SAN FRANCISCO — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says he’s prioritizing Shohei Ohtani’s long-term health by potentially resting the superstar from batting duties during certain pitching appearances.
The strategy could vary from game to game based on how the dual-threat player feels physically, Roberts explained.
In some contests, this approach might involve Ohtani taking the mound while sitting out his designated hitter role — a flexibility Roberts wants to maintain moving forward.
Ohtani took his fourth pitching turn Wednesday evening versus the San Francisco Giants. Seven days prior, Roberts benched him from the batting order while he pitched — his first time since 2021 not hitting on a day he started, due to lingering soreness from being struck by a pitch.
The 31-year-old entered the game batting .271 with five homers and 11 RBIs across 85 plate appearances. On the pitching side, he had surrendered only one earned run through 18 innings in 2026, posting a 0.50 ERA and 2-0 record while giving up 10 hits with 18 strikeouts and six walks.
Ohtani also carried a career-high 53-game on-base streak, matching Shawn Green for second place in franchise history. Duke Snider holds the Dodgers record with 58 consecutive games from May 13-July 11, 1954. Ohtani’s run represents the longest active streak in baseball since Orlando Cabrera reached base in 63 straight games from April 25-July 6, 2006.
“I think if you look at the overall numbers it’s certainly something. I still feel really good about putting his name in the lineup,” Roberts said. “I know the last start I chose not to have him hit and just pitch. I am open to it. We’ll see. It’s something that we’ve certainly flagged, and also you have to look at what’s the option. In years past or last year, you’ve got to kind of weigh, who’s a different option?”
Catcher Dalton Rushing has emerged as a reliable designated hitter alternative, batting .414 with seven home runs and 13 RBIs.
The back-to-back World Series champions had struggled recently, losing three of their previous four games after falling 3-1 in Tuesday’s series opener against San Francisco.
During Wednesday’s pre-game conversation, Roberts found the four-time MVP — including back-to-back National League MVP winner — to be “really focused.”
“He wants to reset things, to go out there and pitch well and give us a chance to win tonight,” Roberts said.
Roberts hadn’t determined whether Ohtani would participate in Thursday’s series finale. He mentioned having no concerns about giving Ohtani five at-bats on pitching days but would consider moving him lower in the batting order when appropriate.
“I think everything should be on the table,” Roberts said.
The New York Times reports that federal investigators examined whether journalist Elizabeth Williamson broke anti-stalking statutes following her February story detailing how FBI personnel were assigned to safeguard and transport Director Kash Patel’s romantic partner.
Federal authorities confirmed Wednesday they spoke with Patel’s girlfriend, country music artist Alexis Wilkins, after she raised concerns about threatening messages she received following publication of Williamson’s report. However, officials took no additional steps in the matter.
According to the Times’ Wednesday online report, the FBI searched federal records for details about Williamson and suggested moving forward with the probe, though the Justice Department prevented further action.
The publication learned of these developments only after reporter Michael S. Schmidt received an anonymous tip. Newspaper leadership characterized the federal response as deeply troubling.
“The FBI’s attempt to criminalize routine reporting is a blatant violation of Elizabeth’s First Amendment rights and another attempt by this administration to prevent journalists from scrutinizing its actions,” declared executive editor Joseph Kahn. “It’s alarming. It’s unconstitutional. And it’s wrong.”
The newspaper appears to have limited options beyond requesting a federal inspector general examine whether the government’s actions were inappropriate.
During her reporting process, Williamson conducted a short interview with Wilkins, though the performer demanded their discussion remain confidential. The journalist also contacted individuals familiar with Wilkins or who had professional relationships with her.
Williamson’s February 28 article examined how federal resources were being utilized for personal services benefiting administration officials. Her reporting revealed that Patel had designated four agents for Wilkins’ round-the-clock protection, including accompanying her to events in Britain, Illinois and Nashville.
FBI representative Ben Williamson stated on social media that while investigators “were concerned about how the aggressive reporting techniques crossed lines of stalking, no further action regarding Williamson or the reporting was ever pursued by the FBI.”
Patel has shown willingness to challenge unfavorable media coverage. This week, he initiated a $250 million defamation case against The Atlantic over their reporting on accusations regarding his drinking habits and agency leadership issues.
A high-ranking Taiwanese official has traveled to a disputed island in the South China Sea to oversee military training exercises, marking the first such ministerial visit in seven years to the contested territory.
Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling made the journey to Itu Aba Island, known locally as Taiping Island, on Tuesday to observe coast guard training operations focused on emergency response scenarios, according to a Wednesday announcement from Taiwan’s coast guard.
The exercises simulated various crisis situations including search and rescue missions, medical evacuations, and environmental cleanup efforts. A key component involved heavily armed special forces conducting practice raids on uncooperative vessels in the area.
During one training scenario, black-clad coast guard personnel carrying weapons boarded a cargo ship that had allegedly ignored radio communications. Video released by authorities showed the tactical team entering the vessel’s command center.
“You have entered the waters under the jurisdiction of our country. Please cooperate with the investigation,” one team member told a crew member during the exercise.
The coast guard explained the simulated operation by stating: “In order to safeguard the nation’s rights and national security, the cargo vessel was escorted back to Taiping Island for further investigation.”
Itu Aba represents one of Taiwan’s most remote territorial holdings in the hotly contested Spratly Islands chain. Multiple nations including China, Vietnam, and the Philippines also lay claim to this particular island.
The territory features infrastructure capable of supporting military operations, including an airstrip suitable for supply flights from mainland Taiwan. A new dock facility completed in 2023 can accommodate patrol vessels weighing up to 4,000 tons.
Despite these capabilities, the island maintains relatively modest defenses compared to nearby Chinese-controlled territories. Beijing’s forces typically avoid direct confrontation with Taiwanese personnel stationed there.
China has dramatically expanded its presence throughout the South China Sea by constructing artificial islands and installing major military installations on various reefs and outcrops under its control. These developments have raised concerns in Washington and throughout the region.
Beijing maintains that it has full authority to develop and protect what it considers sovereign Chinese territory.
Taiwan also maintains control over the Pratas Islands located in the northern section of the South China Sea. Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels frequently operate in these waters as part of Beijing’s efforts to assert territorial claims over Taiwan, which Taipei’s government firmly rejects.
The South China Sea serves as a crucial international shipping corridor handling billions of dollars in global commerce annually. The region also provides important fishing grounds and potentially significant energy resources.
North Korea and Russia are moving forward with plans to complete a new road bridge connecting both nations across the Tumen River, according to reports from North Korean state media KCNA released Thursday.
The bridge construction project, which started approximately one year ago, represents what KCNA called “an important business” designed to enhance cooperation between the countries in areas including tourism, commerce, and cross-border travel.
The 850-meter span, equivalent to 2,789 feet, will link directly to Russia’s highway network. This infrastructure project received approval during President Vladimir Putin’s 2024 diplomatic visit to North Korea.
A ceremonial event took place Tuesday to commemorate the physical connection of the bridge structure, according to reporting by the Moscow Times.
The new crossing is being constructed adjacent to the existing “Friendship Bridge,” a railway span that has operated since 1959 following the end of the Korean War.
While KCNA announced that an official opening celebration will occur in the near future, no specific date was provided. However, Russia’s embassy in Pyongyang indicated through Telegram that the bridge completion is scheduled for June 19.
Oleg Kozhemyako, who serves as governor of Russia’s Far East Primorsky region, shared via Telegram that the bridge will enhance commercial activity and strengthen cultural and tourism connections. He noted the structure will reduce the travel distance between Vladivostok and the border city of Rason to 320 kilometers, with daily capacity for up to 300 vehicles.
This development coincides with multiple Russian diplomatic delegations visiting North Korea during the current week.
Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev conducted a meeting Wednesday with Jo Yong Won, who chairs the Standing Committee of North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly. KCNA characterized the discussion as occurring in a “favorable atmosphere.”
Additionally, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko traveled Tuesday to the North Korean coastal city of Wonsan for a ceremony marking the construction of a medical facility that represents the “friendship” between both nations, according to KCNA.
The two countries established a “comprehensive strategic partnership treaty” in 2024 during Putin’s trip to Pyongyang.
This agreement contains mutual defense clauses, and North Korea has deployed thousands of military personnel to support Russian forces in the Kursk region of western Russia following a significant Ukrainian military operation in that area.
Meanwhile, China has also pursued stronger cross-border infrastructure and renewed diplomatic ties with North Korea, with passenger rail service between those countries resuming last month after a six-year suspension.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Wednesday that his country’s access to critical U.S. missile defense systems could become more difficult if Middle East conflicts involving Iran drag on for an extended time.
During a CNN interview, Zelenskyy explained that Ukraine has only received small quantities of these defensive weapons due to constraints in American manufacturing capabilities. However, he noted that supply deliveries and intelligence sharing have remained steady so far.
The Ukrainian leader described how his nation obtains U.S. military equipment through the PURL program, which allows NATO member countries to fund weapons purchases for Kyiv.
“Through this programme, we can include and buy anti-ballistic missiles for Patriot systems and some other weapons which is very important for us. We don’t have this…with our European neighbours,” Zelenskyy told CNN in English.
“And of course, (given) the big challenge in the Middle East war and Iran, all these packages are at risk.”
Regarding the limited quantities received from Washington, Zelenskyy said the United States had supplied “only a small number. We had not too much. We understand why, because the production in the United States is not so big.
“And if the war will continue or a ceasefire is delayed…(this) will be not good. And maybe we will have more risks with anti-ballistics.”
Zelenskyy also mentioned that Ukraine continues sharing its four years of experience fighting Iranian-designed drones used by Russian forces with Middle Eastern nations. His country has established agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
“We will continue to work with other countries,” he said. “We will be ready to deliver first our expertise…and the second point is training missions.”
New York Mets star shortstop Francisco Lindor was forced to leave Wednesday evening’s matchup with the Minnesota Twins after experiencing tightness in his left calf muscle, cutting his night short after just four innings of play.
The injury became apparent when Lindor reached first base on a hit and then attempted to circle the bases on teammate Francisco Alvarez’s two-base hit. Observers noted that Lindor appeared to be moving slower than usual as he made his way around the base paths.
The 32-year-old veteran showed visible signs of discomfort as he approached home plate, wincing in pain while navigating around third base. After sliding safely into home ahead of catcher Victor Caratini’s attempted tag – a play that put New York ahead 2-1 – Lindor stayed down on the ground momentarily before being helped up.
The timing of Lindor’s injury coincides with teammate Juan Soto’s return to action after missing 15 games with his own calf strain in his right leg. The Mets had initially won three consecutive games following Soto’s April 3rd injury before entering their current 12-game losing skid.
This marks a rare injury concern for Lindor, who has appeared in all but 15 games since his last stint on the injured list three years ago in 2021, when a strained right oblique muscle kept him sidelined for more than five weeks.
HONG KONG, April 23 – The American dollar maintained strength near its highest point in more than a week Thursday, as escalating Middle Eastern tensions between Iran and the United States drove oil costs back over the $100 mark, dampening global investor confidence.
Iran captured two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz Wednesday, intensifying the conflict after President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran, though peace negotiations show no signs of resuming.
Both nations continue to clash over ceasefire terms, naval blockades, nuclear concerns, and strait control, keeping the crucial shipping channel essentially closed and creating a worldwide energy crisis that threatens global economies.
The euro traded at $1.1712 after hitting its weakest position since April 13 during the trading session. The European currency is tracking toward a 0.4% weekly decline, marking its first downturn in a month. The British pound held at $1.3497.
Australia’s currency remained stable at $0.7165, close to the four-year peak reached last week. New Zealand’s dollar was at $0.59045. The greenback slipped 0.02% against the Japanese yen to 159.48.
March saw the dollar gain strength as a safe investment when the conflict began, but hopes for a peace agreement and ceasefire earlier this month sparked a risk-taking surge, with the dollar losing most of those increases.
The US dollar index, tracking the currency against six major trading partners, reached 98.644, approaching its April 13 peak. The index is positioned for a modest 0.4% weekly increase after two consecutive weekly declines.
“Despite Trump’s ceasefire extension, tensions remain elevated with Iran refusing to reopen Hormuz while U.S. naval blockades persist, raising the risk of prolonged supply disruption,” said Skye Masters, head of markets research at National Australia Bank, in a research note.
Masters noted that extreme risks are being underestimated, and inflationary pressures will continue through the end of the year.
The nearly two-month Middle Eastern conflict has caused fuel costs to surge, pushing consumer confidence to historic lows and eliminating market expectations for interest rate reductions this year.
According to a Reuters survey of economists, the Federal Reserve will delay interest rate cuts for at least six months this year, as energy price shocks from the war have reignited existing inflation concerns.
Market attention will turn to Thursday’s release of US weekly unemployment claims and purchasing managers’ indices for indicators of whether rising energy costs are affecting the broader economic landscape.
Southbound traffic on US Route 13 has come to a complete halt at Boulden Boulevard following a vehicle collision, according to Delaware Department of Transportation officials.
The roadway closure is currently in effect as emergency responders and cleanup crews work at the crash site. DelDOT has not provided details about the severity of the accident or potential injuries.
Drivers traveling southbound on Route 13 should plan for significant delays and consider using alternative routes until the roadway reopens. No timeline has been given for when normal traffic flow will resume.
Technology giant Microsoft announced Thursday its commitment to pour A$25 billion ($17.9 billion) into Australia’s economy through 2029, focusing on expanding the nation’s artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The substantial financial commitment represents one of the largest foreign technology investments in Australia’s history, as the software company seeks to strengthen AI capabilities in the region.
The investment timeline spans from now until the end of 2029, positioning Australia as a key player in Microsoft’s global AI strategy.
Motorists traveling on Route 13 should expect delays this morning as construction work has forced the closure of left lanes in both directions.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that left lanes are blocked between Voshell Mill Road and Shamrock Avenue while crews complete ongoing construction activities.
The lane restrictions are scheduled to be lifted by 7:00 AM, according to DelDOT officials. Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and use caution when passing through the work zone.
Traffic is being maintained in the right lanes during the construction period.
Motorists traveling north on Foulk Road should expect delays this afternoon as construction crews have shut down the right lane near Maplewood Lane.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that the right lane closure on Route 261 northbound at Maplewood Lane is currently active due to construction activities in the area.
Officials indicate the lane restriction will remain in place until 5 PM today, potentially causing traffic backups during the afternoon commute.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when passing through the construction zone.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials are alerting drivers about a temporary lane restriction on Frederica Road that will impact traffic flow through this afternoon.
The southbound direction of Frederica Road is experiencing a lane closure between David Street and Market Street as construction crews complete their work. The restriction is scheduled to remain in place until 4:00 PM today.
Drivers using this route should plan for possible delays and consider alternate paths if traveling through the area during the affected timeframe.
Japanese investment giant SoftBank Group is reportedly working to secure a massive $10 billion loan using its ownership stake in artificial intelligence company OpenAI as collateral, according to a Bloomberg News report published Wednesday.
Sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that the proposed financing arrangement would be structured as a two-year margin loan, with SoftBank having the flexibility to extend the borrowing period for an additional 12 months if needed.
The loan would be backed by SoftBank’s shares in OpenAI, the company behind the popular ChatGPT artificial intelligence platform that has revolutionized how people interact with AI technology.
Reuters has not been able to independently confirm the details of this reported loan arrangement.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards delivered the star-level performance Minnesota desperately needed, helping the Timberwolves even their heated first-round playoff battle with Denver after capturing Game 2 on the road.
Edwards posted 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while adding two blocks and providing vocal leadership for his squad. Minnesota head coach Chris Finch praised Edwards’ calming presence even after a disappointing showing in the series opener.
“He was calm and gave confidence to the guys,” Finch said, reflecting on the series opener after practice on Wednesday. “When we were down early and big, he was really into them with the right messages, to stay calm but to do the things that were asked to be done — put a little bit more work in, be a little smarter with the fouling, all that kind of stuff. So I thought that was really key.”
The four-time All-Star has been crucial in motivating Rudy Gobert to excel defensively against Denver’s star center Nikola Jokic. Edwards has also shown his commitment by competing despite knee issues that kept him out of 11 of the final 13 regular season contests.
“It definitely uplifts me. I feel like I can’t let him down. If he’s out there battling, then there’s no excuse why I can’t give my best and make the extra effort plays and just go out there and compete at the highest level,” teammate Julius Randle said.
Minnesota will require Edwards to maintain this level of intensity across all aspects of the game to defeat their biggest rival three more times and advance to the next round.
Denver will certainly bring their own determination when they visit Minnesota for Thursday’s Game 3 between these evenly matched clubs. Thursday’s other Game 3 matchups feature New York traveling to Atlanta and Cleveland visiting Toronto.
The recent history between Minnesota and Denver shows just how competitive this rivalry has become, with each team claiming 15 victories in their past 30 encounters across regular season and playoff action over the last four seasons.
“Who doesn’t love a big game? Who doesn’t want to wake up for a game with a lot of excitement, a lot of back and forth in it?” Timberwolves reserve Naz Reid said.
Game Details: Game 3, 7 p.m. EDT (Prime Video)
Series Status: Tied 1-1.
Betting Line: Nuggets by 2 1/2.
Key Storylines: The intensity between these division foes continues to escalate in their third playoff meeting in four years, with both games featuring physical play and heated moments. Minnesota gained valuable momentum by overcoming a 19-point early deficit to claim a 119-114 victory in Game 2. Edwards now has six 30-point performances against Denver across 14 playoff games, while guard Donte DiVincenzo has been exceptional with a game-high plus-20 rating and 16 points in the latest win. DiVincenzo has connected on 10 of 16 three-point attempts through two games. Denver dismissed postgame comments from Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels, who suggested the Timberwolves should continue attacking Denver directly because they’re “all bad defenders.”
The New York Mets faced another injury setback Wednesday evening when All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor departed their matchup with the Minnesota Twins due to left calf tightness.
The timing proved particularly cruel for the struggling franchise, as Lindor’s departure came on the same day outfielder Juan Soto returned from a similar calf injury that had kept him sidelined.
Lindor’s injury became apparent during the fourth inning when he appeared to struggle while running the bases. After reaching first base, he scored on Francisco Alvarez’s double to right-center field but showed clear signs of discomfort as he rounded third base and slid home feet-first.
The veteran infielder winced noticeably during the play and briefly remained on the ground after successfully beating the throw to home plate. He subsequently left the field with a team trainer and did not return to action.
Brett Baty took Lindor’s spot in the batting order, moving to third base while Bo Bichette shifted from third to shortstop when the Mets took the field in the fifth inning.
Before his exit, Lindor had contributed offensively by driving in a run with an infield single in the opening frame. He also showcased his defensive skills early in the contest with an impressive leaping catch at shortstop.
The injury comes at a particularly difficult time for New York, which entered the game mired in a 12-game losing streak. Soto had just been activated from the 10-day injured list earlier Wednesday after missing time with a right calf strain suffered on April 3 during a game in San Francisco.
WASHINGTON, DC — A comprehensive renovation project is set to begin at the nation’s Kennedy Center, with congressional funding of $257 million allocated for the extensive two-year effort.
On Wednesday, Matt Floca, who serves as the facility’s new executive director, guided members of the media through the iconic performing arts venue to showcase the deteriorating conditions that necessitated the major restoration work. The tour revealed significant water damage throughout the building along with aging, obsolete equipment that requires replacement.
President Donald Trump has described the current state of the Kennedy Center as “tired, broken, and dilapidated,” underscoring the urgent need for the planned improvements.
The renovation timeline spans two years, during which crews will address the structural issues and modernize the facility’s infrastructure to restore the venue to its former prominence as a premier destination for the performing arts.
A federal immigration officer in Colorado faces criminal charges after allegedly using a chokehold on a protester, setting up a potential legal battle over how far states can go in prosecuting federal agents for excessive force.
Prosecutors in Colorado announced Wednesday that the officer has been hit with third-degree assault and criminal mischief charges following their investigation into the October incident involving a demonstrator in Durango.
Video footage captured a masked federal agent grabbing 57-year-old Franci Stagi by the neck during protests outside an immigration facility. Stagi claims she was placed in a chokehold during the confrontation.
The charges come as Colorado joins other states in restricting or banning chokeholds and similar restraint techniques by law enforcement. However, federal agents typically enjoy broad immunity protections under constitutional and federal statutes that can shield them from local prosecution.
This Colorado case represents part of a growing pattern of state-level investigations into federal immigration enforcement methods under recent administration policies.
In Minnesota, prosecutors have filed second-degree assault charges against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr. for allegedly drawing his weapon on vehicle occupants during a highway encounter. Morgan claimed he felt threatened when the car swerved near him, according to investigators.
Minnesota authorities are also pursuing legal action to obtain evidence related to three shooting incidents during immigration operations, including fatal encounters involving Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Near Chicago, an off-duty ICE agent faces misdemeanor battery charges for allegedly throwing a 68-year-old protester to the ground at a gas station in December while the individual was recording video. The Department of Homeland Security maintains the agent was acting in self-defense.
In California, the fatal New Year’s Eve shooting of 43-year-old Keith Porter by an off-duty ICE agent has sparked demonstrations and demands for an independent probe.
Federal law enforcement personnel typically receive extensive legal protections while performing official duties, and the Justice Department has strongly opposed state attempts to arrest or charge federal agents.
U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated late last year that arresting federal officers during duty performance would be “illegal and futile,” referencing constitutional supremacy provisions and federal statutes.
However, legal scholars note these protections have limits and that supremacy clauses don’t create unlimited immunity from prosecution.
ICE operations face heightened examination amid rapid personnel expansion and concerns that background screening for new hires may have been inadequate.
The Colorado confrontation stemmed from October 27 protests following the detention of three Colombian asylum seekers – an adult and two minors – who were traveling to school that morning. Demonstrators later assembled outside the ICE facility in Durango, a mountain college community popular with outdoor enthusiasts.
Video evidence shows the masked agent restraining Stagi in what she characterized as a chokehold. Such restraint techniques have become central to debates over excessive force since Eric Garner’s 2014 death in New York following a police chokehold incident.
Stagi, who previously worked as a hypnotherapist before retiring, said she touched the agent’s shoulder to gain his attention. She alleges he then seized her hair, wrapped his arm around her neck, and dragged her across the street by her head before pushing her down a nearby slope.
Charging documents name Customs and Border Protection officer Nicholas Rice as the defendant in the third-degree assault case, alleging he caused physical harm to Stagi. The documents don’t detail her specific injuries or reference chokehold allegations. No legal representation for Rice was listed in court filings.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which initiated its own internal investigation, has not responded to inquiries about the criminal charges.
While Stagi expressed disappointment that Rice faces lesser charges, she hopes the prosecution demonstrates that immigration officers cannot use excessive force or tackle individuals without justification.
Crude oil markets retreated Thursday despite ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran that have disrupted a vital shipping corridor for global energy supplies.
Brent crude dropped 15 cents to $101.76 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate declined 14 cents to $92.82. The decrease followed Wednesday’s significant rally that pushed Brent above $100 for the first time in over two weeks.
Both oil benchmarks had surged more than $3 Wednesday after U.S. inventory data showed unexpectedly large decreases in gasoline and distillate stockpiles, combined with continued diplomatic deadlock between Washington and Tehran.
President Trump extended a temporary ceasefire following intervention by Pakistani mediators, though both countries continue limiting vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow waterway previously handled approximately 20% of worldwide oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before hostilities erupted in late February with American and Israeli strikes against Iran.
Iranian forces captured two vessels in the Strait Wednesday, further tightening control over the strategic passage. The U.S. Navy maintains a maritime blockade of Iranian commerce, while Iranian parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated that comprehensive peace talks require lifting the naval restrictions.
American military forces have stopped at least three Iranian oil tankers in Asian waters, redirecting them from positions near India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, according to shipping and security sources Wednesday.
