consecutive successful field goals to begin a career, converting his first 35 attempts without a miss. During a game against Detroit last season, he became the first player to successfully kick three field goals of 55 yards or longer in a single contest, and also set a record as the first to make three 60-yard field goals in one season.
His franchise-record 65-yard field goal against Cleveland in 2024 currently ranks as the second-longest in league history, falling just three yards short of Jacksonville’s Cam Little, who connected from 68 yards last season.
Prior to Aubrey’s contract, Houston’s Ka’imi Fairbairn held the top annual salary among kickers at $6.5 million, with Kansas City’s Harrison Butker earning $6.4 million annually.
INDIANAPOLIS — While many college football players find the NFL draft preparation exhausting, Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza has taken a different approach.
The quarterback has welcomed every aspect of the lengthy process, from team interviews to workout sessions, maintaining his characteristic optimism as Thursday night’s draft approaches. Mendoza is widely expected to be selected with the first overall pick.
Speaking Monday, the former Indiana Hoosiers star said he’s valued the extended evaluation period as he prepares to begin his professional football career, whether that means joining the Las Vegas Raiders to work behind Kirk Cousins or landing with another franchise.
“It’s been long, but it’s been great because a job interview usually is a couple of weeks or even a single day in the office, but this job interview has been a couple of months,” Mendoza explained to The Associated Press. “The teams know everything about you, and that’s been my favorite part. They can peel back the layers and see the true you. It’s been great to test my football IQ, my football knowledge.”
Teams that have evaluated Mendoza appear to have found few concerns with the standout quarterback.
On Monday, Mendoza and pharmaceutical giant Pfizer revealed a new collaboration making him a spokesperson for early cancer detection efforts. The partnership appears fitting given his personal connection to the cause — someone close to him has fought cancer, his mother continues battling multiple sclerosis, and his father works as a physician.
The campaign, titled Every Breakthrough Matters, will feature two advertisements airing Thursday evening, with Mendoza indicating plans for potential expansion into other health initiatives.
However, football remains Mendoza’s primary focus, though he’s keeping quiet about any inside knowledge regarding the Raiders’ intentions.
The Boston native has conducted three separate meetings with Las Vegas representatives since guiding Indiana to their inaugural national championship in January. He also had the opportunity to meet his childhood hero, Raiders part-owner Tom Brady, who attended the title game to observe Mendoza firsthand.
Additional conversations have taken place with the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, and Cleveland Browns, organizations holding the second, third, and sixth selections respectively and potentially seeking a new starting quarterback.
Mendoza dismissed speculation that he’s been learning Las Vegas’s offensive system, clarifying that rumors began after he sought assistance from former NFL quarterback and coach Brian Griese to prepare for professional concepts. Both men are alumni of Miami’s Christopher Columbus High School, though from different eras.
“We knew each other and I reached out to him and said ‘Hey, I’ve got to get ready for this. I don’t care what my Pro Day looks like, I just want to help my guys on Pro Day and I want to be the best quarterback come September, can you help me with this?’” Mendoza recalled. “He (played) in the West Coast offense so we were able to install a lot of West Coast concepts, just general concepts and under center concepts every single team runs.”
For draft night itself, Mendoza plans a more intimate celebration.
Rather than attending the ceremony in Pittsburgh, he’ll remain in Miami surrounded by family and supporters who have been instrumental in his journey, including his younger brother Alberto.
“I’ve done so much traveling this year, it’s a lot easier for my mom and her health is at the forefront,” Mendoza explained. “We need to hop on a plane the next day for whatever team drafts me and to be there with the village that’s poured into me — friends, family, coaches, mentors — to be there with all of them and to share the start of this NFL journey, it’s going to create the best memory for our family.”
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes joined his Kansas City Chiefs teammates Monday for the beginning of their voluntary offseason training program, marking another significant step in his recovery from December knee surgery.
The star quarterback suffered ACL and LCL tears in his left knee during the closing moments of a December 14 defeat against the Los Angeles Chargers, a loss that ended Kansas City’s playoff hopes for the season. Following the injury, Mahomes underwent surgical repair in Dallas under the care of renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Dan Cooper before returning to Kansas City to begin an intensive rehabilitation process.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid outlined Mahomes’ current activities during this recovery phase. “So he goes to the meetings. He can lift, do all that. Rehab. That’s the phase he’s in right now,” Reid explained. “We’ll just see. Kind of play it by ear. See where he’s at. He’s doing great, but we’ve just got to be smart with this thing.”
When speaking with area media previously, Mahomes expressed optimism about his timeline, stating “that’s the goal, to play Week 1 and have no restrictions.”
The initial two-week phase of Kansas City’s voluntary program focuses on conditioning work, team meetings, and rehabilitation activities that began Monday. Unlike recent years when Mahomes conducted player workouts at his Texas residence, he remained in Kansas City this offseason to work directly with the team’s medical and training personnel.
The program’s second phase will feature three weeks of field-based activities conducted at walking speed without contact, allowing Mahomes to participate in certain drills while protecting his healing knee from additional injury risk.
Phase three consists of organized team activities where offensive and defensive units practice together without live contact. Kansas City has planned six such sessions scheduled for May 26-28 and June 1-3, leading up to mandatory minicamp from June 9-11.
This year’s schedule differs from previous seasons due to Arrowhead Stadium hosting World Cup soccer matches in June.
The complete NFL schedule release is anticipated in mid-May, with the season opener expected around September 10. This timeline would put Mahomes’ potential return approximately nine months following his injury.
Discussing his rehabilitation approach, Mahomes acknowledged his competitive nature. “Knowing me, I’m going to push it to the exact limit every single day,” he said. “There’s places you can’t go yet. You want to but you can’t go yet. And they’re doing it for a reason.”
As a precautionary measure, Kansas City acquired quarterback Justin Fields from the New York Jets last month, trading a sixth-round draft selection while assuming $7 million of his $10 million guaranteed contract.
Fields, 27, had signed a two-year, $40 million contract with $30 million guaranteed with New York last March. He started most of the season before being replaced by Tyrod Taylor in Week 12, finishing the campaign on injured reserve with his own knee injury in late December.
Despite his struggles with the Jets, Fields brings NFL starting experience that could provide Kansas City with a viable option if needed.
Reid expressed confidence in the team’s preparation during this extended offseason period. “We’ve had this extended offseason and we’ve been able to really dive in there and really work with the plan for this coming season,” the coach said. “We think we’ve got good direction in which we’re going, and we’ll see how it all formulates by the time we get out of these OTAs and into camp, and then out of camp and into the season.”
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jack Endries recognized what college recruiting specialists completely missed about Fernando Mendoza right away in 2022.
The ex-California tight end observed his roommate grinding in video sessions and during practice to transform into a reliable team captain, an exemplary quarterback, and a complete winner. While Endries couldn’t have predicted Mendoza would capture a Heisman Trophy, claim a national title, or become the likely top selection in this week’s NFL draft after transferring from Berkeley to Bloomington, Indiana, he immediately recognized Mendoza possessed all the tools needed to beat the odds.
“During our extended practice sessions, you witnessed the commitment from both of us, just running extra passing drills and staying late at the training facility,” Endries remembered at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. “You could observe as he began assuming more leadership, he would remain later and later at the facility. He was there until approximately nine o’clock most evenings when we finished at three.”
Nobody anticipated Mendoza would reach these heights.
He completed his high school career in Miami as an undervalued prospect who had already committed to Yale over schools like FIU, Bryant, Lehigh and Pennsylvania. Prior to Cal finally extending a scholarship offer, Mendoza appeared ready to accept a walk-on opportunity with a more established Football Bowl Subdivision program like his local Hurricanes or Alabama.
Yet somehow during an era when major programs invest significantly in discovering talents like Mendoza, recruiting coordinators and scouts failed to predict he would become the first signal-caller to capture college football’s most coveted honors — the Heisman and a championship — in one season since Joe Burrow at LSU in 2019.
Currently, Mendoza stands in prime position to follow Burrow as the NFL’s number-one draft selection.
“At this moment, I’m unemployed, I have no job,” Mendoza stated in February, a message he’s echoed frequently over the past two months. “So this represents my job interview. Everyone mentions it’s the most crucial job interview of your life and currently I’m attempting to do everything to hopefully secure employment.”
That shouldn’t pose any challenges for Mendoza.
His journey represents just one compelling narrative in a draft class packed with overachievers.
Endries, a walk-on who didn’t begin playing football until his freshman year of high school, also wasn’t expected to reach this level.
The same applies to 5-foot-10, 207-pound quarterback Diego Pavia, the Heisman Trophy runner-up, or tight end Riley Nowakowski, a walk-on at Wisconsin who transferred to join Mendoza with the Hoosiers last season.
Throughout history, the NFL has provided opportunities for underdog success stories.
Consider 6-foot Drew Brees, who accumulated over 80,000 passing yards and earned Super Bowl MVP honors despite some franchises’ height concerns.
Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt and Super Bowl champion Clay Matthews III both began as college walk-ons before becoming first-round selections and dominant pass rushers. The most recent example occurred last year when Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger, a UCLA walk-on, captured the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.
Pavia ranks just outside the top 10 quarterbacks in this year’s class and believes he can join that list because he’s proven himself before. He spent his initial two college seasons at New Mexico Military Institute and two additional years at New Mexico State before helping Vanderbilt become an SEC championship contender over the last two seasons, and confidence radiates from the vocal Pavia.
“I feel like I’m going to carry that chip (being overlooked) on my shoulder wherever I go,” he stated. “Whatever team gets me is going to get a hard worker, a heck of a teammate. And then, if my number, when my number is called, you know, I’ll be ready.”
Pavia represents this broader, more diverse group of players who have traveled similar paths.
Eli Stowers, Pavia’s teammate over the past three seasons, could become the first tight end selected despite beginning his college career as a Texas A&M quarterback. Nowakowski played linebacker and fullback with the Badgers before discovering a better fit as a tight end. Endries spent this season at Texas in more split formations and receiver roles after using his Cal career as a more conventional tight end.
Endries also experienced his college aspirations affected by COVID, with his junior season reduced to six games and shifted to spring — challenging for an inexperienced player in his third year in the sport. Consequently, he walked on at Cal, became Mendoza’s roommate, and later played with Arch Manning at Texas, meaning he caught passes from one quarterback everyone expects will be the No. 1 pick when he declares and one quarterback few believed would advance this far.
Endries recognized the potential.
“I knew he possessed the ability, but considering where he originated, like a typical Cal guy, nearly a walk-on to a Heisman winner and national champion,” he said, reflecting on Mendoza’s journey. “That represents a significant leap. Somewhat surprising, but I could envision it occurring. He’s a leader and a competitor.”
The Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout demonstrated his powerful hitting capabilities during this week’s series in New York, reminding baseball fans of his exceptional slugging talents.
However, it’s his ability to maintain that performance throughout the entire season that has become the central concern in recent years.
At 34 years old, Trout hasn’t claimed an MVP award since 2019, marking six seasons without the honor. His most impressive recent campaign came in 2022 when he launched 40 home runs. During last season, he managed to appear in more than 82 games for just the second time since 2019, though his performance suffered with a .232 batting average and an OPS under .800.
While his batting average remains similar this year, Trout has blasted seven home runs across 22 games, suggesting a return to his offensive dominance—though without the base-stealing speed that characterized his earlier career. During the Angels’ split of their four-game series against the Yankees, he connected for five home runs.
Unfortunately, this pattern has emerged before. Last season saw him crush nine home runs in April before landing on the injured list in early May due to a knee problem. The 2024 season followed a similar script with nine April home runs before a torn meniscus ended his season before the month concluded. In 2023, despite posting an April OPS exceeding 1.000, he participated in barely half the season’s games.
Coming into spring training this year, Trout expressed his desire to return to center field after spending most of the previous season in right field or serving as designated hitter. He believed that playing center field would actually reduce the physical stress on his body.
Under new manager Kurt Suzuki’s guidance, Trout has started 20 of his 22 games in center field so far. His theory about reduced physical strain is currently being tested. Should he remain healthy and continue his strong hitting performance through next month, the Angels might begin considering whether Trout is entering a late-career resurgence.
Trout joins an exclusive group as one of only four players to capture three MVP awards before reaching age 30.
In other baseball news, the National League Central division presents an unusual situation with all five teams maintaining winning records. The Chicago Cubs currently hold the third-best run differential in baseball, while Pittsburgh ranks fifth. Meanwhile, Cincinnati and St. Louis have excelled in close contests, with the Reds perfect at 6-0 in one-run games and the Cardinals maintaining a 5-0 record in both one-run games and extra-inning contests.
Both the Cubs and Cardinals are riding five-game winning streaks.
Conversely, every American League West team is performing at .500 or below.
Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton delivered an outstanding performance Tuesday night, going 4-for-5 with two home runs and four runs scored in the team’s 6-0 victory over Boston.
Despite a slow start to the season, Buxton’s Tuesday performance accounted for half of his season RBI total. The Twins have reached .500 after losing 92 games in the previous season.
The San Diego Padres pulled off a dramatic comeback Wednesday night, overcoming a four-run deficit in the ninth inning to defeat Seattle 7-6.
Trailing 6-3 with two outs in the final frame, the Padres mounted their rally as Luis Campusano and Ramón Laureano delivered RBI singles, followed by Jackson Merrill’s game-winning two-run double. This marked San Diego’s first victory since 2019 when entering the ninth inning trailing by four or more runs. Seattle’s win probability reached 98.7% in the ninth inning, according to Baseball Savant data.
The victory extended San Diego’s winning streak to seven games, eventually reaching eight, positioning them just half a game behind the first-place Dodgers in the NL West.
The answer to the MVP trivia question: Stan Musial, Barry Bonds, and Albert Pujols join Trout as the only players to win three MVP awards before turning 30.
Gardeners and farmers across central Delmarva need to take action tonight as a Freeze Warning goes into effect early Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service warns temperatures could drop as low as 28 degrees between 2 AM and 9 AM Tuesday, putting tender plants and crops at serious risk.
The warning covers Kent and inland Sussex counties in Delaware, plus Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. This late-season freeze comes at a critical time when many have already planted their spring gardens and farmers have young crops in the field.
The frigid temperatures could kill sensitive vegetation and potentially damage any unprotected outdoor plumbing. Weather officials urge residents to cover or bring in tender plants, disconnect garden hoses, and wrap exposed pipes.
This unseasonably cold snap serves as a reminder that despite recent warm weather, spring freezes can still occur well into April on the Delmarva Peninsula. The warning remains in effect until 9 AM Tuesday morning, with temperatures expected to rise above freezing as the sun comes up.
Stay with TV Delmarva for continued weather updates and check our website for the latest forecast information.
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Slovakia’s president announced Monday that citizens will participate in a summer referendum to determine the fate of lifetime financial benefits for Prime Minister Robert Fico and other high-ranking officials once they leave office.
President Peter Pellegrini confirmed the referendum date as July 4. During the same voting session, Slovaks will also decide whether to restore a specialized prosecutor’s office that previously handled major criminal cases and corruption investigations.
The referendum comes after the Democrats, a pro-Western opposition group not represented in parliament, gathered signatures from more than 350,000 citizens — meeting the legal requirement to trigger such a vote.
Pellegrini noted that the referendum will not include a question about holding early parliamentary elections. He explained that the nation’s Constitutional Court ruled in 2021 that such a question would violate the constitution.
Under current law, prime ministers and parliament speakers who complete at least two terms receive monthly payments equivalent to current lawmakers’ salaries for the rest of their lives. These security measures for top political figures were expanded after the shocking events of 2024.
The lifetime payment system was broadened following an assassination attempt against Fico, who suffered serious gunshot wounds during a campaign event. The attack sent shockwaves through the small European nation and beyond. Previously, only former presidents received such benefits.
Also in 2024, parliament members approved Fico’s coalition government proposal to eliminate the special prosecutor’s office responsible for investigating serious crimes including corruption, organized crime, and extremism.
The legislative change drew intense opposition both domestically and internationally, sparking repeated street demonstrations involving thousands of Slovak citizens. Multiple individuals connected to Fico’s political party have faced corruption-related prosecutions.
Slovakia has seen only one successful referendum in its history — the 2003 vote approving European Union membership. Previous referendums have failed because of insufficient voter participation.
Since regaining power in 2023, Fico has remained a controversial leader. His pro-Russian stance and various policy decisions have triggered widespread public demonstrations.
MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Monday that she will seek explanations following the weekend deaths of four U.S. Embassy and Mexican officials, revealing that her administration had no knowledge of cooperation between American personnel and regional authorities in northern Chihuahua state.
The president stated she wants to verify that no regulations were violated following Sunday’s fatalities, which Chihuahua’s top prosecutor said happened as the officials were traveling back from a mission to eliminate illegal drug production facilities in a remote location.
“It was not an operation that the security cabinet was aware of,” Sheinbaum informed reporters. “We were not informed; it was a decision by the Chihuahua government.” She emphasized that such state-level partnerships must receive federal government approval “as established by the Constitution.”
The incident occurs amid growing demands from U.S. President Donald Trump for Sheinbaum’s government to intensify efforts against drug cartels. Trump’s administration has initiated joint military actions in Ecuador.
Chihuahua’s Attorney General César Jáuregui reported Sunday that the officials perished while returning from the mission to dismantle facilities belonging to criminal organizations believed to be manufacturing narcotics. Among the deceased were two local government investigators and two embassy trainers who Jáuregui said were taking part in standard training exercises.
Authorities have released limited information about what happened. U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson posted condolences on social media without detailing his staff members’ specific duties.
Sheinbaum promised additional details would emerge once all information is compiled, but emphasized that “there are no joint operations on land or in the air,” only mutual intelligence sharing between her administration and the U.S., conducted within a “well-established” legal structure.
The president said she plans to arrange a Monday meeting between Johnson and Mexico’s foreign minister.
Although U.S. training of Mexican security personnel is routine, their physical presence on Mexican soil has sparked ongoing controversy, which has grown more intense following Trump’s military interventions in Venezuela and Iran.
The latest dispute emerged in January regarding the arrest in Mexico of former Canadian athlete Ryan Wedding, one of America’s most sought-after fugitives. Mexican authorities maintain he surrendered at the U.S. Embassy, while American officials have characterized his apprehension as a binational operation.
Sheinbaum’s statements coincided with the start of second-round talks between the United States and Mexico concerning the North American trade pact, the USMCA, taking place in Mexico City. The American delegation is headed by Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who was set to meet with the president Monday.
WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors have issued subpoenas calling for multiple witnesses to appear before a grand jury in Washington as part of an ongoing criminal investigation targeting former CIA Director John Brennan, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter who spoke Monday.
The grand jury summons were delivered within recent days, showing the Justice Department’s determination to advance the investigation despite a Florida-based career prosecutor departing the case after questioning whether criminal charges could be successfully pursued.
A former Justice Department attorney who previously served as a senior prosecutor during the 1980s and later backed President Donald Trump’s legal challenges to the 2020 election results has now been appointed as special counselor to the attorney general and is anticipated to take on this investigation.
This multi-month investigation into Brennan represents one of multiple criminal inquiries the Justice Department has launched over the past year targeting individuals Trump views as political opponents. The probe focuses on one of the former Republican president’s primary complaints — the U.S. intelligence agencies’ conclusion that Russia worked to benefit his 2016 presidential campaign.
