Drivers traveling along Revel Road should expect delays and plan alternate routes as construction work continues to impact traffic flow in the area.
The Delaware Department of Transportation has announced that intermittent lane restrictions are currently in effect on Revel Road between Godwin School Road and Millsboro Highway (Route 24). These temporary closures are the result of ongoing construction activities in the corridor.
The lane restrictions are expected to remain in place until 6:00 PM today. Motorists are advised to use caution when traveling through the work zone and to allow extra time for their commute.
DelDOT recommends that drivers consider alternative routes to avoid potential delays during the construction period.
Federal officials have announced a significant policy change regarding medical cannabis regulations. The acting attorney general has released a memorandum detailing plans to reclassify medical marijuana products, moving them away from the most stringent regulatory tier.
This policy adjustment represents a shift in the federal government’s approach to cannabis-based medical treatments, potentially making these products more accessible to patients and healthcare providers.
Libya’s efforts to achieve political unity continue to face significant obstacles, the United Nations’ leading representative for the North African nation told the Security Council during Wednesday’s session. Hanna Tetteh, who serves as the UN secretary-general’s special representative for Libya and leads the UN Support Mission in Libya, expressed concern that the political blueprint she introduced in August 2025 has failed to generate the momentum necessary for restoring democratic governance and establishing unified state structures.
During her address to council members, Tetteh acknowledged the lack of advancement on her proposed plan. “We are not where we would like to be in terms of progress on the roadmap,” she stated. The UN envoy criticized certain Libyan leaders for disregarding public demands and permitting “parallel structures” to develop beyond existing agreements, which she said undermines UN efforts to reunite the nation. “Allowing status quo actors to evade their responsibilities will only undermine efforts to preserve Libya’s unity and wealth and delay the path to sustained peace, stability, and development,” Tetteh explained.
The UN representative called on Security Council members to leverage their influence in pushing Libyan leadership toward finding common ground, cautioning that ongoing political stagnation only serves to deepen the current division rather than resolve it. Tetteh’s comprehensive strategy includes three key components: establishing an electoral system for both presidential and parliamentary elections, creating a unified administration, and facilitating extensive dialogue that includes Libyans from all regions of the country.
The North African nation has experienced division for several years, with competing institutions operating in eastern and western regions. A scheduled national election in December 2021 fell apart due to disagreements over candidate eligibility and voting procedures. Since the breakdown of the UN-supported transition process that was designed to unite the country following the 2020 ceasefire agreement, Libya has operated under rival governments.
One encouraging development occurred recently when Libya’s competing legislative assemblies gave approval to the nation’s first consolidated state budget in over ten years, representing what many view as progress toward financial unity. However, Tetteh emphasized that while this budget approval is positive, it doesn’t address the fundamental issue of democratic representation, and Libya’s political impasse remains far from resolved.
An individual hurled red liquid at Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi following a press conference in Berlin, Germany, in what authorities believe was a protest related to U.S. and Israeli military actions involving Iran.
The liquid, believed to be tomato juice, splattered across Pahlavi’s jacket and neck area before security personnel rushed the 65-year-old into a waiting car. German police apprehended an unidentified individual in connection with the attack.
The incident happened moments after Pahlavi concluded his media briefing at Germany’s federal press conference facility, where he had delivered sharp criticism of what he called “appeasement” policies and appealed to European nations to support efforts to topple Iran’s government. During his remarks, he characterized the global situation as a decision between “a dying regime that endangers us all and a free Iran.”
The crown prince’s comments occurred amid ongoing diplomatic deadlock between Washington and Tehran. Earlier this week, President Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran.
During Thursday’s Berlin briefing, Pahlavi warned against negotiating with Iran’s leadership. “If you think you can make peace with this regime, you are sorely mistaken,” he declared. “There will never be stability, even if a watered-down version of this system survives.”
The crown prince argued that Iran’s government contains no authentic reform-minded leaders, characterizing current officials as “different faces of a regime.” He referenced alleged executions of political dissidents and questioned whether the “free world will do something or watch the slaughter in silence?”
Pahlavi further stated that “the regime has never been as fragile as it is now,” comparing it to “a wounded beast.”
Political observers have identified Pahlavi as a possible successor leader should Iran’s current government fall from power.
Meanwhile, ongoing disputes continue in the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping channel that handles approximately 20% of global oil and gas transport. Washington has demanded Iran cease interfering with the waterway, while Tehran has requested an end to American naval operations in the region.
Two Israeli Air Force mechanics who serviced F-15 fighter aircraft are facing espionage charges for allegedly working with Iranian intelligence during the ongoing conflict, according to a KAN news report.
The suspects, named as Asaf Shitrit and Sagi Haik, will face severe criminal charges including assisting enemy forces during wartime. Prosecutors are considering upgrading one defendant’s charges to treason. Court documents are expected to be filed at the Central District Court in Lod.
Haik, a 19-year-old from Ness Ziona, was taken into custody last month following an investigation that revealed months of communication with an Iranian operative. Investigators found that he “agreed to undergo training in one of the Arab countries and was even asked to recruit additional individuals to carry out tasks under their direction.” Despite his family receiving direct threats from the same operative, authorities say he maintained the contact.
According to investigators, Haik drew Shitrit, a 21-year-old from Beit Oved, into at least one operation for the foreign operative, resulting in his arrest as well.
The charges allege that both men were assigned to gather information about former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. They are also accused of transmitting classified materials including aircraft engine blueprints and photographs revealing a flight instructor’s identity.
Eight other military personnel are under investigation for allegedly having knowledge of the activities without reporting them. The base commander conducted a security briefing for all staff following the incident and confirmed he was questioned by Israel’s Security Agency, Shin Bet.
Police and Shin Bet officials stated the defendants “acted on behalf of Iranian intelligence agents, and one of them even intended to travel for training in one of the Arab countries.”
Syria’s new leadership has launched operations against Hezbollah-connected groups, charging them with orchestrating planned attacks both within Syria and beyond its borders – a dramatic departure from the partnership that sustained Bashar Assad throughout the civil war.
The charges, detailed in multiple security announcements, represent far more than routine security matters. They highlight fundamental questions about Damascus’s evolving relationship with the organization that served as Assad’s crucial partner until the regime’s December 8, 2024 collapse and Assad’s escape to Moscow.
Syria’s current leadership, which took power after Assad’s downfall, reports that recent operations in Damascus and surrounding areas resulted in multiple arrests and the confiscation of weapons and explosives. Officials claim they prevented schemes involving rocket attacks, drone operations, and planned killings.
Government sources indicate some detained groups received overseas training and maintained connections to larger organizational networks, pointing to foreign backing or coordination. However, these assertions cannot be independently confirmed due to continued media access limitations throughout Syria.
Security forces announced on February 1, 2026, the capture of a group allegedly responsible for attacks near Damascus’s Mezzeh Airport. Subsequently, on April 11, authorities detained five individuals after reportedly stopping an attempt to place explosives near a religious location in the capital. Intelligence suggested these suspects underwent foreign training for assassination operations. Between April 18-19, the Interior Ministry revealed dismantling another five-member cell with reported Hezbollah ties, accused of planning cross-border rocket strikes to destabilize conditions.
Officials have disclosed at least three primary cells within a three-month period. Government statements indicate their planned operations spanned domestic assassinations and bombing plots to international rocket attacks. Syrian authorities characterize this as evidence of coordinated activities extending from local operations to wider regional objectives.
These developments carry particular significance due to both the nature of accusations and the targeted organization’s identity. Hezbollah played a central role supporting Syria’s previous government during wartime, engaging in critical battles that helped tip the power balance toward Assad’s administration. This background of extensive military partnership makes current allegations – viewed in complete context – potentially indicative of fundamental changes in relationships established over the previous decade.
Hezbollah has completely rejected the accusations, calling them false without offering additional details. This concise rejection follows the organization’s typical pattern for such situations, as it generally avoids public media confrontations, particularly when field intelligence remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the lack of detailed responses creates space for conjecture, considering the delicate nature of its Damascus relationship.
Syrian political analyst Mustafa al-Naimi explained to The Media Line that current events cannot be interpreted simply as security operations, but rather as “an indicator of a sovereignty struggle within the Syrian state itself.” He stated that “the past years witnessed the emergence of something resembling multiple centers of power within Syria, where forces such as Hezbollah operated within semi-independent security and military networks.”
Al-Naimi continued that “if the current authorities are moving against these networks, this means they are attempting to restore the legitimate monopoly over sovereignty—a profound structural shift, not merely a transient political tension,” observing that “any confrontation in this context will not be only with Hezbollah, but with the entire model of influence that took root during the war.”
Regionally, these events prove difficult to separate from the broader network of relationships involving players like Iran and Israel. Iran, regarded as the primary backer of both Damascus and Hezbollah, considers the group’s Syrian presence part of its regional approach. Israel, conversely, views that presence as a direct danger and has escalated strikes against associated targets on Syrian soil in recent years. In this context, Syrian accusations might be interpreted as elements of broader repositioning, whether in bilateral ties or within more intricate regional dynamics.
Syrian researcher Shifa Sultan told The Media Line that “the issue goes beyond a dysfunction in the bilateral relationship between Damascus and Hezbollah, extending into the core of Iran’s axis itself.” She observed that “Hezbollah has not been merely a local actor, but part of an interconnected regional structure. Therefore, any friction between it and Syrian authorities may reflect a redistribution of roles within this axis, or even differences in priorities between Tehran and its allies.”
Lebanese political analyst Omar Salloum provides analysis emphasizing internal factors. He observes that “any new or reconfigured authority in Syria will face the dilemma of redefining its relationship with the forces that contributed to prolonging the previous government.” He added that “Hezbollah, having been an ally of the former Syrian regime, is now perceived more like an adversary, as millions of Syrians believe it was deeply involved in bloodshed and contributed to the fall of cities in favor of Assad’s regime at the expense of the opposition that now controls the country. Therefore, Syria is moving toward eliminating any Hezbollah ambitions within its territory.”
However, the complete situation remains unclear. The absence of independent confirmation, competing accounts, and challenges accessing reliable field data all complicate efforts to reach definitive conclusions about current events’ nature. Nonetheless, Damascus directing such charges at Hezbollah represents a significant development itself and, if its complete scope is validated, may signal the start of a new era in Syrian relations – and possibly in broader regional equilibrium as well.
Present developments seem to extend beyond temporary security campaigns, addressing deeper issues about Syria’s governmental structure in its new phase, sovereignty boundaries, and relationships with non-state entities that held decisive influence during war years. While some assessments emphasize internal aspects related to authority reconstruction, others highlight connections between this process and wider regional considerations, especially within Iran’s influence network. In this context, the break between Damascus under current leadership and Hezbollah may indicate early signs of the approaching period’s characteristics – not only within Syria, but throughout the entire region.
Disturbing new accounts from Iranian women reveal a dramatic escalation in sexual violence within the country’s detention facilities, according to exclusive interviews conducted by The Media Line.
The reports indicate that sexual assault cases against imprisoned women, especially younger detainees, have surged dramatically in facilities operated by Iran’s Islamic government.
A young female detainee shared her harrowing experience, describing how she endured sexual assault during questioning sessions where large officers used police batons to commit abuse.
The escalating violence comes as Iran’s government has ramped up its crackdown on dissent. Meanwhile, authorities have stepped up execution rates, putting at least 15 opposition members to death publicly, though human rights organizations believe the actual count could be much higher when accounting for secret executions.
Kamelia, a recently freed protest participant from an Iranian city, recounted her traumatic ordeal to The Media Line. She described being violently taken from her residence during a nighttime operation by armed, masked individuals while her partner watched helplessly. Despite her objections, she faced sexual harassment while her partner suffered severe beatings for trying to intervene.
During her imprisonment, Kamelia spent two weeks confined in a cramped 20-square-meter cell alongside eight other women. Among her cellmates was a 16-year-old who had been shot in the face with pellet rounds by security personnel and arrested while injured. The teenager’s wounds received only basic bandaging with no attempt to extract the embedded pellets.
Following the initial detention period, Kamelia was moved to isolation where she faced her first interrogation by a male and female questioner who hurled verbal abuse, labeling her a prostitute and spy despite facing no formal accusations beyond protest participation. The interrogators demanded false admissions of connections to opposition movements and organizing demonstrations.
When Kamelia refused to cooperate, she says multiple large officers who appeared unstable attacked her in the interrogation chamber. They ripped her clothing, sexually assaulted her with a baton, violently groped her body, beat her severely, and threatened group sexual assault.
Her family’s pressure eventually secured her release through substantial bail payments. When she asked her attorney to pursue sexual assault charges, she was warned that filing such complaints might result in harsher sentencing. She now receives psychiatric treatment and strong antidepressant medications for severe psychological trauma.
In another shocking case, Ahmad Khodaei, a protester, recently attempted suicide after posting on Instagram that security personnel told him they had sexually violated his deceased wife’s body. His wife, Saleheh Akbari, worked as an operating room technician and was killed during protests in Ardabil. Khodaei said agents sent him messages claiming they had desecrated her corpse in the morgue and provided photographic evidence. He described this psychological torture as worse than the physical abuse he endured in custody, which resulted in broken ribs and kidney injuries.
According to witness accounts, security forces raided the couple’s home to arrest Khodaei after both had publicly offered medical help to wounded protesters. When Saleheh Akbari tried to protect her husband, she was fatally shot in the chest in front of her husband and child.
After his release, Khodaei became severely distressed upon receiving the disturbing messages and images, prompting his farewell post calling for justice. Government officials subsequently denied both his wife’s killing and his suicide attempt, claiming he was a fugitive and accusing him of spreading false information.
However, regional human rights advocates confirm that Saleheh Akbari was indeed killed by security forces in her home and that her husband was detained and later freed on bail.
In recent weeks, Iran’s Islamic government has accelerated executions of political opponents, with at least 15 people put to death publicly. Human rights organizations warn the true figure, including clandestine executions or deaths from denied medical treatment, may be substantially higher. Those executed include Mojahedin-e Khalq members and participants from the January uprising.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi faces serious life-threatening conditions among those at risk. After suffering a heart attack in Zanjan prison, she has been denied medication and treatment. On Tuesday, she marked her 54th birthday behind bars without outside contact, having already spent a decade of her life in various Islamic Republic prisons.
Following an attack by pro-monarchist supporters in Mashhad while she was speaking at a ceremony honoring the suspicious death of lawyer Khosro Alikordi, Mohammadi endured brutal assault by government security agents who arrested her along with several prominent female activists, including Sepideh Qolian, after beating them. Eyewitnesses report that individuals posing as Reza Pahlavi supporters and throwing stones at Mohammadi were actually cooperating with security agents to suppress and arrest ceremony attendees.
Nasim, a Tehran student activist, told The Media Line that while both monarchist and Islamic Republic supporters favor war, civilian repression has intensified since the conflict began.
Educational institutions, factories, commercial centers, and bazaars—which served as primary protest hubs in recent months—have been forced to close. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij forces, carrying heavy weaponry, have been extensively deployed throughout city streets alongside various security units and police. The regime has also brought armed supporters into streets to prevent protesters from gathering in public areas.
Additionally, opposition arrests have increased dramatically, with dozens detained daily nationwide on various pretexts, including espionage or connections to Persian-language media overseas. Some are coerced into making fabricated confessions broadcast on state media to intimidate the public.
According to Nasim, if the January protests and strikes had continued their natural progression without external interference, the regime would not have found justification for the mass killings on January 8 and 9. Over time, sustained protests would have not only deepened and expanded but also caused many regime supporters to question their continued allegiance.
More than 100 days after what activists characterize as an unprecedented crackdown—where thousands were reportedly killed in just two days, with total casualties estimated as high as 33,000—the full extent of the violence continues emerging. Nineteen-year-old Noush Afarin Mohitian described in a video how she and her mother were shot after returning from a birthday celebration by security forces, leaving her wounded while her mother died from a gunshot to the heart. Shortly after posting the video, which gained significant social media attention, she apparently removed it from her page due to threats and pressure.
During the uprising, tens of thousands also suffered injuries. The Media Line previously revealed in an exclusive investigation that some wounded individuals were removed from hospitals by military and security forces while still alive, placed into body bags, and left to die.
Repression has also targeted minority groups, including religious communities. In recent weeks, many Baha’is have been arrested, including Shakila Ghasemi, who has been detained for over 11 weeks without legal representation.
Shaqayeq Ghasemi, her sister, told The Media Line: “My sister has insisted that she did not participate in the protests, and it remains unclear what charges have been brought against her.” She explains that her twin sister has been held in solitary confinement since arrest and was recently moved to the prison medical facility, but the family lacks precise information about her condition. During this period, they have been permitted only one visit, during which their mother realized that Shakila’s physical and psychological state was extremely serious.
Baha’is are considered an illegal minority in the Islamic Republic. They cannot attend universities, hold government positions, and face other limitations, despite being Iran’s largest religious minority. Many religious minorities departed Iran after the Islamic Republic’s establishment and emigrated abroad, including numerous Iranian Jews—once numbering around 100,000—who relocated to Israel or the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, intensive drone and missile strikes on the Kurdistan Region and against Kurdish parties persist, resulting in several peshmerga casualties in recent days. Rada Fatehi, a human rights advocate, told The Media Line that several Kurdish political prisoners face execution risk.
She also reported that many political prisoners in both official and secret facilities nationwide have been denied regular meals, drinking water, medical treatment, prison store access, in-person visits, and basic items like soap and shampoo, or access to these necessities has been severely disrupted, endangering the lives of prisoners with chronic and serious medical conditions. Human rights advocates report that three Kurdish prisoners have received death sentences from a Mahabad court.
Azadeh Pourzand, Head of the State–Society Relations Unit at the Center for Middle East and Global Order, told The Media Line that Iran’s human rights situation has deteriorated further since the war began: “Rather than a sudden shift, what we’re seeing is a continuation of an already deteriorating trajectory. Even before the war, there were serious abuses—including the January 2026 massacre, a high number of executions, and widespread arrests.”
She continued, “What the war has done is intensify this pattern: it has strengthened the state’s propaganda apparatus, enabled further securitized charges and prosecutions, and taken place alongside internet shutdowns—altogether creating and sustaining an atmosphere of profound fear.”
Certain groups face particularly high execution risk, Pourzand explained: “Ethnic minorities—particularly Kurds and Baloch—have long accounted for a disproportionate share of executions in Iran, including on security and drug-related charges. Protesters have also faced execution in the past, but in the current war context, they appear increasingly vulnerable, with detainees from before the escalation now being systematically given death sentences and, in some cases, executed.”
The Human Rights Organization of Iran declared that opponent repression has intensified significantly following the war, with at least 3,646 people arrested and imprisoned in cities across Iran since the conflict began. However, the actual detainee number may be far higher, as internet shutdowns and severely restricted phone communication between inside and outside world greatly limit access to reliable information.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump, in a post also republished by the White House, called on Islamic Republic authorities to release eight women reportedly facing execution risk. One is Bita Hemmati, who allegedly received a death sentence on “enmity against God” (Moharebeh) charges alongside her husband and two other protesters.
Some human rights advocates report that other female protesters, including 18-year-old Melika Azizi, who was arrested after being beaten during January 8 protests in Rasht, also face potential death sentences on “enmity against God” charges for burning the Islamic Republic flag.
The judiciary immediately denied issuing death sentences for these eight women following President Trump’s request, claiming some had been released. However, sources familiar with political prisoner cases told The Media Line that the death sentence for Bita Hemmati—whose case includes charges of attacking regime agents alongside her husband and two others—is accurate.
On Tuesday, the Islamic regime executed Amirali Mirjafari on charges of setting fire to Qolhak Mosque in north Tehran during the January uprising. Reports indicate that summary courts—reportedly acting on orders from Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i, judiciary head—have issued dozens, possibly hundreds, of death sentences against protesters and regime opponents in recent weeks. Above all, growing concern exists for those whose death sentences have received final approval.
Currently, among female prisoners, three leftist detainees—labor activist Sharifeh Mohammadi, along with Pakhshan Azizi and Varisheh Moradi, who face accusations of links to Kurdish opposition parties and whose death sentences have been confirmed—are at risk of execution by the Islamic Republic.
Federal prosecutors announced Thursday that they have indicted an Army Master Sergeant on charges of exploiting classified military intelligence to earn $400,000 through online gambling on Venezuelan President Maduro’s potential arrest.
Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyk allegedly leveraged his privileged access to sensitive government information while participating in operations targeting Maduro this past January, according to federal prosecutors in New York. Van Dyk then reportedly used this insider knowledge to place lucrative bets on the Polymarket prediction platform.
Court documents reveal that Van Dyk served as a senior enlisted member within the special operations community, based at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina. However, the indictment provides limited additional information regarding his specific military background and duties.
The charges against Van Dyk include illegal exploitation of confidential government data for financial benefit, stealing non-public government intelligence, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and conducting prohibited financial transactions.
When contacted for comment, Pentagon officials directed inquiries to both Army leadership and the Department of Justice. US Special Operations Command has not yet provided a response to media requests.
According to the indictment, Van Dyk enlisted in the Army in 2008 and achieved the rank of Master Sergeant in 2023, which represents the second-highest enlisted position within Army hierarchy.
ATLANTA — Federal prosecutors have filed wire fraud charges against a well-known Georgia Republican accused of orchestrating a massive investment fraud scheme worth $156 million, with the defendant entering a not guilty plea Thursday.
Edwin Brant Frost IV faces his first criminal charge stemming from an investigation that launched following the June collapse of First Liberty Building and Loan.
Before entering his not guilty plea, Frost chose to waive his right to an indictment, a procedural move that often signals an eventual guilty plea in federal proceedings. The 68-year-old Newnan resident has already issued a public apology for his involvement and remains out of custody on bail.
Federal prosecutor Theodore Hertzberg revealed to The Associated Press that Frost plans to “not contest the charges” and will likely change his plea to guilty in early May. Hertzberg indicated that additional defendants could face charges based on ongoing evidence review.
While the wire fraud charge could result in up to 20 years behind bars, sentencing guidelines will largely depend on the final dollar amount a judge determines was stolen. Court-appointed receivers report that although First Liberty collected $156 million from investors, actual losses total at least $65 million since some participants received payouts.
Hertzberg indicated prosecutors will seek a sentence near the maximum 20-year term for Frost.
“The loss here is very significant,” he said.
First Liberty marketed itself as a company that collected investor funds to provide short-term, high-yield business loans, promising annual returns as high as 18%. Federal authorities allege that while the company did issue some business loans, Frost operated a classic Ponzi scheme by using new investor money to pay earlier participants. Prosecutors further claim Frost diverted over $5 million in investor funds for personal expenses, including jewelry purchases exceeding $140,000, vacation home rental costs of more than $230,000 over several years in Kennebunkport, Maine — the coastal community known as a summer retreat for the Bush family — and credit card payments totaling over $2 million.
The Securities and Exchange Commission initiated civil proceedings against both Frost and his company last year. Some investors had expressed frustration over the delay in criminal prosecution, but Hertzberg explained his office was methodically developing the case and that Frost’s expected guilty plea will expedite the punishment process.
“We were operating in the background, and we’ve now come out of the shadows to ensure that Mr. Frost faces full consequences for his actions,” Hertzberg said, commending investigative work by the SEC and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s office.
Victims of the scheme include a business owned by former Georgia GOP Chairman David Shafer, Alabama state Auditor Andrew Sorrell, and a political action committee under Sorrell’s control. Republican party organizers report that numerous grassroots party members also suffered losses, with many initially attracted through advertisements on programs featuring conservative hosts such as Erick Erickson, Hugh Hewitt and Charlie Kirk.
Raffensperger’s office has imposed $500,000 in civil penalties against three individuals allegedly involved in soliciting investments for First Liberty and has requested state prosecutors to pursue criminal charges against them.
A court-appointed receiver is working to recover funds for investors and held $5.16 million in cash as of March 23, while pursuing collection efforts on nearly 30 outstanding First Liberty loans.
BOSTON — A runner from Northern Ireland who assisted in carrying a collapsed competitor across the Boston Marathon finish line Thursday described his decision as pure instinct, despite battling his own exhaustion during the challenging race.
Aaron Beggs explained in a Thursday interview that he had been pushing through his own physical struggles by thinking about members of his running club who may never have the opportunity to participate in such a prestigious event.
“If I had to go farther, I would have,” Beggs stated. “It’s fight or flight, and I decided to fight and help him get to our destination.”
The dramatic rescue unfolded Monday when Ajay Haridasse, a Massachusetts resident and Northeastern University student, collapsed approximately 1,000 feet before reaching the finish line. Beggs, along with Brazilian runner Robson De Olivera, immediately stepped in to assist.
“Then when I came down and up towards Boylston Street, the crowd started cheering and I just turned the corner and happened to see Ajay fall,” Beggs recalled. “I looked at my watch, and I looked at him again, and the natural instinct was just to go and pick him up.”
