Academic performance among America’s students started sliding long before coronavirus forced schools to close their doors, according to new findings that challenge common assumptions about pandemic-related learning loss.
While educators and policymakers have largely attributed declining test scores to COVID-19 disruptions, evidence reveals that student achievement had already been dropping for several years prior to 2020.
The revelation puts a new perspective on what many considered exclusively pandemic-related educational setbacks. However, there’s encouraging news as certain school districts across the country are now demonstrating meaningful progress in reversing these trends.
Educational leaders say understanding the true timeline of academic decline is crucial for developing effective strategies to help students recover and excel moving forward.
Spencer Pratt, who gained notoriety as the antagonist on MTV’s reality series “The Hills” for allegedly creating drama between his girlfriend and her close friend, is now positioning himself as Los Angeles’ potential savior.
The former reality TV personality has launched a mayoral campaign for the nation’s second-largest city, vowing to eliminate what he calls chaos and poor governance plaguing Los Angeles.
What initially seemed like a publicity stunt has transformed into a serious challenge to the established political order, with Pratt gaining significant traction as early voting begins before the June 2 primary. The GOP candidate has generated substantial attention through viral social media content that criticizes current Mayor Karen Bass, Governor Gavin Newsom, and other Democratic leaders.
Pratt’s strategy centers on securing enough support to advance to a November general election matchup against Bass, the Democratic incumbent who has faced harsh criticism for her handling of last year’s catastrophic wildfire crisis.
While Republicans haven’t won the mayor’s office since 1997, Pratt managed to earn a spot alongside just two other candidates – Bass and progressive Councilwoman Nithya Raman – in last week’s televised debate.
“As crazy as this will sound, I’m the adult in the room,” Pratt declared during the forum.
The candidate and his team are pursuing a grassroots strategy that focuses on residents’ daily struggles in Los Angeles, using stark images of drug addiction and homeless camps throughout the nearly 4-million-person metropolis.
Pratt directly blames Democratic officials for the city’s problems and promises to “stop these corrupt politicians from destroying our city.” His platform includes aggressive measures against homelessness, including clearing all encampments and launching criminal probes into nonprofits that provide services to people living on the streets.
“These people do not want a bed,” he stated during the recent debate. “They want fentanyl or meth.”
The 43-year-old officially entered the race in January during a ceremony commemorating the first anniversary of the devastating Palisades Fire, which destroyed his residence along with thousands of other homes.
A recent campaign advertisement shows Pratt visiting the comfortable neighborhoods where Bass and Raman reside, then contrasting those areas with an Airstream trailer on a cleared lot where he claims to be living following his home’s destruction.
“They let my home burn down,” Pratt states in the commercial. “I know what the consequences of failed leadership are.”
Recent weeks have seen a collection of artificially-generated viral videos depicting Pratt as Los Angeles’ potential rescuer from ineffective Democrats and radical activists.
One particularly popular video shows Pratt as Batman rescuing a dystopian version of Los Angeles from Bass, who appears as the villainous Joker character.
Former Florida Governor and presidential candidate Jeb Bush praised it as “maybe the best political ad of the year” in a social media post.
Filmmaker Charles Curran has shared these videos and others across social platforms, with Pratt redistributing them through his own channels. Curran has not responded to media inquiries.
“He’s playing on the most powerful emotion, which is anger, and LA voters are angry right now,” explained Matt Klink, a Los Angeles-based Republican political consultant.
Pratt has extensive experience creating buzz and entertainment content.
He initially became famous in 2007 as Heidi Montag’s partner on “The Hills,” a popular reality program following young women navigating adulthood in Southern California. The show depicted him as causing problems between Montag and her roommate Lauren Conrad, ultimately destroying their friendship.
Pratt and Montag eventually married and have two children. Since “The Hills” concluded in 2010, both have participated in various scripted and reality television programs, with each maintaining over 1 million social media followers.
Pratt cites his 2013 political science degree from the University of Southern California as proof of his qualifications to lead such a large city.
His campaign team has declined interview requests.
Bass, who became the first Black woman to lead Los Angeles, remains a vulnerable incumbent still dealing with wildfire aftermath and broader dissatisfaction with municipal government.
She was conducting diplomatic work in Ghana when the fires began devastating her city, sparking intense criticism. Her administration also faced accusations of diluting a fire department review report, which she disputes.
Nevertheless, Bass maintains strong support from the Democratic establishment, including most of the city’s influential labor organizations. A coalition of unions is financing advertising attacks against Pratt that appear designed to boost his appeal among Republicans while helping him surpass Bass’s progressive opponents – potentially betting he would be easier to defeat in November.
Pratt’s growing prominence disrupts a race that recently appeared likely to feature Bass against a challenger from her political left rather than right.
“I feel like he’s exploiting the grief of people in the Palisades, and I think that’s reprehensible. That’s the main thing. And I think he is about his own celebrity. He’s famous now again,” Bass told Fox News recently.
Pratt has conducted an entertaining and creative campaign that has successfully converted his celebrity status into political attention – the essential currency of politics – similar to Donald Trump and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s previous efforts, according to Michael Trujillo, a Los Angeles Democratic strategist. He believes this positions Pratt well to advance past the initial voting round and face Bass in a head-to-head runoff.
However, Pratt must eventually confront a challenging reality as a Republican candidate in an overwhelmingly Democratic city.
“Not to diminish the creativity and imagination that they’re putting into their campaign, but they’re going to run into a big math problem,” Trujillo noted.
Motorists traveling on southbound Route 13 should expect delays as construction work has temporarily eliminated left turn lanes at several key intersections.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that left turning traffic is currently prohibited at the intersections of Willow Grove Road, West Lebanon Road, and Old North Road along the southbound corridor.
Officials indicate the construction-related lane restrictions will remain active until 6:00 AM, when normal traffic patterns are expected to resume.
Drivers needing to make left turns at these locations should plan alternate routes or expect extended travel times during the closure period.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials have temporarily closed the left travel lane on southbound Route 13 for ongoing construction activities.
The lane restriction affects the stretch of highway between Voshell Mill Road and Shamrock Avenue and is expected to remain in place until 6 AM.
Motorists traveling through the area should expect potential delays and are advised to use caution while navigating through the construction zone.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — While Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz continues to disrupt global energy markets and cause worldwide economic strain, the nation’s domestic financial crisis is putting severe pressure on its ability to endure ongoing conflict and resist pressure from Washington.
Citizens across Iran are grappling with skyrocketing costs for essential items including food and medical supplies. The nation has simultaneously experienced widespread unemployment and business failures due to strike-related damage to crucial industries and extended government-imposed internet blackouts.
The financial impact of ongoing hostilities and America’s maritime blockade “has been very substantial and unprecedented for Iran,” according to Hadi Kahalzadeh, an Iranian economist and research fellow at Brandeis University.
However, Iran has endured multiple decades of financial pressure and sanctions, and its ability to adjust remains intact, Kahalzadeh noted.
“Iran can probably avoid a complete economic collapse or total shortage of essential goods, but at a very high cost,” he explained. “The main cost will be passed to ordinary Iranians through higher inflation, more poverty, weaker services and a much harder daily life.”
The International Monetary Fund forecasts Iran’s economy will contract by approximately 6 percentage points over the coming year. Government statistics released in mid-April showed yearly inflation reached 53.7%, while food price inflation exceeded 115% compared to the previous year’s figures.
Iran’s rial has simultaneously plummeted, losing more than half its worth over the past twelve months and hitting a historic low of 1.9 million per dollar at the end of last month. These economic hardships contributed to widespread demonstrations that swept the nation in January.
Sitting under an overpass in downtown Tehran, 56-year-old Hossein Farmani waited with fellow taxi drivers for potential passengers. Opening his car’s trunk to retrieve a kettle for tea, he contemplated the dramatic price surges over recent months. Tea prices, like milk and other staples, have increased more than 50% since hostilities began.
“If things keep heading in this direction, we’re going to suffer a lot more,” Farmani said.
While costs had been climbing gradually over two years, an Associated Press survey of Tehran grocery stores revealed dramatic increases since February, before the conflict started: poultry and lamb prices rose 45%, rice climbed 31%, and eggs jumped 60%.
Government officials have announced assistance programs to help citizens cope with crushing expenses. However, many policies — including a 60% minimum wage increase and voucher systems for basic goods — are actually fueling inflation, according to Taymur Rahmani, a University of Tehran economist, writing in the prominent business publication Dunya-ye Eqtesad.