Sources familiar with the subpoenas shared details with The Associated Press under anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the active criminal investigation. At least three subpoenas have been delivered, according to two of these sources. CBS News first reported on the subpoena issuances.
Brennan held the CIA director position during Barack Obama’s presidency and was serving in that capacity when intelligence agencies released their January 2017 assessment documenting Russian interference designed to help Trump defeat Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016. Special counsel Robert Mueller’s subsequent investigation determined that Russia did interfere to assist Trump and that his campaign accepted this help, though insufficient evidence existed to establish a criminal conspiracy.
Last year, the Justice Department received a criminal referral from Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican leader of the House Judiciary Committee, claiming that Brennan provided false testimony to the committee in 2023 regarding how the intelligence community assessment was prepared. Brennan and his legal team have strongly disputed any allegations of misconduct.
The investigation has been progressing for several months in Florida, where investigators have conducted interviews and requested documents through subpoenas. These newest subpoenas demanding grand jury testimony in Washington suggest prosecutors believe any potential criminal case would need to be filed in Washington, since that’s where Brennan’s congressional testimony occurred.
Last Friday, news emerged that Maria Medetis Long, a prominent national security prosecutor in Florida who had been overseeing the investigation, was removed from the case. According to another source familiar with the situation, she was taken off the case after voicing concerns about its strength.
The Justice Department has now brought in Joseph diGenova, an 81-year-old Trump supporter who served as U.S. Attorney in Washington during part of the 1980s, to work as special counselor to the attorney general. He took his oath Monday in Florida and is expected to handle the Brennan investigation.
DiGenova previously endorsed Trump’s unfounded assertions that the 2020 election was fraudulently taken from him. He drew controversy that year when he suggested Chris Krebs, a senior Trump administration cybersecurity official who stated the election was free from fraud, deserved to be executed. DiGenova subsequently issued an apology and a lawsuit brought against him by Krebs was later dropped.
MADISON, Wis. — More than 100 animal rights advocates gathered at Wisconsin’s state Capitol on Monday, shouting demands to “Free the dogs!” as they pressed Governor Tony Evers and the attorney general to close down a beagle breeding operation that sparked violent clashes with law enforcement over the weekend.
Approximately 1,000 demonstrators from across the nation descended on Ridglan Farms in the rural community of Blue Mounds on Saturday, attempting to liberate roughly 2,000 beagles housed at the facility located about 25 miles southwest of Madison. Law enforcement officers responded with tear gas, non-lethal projectiles and pepper spray to disperse the crowd. According to the Dane County Sheriff’s Department, authorities took 29 individuals into custody.
Several activists who participated in Saturday’s confrontation returned to the state Capitol on Monday to criticize how police handled the situation. Some displayed injuries they claimed resulted from being struck by rubber bullets.
Police officers stationed outside the hallway leading to the offices of Governor Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul distributed constituent contact forms to Wisconsin residents among the crowd of more than 100 demonstrators.
Neither Evers nor Kaul responded to requests for comment immediately. Officials from their offices did not address the protesters directly, though some activists held photographs showing Evers, Kaul and U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin with dogs.
Aidan Kankyoku, who helps lead the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs that coordinated the campaign, said organizers hoped both officials would end their silence regarding the breeding operation. Kankyoku explained that activists also wanted Kaul to obtain and execute a search warrant at the location to examine claims of continuing animal abuse.
“We just want the dogs out,” he said.
While Ridglan has rejected accusations of animal mistreatment, the company agreed in October to surrender its state breeding permit by July 1 under an agreement that avoided criminal prosecution for animal abuse allegations. The facility’s website states that “no credible evidence of animal abuse, cruelty, mistreatment or neglect at Ridglan Farms has ever been presented or substantiated.”
According to Ridglan, the company has operated as a biomedical research center “that supports health studies benefitting both humans and animals” for over six decades. The facility’s website indicates that almost all current research focuses on advancing veterinary medicine.
Ridglan officials did not respond to email requests for comment on Monday.
Demonstrators maintained they were conducting a peaceful rescue operation on Saturday when officers forced them back.
In March, activists broke into the facility and removed 30 dogs. Twenty-seven people faced arrest on trespassing and additional charges.
Democratic U.S. Representative Mark Pocan posted on social media Monday, urging state leaders to collaborate with Ridglan on a release strategy that wouldn’t overwhelm animal placement organizations and would prevent the beagles from being put down. Last week, Pocan questioned U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. during a House Appropriations Committee session about federal funding directed to groups that obtain beagles from Ridglan Farms.
Kennedy responded that he found Pocan’s statements difficult to believe but promised to investigate the matter.
Palestinian business owners in the West Bank received orders Monday to demolish 15 shops, coming just one day after top Israeli government officials gathered to mark the revival of a nearby settlement.
The demolition notices were issued to Al-Fandaqumiya village, according to a local leader, following Sunday’s ceremony where Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar marked the reestablishment of the Sa-Nur settlement.
Sa-Nur, located in the northern West Bank, was among 19 settlements removed in 2005 as part of Israel’s disengagement plan that also withdrew settlers from Gaza – a decision that continues to anger Israel’s political right.
The current far-right Israeli government has pushed for aggressive settlement growth, with Palestinians receiving thousands of demolition notices since the administration came to power, United Nations records show.
International law considers Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank illegal, though Israel contests this position. The territory remains central to Palestinian hopes for a future state, but expanding settlements have divided the land into fragments.
Under the present government, Israel has authorized 102 additional settlements, nearly doubling the 127 that existed when officials took office, according to Israeli advocacy group Peace Now.
Refaat Qaruriya, who leads Al-Fandaqumiya’s village council, said store owners received 30 days’ notice for the demolitions. He expressed concern that the Sa-Nur settlement would prevent villagers from reaching their agricultural land.
Israeli military officials stated the shop demolitions were ordered because the structures lacked proper building permits, insisting the timing had no connection to Sa-Nur’s reestablishment.
Palestinians maintain that obtaining such construction permits is nearly impossible under current policies.
“This development (in Sa-Nur) raises serious concerns regarding further escalation, restrictions on Palestinian access to land, and the deepening of a de facto annexation reality,” Palestinian Authority official Amir Daoud told Reuters.
Smotrich has openly advocated for West Bank annexation, stating his goal of achieving “maximum territory and minimum (Palestinian) population” under Israeli control.
During Sunday’s ceremony, Smotrich also urged Israeli settlement of “all of Gaza” along with territories Israel occupies in Lebanon and Syria.
With Israeli elections scheduled by late October, both Katz’s Likud party and Smotrich’s Religious Zionism group have seen declining poll numbers. Both parties rely heavily on settler support.
“It’s clear that the whole land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel, period. About what to do with the Arabs, I don’t have an answer to what to do with them – the land belongs to us,” said Meir Goldmintz, a settler moving to Sa-Nur.
United Nations data shows at least 580 settler attacks on Palestinians since early 2026, forcing approximately 1,800 people from their homes due to violence and access limitations.
Human Rights Watch has characterized the increasing violence and Palestinian displacement in the West Bank as ethnic cleansing supported by Israeli authorities – an accusation Israel denies.
Israeli prosecutions of settler violence remain uncommon, according to Israeli rights organization Yesh Din.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Sonny Gray was forced to exit Monday’s matchup against the Detroit Tigers during the third inning after experiencing tightness in his right hamstring.
The veteran right-hander appeared to be struggling physically following a two-out walk that put a pair of runners on base. Following an examination by the team’s medical staff and a single warm-up throw, Red Sox skipper Alex Cora decided to pull Gray from the traditional Patriots’ Day contest at Fenway Park.
During his abbreviated outing, Gray surrendered one earned run while giving up three hits over 2 2/3 innings of work. He recorded two strikeouts and issued one walk before his departure. Left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe took over on the mound and secured a ground ball out to close the frame.
The 36-year-old Gray joined Boston this winter through a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. The veteran pitcher, who has earned All-Star honors three times during his career, entered Monday’s contest sporting a 2-1 win-loss record along with a 4.30 earned run average across five starts this season.
A federal refund portal designed to help businesses recover tariffs that were illegally collected by the government became operational Monday, prompting thousands of companies nationwide to immediately submit their claims.
Jay Foreman, who leads toymaker Basic Fun, described the early experience as positive despite some technical hiccups. His team assembled in what he called a “war room” at their Boca Raton, Florida office, preparing to begin submissions when the portal opened at 8 a.m. Eastern time.
“So far, so good,” Foreman noted, explaining that while the system experienced some glitches, it avoided the complete crashes many had anticipated given the volume of expected users. The company needed to upload more than 500 files to the system, which allows batch submissions but sometimes rejects uploads when overloaded.
“However, if you load too many or the system is too busy it will kick them back,” Foreman explained via email during the initial hours of operation. “We’ve got over 50% of our invoices loaded so far. We are hoping in the next few hours to have them all loaded. I’m very happy we got this process started early.”
Many businesses had expressed doubts about whether the new portal, developed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection following a court mandate, could handle the expected demand for refunds potentially totaling $166 billion.
Cassie Abel, who runs Idaho-based outdoor clothing company Wild Rye, expressed relief about the system’s performance. She hired a customs broker to handle her submission, paying $250 for the initial filing phase.
“I’m relieved that the portal seems to be functioning properly,” Abel stated.
The refund system stems from a February Supreme Court decision that invalidated tariffs implemented by former President Donald Trump under emergency authority legislation, delivering a significant legal setback to the Republican leader.
According to customs agency documents filed in court, approximately 56,497 importers had completed preliminary requirements for electronic refunds as of April 9, representing claims worth $127 billion—more than three-quarters of the total eligible amount. The tariffs in question were paid by over 330,000 importers across 53 million shipments of foreign goods.
While it remains uncertain whether early submission affects processing speed, many companies chose not to delay their filings.
A Customs and Border Protection representative said Friday that officials developed a system designed to “efficiently process refunds, pursuant to court order, for importers and brokers who paid” the disputed duties.
Rick Woldenberg, who heads educational toy company Learning Resources, reported hearing about temporary system crashes affecting some users, though he didn’t experience problems himself.
“I think it was sort of like everyone was lined up to get Taylor Swift tickets — they all hit the button at once,” Woldenberg observed.
Learning Resources participated in the original lawsuit that led to the tariff reversal and is pursuing approximately $10 million in refunds. The company submitted roughly 5,000 entries, with most being accepted by the system.
Woldenberg expressed frustration about needing to file for reimbursement at all, questioning: “They have a ruling from the Supreme Court that says they over-collected taxes, so why do I have to tell them to send it back?”
Despite his concerns, he praised the system’s smooth operation and the professionalism of customs officials.
“The policies set at the top have nothing to do with the professionals who work in CBP, and those folks have done a good and earnest job,” Woldenberg said.
Lynlee Brown, a global trade specialist at EY, reported that the firm’s clients generally found the system accepted most submissions without issues, though she noted the initial filings involved simpler, less complex cases.
Brown explained that accepted entries move to an automated mass-processing stage designed to issue refunds within 60 to 90 days.
“If an origin comes up that looks fishy,” she said, “that will probably go to a human for review.”
This development represents the newest chapter in an extended dispute over emergency tariffs collected during the past year as Trump attempted to reshape American trade relationships. The frequently changing tariffs disrupted international commerce, forcing companies to relocate supply chains and determine responsibility for the additional taxes.
OCEAN CITY, MD — Emergency responders rushed to assist two people who found themselves in the water Saturday afternoon when their personal watercraft capsized in Assawoman Bay.
The incident occurred around 2:20 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2026, prompting a swift response from multiple rescue agencies after emergency dispatchers received the distress call.
Ocean City Fire Department crews mobilized to the scene, working alongside several partner agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard and Maryland Natural Resources Police to conduct the water rescue operation.
The collaborative emergency response demonstrates the coordinated efforts between local and federal agencies when water emergencies occur in the popular recreational boating area near the Maryland coast.
The University of Delaware Blue Hens softball squad is preparing for a busy week ahead with two scheduled contests against Maryland and New Mexico State.
The team will take on both opponents as they continue their season, looking to build momentum with these upcoming matchups. Both games represent important opportunities for the Blue Hens to showcase their skills against quality competition.
Fans can expect competitive action as Delaware faces these two programs in what should be exciting softball contests this week.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan announced Monday that his administration will implement stricter firearm regulations following two tragic school shootings that occurred last week.
The deadly incidents, carried out by students, culminated in a devastating attack in Turkey’s southeastern Kahramanmaras province that claimed the lives of eight students and one teacher. These types of school violence incidents are extremely uncommon in Turkey, leaving the nation in shock.
Under the new measures, Turkey plans to strengthen regulations around gun ownership and impose harsher penalties on firearm owners when minors gain access to their weapons. Additionally, Erdogan stated that authorities will implement enhanced internet monitoring as part of the government’s comprehensive response to these tragic events.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Questions swirled around Tage Thompson and the Buffalo Sabres heading into their playoff opener against Boston, with critics pointing to the team’s absence of postseason experience.
It didn’t take long for those concerns to disappear — roughly 52 minutes of hockey, to be exact.
Relying on the resilient character that propelled them from the Eastern Conference basement in early December to their first Atlantic Division championship, the Sabres celebrated ending the NHL’s longest playoff drought in spectacular fashion.
Thompson found the net twice during Buffalo’s explosive four-goal rally in the game’s final 7 minutes and 58 seconds, leading the Sabres to a thrilling 4-3 Game 1 triumph on Sunday evening.
“I think eight years of adversity is enough experience to get you ready for something like this,” said Thompson, referencing the disappointment of his first seven Buffalo seasons without playoff hockey.
“There’s just a heightened feeling of hunger. You don’t want to let this opportunity slip,” added Thompson, who paced the squad with 40 goals this season. “I thought tonight was really important to make a statement and set our standard.”
The series continues with Game 2 at Buffalo on Tuesday evening.
Buffalo needed more than two complete periods to finally break through against Boston, despite controlling much of the offensive flow while trailing 2-0 after Elias Lindholm capitalized on a rebound just 68 seconds into the final frame.
The momentum shifted dramatically when Buffalo’s aggressive forechecking forced two Boston turnovers in their defensive zone, setting up Thompson’s pair of goals scored 3 minutes and 42 seconds apart to even the contest at 2-2 with 4:16 remaining in regulation.
Mattias Samuelsson struck 52 seconds later to give Buffalo the lead, while Alex Tuch added an empty-netter before Boston’s David Pastrnak tallied with seven seconds on the clock.
“I told them right after the game, ‘You want experience? You got it now,’” said Lindy Ruff, in his second season of his second tenure behind the Buffalo bench. “I mean, what an experience. If you’re going to say this was my first playoff game, you’ve got a great story to tell.”
Buffalo had gone 5,473 days between playoff appearances since dropping Game 7 of their 2011 opening-round matchup with Philadelphia.
In their playoff return, the Sabres joined just seven other NHL teams to overcome a two-goal deficit in the final 10 minutes and claim victory in regulation. Buffalo had previously accomplished this feat in playoff action only once before when trailing by two goals in the third period.
That previous comeback also came against Boston — Brad May’s series-winning overtime goal in a 6-5 triumph in 1993. Buffalo fans remember that contest as the “May Day!” game, which secured the Sabres’ first playoff series victory in 10 years and was immortalized by legendary Hall of Fame announcer Rick Jeanneret.
In a touching tribute, the Sabres honored Jeanneret, who passed away in 2023, by having his wife Sandra lead the pregame drum ceremony and “Let’s go, Buffalo!” chants. His family watched from the press box, where the team displayed a large framed photo of his signature sweater beside the broadcast booth.
Fans generated some of the evening’s loudest cheers when the video board showed spectators holding signs paying tribute to the beloved broadcaster known as “RJ.”
The electric pregame energy gave way to frustrated murmurs midway through the third period before Thompson’s breakthrough goal. The crowd maintained its intensity long after the final buzzer.
“It was probably the loudest I’ve ever heard in my life,” goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen said. “The fans are the ones who have waited so long. And so I’m really happy that we grinded out a win tonight.”
Boston coach Marco Sturm struggled to explain the collapse.
“I thought we were in the perfect spot,” Sturm said. “Obviously, with the crowd behind them, they got some life and the game is done. Very unfortunate because my guys played really well. Really well. But that’s playoffs.”
Sturm had created controversy Friday by claiming the Bruins possessed superior size and strength compared to Buffalo.
He failed to anticipate the Sabres’ ability to outlast his squad in the game’s crucial moments.
“I think as a group, we thought we could crack them and roll from there,” Samuelsson explained, noting it required 31 shots before finally solving goaltender Jeremy Swayman.
“It’s just death by 1,000 cuts,” Samuelsson said. “You just keep wearing on him, wearing on him until you finally crack him. And we did.”
Residents across northern Delmarva need to prepare for a potentially damaging freeze tonight, as the National Weather Service has issued a Freeze Warning for New Castle County, Delaware, effective from midnight through 9 AM Tuesday morning.
Temperatures are expected to plummet as low as 27 degrees, creating dangerous conditions for crops, gardens, and outdoor plumbing. The unseasonably cold weather poses a significant threat to tender plants and vegetables that may have already been planted for the spring season.
The warning, issued by the Mount Holly office this morning at 10:17 AM, affects our entire northern Delaware viewing area. Frost and freeze conditions could kill sensitive vegetation and potentially cause costly damage to unprotected outdoor pipes and irrigation systems.
Weather officials strongly urge residents to take immediate action to protect tender plants by covering them or bringing potted plants indoors. Homeowners should also consider wrapping exposed pipes and allowing faucets to drip to prevent freezing.
The Freeze Warning will remain in effect until 9 AM Tuesday morning, when temperatures are expected to rise above the freezing mark. Stay with TV Delmarva for continuing weather updates throughout this cold snap.
A Freeze Warning is in effect for much of the Delmarva Peninsula from midnight tonight through 9 AM Tuesday morning, as temperatures are expected to plummet to as low as 29 degrees.
The National Weather Service issued the warning for Kent and inland Sussex counties in Delaware, along with Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties in Maryland. Sub-freezing conditions are likely to develop after midnight and persist through early Tuesday morning.
The frigid temperatures pose a significant threat to tender plants, crops, and other sensitive vegetation that have emerged with the recent spring weather. Frost and freeze conditions could kill newly sprouted plants and potentially damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
Residents are urged to take protective action now. Cover or bring indoors any sensitive plants, disconnect and drain outdoor hoses, and ensure exposed pipes are properly insulated. Gardeners should consider covering tender vegetables and flowers with blankets, tarps, or commercial frost cloth.
The Freeze Warning will remain in effect until 9 AM Tuesday morning, when temperatures are expected to rise above freezing. This unseasonably cold snap serves as a reminder that late-season freezes can still occur well into spring across our region.
DOVER, Del. – State officials are rolling out their second major job recruitment event of the year this Friday, bringing together Delaware job seekers and government employers under one roof.
Delaware’s Human Resources Department is teaming up with the Department of Labor to present a comprehensive career fair at the Terry Campus of Delaware Technical Community College in Dover on April 24, 2026.
The recruitment event will span six hours, opening its doors at 10:00 a.m. and continuing through 4:00 p.m., providing ample opportunity for students and job hunters to explore state government career paths.