The Northern Ireland runner described the marathon experience as fundamentally different from shorter competitive races, emphasizing the collaborative spirit among participants.
“We were shaking hands as we were running, and was like, ‘We’ve got this. Let’s do this together,’” he explained. “It’s not like in shorter races where you’re head-to-head trying to beat people. In the marathon, you’re cheering each other on and encouraging everybody.”
The rescue has captured widespread attention through viral video footage. Beggs reported staying in contact with Haridasse and expressed hope to reconnect with De Olivera as well. Remarkably, their combined finishing time met qualification standards for next year’s marathon.
“Three strangers, three different countries, and we’ll have a story for the rest of our lives,” Beggs reflected. “We all need just a nice story in our lives, just to make us smile, bring a tear to your eye with happiness. And it’s nice to be nice.”
RALEIGH, N.C. — Federal and local authorities have taken two young suspects into custody for allegedly planning a violent assault on a Texas house of worship, with investigators saying the scheme involved ramming a vehicle into worshippers to “kill as many Jews as possible.”
The detentions occurred approximately one month following an incident where a gunman drove his truck into a prominent synagogue in the Detroit metropolitan area, marking another attack targeting Jewish communities. Religious institutions worldwide have heightened their security measures and protective protocols since the United States and Israel entered into conflict with Iran on February 28.
Davidson County jail records indicate that Angelina Han Hicks, age 18 from Lexington, North Carolina, remained in custody Thursday with bail set at $10 million. Wednesday’s arrest resulted in formal accusations that she collaborated with two “male subjects” in planning murder and assault charges against congregants at Congregation Beth Israel in Houston, scheduled for April 21, 2028, as detailed in arrest warrants outlining two felony charges.
The FBI’s Charlotte office announced Thursday through social media that a minor has been charged in connection with the conspiracy in Harris County, Texas, encompassing Houston. Officials have not yet confirmed whether this detained juvenile matches either of the two male accomplices named in Hicks’ arrest documents, which provided only first names while listing surnames as “unknown.”
Houston Police Department issued a Thursday statement revealing a 16-year-old’s arrest and charging with conspiracy to commit capital murder connected to “a threat directed towards certain Jewish institutions in our area” that authorities discovered Wednesday. The department avoided specifically naming Congregation Beth Israel. Both the FBI and Houston school district police contributed to the apprehension.
“At this time, there is no other known credible threat,” the release said.
District Court Judge Carlton Terry explained Wednesday why Hicks’ confinement was essential, writing partially that the suspected “conspiracy is to kill as many Jews as possible by driving through a congregation at a synagogue.”
“Allowing a co-conspirator a chance to communicate with either of those individuals or those who could relay a message puts lives at risk,” Terry added.
The FBI reported that its Charlotte Joint Terrorism Task Force initiated the probe Tuesday night following information provided to a North Carolina law enforcement organization.
Although Hicks’ arrest documents reference a possible attack scheduled two years ahead, Davidson County senior assistant district attorney Alan Martin explained during an interview that authorities had “some concern that there could be an imminent event” targeting the Houston synagogue. Court filings in North Carolina did not immediately reveal a potential reason for the planned violence. The probe remains active.
Phone contact attempts with Hicks’ court-appointed counsel proved unsuccessful Thursday. Attorney Chad Freeman informed the Houston Chronicle that proceedings were in preliminary phases and Hicks’ age might influence her legal defense.
“I anticipate getting numerous experts involved in the case to look at both investigatory and possible forensic matters,” Freeman told the newspaper. Her upcoming court appearance is scheduled for May 13.
Congregation Beth Israel holds the distinction of being Texas’ oldest Jewish worship facility, established during the 1850s. The institution also runs an elementary school serving students through fifth grade. Thursday’s social media announcement from the Charlotte FBI referenced a suspected planned assault on a Jewish educational facility.
The possible dangers communicated to synagogue leadership by Houston law enforcement led Beth Israel to shut down Wednesday “out of an abundance of caution,” according to a social media statement from the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston. The facility resumed operations Thursday, the federation reported.
“The safety and security of the Houston Jewish community is of utmost importance to all of us,” the federation wrote.
Lexington sits approximately 90 miles west of Raleigh.
Federal investigators stated that Ayman Ghazali intended to cause maximum harm to Jewish individuals when he crashed his pickup truck on March 12 into Temple Israel located in West Bloomfield, Michigan.
The 41-year-old Ghazali carried weapons when his vehicle broke through entrance doors and into a corridor of an early childhood education section, hitting a security officer. He subsequently engaged in gunfire with another guard before taking his own life. None of the other 150 children and employees sustained injuries.
Ghazali, born in Lebanon but holding U.S. citizenship, had discovered one week prior to his attack that four relatives died in an Israeli air strike in his homeland.
On April 18, 2026, President Donald Trump issued an executive directive instructing federal agencies to fast-track studies of ibogaine, a psychedelic substance that could help veterans battling post-traumatic stress disorder and related mental health challenges.
The executive action targets ibogaine, a Schedule I controlled substance extracted from an African plant, which researchers believe may effectively treat PTSD, brain injuries from trauma, depression, anxiety, thoughts of self-harm, and addiction to opioids. The directive commands federal departments to eliminate bureaucratic obstacles hampering research progress, enhance inter-agency collaboration and information sharing, and make clinical testing a top priority.
The Food and Drug Administration has been assigned responsibility for creating secure treatment guidelines under this new policy, while roughly $50 million in fresh federal resources will fund ibogaine and similar psychedelic studies. Officials anticipate government-approved therapeutic programs could launch by the summer of 2026.
“I’ve always believed in ensuring that the American patients have access to breakthrough treatments and therapies … Today’s order will ensure that people suffering from debilitating symptoms might finally have a chance to reclaim their lives and lead a happier life. They’ve been through so much,” President Trump said during the signing.
The executive order has garnered backing from military veteran organizations, media personality Joe Rogan, former Texas Governor Rick Perry, and Representative Dan Crenshaw, who stated he knows individuals who remain alive today due to ibogaine treatment. Dr. Mehmet Oz characterized the decision as “an entire paradigm shift away from a one-pill-a-day model, which has failed so many.”
This policy change emerges amid persistent struggles with veteran mental health issues, as government data shows over 6,000 military veterans take their own lives annually, while millions of Americans continue battling mental health conditions that resist conventional treatment methods.
Pakistan made history Wednesday when its space agency revealed a major breakthrough in the nation’s human spaceflight ambitions.
SUPARCO, Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, disclosed that two prospective astronauts, Khurram Daud and Muhammad Zeeshan Ali, will travel to China to undergo intensive astronaut preparation at China’s Astronaut Center.
The announcement follows a groundbreaking space cooperation pact established in February 2025 between SUPARCO and China’s Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
Following rigorous selection processes in Pakistan that included extensive medical evaluations, psychological testing, and skills assessments, these two individuals emerged as finalists meeting global human spaceflight criteria.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting described this achievement as a major milestone in the country’s space exploration efforts, establishing Pakistan within an exclusive circle of nations pursuing human space missions.
Through this partnership, Pakistan is working toward its inaugural voyage to China’s Space Station (CSS).
The historic mission is scheduled for late 2026, featuring a Pakistani astronaut functioning as a payload specialist.
While stationed on the CSS, Pakistan’s representative will perform multiple scientific studies in zero-gravity conditions.
The research will cover vital fields such as materials science, fluid physics, life sciences, and biotechnology, offering potential breakthroughs for environmental adaptation, agricultural security, and manufacturing advancement.
This achievement demonstrates the strengthening Pakistan-China alliance in space ventures and showcases SUPARCO’s advancement toward self-sufficient human spaceflight operations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other officials have praised this development as evidence of bilateral cooperation and a foundation for future deep-space missions.
This accomplishment positions Pakistan within an elite group of countries participating in human spaceflight and is anticipated to advance research in climate studies, agricultural security, and industrial development.
The Pakistan-China space technology alliance has grown into an enduring strategic relationship founded on substantial achievements and shared expertise.
China has assisted Pakistan’s satellite programs through initiatives including PakSat-1R and the newer PakSat-MM1, while jointly developing remote sensing and communications systems.
The February 2025 astronaut partnership agreement between SUPARCO and CMSA initiated a fresh chapter, expanding cooperation into human space exploration.
Through this arrangement, Pakistan is preparing to deploy its first astronaut to China’s orbital station by 2026, combined with collaborative microgravity research.
This continuing partnership encompasses technology sharing and skills development, while emphasizing China’s position as Pakistan’s primary ally in advancing its space initiatives and supporting the development of independent satellite systems and human space exploration capabilities.
Energy services company Baker Hughes exceeded financial analysts’ expectations for first-quarter earnings, driven by robust performance in its industrial and energy technology sector despite setbacks in Middle Eastern operations.
The company’s industrial and energy technology (IET) division saw significant growth, with orders jumping to $4.89 billion compared to $3.18 billion during the same period last year. This increase stemmed from growing electricity needs at data centers and major investments in natural gas infrastructure, liquefied natural gas projects, and power grid equipment.
Meanwhile, the company’s oilfield services and equipment operations faced headwinds, with revenues declining 7% year-over-year to $3.24 billion. This decrease resulted from the sale of its surface pressure control operations and regional instability affecting business activities.
The Middle East and Asia markets proved particularly challenging, with revenues from these regions falling 19% to $1.15 billion.
Despite elevated oil prices following infrastructure attacks and Iran’s effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Baker Hughes and similar companies have not yet seen significant benefits as energy producers remain hesitant to expand drilling operations.
Industry competitor Halliburton issued a warning earlier this week that disruptions related to the Iran situation and Strait of Hormuz closure could reduce current-quarter earnings by approximately 7 to 9 cents per share, despite exceeding first-quarter projections.
Another major competitor, SLB, which reports earnings Friday, has similarly indicated potential earnings impacts of 6 to 9 cents due to operational challenges in the region.
For the quarter ending March 31, Baker Hughes reported adjusted earnings of 58 cents per share, surpassing analyst predictions of 49 cents per share based on LSEG data compilation.
Total company revenue reached $6.59 billion, exceeding anticipated figures of $6.35 billion.
Emergency responders have successfully contained a massive blaze at a Russian oil facility along the Black Sea coast following a Ukrainian drone strike, regional authorities announced Thursday.
The fire at the Tuapse oil terminal had been raging for four consecutive days after Ukrainian forces targeted the facility on April 16. Industry insiders revealed earlier this week that the refinery, which primarily exports its petroleum products, suspended all operations due to the attack.
Regional emergency officials in Krasnodar posted on social media that crews had successfully controlled the flames at the coastal facility. “At the Tuapse sea terminal, the fire was brought under control and open flames were extinguished,” the emergency command stated. “Work to completely extinguish the fire is continuing.”
A substantial emergency response remained active at the location, with 276 firefighting personnel and 77 emergency vehicles still working the scene, according to official reports.
Environmental concerns emerged Wednesday when authorities detected dangerous levels of toxic chemicals in the air. Fire byproducts combined with recent rainfall created elevated concentrations of benzene, xylene and particulate matter, prompting officials to advise local residents to stay inside and seal their windows. No updated air quality information was released Thursday.
The attack represents part of Ukraine’s expanded campaign targeting Russian energy facilities, occurring as U.S. attention has reportedly shifted toward conflicts involving Iran rather than mediating the Russia-Ukraine war.
Russian authorities reported that strikes on both April 16 and April 20 caused significant damage to Tuapse’s port transportation systems and ignited petroleum storage areas.
Separately, sources confirmed Thursday that another drone attack sparked a fire at a Transneft pumping facility in the Nizhny Novgorod region, which supplies crude oil to Russia’s primary Baltic Sea export terminal at Primorsk.
SpaceX has disclosed that ongoing investigations into its artificial intelligence subsidiary could threaten the company’s access to key markets, according to regulatory documents obtained by news outlets.
The aerospace company revealed these concerns in an S-1 filing as part of its preparation for a massive $1.75 trillion public offering planned for this summer. The document warns that multiple government agencies worldwide are conducting active investigations into xAI regarding social media practices and artificial intelligence use.
According to the regulatory filing, SpaceX faces “allegations that our AI products were used to create nonconsensual explicit images or content representing children in sexualized contexts.” The company stated that such regulatory scrutiny could result in lawsuits, financial liability, and government enforcement actions, “including loss of access to certain markets, which has occurred in the past.”
The disclosure follows a Thursday presentation to analysts at SpaceX’s Colossus supercomputer facility located in Memphis, Tennessee. Neither SpaceX nor xAI provided immediate responses when contacted for comment regarding the filing.
The controversy centers around xAI’s Grok chatbot, which generated widespread concern after producing sexually explicit imagery that appeared prominently on the X social media platform during late 2025 and early 2026. The artificial intelligence tool created images showing women and minors in revealing clothing or compromising situations.
Research groups estimated approximately 3 million sexualized images were generated, prompting United States lawmakers to demand that major tech companies remove both Grok and X from their application stores. SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk stated during that period that he was aware of “literally zero” naked images of underage individuals created by Grok.
XAI announced in January that it had implemented new safeguards to prevent users from requesting sexualized images of real individuals. The company also said it blocks such content generation in regions where such material violates local laws.
However, these protective measures appear to have only partially addressed the problem. Recent reports indicate that Grok continues producing sexualized imagery, including content featuring celebrities and public figures, even when users explicitly state that image subjects have not given consent.
The regulatory filing specifically references an investigation launched by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission in February, though xAI faces scrutiny from authorities across multiple continents. Active probes are underway in Canada, Britain, Brazil, and California, among other jurisdictions.
In France, prosecutors issued a legal summons for Musk to answer questions regarding allegations of algorithmic abuse, fraudulent data extraction, and involvement in distributing child sexual abuse material. Musk failed to appear for the Monday court date.
The market access warning underscores the serious nature of these investigations, particularly those involving alleged child sexual abuse imagery and non-consensual sexual content. Creating such material constitutes criminal activity in numerous jurisdictions, and its distribution often triggers swift public backlash.
X has previously faced market restrictions, including a 2024 ban in Brazil after the platform refused to comply with judicial orders. The company eventually cooperated with authorities, leading to the ban’s removal.
The regulatory disclosure comes as SpaceX prepares for what would be one of the largest initial public offerings in corporate history, making these risk factors particularly significant for potential investors.
The Texas Rangers have sidelined left-handed pitcher Robert Garcia with shoulder inflammation, placing him on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
The roster move dates back to Monday. To fill the spot, Texas promoted right-handed pitcher Peyton Gray from their Triple-A affiliate Round Rock and removed catcher Willie MacIver from the roster by designating him for assignment.
Garcia, age 29, hasn’t taken the mound since April 16, when he successfully retired one batter during a 9-6 victory over Oakland on the road. This season, he holds an 0-1 record with a 3.38 earned run average, issuing seven walks while recording six strikeouts across eight innings in nine appearances during his second year with the Rangers.
Left-handed hitters have struggled against Garcia this year, going hitless in 13 at-bats while striking out four times.
Throughout his professional career, Garcia has compiled a 9-17 record with nine saves and a 3.57 ERA, walking 57 batters and striking out 182 in 163⅔ innings across 177 relief appearances with Miami (2023), Washington (2023-24), and Texas (2025-26).
Gray, who is 30 years old, has excelled at Round Rock with a 1-0 record, two saves, and a perfect 0.00 ERA while walking two and striking out 15 batters in 12⅔ innings over seven relief outings. Opposing hitters have managed just eight hits in 43 at-bats for a .186 average against him.
Should Gray make his major league debut, he would become the oldest Rangers player to do so since pitcher Hyeon-jong Yang, who was 33 when he debuted on April 26, 2021, according to team records.
MacIver, 29, struggled last season with Oakland, hitting .186 with 19 hits in 102 at-bats across 32 games. Texas claimed him off waivers from the Athletics on November 5, 2025. This season at Round Rock, he has hit .170 with eight hits in 47 at-bats over 14 games.
The roster adjustment was necessary to make space on the major league roster. Texas now has seven days to either trade MacIver, release him, or send him outright to the minor leagues.
Good evening, Delmarva! We’re looking at a pleasant spring evening ahead with partly cloudy skies and comfortable temperatures settling around 53 degrees. Light easterly winds up to 5 mph will keep things calm across the peninsula tonight.
Friday is shaping up to be a beautiful day with mostly sunny skies and temperatures climbing to a very nice 68 degrees – perfect weather for any outdoor plans you might have! However, don’t get too comfortable because changes are on the way.
Friday night brings our first chance of rain showers as temperatures dip back to around 50 degrees. That wet weather looks to continue into Saturday with light rain likely and temps rebounding to 56 degrees.
So here’s my advice: enjoy Friday’s sunshine while you can! It’s going to be gorgeous. But if you have weekend outdoor activities planned, you might want to have a backup plan or at least keep an umbrella handy.
Stay dry and have a wonderful evening, Delmarva! I’ll see you tomorrow with your weekend update.
Delaware Department of Transportation crews are currently working along Route 1 northbound to clear debris and litter from the roadway shoulder.
The cleanup operation is taking place between mile marker 95, which corresponds to the Wrangle Hill Road exit, and the Christiana Mall area. Workers are focusing their efforts on the right shoulder of the highway.
According to DelDOT, the litter removal work began earlier today and is expected to wrap up by 4 PM this afternoon.
Motorists traveling through the area should exercise caution and may experience minor delays as crews complete their cleanup efforts along this busy stretch of Route 1.
Motorists traveling on northbound Coastal Highway should expect delays this afternoon due to ongoing mobile operations in the area.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials report that the northbound lanes of Route 1 between King Charles Avenue and Robinson Drive are experiencing traffic disruptions from the mobile operation.
The activity is expected to wrap up by 3 PM today. Drivers are advised to plan alternate routes or allow extra travel time when heading through this section of Coastal Highway.
No additional details about the nature of the mobile operation have been provided by DelDOT at this time.
A precious literary treasure that vanished almost four decades ago has finally made its way back home. The collection contained eight romantic letters penned by celebrated poet John Keats to Fanny Brawne, the woman he planned to marry.
The valuable book went missing nearly 40 years ago, leaving its rightful owner without these intimate pieces of literary history. After decades of absence, the correspondence collection emerged again last year.
This week marked the completion of the long journey back to its proper home, as the book was successfully returned to its legitimate owner. The recovery brings closure to a case that has spanned nearly four decades.
Listen to the Evening Delmarva Farm Report Update — April 23, 2026
DELMARVA — Fertilizer costs reached a 4-year high today as ongoing tensions in the Middle East continue to drive up farming expenses. David Widmar from Agricultural Economic Insights warned that prolonged conflict in Iran could push costs even higher for growers across the country.
The urea price spike has disrupted traditional fertilizer market patterns. Widmar said surging urea has created a price gap between urea and anhydrous ammonia. Usually, anhydrous has a $16 per acre advantage, but that spread has shifted significantly from historical norms. The escalating costs come at a challenging time for agricultural producers already dealing with various economic pressures.
Personnel
The Delaware Farm Bureau announced today that Noah Dixon from Felton has joined the organization as their new Agriculture Literacy Coordinator. Dixon will advance educational initiatives and advocacy efforts that benefit farming families and consumers throughout the state.
He will create educational resources, organize school and community programs, and foster relationships between agricultural producers and educational institutions statewide. Dixon previously interned with the Delaware Farm Bureau and served 2 years as a Delaware State FFA Officer.
Markets
Soybeans dropped today on profit-taking and technical selling. Corn at Laurel Grain Company is bringing $5.06 a bushel for May delivery. Soybeans at Laurel are $11.20 for May.
Forecast
Sunshine continues this afternoon with 71 degrees. Tomorrow looks mostly sunny with a high near 65 before rain chances return tomorrow night.
This article is based on the Delmarva Farm Report Update Evening Edition, April 23, 2026. Hosted by Tom Bradley.
MILWAUKEE — Sources close to the situation reveal that the Milwaukee Bucks are on the verge of completing an agreement with Taylor Jenkins to become their new head coach following Doc Rivers’ exit, according to information shared with The Associated Press on Thursday.
The source requested anonymity since the organization has not yet made an official announcement. ESPN was first to report the Bucks’ progress toward securing Jenkins for the position.
Jenkins spent six seasons leading the Memphis Grizzlies from 2019 through 2025, compiling a 250-214 coaching record that featured three consecutive postseason appearances between 2021 and 2023. Despite Memphis being playoff-bound, the organization dismissed him with nine contests remaining in the 2024-25 campaign, and the team subsequently suffered a first-round sweep by Oklahoma City, who went on to claim the championship.
The hiring would mark Jenkins’ second tenure in Milwaukee, where he previously served as an assistant under Mike Budenholzer during the 2018-19 campaign. That season saw the Bucks achieve the league’s top record at 60-22 before surrendering a 2-0 advantage in the Eastern Conference finals to Toronto, who captured the title that year.
Jenkins will inherit a Bucks franchise facing a pivotal offseason after posting a disappointing 32-50 record this past season, snapping their nine-year consecutive playoff streak.
The organization announced Rivers’ coaching departure on April 13, one day following their season’s conclusion. The 64-year-old Rivers had indicated during the campaign’s final weeks his desire to dedicate more time to his grandchildren.
Rivers concluded his Milwaukee tenure with a 97-103 record across 2½ seasons. His overall coaching career spans 1,194 victories against 866 defeats, placing him sixth among all-time NBA coaching wins.
Milwaukee’s primary offseason focus centers on the future of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has played his complete 13-year NBA career with the franchise.
The 31-year-old Antetokounmpo can enter free agency following next season unless he agrees to a four-year, $275 million extension in October. Alternatively, Milwaukee could explore trading him if they doubt his willingness to sign the extension.
When questioned about signing an extension after the team’s final game, Antetokounmpo responded: “It’s something I have to sit down with my family and see what’s best for me, what’s best for my family.”
By season’s end, tension had developed between Antetokounmpo and the organization regarding the nine-time All-NBA forward’s health situation. Antetokounmpo appeared in just 36 games this season, a career low.
Late in the season, Antetokounmpo expressed his readiness and desire to compete, while team officials kept him sidelined due to a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise. The NBA launched an investigation into the circumstances.
Jenkins previously collaborated with Antetokounmpo during his initial Milwaukee stint. He had served on Budenholzer’s coaching staff in both Atlanta and Milwaukee before Memphis recruited him in 2019, coinciding with their selection of Ja Morant as the second overall draft pick.
Under Jenkins’ leadership, Memphis advanced to the playoff’s second round in 2022 and suffered first-round eliminations in 2021 and 2023. His 250 career victories with the Grizzlies represent the franchise’s all-time record for coaching wins.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots leadership announced Thursday their backing of head coach Mike Vrabel’s choice to absent himself from Saturday’s draft activities while he pursues professional counseling, following recent publication of images showing him with veteran NFL journalist Dianna Russini at an Arizona vacation destination.
In an official statement issued before Thursday’s opening draft round, the organization declared: “The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being. Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment.”
The franchise expressed continued confidence in their draft preparation, stating: “We are confident in the leadership and communication Mike has established with our personnel staff throughout this pre-draft process. While he will not be present at the facility on Saturday, we know the draft evaluations are complete and Eliot Wolf and his personnel staff are prepared to execute our draft as planned this weekend.”
During a press briefing earlier this week, Vrabel acknowledged having “difficult conversations with people I care about,” referencing discussions with family members, coaching personnel, team leadership and players after the photographs became public through New York Post reporting.
According to the Post’s account, the images of Vrabel and Russini were captured in Sedona prior to the annual NFL meetings that commenced in Phoenix on March 29. League officials have indicated no formal investigation into Vrabel’s conduct is underway. Both Vrabel and Russini are married individuals. Russini departed her position at The Athletic last week.
Vrabel announced his intention to step away from Saturday’s draft proceedings in a Wednesday evening statement.
New England enters the draft weekend with 11 total selections available. This includes their lone first-round choice at No. 31 on Thursday night, plus single picks in both the second and third rounds scheduled for Friday.
The majority of their draft activity will occur Saturday during Vrabel’s absence, with the team holding two fourth-round selections, one fifth-round pick, four sixth-round choices and one seventh-round selection.
A rookie pitcher’s major league debut got off to the worst possible start when Washington’s James Wood launched his very first professional pitch for a home run, but JR Ritchie quickly turned things around to secure his first MLB victory.
The 22-year-old right-handed pitcher bounced back from that opening nightmare to guide the Atlanta Braves to a 7-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday, marking the team’s eighth victory in their last nine contests.
“One pitch into it I was like, ‘Oh no,’ but after that I bounced back really well,” Ritchie said. “Honestly, probably for the next year I will hate it. Then after that it will be like a funny, ‘Hey, first pitch of my big league career I gave up a nuke.’”