Free public transportation introduced since the conflict began has also hurt the capital’s already struggling taxi operators.
Mohammad Deljoo, a 73-year-old driver waiting nearby, explained he supports his two children on just $4 daily income. While store shelves remain stocked, he attributes problems to “price gouging.”
“We only buy what’s absolutely necessary, things like bread and potatoes. Even eggs have become too expensive for us,” Deljoo said. Vehicle tire and parts costs have increased fivefold within a year.
“One price today, another tomorrow. How is that possible?” he questioned.
Facing widespread layoffs, many citizens are desperately seeking alternative income sources. Ali Asghar Nahardani, 32, said his ride-sharing company hasn’t paid him in over a month, forcing him into street vending to cover basic expenses.
“We’re just living day by day, trying to get through this situation while the war conditions continue,” he explained.
The strait’s closure has driven up global energy costs. Within Iran, however, the conflict represents another blow to a once-thriving middle class already devastated by decades of sanctions.
By 2019, Iran’s middle class had already contracted to approximately 55% of the population, according to Mohammad Farzanegan, a Middle Eastern economics professor at the University of Marburg. Additional sanctions, conflicts, corruption, and poor economic management have further reduced that figure, he said.
The current conflict will likely force millions more Iranians into poverty, based on a United Nations development agency report from late March.
A fitness instructor living in central Tehran characterized the economic emergency as a mental health crisis affecting Iranian society. Many clients can no longer afford her services, and remaining customers increasingly discuss managing depression symptoms.
“The system is just collapsing. The layoffs are in factories, in companies, in startups, in whatever your work is,” she said via Telegram voice message, requesting anonymity due to safety concerns.
The trainer has dramatically reduced grocery purchases.
“The last time I bought meat was about two months ago.” She’s also discontinued therapy sessions started after her divorce last year. “I am pursuing a master’s in psychology so it’s given me the tools to handle my anxieties,” she said.
A Karaj resident near the capital reported his insurance company experiencing plummeting vehicle and property policy sales. Families are sliding into poverty, he said, also speaking anonymously fearing retaliation.
The Karaj resident, who participated in January’s anti-government demonstrations, attributed the prolonged decline to “severe systemic corruption” and the Islamic Republic’s expensive backing of militant organizations in Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq.
“Most people blame the government and its ambitions,” he wrote via WhatsApp.
Iranian leadership has attempted to maintain domestic support by expressing sympathy while encouraging citizens to endure economic hardship for the war’s sake.
In Friday messages on his official Telegram channel, new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei called the current conflict phase an “economic battlefield” and urged employers to “avoid layoffs as much as possible.” Khamenei, believed injured early in the war by Israeli attacks, has not appeared publicly since.
Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf — who has become a central figure in both war efforts and U.S. negotiations — encouraged Iranians to “be frugal” with spending. He stated on his official Telegram account that government officials and citizens “have a duty to help each other” to minimize economic impacts.
America’s blockade has severely limited Iran’s vital Gulf commerce. More than 90% of Iranian trade, especially oil exports generating billions in revenue, moves through southern ports, Farzanegan estimated.
Farmani, the taxi driver, said he opposes accepting what he called a “humiliating” peace with America and Israel.
“A country that has sacrificed so many martyrs and has so many people willing to give their lives cannot simply let others from across the world dictate terms to us.”
A major Japanese snack manufacturer is stripping the color from its product packaging due to supply chain disruptions stemming from the ongoing conflict in Iran.
Calbee Inc., a Tokyo-based company that produces potato chips and cereals, announced this week that it will transition 14 of its snack products to monochrome packaging starting May 25. The company emphasized that the actual food products inside remain unchanged.
“This measure is intended to help maintain a stable supply of products,” the company stated, explaining that the decision represents a flexible response to shifting global political conditions.
The dramatic shift affects popular items sold throughout Japan’s widespread convenience store network, with products also distributed to markets in the United States, China and Australia. Calbee, established in 1949 and currently employing over 5,000 workers, has not indicated how long these packaging changes will remain in effect.
The supply shortage stems from the virtual shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iranian war, which has driven up petroleum prices and created shortages of various materials. Among these is naphtha, an oil-derived component essential for manufacturing plastics and printing inks.
Japan’s heavy dependence on imported oil makes the country particularly vulnerable to such disruptions, though government officials have sought to calm public concerns by highlighting the nation’s strategic oil stockpiles.
The packaging transformation is particularly striking on Calbee’s lightly salted potato chips, called “usu shio,” which previously featured vibrant orange bags displaying yellow chip images and a cartoon potato mascot in a hat. The redesigned version contains only black text on a white background.
This development comes just two months after Calbee, which also produces popular shrimp-flavored snacks known as “kappa ebisen,” unveiled an aggressive expansion plan in March.
“Calbee will continue to respond flexibly and promptly to changes in its operating environment, including geopolitical risks, and remains committed to maintaining a stable supply of safe, high‑quality products,” the company said. “We ask for your understanding.”
Korean American filmmaker Eugene Yi has long questioned which ethnic groups truly fall under the Asian American and Pacific Islander umbrella term.
“When we’re talking about Asian Americans or Asian people in the U.S., oftentimes it’s people who might look like you and me, and maybe not people who look like (New York City Mayor) Zohran Mamdani,” Yi explained to The Associated Press. “Why is that when this term is supposed to be so capacious and so inclusive?”
These questions drove Yi’s enthusiasm when he was selected to direct an HBO documentary exploring AAPI identity and community connections.
Launching Wednesday on HBO Max during AAPI Heritage Month, “The A List: 15 Stories from Asian and Pacific Diasporas” represents the newest installment in Timothy Greenfield-Sanders’ “List Series.” Previous documentaries in this collection have highlighted prominent figures from Black, Latino, and LGBTQ+ communities.
Yi’s film features straightforward, personal conversations between journalist Jada Yuan and 15 individuals of AAPI background from various fields. Participants include news anchor Connie Chung, Senator Tammy Duckworth, and “Basement Bhangra” founder DJ Rekha. Comedy stars Sandra Oh, Kumail Nanjiani, and Bowen Yang also opened up about questions of identity and acceptance.
“When talking to people who are professionally funny, oftentimes they’re really comfortable not being funny,” during unscripted discussions, Yi noted. “I appreciated that chance to get a little bit deeper into some of their stories.”
Minneapolis chef Yia Vang, who operates the acclaimed Hmong restaurant Vinai, recorded his interview three years ago and has since appeared on numerous culinary programs. Born in a Thai refugee camp before his family relocated to Wisconsin when he turned 4, Vang compared the filmed conversation to a spiritual confession.
Through tears, Vang shared how his childhood embarrassment about being “the weird kid” led him to discard school lunches of sticky rice and fermented vegetables his mother prepared. The unexpected emotion revealed a fundamental life principle.
“I will never, ever try to be ‘cool,’” Vang declared. “That’s why I guess I get so intense about like how we do our food here. Not because I’m chasing perfection or some kind of award, but I just want to make sure I stay true to the integrity that they (my parents) laid before me.”
In what Vang describes as “full-circle redemption,” those same dishes he once threw away now appear on his restaurant’s menu.
During a Milwaukee Film Festival screening last month, Vang witnessed local reactions to the documentary. His childhood fears of being seen as different proved unfounded.
“The audience really connected because I’m a Wisconsin boy,” Vang shared. Several attendees approached him simply to express: “It’s so awesome to see a Midwest kid in there.”
Despite Asian Americans representing one of America’s fastest-growing demographic groups, adults struggle more to identify AAPI influence compared to other racial communities, according to recent research from The Asian American Foundation.
The organization’s yearly Social Tracking of Asian Americans in the United States (STAATUS) Index, conducted with NORC at the University of Chicago, revealed that 40% of American adults cannot name a single famous Asian American. Jackie Chan, who is not American, ranked among the most common responses. Approximately half could not identify any notable Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders.
“It’s an indication of just how for most of America — and our data shows this as well — people get most of their information about Asian Americans not so much from direct contacts, but from the media,” explained Norman Chen, The Asian American Foundation’s CEO.
Chen attended a recent “A List” screening and praised the diverse range of personal narratives Yi assembled. He believes such a film might not have found support ten years earlier, making audience reactions to both celebrity and ordinary citizen stories particularly meaningful.