Those interested in attending can secure their spot by registering through the state’s employment website at statejobs.delaware.gov, where the registration process is currently active.
This marks the second statewide recruitment effort launched by Delaware officials this year as part of their continued push to fill government positions across various departments and agencies.
University of Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch found himself in legal trouble this weekend, getting arrested in Athens on dual misdemeanor obstruction charges.
Jail records from Athens-Clarke County show Branch was freed on Sunday after posting $39 bail for charges including blocking public sidewalks and streets, plus obstructing a law enforcement officer.
The weekend arrest creates unfortunate timing for Branch, happening just four days ahead of the NFL draft where analysts expect him to be chosen during day two of the selection process.
Athens-Clarke County Police provided The Associated Press with details about what happened. Officers responded around 12:20 a.m. after a large group assembled outside a local bar.
“The crowd was blocking the entrance, and individuals were attempting to enter the establishment despite it not being open for entry at that time,” the police statement explained.
“Officers issued multiple lawful commands directing the crowd to clear the sidewalk. Zachariah Branch was specifically given verbal commands to disperse but refused to comply. As a result, Mr. Branch was placed under arrest and charged with obstruction. He was also cited for obstructing a public sidewalk.”
Representatives from Excel Sports, who handle Branch’s affairs, have not yet responded to requests for comment from The Associated Press.
Just one day before his arrest, Branch was spotted at Georgia’s G-Day spring football game held at Sanford Stadium.
Branch improved his draft prospects significantly by clocking a 4.35-second time in the 40-yard dash during the NFL scouting combine held in Indianapolis.
During his junior season in 2025, he topped Georgia’s receiving statistics with 81 catches for 811 yards and six touchdowns after transferring from Southern California. His brother Zion Branch, who plays safety, also made the move from USC to Georgia.
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Following his party’s overwhelming electoral victory, Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar revealed his initial Cabinet selections on Monday after conducting the first meeting with his parliamentary group members.
Magyar’s center-right Tisza party crushed longtime Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Hungary’s April 12 election, capturing a commanding two-thirds parliamentary majority that will enable them to reverse numerous policies established during Orbán’s 16-year tenure.
The incoming leader has pledged to rebuild Hungary’s democratic foundations and legal framework, which deteriorated during Orbán’s administration, while pursuing accountability for those he claims oversaw and profited from extensive government corruption.
Tisza secured an unprecedented 141 parliamentary seats from the total 199 available — marking the most substantial majority since Hungary transitioned from Communist rule. Orbán’s far-right, anti-European Union Fidesz party saw their representation plummet from 135 seats to just 52.
During Monday’s Budapest press conference, Magyar — who will replace Orbán as prime minister — announced plans to expand the government structure from 12 to 16 ministries.
Among his disclosed Cabinet nominees were Anita Orbán (no family connection to the current prime minister) for foreign affairs minister, István Kapitány for economy and energy minister, and András Kármán for finance minister.
Magyar stated his party would establish a government “that will be worthy of the Hungarian people’s trust.”
The incoming prime minister has committed to extensively restructuring Hungary’s governmental framework, including establishing independent ministries for health, environmental protection, and education — departments that were eliminated under Orbán’s leadership.
According to Magyar, the new parliament will convene for its opening session on May 9 or 10, followed immediately by the prime ministerial election. Cabinet confirmations will proceed in subsequent days, he explained.
BRUSSELS — The European Union is threatening to withhold approximately $1.8 billion in funding from Serbia unless the country addresses growing concerns about its democratic institutions, according to a warning issued Monday by EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos.
The threat comes after international observers reported witnessing violent incidents and voting irregularities during local elections held last month across 10 Serbian municipalities.
Speaking to European Union lawmakers, Kos expressed mounting alarm about Serbia’s trajectory. “We are increasingly worried about what is happening in Serbia,” she stated, adding that the European Commission is currently “assessing whether the country still fulfills the conditions for payments under the EU’s financial instruments.”
The commissioner outlined a range of troubling developments that have prompted EU scrutiny, including “laws that undermine the independence of the judiciary, to crackdowns on protesters and recurrent meddling in independent media.”
Serbia currently has access to substantial EU funding designed to support growth in nations seeking membership, contingent on implementing democratic reforms. While Belgrade has already received $130 million from these programs, Kos noted that this “leaves around 1.5 billion under a question mark.”
The European Union has intensified its efforts to bring Western Balkan countries into the fold since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, amid concerns that Moscow might attempt to destabilize a region still recovering from conflicts during the 1990s.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, a populist leader, publicly states his intention to guide Serbia toward EU membership while simultaneously maintaining strong ties with Russia. Last year, he ignored EU objections and participated in Russia’s Victory Day parade alongside President Vladimir Putin.
Democracy experts from the Venice Commission, Europe’s primary constitutional affairs organization, conducted a fact-finding mission to Serbia last month. They met with political figures and senior judicial officials to evaluate concerns brought forward by Serbia’s parliamentary president.
The commission plans to issue an “urgent opinion” based on their investigation in the coming weeks. Kos emphasized that Brussels expects Serbia “to fully align its judicial laws with the Venice Commission’s recommendations and to restore the independence of its media.”
Eight individuals have received prison sentences from a Turkish court following a fatal cable car incident at a popular Mediterranean resort that claimed one life and injured seven others.
A court in southern Turkey handed down the sentences Monday, with four defendants receiving seven-and-a-half year terms after being found guilty of causing death and injury through negligence, according to state-run Anadolu news agency. The remaining four defendants received sentences ranging from three years and four months to five years for identical charges.
The tragic incident occurred on April 12, 2024, when a cable car gondola struck a support pole and broke apart, causing passengers inside to fall onto the rocky terrain below. Following the collision, the entire cable car system was forced to shut down, trapping 174 tourists in their gondolas suspended high above the ground. Some passengers remained stranded for almost 23 hours before rescue operations could safely evacuate them.
The cable car system transports visitors from Konyaalti Beach up to a dining establishment and observation deck located at the top of Tunektepe peak, which rises 618 meters (2,010 feet) above sea level. The accident took place during the Eid al-Fitr celebration, which marks the conclusion of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.
The majority of those convicted in the case worked for ANET, a company owned by the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality that manages the cable car operations in this Mediterranean coastal city.
OCEAN CITY, MD (April 20, 2026) – Maryland’s popular coastal resort destination is getting ready to host its annual automotive celebration as car lovers prepare to descend on the area next week.
The yearly Cruisin’ Ocean City gathering attracts thousands of vehicle enthusiasts to the seaside community, prompting local law enforcement to announce enhanced safety protocols for the upcoming event.
Ocean City Police Department officials say they are putting preventative security strategies in place to maintain order and protect public safety during the large-scale gathering scheduled to begin Tuesday, April…
During a religious service in Angola on Monday, Pope Leo delivered sharp criticism of global leadership, stating that countless individuals worldwide are being “exploited by authoritarians and defrauded by the rich.” This marks another instance of the increasingly bold rhetoric the pontiff has employed throughout his extensive four-country African journey.
Speaking to congregants at a religious ceremony in Saurimo, located close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, the first American pontiff emphasized that brutality and oppression contradict fundamental Christian teachings. His outspoken stance has created tension with President Donald Trump.
“Every form of oppression, violence, exploitation and dishonesty negates the resurrection of Christ,” the pope declared, referencing Christianity’s central doctrine that Jesus returned to life following his crucifixion.
The Angola visit represents the third portion of an extensive 10-day African journey, considered among the most complex papal trips ever undertaken. The tour encompasses 11 urban centers across four nations, covering approximately 18,000 kilometers through 18 separate flights.
Since assuming leadership of the Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion members last May, Leo maintained a measured public presence during his initial 10 months as pope. However, his African tour has featured strong condemnations of armed conflict and social inequality.
The 70-year-old religious leader has consistently criticized global leadership without specifically identifying individuals.
During Saturday’s events, the pontiff condemned the exploitation of Africa’s natural wealth by “despots and tyrants.” Last Thursday, he declared the world was “being ravaged by a handful of tyrants.”
Speaking with media representatives on Sunday, the pope explained that his tour speeches were prepared weeks in advance and were not specifically targeting Trump. He has voiced strong opposition to U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran that commenced February 28.
Angolan residents, where 80% identify as Christian and approximately half practice Catholicism, have shown tremendous enthusiasm for Leo’s visit. Citizens have gathered along his travel routes, celebrating with dancing and cheering as he passes.
Two Sunday gatherings – a religious service in an open field and prayers at a former slave trade location – attracted roughly 130,000 attendees.
Monday marks Leo’s final complete day in Angola before departing Tuesday for Equatorial Guinea, concluding his African tour.
In Equatorial Guinea, he will address the nation’s political leadership following a meeting with President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has governed since 1979, making him the world’s longest-serving head of state.
Equatorial Guinea faces widespread criticism as among the region’s most oppressive nations. Government officials reject accusations of human rights violations and corruption.
According to ESPN’s Monday report, the Chicago Bulls have obtained clearance to conduct interviews with six individuals vying for the franchise’s top basketball operations position.
The organization will begin conducting meetings this week with several executives, including Matt Lloyd from the Minnesota Timberwolves’ general manager office, Detroit Pistons’ senior vice president Dennis Lindsey, Atlanta Hawks’ senior VP Bryson Graham, Cleveland Cavaliers’ GM Mike Gansey, and San Antonio Spurs’ assistant GM Dave Telep, according to sources.
Additionally, the team plans to meet with Austin Brown, who serves as co-head of CAA’s basketball division in his role as an agent, ESPN’s sources indicated.
The Bulls made the decision to dismiss executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley on April 6, ending their six-year tenure that produced only a single playoff berth.
Following their disappointing 31-51 season, the organization hopes to finalize their new executive hire before the NBA Draft Combine takes place in Chicago from May 10-17.
Regardless of which candidate receives the position, head coach Billy Donovan appears secure in his role due to strong support from Bulls chief executive and president Michael Reinsdorf.
“If I interview someone and they’re not sold on Billy, they’re not sold on a Hall of Fame coach; they’re not sold on a person who’s won championships in college, who’s gone deep in the playoffs with Oklahoma City,” Reinsdorf stated earlier this month. “If Billy wants to be our coach and someone’s not interested in that, then they’re probably not the right candidate for us.”
One of college athletics’ most influential female executives announced Monday that she will step down from her leadership role with the Big East Conference.
Val Ackerman, 66, revealed her plans to retire as commissioner effective August 31st, concluding a 13-year tenure overseeing one of the nation’s premier basketball conferences. Conference officials said they will begin an immediate nationwide search to find her replacement.
“It’s been an extraordinary honor for me to serve as the Commissioner of one of the most prestigious and storied organizations in college sports,” Ackerman said.
“… With our long-term business deals securely in place and knowing we have strong, focused leadership on our campuses, I am confident that the future of the conference, and Big East basketball in particular, is very bright, and I believe the time is right for me to hand off the baton.”
Ackerman took over as the conference’s fifth commissioner on June 26, 2013, during a pivotal restructuring period. She oversaw the integration of Butler, Creighton and Xavier with seven continuing schools – DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall and Villanova – for the 2013-14 academic year. Her leadership also facilitated Connecticut’s return to the conference in 2020.
Under her stewardship, Big East schools claimed four men’s basketball national titles – surpassing all other conferences during that span. Villanova captured championships in 2016 and 2018, while UConn earned titles in 2023 and 2024.
“When we re-founded the Big East in 2013 as a basketball-centric conference, our first task was to find a commissioner who could provide the strategic vision needed to position us as a basketball peer with the power football conferences and compete with the country’s best,” said St. John’s president Rev. Brian J. Shanley, chair of the Big East board of directors.
“We found that visionary leader in Val Ackerman. Val has leveraged our partnerships with FOX Sports and Madison Square Garden to create a platform that has produced five basketball national champions (four men’s and one’s women’s) in the past decade, and she has built a strong foundation for future success. She leaves big shoes to fill.”
Throughout her career, Ackerman has earned recognition with inductions into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.
Venezuelan officials announced Monday that 51 individuals have been transferred from traditional imprisonment to alternative custody arrangements, marking the latest development in the government’s stated commitment to fostering national reconciliation.
While authorities declined to identify the specific individuals or detail their cases, legal representatives and family members of numerous people detained in connection with alleged corruption at the state petroleum company PDVSA confirmed Thursday that several of their clients had been freed. Many relatives maintain their loved ones’ innocence. A planned Monday news conference by the group representing these detainees was delayed, with organizers citing ongoing legal proceedings for many cases.
In an official statement, the government explained it had petitioned for “the granting of alternative measures to deprivation of liberty for a group of individuals who were being held in detention, for their alleged or proven involvement in the commission of crimes provided for under the Venezuelan legal framework” and confirmed the request was approved last week.
Officials did not detail the specific alternative arrangements, though such measures typically involve electronic surveillance, mandatory court appearances, or travel restrictions preventing departure from the country.
While Venezuelan leadership consistently rejects claims of holding political detainees and maintains all imprisoned individuals have committed legitimate offenses, acting President Delcy Rodriguez has facilitated the release of hundreds since January. This includes releases under a limited amnesty statute enacted by the legislature. These initiatives form part of broader agreements aimed at restoring diplomatic ties with the United States following President Nicolas Maduro’s capture in January.
The legal advocacy organization Foro Penal reported this month that 485 political detainees remain incarcerated, while government officials claim thousands have either been freed or had legal restrictions lifted since the amnesty took effect.
Foro Penal, alongside other human rights organizations and opposition representatives, has criticized the amnesty’s implementation, arguing the process moves too slowly and excludes many qualified candidates.
The widespread adoption of GLP-1 weight loss medications is creating unexpected changes in America’s $40 billion cannabis industry, forcing dispensaries to modify their approach to customer service and product recommendations.
Cannabis users taking these weight loss drugs have been sharing experiences online about reduced appetite and questions regarding how the medications might alter marijuana’s traditional effects, especially the hunger-inducing sensation commonly called “the munchies.”
Dispensaries are responding to these customer concerns despite limited scientific research on the interaction. Stoops NYC, located in Manhattan’s Flatiron area, reports they now frequently suggest lower-dose edibles, vaping products, or liquid tinctures for clients using GLP-1 treatments.
A significant concern involves how these medications affect digestion. Since GLP-1 drugs reduce the speed of stomach emptying, cannabis edibles may take longer to produce effects, potentially causing users to consume additional doses prematurely and experience unexpectedly intense results.
“As (GLP) adoption accelerates, we are exploring ways to provide clearer guidance at the point of sale,” explained Wendy Bronfein, co-founder and chief brand officer at Curio Wellness.
Scientific investigation into this connection is beginning to expand. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has approved a clinical study this year examining tirzepatide, the main component in Eli Lilly’s weight loss treatments, as a possible therapy for cannabis dependency.
Dr. Nora Volkow, the agency’s director, reported that reviews of patient medical records revealed diabetic individuals prescribed GLP-1 medications like semaglutide showed notably improved outcomes regarding cannabis use disorders compared to those receiving alternative diabetes treatments.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital plans to launch an additional research study before the year ends.
Customer habits appear to be evolving in additional ways. According to Steph Woods, vice president of sales at SōRSE Technology, some consumers are replacing alcohol with cannabis, while others are moving toward more purposeful usage for managing sleep issues or reducing stress.
Information from Realm of Caring, a cannabis education nonprofit, reveals increased consumer interest in understanding connections between marijuana and metabolism. Throughout 2024, their cannabis helpline’s most frequent inquiries have included searches for “THC for weight loss,” “weed strains that suppress appetite,” and “edibles that don’t make you hungry.”
Industry professionals recommend proceeding carefully, emphasizing that much current evidence comes from personal accounts rather than controlled studies. “There is no one plus one equals two scenario here,” stated Michael Flemmens, executive vice president of research at SōRSE Technology, highlighting that individual metabolism, dosage amounts, tolerance levels, and specific GLP-1 drug types all influence outcomes.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers officials finalized a lucrative two-year extension with elite left tackle Trent Williams on Monday, securing $50 million for one of their cornerstone players just days before the NFL draft begins.
Elite Loyalty Sports, representing Williams, confirmed the new deal features $37 million in guaranteed money plus a $22 million signing bonus. The veteran lineman was previously set to earn approximately $33 million in 2024 under his existing three-year, $82.3 million agreement signed prior to last season.
San Francisco completed negotiations on the opening day of their offseason workouts, just three days ahead of draft activities. With the 27th overall selection, the 49ers had been connected to potential tackle prospects, but this priority may shift now that Williams remains locked up through 2026.
Despite approaching his 38th birthday in July, Williams continues performing at an elite level following another Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro recognition.
The 49ers initially traded for Williams from Washington during the 2020 draft, surrendering third and fifth-round selections. They subsequently secured him with a massive six-year, $138.1 million extension the next offseason. Following a training camp holdout, both parties restructured that deal into a three-year agreement before the 2024 campaign.
This latest negotiation proceeded much smoother, with both sides reaching terms before offseason activities commenced.
Williams recently completed his record-setting 12th Pro Bowl campaign — more than any offensive tackle in history — and sits just two selections away from matching Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews’ record for offensive linemen.
After earning three consecutive All-Pro selections from 2021-23, Williams battled injuries during 2024 but remained healthy enough to appear in 16 games for the first time since 2013.
According to Pro Football Focus data, Williams surrendered 40 quarterback pressures last season — his highest total since his 2010 rookie year with Washington — yet maintained his status among the league’s premier left tackles in both rushing and passing situations.
Since acquiring Williams four years ago, San Francisco has avoided selecting any tackle during the first two days of the draft, leaving limited options for succession planning once Williams eventually retires.
NEW YORK — During a sweltering summer afternoon in Brooklyn, designer Michaela Stark stepped into an unusual photography session that would transform how one of the world’s premier museums displays fashion.
Wearing only her distinctive corsetry designs, Stark positioned herself within a circle of 175 cameras that captured every angle of her form through a sophisticated technique called photogrammetry. The purpose was to create digital scans for building mannequins destined for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s prestigious spring exhibition.
“It was definitely a bit nerve-wracking,” Stark remembers about the “intimate and vulnerable” session. However, she adds with humor, “something about being naked on a 40-degree (Celsius) day in a corset that isn’t hiding anything kind of takes the awkwardness away from the situation, actually.”
These specially crafted mannequins will appear in “Costume Art,” the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition launching with the celebrated May 4 gala. The project represents a deliberate move toward body inclusivity in a display examining how the human form has been portrayed through clothing across centuries, explains curator Andrew Bolton.
Traditional fashion mannequins typically reflect a women’s size 2, Bolton observes. These innovative displays, which will complement conventional forms, aim to highlight how art history has overlooked or dismissed certain physiques — including larger bodies, disabled forms, and aging figures. These excluded types deserve recognition in the narrative as well. The exhibition features approximately 400 pieces, split evenly between artistic works and garments from the museum’s archives, presented in matching pairs.
The objective involved “to challenge a history of museum mannequin display that’s very much characterized by thin, abled and standardized bodies,” Bolton explains. Instead of modifying existing displays, curators chose to base new mannequins “on a diverse range of real bodies with real, lived experiences.”