The 2022 draft pick, who was chosen 35th overall, settled in to pitch seven solid innings while surrendering only one additional run. His final line showed five hits allowed with seven strikeouts and two walks, as he threw strikes on 54 of his 89 total pitches. The young hurler showcased his arsenal by averaging 94.4 mph on 24 fastballs while also delivering 25 curveballs, 19 changeups, 10 sliders, seven cutters and four sinkers.
With his victory, Ritchie (1-0) made history as the first Braves pitcher since Matt Wisler in 2015 to surrender two runs or fewer while working seven-plus innings in his major league debut.
“Kids got a lot of weapons man, for right and left handed hitters,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “He’s in total control out there. That’s got to shake you up a little bit, first pitch you throw in the big leagues and it gets hit for a homer. But right back on the mound and attacking with all his stuff.”
The rookie received his promotion call from Triple-A Gwinnett manager Kanekoa Texeira at 8 p.m. Wednesday evening and didn’t arrive in the nation’s capital until approximately 2 a.m.
Wood connected on a 93.5 mph fastball thrown down the middle, while CJ Abrams added a fourth-inning home run on a changeup that missed below the strike zone.
The Nationals managed no hits following Daylen Lile’s two-out single in the fourth inning.
Before Thursday’s contest, Atlanta promoted both Ritchie and veteran right-hander Carlos Carrasco from the Triple-A Stripers while sending right-hander Didier Fuentes back to Gwinnett and placing left-hander Dylan Dodd on the 15-day injured list due to left spine inflammation, with the move backdated to Wednesday.
Ritchie had compiled a 3-1 record with an impressive 0.99 ERA across five starts at Triple-A Gwinnett to begin this season.
When questioned about whether Ritchie would receive another starting opportunity with Atlanta, manager Weiss indicated the organization would reach a decision within the next couple of days.
“The kid did a heck of a job and made a great case for himself,” Weiss said with a smile.
A Republican congressman from Georgia has filed legislation aimed at transferring Democratic-stronghold areas of Virginia back to Washington DC, following the state’s recent redistricting decision that could favor Democrats.
Rep. Rich McCormick announced Thursday his introduction of the Make DC Square Again Act, which would reverse a land transfer from the 1800s that gave southwestern portions of the nation’s capital back to Virginia in what historians call retrocession.
“The Make DC Square Again Act restores the original ten-mile-square District and ends the artificial advantage Virginia Democrats have recently gained from all the federal bureaucrats moving into Virginia,” McCormick stated.
The legislation faces slim chances of passage in a Congress struggling with basic governance issues. However, it represents another partisan maneuver as both parties jockey for control in the tightly contested House during this election cycle.
Advocates for DC statehood have condemned the proposal, arguing it demonstrates how the federal district gets treated as a “political football.”
“The residents of the district are not fully participating in the democracy of this country because we are not allowed to,” stated Alicia Yass, advocacy director at the American Civil Liberties Union of D.C. “Bills like this that mess around with the district just show how important it is for D.C. to have the full benefits and rights of a democracy.”
Some opponents of Virginia’s redistricting referendum want President Donald Trump to sign an executive order declaring the pre-Civil War transfer of Alexandria and Arlington to Virginia as unconstitutional.
“This order would be on better legal footing than many of President Joe Biden’s most egregious orders,” former Trump Justice Department chief of staff Chad R. Mizelle argued in a Fox News editorial.
The historical context involves Congress’s 1846 decision to return 31 square miles of DC territory to Virginia. This included Alexandria city and areas now housing the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery.
Both Virginia and Maryland had originally donated this territory for the federal capital, but local residents pushed for the 1847 return due to economic concerns and fears Congress might abolish slavery in the district, according to Alexandria city records. Virginia later joined the Confederacy with Richmond as its capital.
Debate over undoing this land transfer has persisted for decades. Some argue Congress lacked authority to return the territory and that local voting procedures didn’t meet congressional requirements for retrocession.
The feasibility of Congress reclaiming Virginia territory remains questionable. George Derek Musgrove, a University of Maryland Baltimore County history professor, expressed doubt about McCormick’s initiative, particularly since it stems from Virginia’s redistricting outcome potentially helping Democrats.
“It’s not even a retrocession bill. It’s really a Virginia voter suppression bill,” Musgrove observed.
The bill’s specific language was not immediately accessible.
The targeted region encompasses Alexandria city and Arlington County, both Democratic strongholds. During the 2024 presidential race, Kamala Harris captured 77% of votes in both areas, while Donald Trump received approximately 20%.
These blue voters supported Virginia’s redistricting referendum, which passed Tuesday and could help Democrats secure four additional House seats. However, returning this territory to DC would diminish that electoral benefit and require new district maps reflecting Virginia’s reduced size.
The affected region’s roughly 400,000 residents would likely forfeit complete representation in both congressional chambers.
McCormick’s bill references restoring the district’s “square” shape on maps. Other proposals exist as well.
The American Capital Project, an obscure organization supporting the territory’s return to DC, advocates for a presidential executive order invalidating the original legislation. This approach would eventually bring the matter before the Supreme Court to determine the original law’s constitutionality.
The American Capital Project’s funding sources and leadership remain unclear, as its website provides no contact details or organizational information.
Democrats have also pursued DC statehood initiatives. The Democratic-controlled House approved such legislation in 2021, though the Senate took no action. Some Senate Republicans then suggested incorporating the current district into Maryland to provide residents full congressional representation.
NEW YORK — Spirit Airlines is engaged in ongoing negotiations with federal officials regarding a potential financing agreement that could allow the low-cost carrier to successfully navigate bankruptcy proceedings without shutting down operations, according to the company’s legal representative.
During Thursday’s bankruptcy court proceedings in New York, Marshall Huebner from Davis Polk informed the court that information about the proposed agreement has been distributed to Spirit’s three main creditor groups.
The budget airline has faced financial difficulties for an extended period, having entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2024, following a previous filing in August 2005. According to Huebner, federal financing would enable the airline’s current restructuring efforts and enhance Spirit’s competitive position in the market.
Rising jet fuel prices linked to the Iran conflict have affected the entire aviation industry, prompting creditors to recently question whether Spirit can continue operating. This has raised concerns that the airline known for its distinctive yellow aircraft might be compelled to liquidate its assets and halt service.
President Donald Trump fueled speculation about potential assistance Tuesday when he suggested finding a buyer for the troubled carrier and indicated federal support might be available to maintain Spirit’s operations.
When questioned about possible government intervention, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy informed reporters that Trump had instructed the Department of Transportation to examine available alternatives.
Officials have not disclosed the financial terms or amount of the proposed aid package. However, The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg cited unnamed sources indicating the assistance could total $500 million, with the government potentially retaining rights to obtain a significant ownership stake in the Florida-based airline.
The White House Wednesday attempted to attribute Spirit’s financial troubles to the previous Biden administration, which filed a lawsuit in 2023 to prevent JetBlue Airways from acquiring Spirit for $3.8 million. More than a year before Trump assumed office, a federal judge in Dallas rejected the proposed Spirit-JetBlue combination, determining it would increase ticket prices for travelers.
However, various legislators and even Duffy have expressed reservations about government intervention to preserve Spirit. During a CBS interview broadcast Tuesday evening, the transportation secretary raised concerns about establishing a broader precedent.
“Then who else comes to my door?” Duffy said, referring to other airlines potentially requesting government aid. “The question will be, can we do anything to save Spirit and make it viable, or would we be putting good money into a company that inevitably is going to be liquidated?”
Multiple lawmakers from both parties have opposed a potential bailout. Texas Senator Ted Cruz posted on X Wednesday that such an agreement would be a “terrible idea.”
“If Spirit’s creditors or other potential investors don’t think they can run it profitably coming out of its second bankruptcy in under two years, I doubt the US Government can either,” Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton posted. “Not the best use of taxpayer dollars.”
Conversely, the union representing Spirit’s pilots has expressed “strong support” for a rescue package.
“Spirit is the reason so many Americans can afford to visit family, travel for work, or take a vacation,” said Capt. Ryan P. Muller, chair of the Spirit Airlines ALPA Master Executive Council. “When Spirit enters a market, fares go down.”
The airline’s modern aircraft fleet has attracted potential buyers, though previous acquisition efforts by competitors including JetBlue and Frontier have failed both before and during Spirit’s initial bankruptcy proceedings.
Financial markets took a sharp downturn Thursday as deteriorating diplomatic relations between the United States and Iran sent shockwaves through Wall Street, with technology stocks bearing the brunt of investor concerns.
The Nasdaq composite suffered its steepest decline in a month, dropping 0.9% as previously optimistic sentiment surrounding corporate earnings reports quickly evaporated. Meanwhile, crude oil prices climbed 4% for the fourth consecutive trading session, reflecting growing anxiety about potential supply disruptions.
Market analyst Jamie McGeever, writing from Orlando, Florida, examined the surprising durability of American stock markets despite mounting global uncertainties. In his analysis, McGeever questioned whether the greatest investment danger might actually stem from staying on the sidelines rather than traditional concerns like military conflicts, rising prices, or trade disputes.
The day’s trading revealed a mixed picture across different market segments. Six of the eleven major S&P 500 sectors declined while five posted gains. Technology companies fell 1.5%, contrasting sharply with utility stocks that climbed 2.8%.
Individual company performances varied dramatically. Texas Instruments surged 19% while ServiceNow plummeted 18%. IBM dropped 8% and Tesla declined 3.6%. After regular trading hours, Intel jumped 16% and AMD gained 5%.
Currency markets showed the dollar strengthening for three straight days. The Indian rupee headed toward its worst weekly performance since 2022, while Brazil’s real fell 1% – its largest single-day drop in a month – sliding back below 5.00 per dollar.
Bond markets reflected the uncertainty as U.S. Treasury prices fell and yields increased by 4 basis points on shorter-term securities. The yield curve flattened for the fourth consecutive day, though a five-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities auction proceeded without complications.
Asian markets mostly declined, with South Korea’s KOSPI being a notable exception by reaching new highs. European markets showed mixed results.
The private investment sector faced scrutiny following reports that Thoma Bravo, a private equity firm, is close to transferring software company Medallia to its creditors. This move would create a $5.1 billion equity loss for Thoma Bravo and its investment partners.
The situation particularly affected private credit giants Blackstone, KKR, and Apollo – Medallia’s primary lenders – whose shares all underperformed Thursday. Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman defended the private credit industry, but his company’s stock still fell 5.7% in its worst single-day performance in two months.
Anticipation is building for what could become the largest series of initial public offerings in market history. SpaceX is expected to go public in June, followed by OpenAI and Anthropic. These three companies, despite reportedly operating at losses, could collectively represent $3 trillion in market value according to LPL Financial projections.
The resilience of equity markets during ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts has surprised many observers. Traditional safe-haven investments including Treasury bonds, gold, and the Japanese yen have all declined since hostilities began. Bitcoin has gained 18%, though it had fallen 50% in the five months before the conflict started.
Looking ahead, market participants will monitor Middle Eastern developments, energy sector movements, and various economic indicators including Japanese inflation data, UK retail sales figures, German business sentiment measures, and U.S. consumer expectations surveys. Corporate earnings reports from major companies like Procter & Gamble will also influence trading.
WASHINGTON – By late summer, Kurt Olsen’s frustration had reached a breaking point.
President Donald Trump had brought Olsen aboard months before to hunt for proof of foreign meddling in American elections and to reexamine Trump’s 2020 defeat. The former Navy SEAL and attorney, known for disputing election results, was determined to validate the unfounded theory that voting machines from Dominion Voting Systems contained harmful software controlled by Venezuela, according to three individuals with knowledge of the situation.
However, a classified federal examination of Puerto Rico’s Dominion equipment revealed no signs of tampering after officials confiscated the machines in May and had a cybersecurity firm analyze them for several months.
When presented with these findings, Olsen lashed out at the contractor, Virginia-based Mojave Research Inc., in a September communication to Trump, the three sources revealed. In his anger, Olsen claimed the company was obstructing his efforts, working for the “deep state,” and secretly receiving funds from billionaire George Soros, a Democratic supporter frequently targeted by conservatives.
Mojave had been hired by Trump’s director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, to examine potential weaknesses in the machines Puerto Rico utilized during its 2024 gubernatorial race.
Olsen’s effort to undermine Mojave’s credibility has not been previously disclosed. Five individuals familiar with Olsen’s investigation told Reuters that when no evidence emerged from the Puerto Rico machines, the administration broadened its scope to Georgia, where FBI agents confiscated 2020 election ballots, and Arizona, where the FBI has requested voter documentation through subpoenas.
This reporting reveals the extensive authority Trump has given Olsen to utilize federal funds and personnel to pursue debunked election conspiracy theories – even after numerous court decisions rejected similar claims made by Trump supporters following the 2020 election.
Olsen’s investigation has employed personnel and resources from Gabbard’s ODNI, the Justice Department, and the FBI, four sources confirmed. At Trump’s direction, the CIA provided Olsen with “intelligence related to the 2020 election,” a CIA representative told Reuters. The official refused to elaborate on the intelligence specifics.
This investigation occurs as the Trump administration attempts to obtain state voter databases and impose requirements for voter registration and voting systems – powers the U.S. Constitution primarily assigns to states to prevent excessive federal control.
With Trump’s approval ratings declining due to increasing costs and the Iran conflict, Republicans are anticipated to face setbacks in November’s congressional midterm elections. This situation raises alarm among Democrats and election security specialists that the administration is preparing to contest the election’s validity.
White House representative Davis Ingle dismissed the Reuters coverage as “misinformation” from “a few disgruntled leakers,” stating it didn’t accurately represent the government’s efforts to ensure “critical infrastructure across all risk sectors remains secure.” He didn’t address questions about other administration actions to protect future U.S. elections. Olsen didn’t respond to interview requests.
Trump gave serious consideration to Olsen’s allegations about Mojave serving deep-state interests, two sources indicated.
In reaction, the company revealed its financial records to demonstrate it received no Soros funding, according to a September 8 company document to Gabbard reviewed by Reuters.
The document described Olsen’s Soros theory as “patently absurd and ridiculous.”
Olsen recommended ending the company’s contract, which occurred in October. Around the same period, Trump named Olsen as Director of Election Security and Integrity. He operates from the White House and answers directly to the president, two sources confirmed.
DNI representatives stated Mojave’s agreement concluded only because it had finished analyzing voting machines and that Gabbard would continue election security efforts.
“We believe, strongly, that this work has been shelved for reasons that have nothing to do with the mission of ensuring every American can trust our election outcomes,” Mojave responded to inquiries, without providing additional details.
Soros’ Open Society Foundations stated to Reuters that neither he nor the organization had ever collaborated with or hired Mojave Research and had never encountered the company.
MILLER ADVOCATED FOR FBI PARTICIPATION
Trump’s Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller shared Olsen’s disappointment with Mojave’s inability to demonstrate vote tampering in Puerto Rico, two sources reported, revealing previously undisclosed information.
They described an October 3 White House gathering where the Mojave team and Gabbard informed Miller, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt about their technical examination of Puerto Rico machines.
Miller, the sources indicated, advocated for expanding the investigation and including the FBI.
In January, federal agents confiscated ballots in Georgia’s Fulton County during a raid Gabbard attended, which FBI search documents show stemmed from an Olsen referral. In March, the FBI acquired Arizona election documentation through subpoena related to a 2021 Republican-commissioned audit of Maricopa County that verified Trump’s defeat.
Mojave began collaborating with Olsen last spring. Mojave CEO Jason Wareham stated Olsen became obsessed with claims like vote manipulation in Arizona but never provided supporting evidence. “I lost count the number of times Olsen said ‘Maricopa is a crime scene,’” Wareham wrote in the company’s statement to ODNI responding to accusations it was a Soros operation.
Eventually, what Wareham characterized as Olsen’s “cacophony” of speculation and conjecture caused Mojave to cease working with him, he noted in the statement.
Olsen launched his investigation focusing on a thoroughly discredited conspiracy theory – that software from Smartmatic USA Corp, a Florida company established by Venezuelans, has enabled foreign control of machines from Dominion Voting Systems, a separate Canadian-founded company. Dominion equipment was deployed in 27 states in 2024.
The theory stems from Dominion’s 2010 purchase of assets formerly owned by Smartmatic. Despite this transaction, Dominion and Smartmatic functioned as two separate entities. Dominion was acquired last year by Liberty Vote.
Neither Liberty Vote nor Smartmatic provided responses to comment requests.
Despite all his work, Olsen has produced no concrete evidence that Dominion machines were ever compromised, three sources confirmed. Reuters couldn’t determine whether Olsen has since expanded his investigation’s scope.
KNOWN VULNERABILITIES, NOT BREACHES
Mojave, the cybersecurity firm, identified software weaknesses in Puerto Rico’s Dominion machines but found no indication they had been exploited.
Recognizing these vulnerabilities could impact machines throughout the U.S., Mojave suggested a comprehensive plan to address them. The company recommended analyzing additional machines, creating a task force to guide states on software updates, providing financial assistance for implementation, and imposing penalties on non-compliant states. One source believed states would need to start implementing these recommendations in May to finish before November’s midterm elections.
Another source said Mojave discovered problems similar to those identified in a 2021 study by Alex Halderman, a University of Michigan computer science professor, and a 2022 warning from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). These flaws affected a specific Dominion touchscreen voting model called ImageCast X used in Georgia and three other states in 2020.
Like Mojave, neither Halderman nor CISA discovered evidence that Dominion systems had ever been compromised.
Dominion created fixes for the vulnerabilities CISA identified in 2022. States are responsible for implementing changes to their voting systems. Reuters couldn’t confirm which states had installed the patches.
The three sources said they weren’t aware of any administration efforts to address potential problems Mojave found in Puerto Rico. “The administration has ignored real evidence of severe vulnerabilities,” one source stated. The White House didn’t respond to questions about plans to address report findings. Puerto Rico’s election board didn’t respond to comment requests.
In 2023, Fox News agreed to pay Dominion $787.5 million to resolve a defamation lawsuit regarding false vote-rigging allegations involving Smartmatic. In 2024, conservative media company Newsmax agreed to pay $40 million to settle a defamation case filed by Smartmatic, admitting that its claims about the company manipulating the 2020 election were “untrue.”
Professor Halderman told Reuters the concept of Smartmatic software in Dominion machines is “technically incoherent,” since the two companies’ products use different platforms and programming languages.
TAMPA HOTEL GATHERING
Nevertheless, Olsen maintained his theory. On June 19, he met with at least three former Smartmatic employees at a Tampa hotel to discuss it, according to three sources familiar with the meeting.
Also attending this previously unreported session, two sources said, were an FBI agent assigned to ODNI, a computer engineer from Olsen’s team, and Andrew “Mac” Warner, an attorney and political DOJ appointee who has alleged CIA interference in the 2020 election. The DOJ didn’t respond to questions about Warner’s participation.
The former Smartmatic workers provided no proof that Dominion machines were compromised in any election, sources said. Instead, they presented a computer demonstration claiming to show how foreign actors could exploit Dominion equipment using a previously classified hacking tool called “Eternal Blue” developed by the U.S. National Security Agency, two sources reported.
This meeting occurred shortly after ODNI’s May seizure of Dominion machines in Puerto Rico, first reported by Reuters.
In briefings between June and October, Olsen pressured Mojave to search more intensively for suspicious software in the Puerto Rico machines, one source said. When Mojave found no trace of such code, the person said, Olsen repeatedly told the team it was “clearly doing it wrong.”
The world’s top gold mining corporation exceeded Wall Street’s earnings projections for the first three months of the year on Thursday, driven by historically high gold valuations that compensated for decreased mining output. However, Newmont cautioned investors about anticipated production declines and rising operational expenses in the upcoming quarter.
The mining giant projects that approximately 23% of its total attributable output will be delivered during the second quarter of 2026, marking a slight decrease from first-quarter performance levels.
Operating costs per unit are anticipated to climb significantly compared to the previous quarter, driven by increased sustaining capital expenditures, reduced silver production, and higher costs applicable to sales from the Boddington, Tanami, Lihir and Penasquito operations.
Additional cost pressures may emerge from rising oil prices and the full quarterly impact of increased royalty payments in Ghana, according to company officials.
Gold valuations reached unprecedented peaks during the first quarter, fueled by safe-haven investment demand and expectations of interest rate reductions, before moderating after the U.S.-Israel tensions with Iran triggered crude oil-driven inflation concerns. Despite the pullback, prices remained substantially higher than year-ago levels.
The company’s average realized gold price for the quarter reached $4,900 per ounce, a significant increase from $2,944 per ounce during the same period last year.
“Supported by our enhanced capital allocation framework, we have doubled the size of our share repurchase program with an additional $6 billion authorization, following the full execution of our previous program,” CEO Natascha Viljoen said.
Company stock climbed 1.8% in after-hours trading following the announcement.
Newmont’s gold production for the quarter totaled 1.30 million ounces, down from 1.54 million ounces produced in the previous year.
The production decrease resulted from reduced output at Boddington due to bushfire impacts, lower ore grades at Tanami during planned mining sequences and heavy rainfall conditions, plus decreased grades and scheduled maintenance activities at Lihir and Cerro Negro facilities.
The company reported adjusted earnings of $2.90 per share for the quarter ending March 31, significantly exceeding analysts’ consensus estimate of $2.18 per share, based on LSEG data compilation.
Odessa High School’s FFA and Agriscience Team has secured the Delaware Envirothon Championship title for the second consecutive year, marking another victory in the state’s premier environmental education competition.
The championship took place at Sussex Academy, where teams from across Delaware competed in this year’s event. The 2026 competition represents a significant milestone, marking three decades of the Envirothon program in Delaware.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control sponsors this educational competition, which welcomes participation from high school students throughout the state. The program challenges students to demonstrate their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management.
This back-to-back championship demonstrates the continued excellence of Odessa High School’s environmental science program and their students’ dedication to understanding natural resource conservation.
The University of Delaware Blue Hens baseball squad is preparing to hit the road for a significant Conference USA series against Liberty University.
The team will make the journey to Virginia to take on the Liberty Flames in what represents an important conference matchup for both programs.
This series comes as the Blue Hens continue their Conference USA campaign, with each game carrying weight in the overall conference standings and postseason positioning.
The matchup against Liberty provides Delaware with another opportunity to showcase their skills against conference competition as they work toward their season goals.
Drivers traveling on Irish Hill Road should plan for delays today as construction work has forced the closure of one southbound lane at the Canterbury Road intersection.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that the southbound lane restriction on Irish Hill Road (Route 31) at Canterbury Road will remain in place until 5 PM today due to ongoing construction activities.
Motorists are advised to use alternate routes or allow extra travel time when passing through the area during the closure period.
Delaware Department of Transportation crews are conducting construction work that has forced the closure of one westbound lane on Upper Pike Creek Road at New Linden Hill Road.
The right lane heading west is currently blocked to traffic as workers complete their project. DelDOT officials say the lane restriction will stay in place until 4:30 PM this afternoon.
Motorists traveling through the area should expect delays and consider alternate routes if possible. Drivers are advised to use caution when approaching the work zone and merge safely into the open lane.
Drivers should expect delays on Doncaster Road this afternoon as construction crews continue work that requires periodic lane restrictions.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that the roadway between East Edinburgh Drive and Freeport Road will experience intermittent lane closures through 6 PM today due to ongoing construction activities.
Motorists are advised to plan alternate routes or allow extra travel time when navigating through the affected area during the closure period.
Supporters of Wyoming’s abortion laws currently being challenged in court believe these measures could help address the state’s population decline. However, critics argue that restricting reproductive rights won’t solve the fundamental problem of young residents departing due to limited economic prospects.
The debate highlights a broader discussion about what factors truly influence population growth and retention in rural states facing demographic challenges.
Facebook’s parent company Meta announced Thursday it will eliminate approximately 8,000 positions, representing roughly 10% of its total staff, as the social media giant continues investing heavily in artificial intelligence technology and recruiting high-priced AI specialists.
The workforce reduction aims to boost operational efficiency and free up resources for new business investments, according to company officials. Bloomberg first broke the story, also reporting that Meta plans to keep approximately 6,000 current job openings vacant.
In a separate development Thursday, Microsoft announced plans to offer voluntary departure packages to thousands of its American employees.
The Redmond, Washington-based technology company will extend these offers in early May to roughly 8,750 workers, representing 7% of its domestic workforce, according to two sources with knowledge of the initiative who requested anonymity.
Unlike the immediate job cuts implemented by technology companies such as Meta and Oracle, Microsoft’s approach provides an alternative through voluntary departures. However, the cost-cutting measures likely stem from similar industry pressures requiring massive investments in artificial intelligence capabilities. Meta has already cautioned shareholders that its 2026 operating expenses will increase substantially to between $162 billion and $169 billion, primarily due to infrastructure investments and compensation packages for AI specialists commanding exceptionally high salaries.
Wedbush financial analyst Dan Ives praised Meta’s workforce reduction in a Thursday investor briefing.