Trump’s Tuesday ceasefire extension marked another instance of stepping back from threats to target Iranian infrastructure including power facilities and bridges. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed no timeline has been established for the extended truce.
Meanwhile, American petroleum exports reached unprecedented levels, climbing 137,000 barrels daily to a record 12.88 million barrels per day as Asian and European nations secured alternative supplies amid Iran-related disruptions.
The Energy Information Administration reported Wednesday that U.S. crude inventories increased while refined product stockpiles decreased. Crude supplies grew by 1.9 million barrels, exceeding analyst predictions of a 1.2 million barrel decline.
Gasoline inventories fell 4.6 million barrels compared to forecasted drops of 1.5 million barrels. Distillate stocks decreased 3.4 million barrels versus expected declines of 2.5 million barrels.
Major international shipping companies are demanding guaranteed security before resuming operations through the Strait of Hormuz, according to top industry executives speaking at a maritime conference in Singapore on Wednesday.
Jotaro Tamura, who leads Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, one of the world’s largest shipping firms and biggest operator of oil and gas tankers, expressed disappointment about recent developments in the region.
“Two weeks ago when the ceasefire, said to be temporary, came into picture, we thought there was hope. But in reality, the agreement was not translated into the safety and passage (of the vessels),” Tamura told reporters during the Singapore Maritime Week conference.
Even if the waterway becomes accessible again, Tamura emphasized that security concerns would persist. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has issued warnings about mines in the area surrounding the strait.
“It’s a question of the definition of open. Is it really open, or is it half open? Is it open, but there is risk?” Tamura explained. “At some point in time, it (voyages) will resume, and normalisation comes into picture. But it’s hard to foresee how reality would be.”
Regarding potential toll payments to Iran, Tamura stated that his company’s stance follows international maritime law, which guarantees free passage through the strait.
Alexander Saverys, head of Belgium’s CMB.Tech, which operates more than 250 vessels across various maritime sectors, echoed similar concerns about the uncertain situation.
“We cannot hedge. We just need to wait for what is going to happen in the Middle East,” Saverys said at the same Singapore conference. “It is creating a lot of uncertainty.”
“We need to be confident that we can transit without having any issues,” he continued. “Today we have no reassurance whatsoever. We will only get the reassurance once we see that ships can pass through the straits in a safe and sustainable way.”
Saverys maintained that the Strait of Hormuz should remain toll-free, stating: “The Strait of Hormuz is a free passage where normally no toll should be paid. If that would change in the future, we will investigate.”
The executive refused to disclose how many of his company’s vessels are currently trapped in the Gulf region, though he confirmed ongoing discussions with various governments to ensure safe navigation for their fleet.
“We’re in communication with all the governments to see and to make sure that our vessels can navigate. But right now, as you know, the situation is not safe yet,” Saverys said.
Commercial shipping through the critical waterway has come to a near-complete halt following the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran conflict on February 28, severely impacting energy distribution from Gulf nations.
Under normal circumstances, approximately 130 vessels traverse the strait daily, carrying roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
English golfer Matt Fitzpatrick has captured widespread public interest heading into next month’s PGA Championship following his climb to a career-high No. 3 position in the Official World Golf Ranking.
The 31-year-old secured a dramatic playoff victory over top-ranked Scottie Scheffler at Sunday’s RBC Heritage tournament, capping off an impressive stretch that included a second-place finish at The Players Championship, a victory at the Valspar Championship, and an 18th-place showing at the Masters.
Despite stumbling with a bogey on the final regulation hole Sunday that forced a playoff with Scheffler, Fitzpatrick recovered brilliantly by hitting a 4-iron approach shot through strong winds to within 13 feet of the pin, then sinking the birdie putt to claim victory on the first playoff hole.
The strong performance has dramatically shifted betting markets, with Fitzpatrick’s PGA Championship odds improving from 35/1 to 20/1 according to Oddschecker. The 2022 U.S. Open winner has attracted the most wagering action this week, drawing 23% of all PGA Championship winner bets placed since his Harbor Town triumph.
Cameron Young ranks as the second-most popular betting choice this week, capturing 6% of total wagers alongside Ludvig Aberg, Sam Burns, and Justin Rose. Young previously defeated Fitzpatrick at The Players Championship.
Despite the recent attention on other players, Scheffler remains the tournament favorite with 7/2 odds, translating to a 22% probability of victory. He has drawn 5% of this week’s betting action, matching the percentage for LIV Golf’s Jon Rahm.
Masters winner Rory McIlroy holds the second-best pre-tournament odds at 7/1, while Rahm sits at 12/1. Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau follow at 16/1, with both Fitzpatrick and Young positioned at 20/1.
Looking ahead to this week’s action, Fitzpatrick will team with his brother Alex as co-favorites for the Zurich Classic, the PGA Tour’s sole team competition. The Fitzpatrick brothers share 11/1 odds with the pairing of Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry.
Shares of Australian pharmaceutical company CSL continued their downward spiral Thursday, reaching their lowest point since 2017 after the Pentagon announced it would no longer require military personnel to receive annual flu vaccinations.
The U.S. Defense Department’s Tuesday announcement represents a complete reversal of a decades-old policy and has sparked concerns about reduced demand from one of CSL’s major institutional customers.
“The Pentagon’s move was a meaningful catalyst for the sell-off and could be the straw that finally breaks the camel’s back,” explained Marc Jocum, senior product and investment strategist at GlobalXETFs.
“CSL was already carrying a heavy load around falling U.S. flu vaccination rates, weaker Seqirus earnings, and delayed strategic plans, and this decision simply adds incremental pressure at the worst possible time,” Jocum added.
The company’s shares dropped by as much as 0.8 percent, marking a yearly decline exceeding 25 percent and hitting levels not seen since late August 2017.
CSL relies heavily on the United States as its primary revenue generator, according to company financial reports. The firm’s vaccine operations, which include influenza immunizations distributed through its CSL Seqirus division, represent one of its most lucrative business segments.
CSL Seqirus brought in approximately $2.17 billion during fiscal 2025, accounting for roughly 14 percent of the company’s overall revenue.
The stock had already faced significant pressure due to declining demand for plasma-based treatments, increased collection and production expenses, and several earnings reductions throughout the past year.
CSL, which began as a government research facility before becoming a market favorite, has faced investor criticism over its stock performance. The company, once Australia’s most valuable publicly traded stock, plummeted approximately 39 percent last year in its steepest annual decline since 2002.
Market participants have also expressed skepticism about the recovery timeline for CSL’s primary plasma operations, which suffered major disruptions during the coronavirus pandemic.
“The real issue runs deeper: slowing earnings momentum, a more volatile vaccine segment, and a lack of clarity around the company’s forward strategy,” noted Hebe Chen, market analyst at Vantage Markets.
“A 5% drop (on Wednesday) of this magnitude signals the market is still repricing that broader confidence gap, with CSL yet to convincingly find a floor,” Chen concluded.
The New York Jets remain tight-lipped about their plans for the second overall selection in Thursday night’s NFL draft.
However, major sportsbooks believe they’re detecting a pattern: David Bailey, the pass rusher from Texas A&M, has overtaken Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese as the betting favorite to be chosen right after the Las Vegas Raiders select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first pick.
Just one day earlier, BetMGM had Reese listed at -400 odds to be the second pick, while Bailey was available at +200. At that point, Bailey led in total number of bets placed at 21.2%, while Reese attracted the most money wagered at 37.2%. However, by Wednesday evening, Bailey had become the favorite at -145 odds, with Reese dropping significantly to +110.
DraftKings similarly shows Bailey at -150 to be selected second overall, Reese at +115, and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love far behind at +8000.
This dramatic shift in betting patterns happened even though the Jets canceled Bailey’s scheduled “top 30” visit to their facility. Jets head coach Aaron Glenn minimized the significance of not hosting Bailey for a pre-draft workout, and Bailey echoed that sentiment Wednesday, explaining he has maintained extensive communication with team leadership and recently connected with them via FaceTime.
Another consideration remains whether the Jets will actually use that second pick.
New York holds five selections among the first 103 picks and might choose to trade down from either the No. 2 or No. 16 positions Thursday evening. The team also possesses two second-round picks for Friday night.
Should the Jets remain at No. 2, the choice between Bailey and Reese has generated significant pre-draft discussion.
Field Level Media ranks the 6-foot-4, 243-pound Reese as the sixth-best prospect in the 2026 draft class, with the 6-3, 247-pound Bailey following closely at seventh.
Bailey shared the NCAA lead with 14.5 sacks this past season and has earned recognition as an exceptional athlete who demonstrates explosive first-step quickness. Analysts have drawn comparisons between Bailey and Denver Broncos pass rusher Nik Bonitto, who faced similar concerns about his run-stopping ability when he left Oklahoma before the 2022 draft.
Reese offers the ability to anchor the edge in a 3-4 defensive scheme or provide interior pressure in a 4-3 alignment. He also demonstrates coverage skills against tight ends and brings an appealing mix of physical tools and positional flexibility. However, comparisons to former pass rusher Barkevious Mingo, who failed to meet pre-draft expectations during his career, may have NFL decision-makers in the Jets’ position leaning toward Bailey instead.
SALISBURY, Md. – Salisbury University’s softball squad faced a challenging afternoon Wednesday as they were swept in a doubleheader by the nation’s top-ranked Virginia Wesleyan Marlins at Margie Knight Sea Gull Softball Stadium.
The undefeated Marlins, who improved to 38-0 on the season, dominated the opening contest with a 9-0 shutout victory over the Sea Gulls. Virginia Wesleyan continued their offensive onslaught in the second game, mercy-ruling Salisbury 12-3 in just five innings.
The losses dropped Salisbury’s record to 18-12 as they continue their season against one of the most formidable programs in collegiate softball. The Sea Gulls faced the challenge of competing against a Virginia Wesleyan team that has yet to taste defeat this year.
The Naval Academy baseball team secured a decisive 7-3 victory over the Hawks in recent college baseball action, despite an outstanding individual performance from the visiting team.
Hawks player Brown delivered his best offensive showing of the season, collecting four hits throughout the contest. However, his stellar performance at the plate wasn’t enough to prevent his team from falling to the Midshipmen.
The game saw Navy control the scoreboard for most of the matchup, ultimately winning by a four-run margin. While Brown’s season-high hitting display provided a bright spot for the Hawks, they were unable to generate enough offensive support to match the Midshipmen’s scoring output.
The loss adds another game to the Hawks’ record as they continue their season, while Navy extends their winning ways with the home victory.
Two people died and 30 others were rushed to hospitals following a dangerous chemical release at a West Virginia industrial facility, according to emergency officials.
The fatal incident took place at Catalyst Refiners, a business that specializes in silver recovery operations. Emergency management authorities report that employees were in the process of shutting down portions of the plant when the hazardous leak happened, triggering a toxic gas reaction.
Kanawha County Commission Emergency Management Director C.W. Sigman addressed the situation during a Wednesday press conference in Charleston, West Virginia, providing updates on the emergency response efforts.
The exact cause of the chemical release and the specific substances involved have not yet been disclosed by authorities as the investigation continues.
The University of Delaware women’s golf squad secured a runner-up finish at the Conference USA Championship held in Frisco, Texas this week.
The Blue Hens posted a combined team score of 884 strokes, finishing 20 shots over par during the three-day competition at Stonebriar Country Club’s Fazio Golf Course. The challenging 6,345-yard layout played to a par of 72.
Delaware’s strong team performance was highlighted by four players who earned spots among the tournament’s top 20 individual finishers, showcasing the depth and talent of the Blue Hens roster.
The second-place showing caps off a successful conference championship appearance for the Delaware women’s golf program at the prestigious Texas venue.
Goldey-Beacom College’s softball program has achieved another milestone by earning a spot in the season’s inaugural NCAA East Region rankings.
The Lightning’s inclusion in these regional rankings comes exactly one year following their groundbreaking debut in the NCAA Tournament, which marked the first time in the program’s history that the team had qualified for the national championship tournament.
This latest recognition demonstrates the continued growth and success of Goldey-Beacom’s softball program as they build upon last season’s historic achievements.
WASHINGTON — AI technology firm Anthropic filed a 96-page court document Wednesday arguing that its Claude artificial intelligence system operates beyond the company’s control once integrated into the Pentagon’s classified military networks. The filing represents the company’s effort to challenge the Trump administration’s classification of the firm as a potential supply chain threat.
The legal brief submitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. offers insight into the strategy Anthropic’s legal team plans to pursue in their lawsuit, which emerged from a disagreement over the use of AI in fully autonomous weapons systems and possible domestic surveillance applications.
The California-based technology firm argues that defense officials are unlawfully punishing the company by applying a security designation typically reserved for preventing foreign interference with critical national security infrastructure.
The appeals court previously denied Anthropic’s emergency motion to halt Pentagon actions during the ongoing evidence-gathering phase of the case.
Wednesday’s submission directly responds to judicial inquiries in preparation for May 19 oral arguments. Federal attorneys representing the Trump administration will submit their counter-arguments prior to the scheduled hearing.
Anthropic experienced a procedural loss in the Washington proceedings despite winning a related case on identical issues in San Francisco federal court. That victory led the Trump administration to withdraw the controversial designations, according to legal documents.
However, the absence of a comparable ruling in the Washington case continues to create uncertainty for Anthropic, which has emerged as a major player in the AI sector alongside competitor OpenAI. Following the Pentagon’s cancellation of a $200 million Anthropic contract due to their dispute, OpenAI secured an agreement to supply AI technology to military operations.
A federal immigration agent is facing criminal charges for assault and property damage after allegedly using a chokehold on a demonstrator during a protest in Colorado, according to prosecutors.
Bystander videos captured the October incident showing a masked federal agent dragging protester Franci Stagi across a street during a demonstration opposing the detention of three Colombian asylum-seekers in Durango, Colorado. Stagi alleges the officer grabbed her hair and applied a chokehold before throwing her down an embankment. Colorado has banned such restraint techniques since George Floyd’s 2020 death.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigations opened a probe into the agent’s conduct after Durango Police Chief Brice Current requested the inquiry, citing potential state law violations – a rare move involving federal officers.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which has opened its own internal investigation, received requests for comment about the charges against Officer Nicholas Rice but has not yet responded. Court filings do not identify legal representation for Rice.
According to Stagi, she was recording the officer outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in the outdoor recreation hub when he struck her hand forcefully, causing her to drop her phone. The retired hypnotherapist said she then touched the officer’s shoulder to get his attention before the alleged chokehold incident occurred. She reports ongoing arm pain that interferes with daily tasks like putting on clothing.
Charging documents accuse Rice of third-degree assault for causing physical harm to Stagi, though they do not detail her injuries or reference the chokehold allegations. Rice also faces criminal mischief charges for allegedly destroying Stagi’s mobile device.
Stagi expressed disappointment Wednesday that Rice received lesser charges. The misdemeanor assault count carries a maximum penalty of nearly one year behind bars. However, she hopes the case demonstrates that immigration agents cannot use unreasonable force against civilians.
“It did open my eyes to how quickly I can be under someone else’s control, and it’s frightening,” said Stagi, whose full legal name is Anne Francesca Stagi.
Federal agents typically enjoy extensive legal immunity while performing official duties, and the Justice Department has recently opposed state attempts to prosecute federal personnel. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche declared such arrests “illegal and futile” last year, referencing constitutional supremacy principles. Legal scholars note these protections are substantial but not unlimited.
Chokehold restrictions have become central to police reform discussions since Eric Garner’s 2014 death in New York after an officer applied the technique to the Black man.
Garner’s final words, “I can’t breathe,” became a Black Lives Matter movement rallying cry.
Though some states have prohibited chokeholds and similar tactics, comprehensive reform efforts have faced opposition.
Federal legislation banning chokeholds nationwide cleared the House in 2021 but never reached then-President Biden for signature. The measure honored Floyd, who died in Minneapolis when an officer knelt on his neck.
Colorado legislators banned chokeholds within weeks of Floyd’s death as part of comprehensive police reform measures. The new law strengthened weaker chokehold limitations enacted four years prior.
Russian emergency crews entered their third consecutive day Wednesday fighting a massive fire at an oil refinery along the Black Sea coast, sparked by a Ukrainian drone strike last week that has severely compromised air quality in the surrounding area.
The Tuapse refinery, which primarily exports its petroleum products, completely shut down operations Tuesday following the April 16 drone assault, according to two industry sources.
Regional emergency officials from Russia’s southern Krasnodar territory reported Wednesday that extensive firefighting efforts continue at the facility’s maritime terminal. “In Tuapse, firefighting operations are going on for the third day at a large fire at the sea terminal after a drone attack by the Kyiv regime,” the headquarters stated.
Emergency response teams have deployed 276 firefighters along with 77 specialized vehicles to combat the ongoing blaze.
The fire’s toxic emissions, combined with recent precipitation, have produced what officials describe as a “black coating” covering areas surrounding the terminal facility.
Environmental monitoring has detected dangerous chemical concentrations in the atmosphere, including benzene, xylene and particulate matter at levels two to three times above acceptable safety thresholds. Authorities have advised local residents to stay inside their homes, seal windows and doors, and regularly clean indoor surfaces.
“The situation will normalise as soon as the fire is extinguished,” officials stated.
Ukrainian forces have intensified their targeting of Russian energy facilities as the United States, previously involved in mediating peace negotiations to end the conflict, has redirected attention toward the situation in Iran.
Russian authorities report that strikes on both April 16 and April 20 against Tuapse caused significant damage to port transportation systems and ignited petroleum storage facilities.
The University of Delaware baseball team delivered a commanding performance against St. Joseph’s on Wednesday, routing their opponents 11-2 in Merion Station, Pennsylvania.
The Fightin’ Blue Hens turned the game into a blowout during a spectacular fifth inning rally that saw Delaware plate seven runs to break the contest wide open.
The offensive outburst proved to be the decisive moment in what became a dominant road victory for the Blue Hens, who overwhelmed St. Joe’s with their hitting prowess during the crucial middle innings.
Delaware’s baseball squad showcased their offensive capabilities throughout the matchup, ultimately outscoring their hosts by a wide margin to claim the convincing win.
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Salisbury University women’s tennis team faced a challenging return to competition Wednesday, suffering a shutout defeat against the nationally-ranked Mary Washington Eagles.
After a lengthy 20-day break from competition, the Sea Gulls were unable to find their rhythm against the 25th-ranked Eagles, falling 7-0 at Mary Washington’s Hegmann Family Courts.
The extended layoff appeared to impact Salisbury’s performance as they struggled to match the level of play from their highly-ranked opponents throughout the afternoon match.
A Lebanese reporter died Wednesday when Israeli forces targeted a residence in southern Lebanon where she had sought refuge while covering the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict, according to rescue officials who said her remains weren’t recovered from the debris until hours after the attack.
Amal Khalil, a correspondent for the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper, was fatally wounded in the southern community of al-Tiri, the publication reported.
Khalil had been documenting the Lebanon conflict between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants that reignited in early March alongside the broader U.S.-Israeli military action in Iran. She sought safety in the al-Tiri residence after an initial Israeli bombardment struck close to the vehicle she was using with a fellow reporter.
According to Lebanon’s health ministry, the initial attack claimed two lives. Israeli forces then launched a second strike against the al-Tiri house where Khalil and colleague Zeinab Faraj had taken refuge.
Rescue personnel initially managed to reach Faraj, who sustained severe injuries, and recover the two victims from the first bombing. However, Israeli troops opened fire on the rescue workers, forcing them to abandon efforts to reach Khalil, ministry officials stated.
Khalil remained trapped beneath the wreckage for several hours before Lebanese military units, civil defense teams and the Lebanese Red Cross could access the location. Her remains were finally extracted just before midnight, at least six hours following the strike.
Israeli military officials claimed that people in the community had breached ceasefire agreements, putting their soldiers at risk. Israel rejected accusations that it deliberately targets media personnel or blocked rescue operations from entering the zone. Military leaders said they were investigating the incident.
“Killing of journalists is a crime and a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian law,” stated Lebanon’s Information Minister Paul Morcos.
Khalil’s death occurred as Israeli and Lebanese representatives prepare for a second round of direct negotiations in Washington aimed at extending the ceasefire that began last Friday.
A native of southern Lebanon, Khalil had reported from the region for al-Akhbar since 2006. Her recent coverage focused on Israeli destruction of Lebanese residences in communities now occupied by Israeli military forces within Lebanon.
Her death raises to nine the total number of media workers killed in Lebanon this year. Israeli attacks have resulted in at least 2,300 deaths and displaced over one million people since the current Israel-Hezbollah war began March 2.
Earlier Wednesday, Reporters Without Borders demanded international intervention to pressure Israeli forces to permit Khalil’s rescue. The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed “outrage” over what appeared to be deliberate targeting of the two reporters and warned that blocking rescue efforts “may amount to a war crime.”
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun requested that the Lebanese Red Cross work with military forces and U.N. peacekeepers “to carry out the rescue operation” as rapidly as possible.
In late March, three journalists covering the conflict died in an Israeli attack on southern Lebanon. Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV reported that veteran correspondent Ali Shoeib was among the victims. Israeli military officials said they had deliberately targeted Shoeib, claiming he served as a Hezbollah intelligence agent, though they offered no proof.
The same strike also killed reporter Fatima Ftouni of Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV and her brother Mohammed Ftouni, who worked as a video journalist.
Several days before that incident, an Israeli strike on a central Beirut apartment killed Mohammed Sherri, who directed political programming at Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV, along with his spouse.
A prediction betting platform has disciplined three congressional candidates who violated company rules by placing wagers on their own election races, the company announced Wednesday.
Kalshi imposed five-year suspensions and financial penalties on the trio, marking another significant incident involving potential insider trading on prediction markets that have drawn increased attention from lawmakers calling for tighter oversight.
The company’s enforcement action targeted Mark Moran, an independent candidate seeking Virginia’s U.S. Senate seat; Ezekiel Enriquez, who competed in a Texas Republican House primary; and Matt Klein, a Democratic state legislator from Minnesota pursuing a U.S. House position.
According to Kalshi’s findings, both Klein and Enriquez wagered amounts under $100 on outcomes involving their own campaigns. Moran acknowledged on social media that he placed a $100 bet on his own candidacy.
The financial consequences varied based on each candidate’s cooperation with the investigation. Moran, who declined to negotiate a settlement with Kalshi, received the steepest penalty exceeding $6,200. Klein and Enriquez, who agreed to settlements, face fines of more than $530 and $780 respectively. The disciplinary measures represent company enforcement rather than government regulatory action.
Rather than disputing the accusations, Moran used social media Wednesday to defend his actions as a deliberate attempt to spotlight problems with prediction markets.
“We live in a Country destroyed by vice, which Kalshi directly contribute to,” Moran posted on X, explaining his trade aimed to “highlight how this company is destroying young men.”
Klein similarly acknowledged the company’s conclusions in his own social media statement Wednesday. He described his $50 October wager as his initial experience with prediction markets, driven by curiosity about their operations.
“This was a mistake and I apologize,” Klein stated, adding that the incident demonstrated the need for enhanced market regulation.
Enriquez, commonly called Zeke, was unsuccessful in his House bid, securing less than two percent of votes when his race concluded in early March. Attempts to reach Enriquez for response were unsuccessful.
The Department of Defense announced that Navy Secretary John Phelan is stepping down from his role as the Navy’s highest-ranking civilian leader, effective immediately.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed Phelan’s exit, stating he is “departing the administration, effective immediately.” Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao has been named to serve as acting secretary of the Navy.
This departure marks another significant change in the Pentagon’s senior leadership ranks, with Phelan’s exit adding to a series of high-level defense official departures in recent months.
WASHINGTON D.C. — A baby Asian elephant is capturing hearts in the nation’s capital after stepping into public view for the first time Wednesday at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. The female calf, named Linh Mai, represents a milestone as the first elephant born at the facility in 25 years.
Linh Mai arrived on February 2nd, born to mother Nhi Linh following an almost two-year gestation period.