Beyond Stark, Bolton enlisted participants including Sinéad Burke, an Irish disability advocate born with dwarfism; Aimee Mullins, an athlete, performer, and activist who uses prosthetic legs; and Aariana Rose Philip, a musician and model who relies on a wheelchair. Nine individuals contributed to creating 18 new mannequins, while seven additional forms represent shapes like pregnancy and slender male physiques without being modeled on specific people.
These 25 innovative mannequins won’t face retirement when the exhibition concludes. After “Costume Art” closes in January 2027, they’ll become part of the museum’s permanent inventory for ongoing use.
This lasting impact excites Stark, who has designed pieces for Beyoncé and operates her own body-positive lingerie brand called Panty. Her three mannequins will showcase her original creations in the Reclaimed Body and Corpulent Body galleries.
Stark has consistently employed corsetry methods in non-traditional ways. While corsets historically shaped bodies toward conventional beauty standards, Stark applies identical techniques “to actually emphasize those parts of the body that we’ve been conditioned to hide. It’s using the corsets to bring back power to the female form.”
The designer believes her involvement in the Met’s showcase arrives at a critical time, as fashion industry dedication to body diversity seems to be retreating.
“It’s a really interesting moment in time for the Met to be doing this show because obviously we’ve seen the complete rapid decline of the body positivity industry,” she observes. “Designers left, right, and center are just starting more and more to refuse to work with plus-size models.” Recent data from a Vogue Business Size Inclusivity Report supports her observations, documenting decreased plus-size representation on runways across four major Fashion Week locations for Fall/Winter 2026.
Burke agrees, describing that regression as “shameful and embarrassing.”
Her organization, Tilting the Lens, works to position disabled individuals in leadership roles throughout the industry — “whether they are creative directors and designers, whether they’re CEOs, whether they are chief marketing officers,” she explains.
Burke, attending the Met Gala as a host committee member, posed for two mannequins for the Disabled Body section — one wearing a custom Burberry trench coat, another in a Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren dress.
“You stood in this cage of cameras,” she described the modeling process. “It’s deeply uncomfortable and really vulnerable in the sense that you are in your skin and in very little else … your body is photographed, observed, recorded from every angle, angles which you yourself may not even be familiar with.”
Despite the discomfort, she embraces participating in the exhibition, particularly the chance to advise the museum on respectful disability representation. This includes careful word choices. “There’s so many ways in which we could have called the disabled body something else, using euphemisms that create a distance from being disabled,” she noted.
Burke also participates in educating museum guides and volunteers, helping them “make people feel seen, challenge people gently, and have a broader conversation about the connection between embodiment, fashion and art.”
The scanning process at Brooklyn’s New York Capture marked just the initial step. Artist Frank Benson transformed the scans into digital modeling material, shaped to better accommodate the garments. Italian company Bonaveri then manufactured the physical mannequins from the digital specifications.
All mannequins in “Costume Art” — numbering just over 200 — feature another distinctive element: polished steel surfaces that function like mirrors, allowing visitors to see their own reflections.
Bolton explains the concept involves viewing both the person the mannequin represents and yourself simultaneously.
Additionally, roughly one-third of the mannequins stand on elevated platforms, while others remain at floor level. Burke’s mannequin receives pedestal placement, which Bolton says was deliberate.
“Andrew, my entire life, I’ve been looked down on, both literally and metaphorically,” Bolton recalls the activist telling him. She expressed deep appreciation that people would now — literally — look up to her.
The exhibition will certainly include traditional body forms, and Bolton emphasizes the goal “is not to reject what came before.”
“We’re using it as an opportunity to add new voices and new silhouettes and new presences,” he states. “The figures don’t deny the past, but in a way, I suppose they complete the picture.”
MADRID (AP) — Undocumented immigrants across Spain started submitting applications Monday for a groundbreaking amnesty initiative that could provide legal status to hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals currently living and working in the country without proper documentation.
The Spanish government’s strategy stands in stark contrast to policies adopted by other European nations, where officials have increasingly focused on restricting immigration and increasing removal operations. Spanish leaders justify this initiative as an economic necessity that has gained backing from both business leaders and labor organizations.
Facing demographic challenges with an aging workforce, Spanish officials say the country requires additional workers to sustain economic growth, generate tax revenue, and support the social security system.
The legalization initiative was first unveiled in January and received final approval this month. Under the program, immigrants lacking legal documentation can obtain a one-year renewable residency permit by demonstrating they have resided in Spain for at least five months and maintained a clean criminal background. The application deadline extends through the end of June.
Concerns have emerged regarding the compressed timeframe for processing applications, with the Spanish government estimating potential participation at 500,000 migrants, while research organization Funcas projects the number could reach approximately 840,000 individuals.
More than 370 postal facilities began accepting applications, while officials announced that 60 social security locations and several immigration offices would also process submissions. Digital applications became available Friday.
Those seeking assistance at postal locations in Madrid and Barcelona reported smooth operations overall, though some expressed frustration with extended waiting periods despite scheduled appointments.
“The process is quite straightforward since I scheduled my appointment online and received one for this morning,” explained Nubia Rivas, a 47-year-old Venezuelan immigrant who submitted her paperwork at a Madrid post office. “The procedure moves somewhat slowly here, but it flows steadily.”
Venezuelan immigrant Johana Moreno arrived at a central Madrid postal facility alongside her spouse. She explained that while she worked as an archivist in Venezuela, she currently earns income through house cleaning services.
“This is exactly what we desire,” Moreno stated regarding the opportunity to obtain legal status. “To live properly, to work, to contribute meaningfully. To fulfill our tax obligations. We understand that legal status brings rights, but it also comes with responsibilities.”
Spain’s population has expanded significantly in recent years to include approximately 10 million foreign-born residents, representing one in every five people living in the country. Large numbers originate from Colombia, Venezuela, and Morocco, having departed their home countries due to economic hardship, violence, or political turmoil.
Numerous immigrants from Latin American and African nations provide essential labor in critical sectors of Spain’s economy, including agricultural production, tourism, and service industries.
MILL HALL, Pa. — Tragedy struck a central Pennsylvania community Sunday morning when an explosion and house fire claimed the lives of seven family members, including a mother and her six young children.
Emergency crews rushed to a residence in Lamar Township, Clinton County, after receiving reports of a blast and flames. When firefighters arrived, they discovered seven people were trapped inside, but the intense fire prevented any rescue attempts, according to Pennsylvania State Police officials. The victims have been identified as 34-year-old Sarah Stolzfus and her children — four boys aged 11, 10, 5, and 3 years old, along with two girls, ages 8 and 6.
Investigators are working to determine what sparked the deadly incident. State police believe a propane leak within the house may have triggered the explosion and subsequent fire. Officials noted that propane tanks located outside the home did not detonate and were ruled out as factors in the tragedy.
A nearby resident, Christina Duck, described the terrifying moment to WNEP-TV, saying she was having breakfast when the explosion occurred. “And I heard a boom and I could feel it and I got up and looked out the window and I could see the flames through the windows and I come running outside and within a minute the whole house was completely engulfed,” Duck recalled. She mentioned that the family had recently moved to the neighborhood just a few months earlier and that she frequently observed the children playing outdoors.
Election officials in Peru started examining thousands of challenged ballots Monday, creating significant delays in determining the final outcome of the April 12 general election as the race for second place in the presidential runoff remains extremely close.
More than one million votes from approximately 6% of polling locations across the country are under review due to incomplete information or mistakes on vote tallying forms, according to Peru’s National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE).
The National Jury of Elections (JNE), Peru’s highest election authority, announced it has begun conducting public hearings to examine each disputed polling station before including those results in the official count, a procedure that may require several weeks to complete.
“We expect that by mid-May we will have, at the very least, the presidential results, which are what we need to determine the runoff,” JNE Secretary General Yessica Clavijo told local radio station RPP.
The official vote tallying has remained virtually unchanged since Friday. Based on nearly 94% of counted ballots, conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori maintains approximately 17% of votes, while left-wing congressman Roberto Sanchez and ultra-conservative Rafael Lopez Aliaga continue battling for the second runoff position with 12.0% and 11.9% respectively – separated by roughly 13,000 votes.
During recent days, Sanchez has slowly gained ground over former Lima mayor Lopez Aliaga, continuing a trend that has benefited the leftist legislator who serves as an ally to imprisoned former president Pedro Castillo. Castillo secured the presidency in 2021 through substantial backing from rural and inland areas of Peru.
The majority of contested polling stations are situated beyond Lima, the capital city, and their geographical distribution will serve as the “determining factor for the second round,” JPMorgan noted in a client analysis.
“The fact that the gap has widened again, even as urban and overseas votes continue to be counted, suggests that Sanchez’s rural base is generating enough votes to offset opposing pressure,” the bank added.
The counting delays have sparked fraud accusations from Lopez Aliaga and demands for ONPE chief Piero Corvetto’s resignation from business leaders and legislators representing multiple political parties.
The JNE submitted a criminal complaint to prosecutors against Corvetto, citing alleged violations including breaches of voting rights.
While Corvetto has admitted to logistical setbacks, he has rejected claims that any voting irregularities occurred. Corvetto did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
European Union election observers reported last week that they discovered no evidence of fraudulent activity.
The chief executive of Hyundai Motor Company announced Monday that the automaker will be unable to completely compensate for declining sales in the Middle East, as production limitations prevent the company from swiftly redirecting vehicles to alternative markets.
Speaking at Milan Design Week in Italy while presenting Hyundai’s latest Ioniq 3 electric vehicle, CEO Jose Munoz explained that the Middle East represents the South Korean manufacturer’s most profitable market, despite not generating substantial volume sales.
The Spanish-born executive emphasized that the regional conflict significantly affects the company because automobiles manufactured for Middle Eastern customers cannot be easily sent to different destinations.
“You cannot just simply derive cars that are meant to go from one market to another,” Munoz explained, pointing to varying technical specifications and government regulations between different regions.
While Hyundai attempts to compensate for some Middle Eastern sales losses by redirecting vehicles to alternative markets, production capacity limitations restrict the company’s short-term options.
“I can tell you that there are many volunteers now that try to get those cars,” the CEO noted. “One of the regions that can accommodate is the North America region. But there are more as well.”
The global automotive giant, ranked third worldwide, had been steadily expanding throughout the region before the current crisis began, with strategies to increase sales across Gulf nations and portions of North Africa. Munoz said supply chain disruptions have worsened the demand decline, making recovery timelines dependent on conflict duration.
“It needs some time to do that. It’s not as immediate as reroute the ships from one place to another,” he stated.
The automaker, currently introducing new electric and hybrid vehicles worldwide, continues major investments in European and American manufacturing and supply networks, initiatives designed to support sustained growth through localized production rather than addressing temporary disruptions.
Hyundai’s Middle Eastern expansion includes constructing a production facility in Saudi Arabia, initially scheduled to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2024.
“Hopefully we will still be able to open,” Munoz said, noting that the opening schedule now depends on regional developments.
Growing fascination with mind-altering drugs has sparked a new industry trend: multi-day psychedelic retreats where participants pay thousands for drug-assisted experiences promising mental health benefits and spiritual growth.
Across the globe, hundreds of companies now operate these retreat centers, but recent research published in JAMA Network Open reveals significant safety gaps in an unregulated industry. Scientists who examined dozens of these operations found they carry “potential for physical, psychological, and interpersonal harms” despite many having safety protocols.
The timing is notable as President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order Saturday directing federal agencies to fast-track reviews of psychedelics for treating conditions like PTSD. The order also instructs law enforcement to reduce restrictions on any psychedelic drugs approved by the FDA.
So far, only MDMA has undergone FDA review, but regulators rejected it as a PTSD treatment in 2024 over safety and effectiveness concerns. Currently, no psychedelic substances have received federal approval in the United States.
“The sheer visibility of psychedelics has led to more demand for these retreats,” explained Brad Burge, who has spent nearly two decades working with psychedelic organizations, pharmaceutical companies and retreat operators. “That growing market has allowed retreats to expand their services, hire more medical and coaching staff and take safety more seriously than we’ve ever seen in the past.”
Dr. John Krystal from Yale School of Medicine, who studies this field, emphasized that psychedelics should be treated as “a serious medical procedure that carries risks that must be carefully managed.”
Most substances offered at these retreats remain federally illegal, including psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca, MDMA and LSD. While some retreat operators claim protection under religious exemptions, only select groups like the Native American Church have obtained legitimate legal status for ceremonial peyote use.
Many retreats operate in countries with different drug laws, particularly Peru and Brazil, where Indigenous communities have used ayahuasca – a plant-based psychedelic brew – for hundreds of years.
The lack of industry standards creates challenges for potential participants, according to Joshua White, who founded the Fireside Project, a support hotline for people experiencing difficult psychedelic episodes.
“If there is no regulation, what does that mean about the quality of care you’re going to have?” White questioned. “I certainly fear that there could be a race to the bottom where there is no liability or accountability.”
Amy McGuire, a biomedical ethics expert at Baylor College of Medicine who co-authored the research study, stressed the importance of thorough investigation before attending any retreat.
“It’s really important that somebody interested in a psychedelic retreat do their research, talk to the organizers or facilitators to get more information about what is being offered and how,” McGuire advised.
The research team documented varying practices across retreat centers, with some offering multiple psychedelic substances during single programs. While many employ healthcare professionals, their duties and qualifications often remain unclear. Concerning practices include medical staff participating in drug experiences alongside clients, potentially compromising their ability to handle emergencies.
Essential questions for evaluating retreats include whether staff possess emergency medical training and equipment, proximity to hospitals with reliable transportation, and adequate time devoted to participant preparation and post-experience support.
Medical screening presents another critical safety concern. Over half the surveyed retreats exclude individuals with mental health conditions like schizophrenia, which experts say is appropriate since psychedelics can worsen psychotic symptoms.
“Psychedelic drugs may worsen symptoms of psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia,” Krystal noted. “It is important that patients are carefully screened to ensure that appropriate patients enter treatment.”
However, all surveyed retreats depend entirely on participants honestly reporting their medical histories and health conditions – a potentially problematic approach.
“When you’re really desperate and hoping to access something that you think could help you, there’s an incentive not to be truthful,” McGuire observed.
Nearly 90% of retreat centers require or suggest participants discontinue certain medications, particularly antidepressants, before psychedelic experiences. These “washout periods” range from one day to six weeks, but medical experts warn that safely reducing antidepressants like Prozac requires six to 12 weeks under professional supervision.
Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman, a Columbia University psychiatrist, cautioned that “the patient needs to realize that by going off their medicine they’re at greater risk of recurrence or exacerbation of their symptoms. They should be monitored regularly to make sure nothing bad happens.”
While retreat operators cite research showing dangerous serotonin interactions between antidepressants and psychedelics, McGuire suggests business motivations may also drive medication discontinuation policies.
“There’s a business rationale for wanting people to have the maximum experience when they show up and they’re paying for these retreats,” she explained.
A prominent military leader within Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces has abandoned the paramilitary organization to join the nation’s regular army, marking a significant development as the country’s brutal civil conflict continues into its fourth year.
Army leader Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan publicly welcomed Maj. Gen. al-Nour Ahmed Adam, also called al-Qubba, who switched allegiances earlier this month. The sovereign council shared footage on social platforms of Burhan meeting with Adam in Sudan’s Northern province near the Egyptian border.
“Doors are open to all those who lay down arms and join the path of national reconstruction,” stated Burhan, who leads the sovereign council.
The Rapid Support Forces have remained silent regarding Adam’s departure.
According to regional news sources, Adam escaped from RSF-controlled territory in Darfur this month, bringing with him dozens of fighters and military equipment when he joined government forces.
The Sudan Tribune reported that Adam’s departure followed disagreements with RSF leadership, particularly their decision not to name him military commander of North Darfur province after the group captured el-Fasher city in October, which had been the army’s final stronghold in Darfur.
Adam represents one of the highest-ranking officials to abandon the paramilitaries since fighting began. Last year, Abu Aqla Kaikel, commander of the Sudan Shield Forces, also left the RSF when government troops recaptured the strategically important Gezira province.
Sudan’s conflict erupted in April 2023 when tensions between military leaders and the RSF escalated into armed combat throughout Khartoum and other regions of the vast nation.
The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project estimates the fighting has claimed at least 59,000 lives, though the U.S.-based monitoring organization acknowledges this figure likely underrepresents the actual death toll due to reporting challenges.
FBI Director Kash Patel has initiated a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic magazine on Monday, disputing claims made in a recent publication about his drinking habits and professional conduct.
The magazine responded by defending its journalism and stating it will “vigorously defend against the meritless lawsuit” while standing behind its reporting.
The controversial piece, published Friday on The Atlantic’s website, was written by Sarah Fitzpatrick, who suggested Patel fears for his position and noted that “he has good reasons to think so — including some having to do with what witnesses described to me as bouts of excessive drinking.”
According to the magazine’s reporting, Patel’s conduct, which includes “both conspicuous inebriation and unexplained absences,” has created concern among FBI and Department of Justice personnel. Fitzpatrick has also been named as a defendant in the legal action.
The lawsuit, filed in Washington’s district court, refutes these behavioral claims and takes issue with the publication’s use of unnamed sources. Fitzpatrick noted in her article that she spoke with over two dozen individuals, providing them anonymity to “discuss sensitive information and private conversations.”
“Defendants cannot evade responsibility for their malicious lies by hiding behind sham sources,” the legal filing states.
A University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball standout has earned recognition from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for the second time this season.
The Hawks player received the MEAC Rookie of the Week honor, marking her second such award during the current campaign.
The recognition highlights the freshman’s continued strong performance on the diamond for the UMES softball program throughout the season.
Kevin Warsh, the nominee to become the next chairman of the Federal Reserve, has committed to selling his stake in a foreign investment fund should he be confirmed for the position, according to recently filed financial documents.
In paperwork submitted April 17 that updated his original disclosure from April 10, Warsh informed the Federal Reserve’s ethics official that he would sell his holdings in the iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index (XIU) if approved to replace current Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. The nominee, who previously served as a Fed governor and works in finance, explained his decision by stating that “agency ethics officials have since advised me that the duties of my position will involve particular matters affecting the financial interests of the underlying holding” within the investment fund.
The investment vehicle Warsh plans to sell focuses on Canadian stock holdings. Federal Reserve regulations restrict what investments board members and their families can maintain, including limitations on foreign market exposure along with various other restrictions on investment types and portfolio management.
Financial disclosures made public last week revealed that Warsh, who is scheduled for a Senate Banking Committee confirmation hearing on Tuesday, possesses substantial wealth through diverse investments. Many of these holdings remain partially undisclosed, and he has indicated he would need to sell numerous assets if confirmed for the Fed’s top position.
His path to confirmation faces obstacles due to an ongoing legal inquiry involving the Federal Reserve and its current leadership. Several lawmakers have stated they will not support Warsh’s nomination until this investigation concludes, making it unlikely he could assume the role before Powell’s term expires on May 15.
In the updated filing, the Fed’s internal ethics official stated, “I continue to believe that Mr. Warsh is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations governing conflicts of interest.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in limbo regarding their quarterback situation as the 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers has yet to communicate his intentions for the upcoming season, with the 2026 NFL Draft set to begin Thursday.