“Even people that we don’t know have such powerful stories to show you the depth and richness of our community and the struggles that we’ve had to go through in multiple generations,” Chen observed.
Production began while Vice President Kamala Harris campaigned against Donald Trump. With a Republican Trump administration now opposing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, Yi recognizes the documentary’s potential political interpretation.
“What I’ve certainly seen during the stretch of time — just speaking for myself — is just how quickly things can backslide and how quickly people can be erased,” Yi reflected. “We literally have people being disappeared on the streets and we literally have histories being erased.”
Yi particularly values contributions from older participants who witnessed historical events, including activist Kathy Masaoka’s account of her mother’s imprisonment in Japanese American detention facilities. He hopes viewers will understand both past and present AAPI struggles while recognizing community strength.
“We can really move forward from this moment in terms of rebuilding and reclaiming and taking up space with confidence and hope again,” Yi concluded.
CHAMBLEE, Ga. (AP) — For most ambitious politicians, having the name recognition of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger would be considered a blessing.
“I think most people by now know who I am,” the Republican gubernatorial candidate quipped Tuesday while campaign workers erected signs bearing his name prior to an event in the Atlanta suburb of Chamblee.
However, that widespread recognition could hurt Raffensperger in next Tuesday’s primary election since it originated from his resistance to Donald Trump’s efforts to reverse Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential win. He stood among the few Georgia officials who drew Trump’s ire by refusing his false claims, and despite securing reelection in 2022, numerous Republicans continue to regard him as disloyal.
The 70-year-old politician is now investing millions of his personal funds in an effort to redefine his public image, returning to who he was prior to that controversial period.
“I really think I need to let people know that I’m actually a conservative Christian businessman,” Raffensperger recently told members of the media. “If you don’t realize, that’s where I cut my teeth.”
Whether GOP voters will overlook Raffensperger’s perceived betrayal within a party still devoted to Trump remains uncertain. He has encountered threats throughout recent years, and campaign spokesman Ryan Mahoney reported that Raffensperger received notification of a serious threat Monday while beginning a statewide campaign tour.
According to Mahoney, a Mississippi sheriff’s department obtained a four-page document containing Raffensperger’s photograph with “boom” inscribed on his forehead. Law enforcement officials have not yet confirmed any ongoing investigation.
Security personnel conducted a sweep of Macon airport before Raffensperger’s Tuesday arrival, during which a police dog discovered a suspicious item that required evacuation procedures. The object proved harmless, and Raffensperger delivered his remarks on the airport tarmac.
Raffensperger positions himself as an option for Georgia voters who might be growing weary of a costly and contentious primary battle between Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and healthcare mogul Rick Jackson, both spending enormous amounts attacking one another.
A Raffensperger television commercial shows Jones and Jackson shooting firearms recklessly skyward while Raffensperger methodically aims at individual targets. Another advertisement characterizes “creepy Rick Jackson” and “big baby Burt Jones” hurling mud at each other in a farm setting.
“All they have been talking about is each other and running each other down,” Raffensperger stated Tuesday. “No one’s talking about the most important person. And that’s our fellow Georgian.”
Raffensperger’s path to the nomination appears challenging. Should he advance to a June 16 runoff, the race could transform into a battle over conservative credentials, creating an atmosphere where Raffensperger would encounter even harsher criticism regarding his Trump disloyalty.
Given his direct oversight of election operations as secretary of state, Raffensperger has become a target for numerous Republicans, including those not particularly aligned with Trump. His relationship with Jones has been especially strained, as Jones was among 16 Georgia Republicans who proclaimed themselves “duly elected and qualified” Trump electors in 2020 despite Biden’s state victory.
Georgia Republican Party delegates voted in June to prohibit Raffensperger from seeking office under their party label, citing his opposition to Trump, though the party ultimately certified his candidacy. A judge dismissed a legal challenge last month attempting to remove him from the primary ballot.
Raffensperger’s campaign calculates that approximately one-fifth of the state’s Republican voters would never support him, a group they label “never-Raffensperger.”
Sabrina Mao, a Cobb County resident attending a Jones campaign event Tuesday in Smyrna, stated, “Everybody knows there is fraud in voting.”
“I don’t think he was doing anything good,” Mao commented about Raffensperger. “He’s just a follower. I don’t think he’s a leader.”
Raffensperger represents a return to traditional Republican politics. While competing campaigns feature loud country music and barbecue events, Raffensperger’s preferred approach involves addressing Rotary Club gatherings.
He sold his concrete reinforcement business, Tendon Systems, for an undisclosed sum in 2023. Through last week, Raffensperger had provided $6 million in campaign loans and allocated at least $4.2 million for advertising. These figures are modest compared to Jackson and Jones, who are self-financing their campaigns at historic levels. Jones has contributed $17 million to his campaign, while Jackson has invested a remarkable $83 million in his gubernatorial pursuit.
Beyond Jones and Jackson, Raffensperger faces competition from Republican Attorney General Chris Carr, who targets many of the same voter demographics as Raffensperger.
Democratic primary contenders include former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, state Sen. Jason Esteves, and former state Labor Commissioner Mike Thurmond.
Geoff Duncan, a former Republican lieutenant governor who also rejected Trump’s 2020 election reversal attempts, is seeking the Democratic nomination.
While Raffensperger defends Georgia’s election procedures, he quickly shifts discussion to his preferred topics of generating well-paying employment, reducing property taxes, improving school security, and supporting Trump’s manufacturing job initiatives.
“If you can create and, build great paying jobs for people, you can change their lives,” Raffensperger remarked last month when responding to a reporter’s inquiry about Georgia’s electoral system.
He regularly presents himself as opposing Democrat Stacey Abrams, a vocal critic of Republican election management, attempting to rally Republicans who strongly dislike Abrams.
“Brad Raffensperger secures Georgia’s elections like Joe Biden secures the border — and no amount of false advertising can erase that record,” Jones campaign manager Kendyl Parker wrote to television stations Tuesday, requesting removal of Raffensperger’s attack advertisement, which also references Abrams and Biden.
Critical supporters Raffensperger requires include suburban voters who have supported conservative candidates but remain skeptical of Trump. In 2022, for instance, many voted for Republican Gov. Brian Kemp while choosing Democrat Raphael Warnock for Senate due to concerns about GOP candidate Herschel Walker.
Katherine Weber of suburban Sandy Springs described herself as “Republican, but not pro-Trump” after voting last month.
“I voted for Brad Raffensperger,” Weber said. “I feel like he is a man of integrity and not swayed by politics. He doesn’t do whatever Trump says.”
PARK CITY, Utah — A mother from Utah who authored a children’s book about dealing with loss following her husband’s passing will discover Wednesday the length of her prison term for his murder.
In March, Kouri Richins received a guilty verdict for aggravated murder after poisoning her husband’s drink with a fentanyl dose five times stronger than what would be fatal at their residence near Park City in 2022.
According to prosecutors, the 35-year-old real estate professional who ran a home renovation business owed millions of dollars and was planning a life with another man. Without Eric Richins’ awareness, she had secured multiple life insurance policies on him and incorrectly assumed she would receive his estate valued at over $4 million following his death.
The Park City jury also convicted Richins on four additional felony charges, including attempted murder for her earlier effort to poison her husband on Valentine’s Day using a fentanyl-contaminated sandwich.
The case drew significant attention from true-crime followers when authorities arrested her in 2023 during promotional activities for her children’s book titled “Are You with Me?” which tells the story of a young boy dealing with his father’s passing.
At Wednesday’s sentencing hearing, which coincides with what would have been her husband’s 44th birthday, Richins could receive anywhere from several decades to life imprisonment. Her legal representatives chose not to provide statements prior to the proceeding.
Following the verdict, Eric Richins’ sister Amy Richins expressed satisfaction, stating she was “just very happy that we got justice for my brother” and could now concentrate entirely on caring for his sons, who were 9, 7, and 5 years old when their father passed away.
According to a prosecution document submitted before the hearing, the children informed the judge they would feel unsafe if their mother ever gained freedom from prison.
“I’m afraid if she gets out, she will come after me and my brothers, my whole family,” said the oldest boy, who is now 13. “I think she would come and take us and not do good things to us, like hurt us.”
The middle child, now 11, expressed sadness that his father won’t be present for important life events. With his mother incarcerated, he said he can “live a happy and successful life without fear of (her) hurting me or anyone I love.”
The youngest child stated he would be “so scared” if his mother received release.