According to Robbie Clark, who manages the zoo’s elephant program, the young pachyderm has quite the personality. “Linh Mai is a hoot, she’s a fantastic little elephant to get to know,” Clark explained.
Clark went on to describe the calf’s developing character traits. “She’s very curious,” Clark added. “She’s learning how to be quite playful with the enrichment and the environment that she’s living in, and she’s confident.”
The zoo houses its Asian elephant population in a spacious habitat known as Elephant Trails, featuring outdoor pathways and water features. Those unable to make the trip to Washington can observe Linh Mai through the zoo’s online elephant camera.
Civil rights organizations filed legal action Wednesday against Alaska’s election administrators, claiming the state’s decision to turn over complete voter registration records to federal authorities violates constitutional privacy protections.
According to the Brennan Center, Alaska joins at least 12 states that have handed over or committed to providing comprehensive voter information — including birth dates, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers — to the Trump administration. Both Alaska and Texas entered into formal agreements when transferring this data, allowing the federal department to conduct its own voter file analysis, identify potential issues with voter rolls, and provide guidance for removing voters considered ineligible.
While several additional states complied with data requests, they declined to sign similar agreements as part of the Justice Department’s broad initiative to collect detailed voter information from all 50 states. Some election administrators have voiced concerns that this information could be used by the Trump administration to identify potential non-citizens on voter rolls.
The League of Women Voters of Alaska and Alaska Black Caucus brought the state court case against Division of Elections leadership. Their complaint argues that releasing personal voter information breaches privacy rights guaranteed under Alaska’s constitution. The filing also contends that the memorandum of understanding undermines due process by permitting the Justice Department to mark voters for removal “without any apparent notice or process for impacted voters to challenge those decisions.”
Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, who supervises the division, and division Director Carol Beecher are named as defendants in the case. Division spokesperson Steve Kirch directed comment requests to the Alaska Department of Law, which has not yet responded.
Legal representation for the plaintiffs comes from the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska, ACLU Voting Rights Project and the Electronic Privacy Information Center.
The Brennan Center reports that the Justice Department has initiated lawsuits against at least 30 states plus the District of Columbia attempting to compel data release. Courts have denied these federal efforts in California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon and most recently Rhode Island. A Georgia judge dismissed one Justice Department lawsuit for being filed in an incorrect jurisdiction, though it was later refiled.
During the Rhode Island proceedings, Justice Department lawyers admitted the agency wanted unredacted voter data for sharing with the Department of Homeland Security to verify citizenship status.
Beyond Alaska’s state court challenge, at least four federal cases have been filed nationwide aimed at blocking the Justice Department from gathering unredacted voter registration information or preventing states from canceling voter registrations based on this federal initiative.
At a legislative hearing in Alaska last month, state Department of Law attorney Rachel Witty informed lawmakers that Alaska had a “compelling interest” in responding to the federal data request.
“To ensure the integrity of elections, there was a mutual interest in maintaining voters rolls that were accurate and current,” she said.
The Alaska complaint outlines state procedures for maintaining voter registration lists and notes that only specific circumstances allow for immediate voter registration cancellation — “upon death or conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude.” While election officials claim they will only remove voters “to the extent allowed by state and federal law,” the lawsuit argues this interpretation conflicts with “the plain language” of the Justice Department agreement.
The legal challenge asks a judge to invalidate the agreement and order the elections division to make “reasonable efforts” to ensure immediate destruction of all physical and electronic copies of the shared voter list by the Justice Department.
“Rather than fiercely defending the rights of Alaska’s voters, our Division of Elections acceded to federal overreach,” Eric Glatt, legal director for the ACLU of Alaska, said in a statement. “Now, we are asking the court to step in and ensure that DOE upholds its constitutional and legal obligations to Alaskans.”
A woman who previously worked for YouTube sensation MrBeast’s production company has filed a federal lawsuit claiming she was terminated following her return from maternity leave and endured years of sexual harassment on the job.
Lorrayne Mavromatis filed the legal action in North Carolina federal court on Wednesday against MrBeastYouTube, LLC and GameChanger 24/7, LLC, claiming violations of federal employment protections that guarantee eligible workers unpaid leave for family and medical situations, including childbirth. She has also lodged a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission citing discrimination based on sex, pregnancy, and retaliation.
According to Mavromatis, she continued working around the clock after giving birth and even while in the hospital delivery room. “I was still bleeding, and I just had to show up,” Mavromatis stated during an Associated Press interview.
She says her employment was terminated fewer than three weeks after resuming full-time duties.
A representative for Beast Industries dismissed the legal filing as a “clout-chasing complaint” containing “deliberate misrepresentations and categorically false statements” in a written response. The company maintains Mavromatis lost her job due to restructuring by a new ecommerce director who eliminated her role.
The organization provided documentation of a March 31, 2025 workplace chat where a colleague advised Mavromatis she “shouldn’t even be checking” messages after she postponed a meeting, writing she was “actually in labor at the hospital as we speak.” Responding to claims they failed to notify her about Family and Medical Leave Act protections, the company showed proof of her acknowledgment of receiving employee policies including FMLA guidelines.
“We will not submit to opportunistic lawyers looking to manufacture a payday from us,” their statement declared.
The legal complaint presents troubling claims about workplace conditions at the organization behind YouTube’s biggest content creator, as new leadership works to rapidly grow the media business established by Jimmy Donaldson, known professionally as MrBeast.
The lawsuit describes a harmful, male-dominated work environment that Beast Industries has recently attempted to reform while Donaldson’s entertainment empire pursues major expansions into television programming and financial technology. His “Beast Games” Amazon Prime competition series has secured two seasons, and the company recently purchased Step, a banking application targeting teenagers.
Concerns about Beast Industries’ workplace atmosphere emerged two years ago following online controversy over Donaldson’s previous offensive language and allegations that a long-time associate sent inappropriate messages to underage individuals. In an August 2024 message to staff, Donaldson acknowledged his responsibility to “create a culture that makes all our employees feel safe and allows them to do their best work.”
Following an external investigation that found “isolated instances” of workplace harassment and inappropriate behavior, Beast Industries terminated multiple workers.
Donaldson has expanded his influence in American media beyond YouTube platforms. He attended last year’s MTV Video Music Awards, promoted business software company Salesforce during a Super Bowl advertisement, and joined the voice cast for the forthcoming “Angry Birds Movie 3.”
Beast Industries, which had approximately 450 employees last year, maintains its growth trajectory. The organization has actively recruited leadership talent from major companies like NBCUniversal and TikTok as it seeks success independent of Donaldson’s personal brand.
The timing of Mavromatis’s lawsuit precedes Thursday’s TIME100 event in New York City, where Donaldson will receive recognition as one of the publication’s most influential figures, alongside Pope Leo XIV, President Donald Trump, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
According to the lawsuit, Beast Industries pushed workers to “go to great lengths” to complete assignments, referencing a 36-page employee manual titled “HOW TO SUCCEED IN MRBEAST PRODUCTION” that was distributed during Mavromatis’s tenure. The document contained sections stating “It’s okay for the boys to be childish” and “The Amount of hours you work is irrelevant.”
Within this work culture, Mavromatis says she participated in a team conference call from her hospital bed during active labor, fearing termination if she declined.
“I actually had to hold my breath in between talks because of how hard the contractions were,” she explained.
The 34-year-old Mavromatis began working as MrBeast’s Instagram director in August 2022 and received two promotions within twelve months. From June 2023 through January 2024, she managed the company’s verticals division in an executive capacity.
Several months into her employment, she approached James Warren — Donaldson’s cousin and the CEO at that time — seeking guidance after observing that Donaldson avoided direct eye contact with her.
The legal filing states Warren told her: “Jimmy gets really awkward around beautiful women. Let’s just say that when you’re around and he goes to the restroom, he’s not actually using the restroom.”
The company explained Donaldson’s frequent bathroom visits as related to his Crohn’s disease diagnosis.
After Mavromatis brought sexual harassment concerns and hostile workplace conditions to human resources, which was overseen by Donaldson’s mother, the lawsuit claims she was reassigned and downgraded to “an obscure role.” The company disputes this characterization, labeling it “false and inaccurate.”
TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund at the National Women’s Law Center, established during the early #MeToo movement addressing sexual misconduct, announced its support for Mavromatis’s case.
“Abusive workplaces rely on a persistent lack of accountability. We see this pattern frequently, where those with influence and power are allowed to harm others and retaliate against those who decide to speak up,” stated senior director Jennifer Mondino. “We are in a collective fight to address a longstanding culture of harassment that relies on entrenched silence and shame.”
Authorities in Iowa City have issued an arrest warrant for a 17-year-old suspect on attempted murder charges after a weekend shooting that wounded five individuals in the downtown entertainment area adjacent to the University of Iowa campus.
The incident occurred early Sunday morning and left five people with gunshot injuries, three of whom are University of Iowa students, according to Iowa City Police Chief Dustin Liston. As of Wednesday, one female victim continues to fight for her life in critical condition after suffering a severe head injury.
Law enforcement reports indicate the shooting stemmed from a massive altercation involving potentially 40 individuals. Officers responded to the disturbance and reached the scene in under a minute, Liston stated.
According to authorities, the teenage suspect from Cedar Rapids stepped away from the brawl before allegedly discharging his weapon six times into the busy pedestrian zone. The downtown pedestrian mall features numerous establishments including bars, restaurants and retail stores.
Johnson County Attorney Rachel Zimmermann Smith confirmed the minor will face adult charges initially, as mandated by Iowa state law for forcible felony accusations against defendants 16 years old and above.
Smith indicated that five attempted murder counts will be filed once the suspect is taken into custody.
Chief Liston noted the investigation remains active with more charges anticipated. Law enforcement has already carried out approximately three dozen search warrants in connection with the case.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to hold those responsible fully accountable,” Liston stated, encouraging anyone with knowledge about the incident or the suspect’s whereabouts to contact authorities.
The five individuals who were shot were not “targets of the shooting,” according to Liston. “We have no reason to believe they were otherwise affiliated with the fight that preceded the shooting.”
Liston detailed the remaining victims’ conditions, noting injuries to various body parts including arms, chest, legs and abdomen. One person remains hospitalized in stable condition while three others have been discharged from medical care.
Federal authorities took extraordinary measures this week by dispatching a government aircraft to Cuba to retrieve a 10-year-old Utah child caught in the middle of a complex international custody dispute centered around gender identity issues.
Rose Inessa-Ethington, a transgender woman, stands accused of taking her child to Cuba without authorization from the biological mother. Government officials worked to bring the child home after a family member raised concerns that Inessa-Ethington had traveled to Havana seeking gender transition procedures for the minor.
Both Rose Inessa-Ethington and her partner Blue Inessa-Ethington face arrest and federal charges for international parental kidnapping.
The pair departed with the child to Canada in late March, claiming they were taking a camping vacation along with Blue’s 3-year-old. However, after notifying the older child’s mother of their Canadian arrival, the adults disabled their phones. Court documents filed Monday in Utah federal court reveal they flew from Vancouver through Mexico before reaching Cuba on April 1.
Federal charges do not specify whether the couple actually intended to pursue gender-affirming procedures for the child in Cuba, nor do they explain how such treatment would be obtained since Cuban law prohibits these surgeries for minors.
FBI investigators discovered that Blue Inessa-Ethington had withdrawn $10,000 from her bank account prior to departure. Federal agents also located a note at their residence containing guidance from a Washington, D.C. mental health professional “to send the therapist the $10,000.00 and instructions on gender affirming medical care for children.” The note made no reference to Cuba.
The deployment of a Department of Justice aircraft for this parental kidnapping case occurs as the Trump administration has worked to restrict access to gender-affirming treatments for minors and has pressured healthcare providers on this matter.
The Associated Press contacted court-appointed lawyers representing both Blue and Rose Inessa-Ethington in Virginia. Court records indicate the defendants will be transported to Utah to face individual charges of international parental kidnapping.
The search effort commenced April 3 when the child failed to return to the mother in Utah as planned, according to court filings. The 10-year-old’s mother, who had divorced Rose Inessa-Ethington and maintained joint custody, contacted Logan City police about 70 miles north of Salt Lake City to report the child missing.
Logan City Police Chief Jeff Simmons explained his department initially concentrated on the custodial interference aspects of the case, noting investigators only learned later about the gender-affirming surgery concerns.
Logan police spokesperson Sgt. Brandon Bevan confirmed those concerns came from one family member, though he refused to identify the individual.
“They just had the concern about it, no actual physical evidence” Bevan stated.
A Utah state court judge mandated the 10-year-old’s return to the biological mother on April 13. Three days following, a federal magistrate judge issued arrest warrants for the Inessa-Ethingtons. That same day, Cuban law enforcement found the group. They were expelled to the United States via government plane Monday and appeared in Richmond, Virginia federal court.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak in Utah confirmed in a statement that the 10-year-old was reunited with the biological mother. FBI representatives and Utah U.S. attorneys declined to reveal what occurred with the 3-year-old who had accompanied the group.
The parental custody battle appears to be an ongoing issue. An online fundraising campaign established five years ago by Blue Inessa-Ethington titled “Help a Trans Mother Keep Custody of Her Child” collected $9,766.
“Last week, Rose’s ex relocated several counties away, negatively impacting Rose’s parent-time with the child,” she explained in the fundraiser. She indicated the funds would help obtain a court order keeping the child “safe and stable throughout this process.”
Anyone familiar with Rose understands “how much care and thought she puts into parenting her gender open child,” she stated.
She added, “While her ex is not making an issue of Rose’s gender, as a trans woman, Rose is at a disadvantage against her cishet ex-wife. Rose also lacks the family resources and connections to face this litigation on her own.”
Family members claimed the child was born male but identifies as female due to what they considered “manipulation” by Rose Inessa-Ethington, according to an April 16 sworn statement from FBI Special Agent Jennifer Waterfield.
The Trump administration implemented restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors in December, leading one-third of states to file lawsuits.
This represents the most recent confrontation between an administration claiming transgender healthcare can harm children and advocates arguing it constitutes medically necessary treatment.
Research indicates gender-affirming surgery remains uncommon among American children. Additionally, fewer than 1 in 1,000 U.S. teenagers receive gender-affirming medications.
In February, the country’s largest professional plastic surgery organization advised postponing gender-affirming surgeries until patients reach age 19, departing from guidance provided by several other prominent medical organizations.
Cuban law prohibits gender-affirming surgeries for minors and only permits them for adults through the public healthcare system under strict oversight in designated public hospitals for Cuban nationals. Medical commission authorization is required following comprehensive patient file review. This process frequently requires years due to extensive medical and psychological evaluations needed.
The University of Delaware has announced that its annual fundraising campaign, I Heart UD Giving Day, will take place on April 29.
The university-wide giving initiative will focus on raising funds for Delaware Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation programs. Supporters can participate by making donations to benefit these campus activities and services.
The Blue Hens are encouraging community members and alumni to mark their calendars for the upcoming fundraising event, which serves as a key annual opportunity to support various university programs and initiatives.
SALISBURY, Md. – Salisbury University’s baseball squad, currently ranked 12th nationally, extended their winning streak to five consecutive games Wednesday with a dominant 28-0 shutout victory over St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
The Sea Gulls improved their season record to 25 wins in the mercy rule game that concluded after seven innings at Donnie Williams Sea Gull Baseball Stadium.
The lopsided victory showcased the team’s offensive firepower as they completely overwhelmed the visiting Seahawks in what became a one-sided affair from the opening inning.
San Antonio Spurs guard Keldon Johnson has earned recognition as the NBA’s premier reserve player this season.
The versatile guard appeared in every contest for San Antonio, coming off the bench in all 82 games and joining an exclusive group as just the second NBA player in ten years to accomplish this feat. Johnson also made franchise history by becoming the first Spurs reserve to reach 1,000 points in a single season. Throughout the campaign, San Antonio consistently promoted him as the league’s top bench player.
NBA voters validated that assessment Wednesday evening when Johnson was named Sixth Man of the Year, making him only the second Spurs player to claim this honor alongside Manu Ginobili, who won in 2008. The recognition marks Johnson’s first individual NBA accolade, adding to his gold medal from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics as part of Team USA.
“I started for a long time,” Johnson said on ESPN. “Now, it’s my time to come off the bench. I just continue to analyze the game, come off the bench, go in there and just do my thing.”
Johnson defeated Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Denver’s Tim Hardaway Jr. for the award. Jaquez paced all bench players in scoring and double-figure scoring performances for Miami, while Hardaway connected on a reserve-leading 205 three-pointers and ranked fourth in scoring for Denver.
This marked Hardaway and Jaquez’s ninth-place tie in 2024 voting. Hardaway previously finished fifth in 2021, tenth in 2017, and tied for thirteenth during his 2014 rookie campaign.
The honor caps an extraordinary two-season stretch for Johnson, who has logged 159 games over the past two years exclusively as a reserve. No other NBA player has approached that total without making a single start during this timeframe.
“I wanted to be part of something special here in San Antonio,” Johnson said. “I knew that in order for me to really be the best for our team that coming off the bench was probably my best possibility. At first, it was tough. I had to (control) my ego and put the team first. After that, the sky was the limit.”
This represents the third postseason award announcement and San Antonio’s second honor, marking the first with genuine suspense regarding the winner.
Victor Wembanyama made history Monday as the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year selection in San Antonio franchise history. Tuesday saw Oklahoma City’s reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander capture Clutch Player of the Year honors with 96 of 100 first-place votes.
Thursday will bring the Sportsmanship Award announcement, featuring division representatives Miami’s Bam Adebayo (Southeast), San Antonio’s Harrison Barnes (Southwest), Gilgeous-Alexander (Northwest), Golden State’s Al Horford (Pacific), Indiana’s T.J. McConnell (Central), and Boston’s Derrick White (Atlantic). Players vote for this award rather than the media panel that determines most other honors.
Friday’s Most Improved Player reveal will feature Atlanta’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Portland’s Deni Avdija, or Detroit’s Jalen Duren.
Additional awards awaiting announcement include Coach of the Year (Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff, San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson, or Boston’s Joe Mazzulla), Rookie of the Year (Philadelphia’s VJ Edgecombe, Dallas’ Cooper Flagg, or Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel), and MVP (Gilgeous-Alexander, Wembanyama, or Denver’s Nikola Jokic).
CLEVELAND — After Wednesday’s victory over Cleveland, a sparkling championship belt in boxing style hung over Yordan Alvarez’s locker room chair. Once again, he stood as Houston’s premier performer without question.
Currently, no player across baseball is performing at a higher level.
“To be honest with you,” Astros shortstop Carlos Correa stated, “2026 Yordan is the closest thing I’ve seen to Barry Bonds.”
That’s quite a statement.
Alvarez connected on his MLB-best 11th home run of the season, a two-run blast in the opening frame, helping the injury-plagued Astros secure a 2-0 victory over the Guardians and claim two games in the three-game series against last year’s AL Central titleholders.
Though Houston has struggled early this season, Alvarez has maintained exceptional form.
The powerful 6-foot-4 designated hitter tops all major leaguers in home runs, RBIs (26), hits (33), extra-base hits (19), total bases (74), on-base percentage (.466), slugging percentage (.779) and OPS (1.245).
Such dominance explains why Correa draws comparisons to the legendary Bonds.
“Aaron Judge has a 1.200 OPS, but Yordan has done it a different way,” Correa explained. “He’s not swinging and missing much. He’s not striking out a lot. He’s walking a lot, that’s what Barry did.
“Yordan is getting the intentional-walk treatment every time first base is open. I don’t see any other player in the league they do that for.”
In the series conclusion, Alvarez recorded three hits in four plate appearances, pushing his hitting streak to nine consecutive games and his on-base streak to 18 games. He has launched home runs in four of his last six contests, becoming one of the few reliable constants for manager Joe Espada.
“He stays within himself and he knows how important it is for him to do damage,” Espada commented. “He’s a presence and he’s carrying us right now.”
Following Correa’s leadoff double in the first inning against Tanner Bibee, Alvarez drove a curveball from the right-handed pitcher 422 feet beyond the right field fence, providing Houston with a 2-0 advantage that lasted the entire game.
Bibee failed to hit catcher Bo Naylor’s intended location, and Alvarez capitalized on the mistake.
“It was the right pitch in that spot if I threw it where Bo wanted me to throw it,” Bibee acknowledged. “It was supposed to be in the dirt, threw it up and that guy, as good as he is and how hot he is right now, it’s going to happen. Just can’t make the mistake.”
Alvarez recorded singles to right field in his following two plate appearances before being retired on a sharp ground ball to first base in the eighth inning that he believed was foul territory. Alvarez remained in the batter’s box, appearing shocked that he had been retired.
Such has been his season-long dominance.
“At some point you’re expecting him to get out because the game is supposed to be so hard,” Correa observed. “When he’s going that good, you’re like, OK he’s due to get out here. And he just keeps raking. It’s incredible. It’s so much fun.
“I haven’t missed one swing of his all year because he’s must-watch TV.”
Alvarez remains modest about his scorching start to the campaign. Following a 2023 season limited to just 48 games due to injuries, he’s not taking his current success for granted while also recognizing his exceptional performance.
“I just want to find a good pitch and connect on the pitch and things are turning out for me right now,” Alvarez said, who became just the second Astros player alongside Lance Berkman (2002) to hit 11 home runs in the season’s first 26 games. “I’m not surprised with my results. That’s why I work so hard. Every at-bat that I have, I go aggressive.”
Tesla’s financial performance improved significantly during the first quarter as the electric vehicle manufacturer recovered from challenging vehicle sales throughout 2025.
The company reported quarterly earnings of $477 million, representing a 17% increase compared to the same period last year. Tesla posted earnings of 13 cents per share, though when accounting for specific adjustments, the per-share figure reached 41 cents, surpassing analyst predictions of 36 cents.
Total company revenue climbed to $22.39 billion, driven primarily by automotive sales that jumped 16% during the quarter.
Company leader Elon Musk continues to stress that Tesla’s long-term strategy focuses more on autonomous ride services than traditional vehicle sales, along with developing robotic technology for residential and commercial use. The company reported that miles traveled by its robotaxi fleet increased by 100% in the first quarter when compared to the previous quarter.
Tesla plans to launch robotaxi operations in additional metropolitan areas throughout this year. The company has also started manufacturing its Cybercab vehicles, which operate without traditional steering wheels or foot pedals.
Following the earnings announcement, Tesla stock prices increased nearly 4% during extended trading hours.
The wealthy leader of global skiing’s top organization has secured an unexpected path to re-election after his home nations declined to support his campaign.
Johan Eliasch, who holds dual citizenship in Britain and Sweden, will compete for another term as president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation with backing from Georgia, according to Wednesday’s candidate announcement from the organization’s headquarters in Oberhofen, Switzerland.
The revelation ended weeks of uncertainty about which country would sponsor Eliasch’s candidacy for the June 11 leadership vote. His situation became complicated when Britain’s snowsport federation chose to nominate its own chief executive, Victoria Gosling, while Swedish media outlets reported their national federation would not endorse Eliasch, who has faced criticism from various European skiing officials.
The billionaire businessman, who was born in Sweden and owns the Head equipment company that supplies skis to elite athletes like Lindsey Vonn, previously won the FIS leadership role in 2021 with British support. He also competed unsuccessfully for the International Olympic Committee presidency last year as a British representative, losing to Kirsty Coventry. Eliasch has served as an IOC member since 2022.
Federation rules mandate that presidential hopefuls must possess valid citizenship documents from their sponsoring nation.
Questions had swirled around where Eliasch would secure nomination support, and it remains unclear why Georgia has stepped forward as his sponsor country.
Four additional candidates will challenge Eliasch: Dexter Paine representing the United States, Anna Harboe Falkenberg from Denmark, and Alexander Ospelt of Liechtenstein.
An international review panel will evaluate all nominees before the federation distributes the final candidate roster to member organizations on May 20.