While Rodgers has expressed interest in working again with Mike McCarthy, his former Green Bay coach who recently took over for Mike Tomlin as Pittsburgh’s head coach, the veteran quarterback remains silent on his future plans. General Manager Omar Khan had previously suggested the organization would receive clarity on Rodgers’ status ahead of the draft, and team owner Art Rooney II had also indicated expectations for a pre-draft decision.
However, according to NFL Network’s Monday report, the Steelers continue waiting for communication from Rodgers.
Following last year’s draft, Rodgers inked a one-year contract with Pittsburgh, citing Tomlin as a key factor in his decision to join the franchise. The quarterback has not revealed any alternative options he might be considering as a free agent.
During the 2025 season, Rodgers threw for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns while helping guide the Steelers to their AFC North championship.
Meanwhile, new head coach McCarthy reportedly has strong interest in Will Howard, the former Ohio State signal-caller who took first-team reps during Monday’s minicamp session.
The team has also bolstered its receiving corps by trading for Michael Pittman Jr. from Indianapolis, adding him alongside primary target D.K. Metcalf.
Pittsburgh’s organized team activities are scheduled to commence in mid-May, followed by mandatory minicamp from June 2-4.
Federal prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into major beef processing companies over allegations of price manipulation, according to a Wall Street Journal report released Monday.
The Justice Department’s antitrust division is examining whether large meat processing firms engaged in illegal conduct to artificially inflate beef prices for consumers nationwide.
This criminal probe stems from former President Donald Trump’s accusations last year that meat processing companies were manipulating beef prices through coordinated efforts. Trump directed federal investigators to look into these claims.
While the Justice Department previously acknowledged it was examining the beef industry following Trump’s directive, officials had not publicly revealed the investigation involved potential criminal charges, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The investigation focuses on four dominant companies in the industry: Tyson Foods, Cargill, JBS USA, and National Beef Packing Company. These firms process approximately 85% of all grain-fed cattle in the United States, turning them into steaks, roasts, and other beef products sold in grocery stores across the country.
Justice Department officials have not responded to requests for additional information about the ongoing investigation.
The nation’s highest court announced Monday it will take up a significant case involving religious freedom and LGBTQ rights, examining whether Catholic institutions can avoid Colorado’s anti-discrimination rules for state-funded early childhood education.
The justices will review a challenge brought by Denver’s Catholic Archdiocese and other faith-based organizations seeking exemption from Colorado’s mandate that publicly funded preschools provide “equal opportunity” enrollment to all children, regardless of students’ or parents’ sexual orientation and gender identity.
Denver’s Archdiocese operates 34 Catholic preschool facilities affected by the state’s funding requirements.
The case will likely be heard during the court’s upcoming session starting in October. The Trump administration has expressed support for the Catholic organizations’ position.
Catholic representatives argue Colorado’s policy forces families toward schools that “share the government’s views on these issues,” effectively punishing religious institutions and families with traditional beliefs.
In court documents, attorneys for the faith-based plaintiffs referenced the Supreme Court’s 2015 marriage equality decision, noting the court had indicated “that religious groups would be protected when they dissent from secular orthodoxies about marriage and sexuality.”
The legal team emphasized First Amendment religious freedom protections, writing: “The Free Exercise Clause simply cannot do that important work — which this court has described as ‘at the heart of our pluralistic society’ — if it can be so easily evaded.”
Colorado officials maintain their equal access standards don’t violate religious liberty because the rules are neutral and uniformly applied to all participating organizations.
The two sides disagree about whether Colorado’s preschool initiative allows exceptions for certain secular goals, like prioritizing low-income children or those with special needs, while denying religious accommodations.
A federal district court judge in Colorado ruled in favor of state officials in 2024. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver affirmed that decision last year, leading to the current Supreme Court appeal.
Worcester County, Maryland government leaders held a ceremonial event this morning to celebrate the return of operations at their Isle of Wight office location.
The ribbon cutting ceremony took place to officially mark the facility’s reopening, with county officials in attendance for the milestone event.
The Isle of Wight Offices are now back in operation, restoring government services to the location for area residents.
Bundle up and protect your plants – a Freeze Warning is now in effect for northern Delmarva as temperatures are expected to plummet into the upper 20s tonight.
The National Weather Service issued the warning for New Castle County, predicting sub-freezing temperatures as low as 27 degrees from midnight tonight through 9 AM Tuesday morning. This unseasonably cold snap poses a significant threat to tender vegetation and outdoor plumbing across the region.
Gardeners and homeowners should take immediate action to protect sensitive plants, flowers, and crops that could be killed by the freezing conditions. Cover outdoor plants with blankets or tarps, and consider bringing potted plants indoors overnight.
Don’t forget about your outdoor plumbing – exposed pipes and faucets should be covered or drained to prevent costly freeze damage. Pet owners should also bring animals inside or ensure they have adequate warm shelter.
The warning affects areas from Wilmington south to the Delaware-Maryland border, with conditions expected to moderate by mid-morning Tuesday as temperatures climb back above freezing.
Stay with TV Delmarva for continued weather updates, and remember – it’s better to prepare tonight than deal with freeze damage tomorrow morning.
A Freeze Warning is now in effect for several counties across the Delmarva Peninsula, with dangerously cold temperatures expected to dip as low as 29 degrees overnight.
The National Weather Service Mount Holly has issued the warning for Kent and Inland Sussex Counties in Delaware, along with Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties in Maryland. The warning begins at midnight tonight and remains in effect until 9 AM Tuesday morning.
These unseasonably cold conditions pose a serious threat to crops and sensitive vegetation throughout the region. The frost and freeze conditions could kill tender plants and potentially damage unprotected outdoor plumbing systems.
Residents are urged to take immediate action to protect their gardens and property. Cover or bring indoors any sensitive plants, and ensure outdoor water pipes are properly insulated or drained. Farmers and gardeners should take extra precautions to safeguard crops and newly planted seedlings.
This late-season freeze warning is particularly concerning given the time of year, when many residents have already begun their spring gardening activities. The warning expires at midnight Monday, but residents should continue monitoring weather conditions as temperatures gradually warm throughout Tuesday morning.
American military forces have taken control of an Iranian cargo vessel suspected of transporting materials that could serve military purposes, according to maritime intelligence officials who spoke Monday.
The container ship Touska, operating under Iran’s flag, was intercepted by U.S. forces on Sunday near Iran’s Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman. The vessel belongs to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), a company targeted by American economic sanctions.
According to U.S. Central Command, the ship’s crew ignored repeated commands over a six-hour span and violated an American naval blockade. Ship tracking systems show the vessel last transmitted its location at 1308 GMT on Sunday.
Intelligence officials, speaking anonymously, indicated their preliminary analysis suggests the ship was transporting dual-purpose materials following its journey from Asia. While they didn’t specify exact items, U.S. Central Command has previously identified metals, piping, and electronic parts as examples of goods that serve both civilian and military functions.
Iran’s military leadership characterized the seizure as “armed piracy” and described it as “blatant aggression,” according to state-controlled media reports Monday. Iranian officials said the vessel had departed from China and that they were prepared to challenge U.S. forces but were limited by the presence of crew members’ relatives aboard the ship.
The United States sanctioned IRISL in late 2019, labeling it as “the preferred shipping line for Iranian proliferators and procurement agents” involved in moving materials for Iran’s ballistic missile development.
Sources indicate the Touska operates with an Iranian captain and crew, though it remains unclear if all personnel are Iranian citizens. IRISL vessels typically fall under Revolutionary Guards oversight and employ primarily Iranian sailors, sometimes supplemented by Pakistani maritime workers, according to additional sources.
Satellite tracking data from SynMax analytics shows the ship docked at China’s Taicang port near Shanghai on March 25, then proceeded to Gaolan port in southern China between March 29-30. The vessel loaded cargo containers at Gaolan before making an additional stop at Port Klang anchorage in Malaysia on April 11-12 to take on more containers.
Chinese foreign ministry representatives expressed concern Monday about what they termed the “forced interception” of the Iranian cargo ship, calling on all parties to act responsibly regarding ceasefire agreements.
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social Sunday that the Touska faced U.S. sanctions due to its “prior history of illegal activity,” stating that American forces were “seeing what’s on board.”
The U.S. Navy expanded its Iranian shipping blockade Thursday to encompass cargo classified as contraband, announcing that vessels suspected of heading toward Iranian territory would be “subject to belligerent right to visit and search.” The contraband classification includes weapons and ammunition.
Iran’s foreign ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.
Following their recent trade of a key defensive lineman, the New York Giants appear set to retain defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, NFL Network reports.
The 25-year-old pass rusher is heading into his final year under his initial contract after New York selected him with the fifth pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
With new head coach John Harbaugh at the helm, the Giants shipped defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals on Saturday, receiving the 10th selection in the upcoming draft in return.
According to the report, New York has been receiving inquiries about Thibodeaux’s potential availability for several months, but Saturday’s Lawrence transaction makes it less probable they’ll make another significant move.
“No one is ruling anything out. But unlikely,” NFL Network stated in their coverage.
Throughout his four-year career spanning 53 starting appearances, Thibodeaux has recorded 23.5 sacks along with 55 quarterback pressures. Last season proved challenging as he managed just 2.5 sacks across 10 games, sitting out seven contests due to a shoulder ailment.
Should he remain in New York under his existing contract, Thibodeaux stands to earn $14.75 million through his fifth-year option in 2026.
The controlling family behind Jack Daniel’s producer Brown-Forman reportedly prefers selling their company to French spirits giant Pernod Ricard rather than American competitor Sazerac, according to a source with knowledge of the discussions who spoke to Reuters on Monday.
The family considers Pernod the more prestigious buyer, citing the French company’s collection of superior and well-known brands, the source revealed. The individual requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the negotiations.
According to the source, the proposed deal structure combining cash and stock would enable the family to maintain a significant ownership position and continue having influence within the merged organization. These benefits are seen as more valuable than what Sazerac’s offer would provide.
Sazerac entered the bidding competition earlier this month as a new contender for Brown-Forman, following Pernod’s March announcement that it was engaged in merger discussions with the American whiskey producer.
A second source informed Reuters that Pernod’s current proposal consists of 80% stock and 20% cash, though these terms could be modified during negotiations.
All three companies – Pernod, Brown-Forman, and Sazerac – have refused to provide comments when contacted by Reuters regarding the potential acquisition.
FBI Director Kash Patel has launched a defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic magazine and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick over a published story that alleged he struggles with alcohol abuse and poses a national security risk.
The legal action, filed April 20 in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeks $250 million in damages following The Atlantic’s Friday publication of a story originally headlined “Kash Patel’s Erratic Behavior Could Cost Him His Job.”
The magazine’s report drew on statements from more than two dozen unnamed sources who raised concerns about Patel’s “conspicuous inebriation and unexplained absences” that reportedly “alarmed officials at the FBI and the Department of Justice.”
The Atlantic later changed the online headline to “The FBI Director Is MIA” and reported that the FBI has had to postpone early morning meetings “as a result of his alcohol-fueled nights.” The story also claimed Patel “is often away or unreachable, delaying time-sensitive decisions needed to advance investigations.”
The White House, Department of Justice, and Patel all rejected these claims when The Atlantic contacted them. The magazine included Patel’s response: “Print it, all false, I’ll see you in court—bring your checkbook.”
Speaking to Reuters, Patel called the article completely fabricated. “The Atlantic’s story is a lie,” he stated. “They were given the truth before they published, and they chose to print falsehoods anyway.”
Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg defended the publication’s work in a statement to CNBC after Patel announced his intention to sue during a Fox News appearance Sunday. “We stand by our reporting on Kash Patel,” Goldberg said.
Reuters was unable to verify the claims made in The Atlantic’s article or determine why the publication modified its headline. The Atlantic and Fitzpatrick did not respond to requests for comment.
According to the lawsuit, while The Atlantic has the right to critique FBI leadership, “they crossed the legal line” by publishing a story “replete with false and obviously fabricated allegations designed to destroy Director Patel’s reputation and drive him from office.”
The legal filing accuses The Atlantic of disregarding the FBI’s denials and failing to respond to a Friday letter from Patel’s attorney Jesse Binnall to senior editors and the magazine’s legal team requesting additional time to address 19 allegations the reporter planned to publish.
Court documents show the letter was sent shortly before 4 p.m. Friday, while the story went live at 6:20 p.m. Reuters could not confirm whether or how The Atlantic responded to Binnall’s request.
The lawsuit claims the publication demonstrated “actual malice,” the legal threshold requiring public figures like Patel to prove publishers knowingly distributed false information or recklessly disregarded questions about its truthfulness.
“Defendants’ conscious decision to ignore the detailed, specific, and substantive refutations in the Pre-Publication Letter, and their refusal to give a reasonable amount of time for the FBI and Director Patel to respond, is among the strongest possible evidence of actual malice,” the court filing states.
This lawsuit represents another case of a Trump administration official taking legal action against a news organization. Courts have dismissed Trump’s lawsuits against CNN, the New York Times, and Wall Street Journal, though Trump has refiled against the Times and may refile against the Journal.
However, some settlements have been reached. ABC News agreed to pay $15 million plus $1 million in legal fees, while Paramount Global paid $16 million over what the Trump administration described as “deceptive editing” of a CBS News interview with 2024 election opponent Kamala Harris.
The nation’s highest court on Monday refused to consider a legal challenge brought by Massachusetts parents who claimed their local school district violated their constitutional rights by accommodating their child’s gender identity without parental notification.
The justices dismissed an appeal from Stephen Foote and Marissa Silvestri, whose lawsuit was previously rejected by lower courts. The couple had sued after officials at Baird Middle School in Ludlow honored their 11-year-old’s request to use different names and pronouns at school while continuing to use the child’s birth name when speaking with parents.
The parents argued that school staff promoted what they called “gender ideology” among students without parental knowledge, leading their child, identified in court documents as “B.F.,” to begin questioning their gender identity and ultimately identify as genderqueer.
In their legal filing, Foote and Silvestri contended that school officials violated their 14th Amendment due process rights, which have historically protected parents’ fundamental authority to guide their children’s upbringing and care decisions.
The couple described their opposition to what they termed “so-called gender transition” as morally-based rather than religiously motivated. Their case was backed by Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian advocacy organization.
A federal district judge dismissed their lawsuit in 2022, and the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston confirmed that ruling in 2025. The appeals court determined the parents failed to demonstrate that their parental rights had been adequately compromised, particularly regarding medical care decisions for their child.
The appellate court stated it was “unconvinced that merely alleging Ludlow’s use of gender-affirming pronouns or a gender-affirming name suffices to state a claim that the school provided medical treatment to the student.”
According to the 1st Circuit’s decision, allowing students to control whether schools inform parents about their gender identity enables children to “express their identity without worrying about parental backlash.” The court emphasized that this approach doesn’t force students to hide information or restrict parents’ authority outside school grounds.
“Parents remain free to strive to mold their child according to the parents’ own beliefs,” the 1st Circuit concluded.
This decision follows the Supreme Court’s March 2 action blocking similar California policies that would restrict schools from sharing students’ gender identity information with parents without student consent.
Similar conflicts regarding transgender student privacy and support are occurring nationwide. The high court previously rejected comparable cases from Wisconsin and Maryland in 2024.
The Supreme Court, which maintains a 6-3 conservative majority, continues to address transgender rights issues amid increased restrictions from the Trump administration and Republican-controlled states. In June 2025, the court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming medical treatment for transgender minors, and a decision remains pending on state laws prohibiting transgender athletes from competing on female sports teams.
Diplomatic representatives from Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to meet in Washington D.C. this Thursday, according to an anonymous Israeli official who spoke with Reuters on Monday.
Israel’s delegation will include Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter, the source confirmed.
The upcoming meeting represents the initial diplomatic engagement between the two nations following the implementation of a 10-day ceasefire that began last Thursday.
The United States Supreme Court has refused to intervene in a massive lawsuit against eight major financial institutions, allowing cities nationwide to continue their $12 billion class-action case alleging interest rate manipulation.
On Monday, the nation’s highest court rejected an appeal from Bank of America and seven other banking giants who were attempting to block municipalities including Baltimore, Philadelphia, and San Diego from pursuing their case as a unified class action.
The municipalities claim these eight banks – which also include Barclays, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and Goldman Sachs – worked together between 2008 and 2016 to manipulate interest rates on thousands of municipal bonds called variable-rate demand obligations.
These particular bonds feature short-term interest rates that are typically adjusted on a weekly basis. According to the lawsuit, the alleged manipulation resulted in higher borrowing costs for cities, which reduced funding available for essential services including hospitals, schools, and other public facilities.
The financial institutions had argued before a Manhattan federal court that each city should be forced to file separate individual lawsuits rather than joining forces in a group action. The banks have consistently maintained their innocence regarding any misconduct.
In their Supreme Court appeal, the banks contended that federal district court judges must first settle disagreements between third-party experts regarding whether shared issues take precedence before permitting class-action status. They argued the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals made an error last year when it upheld the certification of a national class representing municipal bond issuers.
The banking institutions warned the Supreme Court that allowing the 2nd Circuit’s decision to stand would lead to excessively broad class actions, significantly increasing potential financial exposure and forcing settlements. The cities and other municipal bond issuers responded by arguing the banks were attempting to turn class certification proceedings into preliminary trials on the lawsuit’s underlying merits.
The plaintiffs further argued there was no disagreement among appellate courts and that class certification decisions should prioritize whether shared questions can be addressed on a class-wide basis, rather than focusing on whether plaintiffs will ultimately succeed in their case.
Motorists traveling on northbound Route 1 should expect delays due to construction work taking place between Broadkill Road and Deep Branch Road.
The Delaware Department of Transportation has temporarily shut down the left lane in this section to accommodate ongoing construction activities. The lane closure is expected to last until 2 PM today.
Drivers are advised to use caution when traveling through the work zone and to allow extra time for their commute. Traffic may be moving slower than normal as vehicles merge from the closed lane.
Weather officials from the National Weather Service Mount Holly office have issued a freeze warning that went into effect Saturday at 10:17 AM and will remain active until 9:00 AM on Sunday.
The warning alerts residents to prepare for subfreezing temperatures that could damage or kill sensitive outdoor vegetation and plants. Those with gardens or delicate landscaping are advised to take protective measures before temperatures drop.
The timing of this late-season cold snap is particularly concerning as many plants and crops have already begun their spring growth cycle, making them more vulnerable to frost damage.
Residents should consider bringing potted plants indoors, covering sensitive garden areas, or using other protective methods to shield vegetation from the expected freeze conditions.
Weather officials have issued a freeze warning for Delaware and surrounding areas, alerting residents to prepare for potentially damaging cold temperatures this weekend.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey announced the freeze warning Saturday at 10:17 AM, with the alert remaining in effect until 9:00 AM on Sunday, April 21st.
The warning indicates that subfreezing temperatures are expected across the region, which could cause significant harm to tender vegetation and crops that are not properly protected.
Residents are advised to take precautions to safeguard sensitive plants, outdoor plumbing, and other items that could be damaged by freezing conditions. This includes bringing potted plants indoors, covering garden beds, and ensuring proper protection for any exposed water lines.
The timing of this freeze warning is particularly concerning as many plants and crops are in vulnerable stages of growth during the spring season.
LUANDA, Angola (AP) — During his African journey, the pontiff’s message resonated powerfully across the continent.