Utah judges commonly assign sentences as broad ranges instead of specific year amounts.
The primary charge of aggravated murder carries a penalty of 25 years to life imprisonment, or life without the possibility of parole. The prosecution chose not to seek capital punishment.
The prison term for attempted aggravated murder varies based on the extent of physical harm inflicted. Following a bite of the sandwich his wife prepared for him, Eric Richins developed hives, used his son’s EpiPen on himself, consumed an entire bottle of Benadryl, and lost consciousness, according to prosecutors. Based on the judge’s evaluation, Kouri Richins might receive 15 years to life, 6 years to life, or 5 years to life for this charge.
Two insurance fraud counts, classified as second-degree felonies, each come with 1-15 year sentences, while a third-degree felony forgery charge carries a 0-5 year prison term.
Judge Richard Mrazik holds the authority to determine whether Richins’ sentences for each conviction will run concurrently or consecutively. Prosecutors have requested no concurrent sentencing and pushed for life imprisonment without parole.
Richins additionally faces more than twenty financial criminal charges in a separate proceeding that remains pending.
The trial was originally planned for five weeks but concluded ahead of schedule when Richins chose not to testify, and her defense team concluded their case without presenting any witnesses. Her lawyers expressed confidence that prosecutors had failed to provide sufficient evidence for a murder conviction.
The jury reached a guilty verdict on all charges after deliberating for slightly less than three hours.
During the proceedings, prosecutors depicted the mother of three as someone driven by greed to commit murder. They presented text messages between Richins and her romantic partner where she discussed leaving her husband and obtaining millions through divorce. Prosecutors also revealed internet searches from Richins’ device, including inquiries about fatal fentanyl amounts, upscale correctional facilities, and how poisoning appears on death certificates.
The defense maintained that Eric Richins struggled with painkiller addiction. Prosecutors responded by showing police body camera recordings from the evening of his death, where Kouri Richins tells an officer her husband had no background with illegal drug consumption.
Defense lawyers also questioned the credibility of the prosecution’s key witness, a housekeeper who testified about selling Kouri Richins fentanyl multiple times, suggesting she was incentivized to provide false testimony for legal immunity. The housekeeper received immunity in exchange for her cooperation in the investigation.
MODESTO, Calif. — Teacher Nancy Barajas creates an energetic atmosphere before major assessments by dimming classroom lights, activating a disco ball, and playing upbeat music. Her sixth-grade students participate in this “pre-celebration” dance routine to build confidence before tackling their tests.
Recently, elementary schools in Modesto, California have found plenty of reasons for such celebrations, as both mathematics and reading performance has steadily improved over recent years.
However, the national picture tells a different story. Education experts are sounding alarms about what they’re calling a reading recession — a troubling downward trend that began well before COVID-19 disrupted classroom learning.
Academic researchers from Harvard, Stanford and Dartmouth examined standardized test results for grades three through eight across more than 5,000 school districts spanning 38 states, creating a comprehensive national Education Scorecard for comparison purposes.
Their findings paint a concerning picture: Between 2022 and 2025, only five states along with the District of Columbia demonstrated significant improvement in reading test performance. Across the nation, students continue to lag nearly half a grade level below their pre-pandemic reading abilities, with mathematics showing only marginal improvement.
Although educational institutions have concentrated efforts on helping students recover from COVID-19’s educational disruptions, reading assessment scores have actually been declining since 2013 for eighth graders and 2015 for fourth graders, based on National Assessment of Educational Progress data.
“The pandemic was the mudslide that had followed seven years of steady erosion in achievement,” said Thomas Kane, a Harvard professor who helped create the Education Scorecard.
Despite these challenges, certain states and school systems are demonstrating positive outcomes — primarily through adopting phonics-centered teaching methods and offering additional assistance to students experiencing reading difficulties.
Mathematics presents a more encouraging scenario.
Nearly all states included in the research showed mathematics test score improvements between 2022 and 2025. Student attendance rates also improved across most states. More than 400 U.S. school districts, including Modesto, achieved reading or mathematics progress that exceeded similar districts within their respective states.
Education researchers continue to examine potential causes behind the reading recession.
Experts suggest one contributing factor may be increased smartphone social media usage and related decreases in children’s leisure reading habits. States have also reduced strict accountability measures for schools whose students fail to demonstrate adequate progress on standardized assessments, Kane explained.
However, states achieving reading score improvements — particularly Louisiana, Maryland, Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana — shared a common approach: mandating schools implement phonics-based instruction known as the “science of reading.”
For many years, educational institutions taught reading through methods that minimized phonics instruction and promoted strategies like using contextual clues to guess unfamiliar words. As reading performance declined over the past decade, parents, researchers and literacy supporters advocated for teaching approaches aligned with extensive research on children’s reading development — primarily through phonetic word recognition.
Beyond reforming instructional practices, states have also mandated schools conduct screenings for learning differences such as dyslexia and employ coaches to enhance teachers’ reading instruction capabilities.
Nevertheless, implementing “science of reading” reforms didn’t ensure universal success. Several states, including Florida, Arizona and Nebraska, modified portions of their reading curriculum but continued experiencing declining test scores.
Modesto transformed its reading instruction during the pandemic period, having previously updated mathematics curriculum several years earlier. The district established a specialized department supporting English language learners. Schools also enhanced teacher preparation, compensating educators $5,000 for completing comprehensive “science of reading” training called LETRS, or Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling.
Modesto’s assessment results improved sufficiently to represent an additional 18 weeks of mathematics learning and 13 weeks of reading progress. However, the district acknowledges continued challenges: overall performance remains significantly below grade-level expectations.
Detroit has also seen score improvements through reading emphasis — combined with efforts to increase consistent school attendance. The large urban district previously struggled with inadequate facility conditions, resulting in a 2016 legal challenge where students claimed denial of their “right to read.”
The litigation concluded with a settlement exceeding $94 million, funding that contributed to meaningful progress. While the district continues performing below national averages, student assessment scores have improved more rapidly than comparable urban districts throughout Michigan.
“It took a lot to rebuild systems, and now kids are learning at higher levels, but I’m still not satisfied. And I think that’s the next challenge: continuing to motivate, inspire and change things,” said Detroit Superintendent Nikolai Vitti.
Settlement funds have enabled Munger Elementary-Middle School, situated in a predominantly Latino Detroit neighborhood, to employ 18 educators providing individualized small-group support. An attendance specialist contacts families of absent students and conducts home visits when necessary.
Just recently, explains first grade teacher Samantha Ciaffone, seven or eight daily absences from her classroom were typical. Currently, only one or two students are usually absent.
“It allows us to be better educators to see kids consistently in the seat instead of once or twice a week,” said Ciaffone. “It makes such a difference.”
Throughout the past decade, Southern states have emerged as educational reform leaders — challenging their historical position at the bottom of education rankings. These states quickly adopted research-supported teaching methodologies, with state governments funding teacher training and coaching programs.
These investments have produced results. Louisiana and Alabama were the only states achieving higher mathematics scores in 2025 compared to pre-pandemic levels. Louisiana also stands alone in exceeding pre-pandemic reading averages, with 87% of traditional public school students attending districts with higher scores than 2019.
Alabama achieved remarkable reading gains following the pandemic, driven by state legislation requiring all schools to implement phonics-based instruction. The Legislature modeled 2022 mathematics reforms after Alabama’s reading achievements. The state’s Numeracy Act standardized mathematics instruction, established regular assessment requirements and mandated intervention for students lacking sufficient mathematical skills.
Birmingham’s Oxmoor Valley Elementary hired a dedicated mathematics specialist this year to assist struggling students. The school, which appeared on the state’s “failing” designation in 2016, has consistently improved both mathematics and reading scores, though most students still test below proficiency in both areas.
“We can provide all of these supports, but at the same time, hold kids to high expectations,” Birmingham Superintendent Mark Sullivan said.
Researchers emphasize such advancement is achievable nationwide, citing historical precedent. Beginning in the 1990s, the country experienced decades of improved test scores and graduation rates while reducing racial achievement gaps. This progress continued through the mid-2010s.
“We made enormous progress as a country in terms of educational success from over a 30-year period. Test scores went up dramatically,” said Stanford professor Sean Reardon. “And so I think that says, as a country, we can improve education and educational opportunity.”