The decisive election meeting is scheduled for Belgrade, Serbia in June.
MAIDUGURI, Borno (AP) — Eleven people lost their lives and two others sustained critical injuries when extremist fighters launched a deadly assault on a remote Nigerian village during overnight hours, according to local authorities who spoke Wednesday. The violence represents another chapter in the ongoing security challenges facing Africa’s most populated nation.
Tuesday night’s deadly raid occurred in Pubagu, a settlement located in an isolated region near Sambisa forest within Borno state, which serves as the center of Nigeria’s prolonged battle against extremist insurgency. Community members conducted burial ceremonies for the deceased on Wednesday and blamed the assault on the radical Boko Haram organization.
Local council chairman Mwada Saidu Uba spoke with The Associated Press, explaining that the community had historically been spared from such violence.
“Pubagu is one of the locations in our council area that had never suffered such an attack until yesterday,” he said after the funerals. The two injured were receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, he added.
Ward official Usman Rumirgo reported that the attackers torched multiple residences before departing the location.
Remote farming communities frequently face assaults from extremist organizations and criminal gangs that exploit Nigeria’s expansive countryside and weaknesses in security coverage.
The most notable extremist organizations operating within Nigeria include Boko Haram along with its splinter group that maintains ties to the Islamic State and operates under the name Islamic State West Africa Province, or ISWAP. Additional threats come from the Islamic State-connected Lakurawa organization, plus various criminal networks focused on kidnapping operations and unauthorized mining activities.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared Wednesday that the United States cannot unilaterally establish conditions for the continental trade pact known as USMCA, highlighting challenges that lie ahead of the agreement’s scheduled July review.
The trade arrangement, which originated in the early 1990s, has deeply connected the economies of three North American nations but has encountered difficulties due to President Donald Trump’s frequently shifting tariff strategies.
During a press conference in Ottawa, Carney told journalists that adjusting the current version of the trade deal “will take some time.”
“We understand what some of the Americans would call trade irritants or trade issues are,” Carney stated. Trade irritants refer to policies that generate tension and conflicts in international commerce.
“We have some on our side as well,” he continued. “We will sit down and work through those issues with the broader approach in the negotiations.”
“It’s not a case of the United States dictates the terms. We have the negotiations. We can come to a mutually successful outcome,” Carney emphasized. “It will take some time.”
The Prime Minister’s statements followed a Radio-Canada report claiming that U.S. officials are requiring an “entry fee” for trade discussions with Canada and seeking concessions before talks commence.
When questioned about the radio report, Carney noted that in negotiations “people ask for concessions.” “We have strengths, we have options. We’re diversifying our options.”
Last week, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick criticized Canada’s negotiating stance, alleging that Canada depends too heavily on the American economy and calling it “outrageous” for Canadian provinces to exclude American alcohol from their stores.
Lutnick also condemned Carney for negotiating an agreement with China that reduces tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles from 100% to 6.1%, capped at 49,000 vehicles annually. China is expected to reciprocate by lowering retaliatory tariffs on Canadian farm exports.
A recent Office of the United States Trade Representative report identified several trade friction points, including some Canadian provinces’ refusal to carry American alcoholic beverages and steep tariffs on certain U.S. dairy imports.
Carney has vowed to safeguard Canada’s dairy, poultry and egg sectors during free trade negotiations with the United States.
The U.S. is also challenging Canada’s “Buy Canadian” policy, which prioritizes Canadian goods and workers for projects exceeding 25 million Canadian dollars, approximately $18 million USD.
When asked whether it was problematic that the U.S. hasn’t offered any concessions for negotiations, Carney did not directly respond.
In a 10-minute video released Sunday, Carney argued that Canada’s close economic relationship with the U.S., once considered an asset, has become a liability requiring correction. He noted that Trump’s tariffs have impacted automotive and steel industry workers.
He also discussed his administration’s efforts to bolster Canada’s economy through attracting new investment and establishing trade partnerships with additional nations.
FRISCO, Texas — An unexpected visitor brightened the Dallas Cowboys’ final NFL draft preparations Wednesday when former President Bill Clinton made a surprise appearance at the team’s headquarters.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was conducting his annual pre-draft media session when he spotted Clinton walking into the facility through the glass walls of the interview room.
The reunion between the two Arkansas natives created a memorable interruption as Jones nearly stumbled while rushing off the stage to greet his longtime friend. Clinton entered through a side entrance, drawing all attention to the impromptu meeting.
“He’s been a wonderful, not only president, but a friend over the years,” Jones told the gathered media. “And I’m really happy to have you here today.” Jones, who was born in Los Angeles but worked as an oil and gas entrepreneur in Arkansas before purchasing the Cowboys in 1989, has maintained his friendship with Clinton over the decades.
Clinton, flashing his signature smile, responded by saying, “Have a good draft day,” which led to both men sharing Arkansas football memories.
The media room features a photograph of Clinton welcoming the Cowboys to the White House after one of their 1990s Super Bowl championships, when Jones had recently departed Arkansas for Texas.
Jones recalled Clinton’s impressive memory from their first personal meeting: “And when I said hello to him on a personal basis, he listed, three-deep, every player … on the Arkansas Razorback national championship team. He was a young guy that was following the Hogs feverishly, mainly over the radio. So he’s a good man to have as a fan.”
The former president, who hails from Hope, Arkansas, and at 79 is four years Clinton’s junior, then demonstrated that sharp recall by quizzing Jones about his playing days.
“Tell ’em again the position you played,” Clinton prompted.
“Well, I was a guard. I was a pulling guard,” Jones replied.
“And how much did you weigh?” Clinton continued.
“About 185 pounds,” Jones answered.
Clinton then provided historical context: “And a couple of years before him we had a guard named Wayne Harris who weighed the same thing Jerry did, and he made first-team All-America. They were great guards, and it’s a different world now.”
When Jones mentioned he wouldn’t want to play pulling guard in today’s NFL, where offensive linemen typically exceed 300 pounds, Clinton quipped, “Yeah, you’d be the late Jerry Jones.”
Following their reunion, both Clinton and Jones departed, leaving executive vice president Stephen Jones, head coach Brian Schottenheimer, and scouting director Will McClay to continue the media session for another 25 minutes without the team’s typically omnipresent owner.
Four years after the Trump family launched Truth Social with ambitious promises to compete with major social platforms and streaming services, the company is undergoing major leadership changes amid continued financial struggles.
Trump Media & Technology Group announced Tuesday that longtime CEO Devin Nunes, a former Republican congressman and farmer, is stepping down. Digital media veteran Kevin McGurn will take over leadership of the struggling social media company.
The leadership shake-up comes as Trump Media faces mounting challenges. Since Donald Trump’s reelection victory in November 2024, the company’s stock has plummeted more than 60%, eliminating $6 billion in shareholder value. Investors continue to sell off shares despite the company’s efforts to expand beyond social media.
Trump created the platform in early 2022 following his removal from Twitter and Facebook after the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots. The social media venture began amid controversy and regulatory scrutiny from the start.
Federal regulators investigated the publicly traded shell company that merged with Truth Social, resulting in substantial financial penalties for misleading investors. The troubles extended to insider trading charges, with one board member receiving a prison sentence.
The platform’s original purpose became less clear when Trump regained access to Facebook and Twitter. As these platforms, especially X (formerly Twitter), reduced content moderation, Truth Social’s appeal as an alternative decreased significantly.
Today, Truth Social continues struggling to expand its user base beyond Trump’s core political supporters, even though the president uses the platform for major political announcements. Government ethics experts have criticized this practice as creating conflicts of interest with his presidential duties. Digital analytics firm Similarweb reported that Truth Social’s monthly users dropped on both web and mobile platforms compared to the previous year in March.
The company has reported losses exceeding $1 billion over the past two years. Stock prices reflect these financial difficulties, falling from approximately $62 when the company went public in 2024 to single-digit values today.
Facing these challenges, Trump Media has diversified into multiple new sectors. Last August, the company announced a cryptocurrency partnership with Crypto.com, planning to accumulate large amounts of Cronos tokens to build a “digital ecosystem” where users could make payments, earn rewards, and purchase services without traditional currency.
The company also invested heavily in bitcoin, raising $2.5 billion last year to purchase the cryptocurrency, following a strategy similar to MicroStrategy, a software company that transformed into a bitcoin investment firm. However, this approach carries significant risks, as demonstrated by MicroStrategy’s recent performance. Bitcoin values have declined sharply in recent months, causing MicroStrategy’s stock to drop nearly 60% since July.
In December, Trump Media announced another major pivot by merging with a nuclear fusion company. This emerging energy technology could potentially power the data centers required for artificial intelligence development and services, which are driving increased electricity demand across the industry.
This nuclear energy venture has attracted criticism due to heavy government regulation in the sector and Trump’s dual role as both a major Truth Social shareholder and U.S. president. His position gives him authority to influence regulations, laws, and funding that could benefit his companies or harm competitors.
The Trump administration appears actively involved in supporting fusion energy development. The Department of Energy released a roadmap in October outlining government assistance for the “burgeoning fusion private sector industry” to accelerate growth on a “rapid timeline.”
“There’s a huge conflict of interest,” said Richard Painter, who served as chief White House ethics lawyer during the George W. Bush administration. “The United States government is going to get all involved in it.”
New CEO Kevin McGurn brings extensive digital media experience from positions at NBC Universal, Hulu, and DoubleClick, providing business expertise that Nunes lacked during his tenure.
McGurn expressed optimism about the company’s future in Tuesday’s announcement, stating the organization was “poised to take off.”
“In carrying President Trump’s unique, singular vision and message, Truth Social stands for the most powerful brand and voice in history of social media and beyond,” he said.
Despite the leadership change and McGurn’s confident statements, investor skepticism persists. Wednesday afternoon trading saw the stock decline an additional 3.5% to $9.48, even with news of the new CEO appointment.
WASHINGTON — Defense Department officials confirmed Wednesday that Navy Secretary John Phelan has stepped down from his position, marking another significant change in military leadership.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell released a statement on social media confirming that Phelan was “departing the administration, effective immediately.”
Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao has been named as the interim Navy secretary, according to Parnell’s announcement.
The timing of Phelan’s exit is notable, occurring just one day following his participation at the Navy’s yearly conference in Washington, D.C., where he spoke to numerous sailors and defense industry representatives and discussed his priorities with members of the media.
This latest leadership change follows a series of similar departures in recent weeks, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s dismissal of Army’s top commander, Gen. Randy George. Hegseth has removed multiple high-ranking generals, admirals and other defense officials since assuming his role last year. Similar to previous dismissals, Pentagon representatives have not provided specific reasons for Phelan’s exit.
The departure occurs during a critical period as the U.S. Navy maintains a blockade against Iranian ports and continues operations against Tehran-linked vessels globally amid an unstable ceasefire in the Iran conflict.
Prior to President Donald Trump’s nomination of him for the Navy secretary position in late 2024, Phelan lacked both military service experience and previous civilian leadership roles within the armed forces.
Phelan contributed significantly to Trump’s campaign and established the private investment company Rugger Management LLC. His military-related experience primarily came through an advisory role with Spirit of America, a nonprofit organization supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts and Taiwan’s security.
Attempts to contact Phelan’s office for comment were unsuccessful.
Cao previously mounted an unsuccessful 2024 Senate campaign in Virginia against Democratic incumbent Tim Kaine. Trump endorsed Cao during the competitive Republican primary race.
A Navy veteran with 25 years of service including combat deployments, Cao’s personal story includes escaping Vietnam with his family during the 1970s. During his Senate campaign, he drew parallels between Vietnam’s communist government during the Cold War era and President Joe Biden’s administration.
“We are losing our country,” Cao stated in a campaign video that criticized Biden for the criminal charges against Trump and featured images of border crossings and retail thefts. “You know it. But you also know that you can’t say it. We’re forced to say that wrong is right. We’re forced to lie.”
WASHINGTON – Federal authorities have agreed to pay $1.25 million to resolve a legal dispute with Carter Page, a former aide to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign who challenged FBI surveillance conducted during the Russia investigation.
Page filed his legal challenge in 2020, claiming federal agents subjected him to “unlawful spying” while investigating potential coordination between Trump’s campaign and Russian officials to influence the 2016 election. His lawsuit pointed to numerous mistakes and missing information in documents that FBI and Justice Department personnel presented to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court in 2016 and 2017 when seeking permission to monitor Page based on suspicions he was working as a Russian operative.
Page strongly rejected any allegations of inappropriate connections to Russia and never faced criminal charges.
Lower courts dismissed Page’s case, with appeals court judges ruling in 2023 that he had filed his complaint beyond the allowable time limit. However, while Page’s appeal was before the Supreme Court, Trump administration officials notified the high court on Wednesday that they had reached an agreement with Page regarding his claims against the federal government. The resolution does not address Page’s separate claims against individual former FBI personnel he also sued.
The Supreme Court filing did not disclose the financial terms, but a source with knowledge of the matter, who requested anonymity to discuss confidential information, confirmed the settlement amount was $1.25 million.
Page’s legal action came after a scathing Justice Department inspector general review that identified substantial flaws in all four surveillance requests. Former FBI and Justice Department executives who approved the monitoring have since stated they would not have authorized it if they had understood the scope of the problems, and the FBI has implemented over 40 reforms designed to enhance the precision and completeness of future applications.
While the warrant application issues were serious, the surveillance of Page represented only a small fraction of the broader investigation into connections between Trump’s campaign and Russia.
Special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation determined that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election to benefit Trump and that the campaign accepted this help. Mueller’s prosecutors concluded they lacked adequate evidence to prove a criminal conspiracy between the campaign and Russian officials.
In March, the Justice Department resolved another case stemming from the Trump-Russia investigation, agreeing to pay approximately $1.2 million to Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security adviser who admitted to lying to federal agents about his communications with a senior Russian official before receiving a presidential pardon.
BOSTON (AP) — Buffalo’s inability to dominate Boston physically on the ice has become a secondary concern compared to their struggles capitalizing on power play opportunities when the Bruins commit penalties.
Through the opening two contests of their playoff matchup with Boston, the Sabres have failed to convert on all nine man-advantage situations, extending a troubling trend that saw them go scoreless on their final 22 power plays during the regular season’s closing seven games. The series stands even at one game apiece as action moves to Boston for Thursday evening’s third game.
“It’s always a concern, for sure,” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff acknowledged, noting his team hasn’t celebrated a power-play goal since March. “I think we’ll have to tweak some things.”
Buffalo entered this series taking exception to comments from Bruins coach Marco Sturm about his team’s physical superiority. Tuesday’s contest featured multiple altercations and accumulated 94 combined penalty minutes, with neither squad backing down from the confrontation.
“It’s a seven-game series so you see those guys all the time and there’s game inside the game, obviously,” Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov explained. “Emotions are really high, everybody wants to win, everybody is competitive on the ice, so sometimes you just ended up in the scrums and the fights like that.”
Ruff hasn’t dismissed the possibility of making a goaltending switch after pulling Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen just 16 seconds into Game 2’s final period following the fourth goal against him — including one scored on a long dump-in from center ice. Relief goaltender Alex Lyon successfully turned away all seven shots he encountered afterward.
While both netminders split starting duties during the regular season, Luukkonen secured the primary role by posting a 12-2-1 record to close the campaign. Lyon missed the season’s final week due to an undisclosed lower-body ailment after compiling a 20-10-4 record.
Though Ruff declined to pin Game 2’s defeat solely on Luukkonen’s inconsistent performance, stating “we win together, we lose together,” he also noted that “(Lyon) may play next game.”
Buffalo’s slow starts have compounded their difficulties, falling behind 2-0 in the opener and 4-0 in Game 2, managing their first goals only in each contest’s final eight minutes. They mounted a successful 4-3 comeback in Game 1 but couldn’t overcome their deficit in the 4-2 Game 2 loss.
“It’s been two games. It’s nothing to freak out about, and we know that,” forward Zach Benson said. “And we know we’ve got to be better, and we will be.”
Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on TNT.
In other playoff action, the Carolina Hurricanes hold a 2-0 series advantage over Ottawa, with the Senators showing strength in faceoff wins (60.7% through two games) and goaltending from Linus Ullmark. Carolina forward Logan Stankoven acknowledged their faceoff struggles, saying “Obviously our percentage isn’t great. I’ve got to try and keep winning as many draws and stay in the battle as much as possible.”
The Colorado Avalanche also lead their series 2-0 against Los Angeles, with the Kings remaining optimistic despite the deficit. “Play the same way we’re playing, just a little harder,” Kings forward Trevor Moore said. “Just try to take the positives and get to LA and play a good game.”
PITTSBURGH — For aspiring NFL players, the journey to draft day can seem never-ending. After years of dedication and weeks of intense evaluations, these young athletes face nerve-wracking days of uncertainty as they await the moment their names are announced.
That wait concludes this weekend as the 2026 draft arrives in Pittsburgh, a city that perfectly symbolizes the NFL’s premier offseason showcase.
Most visitors entering the Steel City navigate through western Pennsylvania’s rolling hills and suburban landscapes before descending into the Fort Pitt tunnel — 3,614 feet of darkness that reveals nothing about what awaits beyond. The journey typically involves heavy traffic regardless of the hour, puzzling even longtime residents.
Getting to downtown Pittsburgh, much like reaching the NFL, requires persistence. However, once you arrive, the payoff can be spectacular as the city unfolds before you, filled with potential — just like each draft candidate’s future.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, who hopes to join the exclusive group of running backs selected in the top 10 over recent years, was impressed during his visit this week.
“Nice views, nice views,” Love commented on Wednesday, just over a day before Thursday evening’s opening round. “When you came out of that little tunnel or whatever, I don’t know what the tunnel’s called, but you kind of just saw the whole city. So that view was really nice.”
Love and 16 other potential first-round selections will experience an even more meaningful sight: walking the red carpet at Point State Park before taking a brief ferry trip across the Allegheny River to Acrisure Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their ultimate destination will be the draft stage for that career-defining embrace with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
“I’m ready to go somewhere where I can work, whether that’s the worst team, the best team, maybe a team in the middle,” Love stated. “Really doesn’t matter to me.”
Love’s destination remains uncertain. However, Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza’s path appears clear.
Everything suggests the Las Vegas Raiders will rush to select the Indiana quarterback with the top pick, though Mendoza won’t meet Goodell in Pittsburgh. The standout signal-caller chose to watch from home rather than participate in the draft’s grand spectacle.
The remainder of the first round remains unpredictable, though defensive players are expected to dominate, with edge rushers Arnell Reese from Ohio State and David Bailey from Texas Tech — both present in Pittsburgh — likely to turn professional as evening falls over Mount Washington.
When asked if his competitive nature drives him to want the first handshake with Goodell, Bailey revealed the blend of instinct and football intelligence that elevated his draft status.
“When you talk about competitiveness in that context, it’s like really nothing you can do,” Bailey explained. “Like I can’t go out there and do any special tricks or say anything that’s going to boost my draft stock. … I feel like it’s time to just sit back and enjoy.”
This marks the end of countless speculation cycles and mock drafts, allowing everyone to return to actual football. The process can be overwhelming.
Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson understands the situation.
While posing in underwear for scouts and performing various physical tests at the NFL combine might seem odd, Tyson accepts the process.
“(Teams) invest a lot of money, so they got to do the research,” Tyson observed. “They got to take every little thing into account. So I don’t blame them for it, to be honest.”
Host cities also must prepare extensively for draft weekend. For locations like Pittsburgh, hosting the draft serves as a prestigious alternative to Super Bowl hosting duties.
The NFL anticipates hundreds of thousands of fans will flood a city not known for abundant open spaces. Pittsburgh’s public schools switched to remote learning Thursday and Friday to reduce bus traffic, while many employers encouraged remote work instead of office attendance.
The draft has transformed dramatically since Pittsburgh last hosted in December 1947 at the Fort Pitt Hotel, then the Steelers’ headquarters. That 32-round event saw quarterback Harry Gilmer selected first overall by Washington, but no ceremonial jersey awaited him.
The 1947 draft received no television coverage and minimal attention. The landscape surrounding the draft has shifted enormously over eight decades.
Pittsburgh sees the draft as an opportunity to highlight the region’s rich football heritage. Nearly two dozen Hall of Famers originated from Western Pennsylvania. The Steelers pass six Lombardi Trophies daily on their way to work, and football at every level remains deeply embedded in local culture.
Wednesday morning featured Love and fellow prospects conducting a youth clinic after a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new turf field at Hazelwood Green Park, approximately one mile down the Monongahela River from the Steelers’ current training facility.
Steelers President Art Rooney II spent years looking out his window at the empty lot, wondering when development would come to an area being transformed by technology and education sectors.
Once the city secured draft hosting rights, progress accelerated rapidly. This reflects Pittsburgh’s broader evolution from the 20th century’s Steel City into today’s innovation center.
The draft will fulfill one dream while launching another for the 257 players selected by Saturday evening’s conclusion.
For the “City of Bridges,” the event provides a platform to demonstrate that while Pittsburgh’s football heritage runs deep, the city connects to much more than first downs and touchdowns.
“I think if you were going to pick a perfect time,” Mayor Corey O’Connor said, “this is the perfect time.”
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The University of Delaware women’s lacrosse squad delivered a dominant performance Wednesday afternoon, crushing Liberty 17-5 to capture the Atlantic Sun Conference Regular Season Championship in their debut year in the league.
Five Blue Hens players scored multiple goals in the lopsided victory, showcasing the team’s offensive depth and firepower. The commanding win secured Delaware’s first ASUN regular season title and marked a successful transition to their new conference home.
The Blue Hens’ impressive inaugural ASUN campaign culminated with this championship-clinching performance on the road in Lynchburg, Virginia. Delaware’s offensive explosion overwhelmed the Liberty defense as the team made history in its first year of Atlantic Sun Conference competition.
SEATTLE — In what may be one of baseball’s strangest defensive plays, Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert’s uniform made an unexpected catch during Wednesday’s game against the Oakland Athletics.
During the opening inning with a runner positioned at third base, Oakland’s Carlos Cortes smashed a hard-hit ball directly toward the right-handed pitcher. The baseball mysteriously became trapped inside Gilbert’s jersey fabric.
Gilbert immediately clutched his midsection and spun around searching for the baseball while Cortes sprinted toward first base, eventually discovering the ball had somehow been snared by his own clothing.
Official scorers awarded Cortes a base hit since the play was ruled dead upon contact, though Nick Kurtz stayed put at third base. Shea Langeliers moved up to second base during the unusual sequence.
Broadcast measurements showed the screaming line drive traveling at 107.8 miles per hour.
Mariners head athletic trainer Kyle Torgerson conducted a quick medical evaluation of Gilbert, who was cleared to continue playing and completed the inning. The pitcher ultimately surrendered two earned runs during the frame on Tyler Soderstrom’s sacrifice fly and Jeff McNeil’s run-scoring single.
Gilbert took the mound again for the following inning without further incident.
State legislators in California, troubled by reports of mistreatment involving immigration detainees at medical facilities, are advancing measures designed to enhance safeguards for patients brought to hospitals by federal immigration officers.
Two pieces of legislation currently progressing through California’s Senate aim to stop immigration enforcement personnel from cutting off detained patients from family contact and blocking access to legal representation. Legislative analyses for both proposals reference investigative reporting by KFF Health News that documented significant challenges faced by relatives and lawyers trying to locate and assist hospitalized individuals held in immigration detention.
The KFF Health News investigation revealed that certain medical facilities have enabled patient isolation through what are termed blackout policies, which may involve registering individuals using false names, excluding their names from hospital directories, and barring staff from alerting patients’ families about their location and medical status.
Legislation introduced by Democratic state Sen. Caroline Menjivar from the San Fernando Valley, designated SB 915, would mostly ban blackout policies for immigration detainees and guarantee their right to have family members and others informed about their location and medical condition. Such policies would only be permitted when healthcare providers determine a patient poses a documented credible threat to themselves or others, with that risk recorded in medical files. The measure would also guarantee patients’ visitation rights.