Ives described the move as part of a broader approach utilizing AI technology to “automate tasks that once required large teams, allowing the company to streamline operations and reduce costs while maintaining productivity driving an increased need for a leaner operating structure.”
Microsoft has invested billions operating an expanding worldwide network of data facilities that support cloud computing platforms, artificial intelligence systems, and its productivity software suite, including the AI-powered Copilot assistant.
CNBC earlier Thursday obtained a company memo from Microsoft’s chief people officer Amy Coleman announcing the voluntary retirement initiative.
“Our hope is that this program gives those eligible the choice to take that next step on their own terms, with generous company support,” Coleman stated in the memo, according to CNBC’s reporting.
RHODE ISLAND COAST (TV Delmarva) — Towering wind turbines reaching three times the height of the Statue of Liberty were actively generating clean energy off Rhode Island’s shoreline Thursday, delivering power to the regional electrical grid.
Multiple wind energy developments continue advancing along the Atlantic seaboard despite President Donald Trump’s campaign to eliminate America’s offshore wind sector. Trump frequently expresses his disdain for wind energy and describes the turbines as unsightly.
Associated Press reporters journeyed approximately 100 miles offshore and observed three out of five regional wind installations. Two facilities are operating at full capacity, two are nearing completion, and one remains roughly half-finished.
Initial turbines from the Revolution Wind development were easily spotted from about 5 nautical miles away, with visibility extending further on clear days. The massive structures formed orderly rows across the horizon, with several rotating in gentle breezes.
The turbines’ immense scale became apparent from even a mile’s distance.
Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind represent offshore energy developments designed to supply electricity to approximately 1 million residences throughout Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York.
The journey to Revolution Wind’s location required roughly 90 minutes, traveling more than 15 miles south of Rhode Island’s shoreline.
Several turbine blades began rotating as morning winds strengthened. Personnel were working within the wind farm’s central hub, a substantial gray substation facility.
Revolution Wind has reached over 90% completion. The project recently started supplying electricity to New England’s power network and remains scheduled for completion this year.
At the adjacent Sunrise Wind site, construction has achieved nearly 50% completion. The area features a combination of installed turbines and vacant yellow foundations awaiting their towers and blades. A vessel equipped with massive cranes for installing offshore wind components was positioned nearby.
One spinning turbine’s tip seemed to reach the cloud line.
South Fork Wind, America’s inaugural large-scale offshore wind facility, sits adjacent to the Revolution Wind location.
Currently in its second year of commercial operation, its dozen turbines generate sufficient electricity for more than 70,000 New York homes.
A vessel serving as a mobile headquarters for wind farm technicians was positioned beside one turbine Thursday. The workers had crossed the ship’s gangway onto the turbine and were stationed at its foundation.
When South Fork launched in 2024, Biden administration representatives described it as merely the start — significant new wind installations would appear along American coastlines to address climate change, generate employment and speed the country’s clean energy transition.
Under a year later, Trump resumed the presidency and directed a temporary suspension of leasing and permitting for wind energy developments. His administration has halted work on wind farms currently under construction, negotiated a $1 billion payment to a French energy corporation to abandon U.S. offshore wind development and implemented additional review requirements for wind and solar projects. Federal courts have overturned several of his directives blocking wind energy advancement, including a Tuesday decision preventing the administration from enforcing some policies that slow clean energy development.
While wind energy faces restrictions, American electricity demand is surging dramatically with few alternatives available in space-limited coastal states for major new energy projects in coming years, which increases utility costs, according to Hillary Bright, executive director of offshore wind advocacy organization Turn Forward.
“These energy policies are really hitting people at home, in their pocketbooks,” she said. “Offshore wind ultimately can be a part of that solution.”
The nearest installation to shore is the Block Island Wind Farm, located in state waters near Block Island, Rhode Island.
These five turbines started operating in 2016, establishing this as America’s first offshore wind facility. Its turbines are shorter than those at later projects, but still appear massive at close range. They substituted for polluting diesel generators that previously powered Block Island.
Vineyard Wind completed construction in March, becoming the first wind farm to reach this milestone during Trump’s current presidency.
The facility is anticipated to achieve full operation in upcoming months, powering over 400,000 Massachusetts homes and businesses.
Two additional major U.S. offshore wind farms remain under construction: Empire Wind, a New York offshore wind development, and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, a Virginia offshore wind project.
“This is a major commercial industry in the United States of America,” Jason Grumet, CEO of the American Clean Power Association, said in an interview. “Whether the president is enthusiastic about it or not, we have massive energy projects that are either bringing power to the grid or near completion.”
A Michigan-based snack company has issued an urgent recall for one of its trail mix products after discovering it contains allergens not listed on the packaging.
Ferris Coffee & Nut Co., located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, announced the voluntary recall of a specific production batch of Frederik’s by Meijer Vanilla Bourbon Trail Mix sold in 9-ounce containers. The company discovered the product contains wheat and soy ingredients that were not disclosed on the product label.
Health officials warn that individuals with allergies or severe reactions to wheat or soy face the possibility of dangerous or potentially fatal allergic responses if they consume this product.
Consumers who purchased this trail mix are advised to check their packages and avoid eating the product if they have sensitivities to the undeclared ingredients. Those with questions about the recall can contact the company directly.
ATLANTA — Three faculty members at Emory University in Atlanta have launched legal action against their employer following their detention during a campus demonstration last year related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The professors contend the institution violated its own policies on free expression when it summoned law enforcement officers to forcibly end the gathering, leading to 28 people being taken into custody.
Philosophy Professor Noelle McAfee, one of the three plaintiffs, stated: “The judicial system would find that Emory failed to protect its students, to protect its staff, to protect the educational mission of the university. So this isn’t just about people’s individual rights. It’s our educational mission to train people in free and critical inquiry, to be able to learn how to engage with others, to be fearless.”
University spokesperson Laura Diamond responded that Emory considers the legal challenge to be unfounded. “Emory acts appropriately and responsibly to keep our community safe from threats of harm,” Diamond stated. “We regret this issue is being litigated but we have confidence in the legal process.”
This case represents one instance of how last year’s nationwide campus demonstrations continue to create ongoing legal battles at prestigious universities. While numerous lawsuits have emerged from students and faculty claiming discrimination related to the protests, the Emory case stands out because McAfee, along with English and indigenous studies Professor Emilio Del Valle-Escalante and economics Professor Caroline Fohlin, all maintain their tenured positions and faced no criminal convictions.
The civil action filed in DeKalb County State Court seeks reimbursement for legal expenses the three professors incurred defending against misdemeanor charges that were ultimately dropped, plus additional monetary damages. McAfee explained she is taking legal action against her employer “to try to get them to be accountable and to change.”
The three faculty members maintain they were merely observing on April 25, 2024, when students and others established tents on the university’s central quadrangle to demonstrate against the war. They argue Emory violated its own guidelines by bringing in Atlanta police officers and Georgia state troopers without exploring other options first.
McAfee faced disorderly conduct charges after she reportedly shouted “Stop!” at an officer who was roughly detaining a demonstrator. Del Valle-Escalante says he was attempting to assist an elderly woman when he was detained and charged with disorderly conduct. Fohlin reported that when she objected to officers restraining a protester on the ground, she was forcibly thrown face-down and arrested, resulting in a concussion and spinal injury. Fohlin was charged with misdemeanor battery against an officer.
On that day, Emory maintained that those detained were outsiders who had unlawfully entered university grounds. However, 20 of the 28 arrested individuals had connections to the university. The professors say following their arrests, they became targets of threats and harassment, reflecting broader criticism from conservatives who accused universities of failing to shield Jewish students from antisemitism while permitting disorder.
Across the country, advocates describe a “Palestine exception” where universities are prepared to restrict pro-Palestinian speech and demonstrations. Palestine Legal, an organization providing legal support for such expression, reported Tuesday that it received 300% more requests for legal assistance in 2025 compared to its typical annual volume before 2023, primarily from college students and faculty.
Following her arrest, McAfee continued serving as president of the Emory University Senate, a body that develops policy recommendations and had participated in creating the university’s open expression guidelines. She said she questioned then-President Gregory Fenves in fall 2024 about why Emory police weren’t dismissing charges against her and the others. According to McAfee, Fenves responded that he wanted “to see justice.” The open expression policy was subsequently updated after 2024 to explicitly ban tents, camping, building occupations, and demonstrations occurring between midnight and 7 a.m.
Regardless of policy changes, McAfee believes students now fear protesting at Emory, saying the university has abandoned what Atlanta Civil Rights leader John Lewis termed “good trouble.” “Students know right now that any trouble is not going to be good trouble at Emory, that they could get arrested,” she said. “So students are afraid.”
UNITED NATIONS — Cuba’s top diplomat at the United Nations declared Thursday that his nation refuses to bow to American pressure regarding the release of political detainees, while warning that Cuban leadership is readying itself for potential U.S. military intervention threatened by President Donald Trump.
Speaking with The Associated Press, Cuban UN Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán emphasized that matters involving imprisoned dissidents “are not on the negotiating table.” The freedom of political detainees had emerged as a central American requirement during recent diplomatic discussions held in Cuba — the first such meetings between the two nations in ten years.
“We have our legal system, like here in the U.S., they have their legal system,” he stated. “So we have to respect both of our internal affairs.”
A U.S. diplomatic team conducted confidential discussions in Havana beginning April 10, attempting to pressure Cuba into implementing significant economic and governmental reforms or face ongoing economic sanctions and possible American military escalation. While neither nation has revealed the participants’ identities, Guzmán disclosed the American side included undersecretary of state-level officials, while Cuba sent deputy foreign minister-level representatives.
Relations between Washington and Havana have deteriorated significantly in recent months, particularly due to American energy sanctions that have worsened Cuba’s existing economic difficulties and other challenges facing the Caribbean island.
Trump has warned of imposing tariffs on nations that provide petroleum to Cuba and suggested America might have “the honor of taking Cuba” after potential military actions in Venezuela and Iran. The State Department has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding Guzmán’s statements.
The energy restrictions, combined with the island’s critical water and electricity shortages, have intensified poverty and food insecurity throughout Cuba as extended power outages continue.
In late March, a Russian vessel delivered 730,000 barrels of fuel — Cuba’s first such shipment in three months. According to Guzmán, this delivery satisfied only a small portion of the country’s operational energy requirements.
Additional American concerns raised during this month’s meetings focused on foreign nations’ influence over the island, according to previous AP reporting. U.S. officials also presented proposals for compensating hundreds of thousands of legal claims filed by Cuban Americans whose properties, enterprises, and land were confiscated following Fidel Castro’s rise to power in 1959.
Guzmán acknowledged that such compensation discussions occurred during the meetings and that Havana shows willingness to consider them. However, he emphasized this could only proceed alongside corresponding economic relief from the longstanding U.S. trade embargo against Cuba.
“There is not only this claim but also the claim from our side because the embargo has an economic impact,” he explained. “This is a highway with two directions.”
When questioned about Cuban officials’ confidence in diplomatic solutions given American threats, Guzmán expressed cautious optimism about establishing a “new approach” to bilateral relations, while noting that the Trump administration’s recent foreign policy actions have heightened their vigilance.
“We have been seeing what is happening all around the world, in our region, in the Middle East, so we are not a naive person,” he said. “We are preparing for all the scenarios. And I insist, our first option — what we really want — is a successful dialogue with the U.S. government.”
However, he added that should American military aggression occur, “we are ready to fight back.”
Facebook’s parent company Meta announced Thursday it will eliminate approximately 8,000 positions, representing roughly 10% of its total staff, as the social media giant continues investing heavily in artificial intelligence technology and recruiting high-paid AI specialists.
According to Bloomberg’s initial reporting, the company cited efficiency improvements and strategic reinvestment as reasons for the workforce reduction. Meta also plans to keep approximately 6,000 current job openings vacant.
In a separate development Thursday, Microsoft revealed plans to offer voluntary retirement packages to thousands of its American workers.
The Redmond, Washington-based technology company will extend these voluntary departure offers in early May to approximately 8,750 employees, representing 7% of its domestic workforce, according to two sources with knowledge of the initiative who requested anonymity.
Unlike the immediate job cuts implemented by technology companies including Meta and Oracle, Microsoft’s approach provides an alternative through voluntary departures. However, the cost-saving measures appear connected to similar industry-wide changes requiring substantial artificial intelligence investments. Meta has already informed investors that its 2026 operating expenses will increase substantially to between $162 billion and $169 billion, primarily due to infrastructure development and compensation for artificial intelligence specialists commanding exceptionally high salaries.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives expressed support for Meta’s workforce reduction in a Thursday investor note.
Ives characterized the move as part of a broader approach utilizing AI technology to “automate tasks that once required large teams, allowing the company to streamline operations and reduce costs while maintaining productivity driving an increased need for a leaner operating structure.”
Microsoft has invested billions operating an expanding worldwide network of data centers that support cloud computing services, artificial intelligence systems, and its productivity software suite, including the AI-powered Copilot assistant.
CNBC previously reported on an internal memorandum from Microsoft’s chief people officer, Amy Coleman, announcing the voluntary departure program.
“Our hope is that this program gives those eligible the choice to take that next step on their own terms, with generous company support,” Coleman stated in the memo, according to CNBC’s reporting.
BATON ROUGE, La. — A violent confrontation between rival groups erupted into gunfire Thursday at a Louisiana shopping center, leaving 10 people wounded and sending shoppers scrambling for safety.
The shooting occurred when two groups began arguing in the food court area of the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge before pulling out weapons and firing at each other, according to Police Chief TJ Morse.
“Unfortunately there were some innocent people in the area who might have also caught some rounds,” he said.
The gunmen escaped before law enforcement could respond to the scene, leaving no suspects in custody. Mayor Sid Edwards issued a stern warning to those responsible.
“To the thugs that did this, we’re going to catch you,” Edwards said.
All 10 victims were transported to area medical facilities with varying degrees of injuries, with at least two requiring surgical procedures, Morse confirmed. The police chief is asking anyone who witnessed the violence to share any video footage they may have captured.
Despite the ongoing manhunt, Morse attempted to reassure the community about public safety.
“Right now there is no known threat to the public,” he said. “Right here is the safest place in Baton Rouge.”
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry acknowledged the incident and urged residents to stay away from the mall area.
WBRZ-TV staff member Nikki Lee described arriving at the shopping center shortly after the violence unfolded.
“I drove up and walked in right after the shooting,” Lee told the TV station. “There was already a helicopter and already lots of police officers going through the parking lots.”
She was among numerous shoppers who were moved to a secure location during the police investigation.
This marks Louisiana’s second major gun violence incident this week. On Sunday morning in Shreveport, a man killed eight children, including seven of his own, during a domestic attack that spanned two residences. The shooter’s wife and another woman sustained life-threatening injuries in that incident.
The University of Delaware Blue Hens men’s lacrosse squad is set to conclude their regular season campaign with a road game against Saint Joseph’s University.
This final matchup of the regular season represents the culmination of the Blue Hens’ preparation heading into potential postseason tournament play. The team will travel to face the Hawks as they look to finish their regular season schedule on a strong note.
The conclusion of regular season play marks an important milestone for the Delaware program as they prepare for what could be postseason competition ahead.
Intel Corporation delivered promising news to investors Thursday, projecting second-quarter earnings that significantly exceed analyst predictions, driven by surging demand for the company’s server processors in AI-powered data centers.
The tech giant’s stock price climbed approximately 12% during after-hours trading following the announcement.
Intel anticipates generating between $13.8 billion and $14.8 billion in revenue for the upcoming quarter, surpassing the $13.07 billion forecast compiled by LSEG analysts.
Following several years of strategic missteps that left the once-dominant semiconductor manufacturer struggling to compete in the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence market, CEO Lip-Bu Tan implemented a comprehensive turnaround strategy. This plan focuses on strengthening Intel’s financial position through asset divestments and workforce reductions.
Tan has also negotiated substantial investments and partnerships with major players including the federal government, SoftBank, and Nvidia, providing Intel with essential resources for its manufacturing operations while boosting investor confidence in the company’s future prospects.
Although Intel initially missed opportunities during AI’s early growth phase, the company now sees potential in advanced central processing units as cloud service providers transition from developing AI models to implementing them in real-world applications.
“The CPU (is) having a renaissance here,” Chief Financial Officer Dave Zinsner told Reuters during an interview. “We’re starting to be a meaningful beneficiary of the AI investments that are happening.”
While graphics processing units handle the complex mathematical calculations needed for content generation, central processing units are more effective for tasks performed by autonomous AI systems with advanced reasoning abilities.
Intel’s success in meeting market demand will ultimately depend on the company’s capacity to produce processors efficiently without encountering manufacturing delays or supply chain disruptions.
The semiconductor company achieved a significant victory Wednesday when it secured Tesla, owned by Elon Musk, as the first major client for its cutting-edge 14A manufacturing process. This partnership involves producing chips for Musk’s Terafab initiative, a sophisticated AI chip facility planned for Austin, Texas.
Earlier this month, Intel strengthened its AI processor collaboration with Google’s parent company Alphabet and became part of Musk’s Terafab project alongside SpaceX and Tesla to manufacture processors for robotics and data center applications.
The company’s data center and AI division generated $5.1 billion in revenue, outperforming projections of $4.41 billion.
Intel’s share price has surged more than 80% year-to-date and nearly 48% in April alone, as investors show renewed confidence in central processing units—the type of chip Intel has specialized in for decades.
However, competition remains intense in the CPU market, with rivals including Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices, and Arm developing competing products to capture market share.
Intel reported a first-quarter loss of 73 cents per share due to over $4 billion in restructuring expenses. When adjusted for these charges, the company earned 29 cents per share, beating the anticipated 1 cent estimate.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has selected a business executive with extensive government contracting experience to lead the Transportation Security Administration, according to sources who spoke with Reuters on Thursday.
The president intends to nominate David Cummins for the position. Cummins currently serves as a senior vice president at Serco North America, where he manages the company’s portfolio of federal, state, and local civilian government clients. His nomination follows Trump’s recent proposal to privatize significant portions of TSA operations while eliminating close to 10,000 positions.
The TSA leadership position has remained vacant for over 15 months since Trump dismissed David Pekoske, the former administrator, during his first day back in the White House in 2025.
Colombia’s government-owned petroleum company Ecopetrol announced Thursday it has reached an agreement to purchase approximately 26% of Brazilian energy company Brava, with plans to potentially secure majority ownership of the firm.
According to separate regulatory filings from both companies, the Colombian state enterprise intends to initiate a public tender offer aimed at acquiring sufficient shares to gain control of the Brazilian energy company.
The proposed offer on Brazil’s B3 stock exchange would value Brava shares at 23 reais ($4.60) per share, according to Ecopetrol’s announcement. This pricing represents a premium of 27.8% above Brava’s average share price over the past 90 days based on trading volume.
Brazilian antitrust authorities at CADE must give their approval before the transaction can be finalized.
Following the announcement on Thursday, Brava’s stock price declined by 1%, erasing some of the gains the company had seen earlier in the trading session.
MILTON, DE — Young readers and their families will gather for a day of literary fun when Sussex County Libraries presents their fourth annual Children’s Book Festival on Saturday, May 2.
The free celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Milton Public Library, located at 121 Union Street in Milton. Festival-goers will receive complimentary guide books and tote bags when they arrive, available while supplies remain.
Seventeen writers specializing in children’s literature will attend the event, featuring board books, picture books, and chapter books. Notable guests include Nancy Viau, Kathy MacMillan, Jonathan Roth, and Delaware-born author and illustrator Jay Cooper. The festivities extend into nearby Milton Park, where families can enjoy face painting and visit a petting zoo courtesy of The Little Farm. Pony rides will be available for a modest charge, and food trucks will offer refreshments for purchase. Browseabout Books will set up on-site, giving families the opportunity to buy copies of their preferred books.
Young attendees and teenagers can participate in interactive games, creative activities, and educational stations designed for hands-on learning. Sussex County librarians will join forces with volunteers from the Milton Arts Guild, Milton Theatre, and Milton Lions Club of Delaware to facilitate various activities. Information booths will showcase Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Read Aloud Delaware, Literacy Delaware, Kindergarten Readiness Teams, and additional literacy organizations.
Event parking will be available at H.O. Brittingham Elementary School, with complimentary shuttle transportation operating every quarter-hour between the school and festival locations throughout the day.
The Children’s Book Festival receives partial funding from the Town of Milton, the Milton Community Foundation, and Friends groups of Sussex County Libraries. Additional details can be found at https://www.facebook.com/sussexcbf/.
Contact: Rachel Lynch, County Librarian at (302) 855-7890 or [email protected]
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — A Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach is facing criminal charges after being accused of domestic violence involving his daughter.
Dave Merritt, 54, was hit with a misdemeanor domestic battery charge on Thursday following a complaint filed by Johnson County prosecutors in Kansas. Court documents allege Merritt inflicted bodily harm on his daughter.
The Chiefs organization acknowledged they are aware of Merritt’s arrest but declined to provide any statement. Merritt was scheduled to appear before a judge Thursday.
Before transitioning to coaching, the 54-year-old Merritt had a career as an NFL linebacker. He has since established himself as one of the league’s top defensive backs coaches. Merritt joined the Chiefs coaching staff in 2019, and throughout his coaching career, including his tenure with the New York Giants, he has been part of five Super Bowl championship teams.
The Trump administration has shifted medical marijuana into a less restrictive drug category, marking a significant step toward greater federal recognition of cannabis already approved in most states.
Acting Attorney General signed the directive Thursday, moving state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III classification under federal drug regulations.
This change could open new opportunities for scientific research into cannabis treatments and boost profitability for marijuana businesses, though federal prohibition remains in place.
Under current federal law, marijuana possession carries penalties including fines and incarceration. Distribution and growing operations face even harsher consequences, with potential prison terms ranging from five years to life based on quantities involved. Thursday’s directive doesn’t alter these criminal penalties.
Instead, the order modifies how federal agencies oversee state-approved medical marijuana programs.
The reclassification moves medical cannabis from Schedule I status — shared with heroin and LSD as substances with high abuse potential and no accepted medical value — into Schedule III alongside ketamine and certain anabolic steroids. Schedule III substances are considered to have moderate to low dependency risks.
Recreational marijuana remains classified as Schedule I even in states permitting adult use. However, the Justice Department has set a June 29 hearing to evaluate broader marijuana reclassification to Schedule III.
Current tax law prohibits business expense deductions for companies involved in Schedule I or II drug trafficking.
Moving medical marijuana to Schedule III status could generate substantial savings for licensed retailers by allowing deductions for advertising, marketing, facility costs, and employee wages related to sales operations.
However, many licensed operators serve both medical patients and recreational customers, creating challenges in determining which expenses qualify for deductions.
“In a lot of ways, it’s kind of nonsensical because these medical products are the same cannabis, the same methods of creation,” said Chicago attorney Irina Dashevsky, who oversees cannabis-related business for the Greenspoon Marder law firm.
“From a business perspective, there’s a lot of complications,” added Rachel Gillette, a Denver attorney who leads that cannabis industry practice at the Holland & Hart law firm. “It just makes it extremely messy.”
Questions remain about whether tax benefits apply only going forward or retroactively. The Justice Department has urged the Treasury Department to extend deductions back to full tax years when businesses operated under state medical marijuana licenses.
American attitudes toward marijuana have shifted considerably over recent decades, though support varies by political affiliation. Gallup polling shows legalization support climbed from 23% in 1985 to 64% last year.
This represents a slight decrease from 70% support recorded a few years earlier, driven primarily by changing Republican opinions. GOP support for marijuana legalization fell from 55% to 40% since 2023, while Democratic backing remained relatively stable, dropping slightly from 87% to 85%. Independent voter support declined modestly from 69% to 66%.
More than 20 Republican senators, including several close Trump supporters, wrote to the president last year requesting marijuana remain Schedule I. They maintained cannabis poses ongoing dangers and claimed reclassification would “undermine your strong efforts to Make America Great Again.”
Medical marijuana programs currently operate in 40 states plus Washington, D.C. Recreational adult-use laws have expanded rapidly over the past 12 years to include 24 states and the nation’s capital.
Cannabis use has grown alongside state legalization efforts.
Federal surveys from 2024 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found over 64 million Americans aged 12 and older — representing 22% of the population — used marijuana within the previous year. This marked an increase from 19% in 2021.
The reclassification could drive further increases in usage rates.
Dr. Smita Das, an addiction psychiatrist at Stanford University, noted rising rates of cannabis use disorder nationwide.
“We’ve already had kind of a decrease in risk perception related to cannabis over the years with the state legalization, both for medical and recreational purposes, and this will probably just add to that,” Das said.
Delaware’s Police Officer Standards and Training Commission is taking a prominent role in addressing officer safety concerns while strengthening law enforcement education throughout the First State.
Executive Director Sean Moriarty represented the commission at the 2026 Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety held in Baltimore on April 21. The event brought together highway safety experts, police leadership, and academic researchers from across the nation.