Some observers argue that Pope Leo XIV, known for his cautious and reserved Midwestern Augustinian approach, discovered his strongest voice during his extensive African tour, condemning what he called a “handful of tyrants” and “chains of corruption” that have plagued portions of the continent for generations.
However, Leo has been delivering similar messages for some time, including regarding the U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran. It wasn’t until President Donald Trump’s unprecedented attack and Vice President JD Vance’s assertions of theological authority that many began listening closely, particularly American Catholics.
“Certainly, Pope Leo may appear to be actively engaging in his understated manner with authority, and this is the perception among global media and social platforms,” Cardinal Michael Czerny, a senior Vatican official and Leo’s advisor, explained to The Associated Press.
“However, the Holy Father’s sermons and addresses in Africa were prepared well beforehand, focusing on local African circumstances and the church,” Czerny stated. “Therefore, if they appear connected to current conflicts and controversies, this brings to mind Jesus’s words, ‘Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear!’”
Leo attempted to clarify this point when he addressed reporters aboard Air Pope One on April 18, traveling from Cameroon to Angola, expressing frustration that “a certain narrative” had emerged suggesting he was feuding with Trump regarding the Iran conflict and that his African peace messages targeted the president.
Leo maintained his statements about tyrants and religious justifications for warfare had been misunderstood, emphasizing he was addressing only African situations, specifically a separatist struggle in western Cameroon.
Nevertheless, Leo appeared to be taking both positions. While he was indeed discussing the separatist conflict during a peace gathering in Bamenda and preaching Gospel messages of peace and brotherhood, he has also been addressing Trump frequently.
“Pope Leo’s distancing from certain interpretations represented an effort to defuse a very precarious situation,” explained Massimo Faggioli, a theology professor at Trinity College Dublin. “The Vatican requires the United States to establish some form of peaceful framework — not necessarily order — but a vision of peace, hope for peace.”
Leo had criticized Trump directly before arriving in Africa. In one notable statement two weeks prior, he urged believers to contact their congressional representatives demanding an end to the conflict.
The major story from the April 7 meeting outside Leo’s country residence in Castel Gandolfo was Leo describing Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization as “truly unacceptable.”
However, his subsequent message carried greater significance. “I would encourage citizens from all involved nations to reach out to authorities, political leaders, congressmen, asking them, telling them to pursue peace and reject warfare,” Leo declared.
Faggioli described this statement as “the Vatican’s nuclear option,” representing a direct appeal to American voters to take action, driven by genuine concern that Trump might escalate the Iran conflict catastrophically.
The Holy See had never issued such an explicitly political papal message, even during the Cuban Missile Crisis when Catholic president John F. Kennedy faced potential nuclear confrontation with the Soviet Union, Faggioli noted.
During that crisis, Pope John XXIII did make a public appeal — his renowned October 25, 1962, radio broadcast — with an urgent, direct peace plea including to “those bearing the responsibility of power” to “do everything possible to preserve peace.”
That pope also sent private correspondence to Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev while working diplomatically behind the scenes to reduce tensions. However, he didn’t encourage U.S. voters to essentially choose between their president and their pope.
“What’s at stake currently is that during wartime, Catholic loyalties face particular testing,” Faggioli observed. He noted that regardless of how the situation resolves, this tension will affect future political ambitions of Catholics seeking high office, whether Vance on the Republican side or California Governor Gavin Newsom for Democrats, as long as an American-born pope leads in Rome.
Kathleen Sprows Cummings, director of the Global Catholic Research Initiative at the University of Notre Dame, said Leo has consistently functioned “on a higher plane,” but American Catholics typically encounter church moral discussions regarding sexuality, gender and abortion, making foreign policy through a moral framework unsettling.
“So JD Vance can say the pope should stick to morality,” she noted, “but war and peace are ancient moral issues.”
The Reverend Antonio Spadaro, under-secretary in the Vatican’s culture department, said Leo continues the tradition of previous popes preaching Gospel peace messages. What changed, he said, was Trump’s response.
“The forceful reaction came from America,” he stated. “It was America responding to Leo’s words, not the reverse.”
Despite Leo’s direct Trump comments, he wasn’t launching an attack, Spadaro emphasized.
“It’s extremely dangerous to think the pope is battling Trump, because it reduces the pope to a confrontational level, one against another, which Trump might desire but the pope has no intention of pursuing,” he explained.
Spadaro added that from his perspective, Leo remains unchanged from when he was known as Robert Prevost, the Chicago-born missionary priest.
“I observe the same Prevost I’ve always known,” Spadaro said. “The setting has transformed, so his composed yet very direct approach contrasts sharply with a chaotic environment, which makes it remarkable.”
For better or worse, the extraordinary drama involving Trump, warfare and geopolitics seems distant from Leo’s daily ministry to his African congregations, who have gathered in massive numbers to welcome the American pope at each location during his four-nation journey.
The multilingual pope has facilitated communication with his audiences, delivering addresses, sermons and prayers in local languages: French in Algeria, English and French in Cameroon, Portuguese in Angola and, beginning Tuesday, Spanish in Equatorial Guinea.
Lucineia Francisco left her family Sunday to witness Leo at the Shrine of Mama Muxima, Angola’s most beloved pilgrimage site. Approximately 30,000 people attended Leo’s rosary prayer service.
“My children were crying to accompany me, but I refused,” Francisco said. “This is a spiritual journey I’m truly undertaking alone.”
A British court has rejected a lawsuit brought by the father of deceased singer Amy Winehouse against two friends who made over $1.2 million selling the performer’s personal belongings at auction.
Mitch Winehouse, serving as his daughter’s estate administrator, took legal action against Naomi Parry and Catriona Gourlay in London’s High Court, claiming the pair had no legal authority to sell items worth approximately 890,000 pounds.
The Grammy-winning artist passed away at age 27 in 2011 due to alcohol poisoning at her London residence.
Both women defended their actions, with Parry, who worked as Winehouse’s stylist, and Gourlay maintaining they legitimately owned or were gifted the collection of 150 pieces, which featured clothing, accessories, jewelry and handbags.
Court records show Parry collected $878,000 from 56 items sold through Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles during 2021, with the silk minidress from Winehouse’s final Belgrade, Serbia concert alone bringing in $243,200. Gourlay received $344,000 for her 85 items.
Following Deputy Judge Sarah Clarke’s decision to throw out Mitch Winehouse’s claims that the duo lacked permission to conduct the sales, Parry celebrated the ruling.
“The High Court has cleared my name, unequivocally and in full, after years of deeply damaging and unfounded allegations brought by Mitch Winehouse,” Parry stated. “This was not a partial outcome or a matter of nuance. The claim has failed entirely. It should never have been brought.”
A humpback whale’s struggle for survival in Germany’s Baltic Sea has captured worldwide attention through continuous livestreams, as numerous rescue attempts have been unsuccessful in guiding the deteriorating animal back to deeper ocean waters.
Local news outlets have given the whale the name ‘Timmy,’ and many observers worry the marine mammal may perish in the shallow Baltic waters close to Wismar, an eastern German coastal town.
The creature confronts overwhelming challenges in navigating back to the North Sea, requiring a trek spanning hundreds of kilometers, before ultimately reaching the Atlantic Ocean.
The whale was initially observed in the area on March 3. The reason behind the animal’s entry into the Baltic Sea, so distant from its Atlantic Ocean home waters, remains unknown. Several marine experts suggest the creature may have become disoriented while pursuing a school of herring or during its seasonal migration.
Following its arrival, the mammal has repeatedly become stuck in shallow areas. The whale displays obvious signs of distress, including erratic breathing patterns and remaining nearly motionless for extended periods.
Timmy also suffers from severe skin deterioration caused by the Baltic Sea’s reduced salt levels, prompting rescue teams to treat the animal with substantial amounts of zinc-based ointment.
Adding to these complications, when the whale does attempt to swim, it consistently heads in the incorrect direction.
News organizations have broadcast continuous live coverage to satisfy intense public interest surrounding the whale’s condition. Digital news platforms have sent urgent notifications for even minor updates regarding Timmy’s status.
Demonstrators have gathered on Wismar’s shoreline demanding the animal’s rescue, while social media personalities have sparked discussions about whether allowing the whale to die peacefully or continuing rescue operations would be more humane.
Public fascination has grown so intense that law enforcement established a 500-meter safety perimeter to prevent onlookers from approaching and further distressing the stranded animal.
Even with these protective measures, a 67-year-old woman leaped from a vessel over the weekend attempting to reach the whale before being intercepted.
Rescue operations involving police vessels, heavy machinery, and inflatable craft had briefly succeeded in freeing the creature. However, the whale, measuring between 12 to 15 meters in length and weighing 12 metric tons, has never managed to locate its route back to the North Sea.
Marine specialists then developed an elaborate rescue plan involving air cushions to raise the animal onto a large tarp, which would be supported by two floating platforms and pulled by a tugboat. Government authorities gave permission for this private rescue mission, but the whale began swimming again Monday when high tide arrived. Watercraft tried to direct the mammal toward the proper course, though some rescuers have abandoned hope.
Thilo Maack, a marine biologist with Greenpeace, shared with The Associated Press that the rescue attempts are actually inflicting significant stress on the animal.
“I believe the whale will die very soon now. And I would also like to raise the question: What is actually so bad about that?” he said. “Yes, animals live, animals die. This animal is really, really very, very, very sick. And it has decided to seek rest.”
SRINAGAR, India — A devastating transportation accident claimed 21 lives Monday when a passenger bus plummeted off a mountainous highway in Indian-controlled Kashmir, according to local authorities.
The vehicle, designed to hold 42 passengers but carrying more than 60 people, was traveling from Ramnagar town toward Udhampur city when disaster struck. Civil administrator Prem Singh reported that the bus collided with an auto-rickshaw while navigating a sharp turn in the treacherous mountain terrain.
Following the collision, the bus careened off the highway and tumbled approximately 100 feet down a rocky embankment before landing on a roadway below, Singh explained. The occupants of the three-wheeled vehicle were also hurt in the incident.
Emergency responders and local residents quickly mobilized to the crash site to begin rescue efforts. Singh confirmed that 19 victims perished immediately at the scene, while two additional passengers succumbed to their injuries after being transported to medical facilities. Approximately 45 injured survivors are receiving treatment at multiple healthcare facilities, with several listed in critical condition.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a statement expressing his condolences regarding the tragedy and pledged financial assistance for the families of those killed.
The accident highlights India’s ongoing struggle with traffic safety, as the nation records among the world’s highest rates of roadway fatalities. Annual statistics show hundreds of thousands of people are killed or injured in crashes typically attributed to dangerous driving practices, inadequate road maintenance, and deteriorating vehicle conditions.
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Three former Google executives appeared virtually in an Indonesian corruption court Monday, rejecting allegations that the tech giant participated in a fraudulent laptop procurement scheme that cost the government $125 million.
The case centers on Nadiem Anwar Makarim, 41, who co-founded Indonesia’s major ride-sharing service Gojek before serving as the nation’s education minister. Authorities arrested him in September following investigations into suspected corruption involving Chromebook laptop purchases.
Testifying through Zoom at Jakarta’s Corruption Court were Scott Beaumont, who led Google Asia Pacific from 2014 to 2019, Caesar Sengupta, who served as general manager and vice president between 2018 and 2021, and former executive William Florence.
The laptop acquisition was designed to advance the government’s initiative to digitize educational institutions across the country.
During his tenure as education minister from 2019 to 2024, Makarim allegedly pushed for Google’s Chromebook selection even after ministry researchers declined to endorse the devices, citing poor performance in areas with limited internet connectivity.
Prosecutors claim Makarim misused his position by directing the 2020-2021 national procurement process “entirely for personal business interests.” They allege he pressured Google to invest in PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB), Gojek’s parent corporation.
The acquisition of over 1.2 million Chromebooks aimed to expand Google’s market control in Indonesia’s education system, according to lead prosecutor Muhammad Fadli Paramajeng. He connected the program to Google’s approximately $787 million investment in PT AKAB through its Asia Pacific division.
Prosecutors claim Makarim obtained roughly 809 billion rupiah ($48.2 million) through his involvement in the scheme.
Beaumont rejected these accusations during his testimony. “There was no connection at all between Google’s investment in GoTo and any of the conversations with the Ministry of Education,” he stated to the three-judge panel. Makarim’s Gojek company combined with Indonesia’s largest online retailer Tokopedia in 2021 to create the GoTo Group.
Sengupta similarly disputed the allegations against him.
Google has maintained that Chromebooks are built for classroom environments, including remote locations. The company emphasized that while the devices work best with cloud connectivity, they function offline without internet access. Google also clarified that it provides software licensing but doesn’t control Chromebook pricing.
The Harvard-educated Makarim established Gojek in 2009 and led the company until 2019, when its valuation exceeded $10 billion. He left to join former Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s administration.
Prosecutors argue his departure from PT AKAB and Gojek represented “strategic concealment” to hide conflicts of interest. They claim Makarim installed trusted allies as directors and “beneficial owners,” enabling him to secretly influence company operations.
The former minister could face life imprisonment if convicted.
Makarim has consistently maintained his innocence, stating he never personally benefited from Chromebook contracts or associated services.
His legal team contends he properly separated from PT AKAB when assuming office, experienced a wealth decrease of more than 50% during his ministerial term, and that procurement choices were handled by technical staff and officials rather than the minister directly.
A verdict may be delivered within the month. The case also involves charges against two former Education Ministry officials and a previous technology consultant, while another staff member remains a fugitive.
Virginia voters headed to the polls Tuesday for a unique statewide election with no candidates but potentially major implications for congressional control nationwide.
The ballot features a single constitutional amendment that would grant Virginia’s Democratic-controlled General Assembly temporary authority to redraw the state’s congressional map. This proposal represents the newest development in a nationwide redistricting battle that started in July 2025 when Texas Republicans restructured their congressional boundaries to benefit the GOP at President Donald Trump’s request.
Currently, Democrats represent six of Virginia’s 11 House districts. However, if voters approve the measure and enact the redistricting plan that lawmakers passed in February and Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger signed, Democrats could potentially control 10 districts—adding four seats to their current total.
These revised district lines would take effect before November’s midterm elections, where a small number of competitive races could determine which party leads the House during Trump’s final two years in office.
The amendment would allow state legislators to maintain redistricting authority through October 2030, after which control would return to Virginia’s independent redistricting commission.
Governor Spanberger and former President Barack Obama have both endorsed the referendum, arguing it provides a necessary counter to Republican-led mid-decade redistricting efforts in other states. However, opposition groups have highlighted past statements from both leaders criticizing gerrymandering practices. Former Republican Governors Glenn Youngkin and George Allen have voiced opposition to the proposal.
Campaign finance data from the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project shows groups supporting the amendment have significantly outspent their opponents.
While Democrats have carried Virginia in the last five presidential contests, state-level races often show different patterns, with the governor’s office switching between parties six times in the past 33 years.
If voting follows partisan lines, supporters can expect strong backing in traditional Democratic areas like Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Norfolk, while opponents should see substantial margins in smaller, rural counties that comprise most of the state’s geography.
Fairfax County, Virginia’s largest by population, typically votes heavily Democratic, though Republicans who reduce Democratic margins there can win statewide. In 2021, Republican candidates Youngkin and Jason Miyares captured approximately 35% of Fairfax votes and won their respective races. Trump’s best Fairfax performance was roughly 31% in 2024, while Republican Winsome Earle-Sears received about 26% during her unsuccessful 2025 gubernatorial campaign.
Critical areas to monitor include Chesterfield and Stafford counties, plus Virginia Beach and Chesapeake cities. Spanberger and Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won all four locations in their successful campaigns, but Youngkin carried each area in 2021. Strong “No” votes in these jurisdictions could signal a tight race.
The ballot question reads: “Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia’s standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census?”
A “yes” vote supports letting lawmakers redraw districts before the midterms, while a “no” vote maintains existing boundaries until regular redistricting follows the 2030 census.
Polling locations close at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Virginia had 6,386,877 registered voters as of March 1, and residents can register on Election Day. Approximately 3.4 million people voted in the 2025 gubernatorial race, representing about 54% of registered voters. Early voting has been robust, with nearly 1.2 million ballots already cast by Friday—about 80% of total advance votes from the 2025 governor’s race.
Results reporting varies across Virginia’s counties and independent cities, with less than one-third releasing most early voting results in their initial updates, while nearly half report no early results initially. The midterm elections are scheduled for 196 days from Tuesday.
WASHINGTON — The nation’s highest court announced Monday it will examine claims from Catholic preschools in Colorado who believe their constitutional rights were trampled when state officials blocked them from participating in a publicly funded early childhood program.
St. Mary Catholic Parish has petitioned the Supreme Court with backing from the previous Trump administration, claiming discrimination based on their religious beliefs.
Working alongside the Archdiocese of Denver, these educational facilities contend that blocking their participation in Colorado’s taxpayer-supported universal preschool initiative violates the Constitution, particularly since the exclusion stems from their faith-driven policies regarding enrollment of children from LGBTQ+ households.
Colorado officials maintain that faith-based institutions can join the program but must comply with anti-discrimination requirements. Voters approved the initiative through a 2020 ballot measure, establishing public financing for no-cost preschool education at facilities chosen by families.
This marks another religious freedom dispute before the conservative-leaning Supreme Court, which has previously sided with religious discrimination claims while showing less support for LGBTQ+ rights arguments.
The justices will also examine potentially limiting a significant 1990 ruling involving religious peyote use, where the hallucinogenic cactus was central to spiritual practices. That decision, authored by the late conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, determined that religious activities don’t automatically exempt followers from laws that apply to everyone.
The court rejected requests from the schools and a Catholic family in Colorado to completely overturn that precedent.
Major stock market indexes began Monday trading with modest declines following a week of record-breaking gains, as rising tensions between the United States and Iran sparked investor concerns about threats to an unstable ceasefire.
At the opening bell on Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 25.1 points, representing a 0.05% decrease to 49,422.37. The S&P 500 index declined by 9.0 points or 0.13% to reach 7,117.05, and the Nasdaq Composite saw a decrease of 51.0 points or 0.21% to close at 24,417.528.
The subdued market opening comes after investors enjoyed significant gains during the previous week’s trading sessions. However, growing diplomatic tensions in the Middle East appear to be weighing on market sentiment as traders assess potential risks to regional stability.
BUDAPEST – Peter Magyar, who won recent Hungarian elections, issued a renewed demand Monday for the country’s president and senior judicial officials to step down within weeks or face forced removal from their positions.
Magyar specifically targeted President Tamas Sulyok, who has the support of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party, along with the nation’s highest-ranking judges. He set a firm deadline of May 31 for their voluntary departure.
Speaking at a Monday press conference, Magyar delivered a sharp message about his expectations. “We expect the resignation of Orban’s puppets,” he declared. “May 31 is the deadline until when they can submit their resignation. After then, we will live with our mandate and legal possibilities to remove them from office.”
The ultimatum represents an escalation in the political confrontation between Magyar’s opposition movement and the established government structure that has been in place under Orban’s leadership.
Construction companies nationwide are preparing for another difficult year ahead as international conflicts and trade policies continue to drive up building costs while high mortgage rates keep potential buyers away from the market, industry experts report.