The proposal addresses documented cases of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers standing guard over patients during medical examinations and physician consultations, meddling in treatment decisions, and pressuring for early discharge to detention centers lacking adequate follow-up medical capabilities.
“These are actions that have no place in health care, and it is a clear violation of the patients’ rights,” Menjivar said.
Menjivar’s legislation would bar agents from entering patient rooms unless they can demonstrate legal authority for their presence. When agents remain present, medical staff would be required to request their departure during examinations and care discussions. Healthcare facility personnel would need to document instances when agents refuse to leave.
SB 1323, introduced by state Sen. Susan Rubio, a Democrat representing the San Gabriel Valley, would mandate that healthcare providers educate staff and appropriate volunteers about responding when patients request family notification, and require posting notices at facility entrances detailing visitation and access procedures. While existing law permits patients to consent to family notification of their hospitalization, Rubio’s measure seeks to ensure staff understand this applies to immigration detainees as well.
The federal Department of Homeland Security, which manages immigration enforcement operations, did not provide comment when contacted.
Both measures passed Senate Health and Judiciary committees on party-line votes and await consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Over 20 immigrant advocacy organizations and healthcare professionals expressed support for enhanced patient protections during a recent committee hearing.
“This state must do everything in its power to protect against these abuses and ensure detainees have the right to contact their loved ones when they are hospitalized and in critical conditions,” said Hector Pereyra, political manager with the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice.
Representatives from the California Hospital Association and California Medical Association expressed concerns to lawmakers that requiring healthcare workers to record agents’ identification numbers and ask them to exit patient rooms could generate confrontations and create safety hazards.
“While we understand that this is an important issue, we want to ensure the bill strikes the right balance and does not create conflicting or unclear obligations for hospitals and their staff and clinicians, particularly in real-time interactions with federal officers,” said Vanessa Gonzalez, a vice president of state advocacy for the hospital association.
KFF Health News documented the case of 43-year-old Julio César Peña, who remained at a Victorville hospital for nearly two weeks before his legal counsel and family discovered his whereabouts. Peña, who suffered from terminal kidney disease, was restrained to his hospital bed, monitored by immigration agents, and instructed not to reveal his location, his wife reported. He subsequently experienced a seizure requiring intubation and rendering him unconscious, yet his family received no notification. Peña passed away on February 25, fewer than two months after being released to return home.
Immigration advocates, healthcare professionals, and legislators worry similar situations are occurring throughout California.
Menjivar explained her legislation “seeks to close the gap between existing law and practice by empowering health care provider entities with the tools to uphold the privacy, health, and visitation rights of a patient brought in under immigration custody.”
SB 915 would prevent hospitals and clinics from permitting immigration officers to make patient treatment decisions or serve as interpreters. Medical facilities would be required to document and verify immigration officers’ identities when feasible, ensure patients have access to communication devices, and educate patients about their rights. Facilities would also need to conduct discharge planning that includes coordination efforts with receiving facilities like detention centers to guarantee continued patient care.
These measures follow legislation enacted last year designed to restrict immigration enforcement at medical facilities, including prohibiting healthcare establishments from admitting federal agents lacking valid search warrants or court orders into private areas. However, that previous law did not cover circumstances involving patients already in immigration detention.
“ICE has instilled fear in our hospitals and has kept us from doing our job,” said SatKartar Khalsa, an emergency medicine resident at a safety net hospital in San Francisco who has treated detained patients and testified in support of SB 915. “This has all led to worse care for our patients and has added another layer of fear among health care workers.”
Germany’s Lufthansa Group announced Tuesday it will eliminate 20,000 short-distance flights through October as ongoing conflict with Iran sends oil prices soaring and raises concerns about potential jet fuel shortages across multiple nations.
The aviation giant said removing these less profitable routes, primarily affecting operations at Frankfurt and Munich airports, will conserve roughly 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel.
Last week, the company permanently closed CityLine, one of its regional subsidiaries, as part of cost-cutting efforts. The airline group indicated that a “planned consolidation” across its European operations will impact Lufthansa Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, SWISS and ITA Airways, along with major hubs in Brussels, Rome, Vienna and Zurich.
Jet fuel costs have more than doubled in certain markets since late February when hostilities began with American and Israeli military actions against Iran. Aviation companies face particular vulnerability to fuel price volatility since jet fuel represents one of their most significant operational costs.
Passengers are already experiencing reduced flight availability on certain routes and increased fees as the busy summer travel season approaches, with numerous carriers implementing higher baggage charges or additional fuel surcharges.
Military action near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway along Iran’s coastline through which approximately 20% of global oil shipments typically flow, has caused worldwide disruption to fuel pricing and availability.
On April 16, the International Energy Agency director estimated that Europe maintains roughly six weeks of remaining jet fuel reserves and warned that airlines would begin removing routes from their schedules without additional supplies.
Lufthansa stated it has obtained sufficient jet fuel “for the coming weeks” and is “pursuing a range of measures” to maintain steady fuel availability through summer months, “including the physical procurement of jet fuel.”
The German carrier joins numerous other airlines reducing their operations.
Aviation analytics company Cirium reports that all except one of the globe’s 20 largest airlines have canceled scheduled May departures across every major region.
Along with Lufthansa, affected carriers include Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Air Canada, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Air China, British Airways and Air France-KLM, according to Cirium data.
Last week, Swiss-based Edelweiss Air revealed it would discontinue service to Denver and Seattle during summer months while reducing Las Vegas flights through early fall.
Air New Zealand is reducing approximately 4% of its May and June flight schedule.
“Like airlines globally, we’re experiencing jet fuel prices that are more than double what they would usually be,” the carrier stated.
Global jet fuel prices jumped from approximately $99 per barrel in late February to peaks of $209 per barrel in early April.
The Goldey-Beacom Lightning baseball squad encountered a challenging day on the diamond during their yearly visit to face Wilmington University, suffering defeats in both ends of a doubleheader.
The Lightning fell to their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference rivals by scores of 10-4 in the opener and 5-0 in the nightcap, with both contests taking place in New Castle, Delaware.
The disappointing results came even as Goldey-Beacom maintains its position in the NCAA East Region rankings, highlighting the competitive nature of conference play in the CACC.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball squad put together a commanding performance on the diamond, sweeping both ends of a doubleheader behind powerful offensive displays from Calvin and Lilly, who each launched home runs during the twin bill.
The Hawks demonstrated their strength throughout both contests, with complete game efforts from their pitching staff helping to secure the pair of victories. The stellar pitching performances complemented the offensive firepower that Calvin and Lilly provided with their long balls.
This doubleheader sweep represents another solid outing for the UMES softball program as they continue building momentum through their season. The combination of strong pitching and timely hitting proved to be the winning formula for the Hawks in both games.
Listen to the Evening Delmarva Farm Report Update — April 22, 2026
DELMARVA — Rising input costs are reshaping planting decisions across the Corn Belt as farmers pivot from corn to soybeans in search of better profit margins. Iowa farmer Dave Walton is shifting away from corn in favor of soybeans this season, flipping all his corn-on-corn acres to beans and citing better profit potential and lower input expenses. The same cost pressure is hitting Delmarva producers as they finalize their own spring planting plans.
Policy
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins hinted yesterday that federal action on high fertilizer prices could come soon. Testifying before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, Rollins said her team has held daily calls with the White House on the issue, though she didn’t outline specific measures being considered.
Markets
Livestock futures closed lower today. June live cattle dropped $0.47 to settle at $243.07 per hundredweight. August lives fell $0.52 to $239.18. May feeders lost $0.12, closing at $358.42.
On the cash grain side, corn at Laurel Grain Company in Laurel, Delaware is bringing $5.04 a bushel for May delivery. Soybeans there are $11.25.
Forecast
Clear skies are expected tonight with patchy fog developing and a low around 51°F. Thursday looks sunny with a high near 70°F. Dry conditions continue through Friday before rain showers become likely this weekend.
This article is based on the Delmarva Farm Report Update Evening Edition, April 22, 2026. Hosted by Tom Bradley.
NEW YORK — The numbers don’t seem to add up. While Americans grapple with costly fuel and uncertainty about the ongoing Iran conflict, Wall Street keeps climbing to unprecedented heights.
For financial markets, the answer lies in one fundamental principle: corporate profits drive stock values. Companies are currently generating such impressive earnings that investors continue paying premium prices for shares in American businesses.
The journey has been turbulent for many investors who may have considered selling their holdings when the S&P 500 dropped almost 10% from its previous peak last month. However, as it has throughout its entire history, the benchmark index that anchors countless retirement accounts has once again rewarded those who stayed the course. The index reached a new record of 7,137.90 on Wednesday.
Below is an examination of the factors driving this unexpected market resilience:
While stock values fluctuate constantly for countless reasons, the fundamental drivers over time remain consistent: corporate earnings and investor willingness to pay for those profits.
The second element typically varies with interest rate changes and the balance between investor optimism and anxiety.
During the conflict’s early stages, fear dominated and share prices plummeted. Markets worried that sustained oil price increases from the war might trigger devastating inflation across the global economy.
Rising interest rates also pressured stock values as investors feared inflation concerns would prevent the Federal Reserve and other central banks from reducing short-term rates. Lower rates can stimulate economic growth but may also fuel inflation.
Beginning in late March, expectations grew that the United States and Iran might prevent the worst economic outcomes. Both nations have economic incentives for resolution, and for Iranian leadership, ending the conflict could mean political survival.
The ceasefire both countries reached this month remains in effect, though fragile.
This shift from extreme fear is also evident in oil markets. Brent crude, the global benchmark, surged from approximately $70 before hostilities to $119 at peak anxiety levels. Prices have since retreated and hovered around $100 Wednesday.
Attention has centered on the Strait of Hormuz, the critical passage for oil tankers leaving the Persian Gulf. Continued Iranian closure of the strait, combined with ongoing U.S. naval blockades of Iranian vessels, would harm all parties. Global customers would lose oil access while Iran would forfeit crude sales revenue.
“By denying Iran its oil-related revenue, traders may be thinking that the economic war may be more effective in getting concessions from Iran’s regime than was the kinetic war only, and that this will end the war sooner, rather than later,” said Thierry Wizman, a strategist at Macquarie Group.
Wall Street traders are also wagering on potential Federal Reserve rate cuts later this year. While they see much lower odds than before the conflict began, according to CME Group data, they’re no longer concerned about possible rate increases.
With diminished fear, investors have refocused on the primary stock price component: earnings. Those results have been impressive.
More than 15% of S&P 500 companies have already disclosed first-quarter 2026 profits, with the overwhelming majority surpassing analyst projections. This includes diverse firms from Citigroup to J.B. Hunt Transport Services to UnitedHealth Group.
If remaining companies simply meet analyst forecasts, S&P 500 earnings will finish approximately 14% above year-earlier levels, according to FactSet.
These figures encompass a full month of wartime conditions, and while companies express continued caution about potential conflict-related risks, their earnings show minimal impact.
Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan noted last week that “we saw healthy client activity, including solid consumer spending and stable asset quality, indicating a resilient American economy.”
This occurs despite many American families expressing concern about higher gasoline costs and broader price increases from tariffs, as recent surveys indicate.
Analysts have actually increased their profit expectations for S&P 500 firms since the war started. They’re predicting 20% growth acceleration in second-quarter profits, and companies aren’t providing reasons for revision.
Delta Air Lines reported this month that it’s experiencing robust demand from both business and leisure travelers. PepsiCo maintained its 2026 profit outlook last week, which it originally provided before the Iran conflict began, with CEO Ramon Laguarta expressing encouragement about international business resilience. GE Vernova announced Wednesday that AI data center power demand is surging, prompting an increased annual revenue forecast.
Naturally, American stock markets could easily reverse course. Wall Street sentiment might quickly return to fear if U.S.-Iran negotiations collapse and oil markets face potential shortages.
Extended high oil prices would eventually erode corporate profits by increasing business costs and reducing consumer spending power for households and other customers.
A federal appeals court decision this week has strengthened efforts by several states to mandate Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms, marking a significant development in the ongoing debate over religion’s place in education.
The most extensive effort to place the Ten Commandments in every classroom started in Texas last year, where a federal appeals court on Tuesday rejected a legal challenge to the state’s requirement. Although the matter is far from resolved, the decision represents a win for conservative advocates who dismiss claims that such displays promote religion to students or infringe on parental rights, including those of non-Christian families.
The mandate has sparked both support and opposition, energizing school board discussions and leading to official guidance for educators on how to respond to student inquiries. Several teachers have chosen to resign rather than comply with posting the Ten Commandments in their rooms.
Southern Republican legislators have spearheaded this movement. Louisiana led the charge by becoming the first state to enact such a requirement in 2024, with Arkansas and Texas following suit.
Alabama represents the most recent addition, where Republican Governor Kay Ivey this month approved legislation mandating Ten Commandments displays in grades 5-12 public school classrooms where American history is regularly taught, plus shared spaces including cafeterias and libraries.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed his state’s measure, which mandates Ten Commandments postings in all public school classrooms and became effective in September. Since the legislation only obligates districts to display them when donated, conservative organizations and supporters began delivering boxes of posters to schools statewide as the academic year commenced.
An Associated Press review of state legislation using bill-tracking software Plural identified at least 30 proposed measures in current legislative sessions that would mandate displaying the document in schools. Republican lawmakers introduced all these bills, with nearly every one originating in states under GOP control.
Only a handful have received legislative committee approval. Additional bills in various states would either permit displays or mandate instruction incorporating the document.
For several months, a lower court decision prevented approximately twelve Texas school districts from installing the posters. However, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans overturned that ruling in a narrow 9-8 vote, determining the requirement doesn’t violate student or parental rights.
“No child is made to recite the Commandments, believe them, or affirm their divine origin,” the ruling says.
The American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations that contested the Texas law representing parents expressed being “extremely disappointed” with the appeals court’s ruling.
“The First Amendment safeguards the separation of church and state, and the freedom of families to choose how, when and if to provide their children with religious instruction,” they said in a statement. “This decision tramples those rights.”
In February, the same appeals court authorized Louisiana to implement its own statute. Louisiana’s Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill praised the Texas case outcome, stating it “adopted our entire legal defense.”
Texas’s Ten Commandments requirement represents just one aspect of the broader struggle over religious content in classrooms. In 2024, the state authorized optional biblical curriculum for elementary schools, and a June proposal would incorporate Bible stories into mandatory reading assignments.
In adjacent Oklahoma, the former state education leader mandated that public schools integrate Bible content into lesson plans for grades 5-12, triggering legal action from parents and educators. Many schools simply disregarded the directive.
Last year, Oklahoma’s Supreme Court prevented the state’s attempt to establish the nation’s first publicly funded religious charter school. The case awaits consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The ACLU and other groups challenging the Texas law indicated they plan to appeal the 5th Circuit’s decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Federal health authorities have blocked the release of research that examined whether COVID-19 vaccines were effective at preventing hospitalizations among adults.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed Wednesday that officials decided to prevent the study’s publication, pointing to disagreements over the research methodology used.
The blocked research was scheduled to be published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, which serves as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s primary publication.
Researchers typically evaluate COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness by examining patients who end up in hospitals or emergency departments. Scientists determine vaccination status and compare positive COVID-19 test rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.
Multiple respected medical journals, including Pediatrics and the New England Journal of Medicine, have published studies using this same research approach after thorough expert review.
The blocked study used identical methods and found that vaccines reduced emergency room visits and hospital admissions among healthy adults by approximately 50 percent during the previous winter, according to The Washington Post, which initially reported the cancellation.
HHS officials declined to specify their exact concerns with the methodology but suggested that previous infections, patient behavior, and variations in healthcare-seeking patterns could influence outcomes.
However, the broader scientific community doesn’t share these worries, and numerous researchers have successfully employed this approach, according to Dr. Fiona Havers, an Atlanta physician who formerly worked at the CDC. She explained that the methodology is designed to account for healthcare-seeking differences, and prior infections shouldn’t significantly impact results given widespread coronavirus exposure among Americans.
While no research design is flawless, HHS officials haven’t suggested an alternative approach “that’s realistic and ethical for getting real-time estimates of how well vaccines are working each year,” Havers stated. She previously directed a CDC hospital surveillance network team focused on COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.
Public health advocates previously expressed concerns during President Donald Trump’s initial term that political appointees were attempting to influence MMWR publications.
These worries resurfaced after Trump’s return to office when MMWR publication was briefly halted. While it resumed, the publication has remained significantly reduced from its previous scope.
“Health care professionals rely on the MMWR for timely, objective and fact-based information about the nation’s public health,” stated U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat who raised concerns when CDC communications were previously suspended.
“Muzzling scientists and doctors on how to prevent Americans from being hospitalized can have deadly consequences. The CDC must abandon plans to place a political gag order on this critical research,” Durbin said Wednesday.
Former Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz plans to publish a book next year that draws inspiration from his state’s response to federal immigration enforcement operations and community resistance efforts in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region.
The Minnesota governor’s upcoming book, titled ‘Good Neighbors,’ will be released by W.W. Norton & Company, the publisher announced to The Associated Press on Wednesday.
In a statement, the 62-year-old Democrat reflected on his state’s response to the federal actions. ‘Last winter, Minnesotans from all walks of life showed up for one another with compassion, courage and resilience,’ Walz said.
‘Here in Minnesota, it’s simple — we call it being a good neighbor. I’ve always been fascinated by the ways in which we keep community in America, and how we interweave our lives,’ he added.
Walz gained national recognition in 2024 when Vice President Kamala Harris selected him as her vice presidential running mate for their unsuccessful campaign against President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance. A publisher representative would not confirm whether the book will include details about the presidential campaign, stating that no further information was available beyond the initial announcement.
The governor had been an outspoken opponent of federal immigration enforcement operations, particularly following the deadly shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in January. Minnesota has filed a lawsuit against the federal government, claiming that immigration enforcement activities caused more than $600 million in economic harm to the state.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wrapped up an intense week of congressional testimony on Wednesday, facing tough questions about rising measles cases and defending President Trump’s proposed budget that would slash funding to his department by more than 12%.
During multiple hearings before Senate and House committees this week and last, Kennedy found himself defending Trump’s 2027 budget proposal, which increases military spending while reducing Department of Health and Human Services funding. The cuts total more than $100 billion from his agency’s budget.
Lawmakers from both political parties expressed alarm about reduced funding for programs and research initiatives. Kennedy admitted the reductions were “painful” but argued they were essential to tackle the federal government’s unprecedented $39 trillion deficit.
When facing aggressive questioning from Democratic members, Kennedy grew increasingly confrontational, sometimes shouting his responses. He frequently accused Democratic lawmakers of playing politics, fabricating claims, and prioritizing media attention over substantive dialogue.
A major point of contention centered on accountability for declining childhood immunization rates and measles outbreaks that have swept the nation in recent months, putting America’s measles-free status at risk. Kennedy consistently refused to accept blame for these developments.
“It has nothing to do with me,” Kennedy stated Tuesday regarding the nationwide increase in measles cases over the past year. He pointed to rising measles infections globally, including in countries like Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom.
Kennedy, who previously campaigned against vaccines for years before entering government service and once told people to “resist” CDC vaccination schedules for children in 2021, rejected claims that he opposes vaccines. He described himself as “pro-science.”
During the hearings, he attempted to highlight HHS programs unrelated to immunizations, reflecting the administration’s strategy to emphasize less divisive health issues such as proper nutrition.
Kennedy maintained that declining vaccination rates stem from Americans losing confidence in government health recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic. He claimed to be working toward rebuilding that confidence, though polling data indicates trust in federal health agencies has continued dropping during his time in office.
Democratic Representative Kim Schrier from Washington suggested Kennedy’s vaccine positions have created a “spillover effect” leading mothers to refuse vitamin K shots typically given to newborns to prevent brain hemorrhaging.
“I’ve never said anything about vitamin K,” Kennedy responded.
“That’s exactly the point,” Schrier replied.
However, Kennedy did receive praise from Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who credited him with helping manage a serious measles outbreak in his state over the past year.
“We would not be on the right side of this outbreak without your leadership,” Scott told Kennedy.
Whenever Democrats mentioned nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid reductions over ten years, primarily through new work requirements for beneficiaries, Kennedy forcefully disputed characterizing these changes as cuts to Medicaid.
“Only in Washington is it considered a cut,” Kennedy told Democratic Senator Ben Ray Luján from New Mexico on Wednesday.
Kennedy referenced a Congressional Budget Office analysis showing Medicaid spending projected to grow approximately 47% over the coming decade. However, policy experts argue his interpretation of that data is misleading and politically motivated, noting the spending increases reflect normal factors like inflation and population 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.”
Healthcare affordability emerged as a significant concern, particularly with the 2026 midterm elections approaching. Lawmakers from both parties raised questions about soaring medical and insurance costs.
On Tuesday, Republican Representative Cliff Bentz from Oregon shared his brother’s situation, paying $26,000 annually for health coverage.
“What in the world can I go back to him and say? ‘Hey, the administration is working on trying to drive these prices down?’” Bentz asked Kennedy.
Kennedy highlighted several Trump administration efforts to reduce costs, including the White House’s TrumpRx website offering discounted medications and Trump’s negotiated deals with pharmaceutical companies for favorable pricing.
When senators pressed for details about these agreements, Kennedy promised to share information that wouldn’t compromise proprietary data or trade secrets. Some Democrats demanded more aggressive action.
“Why don’t you do an agreement yourself?” he challenged Democratic Senator Ron Wyden from Oregon. “You’ve had power to do that for 20 years and haven’t done it.”
To achieve the proposed 12% reduction in HHS’s budget exceeding $100 billion, the Trump administration plans to eliminate approximately $5 billion from the National Institutes of Health while cutting numerous other programs, including assistance for low-income households’ energy costs.
Multiple senators questioned Kennedy about the rationale behind various cuts. The NIH reductions particularly sparked bipartisan criticism.
“There’s an argument to be made that we’re handing China our lunch,” said Republican Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina.
Kennedy acknowledged that neither he nor his agency staff supported the cuts, describing them as “painful.”
“There’s a lot of cuts to the agency that nobody wants,” he admitted.
Motorists traveling through the Pike Creek area are experiencing traffic delays today due to ongoing construction activities.
Delaware Department of Transportation reports that Upper Pike Creek Road at its intersection with New Linden Hill Road is experiencing periodic lane restrictions as crews perform construction work.
The lane closures began earlier today and are expected to remain in effect until 4:30 PM this afternoon. Drivers should plan for possible delays and consider alternate routes if traveling through the area.
DelDOT advises motorists to exercise caution when driving through the construction zone and to expect intermittent traffic pattern changes throughout the day.
The U.S. Department of Defense is launching a significant effort to accelerate domestic production of compact attack drones as these affordable unmanned aircraft revolutionize modern military operations.
These small-scale attack drones have emerged as crucial weapons in contemporary conflicts, prompting military leaders to prioritize rapid expansion of manufacturing capabilities for these increasingly vital battlefield tools.
A fatal shooting that claimed the life of a 41-year-old man at a New Castle mobile home community nearly a decade ago continues to puzzle investigators.
Manuel Ramirez was killed on April 22, 2014, when police were called to respond to gunfire at the Mobile Home Village Trailer Park on New Castle Avenue around 7:09 in the evening.
The incident occurred at 3115 New Castle Avenue in New Castle, Delaware, within the trailer park community. Despite years of investigation, authorities have yet to identify the person responsible for Ramirez’s death.
The case represents one of several unsolved homicides that law enforcement continues to actively pursue, hoping that new information or witnesses may eventually come forward to help bring closure to the victim’s family.
The University of Delaware’s rowing program has received national recognition as head coach Asiya Mahmud was selected to lead the Women’s 8+ squad for the upcoming 2026 U-23 World Rowing Championships.