Moriarty collaborated with Dr. Steve James and Brett Cowell to deliver a presentation titled “Dangerous Driving: Tired Cops and Cognitive Impairment Screening.” Their session focused on understanding how exhaustion impacts police officers’ ability to make sound decisions, perform their duties effectively, and maintain safety standards.
Meanwhile, the commission is working to enhance training capabilities throughout Delaware’s law enforcement community. Between April 13 and 17, the agency teamed up with New Castle County Police Department to conduct a Certified Instructor Course at the Lt. Joseph Szczerba Police Academy.
This training initiative is designed to equip officers with the skills needed to provide uniform, professional-grade instruction across Delaware’s police departments.
Nostalgic cereal lovers who remember hunting for prizes in their breakfast boxes will get that experience again soon.
WK Kellogg Co. announced Thursday that it will include toys with select breakfast cereals for the first time in more than ten years.
Beginning Sunday, limited edition packages of Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, AppleJacks and Corn Pops will contain plastic figurines designed after characters from Disney and Pixar’s upcoming “Toy Story 5.” The film is set to premiere in theaters this June.
Cereal box prizes were once a standard feature of breakfast cereals, but they slowly vanished as companies sought to reduce expenses and parents raised concerns about potential safety risks including choking hazards. The company faced backlash in 2004 when it distributed Spider-Man timepieces containing mercury batteries inside cereal packages.
Company officials said the “Toy Story 5” partnership seemed ideal for bringing back the tradition, given the film’s theme about toys navigating a technology-focused society.
“Bringing toys back inside the box reintroduces that sense of discovery through a simple, screen-free moment of play that parents can now share with their own kids,” said Laura Newman, a vice president of brand marketing at Kellogg.
NEW YORK — Federal investigators revealed Thursday that a firefighter involved in last month’s deadly runway collision at LaGuardia Airport initially couldn’t tell who air traffic control was warning when they shouted “stop, stop, stop” over the radio.
The National Transportation Safety Board released preliminary findings showing that safety systems failed to prevent the March 22 crash that claimed the lives of both pilots aboard an Air Canada regional jet. The airport’s crash prevention technology didn’t sound any alarms in the control tower, and runway crossing lights remained illuminated until just three seconds before impact, according to the report.
The fire truck’s turret operator told investigators that after hearing the controller’s first warning, he then heard “Truck 1, stop, stop, stop” and understood the command was meant for them. However, by that point their vehicle had already entered the runway as Air Canada Express Flight 8646 was touching down and racing toward them.
According to the turret operator’s account to investigators, he spotted the aircraft’s lights on the runway as their truck made a left turn onto the tarmac.
The urgent warnings came after controllers had given the fire truck permission to cross the runway just 12 seconds before the incoming plane made contact with the ground.
The CRJ900 aircraft arriving from Montreal was carrying more than 70 passengers and crew. Pilots Antoine Forest, 24, and Mackenzie Gunther, 30, died in the collision. Approximately 40 individuals, including the fire truck’s two occupants, required hospital treatment.
One flight attendant, still secured in her seat, survived despite being ejected onto the runway surface.
The fire truck was at the front of a six-vehicle emergency response team that included four fire engines, a boarding stairs truck, and a police car. They were responding to reports of a concerning odor in the passenger cabin of a departing United Airlines flight.
LaGuardia’s control tower was experiencing unusually heavy traffic that evening due to flight delays that more than doubled the scheduled arrivals and departures after 10 p.m., based on information from aviation data company Cirium.
Aircraft were arriving every few minutes, with twelve flights landing between 11 p.m. and the time of the collision less than 40 minutes later. Simultaneously, controllers were managing the emergency response to the cabin odor that was causing flight attendants to feel sick.
LaGuardia operates one of 35 sophisticated surface monitoring systems at major U.S. airports designed to prevent dangerous runway intrusions and collisions. These systems provide controllers with tower displays showing real-time positions of all aircraft and ground vehicles.
The ASDE-X system failed to function properly because the fire truck lacked the required transponder equipment, investigators determined. The close grouping of multiple emergency vehicles also prevented the system from activating its warning alerts.
Air traffic control recordings show Flight 8646 received landing clearance for Runway 4 at 11:35 p.m.
Approximately two minutes afterward — and 25 seconds before the collision — the fire crew requested permission to cross that same runway, which lay between the airport’s fire station and the United Airlines aircraft’s parking position.
Five seconds later, as Flight 8646 approached the runway at slightly over 100 feet altitude, controllers authorized the fire truck to proceed across.
Then, with just nine seconds remaining before impact, the controller urgently radioed: “Stop, stop, stop, stop. Truck 1. Stop, stop, stop, stop.” The aircraft’s wheels touched down one second later.
This marks LaGuardia’s first fatal crash in 34 years.
JOHANNESBURG — Nearly 10 months have passed since former Zambian President Edgar Lungu died in a South African medical facility, yet his remains continue to be the center of an extraordinary legal dispute that has prevented his burial.
The deceased leader’s relatives have insisted on laying him to rest in South Africa due to the intense animosity between Lungu and Zambia’s current President Hakainde Hichilema. Meanwhile, Zambian officials have pursued legal action to gain control of the body and bring it home for an official state ceremony.
The ongoing saga took another dramatic turn this Wednesday when Zambian authorities announced they had secured possession of Lungu’s remains with help from South African officials, only to have a judge immediately order the body returned to the funeral facility where the family had been keeping it.
The 68-year-old former president passed away on June 5 of the previous year from an undetermined medical condition while receiving treatment in South Africa. His relatives immediately made arrangements to conduct burial services there, declining to transport his body back to Zambia for any ceremony that would include Hichilema’s participation.
According to a family representative, this decision honored Lungu’s final request that Hichilema should not come “anywhere near his body” during burial proceedings. In response, the Zambian administration filed legal proceedings to obtain custody, claiming that conducting a state funeral served the country’s best interests.
Officials in Zambia have already designated and prepared a burial site for Lungu at a national cemetery where other former presidents rest. That grave site continues to sit vacant.
The relationship between Lungu and his successor Hichilema had been marked by deep hostility throughout their years as political opponents in the southern African country.
In 2016, Lungu emerged victorious over Hichilema in the presidential race. The following year, Hichilema spent four months behind bars on treason accusations after he allegedly refused to move aside for the presidential convoy on a public road. Human rights organizations criticized the arrest, and authorities eventually dropped the charges and freed him.
Following Hichilema’s rise to power in 2021, Lungu maintained that law enforcement officers were targeting him with harassment and had essentially confined him to his residence. His relatives stated that officials temporarily blocked him from traveling abroad to receive medical care. The Hichilema administration rejected these accusations.
Reports indicate that Lungu managed to reach South Africa by quietly making his way to an airport and purchasing his airline ticket on the spot.
The Zambian government’s legal effort to claim Lungu’s remains disrupted funeral arrangements that his family had scheduled in South Africa last June. The court filing forced family members, who had already dressed in mourning clothes for the service, to abandon the ceremony and rush to a courthouse for an emergency hearing.
A South African judge eventually sided with the Zambian government’s position and ordered the body’s return to Zambia. The court established May 12 as the deadline for transferring custody.
Late Wednesday, Zambian officials declared they had successfully taken possession of Lungu’s body, moving it from a private mortuary in Pretoria, South Africa’s capital, to a different location while preparing for transport back to Zambia.
However, a court quickly mandated that the government immediately return the remains to the family, finding officials in contempt for attempting to remove Lungu’s body ahead of the court-established timeline.
Additional legal proceedings may now emerge after the judge ordered both Zambian officials and the South African authorities who assisted in moving the body to explain why they should not face contempt charges.
During multiple congressional hearings, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. consistently pushed back against lawmakers who mentioned Medicaid reductions included in President Donald Trump’s comprehensive 2025 tax and spending legislation.
Democratic representatives expressed worries about potential impacts on rural medical facilities and the possibility of vulnerable populations losing healthcare coverage during budget discussions. Kennedy repeatedly interjected to dispute the existence of any reductions.
“There are no cuts to Medicaid,” Kennedy stated. “We are increasing Medicaid spending by 47% over the next 10 years. Increasing spending by 47%. How is that a cut? That is only a cut in Washington, D.C.”
Healthcare policy specialists characterize Kennedy’s statements as misleading political rhetoric, noting that natural spending increases driven by demographic shifts and healthcare cost inflation don’t eliminate the reality of funding reductions.
Trump’s legislation from last year implemented substantial Medicaid modifications, including new employment requirements and eligibility adjustments, to help compensate for revenue losses from extensive tax reductions and additional spending. These changes are projected to reduce the healthcare program’s expenditures by approximately $1 trillion across ten years.
Kennedy’s position relies on projections showing year-over-year Medicaid spending growth over the coming decade, arguing this proves no reductions occurred. His team referenced a February Congressional Budget Office analysis demonstrating 47% growth across ten years to support this stance.
However, policy analysts clarify that without the tax and spending legislation, Medicaid expenditures would have experienced greater growth.
“This is an old, sort of tired argument that’s been used by conservatives to justify spending cuts by saying, well, if spending is still growing in nominal terms, somehow there wasn’t a cut,” explained Edwin Park, a research professor at Georgetown University. “The federal government is spending nearly a trillion dollars less than it otherwise would have in the absence of the legislation.”
Sara Rosenbaum, professor emerita at George Washington University’s public health school, noted Kennedy’s assertions represent a familiar pattern from Medicaid critics throughout her five-decade career studying the program.
“It’s absurd,” Rosenbaum stated. “They cut a trillion dollars.”
Republicans and the Trump administration defend the Medicaid changes as essential for eliminating fraudulent use of government resources by ineligible individuals. They frame these modifications as part of their healthcare fraud prevention efforts to improve program affordability.
“To be clear, HHS is taking steps to ensure Medicaid serves those it is intended to support,” said Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Andrew Nixon. “These actions are not cuts — they are focused on addressing waste, fraud, and abuse to better position the program for those who rely on it.”
Park warned that the legislation’s stricter enrollment processes would also impact qualified Americans, leading to “many more uninsured people, and people going without needed care.”
A federal judge in San Antonio has authorized the release of a woman and her five children from immigration detention, despite their connection to a man accused of carrying out a deadly firebombing in Colorado.
U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ruled Thursday that Hayam El Gamal and her children can leave the family detention facility in Dilley, Texas, under specific conditions. El Gamal and her 18-year-old child must submit to electronic monitoring as part of their release. The judge rejected government attorneys’ attempts to halt his decision pending an appeal.
El Gamal, who was born in Saudi Arabia and holds Egyptian citizenship, has been detained with her family since June. Her husband, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, faces accusations of hurling two Molotov cocktails at demonstrators who were rallying for awareness about Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The attack resulted in injuries to 13 people, including an 82-year-old woman who later succumbed to her injuries. El Gamal has expressed shock over her husband’s alleged actions.
Federal officials say Soliman, also an Egyptian citizen, was residing in the United States without legal status. He faces prosecution in both state and federal courts for the attack. Prosecutors allege he spent a year planning the assault and was motivated by a desire “to kill all Zionist people.” Soliman has entered not guilty pleas to state charges, including murder, as well as federal hate crime allegations.
Following the attack, the Trump administration announced plans for the family’s rapid deportation. White House social media statements declared they “COULD BE DEPORTED AS EARLY AS TONIGHT” and revealed that six one-way tickets had been purchased, with their “final boarding call coming soon.”
Judge Biery’s release order came despite an immigration appeals court rejecting the family’s request to remain in the country and issuing deportation orders. This decision followed a federal magistrate judge’s Monday recommendation that the family should be freed from detention.
Defense attorneys contend the deportation directive came from “political leadership” in Washington, an allegation that government lawyer Anne Marie Cordova disputed. Individuals with final deportation orders typically face mandatory detention.
Biery had previously prevented the family’s deportation until Thursday’s hearing could take place. Family attorney Chris Godshall-Bennett informed the judge they plan to petition the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to halt deportation proceedings while pursuing asylum and permanent residency status.
Another federal judge had initially blocked the family’s immediate removal following the attack. Since that time, the family has made multiple attempts to secure bond release and return to Colorado while their asylum petition moves through the system.
The magistrate judge’s recommendation for release this week followed defense arguments that the family had not received fair treatment during immigration proceedings.
WASHINGTON – The State Department announced Wednesday that American officials will monitor next month’s parliamentary election in The Bahamas following a formal request from the Caribbean nation’s opposition leadership.
The decision to send U.S. Embassy personnel comes after Bahamian opposition leader Michael Pintard reached out to U.S. Ambassador Herschel Walker, asking for international oversight of the May 12 vote due to concerns about electoral integrity.
“The United States regularly supports open, transparent, and competitive democratic electoral processes by deploying embassy election observers accredited by the host government’s election officials,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement. “U.S. Embassy Nassau plans on doing so in The Bahamas.”
Prime Minister Philip Davis called the early election this month, moving up the vote from its originally scheduled October date. Pintard, who hopes to unseat Davis, cited worries about the electoral system in his letter to the American ambassador.
The opposition leader specifically highlighted issues with “the accuracy and maintenance of the country’s voters’ register,” warning these problems “may undermine public confidence if not addressed through transparent and independent scrutiny.”
Harrison Thompson, who oversees elections in The Bahamas, defended the current system in a Monday statement. He explained that the Parliamentary Registration Department conducts legal reviews of voter rolls to make necessary corrections and remove invalid entries as required by law and evidence.
“Where a party identifies a concern, that concern is reviewed. Where a correction is required, that correction is made. This has always been the practice,” Thompson stated.
The Organization of American States also announced Monday it would dispatch observer teams to The Bahamas, continuing its tradition of monitoring elections in the region from previous years.
The U.S. monitoring effort follows years of election-related controversies, including former President Donald Trump’s ongoing false claims about fraud in the 2020 presidential race and other recent elections.
Additional photographs have emerged showing New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel in what appears to be an intimate encounter with former NFL reporter Diana Russini dating back to 2020.
The New York Post’s Page Six released the images on Thursday, just one day after Vrabel announced he would skip the final day of Saturday’s NFL draft to begin counseling sessions.
This latest development follows the initial controversy that erupted on April 7 when the Post first published images of Vrabel and Russini, who was working as an NFL correspondent for The Athletic at the time, appearing to hold hands and embrace at an upscale resort in Sedona, Arizona.
The most recent photographs were allegedly captured at Tribeca Tavern during the early morning hours of March 11, 2020, and seem to depict the two sitting intimately at the bar and sharing a kiss. “They were kissing and they were all over each other. He had a ring on,” a witness told Page Six.
The March 11, 2020 date is significant as it marks the day the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. At that time, Vrabel was serving as head coach for the Tennessee Titans and was married to his current wife, while Russini was engaged to her now-husband.
The 50-year-old coach provided a statement to the Post regarding Thursday’s revelations.
“As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend. This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.
“I have always wanted to lead by example and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be,” Vrabel continued. “This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result.”
Vrabel plans to be present with the Patriots on Thursday evening when they make their first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft at the 31st overall selection, and will also participate in the late second and third round selections on Friday. However, he will be absent for the final four rounds taking place on Saturday.
Russini stepped down from her position at The Athletic last week while the New York Times-owned publication conducted an investigation into the nature of her relationship with Vrabel.
When the Arizona photographs first surfaced, Vrabel dismissed them, stating the pictures “show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable.”
Vrabel took over as Patriots head coach before the 2025 season, returning to one of his former teams as a player, and led New England to Super Bowl LX. The Seattle Seahawks won that championship game 29-13.
Last season, Vrabel received his second AP NFL Coach of the Year award, having previously won the honor in 2021 while leading the Titans. He served as Tennessee’s head coach from 2018 through 2023.
The nation’s commercial red meat industry has experienced a 2 percent increase in production compared to the previous year, according to new data from federal agricultural officials.
The latest livestock slaughter statistics reveal continued growth in the red meat sector, indicating steady demand and production capacity across American agricultural operations.
This upward trend in meat production reflects the ongoing strength of the country’s livestock industry and its ability to meet consumer demand for red meat products.
The American Soybean Association operates as a producer-driven organization, relying on farming volunteers who serve as board members and guide emerging agricultural leaders.
Behind each agricultural policy victory lies extensive work and numerous individuals consistently championing soybean producers. The ASA’s governing documents establish specialized advocacy teams to help distribute responsibilities and enhance focus among soy leaders. These teams monitor policy developments, create advocacy strategies, and provide guidance in targeted policy areas. ASA directors chair each advocacy team.
FARM POLICY ADVOCACY TEAM
The Farm Policy team tackles economic sustainability and financial services matters. ASA Director Geoff Ruth from Rising City, Nebraska, chairs this team. Ruth represents a seventh-generation farming family, cultivating soybeans, corn, and cover crop rye. His leadership experience spans multiple boards, including the Shelby-Rising City Public School Board of Education, Nebraska Soybean Association, Nebraska Farm Service Agency, and various local community committees.
When asked about his 2026 priorities as team chair, Ruth emphasized the urgency of current challenges.
“There is no shortage of issues facing soybean farmers and agriculture as a whole in 2026. It is important for me as chair of the Farm Policy Advocacy Team to stay engaged and focused on the challenges and opportunities that lie before us in the soybean industry,” Ruth said. “At the top of the list of priorities is encouraging Congress to pass a farm bill. We are long overdue for an updated farm bill, and continued extensions of the previous farm bills are not the security and stabilization that agriculture needs in these uncertain times.”
Ruth noted that issues evolve rapidly, sometimes changing by the minute, making timely evaluation and response crucial for their advocacy team.
Regarding his motivation for leadership, Ruth expressed gratitude for the opportunity.
“It is an honor to serve as chair of the Farm Policy AT. I have always enjoyed serving people, whether that be as the current president of my local board of education, church council leadership, Nebraska Soybean Association, the Farm Service Agency as a member of the State Board, or even as a youth basketball/football/softball coach,” Ruth explained.
He advised aspiring leaders to embrace difficult challenges. “For those who have an interest in leadership, be willing to do the hard thing. Saying ‘yes’ and being outside your comfort zone is one of the hardest first steps when it comes to leadership,” Ruth said.
CONSERVATION & PRECISION AG ADVOCACY TEAM
The Conservation & Precision Ag team handles conservation, agricultural technology, checkoff and research, soy foods and nutrition, biobased consumer products, livestock, and labor issues. ASA Director Denise Scarborough from LaCrosse, Indiana, leads this team. She farms with her husband Mark, producing soybeans, commercial corn, seed corn, and wheat. The couple also operates an excavating business, and Scarborough works as a commercial and agricultural lender at First National Bank of Monterey.
Scarborough’s involvement includes Indiana Farm Bureau service at local, state, and national levels, plus volunteering with 4-H, Purdue Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching, youth sports, and her church. She has served as an Indiana Soybean Alliance director since 2017.
Discussing her 2026 goals, Scarborough emphasized shifting from reactive to proactive approaches.
“I think some of the personal goals are to be proactive instead of reactive. When President Trump took office for the second time, we didn’t know what to fully expect, and it caused us to be reactive to what was happening,” Scarborough said. “When the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) report came out, we didn’t imagine that we would have to defend the soybean as much as we are.”
She highlighted Indiana’s position as the leading high oleic soybean producer and the unexpected need to defend healthy soybeans against ultra-processed food concerns.
BIOFUELS & INFRASTRUCTURE ADVOCACY TEAM
The Biofuels & Infrastructure team focuses on energy policies related to biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel, plus infrastructure matters involving ocean shipping, inland waterways, railways, roads, broadband, and industrial biobased products. ASA Director Drew Peterson from Salem, South Dakota, chairs this team. Peterson represents a fifth-generation farming family, raising soybeans and corn while operating a cow-calf and cattle feeding business with his father Steve, alongside his wife Lauren and their two children.
Peterson joined the South Dakota Soybean Association as a Corteva Young Leader in 2019, served as board vice president for three years, participates in the South Dakota Ag Foundation, and has been a state legislator for four years.
“Coming into 2026, my main goal was to get finalized Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z) guidance in place,” Peterson said. “Not only would this certainty be good for soybean producers, but it will also help our country with energy security in a volatile geopolitical climate across the globe.”
Peterson emphasized infrastructure investment needs. “Continued investment in inland waterways and rail improvements are needed to keep our transportation infrastructure resilient, no matter where our whole bean and soybean byproducts need to be transported,” he said.
REGULATORY ADVOCACY TEAM
The Regulatory team addresses biotechnology, crop protection, pesticidal tools, and other regulatory activities. ASA Director Andrew Moore from Dalton, Georgia, chairs this team. Moore farms with his father and uncle in Northwest Georgia, using double crop production to raise nine different row crops or cereal grains on a five-year rotation. In 2008, they added value through vertical integration, constructing an Expeller Press™ oilseed processing facility and pellet mill for manufacturing animal feeds.
Moore’s 2026 priorities focus on strengthening advocacy capabilities.
“As chair of the advocacy team in 2026, my priorities are to further strengthen our soy team members’ capacity to advocate effectively on near-term regulatory issues impacting soy farmers,” Moore said. “This includes identifying and defining emerging regulatory challenges that are moving through the pipeline and are likely to affect farmers in the future.”
He stressed the importance of farmer participation. “Getting involved matters because participation makes our voices stronger and ensures they are heard,” Moore said.
TRADE POLICY & INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS ADVOCACY TEAM
The Trade Policy & International Affairs team handles trade, market access, tariff and non-tariff barriers, international food aid, aquaculture, federal grain standards, fertilizer, and tax issues. ASA Director Josh Gackle from Kulm, North Dakota, chairs this team. He farms 2,800 acres of soybeans while also producing corn, wheat, and barley. Gackle began ASA board service in late 2017, served as ASA president in 2024, and has been active with the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association board and committees. He also serves on the Kulm City Council.
“TPIA plays a key role in maintaining and increasing existing demand and building new demand for U.S. soybean farmers’ international markets,” Gackle said. “The AT works closely with the state soybean associations, WISHH, USSEC, and USB to build on these priorities.”
Gackle emphasized the organization’s broader impact. “ASA is one of the most impactful organizations when it comes to government policy that affects our farm and business operations. There is power in numbers, and our organizations make sure our voice as farmers and rural America are heard by decision makers at the local, state, and national level,” he said.
A federal agriculture program has opened new international markets for American soybean producers by transforming Cambodia’s fish farming industry and creating lasting demand for U.S. soy products.
The American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health program, working through the USDA’s Food for Progress initiative, recently completed its Commercialization of Aquaculture for Sustainable Trade project in Cambodia. The program focused on strengthening the Southeast Asian nation’s fish farming sector while establishing commercial relationships that boost demand for American soybean meal.
The initiative targeted Cambodia’s heavy reliance on fish protein, which accounts for nearly three-quarters of the country’s protein consumption. Program organizers identified an opportunity to connect improved fish farming methods with increased use of U.S. soy-based feeds.
Training sessions taught fish farmers more systematic feeding methods, improved pond design techniques, and strategies to boost production while minimizing fish mortality. These enhancements enabled farmers to achieve superior growth rates and operational efficiency while demonstrating the benefits of premium feeds containing soybean meal.
The program also brought innovative equipment to Cambodia. Solar-powered drying structures helped minimize food waste by protecting fish from weather conditions and contamination risks that typically occur when products are dried outdoors on tables. The technology proved especially valuable during Cambodia’s monsoon season. Additional improvements included floating cage systems and specialized pond raceways that enhanced fish health and operational efficiency.
Ten feed distribution companies received training in modern aquaculture methods, with emphasis on how quality feeds improve fish performance. The project also supported the creation of the Cambodian Aquaculturist Association, which now connects over 1,300 producers, feed manufacturers, and industry partners to promote advanced farming practices and sector cooperation.
The training programs produced measurable results in industry standards. Before the project began, only approximately 3% of fish producers had earned Good Aquaculture Practices certification, which allows access to premium markets. Following the program’s implementation, that percentage jumped to 51%, with 63 producers obtaining the valuable certification.
The initiative also developed institutional markets for fish products through collaboration with the USDA McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, managed by the World Food Programme and partner organizations. Government purchases of fish for school meal programs are establishing sustainable markets for aquaculture production, which reinforces demand for the quality feeds necessary to support continued growth.
Feed manufacturers now purchasing U.S. soy have become important players in Cambodia’s agricultural sector. Companies like AgriMaster Feed Mill are buying American soybean meal to produce feeds distributed throughout Cambodia. Another major producer, M’s PIG, has expanded into aquaculture while increasing its feed manufacturing capacity, demonstrating the expanding opportunities across Cambodia’s livestock and feed sectors.
“Projects like CAST show how strategic partnerships can build lasting markets for U.S. soybean farmers,” said WISHH Executive Director Gena Perry. “By helping farmers and feed companies adopt better practices and high-quality feeds, we’re creating demand that benefits producers overseas and soybean growers here at home.”