At Modesto’s Fairview Elementary, where Barajas teaches, students now practice reading speed and fluency daily. Following their dance break, the class reads a one-page passage together for one minute, then students work in pairs for additional practice. English language learners partner with native English speakers, and each student receives individual reading time with Barajas.
“Eventually, you get through the word like it’s water,” one boy said. “You just say it smooth.”
A government advisory panel in Singapore has urged the island nation to pursue major artificial intelligence companies and strengthen its position as an energy trading center, according to recommendations delivered to officials this week.
The strategic growth committee presented its findings Wednesday as Singapore looks to artificial intelligence to reshape both its economy and workforce amid rising global tensions, including conflicts in Iran that could impact economic growth and drive up prices.
The panel outlined several key strategic directions for the Southeast Asian financial hub:
Committee members emphasized that Singapore must sharpen its competitive advantages and develop greater flexibility to navigate challenging international conditions.
The recommendations call for Singapore to convince major industries to establish permanent operations there, leveraging the nation’s existing position as a critical link in semiconductor and other supply chains.
The committee identified quantum computing and space technology as particularly promising areas, noting these fields can build upon Singapore’s established strengths in chip manufacturing, advanced production methods, aviation, and satellite operations.
Panel members specifically recommended that Singapore position itself as a reliable center where artificial intelligence systems can be created, tested, and implemented by drawing top AI corporations and skilled professionals to the country.
The group also suggested Singapore capitalize on its energy trading role by developing expertise in new areas such as liquefied natural gas markets, along with hydrogen, ammonia, and clean aviation fuel sectors.
Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong addressed the committee’s findings during a business conference Wednesday, warning against complacency about the nation’s future competitiveness.
“In a changed world, Singapore cannot assume that yesterday’s strengths will automatically become tomorrow’s place,” Gan Kim Yong said during his remarks.
JPMorgan Chase is reportedly planning significant leadership changes within its investment banking operations as part of a broader company restructuring, according to a Financial Times report published Tuesday.
The banking giant is expected to name three senior executives as co-heads of its global investment banking division, sources familiar with the situation told the Financial Times. The trio includes Dorothee Blessing, who currently serves as coverage chief, Kevin Foley, the global head of capital markets, and Jared Kaye, who holds the position of global co-head of the financial institutions group.
The leadership shake-up represents part of a larger organizational restructuring effort at the major financial institution. Reuters has not been able to independently confirm the details of the reported changes.
Australia’s Commonwealth Bank experienced a dramatic stock decline Wednesday, with shares falling 9% as the nation’s biggest home loan provider responded to new government tax policies and set aside additional funds to address global economic risks.
The banking giant reported quarterly cash profits of approximately A$2.7 billion ($1.95 billion) for the period ending March 31, representing an increase from A$2.6 billion during the same timeframe last year. However, these earnings fell roughly 2% short of what some financial analysts had predicted.
Banking stocks across Australia faced selling pressure Wednesday as investors expressed concern about potential slowdowns in mortgage lending following significant tax policy announcements made Tuesday by the federal government.
The country’s Labor government revealed in its yearly budget proposal plans to restrict negative gearing benefits for investment properties to newly constructed buildings only, aiming to increase housing availability. This tax strategy currently permits investors to deduct property-related losses from their overall taxable earnings.
Additionally, officials announced the elimination of the existing 50% capital gains tax reduction for assets owned longer than one year. Under the proposed system, taxes would apply to inflation-adjusted profits, with investors facing at least 30% tax rates on net capital gains.
Financial experts believe these policy shifts may reduce investor appetite for mortgages from Australian banks, as existing home sales activity could weaken significantly.
“Changes to negative gearing and CGT, which will dampen investor activity, come as rates are rising, consumer sentiment has troughed and construction costs are rising,” said Citigroup analyst Thomas Strong.
The 9% stock drop represents Commonwealth Bank’s steepest single-day decline since March 2020, marking a significant milestone for the financial institution.
Other major Australian banks also experienced losses, with Westpac shares declining 3%, National Australia Bank dropping 2.6%, and ANZ Group falling 1.65%. The broader S&P/ASX200 market index decreased by 0.7%.
According to the bank’s financial update, home loans, commercial lending, and consumer deposits all expanded during the three-month period ending March 31, contributing to a 1% increase in net interest earnings despite intense competition in lending markets.
Commonwealth Bank announced it would boost collective financial reserves by A$200 million after updating economic projections and increasing the probability of unfavorable economic conditions developing.
The financial institution reported that its net interest margin remained relatively steady for the quarter when excluding one-time benefits, though specific margin figures were not provided in the preliminary trading report.
The bank’s common equity tier 1 ratio, which measures available capital reserves, reached 11.6% at the end of March.
Loan loss provisions increased to A$316 million from A$223 million in the previous year, with the bank citing higher collective reserves due to growing geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.
“Conflict in the Middle East is disrupting critical supply chains and contributing to global uncertainty,” Chief Executive Officer Matt Comyn said.
The National Basketball Association has wrapped up its inquiry into Milwaukee’s handling of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s season-ending absence and determined no penalties are warranted, ESPN reported Tuesday.
The two-time Most Valuable Player suffered a hyperextended left knee during Milwaukee’s March 15 matchup against Indiana and remained sidelined for the team’s remaining 15 contests. The Bucks subsequently failed to reach the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
Conflicting narratives emerged between the organization and its superstar regarding his physical condition and readiness to compete once Milwaukee’s postseason hopes were dashed in late March.
During an early April media session, Antetokounmpo stated he was physically ready but being prevented from playing by team officials.
“I’m available to play, but I’m not in the game,” Antetokounmpo declared on April 3. “I’m available to play today. Right now. I’m available.
“For somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete, it’s like a slap in my face. So I don’t know where the relationship goes from there.”
According to the ESPN report, Milwaukee officials told league investigators they questioned whether Antetokounmpo genuinely wanted to return, pointing to his alleged unwillingness to engage in 3-on-3 practice sessions designed to demonstrate his recovery.
The 31-year-old disputed this characterization during his season-ending media availability.
“From my understanding, coming back to play, which I don’t think I ever had any return-to-play protocol, but to my understanding was I had to play 3-on-3 to be able to be available to play,” Antetokounmpo explained. “I did that multiple times. I’ve never in my life denied participation of practice.”
ESPN also revealed Monday that Milwaukee is again weighing potential pre-draft trades involving Antetokounmpo. The franchise previously considered similar moves before February’s trade deadline but opted to retain their cornerstone player through the summer.
Antetokounmpo remains under contract for one more season before a player option becomes available for the 2027-28 campaign.
The decorated forward has compiled averages of 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals across 13 seasons and 895 appearances (830 as a starter) with Milwaukee. He guided the franchise to its first championship in five decades during the 2021 season, earning recognition as a 10-time All-Star and nine-time All-NBA selection.
Leaders from the United States and China are expected to discuss prolonging an agreement regarding Chinese restrictions on rare earth mineral exports during their upcoming summit meeting this week. Despite these diplomatic talks, new data from Chinese customs officials reveals that Beijing continues to limit shipments of these essential materials that are crucial for defense systems and manufacturing operations.
The ongoing supply constraints and elevated costs globally highlight how restrictions implemented as a response to President Donald Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs have remained a significant consequence of that policy, even after most of those duties were reduced.
China maintains the strictest controls over several specialized rare earth elements that are produced at large scale only within Chinese borders. These materials are essential for aerospace applications, defense systems, semiconductor production, and powerful magnets used in electronics and manufactured products, including electric vehicles.
Shipments of the heavy rare earth elements yttrium, dysprosium and terbium remain approximately 50% below previous levels since restrictions began in April 2025 compared to the preceding 12-month period, according to Chinese customs records.
The quantities involved are typically measured in tens of tons, and their reduction has been masked by an almost complete recovery in overall rare earth export numbers during the past year.
Ilya Epikhin, senior principal at consultancy Arthur D. Little, explained that “Headline export volumes can be misleading.”
Epikhin added, “China appears to be selectively licensing exports while preserving leverage over supply chains considered strategically sensitive, particularly where defense or advanced technology applications are involved.”
These supply shortages seem to contradict what the White House reports China committed to during a summit in South Korea last October, which was to “effectively eliminate China’s current and proposed controls on rare earth elements.”
Following that summit, China removed a broader range of restrictions but maintained its April 2025 controls. Beijing has consistently justified these measures and states it approves qualifying applications. China’s Ministry of Commerce did not provide responses to Reuters’ inquiries.