Mahmud will also serve as head coach for the same team during this summer’s World University Games, marking a significant achievement for both the coach and the Blue Hens rowing program.
The appointment highlights the strength and reputation of Delaware’s rowing program under Mahmud’s leadership, as she prepares to guide some of the nation’s top young rowers on the international stage.
A University of Delaware freshman lacrosse player has received national recognition for his outstanding play on the field for the second time this season.
Scott Conte, who plays for the Blue Hens men’s lacrosse team, was selected for the USILA Division I Team of the Week following his impressive showing in the team’s matchup with St. Bonaventure. The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association made the announcement on Wednesday.
This marks the second occasion this year that the first-year player has received this prestigious weekly recognition from the national organization.
A Christian broadcasting organization is taking their fight over church political speech restrictions to a federal appeals court after a Texas judge dismissed their initial lawsuit.
Michael Farris, General Counsel for the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) and lead attorney in the NRB v. Bessent case, announced the formal appeal has been submitted to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. The original lawsuit was thrown out on March 31 by the District Court for the Eastern District of Texas due to jurisdictional issues under the Anti-Injunction Act.
At the heart of the dispute is the Johnson Amendment, a federal law that prohibits churches and other tax-exempt organizations from publicly supporting or opposing political candidates.
Farris argues that religious organizations should be able to contest speech limitations without first breaking the law. “The Supreme Court has made it clear that no one has to violate a law in order to challenge its limitation on the freedom of speech or religion. The Anti-Injunction Act cannot be construed to force churches to violate the Johnson Amendment in order to challenge its chilling effect on their First Amendment freedoms,” he stated.
The NRB claims in their lawsuit that the Johnson Amendment is applied unevenly, suggesting conservative religious institutions face punishment while liberal churches and nonprofits receive more lenient treatment regarding political involvement.
The Johnson Amendment has remained a contentious issue in legal and political circles, creating ongoing debates about where to draw lines between religious freedom, free speech, and electoral activities for tax-exempt organizations.
The NRB describes itself as a nonpartisan international group representing Christian media professionals who reach millions through various platforms. The organization works to defend free speech protections while maintaining professional standards among its membership.
According to the NRB, the appeals process is expected to extend over several months as the case works its way through the federal court system.
As Israel commemorates its 78th Independence Day, new demographic data reveals the nation’s population has reached 10.244 million people, the Central Bureau of Statistics announced Sunday.
Since its founding in 1948 with roughly 806,000 residents, the country has witnessed remarkable growth, expanding by more than 12.5 times its original size. Immigration has played a major role in this expansion, with over 3.5 million newcomers settling in Israel throughout its history. Nearly half of these immigrants—approximately 1.68 million people representing 47.8%—have arrived since 1990.
The statistics show that Israel now houses roughly 45% of the global Jewish population, with about 81% of the country’s Jewish residents being born within its borders.
This past year brought significant demographic shifts, including approximately 177,000 newborns and around 21,000 new immigrants. During the same period, about 48,000 deaths were recorded, while an estimated 45,000 Israelis remained living overseas.
The annual population increase totaled roughly 146,000 people, marking a 1.4% growth rate. This expansion encompasses about 110,000 new Israeli citizens plus 36,000 foreign residents.
Breaking down the current population by demographics: Jewish residents and others categorized as non-Jewish, non-Arab citizens comprise 7.790 million people, representing 76% of the total. Arab citizens number 2.157 million, making up 21.1% of the population, while 296,000 residents classified as foreigners account for 2.9%.
Compared to many Western nations, Israel maintains a relatively youthful population structure. Residents between ages 0 and 14 represent approximately 27% of the population, while those 65 and older make up 13% of all residents.
An incident involving an Israeli soldier vandalizing a Christian cross in a Lebanese border village has sparked widespread anger and prompted swift military punishment.
The soldier was photographed damaging the religious symbol in Debel, a Christian-majority village in southern Lebanon’s Bint Jbeil district. The image circulated widely on social media, intensifying tensions in a region already struggling with the aftermath of recent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Israeli military officials acted quickly to address the controversy. Two soldiers received 30-day military detention sentences – one for destroying the crucifix and another for taking the photograph. Six additional soldiers present during the incident were brought in for questioning for failing to intervene.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed shock at the soldier’s actions and promised strict disciplinary action. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar issued an apology to Christians offended by the incident, while military leaders stated the behavior went against fundamental army principles.
The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land strongly denounced the act, describing it as “a grave affront to the Christian faith.” Their statement continued: “It further reveals a disturbing failure in moral and human formation, wherein even the most elementary reverence for the sacred and for the dignity of others has been gravely compromised.”
Israeli authorities coordinated with local residents to replace the damaged cross, and reports indicated a new statue was installed shortly after the incident.
Bishop Dennis Nthumbi of the Israel Allies Foundation condemned the destruction while urging restraint in response. “What we are witnessing in that image can only be described as desecration—the violation of something held sacred. Such acts, even when carried out by an individual, strike deeply at the heart of faith and reverence,” he stated.
However, he cautioned against using the incident to damage interfaith relations. “At the same time, we must speak with clarity and restraint. There is a growing wave of propaganda that seeks to frame the Jewish people as hostile to Christians. Incidents like this—though isolated and not reflective of a people or a covenant—can unfortunately be used to reinforce those false narratives,” he explained.
“Let it be stated without ambiguity: the Jewish and the Christian people are not enemies; we are spiritually connected, rooted in a shared heritage and revelation. We must not allow singular actions to fracture what God Himself has woven together,” he added.
Former Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy called for harsh consequences, telling reporters the incident represented “atrocious behavior” and declaring “This is not who we are.”
“This abominable act is not only a moral outrage; it was also seized by bad faith actors to intensify a campaign to divide Christians, and by extension America and the West, from Israel,” he said.
“This soldier has caused incalculable damage and must be punished with the harshest possible penalty, not only for an act of vandalism but for bringing the whole State of Israel into disrepute,” he continued.
Local residents in Debel say the cross incident represents just one element of their ongoing hardships. Eli, a youth activist from the village, described the broader challenges facing his community.
“Speaking as someone from Debel, what people here are going through is not just about one incident or one moment it’s a continuation of a very difficult situation that has been unfolding for a while,” he explained.
“From the ground, the village has been living under very heavy pressure,” he said, describing Debel as “a small civilian community of Christian families” facing severe restrictions on daily activities.
“The road linking Debel to Rmeish—which is the main access route for food, medicine, and basic needs has become extremely dangerous. Two Christian civilians have been killed on this road, which has deepened fear,” he noted.
The activist reported extensive property damage throughout the area. “At the same time, the outskirts of the village have seen repeated destruction. Infrastructure being damaged, land being bulldozed, and homes being hit or destroyed,” he said.
“More than 20 houses are said to be completely destroyed, and many others heavily damaged. These are civilian homes—places where families lived for generations, and their loss is felt very directly inside the community,” he added.
“When the incident of the statue of Jesus happened, it didn’t come in isolation. For people here, it was added onto an already existing feeling of pressure and vulnerability,” he explained.
“The reaction locally was not one single emotion, but more a quiet mix of sadness, exhaustion, and concern about how far things are escalating in daily life,” he said.
The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon helped coordinate the cross replacement. “UNIFIL’s Italian contingent, through Father Claudio, expressed sorrow over the destruction of a crucifix in DEBEL and confirmed coordination with UNIFIL leadership to restore it, with a new cross statue expected within 48 hours,” Eli reported.
The controversy highlights how individual actions during wartime can have far-reaching diplomatic and religious consequences. While Israeli officials moved quickly to condemn the incident and punish those involved, the image has already become part of the complex narrative surrounding the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Damascus celebrated a significant milestone yesterday as Al-Fayhaa Sports Hall reopened its doors following extensive renovations, with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa joining thousands of fans for the arena’s first major event in years. The ceremony represented a symbolic step toward normalcy for a nation emerging from 14 years of devastating conflict.
The reopening festivities included cultural performances showcasing Syrian heritage and concluded with a friendly basketball game between Syria and Lebanon’s national teams. Enthusiastic crowds packed the stands that had remained empty throughout the prolonged war years, creating an atmosphere of celebration and hope.
High-ranking officials joined al-Sharaa for the occasion, including Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani, Interior Minister Anas Khattab, Sports Minister Mohammad Alhamid, and Syrian Basketball Federation President Rami Issa. Lebanese basketball dignitaries also attended, notably Federation President Akram Halabi and Hekmeh Club President Ragheb Haddad.
The comprehensive renovation project carried a price tag of approximately $3 million as part of the Ministry of Sports and Youth’s broader investment strategy. Upgrades encompassed new court flooring, enhanced lighting and climate control systems, refurbished seating areas, and state-of-the-art digital technology including modern screens and audio equipment. Premium hospitality areas were also added to accommodate future local and international competitions.
President al-Sharaa displayed obvious enthusiasm while watching the basketball match, revealing his personal connection to the sport during pre-game comments. He explained that while basketball has always interested him, the years of military conflict and national turmoil prevented him from following it closely. The current period, he noted, presents an opportunity to revitalize sports interest not merely for entertainment, but as a vital component of societal reconstruction and regional engagement.
Speaking before the match began, al-Sharaa committed to continuing infrastructure improvements across the country’s sports facilities. He emphasized that the Ministry of Sports and Youth, working alongside local federations, is implementing a comprehensive strategy to revive the athletic sector while highlighting sports’ potential for attracting investment and boosting economic recovery.
The strong official attendance and robust public participation served as important indicators of the event’s significance within Syria’s sports community. Spectators and athletic observers shared varied perspectives on Al-Fayhaa Hall’s return to operation, with many praising the renovation efforts while others voiced optimism for broader sector development. Numerous attendees recognized the event’s implications extending beyond athletics into wider social and economic spheres.
Syrian photojournalist Omar Albam shared his observations with The Media Line: “I am very happy to see the stands of this hall filled with fans. It is an extraordinary event in a country emerging from a long war that lasted 14 years.”
Albam observed that Syrians demonstrate nearly equal passion for basketball as they do for soccer, particularly during matches against Lebanese opponents. “Although they defeated the Syrian national team 110-74, the joy that filled the stands was very great,” Albam noted.
Spectator Sawsan Al-Shami expressed satisfaction with the event, particularly appreciating the hall’s world-class renovations that now compete with international venues. She told The Media Line that Syrians had grown unaccustomed to such gatherings since the previous Assad government concentrated exclusively on warfare rather than public amenities.
Ahmad Al-Sayyid, a young attendee from Idlib, conveyed pride in his nation’s progress, telling The Media Line that the substantial crowd demonstrates Syrians’ eagerness to embrace a renewed life filled with activity and productivity.
The celebration also sparked broader conversations about Syria’s athletic landscape during recent years, particularly under Bashar Assad’s rule, when sports infrastructure suffered severe damage from conflict and many facilities faced destruction or abandonment.
Human rights organizations and media investigations have documented instances where sports venues were repurposed for non-athletic uses, including conversion into detention facilities, generating widespread condemnation and raising serious concerns about public space management.
Al-Fayhaa Hall’s restoration represents part of a larger reconstruction effort aimed at restoring normal life patterns. Government agencies are prioritizing the reactivation of service and sports sectors as recovery indicators, with athletics serving as a symbolically significant tool for rebuilding community connections and strengthening stability perceptions.
Basketball originated in 1891 through James Naismith, a Canadian physical education instructor working in Massachusetts. He created the game as indoor winter exercise for students, utilizing a ball and peach baskets as scoring targets.
Syrian basketball history traces back to the early 1900s, initially appearing in educational institutions like Damascus’s Laïque School before expanding to other schools including the Italian School and Scientific College, establishing the sport’s foundation within the country.
During the 1920s, the game developed more structured organization through competitions between local and Lebanese teams, elevating technical standards and strengthening its presence. The 1930s and 1940s witnessed significant basketball expansion as sports clubs like Barada Club adopted it, achieving remarkable victories including wins against French military teams, demonstrating local development progress.
The sport spread throughout secondary schools during this era, becoming part of organized athletics with inter-team tournaments before expanding beyond educational settings into public venues, spawning new clubs including Al-Ahli, Al-Ghouta, and Al-Fityan. The Syrian Basketball Federation’s 1948 establishment ushered in official organization featuring unified tournaments and oversight. Syria began international competition participation, including a 1949 Cairo tournament, marking its global debut.
Foreign coach recruitment in the late 1950s introduced modern training methodologies, reflected in improved Syrian team technical performance, cementing basketball’s status among the nation’s premier team sports.
The Syrian Basketball League launched in 1956 alongside the Basketball Federation’s creation. Al-Shabiba (now Al-Jalaa) captured the inaugural 1956-57 season championship and maintained dominance until the 1978-79 season, when Al-Ahli Aleppo ended Al-Shabiba’s reign and secured its first title in 1979-80. Al-Jalaa holds the Syrian Basketball League record with 29 championships, followed by Al-Ahli Aleppo’s 18 titles—both Aleppo-based—and Damascus’s Al-Wahda with 11.
The Syrian Arab Basketball Federation serves as basketball’s governing authority in Syria, directly overseeing national teams like the Syrian national basketball squad and domestic clubs competing in the Syrian Basketball League. It joined both the Asian Basketball Federation and International Basketball Federation in 1948, establishing it among the region’s oldest basketball organizations.
Al-Fayhaa Hall’s inauguration marks a positive advancement for Syrian athletics, demonstrating commitment toward rebuilding war-damaged infrastructure. Simultaneously, it underscores broader sector challenges while raising questions about Syrian sports’ future, balancing recovery initiatives with necessary reform measures.
Diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Israel and Lebanon will take center stage Thursday as Washington hosts crucial negotiations, even as military confrontations persist between the neighboring nations, according to US government sources.
The scheduled diplomatic meeting comes despite ongoing hostilities, with Hezbollah launching multiple rocket attacks Tuesday targeting Israeli forces positioned in southern Lebanon and sending a drone toward Israeli territory, Israeli military officials reported. The militant group took credit for these operations, stating they were retaliation for what Hezbollah characterized as Israeli breaches of existing ceasefire agreements.
Israeli forces responded with airstrikes targeting areas near al-Jbour in Lebanon’s western Beqaa Valley region. Lebanese news outlets confirmed that the Israeli military action resulted in one fatality and left two individuals wounded.
The American negotiating team will be headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, joined by senior adviser Mike Needham and US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee will participate in the discussions as well, with State Department officials describing his involvement as part of standard “routine consultations.”
Israeli representation will come through Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, while Lebanon’s diplomatic mission will be guided by Ambassador Nada Hamadeh, continuing the pattern of senior-level participation from earlier diplomatic efforts.
These Washington negotiations are moving forward despite the ongoing military confrontations between both nations, underscoring the significant obstacles facing diplomatic initiatives aimed at bringing stability to the volatile Israel-Lebanon border region.
DENVER (AP) — Star player Nathan MacKinnon and his Colorado Avalanche teammates have legitimate reasons to feel constrained. Their trademark speed and explosive scoring ability haven’t been fully unleashed during this playoff run.
The league’s most prolific offensive squad and quickest team during the regular season continues to struggle against Los Angeles Kings’ defensive system that clogs the neutral zone. Colorado’s top five regular season point leaders remain without a goal in the series.
However, the Avalanche maintain a commanding 2-0 advantage in their opening round matchup as they travel to Los Angeles for Thursday’s Game 3. Both victories came by identical 2-1 scores, including one overtime victory, demonstrating their versatility in different game situations.
“You definitely can get frustrated during the regular season, but playoffs … there’s no time for that,” said MacKinnon, who has an assist through two games after leading the league with 53 goals in the regular season. “You’ve got to be 100% in, team-player positive, and you’ve just got to stick with it. I feel like we’re doing a lot of good things and we’re up to it. It’s low-scoring games, but it’s not about the amount of goals. Just got to get some wins.”
During the regular season, Colorado topped the NHL in offensive categories including goals per game (3.63), shots per game (33.7) and even-strength scoring. The Presidents’ Trophy recipients also surrendered the fewest goals, with goaltender Scott Wedgewood currently handling starting duties.
“We’re comfortable playing these games,” said captain Gabriel Landeskog, who tied Tuesday’s game with 3:35 left in regulation. “If you get a little impatient with it, you start forcing plays. We just kind of kept it going. Kept trusting our forecheck, and finally, we ended up getting rewarded for it.”
While trailing in the series, the Kings remain confident in their approach. This grinding, defense-first style of hockey suits their identity perfectly, particularly with Anton Forsberg between the pipes. He’s turned away 64 of 68 shots across the first two contests.
“We’re playing a brand of hockey that gives us a chance to win,” said Kings interim coach D.J. Smith, who was showered by shattered glass on the bench in the second period Tuesday after fans pushed the panel in celebration. “Hockey’s so close and night-to-night, you win by a goal, lose by a goal. We’ve done that all year.”
“We haven’t maybe had some bounces but that’s the kind of game you can win with,” he said. “That’s a testament to the guys and how they’re digging in. Now maybe just have a little more confidence at home with the puck, but you can’t forget the style of play that we’re playing.”
Los Angeles has successfully neutralized Colorado’s power play opportunities, holding the Avalanche scoreless on seven man-advantage chances. Special teams have been a source of concern for Colorado throughout the season.
“It may look real simple — it’s no different than what they’re doing — but you’ve got to repeat certain things enough so your odds go up at putting one in the back of the net,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “I still think we’ve got another step in our game that we can ramp up to. So we’ve just got to go out and try to better our performances at home and now on the road.”
Colorado has demonstrated defensive commitment by recording the second-highest blocked shot total in the playoffs through Tuesday. They’ve also generated significant offensive pressure, ranking second in total shot attempts.
“We know we can play different styles,” said Wedgewood, who’s stopped 48 of 50 shots. “It’s going to be tough going to (their) building. They’re going to have their crowd and their emotions. Go in there and do the same thing, hopefully, take another one or two, and end it or come back here and do it again.”
LIMA, Peru — Two cabinet members in Peru submitted their resignations Wednesday after the nation’s temporary president decided to postpone a massive $3.5 billion military aircraft purchase from the United States until after June’s presidential election.
Interim President José María Balcázar announced last week that he would leave the decision about acquiring 24 F-16 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin to whoever wins the upcoming presidential runoff, citing concerns about his authority as a temporary leader.
“For us to commit such a large sum of money to the incoming government would be a poor practice for a transitional government,” Balcázar said at the time.
The delay prompted a sharp response from U.S. Ambassador Bernie Navarro, who warned on social media that he would take unspecified action if Peru “negotiates in bad faith” or undermines American interests.
Defense Minister Carlos Díaz and Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela both left their positions Wednesday over the dispute. According to documents obtained by The Associated Press, Díaz wrote in his resignation that delaying the aircraft purchase “could compromise” Peru’s national interests.
During a press conference, both departing ministers revealed they had attempted without success to convince Balcázar to proceed with the agreement. Díaz disclosed that defense officials went ahead and signed the contract Monday despite the president’s objections, following the terms outlined in the deal.
In a radio interview, de Zela criticized Balcázar for providing misleading information to the public regarding the contract details. Díaz explained that many specifics about the agreement cannot be shared due to their classified status.
The aircraft deal was initially announced in 2024 under former President Dina Boluarte’s administration, with plans to finance the purchase through domestic borrowing — $2 billion in 2025 and $1.5 billion in 2026. Besides Lockheed Martin, Sweden’s Saab and France’s Dassault Aviation also submitted proposals for the contract.
Peru’s legislature selected Balcázar as the country’s eighth president in ten years this past February, replacing another temporary leader who was removed over corruption charges after serving just four months.
The South American nation will hold its presidential runoff election on June 7, though vote counting continues as officials process ballots from distant regions and Peruvian diplomatic posts overseas following the initial voting round on April 12.
BOSTON (AP) — During Monday’s Boston Marathon, runner Ajay Haridasse collapsed near the finish line when his body gave out. Two fellow competitors, Robson De Oliveira from Brazil and Aaron Beggs from Britain, stopped their own races to lift Haridasse and carry him approximately 1,000 feet to complete the course.
The inspiring moments occurred as thousands of other participants continued past the struggling runner. Instead of focusing solely on their own finish times, De Oliveira and Beggs hoisted Haridasse onto their shoulders and helped him reach the end of the prestigious race.
Spectator Pete Grasso captured the remarkable act of kindness on video as the two runners assisted Haridasse.
“The coolest part about this moment was that these two guys were less than a tenth of a mile away, in the middle of a really, really fast race, and still stopped to help a fellow runner who needed some help. That’s not easy to do,” Grasso said in an email interview. “Seeing them put everything aside in that moment just to get another runner across the line was incredible. And hearing the crowd respond, cheering for them, supporting them, truly gave me chills.”
Another touching display occurred when Washington, D.C. runner Lan Nguyen faced difficulty reaching the finish. Three other participants — Jessica Kier from Snohomish, Washington, Meredith Rosenberg from Boston, and William Bara-Jimenez from Bethesda, Maryland — stepped in to assist her. The group carried Nguyen for portions of the final stretch before she crawled across the finish line herself.
The Boston Athletic Association, which organizes the marathon, released a statement praising how participants supported struggling competitors at “the most historic finish line in all of road racing on Boylston Street.”
“The uplifting spirit of the running community to help one another, especially in times of need, is on full display on Patriots’ Day — not just at the finish, but all along the race route,” the organization stated. Officials reported that 29,101 of the 29,470 registered participants completed the race.
WASHINGTON — The Kennedy Center is gearing up for an extensive two-year closure starting this July as the iconic performing arts venue tackles widespread structural problems that have plagued the building for years.
President Donald Trump has described the facility as “tired, broken, and dilapidated” and requiring immediate attention. Meanwhile, performers including Jane Fonda and Billy Porter view the venue as a focal point for demonstrations against the current administration’s influence over cultural organizations.
Matt Floca, who serves as the Kennedy Center’s newly appointed executive director and chief operating officer, recently led members of the media on a comprehensive walkthrough of the facility. The tour included stops at the outdoor terrace with views of the Potomac River, parking structures, loading areas, electrical systems, and the Opera House performance space.
Throughout the inspection, one issue became consistently clear: significant water damage has affected nearly every section of the building. Evidence includes visible staining and standing water in various locations. Critical infrastructure, including multiple 800-ton cooling units that regulate the building’s temperature, has reached the end of its operational life after decades of use.
The sheer scale of the structure — encompassing over 1.5 million square feet — means comprehensive repairs will take considerable time to complete. Specifically, two full years.
Congressional funding of approximately $257 million will cover the renovation costs, with additional private contributions expected to support upgrades to premium spaces like exclusive member lounges.
This extensive renovation places the Kennedy Center among other prominent Washington landmarks that have undergone major restoration projects. The Smithsonian Castle has remained closed for repairs since 2023, while the Washington Monument required scaffolding from 1998 to 2001 and again in 2013 and 2014 following earthquake repairs.
However, no previous renovation has involved such direct presidential oversight. Trump has taken an unusually active role in the Kennedy Center’s operations during his second administration, removing former leadership and installing a personally selected board that designated him as chairman. His name now appears alongside John F. Kennedy’s on the building’s exterior.
Trump is simultaneously pursuing other ambitious construction projects, including a ballroom addition to the former East Wing of the White House and a proposed triumphal arch near Arlington Cemetery.
“It’s a public building, and I completely acknowledge that, but the president is really great at this, and I think his input is invaluable,” Floca stated. “He’s in the details, and it’s amazing. I really respect the input he’s given.”
The president’s increased involvement has coincided with numerous artists distancing themselves from the institution, raising questions about whether declining ticket sales may have influenced the closure decision. The Kennedy Center has not made attendance figures public.
The facility tour represents an opportunity for institutional renewal following more than twelve months of upheaval. Similar presentations have been provided to bipartisan congressional delegations and staff, representatives from Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office, and various corporate and individual supporters.