The housing construction sector has faced declining sales for multiple quarters, with years of insufficient building due to worker shortages and restrictive zoning laws pushing home prices beyond many buyers’ reach. Recent trade policies and Middle Eastern conflicts have made these existing problems worse, according to industry analysts.
Building material costs remain high following dramatic increases during the inflation surge that followed the pandemic.
Financial analysts at Barclays cautioned that “eventual inflation in development costs — pipe, freight, and infrastructure facing new inflationary dynamics — will be difficult for builders to pass on, leading to further margin challenges and/or more reduction in starts.”
Lennar’s Chief Executive Stuart Miller confirmed that trade policies and immigration challenges are increasing both material and labor expenses.
“With affordability at stake, we have been working hard to push against and to manage these pressures through our trade partner relationships,” Miller stated during a company earnings discussion last month. “Nevertheless, the cost structure in the industry is pushing higher and is difficult to manage.”
KB Home’s Chief Executive Robert McGibney similarly noted “some pressure on material costs from lumber.”
Many construction companies have turned to offering incentives such as mortgage rate reductions to maintain sales numbers, and industry watchers predict this strategy will continue.
A temporary drop in 30-year mortgage rates below 6% in late February, driven by cooling inflation and declining Treasury yields, didn’t last long as rates quickly returned to approximately 6.5% by early April, further limiting buyers’ purchasing power.
The conflict between the U.S.-Israel alliance and Iran, which began on February 28, has dealt another setback to an already weak housing market recovery by pushing oil prices and bond yields higher.
“With oil prices being higher, certainly, that can bleed into land development and vertical construction,” particularly since petroleum products are essential components in many home building materials, increasing overall costs, KB Home’s McGibney explained.
“Geopolitical tensions, higher rates, and broader economic uncertainty are weighing on consumers in a vital period of the spring selling season,” stated Barclays analyst Matthew Bouley.
Wells Fargo analyst Sam Reid shared similar concerns, pointing out that housing company stocks have underperformed the S&P 500 by 12 points since the conflict began.
The timing is particularly problematic since homebuyer activity typically reaches its annual peak between March and June.
Evercore ISI analyst Stephen Kim described this year’s spring selling period as “disappointing” thus far, with demand patterns performing worse than the same timeframe in 2024 and 2025.
Both Lennar and KB Home reported spring sales figures that fell short of projections.
“It is likely that builders begin another cycle of guidance reductions,” Bouley predicted. “Even if delivery guidances hold, we think there is (an) increasing risk of negative revisions later in the year.”
DR Horton is scheduled to release earnings results on Tuesday, with PulteGroup following on Thursday, and NVR also expected to report this week.
A Freeze Warning is now in effect for New Castle County as overnight temperatures are expected to plummet to a dangerous 27 degrees. The National Weather Service issued the warning this morning at 10:17 AM, with freezing conditions expected from midnight tonight through 9 AM Tuesday morning.
This unseasonably cold weather poses a serious threat to crops, gardens, and sensitive vegetation across northern Delaware. The sub-freezing temperatures could kill tender plants and potentially damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
Residents in affected areas should take immediate action to protect their gardens and property. Weather experts recommend covering or bringing in sensitive plants, wrapping outdoor pipes, and ensuring pets have warm shelter overnight.
While southern Delaware and the Eastern Shore are not included in this warning, temperatures across the entire Delmarva Peninsula will be significantly cooler than normal for late April.
The Freeze Warning will remain in effect until 9 AM Tuesday morning, when temperatures are expected to rise above the freezing mark. TV Delmarva will continue monitoring conditions and provide updates as needed. For the latest weather information, stay with your Storm Team 47 forecast.
A Freeze Warning is now in effect for much of central Delmarva, with temperatures expected to drop as low as 29 degrees overnight into Tuesday morning.
The National Weather Service issued the warning at 10:17 AM Monday for Kent and inland Sussex Counties in Delaware, along with Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties in Maryland. The warning remains in effect from midnight tonight through 9:00 AM Tuesday.
Meteorologists warn that frost and freeze conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation, and may damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. This unseasonably cold weather comes as many residents have already begun their spring gardening and outdoor preparations.
Residents should take immediate action to protect tender plants by covering them or bringing potted plants indoors. Don’t forget to disconnect and drain garden hoses, and consider wrapping exposed pipes.
This freeze warning is particularly concerning given the late April timing, when many plants are vulnerable after beginning their spring growth cycle. Farmers and gardeners across the region should take extra precautions tonight.
Temperatures are expected to warm back above freezing by Tuesday morning. Stay with TV Delmarva for continued weather updates.
A Freeze Warning is in effect for New Castle County in Delaware from midnight tonight through 9 AM Tuesday morning, as temperatures are expected to plummet to as low as 27 degrees.
The National Weather Service issued the warning early this morning, cautioning residents that sub-freezing conditions could pose serious risks to crops, sensitive vegetation, and unprotected outdoor plumbing.
The warning affects New Castle County in Delaware, along with Delaware and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania. Frost and freeze conditions are likely to develop during the overnight hours when temperatures bottom out.
Residents are urged to take immediate action to protect tender plants and outdoor plumbing fixtures. Gardeners should bring potted plants indoors or cover sensitive vegetation with blankets or tarps. Homeowners should also disconnect and drain garden hoses and shut off water to outdoor spigots.
This unseasonably cold weather comes as a surprise for late April, when many residents have already begun their spring gardening. The Freeze Warning will remain in effect until 9 AM Tuesday morning, when temperatures are expected to rise above freezing.
Stay with TV Delmarva for continuing weather updates throughout the night and morning hours.
A Freeze Warning is now in effect across much of the Delmarva Peninsula as overnight temperatures are expected to plummet to as low as 29 degrees.
The National Weather Service issued the warning early this morning, covering Kent and inland Sussex counties in Delaware, along with Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties in Maryland. The warning remains active from midnight tonight through 9:00 AM Tuesday morning.
Meteorologists warn that these sub-freezing temperatures will create frost and freeze conditions that could be devastating to crops and sensitive vegetation. Unprotected outdoor plumbing is also at risk of damage from the unseasonably cold weather.
Residents are urged to take immediate action to protect tender plants by covering them or bringing potted plants indoors. Outdoor water pipes should also be insulated or allowed to drip slightly to prevent freezing.
This late-season freeze is particularly concerning for local farmers and gardeners who may have already planted warm-season crops or flowers. The timing makes this weather event especially dangerous for agriculture in our region.
The Freeze Warning expires at 4:00 PM today, with temperatures expected to return to more seasonal levels by Tuesday afternoon.
Law enforcement officials have successfully located Stanley Mathis, leading to the cancellation of the Gold Alert that had been issued in connection with his disappearance.
The Gold Alert system is designed to assist in locating missing vulnerable adults, similar to how Amber Alerts help find missing children. When someone meeting specific criteria goes missing, authorities can activate the alert to enlist public assistance in the search efforts.
No additional details about the circumstances of Mathis’s disappearance or his current condition have been released by authorities at this time.
Multiple nations throughout Central Europe removed infant formula from store shelves this week following the discovery of rodenticide contamination in HiPP brand baby food containers over the weekend.
Austria’s top health official urged parents and childcare facilities to exercise extreme care when giving children HiPP products. The manufacturer issued a recall for certain infant food containers after laboratory tests in Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic confirmed the presence of rodenticide.
Officials suspect deliberate contamination occurred in 190-gram containers of carrot and potato baby food designed for 5-month-old infants that were distributed through SPAR grocery chains in Austria. Initial testing revealed contamination on Saturday.
Austrian investigators announced Monday they are searching for an additional contaminated container that may have been purchased at a Spar location in Eisenstadt, an eastern Austrian community, according to the APA news service.
“It is deeply disturbing that someone is apparently willing to endanger the health of babies for criminal motives,” Health Minister Korinna Schumann told APA.
Czech authorities discovered two contaminated HiPP containers at a retail location in Brno. State prosecutors in Brno acknowledged the discovery but declined to provide additional information due to an ongoing police investigation.
The German-headquartered HiPP company confirmed that tainted containers were also located in Slovakia beyond those found in the Czech Republic. The manufacturer stated that “retail partners in both countries have already removed all jars of HiPP baby food from sale as a precaution.”
Slovak law enforcement officials said they are examining questionable containers from a store in Dunajska Streda.
Slovenia took preventative action by removing all HiPP products from Spar and other grocery stores, according to its health inspection agency.
Austrian officials also contacted Hungarian authorities, warning that a contaminated container might have been bought by residents living near the border area around Eisenstadt.
Burgenland Police in Austria indicated the suspect products likely display a white label with a red circle on the container bottom. Additional warning indicators include damaged or previously opened lids and unusual or rotten odors. The containers might not produce the typical popping sound when first opened.
The Burgenland prosecutor’s office is treating the case as “intentional endangerment of the public.”
HiPP stated last week that the recall “is not due to any product or quality defect on our part. The jars left our HiPP facility in perfect condition.”
As a safety measure, HiPP announced it was recalling all infant food containers sold at Austria’s SPAR grocery chains — including SPAR, EUROSPAR, INTERSPAR and Maximarkt locations — throughout Austria.
Rodenticide commonly contains bromadiolone, which interferes with blood clotting mechanisms, according to the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety. Consuming rodenticide can cause bleeding gums and nosebleeds along with bruising and bloody stools.
The agency noted that symptoms may emerge two to five days following consumption.
A Wilmington mother will spend the next decade and a half behind bars after being convicted of severely abusing and torturing her two young children.
Alexus Jackson, 29, received her sentence on April 10, 2026, in New Castle County court. The judge handed down 15 years in state prison, followed by one year of partial confinement and 18 months of supervised probation.
Jackson was found guilty of child abuse, torture, and endangerment charges involving her two children. As part of her sentence, the court has prohibited any contact between Jackson and the victims.
The Delaware Department of Justice prosecuted the case, which highlights ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable children from harm in their own homes.
A strong cold front has pushed through the Delmarva region early this morning, ushering in a much colder and drier air mass that will dominate the weather pattern through the next 24 to 36 hours. In the wake of this frontal passage, temperatures have dropped well below seasonal averages, with afternoon highs today only reaching the mid 40s to mid 50s across much of the region.
Despite the return of sunshine at times, the overall air mass remains cold aloft. This could allow for a few isolated showers to develop, particularly southeast of the I-95 corridor. Any precipitation that does occur will primarily fall as light rain, but given the colder temperatures in the upper levels of the atmosphere, some graupel may mix in briefly.
Attention quickly turns to tonight, where conditions become increasingly favorable for a widespread freeze. High pressure building in from the Great Lakes will settle overhead, promoting clear skies and light winds. This setup is ideal for efficient radiational cooling, allowing temperatures to fall rapidly after sunset. Overnight lows are expected to drop into the mid 20s to low 30s inland, with slightly milder readings in the mid to upper 30s closer to the immediate coast.
A Freeze Warning is now in effect for nearly the entire Delmarva region, excluding only coastal locations. This freeze poses a significant concern due to the early start of the growing season, driven by recent record warmth. Many plants, fruit trees, and other sensitive vegetation have already begun to bloom, leaving them particularly vulnerable to damage from sub-freezing temperatures.
While the air mass will be quite dry, which may limit widespread frost formation, the cold temperatures alone are sufficient to cause harm to unprotected vegetation. Residents are strongly encouraged to take precautions, including covering sensitive plants or bringing potted vegetation indoors if possible.
Conditions will gradually moderate heading into the following days, but this brief return to winter-like temperatures serves as a stark reminder of the volatility of early spring weather across the Mid-Atlantic.
A major pharmaceutical deal announced Monday could reshape treatment options for serious kidney diseases, as Massachusetts-based Biogen secured exclusive marketing rights for a promising experimental drug in Greater China through a partnership potentially worth $850 million.
The agreement with Chinese biotechnology company TJ Biopharma grants Biogen complete worldwide control over felzartamab, an immune disease treatment currently undergoing advanced clinical testing. Biogen’s stock price climbed 1.3% during premarket trading following the announcement.
TJ Biopharma will receive an immediate payment of $100 million, with the possibility of earning an additional $750 million through commercial success benchmarks and sales targets, along with ongoing royalty payments from Greater China sales.
Felzartamab is currently being evaluated in final-phase clinical studies for treating IgA nephropathy and primary membranous nephropathy, both serious kidney conditions that can progress to complete organ failure if left untreated.
Biogen originally obtained this drug through its $1.8 billion acquisition of Human Immunology Biosciences in 2024. Human Immunology had previously secured global development and marketing rights from MorphoSys, which is now part of pharmaceutical giant Novartis, though those rights excluded Greater China.
As part of this new arrangement, Biogen will assume all financial obligations related to milestone payments and royalties owed to MorphoSys under the original licensing agreement.
The partnership builds upon collaborative research efforts that began in April 2025, when TJ Biopharma joined Biogen-sponsored late-stage clinical trials testing felzartamab’s effectiveness against both kidney disease conditions.
Chinese health authorities are currently reviewing the drug as a potential treatment for multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer that affects bone marrow.
Should regulatory approval be granted, Biogen plans to oversee manufacturing operations and marketing efforts throughout the Greater China region, while TJ Biopharma will continue producing the treatment for multiple myeloma applications at its manufacturing facility in Hangzhou.
AMSTERDAM – While cruising through Amsterdam’s tight canal-lined roads surrounded by countless cyclists, it takes a moment to notice something unusual about Kees Roelandschap’s charcoal Tesla: his hands aren’t touching the steering wheel.
Tesla received unexpected authorization this month in the Netherlands to deploy its monitored full self-driving (FSD) technology, marking Europe’s initial approval for autonomous city driving that may pave the way for additional semi-autonomous cars across the continent.
The development has sparked debate. Supporters like Roelandschap praise it as revolutionary progress that could enhance road safety, while cyclists and government officials remain torn between skepticism and hope as these vehicles begin appearing on Dutch roadways.
“I’ve driven multiple different versions in the U.S. But to be able to experience it firsthand here in the Netherlands — that’s unreal,” Roelandschap told Reuters while sitting in the vehicle traveling through Amsterdam.
“I think this should be approved everywhere in Europe because it will lead to increased safety,” he stated, noting that the European-approved system seemed to include stricter safety measures compared to its American counterpart.
Tesla’s FSD technology can handle steering, braking and acceleration without manual control, although drivers must stay alert and prepared to take over. The European Union plans to review approving this technology continent-wide in May, despite ongoing safety investigations in the United States.
Throughout Amsterdam’s busy streets, where streetcars, delivery trucks and automobiles navigate alongside heavy bicycle traffic, e-bikes, oversized “fatbikes” and an increasing number of compact electric vehicles, public response has been varied.
“Cyclists are flowing through traffic, swarming around, going left and right, crossing each other,” explained Esther van Garderen, director of the Dutch Cyclists’ Union, emphasizing that the Netherlands presents distinctive challenges for autonomous driving.
“We’re not fully assured that these self-driving cars will understand the (road) behaviour.”
During a city council session following the approval, Amsterdam transportation official Melanie van der Horst stated the city wasn’t consulted during the regulatory approval and would carefully observe the implementation. She noted that having a supervising driver means “we don’t need to panic” and the technology might enhance safety.
“(However) I can definitely imagine that this raises quite a few concerns and reactions,” she commented.
Traffic fatalities in the Netherlands rose 6% to 759 in 2023, with vehicle-cyclist and vehicle-pedestrian collisions driving the increase, according to government data from CBS.
“I think safety will be much better because the (self-driving) cars will keep their distance,” commented local resident Paul ten Cate.
“I think it will actually be nicer for cyclists to have self-driving cars around,” he added.
‘I REMAIN SKEPTICAL’
This launch occurs as Tesla relies on driver-assistance features to boost declining European sales, hurt by CEO Elon Musk’s controversial political statements that have turned away some buyers. Tesla leads electric vehicle sales in the Netherlands, with approximately 100,000 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles currently on Dutch roads.
Recently, Amsterdam has actively discouraged automobile use while promoting cycling and mass transit by blocking streets, increasing fees, eliminating parking spots and establishing 30 km per hour (19 mph) speed restrictions on most roads.
Nina Smiljanic, riding her electric bike with her leashed dog running beside her, said she could envision the technology functioning well on single-direction highways, but questioned its effectiveness in crowded Amsterdam.
“Here in the streets, with all the tourists doing unpredictable things, I think the AI still needs to adapt,” she observed. “Maybe in America or on the highway it’s fine, but here I’m not convinced yet.”
While demonstrating his Tesla’s capabilities, Roelandschap showed how the vehicle first issued an alert and then gradually stopped with emergency flashers activated after he looked down at his lap instead of the road for an extended period — a safety feature designed to prevent driver distraction.
“I have yet to notice or encounter a difficult road situation here. We have a lot of cyclists trying to overtake us, cyclists coming towards us, cyclists coming from the left. What’s dangerous here?”
Former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has achieved a stunning electoral triumph, capturing the most decisive parliamentary victory the country has witnessed in decades. The 62-year-old ex-fighter pilot left his ceremonial presidential position in January to pursue Sunday’s legislative contest, where he campaigned on eliminating what he called the “corrupt officials, conspirators and extremists” controlling the nation.
Bulgarian citizens delivered an overwhelming mandate to Radev, enabling him to establish the country’s first single-party administration in almost three decades. This decisive outcome promises to bring political stability after the nation endured eight separate elections over five years.
“This represents a victory of hope over distrust, a victory of freedom over fear,” Radev declared following the results.
The timing proved crucial for Radev, who had occupied Bulgaria’s largely ceremonial presidential office for nine years. During a political breakdown that began in 2020, he remained positioned above the parliamentary turmoil, selecting interim administrations when necessary and steadily building his political influence while established parties struggled with unstable coalition arrangements.
Throughout his campaign, Radev embraced positions favorable to Moscow, rejecting military assistance for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia and condemning Bulgaria’s euro adoption in January. He had been preparing for this political opportunity for years.
His transition to parliamentary politics coincided with mounting public anger toward traditional parties. Mass demonstrations that toppled the previous short-term administration in December reflected widespread demand for governmental reform.
Established political forces suffered significant defeats in Sunday’s voting, including the pro-European GERB party led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms controlled by businessman Delyan Peevski, who faces U.S. and UK sanctions for corruption allegations.
“Radev’s success stemmed from widespread frustration following years of unsuccessful anti-corruption campaigns, anxiety about increasing costs, and significant pro-Russian attitudes,” explained Atanas Rusev, who directs the security program at Sofia’s Centre for the Study of Democracy. “Radev skillfully exploited these concerns.”
Radev initially assumed the presidency in January 2017 following his military service and American training. During his first term, he emerged as an opponent of then-Prime Minister Borissov, who confronted corruption accusations.
When authorities searched Radev’s offices in 2020, Bulgarians viewed the action as politically motivated, sparking the largest public protests since Bulgaria entered the European Union in 2007. These demonstrations contributed to Borissov’s downfall, while Radev secured reelection for a second presidential term in 2021.
A subsequent period of political instability followed, characterized by fragile coalitions that quickly collapsed. Additional protests erupted last year over a proposed budget featuring substantial tax increases.
Following the government’s resignation, Radev announced his decision to abandon the presidency and seek parliamentary office.