The organization’s efforts are now expanding into additional sectors within Cambodia. Kirisu Dairy, the country’s first modern dairy operation, utilizes 120 tons of soybean meal annually to feed its dairy cattle. Similar to the aquaculture sector’s development, as Cambodia’s milk consumption increases, its dependence on U.S. soy for dairy feed may expand accordingly. The program has already collaborated with employee Senghong Khlit to provide expertise in feed management and quality standards.
With continued funding from USDA programs and soybean industry investments, the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health continues working with Cambodian aquaculture, dairy, and poultry industry leaders to expand production capabilities, improve feed systems, and strengthen commercial relationships for U.S. soy products.
Agricultural leaders from the American Soybean Association are venturing beyond their home farms to explore international markets, gaining fresh insights into the global impact of their crops. Through partnerships with the U.S. Soybean Export Council, these farmer-directors are connecting directly with overseas customers, observing their products being utilized, and establishing relationships that extend well past their local operations.
These international missions involve face-to-face meetings with foreign buyers, facility tours, and participation in worldwide agricultural events, bringing the complete soybean supply chain into focus for participating farmers. The experiences go beyond simple travel, demonstrating the vital link between American agricultural operations and international market needs.
These opportunities allow farmers to tell their production story while developing better understanding of the customers and markets that depend on their crops. Many participants find these trips serve as compelling evidence that their local farming efforts have significant global impact.
Michigan Farmer Attends Tokyo Sustainability Conference
Janna Fritz from Michigan took part in Tokyo’s Soy Sustainability Symposium, where international partners convened to examine sustainability practices, innovation developments, and soybean industry trends. Her participation allowed her to demonstrate how American farmers are adapting to changing market demands while continuing to provide superior, environmentally responsible products to worldwide customers.
Illinois Producer Joins Indonesia Trade Mission
Ryan Frieders from Illinois joined a USDA-organized Agricultural Trade Mission to Jakarta alongside the U.S. Soybean Export Council, meeting with buyers and industry executives in a crucial Southeast Asian growth market. His visit concentrated on building stronger partnerships and demonstrating the benefits of American soybeans through direct discussions with regional business partners.
North Dakota Director Travels to Thailand Conference
Justin Sherlock from North Dakota journeyed throughout Asia with the Export Council, connecting with customers and industry representatives from over 20 nations during Bangkok’s Southeast Asia U.S. Agricultural Cooperators Conference. His experience highlighted the significance of relationship building, customer need assessment, and promoting the advantages American soybeans offer in international markets.
“What really sets U.S. soy apart is that when customers buy from us, they’re not just buying a commodity – they’re buying a partnership and a support system,” Sherlock said.
Illinois Farmer Visits Middle East Markets
Scott Gaffner from Illinois traveled to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia with both the Export Council and American Soybean Association, working with partners to enhance relationships and explore new opportunities for American soybeans. His visits demonstrated the strength of established markets like Pakistan while revealing growth possibilities in developing markets such as Saudi Arabia, where demand for U.S. soybeans continues expanding.
“These in-person engagements matter because they build trust, reinforce the value of U.S. farmers in global markets, and open doors for expanded demand that ultimately benefits producers back home,” Gaffner explained.
The federal government has reclassified medical marijuana under a less restrictive drug category, marking a significant policy shift in how the substance is regulated at the national level.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the immediate reclassification of medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III status. This change places medical cannabis in the same category as substances such as ketamine, codeine-containing Tylenol, and anabolic steroids.
The reclassification represents a departure from the previous federal stance that categorized marijuana alongside the most heavily restricted controlled substances. Schedule I drugs are typically defined as having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, while Schedule III substances are recognized as having accepted medical applications despite some potential for dependency.
Atlanta Falcons defensive player James Pearce Jr. has reached an agreement to participate in a pretrial diversion program that will address three felony charges connected to a February 7 domestic incident involving his former girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson.
Attorney Jacob Nunez announced Thursday that his client will complete a six-month diversion program. “Upon completion of the six months without violation, the state will dismiss all felony and misdemeanor charges,” Nunez told The Associated Press.
In a joint statement, Nunez and co-attorney Yale Sanford said, “James is focused on moving forward, rejoining his teammates and the Atlanta Falcons organization as a whole, performing at the highest level, and continuing to be a team player on and off the field.”
The Falcons organization has not yet responded to questions regarding Pearce’s standing with the team.
This development coincides with NFL draft day, marking one year since Atlanta selected Pearce as the 26th overall pick in the 2025 draft. The rookie defensive end topped the team with 10.5 sacks and established a franchise rookie record with 45 quarterback pressures.
However, the pending legal issues have created uncertainty about his future with the organization. New head coach Kevin Stefanski revealed on April 8 that Pearce was absent from the team facility when voluntary offseason activities began.
When asked about Pearce earlier this week, General Manager Ian Cunningham stated there were no developments to report. “Everything is status quo,” Cunningham said Monday.
The Miami-Dade County Florida State Attorney’s Office filed the charges on March 13, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence. Prosecutors also brought a misdemeanor stalking charge, while dropping an additional count of aggravated battery of an officer.
Police reports indicate Jackson told investigators she tried to escape from Pearce by driving toward the Doral police station for assistance when Pearce “intentionally collided into the rear of her vehicle with his SUV” before officers arrived on scene.
The arrest affidavit states that Pearce initially ignored police commands to “get on the floor.” According to the police narrative, Pearce then attempted to flee in his vehicle and struck an officer’s left knee “intentionally in an attempt to evade arrest.”
CHICAGO — The Philadelphia Phillies made a significant roster move Thursday, cutting ties with veteran pitcher Taijuan Walker while promoting right-hander Nolan Hoffman from their Triple-A affiliate in Lehigh Valley.
Walker departed the team’s clubhouse hours before Thursday’s matchup with the Chicago Cubs. The 33-year-old was completing the fourth and final year of his $72 million deal with Philadelphia.
The roster shuffle came after the Phillies sent pitcher Alan Rangel down to Triple-A following Wednesday’s 7-2 defeat to Chicago, marking their eighth consecutive loss.
Walker, now in his 14th MLB campaign, earned All-Star recognition with the New York Mets in 2021 and delivered his best Philadelphia performance in 2023 with 15 victories and a 4.38 ERA. However, his production has declined significantly since then, posting a combined 9-19 record with a 5.67 ERA across the last three seasons.
This year proved particularly challenging for Walker, who managed just one win against four losses while posting a 9.13 ERA through five appearances. Wednesday’s outing at Wrigley Field saw him surrender five runs on eight hits over four innings in a relief role, earning the loss. His removal from the rotation became inevitable with ace Zack Wheeler scheduled to return Saturday.
Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski revealed the organization attempted to trade Walker’s contract on multiple occasions without success.
“We know and he knows that he gave every effort that he possibly could to try to get people out and it just wasn’t working,” Dombrowski said. “Maybe a change of scenery will help him.”
Manager Rob Thomson emphasized the decision stemmed purely from on-field results.
“It’s just all performance based. I hope that people understand,” Thomson stated.
Despite the disappointing end, Thomson acknowledged Walker’s contributions, particularly his strong 2023 campaign.
“We had a really good year out of him the first year (2023) with the 15 wins,” Thomson noted. “With the injuries we had last year, this guy took down 125 innings and basically helped us get to the playoffs.”
Thomson also praised Walker’s character and professionalism throughout his Philadelphia tenure.
“He’s one of the best teammates and one of the best people I’ve been around,” Thomson said. “This guys a pro, performance aside.
“He tried everything, being the opener and trying to get some velo back, which he did. It didn’t work out, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort on his part.”
Agricultural technology is experiencing a groundbreaking transformation as scientists harness the power of gene editing to revolutionize soybean cultivation, according to industry experts.
For centuries, farmers have depended on improved seeds to maintain productivity amid changing environmental conditions. From early plant breeding methods to contemporary techniques, each advancement has helped reduce risks, safeguard harvests, and optimize resource utilization. Currently, gene editing stands as one of the most significant breakthroughs in breeding technology, offering a biological solution that can deliver improvements with unprecedented speed and accuracy.
The most sophisticated and widely recognized gene editing technology is the CRISPR-Cas system, which stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. This revolutionary tool enables researchers to make incredibly precise modifications to plant and animal genetic material. Functioning like molecular scissors equipped with a genetic guidance system, CRISPR-Cas technology locates specific sections within a plant’s DNA and creates targeted cuts. This process activates the plant’s inherent repair mechanisms, which can then be utilized to generate a variety of desired modifications.
Scientists often compare CRISPR-Cas to a word processing program for genetic material. Researchers can now remove or substitute individual components within the genetic blueprint. Importantly, this technique operates within the plant’s existing natural DNA structure, serving as a breeding enhancement tool that works alongside traditional breeding methods and other biotechnologies.
Thanks to major technological breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and genetic research working together, gene editing can now achieve results that previously required up to ten years to accomplish. The modifications created through CRISPR-Cas technology mirror changes that might happen naturally or through standard breeding practices—but with greater speed and precision. Certain genes can be deactivated, while others can be enhanced, reduced, or improved in their performance.
However, maximizing seed potential requires more than scientific innovation alone. As an internationally traded product, grain must comply with specific regulations established by each importing country. The seed industry promotes worldwide regulations grounded in solid scientific evidence that foster innovation by removing unnecessary regulatory burdens. Significant advancement is occurring, with increasing numbers of countries acknowledging gene editing as an innovative breeding method that should be exempt from restrictive GMO regulations, instead choosing a regulatory consultation approach.
Looking forward, farmers face mounting pressure to increase production while using fewer resources. Although no single solution exists, gene editing represents a significant advancement, combining thousands of years of breeding expertise with modern tools and capabilities designed to address current agricultural challenges. This new generation of seed innovations will deliver enhanced performance, improved efficiency, and greater durability in an increasingly challenging farming landscape.
The Evolution of Plant Breeding
Gene editing marks a critical advancement in the 12,000-year evolution of plant breeding. Understanding the significance of this technology requires examining its historical foundation.
First Generation Breeding: Humans selected and crossbred plants with desirable characteristics they preferred. This informal method—while effective, was extremely slow and labor-intensive—spanned the initial 10,000 years of breeding history.
Second Generation Breeding: Following Gregor Mendel’s breakthrough discovery of genetic inheritance laws in the late 1800s, humans began enhancing selection methods through statistical analysis and controlled experiments. This research ultimately resulted in breeder Norman Borlaug earning the Nobel Peace Prize for boosting wheat production by 70%.
Third Generation Breeding: After scientists understood DNA’s structure, breeders began incorporating genetic and genomic information to support and accelerate breeding choices. Genetic markers provided the capability to identify desirable traits and forecast the genetic potential of untested plant groups.
Fourth Generation Breeding: Currently, the combination of artificial intelligence, genomics, and gene editing enables scientists to comprehend and tackle some of the most complex aspects of crop systems—creating opportunities for substantial beneficial improvements.
Following a devastating school bus crash in West Virginia that left one child requiring leg amputation and severely injured two others, federal safety officials have made their first-ever recommendation for mandatory alcohol detection technology on all new school buses.
The National Transportation Safety Board issued the recommendation Thursday after investigators found that impaired driving among school bus operators extends far beyond isolated incidents.
“There’s a higher expectation for school bus drivers than many other types of drivers,” explained Kris Poland, deputy director of the NTSB’s Office of Highway Safety. “We expect that the drivers are attentive, not fatigued, not impaired and are driving as safely as possible.”
The proposed alcohol detection systems would prevent buses from starting if they sense driver impairment. While the NTSB hasn’t calculated implementation costs, similar ignition interlock devices typically required for DUI offenders cost between $75-$150 for installation plus approximately $100 monthly for monitoring.
Implementation would require action from federal regulators, states, or Congress for widespread adoption. The recommendation targets alcohol specifically rather than other substances because investigators determined alcohol caused the West Virginia incident, and reliable testing for drugs like marijuana isn’t readily available with established legal impairment thresholds.
This follows a previous NTSB recommendation that Congress approved requiring alcohol detection in all new passenger cars, though that rule remains stalled in regulatory processes.
Alcohol contributes to roughly one-third of the nation’s 37,000 annual traffic fatalities, making it a persistent concern for the NTSB. While exact statistics on school bus driver impairment proved difficult to obtain, investigators uncovered sufficient evidence to justify the new safety measures.
Federal highway safety agencies don’t separately track school bus driver DUIs from other commercial operators, and data often excludes non-fatal incidents. However, a 2020 Stateline.org investigation revealed at least 118 school bus drivers faced drunk driving accusations over five years, according to Meg Sweeny, lead author of the NTSB’s West Virginia crash report.
In that tragic incident, the driver lost vehicle control after striking a driveway culvert along a rural roadway. All 19 students sustained injuries, though most were minor. The driver received a prison sentence of up to 110 years.
Even though impaired bus drivers represent a small percentage of all operators, the cases remain concerning, said Peter Kurdock, general counsel for Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.
“Children going to and from the schoolhouse are America’s most precious passengers,” Kurdock stated. “So we should be doing all we can to make the bus as safe as possible.”
However, Kurdock anticipates resistance from owners of the nation’s half-million school buses, similar to industry opposition against the NTSB’s long-standing seat belt recommendations for school buses.
While several states mandate seat belts, most school buses lack them partly because the vehicles are considered inherently safe. Even when seat belts are installed, student compliance remains questionable, prompting the NTSB to issue an urgent recommendation last fall following a Texas crash for districts to ensure proper usage.
The three largest school bus companies operating 80,000 daily routes and primary manufacturers didn’t respond to requests for comment on the NTSB recommendation. The National School Boards Association also hasn’t provided immediate feedback.
The NTSB emphasizes that school bus transportation remains generally safe.
Among nearly 1,000 fatal school bus crashes in the decade preceding 2023, 70% of approximately 1,100 deaths occurred in other vehicles rather than the buses themselves, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data.
Only 113 school bus passengers died during that period, demonstrating the large yellow vehicles’ safety effectiveness when children remain properly seated. The NTSB believes mandatory seat belts with enforcement would significantly improve outcomes.
Attorney Todd Spodek, whose New York firm has handled thousands of drunk driving cases, doesn’t believe the recommendation infringes on driver rights. He sees no viable argument that alcohol screening creates excessive burden.
Spodek emphasized that safety benefits from ensuring driver sobriety far exceed any inconvenience concerns.
“If you’re in a position of control of something like that, you should be held to a higher scrutiny,” Spodek explained. “It’s a minor inconvenience with a tremendous upside.”
Scientists have uncovered evidence that colossal octopuses stretching more than 60 feet in length dominated ancient oceans during the dinosaur era 100 million years ago.
Research published Thursday in the journal Science examined fossilized jaw remains, showing these enormous sea creatures with eight arms competed alongside other apex marine predators of their time.
University of Alabama paleontologist Adiel Klompmaker, who was not part of the research team, described the discovery in an email, stating “These krakens must have been a fearsome sight to behold.”
While most people associate late Cretaceous ocean dominance with razor-toothed sharks and large marine reptiles like mosasaurs and plesiosaurs, these giant octopuses have been overlooked in discussions of prehistoric sea life.
The challenge in studying ancient octopuses stems from their soft tissue composition, which rarely fossilizes well, making size estimates difficult. Additionally, many scientists have underestimated soft-bodied invertebrates as serious contenders among top predators, despite octopuses possessing powerful beaks made of hardened chitin capable of crushing shells and bones.
Researchers examined jaw fossils from 15 ancient octopus specimens previously discovered in Japan and Vancouver Island, Canada. Using an innovative method called digital fossil mining, they identified 12 additional jaw specimens from Japan by scanning rock cross-sections to locate hidden fossils.
By comparing these ancient jaws to modern octopus specimens, scientists calculated that these prehistoric creatures measured between 23 and 62 feet in total length. Co-author and Hokkaido University paleontologist Yasuhiro Iba noted in an email that the largest jaw significantly exceeded the size of any contemporary octopus.
The research team observed extensive damage on the largest specimens’ jaws, including scratches, chips, and worn edges. According to Iba, this wear pattern indicates “the animals repeatedly crushed hard prey such as shells and bones.”
Without preserved stomach contents, researchers cannot definitively determine these creatures’ exact diet or confirm direct competition with other apex predators. They likely fed on fish and snails, capturing prey with their flexible tentacles before crushing it with their powerful beaks.
American Museum of Natural History paleontologist Neil Landman, who was not involved in the study, suggested that discovering octopus fossils in additional locations could provide better insight into their role in ancient marine ecosystems.
“It’s a big old planet,” Landman explained. “So we have lots to look at to piece together the marine ecosystem through time.”
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s state treasurer has blocked approval for over $1 million in taxpayer-funded security enhancements installed at Governor Josh Shapiro’s private residence, improvements that were implemented following last year’s arson attack at the official governor’s mansion.
Republican Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced Thursday that she cannot authorize public funds to cover security system installations and other protective measures at private property, even when that property belongs to the state’s governor.
Pennsylvania State Police had requested Treasury Department reimbursement for the contractor payments, but Garrity stated during a press conference at her office that authorities “appear to have simply ignored the statutory limits and restrictions on spending and procurement.”
According to Garrity, law enforcement officials have alternative pathways to secure taxpayer funding for the completed work, which included constructing a protective fence. These options involve seeking explicit legislative approval for the expenditures or utilizing the state’s dispute resolution system for contractor-agency disagreements.
Governor Shapiro, widely viewed as a potential presidential candidate for 2028, is seeking a second gubernatorial term this year. After surviving last year’s assassination attempt, he became a leading advocate against political violence.
Garrity, who holds the state GOP endorsement and faces no primary challenger in Pennsylvania’s May 19 election, is anticipated to be Shapiro’s primary challenger this fall. She insisted her decision was not politically motivated, stating “I don’t play these kind of political games.” State police officials did not immediately respond to inquiries about the treasurer’s ruling.
The residential security improvements remained largely confidential until state police disclosed them to legislators last fall. A Cabinet member overseeing state property explained to lawmakers that “the threat to a high-profile elected official like Governor Shapiro does not end when he leaves the Governor’s Residence.”
State authorities have declined to specify the exact nature of these security enhancements for safety considerations. Shapiro continues to reside in his private Abington home in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two of their four children.
The residential modifications have triggered legal disputes between the Shapiro family and a neighboring property owner regarding ownership rights to land situated between their properties.
Last year, legislators authorized more than $22 million for renovations and security enhancements at the official governor’s residence, where the Shapiro family frequently stays. These improvements included installing a tall “anti-climb” iron barrier, significantly higher than the fence previously scaled by attacker Cody Balmer.
Balmer entered a guilty plea last year for attempting to murder Shapiro. Through his plea agreement, Balmer received a 25 to 50-year prison sentence, considerably less than the potential penalty if the case had proceeded to trial.
The attacker scaled a 7-foot iron security barrier during nighttime hours, avoided two state troopers positioned at the residence, and ignited the building using gasoline-filled beer bottles. This occurred just hours after Shapiro had conducted a Passover seder celebrating the Jewish holiday’s opening night.
The blaze forced Shapiro, his family members, and visiting relatives to evacuate as emergency responders fought the fire. The 1960s-era residence along Harrisburg’s Susquehanna River sustained significant damage but has since undergone complete restoration.
Federal safety officials are calling for mandatory alcohol detection technology on all new school buses following a devastating crash in West Virginia that left one student with an amputated leg and two others seriously hurt when their intoxicated driver lost control of the vehicle.
The National Transportation Safety Board issued its first-ever recommendation Thursday for alcohol detection systems that would prevent school buses from starting if the driver shows signs of impairment. The move comes after investigators found that impaired school bus drivers represent a more widespread issue than initially understood.
“There’s a higher expectation for school bus drivers than many other types of drivers,” explained Kris Poland, deputy director of the NTSB’s Office of Highway Safety. “We expect that the drivers are attentive, not fatigued, not impaired and are driving as safely as possible.”
The safety board did not provide cost estimates for installing such systems or identify who would cover the expenses. Similar ignition interlock devices required for DUI offenders typically cost between $75 and $150 for installation, plus approximately $100 monthly for monitoring services.
Implementation would require action from federal regulators or state governments, though Congress would need to pass legislation for nationwide adoption. The recommendation targets alcohol specifically rather than other substances because investigators determined alcohol caused the West Virginia incident, and reliable testing methods for drugs like marijuana are not yet available.
This recommendation builds on a previous NTSB proposal that Congress approved requiring alcohol detection systems in all new passenger cars, though that rule remains stalled in the regulatory process.
Drunk driving concerns have long troubled the NTSB, as alcohol contributes to roughly one-third of the approximately 37,000 annual traffic fatalities. While investigators could not establish precise statistics on impaired school bus drivers, they discovered sufficient evidence to justify the new safety measures.
Federal highway safety agencies do not maintain separate records for school bus driver DUIs versus other commercial drivers, and data often excludes incidents that do not result in fatal crashes. However, a 2020 Stateline.org investigation revealed at least 118 school bus drivers faced drunk driving accusations over a five-year period, according to Meg Sweeny, lead author of the NTSB’s West Virginia crash report.
In that tragic incident, the driver veered off a rural road after striking a driveway culvert, injuring all 19 children on board. While most students sustained minor injuries, the driver received a prison sentence of up to 110 years last year.
Peter Kurdock, general counsel for Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, expressed alarm at the number of impaired driving cases among bus drivers, despite representing a small fraction of all drivers.
“Children going to and from the schoolhouse are America’s most precious passengers,” Kurdock stated. “So we should be doing all we can to make the bus as safe as possible.”
Kurdock anticipates resistance from owners of the nation’s half-million school buses, similar to industry opposition to the NTSB’s ongoing recommendation for seat belts on school buses.
While several states have mandated seat belts, most school buses lack them partly because the vehicles are considered relatively safe. Even when seat belts are installed, the NTSB noted that students may not use them, prompting an urgent recommendation last fall following a Texas crash for districts to ensure proper usage.
The three largest school bus companies operating approximately 80,000 buses daily, along with major bus manufacturers, did not respond to requests for comment on the NTSB recommendation. The National School Boards Association also had no immediate response.
The NTSB emphasizes that most school bus transportation remains safe. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s latest data, of nearly 1,000 fatal crashes involving school buses in the decade leading to 2023, 70% of the approximately 1,100 deaths occurred in other vehicles rather than on the buses themselves.
Only 113 school bus passengers died during that timeframe, demonstrating the general safety of these large yellow vehicles as long as children remain properly seated. The NTSB believes installing seat belts and ensuring their use would significantly improve safety outcomes.
New York attorney Todd Spodek, whose firm has handled thousands of drunk driving cases, does not believe the recommendation would infringe on bus drivers’ rights. He sees no viable argument that alcohol screening would be excessively burdensome for drivers.
“If you’re in a position of control of something like that, you should be held to a higher scrutiny,” Spodek noted. “It’s a minor inconvenience with a tremendous upside.”
A Michigan court has dismissed the state from a major lawsuit stemming from a catastrophic 2020 dam collapse that devastated communities and left more than 100 homes destroyed while draining a beloved recreational lake.
Court of Claims Judge James Redford ruled Thursday that while he recognizes the “real and lasting damages” caused by the Edenville Dam catastrophe, the disaster resulted from continuous heavy rainfall and an extraordinary century-level flood event in the Midland region, rather than state-approved water levels at Wixom Lake.
The judge referenced expert testimony indicating that reducing the lake’s water level prior to the incident would likely not have averted the tragedy.
“This does not mean that what plaintiffs suffered and continue to suffer is not an immensely difficult and heavy burden,” Redford wrote in his comprehensive 100-page decision following a January trial held in Grand Rapids.
Legal representatives for thousands of affected residents had filed suit against Michigan, alleging that choices made by state environmental officials played a role in the dam’s failure and harmed both property values and residents’ ability to enjoy Wixom Lake, located 150 miles northwest of Detroit.
Had Judge Redford sided with the property owners, the litigation would have proceeded to determine monetary damages. Attorneys involved in the case have not yet responded to requests for comment.
The judge rejected comparisons made by plaintiff attorneys between this dam failure and the 2014-15 Flint water contamination crisis, where state actions directly caused lead contamination in the water supply system.
The privately-operated dam along the Tittabawassee River generated hydroelectric power until federal authorities revoked its operating license in 2018. The reservoir created by the dam forms Wixom Lake. When the collapse occurred, the dam was being transferred to local residents’ control, unleashing a massive water surge that also overwhelmed the nearby Sanford Dam downstream and inundated Midland.
Water levels climbed more than 5 feet beyond normal and reached 3 feet higher than the previous record set in 1929. The eastern soil embankment of the dam became unstable and failed under the pressure. Restoration efforts for Wixom Lake are currently underway.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission commissioned an investigation into the failures at both Edenville and Sanford dams. Their 2022 findings concluded the disaster was “foreseeable and preventable” but could not be “attributed to any one individual, group or organization.”