The difference between these positions and a potential extension of the October agreement will be discussed when the leaders convene again this week, along with possible Chinese purchases of Boeing aircraft and U.S. agricultural and energy products.
A senior U.S. official informed reporters on Sunday that discussions with Beijing regarding rare earths are ongoing, and both nations seek stability, though it remains uncertain whether the agreement will be extended during or following Trump’s visit.
Additionally, a second U.S. official speaking anonymously told Reuters that supply shortages remain problematic.
The White House recently had to intervene with Beijing to obtain approvals for a major U.S. company with defense and civilian divisions that was losing hundreds of millions in monthly revenue because it could not secure an export license, according to a third U.S. official who declined identification due to lack of authorization to speak publicly.
Reuters previously reported in February that certain U.S. aerospace companies had temporarily halted production due to shortages of yttrium, which is used to shield turbine blades from extreme heat.
A White House official responded to Reuters’ questions by stating, “The President’s team is engaging continuously with China to ensure the flow of rare earths while building out trusted and resilient supply chains.”
While the controls were established in response to Trump’s tariffs, their effects are impacting U.S. allies just as severely as Washington.
Costs outside China since April 2025 have increased between four and five times for dysprosium and terbium and approximately 140 times for yttrium, with prices continuing to rise, according to consultancy Argus data.
This demonstrates how major consumers of Chinese rare earths including Japan and Germany are also experiencing supply cuts that are, in some instances, more severe than those affecting the U.S., Chinese customs data revealed.
Dysprosium is frequently added to magnets to enhance their strength, and since April 2025, Japan, the largest rare earth magnet producer outside China, has received only 4% of the dysprosium it imported during the previous 12 months. Germany has received zero shipments.
Manufacturers are currently paying between 1.5 and 3 times more for magnets than before the controls were implemented, according to Neha Mukherjee, rare earth research manager at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence.
Germany, Japan, the U.S., and other nations are funding projects to reduce dependence on China, including a recent G7 initiative focused on alternative supply chains.
Nevertheless, completely replacing China remains years away, according to David Merriman, research director at consultancy Project Blue.
Merriman stated, “The situation looks set to get worse before getting any better.”
BEIJING — While President Donald Trump prepares for his Wednesday arrival in China’s capital, residents of Beijing are carrying on with their normal routines despite the upcoming high-profile diplomatic meeting.
The president’s visit will include meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping that are planned to continue through Friday. During their discussions, the two world leaders plan to address multiple topics including trade relations, Taiwan, and the conflict in Iran, with the United States hoping China will leverage its relationship with Tehran.
The Associated Press has compiled a collection of photographs showing everyday scenes from Beijing as the city prepares for the significant diplomatic visit.
TOKYO (AP) — Stock markets across Asia displayed varied performance early Wednesday, with diminishing investor excitement about artificial intelligence and technology sectors beginning to slow Wall Street’s streak of record-breaking gains.
Japan’s primary Nikkei 225 index climbed modestly by less than 0.1% to reach 62,774.94. South Korea’s Kospi index recovered with a 0.9% increase to 7,708.05, making up for some recent declines. The Kospi had dropped 2.3% earlier this week from its record peak after a government official hinted at possible plans to redistribute excess AI company profits to the public.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.3% to 8,645.80. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.4% to 26,246.29, while Shanghai’s Composite index remained nearly flat, dropping less than 0.1% to 4,213.86.
“Corporate earnings and AI momentum are acting as the market’s primary shock absorbers, but the road is getting significantly rougher,” said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.
“With oil prices becoming entrenched at elevated levels and a diplomatic breakthrough between the U.S. and Iran remaining elusive, the easy bullish narrative is becoming much harder to maintain.”
Energy markets saw benchmark U.S. crude decrease 58 cents to $101.60 per barrel. Brent crude dropped 66 cents to $107.11 per barrel.
These prices remain substantially higher than pre-war levels with Iran, as the conflict threatens to continue and ceasefire prospects appear fragile. Brent has jumped from approximately $70 per barrel before the conflict began. The war has effectively blocked oil tanker passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
On Wall Street, the S&P 500 dropped 0.2% from its record high established the previous day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 56 points, or 0.1%, while the Nasdaq composite fell 0.7% from its own record.
Semiconductor companies and stocks that have experienced dramatic gains due to the artificial intelligence surge saw some of the steepest declines. Intel tumbled 6.8% after its stock had more than tripled year-to-date. Micron Technology fell 3.6%.
Bond market Treasury yields increased following initial fluctuation, indicating traders believe the Federal Reserve will maintain elevated interest rates to fight inflation. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed to 4.45% Tuesday from 4.42% late Monday and stays well above its 3.97% pre-war level. Traders anticipate the Fed will hold its primary interest rate unchanged.
Overall, the S&P 500 declined 11.88 points to 7,400.96. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 56.09 to 49,760.56, and the Nasdaq composite lost 185.92 to 26,088.20.
In foreign exchange markets, the U.S. dollar strengthened to 157.70 Japanese yen from 157.59 yen. The euro traded at $1.1741, slightly down from $1.1744.
The Oakland Athletics have sidelined All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson for at least 10 days after he suffered a left shoulder dislocation during Sunday’s matchup with Baltimore. The injury occurred when Wilson made a diving attempt to field a ground ball hit by Orioles player Gunner Henderson, who reached base safely on the play.
Medical imaging conducted Monday revealed the extent of the 24-year-old’s shoulder subluxation, prompting the team to officially place him on the injured list with the designation taking effect retroactively from Monday. The timing means Wilson will miss Tuesday’s home series opener against St. Louis.
According to MLB.com reports, Wilson will avoid surgical intervention and instead focus on a rehabilitation program before returning to baseball activities. Team officials have not provided a specific timeline for when the young infielder might rejoin the roster.
Wilson’s injury comes at an unfortunate time as he had been demonstrating improved performance at the plate. Following a challenging start to the season where he managed just a .196 batting average through his initial 12 contests, Wilson rebounded significantly over his most recent 27 games, posting a .336 average alongside an impressive .826 OPS. His current season statistics show a .292 batting average with three home runs and 19 runs batted in.
Since entering Major League Baseball in his third campaign, Wilson has compiled a .299 career batting average with 16 homers and 85 RBIs across 192 games. Oakland selected the promising shortstop with the sixth overall pick in the 2023 amateur draft.
During Wilson’s recovery period, Darell Hernaiz is anticipated to handle the majority of shortstop duties, similar to his role when Wilson previously missed time due to a fractured left forearm in 2025.
To address roster needs, Oakland has promoted outfielder Henry Bolte, ranked as the organization’s fifth-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline, along with infielder Michael Stefanic from their Triple-A Las Vegas affiliate.
Stefanic brings versatility to the infield, capable of playing both second and third base positions. In 34 games with Las Vegas this season, he recorded a .250 batting average and .706 OPS. His major league experience includes stints with the Los Angeles Angels from 2022-2024 and the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025, where he compiled a .227 average with 14 RBIs over 99 total games.
BEIJING, May 13 – Chinese officials delivered stern warnings about Taiwan’s independence movements on Wednesday as President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing for high-level diplomatic talks.
During a weekly press conference, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office declared the nation’s determination to prevent Taiwan’s independence remains unwavering, with capabilities to defeat separatist movements described as steadfast.
The status of Taiwan, a democratically-run island that Beijing considers part of its territory, will likely feature prominently in discussions between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their two-day meeting schedule.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te pushed back against Beijing’s claims during remarks at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit on Tuesday, describing the island as a free and independent democracy that refuses to yield to external threats.
Chinese officials rejected these assertions outright. Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhang Han dismissed President Lai’s statements during the Beijing briefing.
“No matter how many times Lai Ching-te repeats his lies, even a thousand times, they remain lies, and they will never become the truth,” Zhang Han stated.
“Our resolve to oppose Taiwan independence is as firm as a rock, and our capability to crush Taiwan independence is unbreakable.”
While Beijing maintains it prefers what it calls “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan, Chinese leadership has consistently refused to rule out military action to achieve its territorial goals.
The United States serves as Taiwan’s primary international ally and weapons provider, even without official diplomatic recognition. Trump’s administration recently approved an unprecedented $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan in December.
Tennessee’s Republican House Speaker has removed all Democratic lawmakers from their committee positions following their participation in protests during last week’s redistricting vote.