Critics have questioned his unclear campaign platform, and many voters describe him as lacking personal magnetism, noting his stern appearance in campaign advertisements wearing a white shirt and burgundy tie.
However, he has successfully conveyed strength through social media videos showing him piloting military aircraft.
Political observers, voters, and diplomatic officials are monitoring how closely a Radev administration will align with Russian interests. During his final campaign event last week, he projected large-screen images of himself meeting world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Radev’s campaign messaging resembled that of Hungary’s pro-Moscow former Prime Minister Viktor Orban, particularly when discussing restoration of Russian oil and gas imports to Europe.
“I’m deeply concerned because if he maintains such pro-Russian positions, this could create serious problems,” said Tsvetan Hristov, a 36-year-old information technology worker.
Nevertheless, no evidence suggests he would block Ukrainian aid or attempt withdrawing from the eurozone, and experts doubt he would risk essential EU funding designated for Bulgaria.
His primary challenges exist domestically in one of the European Union’s most impoverished and corruption-plagued member states, where prosecutors claim hundreds of millions of euros in European assistance have been illegally diverted to businesspeople and government officials, public contracts have been manipulated, and electoral fraud occurs regularly.
“Following his overwhelming domestic victory, he will likely pursue international credibility by developing relationships with other European leaders,” said Maria Simeonova, who leads the Sofia office of the European Council on Foreign Relations.
Military forces from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo successfully liberated more than 200 civilians during a joint operation targeting an extremist camp in eastern Congo, according to statements released Monday by Uganda’s military leadership.
The rescue mission, which took place last week, targeted a facility operated by the Allied Democratic Forces, an extremist organization with Ugandan origins that has been active in eastern Congo. This militant group declared its loyalty to the Islamic State organization approximately ten years ago.
The joint military operation represents ongoing efforts by regional forces to combat extremist activities in the volatile eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where various armed groups have operated for years.
Healthcare distribution giant McKesson announced Monday it has reached an agreement to sell a partial ownership stake in its medical-surgical division to Apollo Funds for $1.25 billion as the company moves forward with plans to take the unit public.
The investment firm will purchase approximately 13% of the surgical supplies business through a convertible preferred equity deal, according to McKesson. This transaction puts the overall value of the medical-surgical division at around $13 billion, while McKesson maintains majority control of the operation.
McKesson previously announced plans in 2023 to separate its medical-surgical solutions division, which provides surgical tools and related services, into a standalone company. This strategic move allows the pharmaceutical distributor to concentrate on its primary drug distribution operations.
“Apollo’s experience in supporting complex carve-out and public market transactions will be additive as we position MMS for success,” McKesson CEO Brian Tyler stated regarding the partnership.
Subsidiaries of Blue Owl Capital’s property investment division announced Monday they have reached an agreement to purchase Sila Realty Trust, a healthcare property investment company, in a cash transaction worth approximately $2.4 billion.
The purchasing entities will provide $30.38 for each outstanding share of the Tampa, Florida-based investment trust, representing a 19% increase over Sila’s April 17 closing price of $25.53, which was the trading day prior to Monday’s announcement.
The Florida-based company controls 137 healthcare real estate assets and three undeveloped parcels spanning 65 markets throughout the United States.
The acquisition represents the most recent purchase by Blue Owl’s real assets segment, which comprises approximately 25% of the New York-headquartered company’s total $307 billion in managed assets. The division also makes investments in manufacturing facilities, data centers, and credit arrangements backed by various properties.
Shares of Blue Owl have declined more than 30% during 2024 and dropped beneath the initial public offering price from its 2021 market debut. The company was formed through the combination of private lending firm Owl Rock and Neuberger Berman’s Dyal Capital Partners unit.
Major alternative investment companies have experienced stock volatility over the past year due to concerns that technology companies they invested in and provided loans to could face disruption from artificial intelligence developments. Additional worries have emerged regarding lending practices and future expansion opportunities.
Blue Owl has experienced particularly significant declines following a 2023 proposal to combine a private credit investment vehicle with a publicly traded version, which created the possibility that affluent investors might face financial losses.
WASHINGTON – Venezuela became an unexpected source of investor enthusiasm during last week’s International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings, despite the South American nation facing Western sanctions and carrying enormous debt burdens, according to financial professionals and government officials.
Discussions about potential economic recovery for the former Socialist nation, whose previous President Nicolas Maduro was imprisoned in New York this past January, took center stage in private conversations throughout the Washington gatherings, meeting participants reported.
“The permafrost is melting. And that is why investors are optimistic,” explained Rodrigo Olivares-Caminal, a Queen Mary University professor who provides debt advisory services to governments and participated in the Spring Meetings.
While Venezuela wasn’t featured on any official meeting schedules beforehand, no fewer than six major financial institutions and organizations conducted well-attended investor briefings in the nation’s capital, including presentations by Bank of America, Barclays, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley, according to three attendees and meeting schedules reviewed by news sources.
In a significant development Thursday evening, both the IMF and World Bank announced they had reestablished relations with Caracas for the first time since 2019 – marking a crucial move toward international re-engagement that could unlock approximately $5 billion in IMF special drawing rights, which serve as reserve assets distributed by the Fund.
MIDDLE EASTERN CONFLICT CAST SHADOW OVER DISCUSSIONS
During other portions of last week’s Spring Meetings at the institutions’ Pennsylvania Avenue headquarters, declining economic projections took precedence in conversations, as international financial leadership reluctantly calculated the economic impact of Middle Eastern warfare.
A significant portion of these costs stems from rising global oil prices that will fuel worldwide inflation.
For Venezuela, which possesses the world’s largest confirmed oil reserves, elevated oil prices mean additional revenue that could assist in rebuilding infrastructure following years of insufficient investment.
Last week’s most significant excitement, however, centered on Venezuela’s defaulted debt obligations.
Six meeting participants who provided information, including bondholders and legal representatives, expressed hopes that improved U.S. relations would facilitate sovereign debt restructuring, potentially returning at least partial investments to creditors. Such an achievement would rank among history’s largest restructuring efforts.
Venezuela and its state petroleum company PDVSA hold approximately $60 billion in outstanding defaulted bonds, though total external debt anticipated for restructuring reaches roughly $150-$170 billion when including additional energy company obligations, bilateral loans and arbitration settlements.
The defaulted bonds have experienced significant gains since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office early last year.
This development had encouraged speculation about government change even before the January U.S. military action that resulted in Maduro’s capture.
Subsequently, strengthened relationships between Trump’s administration and interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez have boosted market confidence, pushing certain bond prices to approximately decade-high levels.
“I gave three different talks. All three were packed,” stated Juan S. Gonzalez, a Georgetown Americas Institute resident fellow who previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere during 2016 and 2017.
Gonzalez presented at Bank of America, JPMorgan and Eurasia Group events; a separate Morgan Stanley panel addressing debt restructuring that included Venezuela discussion also drew crowds of interested investors, three sources confirmed.
A Barclays roundtable agenda reviewed by reporters included advisers to opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who indicated she anticipates returning to Venezuela before 2026 ends and advocates for prompt elections.
ESTABLISHING FOUNDATIONS
Although markets anticipated the Fund’s acknowledgment, it enhanced positive sentiment because it should enable technical assistance and Article IV surveillance, which represents the Fund’s comprehensive economic analysis covering a nation’s financial condition, advantages and weaknesses.
Future IMF economic evaluations can also establish sustainable debt levels.
“Rejoining the IMF and getting access to the SDRs allows Delcy Rodriguez to lay the groundwork for debt restructuring,” Gonzalez explained.
IMF Director Kristalina Georgieva indicated Friday that the Fund would likely offer Caracas a financial support program as part of renewed engagement, though she noted it represents “a very tough road” toward restoring macroeconomic and financial stability.
Some market observers maintain equal caution. JPMorgan analysts noted that while arguments exist for Caracas pursuing rapid international bond restructuring, limited evidence suggests this is occurring.
“While the bonded debt is the largest and most well-defined claim, we do not yet have any sense a narrow restructuring of bonded claims would move forward quickly and separately from a more comprehensive restructuring,” JPMorgan analysts stated.
Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is updating state rules for recreational black sea bass fishing as officials report higher numbers of the popular species in local waters.
The regulatory changes come as DNREC acknowledges improved abundance levels of black sea bass available for recreational anglers throughout Delaware waters. The updated regulations aim to bring state rules into alignment with current fishery management requirements.
State environmental officials are warning anglers that federal fishing rules may not be updated to match Delaware’s new regulations before the fishing season launches on May 1st. This potential mismatch could create confusion for recreational fishermen operating in both state and federal waters.
The revised regulations represent DNREC’s response to updated fishery management plan requirements and reflect the agency’s assessment of current black sea bass population levels in Delaware coastal waters.
A Chester, Maryland man is facing serious criminal charges following an incident last week where a Maryland State Police trooper shot him during a knife attack.
Preston Scott Carter, 21, has been charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, reckless endangerment, and assault-related offenses after working with prosecutors in Queen Anne’s County. Carter received medical care at a hospital before being taken to the Queen Anne’s County Detention Center, where he remains without bond.
The incident began at 3:40 p.m. on April 16 when state troopers from the Centreville Barrack were called to Sherman Way in Chester following reports of a disturbance. A 911 caller had reported a man armed with a knife who was making threatening statements.
When officers arrived at the scene, they began speaking with the person who had called for help. During this contact, Carter approached the trooper while brandishing a knife, prompting the officer to discharge her service weapon and wound the suspect.
Emergency medical care was provided to Carter at the scene before he was airlifted to a trauma center by Maryland State Police Aviation Command. No other individuals were hurt during the incident.
Following standard department protocol, the trooper who fired her weapon has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues.
The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit is handling the ongoing investigation, while the Internal Affairs Unit will conduct a separate review as required by policy.
Drivers heading north on Route 1 from Dover toward Middletown are experiencing slower traffic conditions this afternoon due to ongoing cleanup operations.
A litter removal crew is currently working along the right shoulder of the highway, creating delays for motorists in the area. The cleanup operation is expected to continue until 5 PM today.
Travelers are advised to allow extra time for their commute and exercise caution when passing through the work zone.
Motorists traveling on Holland Glade Road should expect delays due to ongoing lane restrictions between Coastal Highway (Route 1) and Hebron Road.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials report that intermittent lane closures are currently affecting traffic flow in the area. The temporary restrictions are expected to continue until 4 PM today.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and consider alternate routes if possible while the lane closures remain active.
Multiple Central European countries initiated emergency removals of infant food products from retail stores this Monday following the discovery of rat poison contamination in HiPP brand baby food containers during weekend testing.
Austria’s health ministry issued urgent warnings to parents, childcare facilities, and nurseries to exercise extreme vigilance when feeding infants with HiPP products. The German-based manufacturer initiated a recall after laboratory testing in Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic revealed the presence of rat poison in product samples.
Officials suspect criminal interference with 190-gram containers of carrot and potato baby food formulated for 5-month-old infants, which were distributed through SPAR grocery chains in Austria. Initial contamination was detected through Saturday testing.
Austrian investigators announced Monday they are actively searching for a second potentially contaminated container that may have been purchased at a Spar location in Eisenstadt, an eastern Austrian municipality, according to the Austrian news agency APA.
“It is deeply disturbing that someone is apparently willing to endanger the health of babies for criminal motives,” Health Minister Korinna Schumann told APA.
Czech authorities discovered two contaminated HiPP containers at a retail location in Brno. State prosecutors in Brno verified the discovery but declined to provide additional information due to the ongoing criminal investigation.
The Germany-headquartered HiPP corporation confirmed that contaminated containers were identified in both Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The company stated that “retail partners in both countries have already removed all jars of HiPP baby food from sale as a precaution.”
Slovak law enforcement officials confirmed they are examining suspicious containers recovered from a store in Dunajska Streda.
Slovenia’s health inspectorate announced the preventative removal of all HiPP products from Spar and additional supermarket chains throughout the country.
Austrian officials also contacted Hungarian authorities, warning that contaminated products may have been purchased by residents living near the border area surrounding Eisenstadt.
Burgenland Police in Austria indicated that suspicious products likely display a white label with a red circle on the container bottom. Additional warning indicators include compromised or previously opened lids, unusual or rotten odors, and the absence of the typical popping sound when initially opening the jar.
The Burgenland prosecutor’s office is pursuing the investigation under charges of “intentional endangerment of the public.”
HiPP issued a statement last week clarifying that the recall “is not due to any product or quality defect on our part. The jars left our HiPP facility in perfect condition.”
As a safety measure, HiPP announced the recall of all baby food containers sold through Austria’s SPAR retail network, including SPAR, EUROSPAR, INTERSPAR and Maximarkt locations.
According to the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, rat poison commonly contains bromadiolone, a substance that inhibits blood coagulation. Consumption of rat poison may cause bleeding gums, nosebleeds, bruising, and blood in bowel movements.
The agency warned that symptoms may manifest two to five days following ingestion.
Delaware Department of Transportation crews are conducting construction work that has resulted in lane restrictions on a busy stretch of Route 1.
The right lane and right turn lane on southbound Route 1 at Garfield Parkway have been shut down to traffic as work continues in the area. DelDOT officials say the lane closures will remain in place until 5 PM today.
Motorists traveling through the area should expect delays and are advised to use alternate routes when possible or allow extra travel time.
NEW YORK — Efforts to remove books from public libraries across the nation have reached unprecedented levels, with organized political movements driving most challenges rather than concerned local parents, according to new data from the American Library Association.
The library association released its yearly compilation of most frequently challenged books on Monday as part of its comprehensive report on America’s libraries. Patricia McCormick’s 2006 work “Sold,” which tells the story of human trafficking for sexual exploitation in India, claimed the number one spot for 2025. The list also features Stephen Chbosky’s coming-of-age story “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” Maia Kobabe’s illustrated personal account “Gender Queer,” and Sarah J. Maas’ fantasy romance “Empire of Storms.”
This year’s compilation expanded beyond the typical ten titles to include eleven books, with four works sharing the eighth position: Anthony Burgess’ futuristic tale “A Clockwork Orange,” Ellen Hopkins’ family story “Identical,” John Green’s prep school novel “Looking for Alaska,” and Jennifer L. Armentrout’s supernatural romance “Storm and Fury.”
Complaints against these works center on LGBTQ+ content (“Gender Queer,” “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”), depictions of sexual assault (“Sold” and “A Clockwork Orange”), and substance use portrayals (“Looking for Alaska”). The association’s intellectual freedom office documented objections to 4,235 distinct titles, falling just short of the 4,240 recorded in 2023, which represents the highest figure since tracking began over three decades ago.
According to the association’s definition, a challenge constitutes “an attempt to have a library resource removed, or access to it restricted, based on the objections of a person or group.” The announcement coincides with National Library Week, continuing through April 25.
“Libraries exist to make space for every story and every lived experience,” stated ALA President Sam Helmick. “As we celebrate National Library Week, we reaffirm that libraries are places for knowledge, for access, and for all.”
The organization gathers its data through news coverage and direct reports from libraries. Officials acknowledge the true scope likely exceeds these figures since many incidents go unreported.
Historically, objections to library materials originated from individual parents or community members. However, recent years have witnessed a dramatic transformation toward coordinated efforts by government authorities and conservative advocacy groups like Moms for Liberty, who promote “parental choice” in determining what educational institutions and libraries should offer.
States including Florida, Texas, and Utah have enacted legislation restricting books or called for widespread removals. Earlier this month, an Iowa appeals court upheld state law preventing teachers from discussing LGBTQ+ subjects with elementary students through sixth grade while prohibiting certain books.
More than 90% of last year’s challenges originated from activist organizations and government officials, the ALA reports, up from 72% in 2024.
“In 2025, book bans were not sparked by concerned parents, and they were not the result of local grassroots efforts,” explained Sarah Lamdan, who heads the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. “They were part of a well-funded, politically-driven campaign.”
Lamdan explained to The Associated Press that advocacy groups distribute target lists of books across the country. Supporting findings from PEN America’s previous research documenting multiple bans of titles like “Sold” and “A Clockwork Orange,” the ALA discovered that actual book removals — exceeding 5,600 — far surpassed the number of formal challenges.
“I think this reflects the reality that these lists are getting disseminated widely,” Lamdan noted. “You can see video footage from various library board meetings where the same books are singled out over and over again.”
The complete ranking includes:
1. “Sold” by Patricia McCormick 2. “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky 3. “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe 4. “Empire of Storms” by Sarah J. Maas 5. (tie) “Last Night at the Telegraph Club” by Malinda Lo 5. (tie) “Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins 7. “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas 8. (tie) “A Clockwork Orange” by Anthony Burgess 8. (tie) “Identical” by Ellen Hopkins 8. (tie) “Looking for Alaska” by John Green 8. (tie) “Storm and Fury” by Jennifer L. Armentrout
PARIS, April 20 – Elon Musk has been called to appear before French prosecutors in Paris as authorities expand their investigation into his social media platform X, examining allegations connected to the site’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok, algorithmic manipulation, and unauthorized data harvesting.
The cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office is spearheading the investigation.
Reuters was unable to contact Musk’s representatives regarding the summons. When initial allegations surfaced in July, Musk rejected the claims and characterized the investigation as “politically motivated.”
The investigation began on January 12, 2025, when Paris prosecutors launched a probe following two formal complaints, one submitted by a French legislator, regarding allegedly biased algorithms.
Initially, the case focused on unauthorized data harvesting and algorithmic manipulation charges before being transferred to police on July 9, 2025.
Authorities broadened their investigation in November 2025 after discovering new evidence, adding charges related to involvement in possessing and distributing child exploitation imagery and denying crimes against humanity.
By January 2026, investigators added another charge concerning the distribution of sexual content using someone’s likeness without permission, following the creation of sexually explicit deepfake images through X’s Grok system.
According to prosecutors, X transitioned in 2025 from using the SAFER child protection system to developing their own internal monitoring system. Officials documented an 81.4% decrease in reports X submitted to the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding France between June and October 2025.
Prosecutors further claim that Grok allowed users to generate sexualized content, including images of minors and victims of the Crans-Montana fire, while also producing hate speech and material that glorified crimes against humanity.
Consulted experts told prosecutors that proper safeguards could have prevented these issues.
Investigators also point to X’s failure to supply basic user information in multiple hate speech and antisemitism investigations, which has obstructed their inquiries.
The Paris prosecutor’s office announced the summons following a February police raid on X’s Paris headquarters, conducted with Europol assistance. Officials stated they are coordinating with prosecutors in other nations.
Musk has been called for an “audition libre,” a voluntary questioning session where authorities can interview someone without making an arrest. The individual can leave at any time and choose not to speak, though any statements made are officially documented and may have legal implications.
The investigation can proceed regardless of whether Musk provides testimony. Legal professionals suggest it’s advisable to explain any refusal to appear to avoid the impression of obstructing the investigation.
The potential criminal charges being examined include:
• Involvement in possessing pornographic images of minors
• Involvement in organized distribution or provision of pornographic images of minors
• Violation of personal image rights (sexual deepfakes)
• Denial of crimes against humanity (Holocaust denial)
• Unauthorized data extraction from automated systems by organized groups
• Tampering with automated system operations by organized groups
• Operating an illegal online platform through organized groups