WASHINGTON — Civil rights organizations across the nation are rallying together after federal prosecutors filed criminal charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center, with activists calling the move a politically driven attack on civil liberties.
Following the indictment announcement, civil rights leaders immediately began coordinating their response through conference calls, discussing strategies to defend the Alabama-based organization that has monitored hate groups since its founding in 1971. The SPLC has gained recognition for its work tracking white supremacist organizations and advocating on issues including voting access, immigration policy, and police reform.
During these strategy sessions, organizers emphasized the importance of winning public support alongside the legal battle, resulting in numerous statements backing the SPLC and plans for demonstrations.
Legal counsel for various civil rights organizations warned activists to brace themselves for potential similar prosecutions, lengthy court battles that could drain their finances, and government reviews of their personnel and internal records.
This coordinated effort marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tension between advocacy groups and the Justice Department since President Donald Trump returned to office last year. Movement leaders say they’re committed to standing with the SPLC throughout its legal challenges.
“This represents a transparently obvious assault on civil rights and freedoms designed to protect those who promote replacement theory ideology and other extremists. Our coalition will not remain silent,” stated Maya Wiley, who leads the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, which represents hundreds of advocacy organizations.
More than 100 activist organizations released a joint statement Tuesday pledging support for groups facing what they called “unjust targeting” by federal authorities, with the SPLC among the signatories.
“An attack on one is an attack on all,” the coalition stated. “We will share knowledge, resources, and support with any organization threatened by abuses of power.”
Federal prosecutors allege the SPLC, known for pursuing legal action against hate organizations like the Ku Klux Klan, broke federal law by operating a network of paid sources within extremist movements. The Justice Department contends these payments essentially funded hate groups while misleading the organization’s supporters.
The charges include wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, filed in federal court in Alabama where the SPLC operates.
“The SPLC is manufacturing racism to justify its existence,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche declared during a news conference announcing the prosecution. Blanche pledged the department “will hold the SPLC and every other fraudulent organization operating with the same deceptive playbook accountable.”
Veteran civil rights leaders characterized the allegations as a dishonest and partisan action that could embolden extremist movements.
“The indictment is transparently political and represents the Justice Department attacking itself,” said Marc Morial, who heads the National Urban League. “It places the Justice Department in the position of essentially defending white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan and others.”
Activists also see the prosecution as part of the administration’s wider dismantling of civil rights protections and the Justice Department’s targeting of Trump’s political adversaries.
The SPLC has become a frequent target of conservative criticism in recent years, with critics objecting to the watchdog organization’s designation of several right-wing groups involved in Republican politics as hateful or extremist.
Last October, FBI Director Kash Patel ended the bureau’s longstanding anti-extremism collaborations with both the SPLC and the Anti-Defamation League, which fights antisemitism. Patel described the SPLC as a “partisan smear machine.”
Neither the Justice Department nor the SPLC provided responses to requests for comment.
Advocates reject the Justice Department’s portrayal of the SPLC’s mission, which civil rights activists credit with combating extremist organizations nationwide.
“The issue is that the indictment essentially argues that using donor funds to fight the Klan, Neo-Nazis and other white supremacist groups constituted fraud against SPLC’s supporters, when that is precisely why people contributed to the organization,” explained Norm Eisen, who founded Democracy Defenders Action, a legal organization that assists groups in disputes with the Trump administration.
Eisen continued: “The idea that using informants and protecting their identities to prevent white supremacist violence is problematic is contradicted by the fact that this approach is not only what the SPLC employed, but also standard practice for the FBI itself.”
Civil rights groups are now bracing for additional legal action targeting organizations that oppose or challenge the Trump administration. Over the past year, organizations have examined their record-keeping practices, tax compliance procedures, and audit policies to protect against potential investigations or lawsuits.
Some advocacy groups have also discussed establishing new organizational frameworks that might better resist legal challenges. During recent strategy calls, activists have considered restructuring certain groups as for-profit entities or creating new financial channels for donations to ensure staff compensation if an organization’s assets face seizure or freezing.
This preparation represents a dramatic change for many civil rights leaders who previously viewed the Justice Department under both Democratic and Republican leadership as a dependable partner in major civil rights cases.
“What we are witnessing in real time is an administration attempting to leverage its authority to target individuals and organizations that disagree with its political ideology,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson, who described the Justice Department as being “weaponized by dangerous forces.”
For other leaders, the SPLC prosecution evokes memories of an earlier period when the Justice Department surveilled — and sometimes prosecuted — civil rights leaders to disrupt their work.
“We’re not retreating, but we are realistic. Anyone could face some type of risk if you’re targeted by this administration,” said Juan Proaño, who leads the League of United Latin American Citizens, a civil rights organization challenging the Trump administration over executive actions concerning birthright citizenship and mail-in voting.
“That’s their goal; they want this to create a chilling effect,” Proaño added.
Drought conditions remain a growing concern across the Mid-Atlantic this week, with the most significant impacts centered on the Maryland Western Shore, where severe drought (D2) continues to expand.
According to the latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor, a large portion of the Maryland Western Shore is now classified under D2, or severe drought. This level of drought indicates widespread impacts, including stressed crops, reduced soil moisture, and increasingly strained water resources. The expansion of D2 conditions highlights the persistence of long-term rainfall deficits that have been building since last year.
Across Delmarva, conditions are somewhat less intense but still notable. Much of Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland remain in abnormally dry (D0) to moderate drought (D1). While there have been minor week-to-week fluctuations, the overall trend continues to reflect lingering dryness, particularly in deeper soil layers. These deficits are becoming more important as the region enters the heart of the growing season.
The primary driver behind these conditions continues to be a prolonged stretch of below-normal precipitation dating back to the fall. Even with occasional rain events, the region has struggled to make meaningful progress in reducing long-term deficits. In many areas, groundwater levels and streamflows remain below normal, a clear signal that drought conditions extend beyond just surface dryness.
Agriculture is beginning to feel the impacts more directly, especially across the Maryland Western Shore where D2 drought is in place. Soil moisture shortages are making it increasingly difficult for crops to establish early in the season, and without consistent rainfall, stress on vegetation is expected to increase. On Delmarva, impacts are more gradual but still concerning, particularly for farmers relying on consistent spring moisture.
Looking ahead, there is some potential for relief. A developing pattern may bring periodic rainfall to the region over the coming weeks, including a system expected this weekend that could deliver a beneficial soaking rain. However, one or two rainfall events will not be enough to eliminate the drought. It will take a sustained period of above-normal precipitation to fully reverse the long-term deficits in place.
Until then, drought conditions will remain a key issue across both Delmarva and the Maryland Western Shore, with continued impacts expected for agriculture, water resources, and even elevated fire risk during dry and breezy periods.
President Donald Trump is set to reveal on Thursday a new partnership with pharmaceutical company Regeneron designed to reduce medication costs as part of his administration’s most-favored-nation drug pricing program.
Under the terms of the agreement, Regeneron will reduce prices for both existing and upcoming medications within Medicaid and offer its cholesterol medication Praluent for $225 through the White House’s discount drug platform TrumpRx, according to details first reported by NOTUS and verified by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
This announcement arrives as the Trump administration continues highlighting economic relief efforts before November’s midterm elections, with American families reporting financial strain from elevated healthcare, fuel, grocery, and other essential living costs.
The partnership represents one of several most-favored-nation agreements the Trump administration has negotiated with pharmaceutical companies to align U.S. drug costs with those in other developed countries. Following Trump’s public correspondence last July to leadership at 17 major pharmaceutical firms regarding this matter, Regeneron becomes the last of those companies to reach an agreement with his administration.
The deal also includes Regeneron’s pledge to invest approximately $10 billion in domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing, according to NOTUS reporting. Trump’s previous agreements have typically provided companies with tariff relief in exchange for such manufacturing commitments.
While Trump and his Department of Health and Human Services have promoted his drug-pricing agreements as groundbreaking, the specific terms of these contracts have remained confidential.
When congressional members requested contract details this week, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. indicated his department would release available information that doesn’t contain proprietary data or trade secrets. Both Trump and Kennedy have encouraged Congress to make these agreements legally binding.
Medication costs for American patients vary based on multiple elements, including market competition for treatments and insurance benefits. The majority of Americans receive coverage through employment, individual insurance markets, or government programs such as Medicaid and Medicare, which provide protection from most expenses.
While Medicaid patients, covered under the joint state and federal program for low-income individuals, currently pay minimal co-payments of just a few dollars for prescriptions, reduced drug prices could benefit state budgets that support these programs.
A Delaware farmer has earned national recognition for his commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable farming practices.
James “Jay” Baxter received the 2026 Northeast Regional Conservation Legacy Award from the American Soybean Association at the recent Commodity Classic conference. The honor celebrates farmers who demonstrate excellence in protecting natural resources while maintaining productive operations.
Baxter was one of four regional winners selected from across the United States, with Tennessee farmer Alex Forsbach taking home the top national prize.
The Delaware farmer’s recognition comes from his dedication to practices that protect water quality in his community. Baxter employs no-till farming methods, plants cover crops, and carefully manages nutrients to prevent runoff from reaching local waterways.
“This isn’t just about our farm, it’s about our community and the resources we all share,” Baxter explained during the awards ceremony.
His farming philosophy extends beyond immediate productivity gains to long-term environmental responsibility.
“At the end of the day, we want to leave this land better than we found it,” he stated.
Baxter’s approach reflects the unique challenges faced by farmers in Delaware, where agricultural decisions directly impact surrounding communities and shared natural resources.
The national winner, Alex Forsbach from Tennessee, has dedicated more than ten years to developing conservation systems based on patience and consistency. His operation focuses on no-till practices and cover crops, which have gradually improved his soil’s organic matter, structure, and ability to retain moisture.
“It doesn’t happen overnight,” Forsbach noted. “You have to stay consistent and trust the process.”
As the top honoree, Forsbach emphasized the importance of knowledge sharing among farmers.
“If we want to keep farming strong into the future, we have to be willing to learn and help others along the way,” he said.
The other regional winners included Lewis Unruh from Kansas, who won the Midwest Regional Award, and Jon and Cathy Nelson from South Dakota, who captured the Upper Midwest Regional Award.
Unruh continues a family tradition of conservation that began with contour farming to prevent erosion. His current operation incorporates no-till methods, cover crops, and enhanced water management systems.
“We’ve always believed that if you take care of the soil, it will take care of you,” Unruh shared.
The Nelson family from South Dakota built their award-winning operation on adaptability and continuous learning. Their farm features no-till practices, varied crop rotations, and techniques specifically designed to build soil health over time.
“You have to be willing to try things, learn from them, and keep adapting,” Jon Nelson explained.
The couple also believes in sharing successful practices with other farmers. “If something works for us, we want to share it,” Cathy Nelson said. “That’s how agriculture moves forward.”
The Conservation Legacy Awards program was established to honor farmers who enhance their operations while safeguarding the natural resources essential to their success. The American Soybean Association runs the program with support from industry partners including BASF, Bayer, Nutrien, Valent USA, and the United Soybean Board through soy checkoff funding.
A national committee comprising farmers, conservation experts, agronomists, and natural resource professionals evaluates all applications. Each year, the program recognizes regional leaders and selects one national winner whose operation exemplifies conservation excellence.
Common practices among all winning operations include prioritizing soil health through no-till farming and cover crops that prevent erosion and enhance soil structure. Water management remains crucial, whether through contour farming or careful nutrient application. Precision technology helps farmers apply inputs more efficiently.
Beyond specific techniques, these farmers share a mindset focused on building systems that improve over time.
As agriculture confronts challenges including narrow profit margins, increasing input costs, and growing sustainability expectations, these award winners deliver an important message: conservation practices complement rather than compete with productivity goals.
For the 2026 Conservation Legacy Award recipients, recognition at Commodity Classic represents a significant achievement. However, their real work continues in their fields, season after season, as they demonstrate that environmental stewardship forms the foundation of agriculture’s future.
Delaware transportation officials are inviting the public to participate in an online information session regarding a bridge project in Newark.
The Delaware Department of Transportation has scheduled a virtual public meeting to discuss Bridge 1-555, which carries Library Avenue traffic over Amtrak’s railroad tracks. The online session is set for Monday, April 27th, beginning at 5:00 pm.
Community members can join the discussion through a Zoom webinar format. DelDOT encourages public participation in the virtual meeting to learn more about the bridge project and provide input.
Three student-athletes from Goldey-Beacom College’s esports program have been recognized with end-of-season honors following another dominant year for the Lightning.
The Wilmington-based college’s esports teams claimed three championship titles in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference during this academic year, continuing their strong tradition in competitive gaming.
The spring season concluded with three Lightning players earning individual recognition for their outstanding performances throughout the campaign.
Goldey-Beacom has established itself as a powerhouse in collegiate esports competition, with multiple conference championships demonstrating the program’s consistent excellence and the high level of talent among its student-athletes.
Officials with the Delaware State Fire Commission have begun a nationwide recruitment process to identify the next leader of the Delaware State Fire School.
The incoming director will function as the primary executive and administrative leader for the state fire training institution, maintaining direct reporting responsibilities to the Delaware State Fire Commission.
According to the commission, the role encompasses comprehensive oversight responsibilities for the fire school’s operations.
The Delaware Farm Bureau has brought Noah Dixon from Felton aboard as their new Agriculture Literacy Coordinator.
Dixon’s responsibilities will include advancing the organization’s goals of supporting and safeguarding Delaware’s agricultural sector through educational initiatives and advocacy efforts that benefit farming families and consumers throughout the state. His position focuses on helping people understand the origins of food and fiber products by creating educational resources, organizing school and community programs, and fostering relationships between agricultural producers and educational institutions statewide.
“I am excited for the chance to educate Delaware’s youth about the significance of agriculture as an industry and in their lives,” said Dixon. “Young people are our future, and when we feed into them, the future is a stronger and brighter place.”
Dixon brings valuable experience from his previous internship with the Delaware Farm Bureau, where he worked directly with the organization’s programs and agricultural education efforts. His background also includes significant involvement with the National FFA Organization, including a two-year tenure as a Delaware State FFA Officer and ongoing volunteer work with the state chapter. Additionally, he completed a marketing internship with the Delaware Department of Agriculture.
Currently pursuing his education at Delaware State University, Dixon is expected to complete his general agriculture degree in May 2026. During his time at the university, he has participated in Collegiate FFA activities and helped establish the DSU Collegiate Farm Bureau.
Those interested in scheduling an agricultural literacy visit can reach Dixon at [email protected].
Delaware State Police have taken a 42-year-old Dover resident into custody on multiple felony charges, including her fifth driving under the influence offense, after a vehicle collision in Felton.
Authorities identified the suspect as Ashley Green following the incident that occurred on April 21, 2026, around 12:15 p.m. A concerned citizen flagged down a state trooper to report that a red car had collided with a pole along Main Street in Felton. Upon investigation, the officer discovered a red Chevrolet HHR that had crashed into a mailbox and come to rest on the curb near the intersection of Main Street and Dundee Road.
When the trooper made contact with Green, who was behind the wheel, she appeared to be engaged in a phone conversation, though officers determined no one was actually on the other end of the call. The suspect displayed multiple indicators of intoxication, according to police reports. Green became combative when ordered to step out of her vehicle and physically fought against officers’ attempts to arrest her. During the struggle, authorities deployed a taser, but Green continued to resist and allegedly spat on multiple troopers before they could successfully place her in custody.
A background investigation revealed that Green has been convicted of four previous DUI-related offenses, making this her fifth such charge.
Following her arrest, Green was transported to Troop 3 headquarters for processing. She appeared before Justice of the Peace Court 7 for arraignment and was subsequently ordered held at the Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution under a $12,003 secured bond.
The charges filed against Green include:
5th Offense Driving a Vehicle under the Influence of any Drug (Felony)
Resisting Arrest with Force or Violence (Felony)
Offensive Touching of Another with Saliva, Urine, Feces, or Other Bodily Fluid – 4 counts
A newly published book sheds light on the hidden battle against hate groups that flourished in America following World War II. Stephen J. Ross’s latest work, ‘The Secret War Against Hate,’ chronicles the emergence of racist and anti-Semitic organizations during the latter decades of the 1900s, along with the covert intelligence operations that sought to dismantle them.
Ross documents how these extremist movements gained momentum in post-war America, as well as the underground network of operatives who infiltrated these groups to gather evidence and bring their leaders to account through the legal system.
BYU basketball star AJ Dybantsa confirmed Thursday that he will enter the NBA draft, where he’s anticipated to be among the top selections.
The forward from Massachusetts dominated college basketball this season, posting the nation’s highest scoring average at 25.5 points per game while also contributing 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per contest during his single collegiate campaign.
Dybantsa becomes the first player since Larry Bird’s 1978-79 season at Indiana State to achieve those statistical benchmarks while earning consensus All-American recognition.
“Now the work starts again, all over again,” Dybantsa said. “I’ve had a lot of NBA players tell me that it kind of restarts once you get there. I’m just looking forward to that next step, being a rookie and learning from all the vets.”
The announcement took place at the Davis School in Dybantsa’s native Brockton, Massachusetts, a city known for producing boxing legends Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler.
“It’s the city of champions,” Dybantsa said. “I just want to be considered like one of those champions.”
Despite his professional basketball aspirations, Dybantsa plans to continue his education at BYU while pursuing his NBA career. He attended the Davis School through elementary school and credits the institution with teaching him valuable lessons about the importance of academics.
“My mom wanted me to stay in college to graduate,” Dybantsa said. “But I told my mother that I’m going to declare for the draft and also finish and get my degree online. I’ll probably finish within the next four years.”
The draft’s selection order remains undetermined until the lottery scheduled for May 10. Washington, Indiana, and Brooklyn each hold identical 14% chances of securing the first overall pick. When questioned about his preferred destination, Dybantsa’s response was straightforward.
“Whatever team drafts me, bro,” Dybantsa said.
The confident young player already has his sights set on basketball immortality, hoping to one day return to Massachusetts for another significant speech at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
“The next speech — the next big, big speech — I should have is the Hall of Fame speech,” Dybantsa said. “So, we should be good.”
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama will make the trip to Portland with his teammates for this weekend’s playoff games while he works through the NBA’s required concussion protocol procedures.
Head coach Mitch Johnson declined to confirm Thursday whether Wembanyama would be available for Game 3, stating the young star is making progress but his availability against Portland remains up in the air.
“He looks good,” Johnson commented, adding that team officials have not yet begun discussing a timeline for Wembanyama’s return to action.
The French center was present at the team’s training facility Thursday for the second day running, wearing a black hoodie and gray sweatpants. According to teammate Julian Champagnie, Wembanyama managed to take some practice shots.
“He was only around for a little bit this morning,” Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox noted Thursday. “Obviously, we just want him to be healthy.”
The 7-foot-4 center — who became the first player ever to win Defensive Player of the Year unanimously and is among three MVP finalists — sustained his head injury during San Antonio’s Game 2 defeat to Portland Tuesday evening, exiting in the second quarter.
Friday’s Game 3 in Portland will continue the series currently knotted at one game each, with Game 4 scheduled for Sunday in the same city. The Spurs were set to depart for Portland Thursday afternoon.
The NBA’s concussion protocol requires players to complete specific stages before receiving medical clearance. The recovery process starts with low-intensity activities including stationary cycling, light jogging, agility exercises and basketball drills without contact, with neurological testing following each phase.
Medical staff will also compare Wembanyama’s current test results against his preseason baseline neurological assessment before allowing him to advance through the return-to-play stages.
“It’s pretty straightforward,” Johnson explained. “Obviously, we hope he’ll be back at some point. But we’ll allow the protocol to play out. And again, there’s nothing more important than his health.”
A prolonged absence for Wembanyama would severely impact San Antonio, which posted the NBA’s second-best regular season record thanks largely to the versatile French big man. The team managed a 12-6 record during games he missed in the regular season.
This season, Wembanyama posted averages of 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a league-leading 3.1 blocks per contest. He joined his teammates Wednesday night for a celebration where the squad wore cowboy hats to honor Keldon Johnson’s Sixth Man of the Year recognition.
“We know that he’s chomping at the bit to get back on the court and be with his guys,” Johnson said.
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department’s inspector general announced Thursday it has launched an investigation into how officials handled the congressionally mandated disclosure of Jeffrey Epstein investigation documents.
The watchdog’s examination will scrutinize the department’s methods for gathering, examining and censoring materials before their public release, as well as how officials responded to privacy issues that emerged once the files became available. Survivors of Epstein’s crimes voiced concerns that inadequate redactions had revealed their private details.
This investigation represents one of the first major reviews by the inspector general since Trump began his second presidency, targeting what became a politically charged issue during his previous administration. At that time, Justice Department leaders initially resisted releasing the documents but eventually yielded to congressional legislation and public demands to disclose millions of pages of previously classified records.
The Epstein matter has created ongoing challenges for the department over the past year. Federal investigators and Justice Department officials initially stated in an unsigned declaration that no additional records from the sex trafficking probe would be disclosed, but they changed their position after Congress enacted legislation that Trump signed into law.
When the department eventually published the documents, it faced criticism from multiple directions. Victims argued that careless redaction work had revealed their identities, while others alleged that potentially damaging information about Trump had been deliberately excluded from the release.
Epstein died by suicide in a New York detention facility in August 2019, approximately one month following his indictment on federal charges related to sex trafficking.
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump’s anticipated presence at this weekend’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner has sparked fresh debate about the annual Washington gathering that celebrates journalism while bringing reporters together with the officials they cover.
The administration’s hostile relationship with news media throughout Trump’s second term — including verbal attacks on individual journalists, ongoing legal battles with major outlets like The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Associated Press, and limiting media access at the Pentagon — makes his attendance particularly controversial.
The annual event, nicknamed the “nerd prom” for its spectacle of formally-dressed reporters, already faces criticism for creating uncomfortable dynamics between journalists and their subjects.
“This is sort of a critical moment for these dinners and it will be interesting to see what happens going forward,” said Lisa Stark, a former ABC News reporter.
Stark and longtime colleague Ian Cameron have organized a petition calling on journalists attending Saturday’s event to “speak forcefully” in defense of press freedom with Trump present. More than 350 former journalists, including Dan Rather and former ABC White House correspondent Sam Donaldson, have signed the petition. Some reporters are discussing visible demonstrations such as wearing First Amendment-themed lapel pins.
Since Calvin Coolidge became the first president to attend in 1924, chief executives have traditionally appeared at the dinner, often enduring comedic roasting from entertainers like Stephen Colbert, Colin Jost and Trevor Noah. Trump previously attended as a guest in 2011, visibly uncomfortable as President Barack Obama made jokes at his expense. This marks his first attendance as sitting president.
“The only thing more insulting for the press than Trump not coming is Trump coming,” Kelly McBride, NPR ombudsman and head of the Poynter Institute’s ethics and leadership center, wrote last week.
“This man mocks you, sues you, and targets you for prosecution,” former AP White House correspondent Ron Fournier wrote on Substack, questioning why journalists would share dinner with Trump after detailing his actions against the press. HuffPost announced its journalists won’t attend Saturday as a form of protest.
WHCA president Weijia Jiang of CBS News declined immediate comment. However, Todd Gilman, former White House bureau chief for the Dallas Morning News and current Arizona State University journalism professor, argued that avoiding Trump wouldn’t be appropriate for the press. He noted the president will generate news regardless, depending on his remarks at the event.
Gilman emphasized that correspondents aren’t honoring Trump by including him at the dinner, addressing what he called a common misunderstanding.
Separately, CBS parent company Paramount is reportedly hosting a dinner Thursday honoring Trump at the Institute of Peace, which was renamed for Trump last year. Paramount is currently seeking government approval for its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Should Trump remain for the entire dinner Saturday, he’ll witness awards being presented to journalists he has criticized, including CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. The Wall Street Journal will be recognized for reporting on Trump’s birthday message to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — a story that prompted Trump to sue the publication. The Associated Press, currently in court battles with Trump over access issues, will also receive honors.
Questions about journalists socializing with powerful figures they cover aren’t new. The New York Times stopped participating in 2011 for these reasons. The Atlantic magazine described the “slow, awkward death” of the correspondents dinner in 2018.
McBride suggested correspondents should recognize that “a red-carpet schmoozefest with the powerful sources they cover was never a good idea.” News organizations will face scrutiny this weekend for hosting administration officials at their tables, such as CBS News reportedly inviting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Many attending journalists defend the event’s networking opportunities as professionally valuable. Gilman has brought Mexican ambassadors as guests — important contacts for a Texas newspaper reporter. NPR journalist Eric Deggans wrote on Substack about securing an interview with media mogul Byron Allen through a WHCD connection.
“Even if you’re not sitting with an administration official, you have the opportunity to walk up to someone, say hi, break the ice and give them a business card,” Gilman explained. “It puts a face to the name, so maybe they’ll return your call the next time.”