Speaker Cameron Sexton announced the disciplinary action Tuesday, five days after the GOP-controlled legislature passed a new congressional map that eliminates a Black-majority district centered around Memphis.
The Thursday vote in Nashville, which is expected to flip the Democratic seat to Republican control in November’s midterm elections, sparked intense demonstrations. Activists shouted from the visitor’s gallery while Black legislators linked arms in prayer at the front of the chamber as protesters used air horns and chanted against the redistricting plan.
Critics have denounced the elimination of the majority-Black district as reminiscent of Jim Crow-era racial discrimination in the South.
In his letter to House Democratic Leader Karen Camper, Sexton accused House Democrats of “instigating and encouraging” disruptions and creating “disorder on the House floor” during Thursday’s proceedings.
Sexton specifically cited lawmakers for “interlocking arms in the well of the House,” “blocking aisles on the House floor,” and using “prohibited props and noisemakers.”
Republicans control 75 of the 99 seats in Tennessee’s House, while Democrats hold 24.
Representative Justin Jones, a Black lawmaker from Nashville, shared his removal notice on social media, calling it “the same pattern of racial discrimination and authoritarian abuse we have come to expect.”
Democratic Leader Camper, who represents Memphis and is also Black, responded with a Facebook post condemning the redistricting as “one of the most troubling abuses of power this legislature has seen in recent memory.”
“When Democrats stand up, speak out, and expose what is happening in this chamber, the response from this supermajority is retaliation,” Camper wrote. “We are hurt. We are disappointed. But we are not intimidated.”
The redistricting move follows similar actions by several Southern states taking advantage of recent Supreme Court decisions that have weakened the Voting Rights Act.
Philip Davis achieved a milestone in Bahamian politics Tuesday, securing victory for his Progressive Liberal Party and becoming the first prime minister to win back-to-back terms in almost three decades.
Speaking to Reuters following the election results, Davis expressed his appreciation for the voters’ decision. “The Bahamian people have spoken, and I receive their verdict with humility and gratitude,” he stated.
The re-elected leader described the outcome as a clear directive from citizens to continue his administration’s work. “This victory is a mandate to keep moving The Bahamas forward, to expand opportunity, strengthen security, ease the pressure on families, and deliver progress across our islands,” Davis explained.
The election results mark a significant political achievement in the Caribbean nation, where leadership changes have been more frequent in recent decades.
Worker compensation in Australia experienced a deceleration during the opening months of 2024, with private companies leading the slowdown in pay increases, according to government statistics released Wednesday from Sydney.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that its wage price index climbed 0.8% during the January-March period, matching the prior quarter’s performance and meeting economist expectations. Year-over-year compensation growth decreased to 3.3% from the previous 3.4%.
Private sector wage increases fell to 3.2% annually, marking the weakest performance since the end of 2022. Government employee pay growth also declined, dropping from 4.0% to 3.3%. The healthcare and social assistance sectors provided the biggest boost to overall wage increases during the quarter.
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers are giving their superstar Shohei Ohtani some time away from hitting as his struggles at the plate continue to mount.
The two-way phenom has managed just four hits in 36 at-bats during the month of May, and his season statistics show a concerning trend with a .233 batting average, only six home runs, and 16 RBIs. Most notably, he hasn’t connected for a single home run all month.
Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts announced Tuesday that Ohtani won’t serve as the team’s designated hitter on Thursday, though he could be called upon if the game situation demands it. Roberts is also considering keeping Ohtani out of the batter’s box Wednesday when he takes the mound against the San Francisco Giants.
“It might just be a good thing to take a little bit of a load off of his plate offensively,” Roberts explained. “I just can’t take for granted what’s on his plate and so I’m trying to be sensitive.”
The Dodgers’ fortunes have mirrored their star player’s struggles, as the team sits at 24-17 and trails the NL West-leading San Diego Padres by half a game after dropping three consecutive games. While Andy Pages has excelled with a .325 average and Max Muncy is hitting .280, the rest of the lineup has faltered, including veteran Freddie Freeman at .273 and Kyle Tucker at .250.
This marks Ohtani’s first complete season handling both pitching and hitting responsibilities since joining the Dodgers. After undergoing two significant right elbow surgeries, he was restricted to designated hitter duties in 2024, when he made history by joining the exclusive 50/50 club with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases while earning NL MVP honors and helping the Dodgers capture the World Series.
During the previous campaign, Ohtani didn’t return to pitching until the middle of the season and wasn’t built up to throw six innings until September. Despite the limited mound time, he still managed 55 home runs and 20 stolen bases, earning another NL MVP award as the Dodgers repeated as World Series champions.
While his hitting has been problematic, Ohtani has been exceptional on the pitching side this year. The right-hander boasts a 2-2 record with an outstanding 0.97 ERA, striking out 42 batters across 37 innings in six starts. He’s surrendered just four earned runs and 21 hits.
“He’s still calibrating on this kind of newfound two-way player,” Roberts observed.
Roberts acknowledges that while Ohtani is always willing to do whatever benefits the team, the manager must sometimes protect his most valuable player from his own competitive drive.
“He’s always going to want to do more,” Roberts noted. “He has that sense of responsibility to his teammates that he wants to be out there on both ways. I’ve learned that I have to be proactive and take it out of his hands.”
The manager believes he’s seen enough evidence to determine that removing the bat from Ohtani’s hands temporarily could help him find his rhythm again.
“When the quality of at-bats starts to go down consistently, I think that’s a sign that there needs to be a break because you’re just not able to stay within your game plan and then the chase starts to spike,” he explained. “The fatigue is bleeding into the mechanics. Most players get that towards the end of the summer. Now I’m learning managing Shohei it’s probably showing itself a little earlier as far as the tax on pitching and all that comes with it to the hitting, too.”
Ohtani isn’t accustomed to sitting out hitting duties, having appeared as the designated hitter in all but three games this season. Roberts even suggested the star player arrive late to the ballpark Thursday.
The organization anticipated challenges when they decided to have Ohtani resume full two-way duties for the first time since his 2023 season with the Los Angeles Angels.
“It definitely feels sustainable,” Roberts said. “I wouldn’t say it’s more difficult. I think that we all came in knowing that we had to read and react, it was going to be fluid. It should be. It’s very unique.”
Louisiana state officials have reached a preliminary $4.8 million settlement agreement with Ronald Greene’s family, according to sources familiar with the deal. Greene, a Black driver, died following a brutal 2019 arrest involving five white Louisiana State Police officers.
The proposed settlement would resolve a federal wrongful death case brought by Greene’s relatives. His death became a national story after The Associated Press obtained video in 2021 that captured state troopers beating, striking and shocking Greene with stun guns near Monroe.
Sources with direct knowledge of the lawsuit told reporters the settlement requires Louisiana Legislature approval. These individuals were not permitted to speak publicly about the arrangement.
Louisiana State Police Captain Russell Graham declined to discuss settlement details, stating the agency cannot comment because the process “has not yet been finalized.”
Greene’s mother, Mona Hardin, did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.
Federal prosecutors chose not to file criminal charges against the officers involved in Greene’s deadly arrest last year.
The details surrounding Greene’s traffic stop death remained hidden for two years following the incident. State police withheld arrest footage and initially stated that Greene, 49, died when his vehicle struck a tree during a high-speed pursuit.
Video footage later acquired by AP revealed officers had shocked the defenseless Greene with stun guns while he expressed remorse for the chase. Officers forced Greene to the pavement, applied a chokehold and struck him repeatedly. They pulled him face-first across the ground with his hands restrained and legs bound, then abandoned him without medical assistance.
Officers had originally attempted to stop Greene for an undisclosed traffic infraction.
During President Joe Biden’s final weeks in office in January 2025, the Justice Department determined Louisiana State Police had engaged in systematic excessive force during arrests and vehicle chases statewide. The DOJ under President Donald Trump later withdrew these conclusions.
The federal probe began in 2022 following AP reporting that revealed multiple instances of severe beatings by state troopers.
The chief executive of semiconductor giant Nvidia will reportedly accompany President Donald Trump during his scheduled trip to China this week, according to two sources with knowledge of the plans who spoke to Reuters Wednesday.
Jensen Huang’s name was not included on the original roster of business executives that the White House released earlier this week for the presidential delegation. The group is expected to include more than a dozen American CEOs making the journey alongside Trump.