Construction scaffolding will surround the building during renovations, though the work won’t be so extensive that the structure’s interior becomes visible from outside. This clarification addresses Trump’s previous suggestions that supporting steel might become “fully exposed” during the process.
The extent of visible changes for future visitors remains uncertain. Most structural work, scheduled for the renovation’s initial year, will occur in non-public areas of the building.
Public spaces, including the Opera House’s distinctive red color scheme, will largely remain unchanged aside from modest updates. Current plans do not include modifications to the presidential viewing boxes.
Existing Kennedy quotations will remain displayed throughout the building, and the renowned bust of the former president positioned outside the Opera House will return to its location when the facility reopens.
“I can’t think of any JFK changes,” Floca confirmed.
Whether additional Trump commemorations will be added alongside Kennedy tributes remains undetermined, particularly given that his presidency will be nearing its conclusion when the building becomes accessible to the public again.
Stock markets rebounded Wednesday, ending a two-day decline for major indexes after President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the Iran ceasefire, though questions persist about lasting peace negotiations.
The ceasefire extension came at the request of Pakistani intermediaries, Trump stated. Despite this development, the U.S. Navy continues its blockade of Iranian ports while Iran has captured two vessels in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
The waterway carries approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply, making its status a critical concern for investors and a key issue in ongoing negotiations. Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, indicated that a comprehensive ceasefire would only be meaningful if the blockade ends.
Markets have surged in recent weeks on hopes for a potential peace agreement, with the Nasdaq breaking a 13-session winning streak on Monday.
“Everyone’s kind of sick of it… clearly, the market is looking for a beneficial outcome or some kind of decent outcome here,” commented Stephen Massocca, senior vice president at Wedbush Securities in San Francisco.
“Earnings have been good – now, will they continue to be good if we continue to be at war – it’s going to lose a little bit of its oomph. That said, in my world, there’s still tremendous value, there’s a lot of really cheap stuff out there.”
Market performance showed the S&P 500 climbing 73.78 points, or 1.03%, closing at 7,137.12, while the Nasdaq jumped 393.55 points, or 1.62%, finishing at 24,653.52. The Dow Jones gained 333.42 points, or 0.68%, reaching 49,482.80.
Corporate earnings for the first quarter are currently showing growth of approximately 14%, based on LSEG data.
Inflation concerns persist as oil prices remain close to $100 per barrel with potential for further increases.
Technology stocks led the market rally, with the S&P 500 tech sector advancing roughly 2% to become the top performer among the 11 major sectors. Semiconductor companies drove much of the gains, including Micron Technology, which reached a new all-time high.
The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index achieved an intraday record for the 11th consecutive session and extended its winning streak to 16 days – the longest in its history.
Seagate’s stock price increased following Barclays’ upgrade of the data storage company to “overweight” status.
Strong quarterly results have helped calm worries about consumer spending power despite higher energy costs from the Iran conflict.
Goldman Sachs data shows S&P 500 earnings per share projections for 2026 and 2027 have increased by 4% since late January.
GE Vernova led the S&P 500 after the power equipment manufacturer increased its yearly revenue outlook. Boston Scientific shares also surged following better-than-expected first-quarter performance.
Boeing stock gained ground after reporting a quarterly loss smaller than analysts predicted, providing significant support to the Dow.
United Airlines faced headwinds after projecting second-quarter and full-year earnings below Wall Street expectations as elevated jet fuel costs pressure profit margins and create uncertainty for the near future.
Several major companies including Tesla, Texas Instruments, and Southwest Airlines are scheduled to release earnings after market close.
Spirit Airlines shares more than doubled in over-the-counter trading following a Wall Street Journal report suggesting the Trump administration is nearing an agreement to assist the struggling budget airline.
Drivers traveling through Greenwood should expect periodic traffic disruptions on Market Street this week as railroad crews conduct essential maintenance operations.
DelDOT officials report that Delmarva Central Railroad Company workers will begin repair activities at the railroad crossing on Market Street starting at 7:00 am this Monday, April 27, 2026. The maintenance project will cause periodic lane restrictions at the crossing location throughout the work period.
Transportation officials expect the railroad maintenance activities to wrap up by 5:00 pm on Friday, May 1, 2026. Motorists are advised to plan for possible delays and consider alternate routes during the construction period.
Spring fishing conditions across Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay region are providing excellent opportunities for anglers this week, with water temperatures stabilizing around 60 degrees and multiple species actively feeding.
As Earth Day and Arbor Day arrive this month, fishing enthusiasts are encouraged to reflect on conservation efforts while enjoying outdoor opportunities. Anglers can contribute by picking up discarded fishing line and trash during their trips.
Current Conditions Through April 28
Buoy data shows main Bay surface temperatures and river mouth areas maintaining 60-degree readings. Smaller waterways are also holding in the 60s, though protected coves and downwind areas on sunny days often reach the upper 60s – perfect conditions for hickory shad, which prefer the 55-65 degree range during their spawning period over the next two weeks.
Most Maryland rivers and streams are experiencing below-normal flow levels. Water clarity remains typical across most Bay areas and tributaries, though algal blooms are reducing visibility along the western shore from Bush River down to the Patapsco, and near the Chester River mouth on the Eastern Shore.
Tuesday will bring stronger tidal movements due to the approaching full moon on May 1.
Upper Chesapeake Bay Action
Low flows in the Susquehanna River are actually benefiting anglers this week, creating clearer and warmer conditions due to reduced dam releases. While the area above a line from Abby Point to Worton Point remains closed for striped bass catch-and-release, other species are providing plenty of action.
Hickory shad are being caught throughout the Susquehanna up to Conowingo Dam, at Deer Creek’s mouth, and in Octoraro Creek. Small flashy spoons in gold and silver, colorful shad darts, and bright sinking flies are proving effective.
Small male white perch are beginning to enter the Susquehanna, with numbers expected to increase over the next week before larger females arrive. The developing grass beds on Susquehanna Flats are attracting largemouth bass and Chesapeake Channa near their edges.
Blue catfish and flathead catfish fishing remains strong near the dam, with blue cats also found near river mouths including the Susquehanna, Elk, Chester, and Gunpowder. Elevated salinity levels due to lack of rainfall make river mouths particularly promising for large blue catfish. Cut bait including gizzard shad, menhaden, or white perch works well, as do chicken liver and scented baits.
Anglers targeting blue catfish from Sandy Point State Park beach should wear knee boots and use circle hooks to properly release any accidentally caught striped bass without compromising their protective slime layer.
Catch-and-release striped bass opportunities exist along main channel edges for trolling large bucktails and sassy shad lures, or jigging when fish appear on depth finders. River mouths, Love Point rocks, and Bay Bridge piers are productive spots for casting paddletails and soft plastic jigs.
Middle Bay Report
Large post-spawn striped bass are leaving the Choptank River in increasing numbers this week. Upper Choptank temperatures peaked at 68 degrees last week before cooling slightly, while main Bay waters hold at 60 degrees. Spawning activity concluded last Saturday, with those fish now moving toward middle and lower Bay regions.
Trolling along main channel edges remains popular, but shallower waters shouldn’t be overlooked. Chartreuse bucktails with sassy shads and 6-inch soft plastic jigs are favorites when fish are visible on electronics. Schools of menhaden often indicate nearby striped bass.
Beginning May 1, anglers will be able to keep striped bass measuring 19-24 inches in areas below the Brewerton Channel south to Virginia waters, excluding tidal rivers.
White perch are moving down from spawning areas and spreading to summer habitats around tidal rivers and creeks. They’re typically in deeper water during this transition, making bottom rigs with grass shrimp, minnows, or bloodworm pieces effective. Anglers should note that small blue catfish in the 10-14 inch range are present in the Choptank and should be properly disposed of rather than released.
April provides excellent blue catfish opportunities in the Choptank, with ideal water temperatures encouraging movement from deep channels to nearby shelves and shallower areas. The stretch from Dover Bridge to Denton, and up the Tuckahoe past Route 328 Bridge, offer prime fishing. Cut bait, live small white perch, bluegill, large minnows, and scented baits all produce results.
Lower Bay Conditions
Post-spawn striped bass are exiting the Choptank, Nanticoke, Patuxent, and Potomac rivers this week, heading south toward the ocean. Their movement may pause only for the menhaden schools that have entered the lower Bay region – finding these baitfish schools is key to locating striped bass.
Menhaden schools often move with swift currents along channel edges but can also be found in shallower waters. Trolling and jigging along channel edges is extremely popular, while shallower Bay shores offer light tackle opportunities for casting various lures at passing striped bass.
Hickory shad fishing continues to excel in the Potomac River within Washington D.C. and Mason Branch of Mattawoman Creek. American shad are also beginning to appear in the Potomac’s deeper waters for anglers using larger shad darts.
White perch moving down spawning rivers on both Bay sides are providing entertaining fishing as they head to summer habitats. These fish are likely in deeper water during their downstream movement, making small jig heads and bottom rigs with grass shrimp or bloodworms preferred methods.
Blue catfish are extremely active in ideal water temperatures this month. Prime locations include the Potomac from Route 301 Bridge to Wilson Bridge, the Patuxent from Benedict to Jug Bay, and the Sharptown/Marshyhope section of the Nanticoke. Increasing numbers are being reported in the Wicomico and Pocomoke rivers.
Freshwater Opportunities
Trout fishing remains excellent in put-and-take management waters with weekly stockings continuing. Delayed harvest and catch-and-release waters in central and western regions offer opportunities for anglers preferring to release their catch.
Deep Creek Lake’s 51-degree water temperature is supporting diverse fishing for bluegills, pickerel, and largemouth bass moving into warmer, shallower coves – great for bank and wading anglers. Largemouth bass are positioning near structure like fallen treetops. Walleye season opened April 15 with a 15-inch minimum, five-fish daily limit, and 18-21 inch protected slot.
Upper Potomac River flows are very low with smallmouth bass spawning activity occurring. Largemouth bass are transitioning from pre-spawn behavior to entering shallow spawning areas where males have prepared nests. Female largemouth bass can be found in transition areas outside shallow spawning sites. Spinnerbaits, paddletails, jerkbaits, stick worms, crankbaits, and soft plastics are all effective choices.
Chesapeake Channa (northern snakeheads) are becoming more active as temperatures warm, with sunny afternoons offering the best opportunities on shallow, sun-exposed shores. White paddletails are currently the most popular lure choice, while dead-sticking large minnows under bobbers provides additional action.
Crappie have completed spawning in most areas and are now holding near shoreline structure, marina docks, and bridge piers. Various sunfish species are moving into shallower waters, providing excellent light tackle and fly-fishing opportunities.
Ocean and Coastal Bay Action
Surf anglers are experiencing outstanding black drum fishing along Assateague beaches this week. Sand fleas, peeler crab, and clams make effective baits. Dogfish and clearnose skates are also common in the mix – larger dogfish provide excellent smoked or fried nugget meat, though those with pups may need milk soaking to reduce ammonia levels. Striped bass moving up the coast are also being caught, with a one-fish daily limit at 28-31 inches.
Flounder continue moving through Ocean City Inlet, providing good fishing in the inlet and connecting channels. Tautog are being caught near rocks, bulkheads, docks, and bridge piers in the inlet and Route 50 Bridge areas, with sand fleas being the most popular bait.
Striped bass fishing offers excellent action in the inlet area and around Route 90 and Verrazzano Bridge piers. Paddletails and soft plastic jigs are the most popular methods, though most action is catch-and-release due to the 28-inch minimum size.
Charter and private boats venturing to inshore and offshore wreck and reef sites are finding good tautog fishing, with flounder also in the mix.
Public notices have been issued for the 2026 black sea bass and summer flounder seasons.
Three University of Maryland Eastern Shore men’s volleyball players have been honored with Northeast Conference postseason awards for their outstanding performances this season.
Leading the way is Valentine, who captured Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year recognition while also earning a spot on the NEC First Team All-Conference squad. The freshman made an immediate impact in his debut collegiate season.
Joining Valentine in receiving conference recognition are teammates Mills and Haynes, both of whom were selected to the NEC Second Team All-Conference roster for their contributions throughout the campaign.
The honors reflect the strong season put together by the Hawks volleyball program, with three players earning recognition among the conference’s top performers. Valentine’s dual recognition as both the top newcomer and one of the league’s premier players highlights his exceptional first-year campaign.
The Northeast Conference postseason awards recognize the most outstanding student-athletes across the league based on their athletic performance and contributions to their respective teams during the season.
BOSTON — During a postgame press conference following Philadelphia’s 111-97 Game 2 victory over Boston, Paul George was praising his young teammate V.J. Edgecombe when he suddenly paused with a question.
“Are you 21 yet?” George asked, turning to face Edgecombe at the podium.
“No, 20,” Edgecombe replied with a grin.
The 76ers’ third overall draft selection from last June has entered exclusive territory in just his second playoff appearance, and his performance is no laughing matter.
“I just try not to overthink it,” Edgecombe explained. “I try not to put pressure on myself. Everybody’s already putting pressure on us to perform. … Plus, I’m around a great group of guys. That also helps me. Just keep instilling confidence in me. Just to keep going, keep going. Regardless of who’s on the floor, who’s not on the floor.”
The young star’s 30-point, 10-rebound showing made him the first rookie to achieve at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in a playoff contest since Tim Duncan accomplished the feat on May 5, 1998.
Edgecombe also etched his name in NBA record books as the first rookie ever to combine five three-pointers with 10 rebounds in a postseason game. The stellar outing represented a significant improvement from Game 1, where he managed only 13 points while shooting 6-of-16 from the field.
According to George, this performance represents the peak of talent they initially witnessed from the Bahamas-born player when he scored 34 points in his professional debut during Philadelphia’s narrow season-opening victory in Boston.
“When you think about it how he started his first NBA game in this building, I’m sure he was in a small percentage or small group of players that what he did on that opening night,” George commented.
That debut performance ranks as the third-highest scoring effort for any NBA player in their inaugural game. Wilt Chamberlain holds the record with 43 points for the Philadelphia Warriors in 1959, also grabbing 28 rebounds against New York that evening. Frank Selvy scored 35 points for the Milwaukee Hawks versus Boston in 1954.
Edgecombe surpassed Allen Iverson’s franchise record of 30 points in a Sixers debut, set in 1996.
The rookie’s 14 first-quarter points on opening night also established a new NBA record for most points scored in a player’s initial quarter. LeBron James previously held that mark from 2003.
Throughout the regular season, Edgecombe maintained a 16.0 scoring average across 75 games.
His playing style carries a charismatic flair that echoes the entertaining approach Iverson brought during his Philadelphia years.
During Tuesday’s victory, after sinking his final shot of the evening — a long-range three-pointer over Payton Pritchard that extended Philadelphia’s lead to 105-92 following Boston’s rally to 91-89 — Edgecombe winked at the television camera while running back on defense.
George believes this is merely a preview of Edgecombe’s potential.
“To put a whole season together and get to a point where he’s showcasing who he is and his abilities. I’ve been saying all year long he’s far past a rookie,” George stated. “It’s just impressive, man. (Edgecombe had) 30 and 10, but it’s just what we needed in the moments throughout the game when he took over, and kind of just put us at ease.”
The evening wasn’t without challenges for Edgecombe, who suffered a hard fall onto his back early in the contest, causing him to limp to the locker room during both the first and third quarters.
However, Edgecombe dismissed any concerns about the injury affecting his availability for the remainder of the series.
“I just landed on my back, but I’m good. I was able to finish the game so I’m good,” he stated. “That’s all I’ve got for you. I’m good, ain’t nothing wrong with me. I’m good.”
FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys leadership announced Wednesday they will not pursue contract negotiations with star wide receiver George Pickens, opting instead to have him compete under the franchise tag designation for the upcoming season.
The 25-year-old receiver has yet to sign the franchise tender valued at $27.3 million, meaning he could skip mandatory minicamp in June without facing financial consequences. The team’s offseason activities begin Monday on a voluntary basis.
“We’ve made a decision that we’re going to have George play under the franchise tag, which won’t be a first for us,” said Stephen Jones, the team’s executive vice president of personnel. “So there won’t be negotiations on a long-term deal. But that’s certainly not a first for this organization and certainly won’t be a first in the league in terms of this decision as we move forward.”
While Stephen Jones indicated he hasn’t spoken with Pickens lately, team owner Jerry Jones and head coach Brian Schottenheimer recently held discussions with the receiver.
“It was good,” Schottenheimer commented during the Cowboys’ pre-draft media session ahead of Thursday evening’s NFL draft. “The thing that George knows about Jerry and myself is we’re very upfront and we’re honest. We had great conversation. We informed him. We think that’s important because that’s the way we handle all of our players and coaches.”
Pickens’ representative, David Mulugheta, has not yet responded to media inquiries regarding the situation.
Following his trade from Pittsburgh during the previous offseason, Pickens achieved personal bests with 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns while contributing to one of the NFL’s most productive offensive units. However, Dallas struggled defensively and posted a 7-9-1 record, extending their playoff absence to two consecutive seasons.
The Georgia product, selected in the second round of the 2022 draft, formed an effective partnership with CeeDee Lamb, who is entering his second season of a four-year, $136 million extension that places him among the league’s highest-paid receivers at $34 million annually.
Lamb staged a holdout throughout the 2024 offseason and training camp before finalizing his contract approximately two weeks prior to the season opener.
Dallas was unable to apply the franchise tag to Lamb due to his rookie contract structure. First-round selections include a fifth-year team option, while second-round picks like Pickens complete four-year agreements. Pickens earned $6.8 million during his initial NFL contract.
During his Pittsburgh tenure, Pickens demonstrated exceptional ability but also displayed concerning behavioral patterns that prompted former coach Mike Tomlin to question his professional maturity.
Although Schottenheimer avoided public criticism of Pickens during his inaugural head coaching campaign after 25 years as an assistant, both Pickens and Lamb were disciplined with a first-series benching in Las Vegas after violating team curfew following a casino visit.
“There’s a lot of things that go into that,” Stephen Jones explained regarding the decision to avoid long-term negotiations this offseason. “Let’s start with the fact that it’s not easy having two receivers being paid top of the market. A quarterback that’s been here, being the highest-paid player in this league for many years now.”
“The other thing is the newness of George being here,” Stephen Jones continued. “I think George has just done an amazing job. I mean he’s exceeded all expectations. And a lot of those things, they make their way toward a long-term deal, but that’s the biggest part of it — between the business and newness of it, I think that’s a big part of it.”
A groundbreaking new study reveals that approximately 4,400 fewer American teenagers and young adults lost their lives to suicide than researchers anticipated during the initial two-and-a-half years following the introduction of the 988 mental health crisis hotline, indicating the program’s effectiveness despite ongoing funding concerns.
According to research published Wednesday in JAMA, suicide fatalities among individuals aged 15 to 23 dropped 11% below projected numbers from July 2022 — when the crisis line began operations — through December 2024.
“The 988 program is one of the largest federal investments in suicide prevention in U.S. history — roughly $1.5 billion cumulative — and our findings suggest that investment has translated into measurable reductions in young adult suicide deaths,” said Dr. Vishal Patel, a clinical fellow at Harvard Medical School and the paper’s lead author.
To conduct their analysis, researchers examined nationwide death certificate data spanning from 1999 to 2022 to create projections for suicide mortality rates had the 988 hotline never been established. These estimates were then measured against actual death statistics.
While researchers acknowledge they cannot definitively attribute the decrease solely to the 988 service, and overall U.S. suicide rates have generally declined, they conducted multiple comparative analyses to validate their conclusions, Patel explained.
Their investigation revealed that the ten states experiencing the most significant increases in call volume after 988’s debut also demonstrated substantially larger differences between projected and actual suicide deaths. The reductions were more pronounced among younger demographics compared to individuals over 65, who utilize the service less frequently. Additionally, no comparable changes were observed in England, which lacked a similar hotline during the research timeframe.
These findings align with earlier research studies.
“Studies show that after speaking with a trained crisis counselor, most people who contact the 988 Lifeline are significantly more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed and more hopeful,” a spokesperson for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which funds the hotline, said in response to the study.
Jill Harkavy-Friedman, who directs the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s research program and was not part of the study, described the findings as “very heartening and very positive.” While she hopes to see additional research confirming these results, she praised the authors for conducting a “great deal of work” to eliminate other potential factors contributing to the decline.
The comprehensive mental health system plays a crucial role in reducing suicide rates, Harkavy-Friedman emphasized. The 988 hotline’s ability to guide users through this system, assist with safety planning, connect callers to local crisis intervention teams, and provide referrals for extended care has resulted in “extraordinary” outcomes, she noted. Having immediate access to support during a crisis moment can also prove life-saving.
“That is the strength of the crisis line,” Harkavy-Friedman said. “When you call, it de-escalates the crisis so the person has greater capacity to address whatever it is that’s driving their emotions at the moment.”
Mental health experts emphasize that the current combination of federal and state funding for call centers remains inadequate to address the actual level of demand.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s federal budget proposal maintains consistent 988 funding at $534.6 million for fiscal year 2027, anticipating 11 million contacts during the coming year.
While the hotline “is not a panacea for preventing suicide death,” the number of lives it has preserved “is a really big deal and underscores the need for sustained investment in 988 from federal, and especially state, lawmakers,” said Jonathan Purtle, a New York University mental health policy researcher.
During a Capitol Hill hearing Tuesday, Sen. Tammy Baldwin urged Kennedy to fulfill a “legal requirement” to reinstate 988’s specialized line for LGBTQ+ youth. The administration suddenly terminated the program last summer, despite research showing this population experiences disproportionately elevated suicide rates.
“Yes, we are working on getting it up now,” Kennedy responded to the Wisconsin Democrat. Representatives from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately provide The Associated Press with a timeline or specifics regarding the restoration.
Patel emphasized that specialized services for high-risk populations — including the LGBTQ+ line — are essential components of the program’s success.
“Our findings should be read as evidence that this is a program worth preserving and expanding, not one to scale back,” he said.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988.
AUJA, West Bank — Hundreds of Israelis marked their nation’s Independence Day Wednesday by swimming and enjoying outdoor festivities at a natural spring located in the occupied West Bank territory. The daylong celebration in Auja featured families picnicking and recreational activities, all under the watchful eye of Israeli military personnel.
The festive atmosphere stood in stark contrast to the ongoing conflict and recent displacement of Palestinian residents throughout the Jordan Valley region. The spring site has been transformed into recreational facilities primarily utilized by Israeli visitors, highlighting broader disputes over water resources in the West Bank. While Palestinian communities face severe water shortages, Israeli settlements maintain significantly better access to water supplies.
During the celebration, attendees gathered beneath a memorial flag displaying the image of a 21-year-old Israeli who was killed during a Hamas attack in June 2023. The commemoration comes as 2024 has witnessed continued settler attacks against Palestinian populations, including the forced removal of 600 residents from a neighboring community this past January.
Fresh uncertainty gripped the Strait of Hormuz Wednesday as Iranian forces launched strikes against three vessels near the vital shipping channel, intensifying a global energy emergency that began when tankers transporting one-fifth of the world’s petroleum were prevented from navigating the passage.
The latest incidents occurred merely 24 hours following President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would prolong the two-week truce with Iran. Tehran justified the assault on three departing vessels, capturing two of them, describing the action as payback for America’s maritime blockade of Iranian harbors and Washington’s attack and seizure of an Iranian vessel that failed to respond when contacted by blockade enforcement ships.
Maritime assaults had decreased beginning in mid-March when Iran established effective dominance over the waterway. The simple threat of attack proved sufficient to discourage vessels from attempting passage, though some ships utilized an Iranian-sanctioned route along the coastline. Iran required information about cargo, ownership and personnel and, in certain instances, levied a $1 per barrel fee on petroleum and related products — equivalent to $2 million for large tankers.