TAMPA, Fla. — University of South Florida police are asking the public for help finding two graduate students who have been missing for more than a week.
Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27 years old and originally from Bangladesh, disappeared on April 16 from the Tampa campus, according to university police officials.
The couple was pursuing their doctoral degrees in different fields. Limon was working toward his PhD in geography, environmental science and policy, while Bristy was studying chemical engineering. Police say Limon was last spotted at his residence in a student housing complex, and Bristy was seen about an hour afterward at a campus science facility.
University police were notified last Friday by a friend of the couple who had been unable to reach either student.
Campus police spokesperson Larry McKinnon stated Thursday that investigators do not suspect the pair was taken into custody by federal immigration authorities.
Those close to the students say their sudden silence is highly unusual for them.
“It doesn’t feel normal,” said Md. Rakibuzzaman, who studies at the University of Georgia and maintains a close friendship with Limon. He described the situation to Tampa’s WFLA television as “a pretty complex puzzle to me.”
Zubaer Ahmed, who is Limon’s younger brother, spoke with WTVT and revealed their last conversation occurred three days before the disappearance. During that call, Limon mentioned being extremely occupied with his dissertation research, which focuses on applying generative artificial intelligence to examine Florida’s diminishing wetland areas. Ahmed also shared that while the couple had discussed marriage possibilities, they were prioritizing the completion of their academic programs.
LONDON – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed mounting alarm Thursday regarding foreign nations employing proxy groups to execute attacks within the United Kingdom, vowing to introduce new laws in response to recent incidents.
The capital has experienced multiple attacks in recent weeks – primarily involving arson – targeting locations with Jewish connections. Counter-terrorism investigators are examining several of these cases, though law enforcement officials state they are not presently classified as terrorist acts.
UK officials have increasingly identified hostile foreign government activity as a factor behind recent events, cautioning that international governments may attempt to work through criminal organizations or intermediaries to avoid direct responsibility.
“I’m increasingly concerned that a number of countries are using proxies for attacks in this country,” Starmer stated during his visit with Jewish community members at Kenton United Synagogue, which suffered an arson attack this past Sunday.
The blaze resulted in minimal smoke damage to one interior room with no reported injuries. On Tuesday, a 17-year-old British youth entered a guilty plea to arson charges that did not endanger lives in relation to the incident.
“We have to deal with malign state actors,” the Prime Minister declared, emphasizing that addressing this threat would require new government legislation.
“I want this country to be a place where everybody feels safe and secure. This is not just a battle for the Jewish community,” Starmer emphasized. “It is our battle. The Britain that I want is a Britain where people can practice their religion, their faith, in safety and security.”
Spain’s banking giant Santander announced Thursday it will temporarily halt its stock repurchase program while awaiting a crucial shareholder vote on its massive acquisition of American lender Webster Financial.
The temporary pause on share buybacks will begin April 24 and continue through May 26, aligning with Webster Financial’s scheduled shareholder meeting to vote on the $12.2 billion purchase agreement, according to regulatory filings submitted by Santander.
Company officials indicated the share repurchase program will restart on May 27 and continue operating until August 20.
Santander first revealed its plans to acquire Webster Financial in February as part of a strategic move to establish a stronger presence in America’s retail banking sector.
This year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner will break tradition by featuring a mind-reader rather than the typical stand-up comedian as its main entertainment.
Oz Pearlman, a professional mentalist, will take center stage at the annual Washington D.C. event that brings together political figures and members of the press corps.
In an interview with NPR, Pearlman expressed his goals for the performance, saying he aims to “unify, delight and puzzle the crowd” during his act. However, he remained secretive about his planned tricks and methods.
The mentalist recently appeared on Fox Business Network’s “Varney & Co.” show, demonstrating his abilities on television before his upcoming White House appearance.
This departure from the dinner’s usual comedy format represents a unique approach to entertaining the gathered politicians and journalists at one of Washington’s most high-profile annual events.
Three farmers received top honors at the American Soybean Association’s yearly recognition ceremony during Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas, including a Delaware farmer who received the organization’s highest award.
The ceremony celebrates outstanding contributions to the soybean industry, honoring volunteer work and exceptional leadership. Awards recognize state-level volunteer service, leadership accomplishments spanning five or more years, and lifetime contributions to the soybean sector. Nominations are typically accepted from June through October, with a judging panel making final decisions.
Iowa Farmer Dave Walton Wins Outstanding State Volunteer Recognition
The American Soybean Association presented Iowa farmer Dave Walton with the Outstanding State Volunteer Award. This recognition honors dedicated volunteers who have contributed exemplary service for at least three years in any aspect of their state association’s activities.
Walton has committed more than ten years to advancing soybean farmers’ causes, holding important positions on the Iowa Soybean Association board, the ASA Executive Committee, the Iowa Biodiesel Board, and the Clean Fuels Alliance America board.
His efforts have bolstered the soybean sector through relationship-building with government officials, industry executives, and fellow farmers. Walton has exceeded expectations in advocacy work, playing a crucial part in developing his state’s biodiesel agenda.
While accepting his award, Walton credited his success to teamwork with his wife and oldest son, who enabled him to dedicate time to volunteer activities throughout the years. He also expressed gratitude to fellow directors who challenged him and helped him grow as both a leader and individual.
Currently serving as ASA’s vice president, Walton is positioned to become president in 2027. “I have a couple years left at the national level, and I have a lot more things to accomplish here in the next few years, so I got to get going,” he stated. “It’s going to go fast, but we have a lot of work to do and I have a good team around me, both at the director’s level and the staff level, so we’re going to get some things done in the next two years. I’m looking forward to it.”
North Dakota’s Monte Peterson Earns Distinguished Leadership Award
The ASA Distinguished Leadership Award honors soybean producers or association staff who demonstrate exceptional commitment and successfully guide others toward achieving goals that benefit soybean farmers. North Dakota farmer Monte Peterson received this year’s Distinguished Leadership Award.
Peterson has championed soybean farmers since 2006 when he joined the North Dakota Soybean Council board. He also held a position on the American Soybean Association board from 2014 through 2023.
Throughout his ASA tenure, Peterson led the Trade Policy & International Affairs Committee. He gained recognition for simplifying complex issues, including the China trade conflict, and directing efforts to remove trade obstacles and expand markets.
From 2017 to 2023, Peterson served on the U.S. Soybean Export Council board, holding positions as vice chair, chair, and past chair. Leading the USSEC board during the COVID-19 pandemic, he participated in hundreds of virtual meetings while maintaining crucial trade relationships and reinforcing U.S. soy’s reputation as a dependable, high-quality product.
Through the ASA Corteva Young Leader Program, Peterson worked with emerging farmer leaders, motivating them to participate in committee activities and explaining how national policies impact their farming operations.
Upon receiving his award, Peterson acknowledged the opportunities he had to collaborate with strong leadership and committed board members from ASA, USSEC, and North Dakota Soybean Growers Association, whose guidance continues to advance the soybean industry.
“Any leadership that I’ve shown has been the result of standing shoulder to shoulder with individuals who bring insight, who bring energy and integrity to the work that we do. If I’ve managed to look like a leader at all, it’s only because I’ve been surrounded by people who lift me up, that keep me on track, and occasionally remind me where I’m supposed to be next. Thank you for this recognition and for your confidence in me,” he said.
Delaware’s Richard Wilkins Receives Pinnacle Award, ASA’s Top Honor
The American Soybean Association honored the late Richard Wilkins from Greenwood, Delaware, with its most prestigious recognition, the Pinnacle Award. This industry-wide acknowledgment celebrates a lifetime of work showing the highest level of contribution and leadership within the soybean community and sector.
Throughout his 53 years of service, Wilkins consistently displayed innovative leadership that enhanced the soybean industry’s sustainability and cohesion. He fulfilled numerous roles as a soybean farmer advocate, including membership in the Mid-Atlantic Soybean Association, former ASA president, and former state executive director of Delaware’s Farm Service Agency.
Wilkins started farming in 1972 with just three acres of soybeans on leased land, growing to 65 acres by his high school graduation in 1976. These early experiences fostered a lifelong appreciation for hard work, innovation, and producer-led leadership – values that shaped his contributions at every level of the soybean community.
At the state level, Wilkins participated on the Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council, representing farmers during increasingly complex nutrient management requirements. In this role, he advocated for science-based, practical approaches that helped producers meet environmental regulations while maintaining yield and economic sustainability.
In 2015, Wilkins became ASA president and guided the organization through significant national policy discussions, particularly during the proposed Vermont GMO labeling law crisis. Under his direction, ASA rallied farmers and stakeholders to inform policymakers, leading to a consistent national food labeling standard that prevented confusion, protected consumers, and maintained market stability.
During the Awards Celebration, Wilkins’ wife, Donna, and his nephew, Chris, received the award on his behalf. Donna shared that Richard’s life passion involved continuing public education, mentoring future generations, and protecting agriculture’s future. She also read a letter Wilkins wrote to the ASA board in 2010 when deciding to run for ASA vice president. Wilkins wrote, “It is incumbent upon us as farmer leaders to advocate for policies that achieve societal wishes for a clean and safe food supply, but let’s also allow the American agribusiness industry to grow and prosper… I am driven by a passion to serve the industry that I have been a part of my entire life.”
Wilkins will be remembered for ensuring fair and equitable representation for smaller soybean-producing states within the American Soybean Association. His lasting impact will be measured not only by the policies he helped create and the markets he expanded, but also by the leaders he guided.
Maryland officials are asking residents to share their thoughts on upcoming management strategies for four state forests in the 2027 fiscal year. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has opened a public comment period for proposed Annual Work Plans covering Chesapeake/Pocomoke, Green Ridge, Potomac-Garrett, and Savage River state forests.
Citizens have until May 29, 2026, to submit their feedback on these comprehensive planning documents. These yearly plans serve as roadmaps for department officials to set priorities within each forest’s broader management strategy. The documents outline approaches for forest composition, establishment, growth, health, and quality improvements, plus construction and maintenance initiatives.
The opportunity for public input represents the third and final phase of an extensive review process. Initially, natural resource experts specializing in wildlife habitats, fisheries, recreation, forest management, water quality, and ecologically important species conduct internal evaluations. Next, local citizen advisory groups examine the proposals before the public comment window opens.
Once community feedback concludes, individual forest managers will examine all input, make necessary adjustments, and complete their respective plans. Residents can submit comments through an online form available on the Maryland Forest Service website. The finalized plans will take effect on July 1, 2026.
Those interested in reviewing the proposed state forest annual work plans can access them through the Maryland Forest Service website.
WILMINGTON – Delaware Governor Matt Meyer’s administration has opened the application process for student interns to work in the governor’s office during the summer of 2026.
The governor’s office is seeking Delaware students interested in gaining firsthand experience with state government operations through the newly launched internship initiative.
“We’re excited to launch our office’s Summer 2026 internship program, giving students from across Delaware critical knowledge about what it takes to manage state government,” Governor Matt Meyer said. “We’re looking for folks who understand the importance of [the content appears to be cut off in the original source].
Students interested in applying for the internship positions can now submit their applications to the governor’s office.
As spring planting season continues across the country, agricultural advocates are pressing federal regulators to accelerate approval processes for crop protection products that farmers say are essential for healthy yields.
The debate over pesticide labeling has intensified as consumers increasingly see products marked “glyphosate-free” in grocery stores. According to Madelyn Derks, Director of Government Affairs for the American Soybean Association, this creates a disconnect between consumer perceptions and farming realities, where pesticides like glyphosate serve as crucial tools for protecting crops from harmful pests and weeds.
The Environmental Protection Agency provided some relief to growers on February 6th when it announced new dicamba labeling for use on dicamba-resistant soybeans and cotton over the next two growing seasons. The timing proved critical for farmers preparing for planting, though the new regulations include challenging restrictions such as temperature limits and mandatory buffer zones that may complicate weed management during optimal spraying periods.
However, numerous new active ingredients and applications for existing products remain stuck in EPA approval processes, some waiting for months. This regulatory bottleneck comes at a particularly difficult time as agricultural input costs continue climbing, with pesticides facing the heaviest impact from tariffs at an average rate of 12 percent.
The situation has worsened over time, with the average approval timeline for new crop protection products extending from 11.3 years to 12.3 years. Agricultural groups worry that the growing EPA backlog puts American farmers at a competitive disadvantage compared to international producers who have faster access to innovative products.
The American Soybean Association has launched multiple advocacy campaigns to emphasize the importance of EPA’s science-based approval process and the need for farmer access to effective crop protection tools. The organization has identified particular concerns within the Make America Healthy Again movement, noting that both the movement and farmers share the common goal of providing affordable, nutritious food to American families.
Agricultural advocates argue that EPA should prioritize making new and innovative pesticide products available to growers more quickly. They contend that continued delays in registration approvals only weaken U.S. agricultural competitiveness at a time when global market position is increasingly important.
Industry representatives maintain that pesticides remain a fundamental component of producing healthy and sustainable food supplies, regardless of farming location or consumer purchasing preferences in grocery stores.
Baseball icon Sandy Koufax has been selected to receive Baseball Digest’s annual Lifetime Achievement Award, becoming the sixth recipient of the prestigious honor.
The Hall of Fame left-hander received the recognition Thursday, an award designed to celebrate “a living individual whose career has been spent in or around Major League Baseball and who has demonstrated outstanding character and has made significant contributions to the game.”
Previous recipients of this distinction include Willie Mays, who received the first award in 2021, broadcaster Vin Scully in 2022, manager Joe Torre in 2023, skipper Dusty Baker in 2024, and announcer Bob Costas in 2025.
“It’s a great honor to be recognized along with the previous award winners,” the 90-year-old Koufax said in a news release. “I thank the distinguished panel.”
The legendary pitcher began his professional career with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955, the same year the franchise captured its first World Series title. Following the team’s relocation to Los Angeles, Koufax established himself as one of the sport’s most formidable hurlers throughout the 1960s.
During his stellar career, the southpaw captured three Cy Young Awards, earned an MVP honor, and claimed five straight National League ERA championships. His achievements include three seasons with 25 or more victories, leading the major leagues in wins each time, plus seven All-Star selections between 1961 and 1966.
Koufax’s pitching mastery included four no-hit performances, one of which was a perfect game. He earned World Series MVP honors on two occasions, guiding the Dodgers to championships in 1963 and 1965, and was also part of their 1959 title team.
Arthritis in his throwing elbow forced Koufax into early retirement following the 1966 campaign at just 30 years old. His exceptional career earned him entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972, making him the youngest inductee at that time. The Dodgers honored him by retiring his No. 32 jersey later that year, and he was selected for MLB’s All-Century Team in 1999.
“The name Sandy Koufax has become a synonym for ‘great pitcher,’” Baseball Digest publisher David Fagley said. “It’s hard to believe it has been 60 years since he last pitched so brilliantly for the Dodgers but, since his retirement, Sandy has been a remarkable representative of our national game, a symbol of class and dignity.”
A panel of 21 veteran baseball participants and observers, including journalists, broadcasters, former athletes, and executives, voted to select Koufax for this year’s award.
Home loan costs have decreased for three consecutive weeks, providing relief to potential buyers during the ongoing spring real estate season.
Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the standard 30-year home loan rate declined to 6.23% from the previous week’s 6.3%. This represents a significant improvement from the 6.81% rate recorded one year ago.
Current rates have reached their lowest point since March 19, when they stood at 6.22%.
Homeowners looking to refinance also received good news, as 15-year fixed mortgage rates decreased to 5.58% from 5.65% the prior week. Freddie Mac noted this compares favorably to the 5.94% rate from twelve months ago.
Home loan costs fluctuate based on various economic factors, including Federal Reserve policy choices and bond market investor sentiment regarding economic growth and inflation expectations.
Recent rate reductions mirror declining yields on 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds, which financial institutions reference when setting home loan prices.
Thursday’s midday bond trading showed the 10-year Treasury yield at 4.30%, slightly down from 4.32% seven days earlier. This yield had dropped to just 3.97% in late February before the Iranian conflict began.
Just weeks ago in February, 30-year mortgage rates briefly dipped below 6% for the first time since late 2022. However, they climbed again last month when the Iran war caused energy price spikes and inflation concerns.
Both bond yields and mortgage rates have experienced significant fluctuations during the ongoing conflict, despite diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Iran to reach a ceasefire agreement.
The war has intensified inflation fears and economic uncertainty while consumer confidence in employment markets weakens. Combined with unstable mortgage rates, these factors have created uncertainty for the spring buying season.
America’s housing market has struggled since 2022 when rates began rising from pandemic lows. Previously-owned home sales remained essentially unchanged last year, hitting a three-decade low. Sales have continued declining through the first quarter of this year compared to the same period previously.
“Looking ahead, mortgage rates will likely continue to be volatile throughout the spring,” Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS, said in an email. “For the market to regain full momentum, we will need to see more than just a temporary dip in rates. Rather, we need sustained stability in the global energy market and a clearer sign that domestic inflation is back on a downward trajectory.”
JOHANNESBURG — President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed South Africa’s national police commissioner on suspension following criminal charges tied to alleged corruption involving a multimillion-dollar government contract.
Commissioner Fannie Masemola made his initial court appearance Tuesday and is scheduled to return for proceedings along with 12 other high-ranking police officials facing accusations of fraud, corruption, and money laundering. The charges stem from allegations that a contract was improperly given to a domestic company. Masemola’s specific charges relate to his role as the financial oversight officer for the police department.
During a Thursday news conference, President Ramaphosa announced that Puleng Dimpane, who oversees financial management within the police service, would serve as interim police commissioner during Masemola’s legal proceedings.
“I have agreed with General Masemola that he be deemed to be on precautionary suspension pending the conclusion of the case,” Ramaphosa said.
The suspension comes after extensive corruption accusations within South Africa’s law enforcement and judicial systems were exposed through an investigative commission that Ramaphosa established in the previous year.
Masemola is charged with four violations of the Public Finance Management Act, legislation that governs how the government awards contracts, in connection with a 360 million-rand ($21 million) agreement for providing health and wellness services to police personnel. Authorities allege that certain officers accepted kickbacks from the companies that won the bidding process.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine has obtained a massive financial boost from the European Union with the approval of a 90 billion-euro ($106 billion) loan package designed to support the nation’s ongoing defense efforts.
The substantial funding was officially authorized on Thursday, following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s announcement that repairs to the Ukrainian portion of the Druzhba pipeline were complete and oil deliveries to Slovakia and Hungary would restart — requirements tied to releasing the money.
The loan approval faced months of delays due to internal disagreements within the 27-member European Union, particularly opposition from former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, considered Moscow’s strongest supporter within the bloc. Orbán’s electoral defeat earlier this month removed a major barrier to finalizing the agreement.
The timing of this financial assistance proves crucial for Ukraine’s survival. International Monetary Fund projections indicate Ukraine confronts a funding shortfall of approximately 136 billion euros ($158 billion) through the next two years.
This EU assistance is projected to address roughly two-thirds of Ukraine’s financial requirements for 2026 and 2027. Government officials cautioned that without this support, Kyiv risked depleting resources needed for essential government operations and military activities by spring. Initial funding disbursements are anticipated within the coming months.
Ukraine will receive access to 45 billion euros ($53 billion) for the current year’s remaining period, plus an additional 45 billion euros ($53 billion) throughout 2027.
The loan structure allocates approximately one-third of the money toward supporting Ukraine’s governmental budget, while remaining funds will finance defense needs, including military equipment purchases and expanding domestic weapons manufacturing capabilities.
European Union leadership initially agreed to this loan in December 2025, but progress stalled for months due to disagreements concerning the Ukraine-controlled segment of the Druzhba oil pipeline.
Last December, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia consented to allow their EU partners to secure the funds through international borrowing, provided the three nations weren’t required to participate directly.
The pipeline system, which transports Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary, ceased operations in late January following Ukrainian officials’ reports of damage from Russian military strikes. Hungarian and Slovakian leadership claimed Ukraine intentionally disrupted supplies, escalating the matter into a significant political conflict within the EU.
The loan received final approval after Hungary and Slovakia confirmed Ukraine had restored pipeline operations this week. Zelenskyy announced completion of necessary repairs, eliminating the last barrier to authorization.
Thursday’s final procedural step involved unanimous approval of modifications to the EU’s long-term budget framework to accommodate future expenditures. This requirement explained why Hungary and Slovakia’s cooperation was essential.
European Union leadership has established that Ukraine will only begin loan repayment after Russia provides war reparations.
Instead of utilizing Russia’s frozen central bank assets as loan collateral, member nations chose a more conservative strategy. European leaders decided they would secure borrowing to provide Ukraine with the necessary funds.
Worries about possible Russian retaliation and legal complications prompted them to maintain the asset freeze until Moscow concludes its military campaign and compensates Ukraine for war damages.
Mining giant Freeport-McMoRan saw its stock price tumble over 8% Thursday after announcing that operations at its massive Indonesian mining facility are recovering more slowly than projected following last year’s devastating flood that claimed lives and halted production.
The Phoenix-headquartered corporation, which leads the world in publicly traded copper mining operations, now anticipates restoring just 65% of output at its Grasberg facility by the latter half of 2024, a significant reduction from its earlier projection of 85% recovery.
This setback occurs amid skyrocketing global copper demand driven by expanding artificial intelligence sectors and power generation infrastructure, limiting Freeport’s ability to capitalize on market opportunities. Copper serves as a crucial component in motors, computing equipment, battery systems, and electrical wiring due to its superior conductivity properties.
The production delays stem from necessary modifications to ore-loading equipment at the underground facility. Since operations ceased in September, unexpected groundwater infiltration has made the extracted materials significantly wetter, necessitating the installation of specialized equipment called “spillminators” – advanced mining chutes created by South African firm CAN Engineering Worx to prevent dangerous mud surges.
“We understand the engineered solution to this issue, but it will take time to make modifications,” stated CEO Kathleen Quirk, noting the problem emerged in recent weeks. “We’re confident in the ability to restore large-scale production safely.”
The company has also postponed plans to transition the facility’s energy source from coal to natural gas by approximately 18 months due to the incident.
Freeport now projects the mine will yield 800 million pounds of copper and 700 million ounces of gold in 2024, down from previous estimates of 1.1 billion pounds of copper and roughly 800 million ounces of gold. The Grasberg operation represents the world’s second-largest copper extraction site and the planet’s biggest gold mining facility.
Jefferies analyst Chris LaFemina noted that despite Freeport’s confidence in addressing restart challenges, “the market will question the guidance and is now unlikely to give Freeport the benefit of the doubt on the planned ramp.”
While the company faces no concerns regarding sulfuric acid availability – essential for copper refining – despite Middle East conflict-related supply disruptions because it produces the chemical at its own smelting facilities, rising diesel costs have increased annual expenses by $500 million.
First-quarter copper output dropped 23.7% to 662 million recoverable pounds, while gold production plummeted 66.2% to 97,000 recoverable ounces. However, copper prices surged 36.7% during the January-March period due to supply constraints, limited inventories, and strong demand, helping offset volume declines.
The company posted adjusted earnings of 57 cents per share for the quarter ending March 31, surpassing analysts’ average prediction of 46 cents according to LSEG data.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Thursday her selection of economist Roberto Lazzeri to serve as Mexico’s new ambassador to the United States, marking a significant diplomatic change during crucial trade negotiations between the North American partners.
The nomination, which requires confirmation by Mexico’s Senate, would see Lazzeri take over from current Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma, who has served in the role since 2021 under former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Speaking at her daily morning briefing, Sheinbaum praised Lazzeri’s qualifications, noting that “He worked for a long time in the finance ministry” and “He has a very good relationship with the whole Mexican government and also with U.S. counterparts.”
Lazzeri currently leads two major Mexican development institutions, Nafin and Bancomext, and has extensive experience managing the federal government’s public debt obligations. His selection comes at a critical time as discussions intensify around reviewing the trade agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The timing is particularly significant given Mexico’s heavy economic dependence on its northern neighbor, with approximately 80% of Mexican exports heading to U.S. markets. Mexican officials are working to secure relief from the comprehensive tariffs that President Donald Trump implemented last year, while also seeking greater predictability in trade relations to restore investor confidence that has been shaken by the unpredictable nature of recent trade policies.
Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard acknowledged Wednesday that tariffs affecting Mexico’s automotive, steel, and aluminum industries will likely continue even if the trilateral trade agreement is successfully renewed.
WASHINGTON – The Biden administration is preparing to reveal a pharmaceutical pricing agreement with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals this Thursday, according to an individual with knowledge of the negotiations.
Among 17 major pharmaceutical corporations that received correspondence from former President Donald Trump last July regarding drug pricing negotiations, Regeneron remained the only company that had not yet finalized such an arrangement.
When contacted by Reuters for a statement, Regeneron did not provide an immediate response.
The pharmaceutical company’s stock price climbed more than 2% during Thursday morning market activity.