Here’s an examination of what is confirmed and uncertain regarding the strait’s current situation:
Iran’s semi-official media outlets announced that the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard struck a third vessel Wednesday within the strait. Nour News, Fars and Mehr all documented the Guard’s attack on a ship named the Euphoria. They reported the vessel had become “stranded” along Iran’s shoreline, providing no additional details. Iranian state television separately confirmed that the Guard captured the other two attacked ships.
This event followed two maritime attacks Saturday that broke a calm period that started in mid-March.
The captured vessels were the Liberia-flagged Epaminondas and Panama-flagged MSC Francesca, both cargo ships. The conditions under which these ships attempted strait passage remained unclear. MSC shipping company failed to respond to email inquiries about the vessel.
These attacks follow an abrupt change in Iran’s position over the weekend, after the Iranian foreign minister declared Friday that the strait remained open, only to face contradiction the following day from the Revolutionary Guard. Six cruise vessels trapped in the Persian Gulf since late February capitalized on the brief opportunity and navigated through the strait. However, maritime traffic has since ceased.
The renewed attacks partially reflect “genuine confusion … about when passage is permitted,” according to Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal Middle East analyst at risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft.
Contradictory messages came from Trump regarding complete reopening and from Iran’s foreign minister about limited reopening. Then circumstances “shifted very quickly” Saturday when the Guard declared the strait closed.
Furthermore, Soltvedt noted, Iran benefits from maintaining elevated insurance costs through intermittent attacks. “Their main leverage in negotiations with the U.S. is being able to restrict shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and insurance is a big part of that.”
Several vessels have successfully navigated Iran’s approval process, while others have depended on diplomatic appeals from their home nations. Nevertheless, hundreds of ships and thousands of crew members remain stranded.
The U.S. Navy intercepted and captured a large tanker carrying Iranian petroleum south of the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean, approximately 2,000 miles from the strait. This action highlighted America’s capability to seize vessels violating the blockade long after departing the strait’s vicinity.
The U.S. military, enforcing the blockade in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea, distant from Iranian drones and speedboats, reports turning back 20 Iran-connected vessels.
Nevertheless, shipping intelligence firms indicate that numerous ships carrying Iranian oil have bypassed the blockade. Lloyd’s List Intelligence reports “a steady flow of shadow fleet traffic” has moved in and out of the gulf, including 11 tankers with Iranian cargo that departed the gulf outside the strait since April 13.
“The dilemma for the U.S. is: The tighter the blockade, the greater the pain is in the global oil market, so there are conflicting priorities there, and it seems there is a policy of not intercepting every single shipment of Iranian oil,” Soltvedt explained.
Moreover, nearly all that petroleum flows to China, requiring the U.S. to manage that relationship carefully, with Trump scheduled to visit from May 14 to 15.
Captain Tim Hawkins, U.S. Central Command spokesman, confirmed Wednesday that the military blockade targets all Iranian ships entering or departing Iranian ports. However, he stated humanitarian shipments, including food, medical supplies and other civilian essentials, receive approval following inspection.
Hawkins disputed external reports of ships evading the U.S. network and referenced comments by U.S. Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper, who stated Friday that “no ship has evaded U.S. forces.”
Ship operators and insurers will require more than a basic peace agreement announcement to risk strait passage as they did before the conflict.
Even following the war’s conclusion, analytical and data company Rystad Energy predicts it will require six to eight weeks simply to reorganize the global tanker network. Ship operators and insurers would need two to five weeks to become comfortable with new operating conditions and resume standard operations.
Ship operators desire “something that’s a bit more concrete than what we have now,” Soltvedt stated. “What is needed is something more comprehensive” than an informal ceasefire with both sides remaining far apart on crucial issues including Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
“Even then, shipping companies will have the long-term threat hanging over them” considering Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, he added. “They can play this card again in the future.”
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Eastern Utah’s canyons will experience massive water releases this spring — equivalent to the flow of 50,000 toilets continuously flushing — as federal officials scramble to preserve electrical generation for hundreds of thousands of homes throughout the western United States.
While the rushing waters of the Green and Colorado rivers may appear to bring relief to the arid landscape of red rock formations and desert vegetation, the reality tells a different story.
Following the most severe winter drought on record, authorities plan to dramatically increase Lake Powell’s water levels this spring to preserve the reservoir’s hydroelectric capabilities. Their strategy involves releasing up to one-third of Flaming Gorge Reservoir’s water supply in Wyoming and Utah, surpassing even the record-breaking 2022 emergency release that maintained power generation.
Glen Canyon Dam creates Lake Powell, which generates clean, affordable electricity for more than 350,000 households. However, this solution creates mounting challenges throughout a disputed river system that serves ranchers, businesses, and approximately 40 million residential water users.
At Flaming Gorge in southwestern Wyoming, marina operators Tony and Jen Valdez are monitoring water levels that officials expect to drop 10 feet by summer’s end due to the planned releases. This decline will force boaters to travel increasingly longer distances to reach the water.
“Of course we’re concerned,” Jen Valdez said. “And it will probably get to a point where we’ll need to be more concerned.”
Should the plan proceed without weather intervention, Flaming Gorge could fall as much as 27 feet within twelve months, leaving Buckboard Marina significantly stranded from the waterline.
While potentially offering temporary relief during the extended drought, the strategy will create additional downstream consequences as Bureau of Reclamation officials plan to retain more water than normal in Lake Powell along the Arizona-Utah border.
Further downstream, Lake Mead near Las Vegas is projected to reach levels similar to four years ago when receding waters exposed sunken vessels and human skeletal remains.
Federal authorities explain these extreme actions are essential to maintain Lake Powell’s water level high enough for turbine operation without allowing air into the system, which could cause significant mechanical damage.
Approximately 155 customers spanning cities, tribal nations, rural electric cooperatives, and public utility districts receive hydroelectric power from Glen Canyon Dam and other federal facilities. No customer depends entirely on hydropower.
Most serve economically disadvantaged communities and operate as nonprofit organizations that fund dam operations, maintenance, and federal infrastructure investments.
The Western Area Power Administration maintains contractual commitments to supply specific electricity amounts to its customers. Losing hydropower would force WAPA to purchase more expensive, non-renewable energy from alternative sources, explained Leslie James, executive director of the nonprofit Colorado River Energy Distributors Association.
“If Glen Canyon hydropower is reduced to zero or a low amount, it will have different impacts on what they charge communities,” James said.
James described the situation as unprecedented in her 48 years assisting electricity customers across Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
Market electricity purchases replacing federal hydropower have driven rate increases for five consecutive years at Heber Light & Power southeast of Salt Lake City, with the most recent increase reaching 13%, according to Emily Brandt, the utility’s energy resource manager.
Persistent drought conditions, evaporation, and water consumption — particularly for cattle industry alfalfa irrigation — have reduced Lake Powell to 3,526 feet above sea level, representing just 23% of maximum capacity.
Power generation requires the reservoir to remain above 3,490 feet, the elevation of Glen Canyon Dam’s water intake systems.
This critical threshold has never been reached since the 710-foot dam’s completion in 1963 and Lake Powell’s gradual filling to capacity by 1980.
During 2022, the Bureau of Reclamation conducted an unprecedented release of 500,000 acre-feet from Flaming Gorge to boost Lake Powell. The current planned releases to maintain Lake Powell’s power generation could ultimately reach twice that volume.
Simultaneously, retaining 1.5 million acre-feet in Lake Powell will reduce Hoover Dam’s electricity production by 40% as Lake Mead levels continue declining.
An additional concern involves warm surface water from Lake Powell potentially promoting smallmouth bass populations, an invasive species that threatens the native humpback chub in the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam. Environmental groups including the Grand Canyon Trust advocate mixing deeper, cooler water to maintain conditions unfavorable to smallmouth bass in the Grand Canyon.
The most intensive Flaming Gorge releases in coming days and weeks will be timed to benefit native fish species in the Green River, a Colorado River tributary.
Flaming Gorge will ultimately decline from 83% to an estimated 59% capacity. The 2022 Flaming Gorge releases were followed by substantial winter precipitation, temporarily easing regional water concerns.
“We kind of got saved by Mother Nature,” said Valdez, the Buckboard Marina owner.
However, one or two wet years cannot reverse the 25-year “megadrought” caused partly by human-driven climate change. Despite this, Valdez remains hopeful for returning wet weather patterns.
“Hopefully we can expand into doing some other things,” Valdez said. “Because it’s going to come back eventually.”
Virginia Democrats marked a significant victory Wednesday following a ballot measure success that positions them favorably in the nationwide redistricting battle initiated by President Donald Trump to maintain Republican control of the House during this year’s midterm elections, though the fight is far from over.
The Virginia Supreme Court must now determine if Democratic legislators broke procedural guidelines when they placed a constitutional amendment on the ballot that authorizes new U.S. House districts potentially helping Democrats secure up to four extra seats statewide. Should the court find violations, it could nullify the map that voters approved by a narrow margin on Tuesday.
Upcoming developments in Florida will also play a crucial role.
Florida’s Republican-dominated Legislature plans to convene in special session next week, called by GOP Governor Ron DeSantis partly to create a new map that would increase the party’s congressional representation in that state. The U.S. Supreme Court expects to deliver a ruling by late June on a Louisiana case that might eliminate a critical section of the Voting Rights Act, potentially triggering redrawn political boundaries throughout the South, although most changes couldn’t take effect until 2028.
Following Virginia voters’ approval of the amendment, Democrats can provisionally assert they gained 10 seats nationwide through mid-decade redistricting, versus the nine Republicans claim. Even if circumstances shift back toward the GOP, the ultimate outcome of Trump’s initiative would represent only a modest gain in Republican-friendly House districts during a period when his approval numbers are declining and Republican concerns about losing congressional control in November are mounting.
“We have successfully blunted Trump’s attempt to completely hijack the midterms,” stated John Bisognano, president of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.
Numerous Republicans expressed similar sentiments.
“The GOP will now lose net seats across the country. If you’re going to pick a fight, at least win it,” posted Ari Fleischer, former spokesman for President George W. Bush, on social media platform X following the Virginia vote. “All this was foreseeable and avoidable. We should not have started this fight.”
Adam Kincaid, executive director of the National Republican Redistricting Trust, contended it’s premature to name either party the winner.
“It’s an ongoing process with many legal challenges pending, and it’s far too early for sweeping statements on the final outcome,” he explained.
Trump attempted to discredit the Virginia outcome Wednesday by making baseless fraud allegations similar to those he voiced after his 2020 presidential election defeat. He labeled the Virginia vote “RIGGED” and “Crooked” on his social media platform, adding: “Let’s see if the Courts will fix this travesty of ‘Justice.’”
Redistricting normally occurs once per decade following each census, unless a court mandates changes. However, last summer Trump advocated for redrawing maps in Texas, encouraging the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature to create up to five winnable House seats for his party. Trump subsequently began urging other Republican-led states to take similar action. Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio have since established more GOP-favorable districts alongside Texas.
Democrats initiated their counteroffensive, despite facing greater limitations because several Democratic-controlled states had maps created by independent commissions rather than elected officials.
To respond to Texas, California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom urged the Democratic-controlled Legislature to include a redistricting measure on last fall’s ballot. After voters overwhelmingly supported it, the initiative will substitute a commission-approved map with one potentially giving Democrats five additional seats.
Democrats regained control of both the Legislature and governor’s office in Virginia during November elections and quickly moved to mirror California’s strategy with an even more ambitious redistricting proposal. It substitutes a congressional map imposed by a court following the previous census that resulted in a 6-5 Democratic advantage with one allowing Democrats to potentially capture as many as 10 seats.
“We are not going to let anyone tilt the system without a response,” declared state Senate President L. Louise Lucas during a Wednesday news conference.
In Washington, U.S. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York issued a warning to Florida Republicans, who have shown open anxiety about redrawing their district lines and potentially diluting their core voter base before an election that seems to be moving against them.
“Our message to Florida Republicans right now is, ‘F around and find out,’” Jeffries stated.
House Majority Forward, the nonprofit division of the super political action committee supporting House Democrats, has invested nearly $60 million to counter Republican redistricting initiatives. Approximately $40 million of that amount went toward the Virginia campaign.
Florida faces an additional hurdle in the form of an anti-gerrymandering constitutional amendment that state voters passed in 2010. Any new Florida map would likely prompt substantial legal action, though six of the seven state Supreme Court justices received appointments from Republicans.
The Virginia initiative carries its own legal complications. Republicans have contested the procedure Democrats employed to place the measure on the ballot, and the state Supreme Court chose to postpone scheduling arguments until after the vote occurred. The timing of a potential ruling remains uncertain.
“The ballot box was never the final word here,” Virginia House Republican leader Terry Kilgore said in a statement following Tuesday’s vote. “Serious legal questions remain about both the wording of this referendum and the process used to put it before voters.”
The U.S. Supreme Court holds the most significant legal uncertainty. Its conservative majority might eliminate a Voting Rights Act requirement that mapmakers in areas with substantial minority populations create districts more conducive to electing minority candidates.
This provision has resulted in the establishment of several majority-minority congressional seats, particularly throughout the South. Without it, Republicans in conservative states could further reduce the number of U.S. House seats Democrats could win.
However, it’s improbable that any state besides Louisiana, which filed the lawsuit the high court will decide, could modify its congressional boundaries before November even if the court strikes down that provision, known as Section Two. This is because the November election has already officially begun in most states, with candidate filing deadlines and, in some instances, primary elections already completed.
INSTITUTE, W.Va. — Two workers have died and 19 others required hospitalization following a deadly chemical incident at a West Virginia precious metals facility, according to emergency officials.
The dangerous leak happened at Catalyst Refiners in Institute while employees were working to close down portions of the silver recovery operation, according to Kanawha County Commission Emergency Management Director C.W. Sigman.
Officials say the incident involved a dangerous interaction between nitric acid and another chemical compound. “A violent reaction of the chemicals and it instantaneously overreacted,” Sigman explained during a press conference.
Sigman noted that “Starting or ending a chemical reaction are the most dangerous times.”
Seven emergency responders who arrived at the scene were among those requiring medical treatment, authorities confirmed.
Emergency officials said some victims were transported to medical facilities in personal vehicles, with one person even taken to the hospital in a garbage truck, according to Sigman.
Area residents were ordered to shelter in place for more than five hours before the directive was lifted. Emergency management officials confirmed that all fatalities and injuries happened within the plant’s boundaries.
“You had to get really close to the facility to smell it,” Sigman reported.
The incident triggered a massive decontamination response where exposed individuals had to strip off all clothing and undergo chemical washdown procedures, emergency officials said.
The facility specializes in extracting silver from industrial waste materials and can recover thousands of dollars worth of precious metals simply by cleaning office floors at manufacturing plants, according to Sigman.
Ames Goldsmith Corp., which owns the Catalyst Refiners operation, expressed grief over the tragic outcome and solidarity with affected families.
“This is an unfathomably difficult time,” the company said in a statement released during the briefing. “Our thoughts and prayers are with our colleagues and their families.”
The parent company pledged full cooperation with local, state and federal investigators examining the cause of the incident.
The facility is situated near Institute, a small community located approximately 10 miles west of Charleston, West Virginia’s capital city.
NAHUNTA, Ga. — Devastating blazes continued to spread throughout the Southeast on Wednesday, leaving nearly 50 homes destroyed in Georgia while prompting widespread evacuations and school shutdowns across multiple communities.
The most severe fires were concentrated along Georgia’s coastline and in areas surrounding Jacksonville, Florida, where officials say the state is experiencing one of its most catastrophic fire seasons in recent decades. While the origin of these wildfires remains under investigation, extended drought conditions combined with low moisture levels and powerful winds have created ideal conditions for rapid fire spread.
Georgia’s two largest fires have consumed more than 31 square miles combined, with at least four additional smaller blazes reported statewide. The hardest-hit regions are experiencing exceptional or extreme drought conditions — the most severe classifications according to federal drought monitoring systems.
In Brantley County, located in southeast Georgia, a rapidly advancing wildfire continued threatening additional properties Wednesday after destroying 47 homes the previous day, County Manager Joey Cason reported.
The blaze expanded roughly six-fold in just twelve hours on Tuesday, Cason explained during Wednesday’s press briefing. Nearly two dozen firefighting agencies have joined efforts to combat the flames.
Sheriff Len Davis of Brantley County urged residents to prepare for potential evacuation, emphasizing that wind patterns could change suddenly and without warning.
Federal Emergency Management Agency officials report that approximately 800 people have been evacuated from the county, with five emergency shelters now operational as the fire poses risks to an additional 300 homes.
A separate major fire originating in Clinch County has also triggered evacuations across several communities, according to the Georgia Forestry Association. Association President and CEO Tim Lowrimore described the situation, stating: “This is a serious and evolving situation.”
Florida firefighters were simultaneously confronting 131 active wildfires Wednesday, which have scorched 34 square miles primarily across the state’s northern regions.
Fire suppression equipment has been strategically positioned throughout Florida to ensure rapid response capabilities, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced.
Simpson warned: “Florida has got one of the worst fire seasons in maybe the last 30 or 40 years or it’s turning out to be that way. We’ve been in drought for 18 months now all across the state.”
Train service disruptions affected Amtrak operations Monday in northeastern Florida due to wildfire activity. Normal service resumed Wednesday, confirmed Amtrak representative Beth Toll.
Weather officials warned that dangerous combinations of minimal humidity and gusty winds would maintain elevated fire risks Wednesday.
Smoke plumes reached major metropolitan areas including Atlanta, Savannah, Georgia, and Jacksonville, Florida. Air quality measurements in southern Georgia deteriorated to unhealthy levels Wednesday, potentially affecting all area residents.
The Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency predicted smoky conditions would persist throughout the Atlanta region Wednesday, despite the primary fires burning more than 200 miles southeast of the metropolitan area.
Meteorologists forecast continued high fire danger each afternoon through Friday due to persistently dry environmental conditions.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company has announced plans to establish an advanced chip packaging facility in Arizona, with operations targeted to begin before 2029, according to a company executive.
The facility will address a critical supply chain bottleneck affecting modern artificial intelligence processors. Today’s AI chips, including those produced by Nvidia, consist of multiple components bonded together using sophisticated packaging techniques, a process that has created supply constraints for major tech companies.
During a technology conference in Santa Clara, California on Wednesday, TSMC officials confirmed that construction work has already commenced. The company had previously announced in January that it was seeking permits to build its first advanced packaging facility within an existing Arizona location, though no completion date was provided at that time.
“We are aggressively expanding our own capability within the Arizona facility,” stated Kevin Zhang, deputy co-chief operations officer and senior vice president, during remarks made Tuesday before the conference. “We are going to build a CoWoS capability and 3D-IC capability there before 2029, so that’s still our goal,” Zhang explained, referencing two highly sought-after packaging technologies developed by TSMC.
Currently, major clients including Apple and Nvidia receive semiconductor chips from TSMC’s Arizona manufacturing facility, but those components must be shipped back to Taiwan for final packaging processes.
Competing firm Amkor Technology announced last year its intention to construct a packaging facility in Arizona in partnership with Apple and Nvidia, with completion scheduled for mid-2027 and production beginning in early 2028, ahead of TSMC’s projected timeline. TSMC and Amkor revealed in 2024 their collaboration to bring multiple advanced packaging technologies to Arizona, though specific details of their partnership remain undisclosed.
Zhang indicated that technology discussions between Amkor and TSMC are continuing. “We are partnering with them to see what kind of technology capability they can offer to our customers in order to accelerate some of the products to be manufactured in the U.S.,” Zhang noted. “There are still some moving parts. I would say we are definitely looking at all possibilities to have a very diverse manufacturing footprint.”
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co revealed its latest chip production advances on Wednesday, demonstrating how the company can develop smaller and faster processors while avoiding the purchase of expensive new equipment from Dutch supplier ASML.
The global manufacturing leader, which produces semiconductors for major tech companies including Nvidia, Apple and Google, unveiled two enhanced production methods during its presentation in Santa Clara, California. The first technique, designated A13, is scheduled for commercial production in 2029 and will primarily serve artificial intelligence applications. The second method, called N2U, offers a more cost-effective approach for manufacturing chips used in smartphones, laptops, and AI systems.
Rather than investing in ASML’s newest “high NA” extreme-ultraviolet lithography machines, which cost approximately $400 million each—double the price of current models—TSMC plans to maximize the capabilities of its existing EUV equipment for all the technologies demonstrated Wednesday.
“This is where I think our R&D has done exceptionally well in terms of leveraging existing EUV technology while setting an aggressive technology scaling roadmap,” stated Kevin Zhang, deputy co-chief operations officer and senior vice president, in an interview with Reuters. “This is definitely a strength.”
While the improvements in chip size and speed are incremental, TSMC also presented ambitious plans for connecting complex AI processors, an area where industry experts anticipate companies like Nvidia will achieve the greatest performance improvements in upcoming years. Current AI systems such as Nvidia’s Vera Rubin, launching this year and manufactured by TSMC, incorporate two large processing units and eight high-bandwidth memory modules. By 2028, TSMC projects it will possess the capability to combine 10 large chips with 20 memory modules.
The famous Moore’s Law, named for Intel CEO Gordon Moore, forecasted that computing capability would approximately double every two years while becoming more affordable. Recently, some industry leaders including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang have questioned whether this principle remains valid.
According to Dan Hutcheson, vice chair of TechInsights, TSMC is essentially extending Moore’s Law through its chip-connecting technology.
“Moore’s law is morphing from a monolithic, single die in a package to multi-die in a package,” Hutcheson explained in an interview. “And that allows the power and performance gains.”
However, combining multiple chips creates unique engineering obstacles. The processors generate heat during operation, and the various materials used in packaging expand at different rates, presenting new challenges for chip designers.
According to Ian Cutress, chief analyst at consultancy More Than Moore, large chip assemblies can warp and fracture, problems that affected Nvidia’s Rubin AI processor.
“(TSMC) aren’t addressing directly how they are solving those challenges,” Cutress noted.
Moscow announced Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would only consider meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy if the discussion centers on completing final peace agreements to end the ongoing conflict.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian state television that the purpose of any potential meeting must be clearly defined and productive.
“The main thing is the goal of this meeting. Why should they meet? Putin has said he is ready for a meeting in Moscow at any moment,” Peskov stated during the Wednesday interview, according to TASS news agency.
The Russian official emphasized that meaningful dialogue requires clear objectives. “The main thing is that there should be a reason to meet, and the main thing is that the meeting should be productive. And it can only be for the purpose of finalising agreements,” Peskov explained.
The comments suggest Russia’s leadership remains open to diplomatic discussions, but only under specific conditions focused on reaching a final resolution to the conflict.
The United States saw a 2 percent decline in commercial red meat production during 2025, according to newly released federal data.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service published its yearly livestock slaughter report showing the drop in production levels across the country.
The annual summary provides comprehensive data on commercial meat processing operations throughout the United States, tracking production trends that impact both farmers and consumers nationwide.
The United States poultry industry is showing signs of growth, according to recent data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Nationwide statistics reveal that broiler-type egg setting has increased by 2 percent compared to previous periods. Additionally, the placement of broiler-type chicks across the country has risen by 4 percent.
These figures suggest positive momentum in the American chicken production industry, with both upstream egg setting and downstream chick placement showing upward trends.
The country’s leading dairy-producing states experienced a notable increase in milk output during the month of March, according to new federal data.
The 24 states that dominate America’s dairy industry collectively produced 19.6 billion pounds of milk in March, marking a 2.4 percent rise when compared to March of the previous year.
The production figures highlight continued growth in the nation’s dairy sector as farmers and agricultural operations maintain steady output levels across major milk-producing regions.
Delaware State University senior Christopher Johnson has been selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Men’s Field Athlete of the Week, officials announced Tuesday from Norfolk, Virginia.
The recognition highlights Johnson’s outstanding performance in field events for the Hornets’ outdoor track and field program. The MEAC weekly honors are awarded to student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional athletic achievement in their respective events.
Johnson’s selection marks a significant accomplishment for both the senior athlete and Delaware State’s track and field program as they continue their outdoor season competition.