Nvidia has encountered obstacles in the Chinese marketplace, particularly with its advanced H200 semiconductor products, which have yet to reach Chinese customers. A U.S. government official indicated last month that the company has struggled to obtain necessary approvals from Chinese authorities for these sales.
White House officials did not provide a response when contacted for comment about Huang’s participation in the delegation.
The Philadelphia 76ers have dismissed president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, the team revealed on Tuesday.
Bob Myers, the former general manager of the Golden State Warriors who currently serves as president of sports for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, will temporarily oversee the basketball operations department while spearheading the hunt for Morey’s successor. Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment owns the 76ers.
Team owner Josh Harris released a statement expressing his thoughts on the decision. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Daryl personally and professionally, and I’m grateful for his contributions over the last six seasons,” Harris stated. “After speaking with Daryl, we determined that it was time for a fresh start. Bob Myers will lead the process of identifying a new leader and I believe his experience in constructing four NBA championship teams will be a valuable resource to our organization.”
Harris also addressed frustrated fans directly. “To our fans, your frustration and disappointment are understandable and warranted. We have fallen well short of our own expectations and failed to deliver in the way this city deserves. That bothers me deeply and I have confidence in Bob to establish a path forward for our franchise.”
The 53-year-old Morey came to Philadelphia in 2020 after spending 13 seasons as Houston’s general manager.
Morey’s most significant transaction with the Sixers involved trading for James Harden in a 2022 deal that shipped Ben Simmons to Brooklyn. The trade came during a period when Simmons was refusing to play for Philadelphia while Harden was seeking an exit from the Nets.
While Simmons’ career declined after brief tenures with Brooklyn and Los Angeles, Harden lasted just 1.5 seasons in Philadelphia before demanding another trade to the Clippers. During a trip to China prior to his departure, Harden made harsh comments about Morey, stating “Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.”
Harden and Morey had previously worked together for more than eight seasons in Houston.
The 76ers have struggled to break through in recent years, failing to reach the Eastern Conference finals since 2001. Following a disappointing 2024-25 campaign where they missed the playoffs due to injuries to Joel Embiid and other core players, Philadelphia bounced back with a 45-37 record this past season to secure the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. The team shocked the Boston Celtics in a seven-game opening round matchup but was subsequently eliminated by the New York Knicks in a four-game semifinal sweep.
According to ESPN reports, head coach Nick Nurse will return for his fourth season despite posting a 116-130 record over his first three years with the franchise.
The future chief executive of BHP, the globe’s largest publicly traded mining corporation, has outlined his strategy for long-term expansion through strategic acquisitions and increased exploration efforts.
Brandon Craig, set to assume leadership of the mining giant on July 1, addressed investors at a Bank of America conference in Miami on Tuesday. His remarks were made public through the Australian stock exchange on Wednesday.
“One of my priorities will be ensuring we have options to grow well beyond 2035. That means increasing exploration, seeking opportunities to partner with peers to unlock value in adjacent operations and by executing smaller ‘bolt on’ acquisitions when the value case supports them,” Craig stated during his presentation.
The incoming executive emphasized the company’s financial flexibility while maintaining a cautious approach to deals. “And while we will remain extremely disciplined, our diversified model and strong balance sheet gives us the ability to move at pace if the right opportunity presents itself,” he explained.
Craig’s predecessor, Mike Henry, pursued multiple acquisition attempts of smaller competitor Anglo American, including a recent effort in November as the company worked to strengthen its copper market position. Anglo American rejected BHP’s $49 billion takeover bid in May 2024.
The mining company’s stock performance has been strong, climbing 31% year-to-date and reaching a record peak of A$61.61 on Wednesday’s trading session.
The American dollar maintained its position near a weekly peak on Wednesday as investor confidence declined following an unexpectedly high inflation report that drove Treasury bond yields upward, while crude oil prices climbed amid fresh Middle Eastern tensions.
European currencies weakened against the dollar during early Asian trading sessions, with the euro dropping to $1.1735 and the British pound falling to $1.3532, each declining approximately 0.05% versus the American currency.
The dollar index, which measures the greenback’s performance against six major international currencies, remained stable at 98.335, hovering near its strongest position in seven days.
“I think it’s a less positive risk tone, effectively. The U.S. dollar has been tracking risk sentiment very closely throughout the war,” said Ray Attrill, head of FX strategy at National Australia Bank.
Attrill noted that sluggish momentum in stock markets also contributed to the currency movement.
April’s consumer price index climbed 3.8% compared to the same month last year, marking the largest annual increase since May 2023, as energy costs surged due to the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Prospects for Middle Eastern peace negotiations deteriorated after President Donald Trump described the potential ceasefire with Iran as being “on life support” following Tehran’s rejection of an American proposal to end hostilities. Trump dismissed Iran’s counter-demands as “garbage.”
Crude oil markets responded with higher prices, pushing Brent futures to approximately $108 per barrel.
Bond markets reflected changing Federal Reserve expectations, with two-year Treasury note yields climbing to 3.9956% and the benchmark 10-year note reaching 4.4688%.
Financial markets have essentially eliminated expectations for Fed rate reductions this year, while the probability of at least a 25 basis point increase at December’s central bank meeting jumped to 35%, based on CME’s FedWatch Tool data.
Pacific currencies showed minimal movement, with the Australian dollar trading at $0.72365 and New Zealand’s currency holding at $0.5954.
Japan’s yen remained relatively stable at 157.715 after Tuesday’s sudden strengthening sparked speculation about potential government intervention in currency markets.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that both the United States and Japan view excessive currency market volatility as problematic, remarks interpreted as backing Tokyo’s recent efforts to support the yen through market intervention.
China’s yuan traded near 6.79 against the dollar, approaching its strongest level since February 2023, as markets anticipated this week’s scheduled meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Stock markets throughout Asia opened lower Wednesday morning as investors grappled with unexpectedly high U.S. inflation numbers and continued instability from Middle Eastern conflicts.
The MSCI Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan dropped 0.6%, marking its second consecutive day of declines. South Korean markets experienced the sharpest volatility, initially plummeting 3.2% before staging a partial recovery. Industry observers noted that Korean stocks had been on an impressive run recently, hitting multiple records during an artificial intelligence-driven surge that many believed was overdue for a correction.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index fell 0.2%, while futures for the S&P 500 edged down 0.1%.
“A hotter-than-expected inflation report and persistent geopolitical tensions reminded investors that sticky prices and elevated energy costs are not going away anytime soon,” said Tony Sycamore, market analyst at IG in Sydney.
The Middle Eastern situation remains deadlocked as President Donald Trump indicated Tuesday that he doesn’t anticipate needing China’s assistance to resolve the conflict with Iran, speaking ahead of his scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week.
“We’ve seen this movie before, and we know it doesn’t end with a breakthrough agreement that resets the U.S.-China relationship,” said Phillip Wool, chief research officer and head of portfolio management at Rayliant Investment Research.
“That creates a pretty low bar for success: As long as Trump and Xi can get along and the trade détente continues, that should be enough to count this meeting as a win for both sides,” Wool added.
Brent crude oil prices declined 0.6% to $107.13 per barrel. Energy prices have remained at or above $100 since late February, when American and Israeli military actions against Iran and Tehran’s subsequent effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted global supply chains.
In South Korea, Samsung Electronics stock tumbled 5.7% after the technology giant was unable to reach a wage agreement with its domestic labor union Wednesday. This development sets up a potential strike by more than 50,000 workers that could severely impact production of artificial intelligence processors and other semiconductor components.
U.S. markets closed lower Tuesday night, with the S&P 500 down 0.2% and the Nasdaq Composite falling 0.7% following news that American consumer inflation rose at its fastest pace in three years during April. This development increases the likelihood that the Federal Reserve may need to implement interest rate increases sooner than previously anticipated.
Financial markets have essentially eliminated expectations for any Fed rate reductions this year, while the probability of at least a 25 basis point increase at December’s meeting has climbed to over 35% from under 22% earlier this week, based on CME’s FedWatch Tool data.
The 10-year U.S. Treasury bond yield remained steady at 4.469%, representing its highest point since July.
The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the currency’s performance against six major international counterparts, held firm at 98.322, continuing its third straight day of increases.
Compared to the Japanese yen, the dollar strengthened 0.1% to 157.77 after the yen briefly surged Tuesday amid speculation about “rate checks,” which market watchers often interpret as a signal of potential government intervention.
Investors remain alert for any moves by Tokyo officials after sources indicated that authorities had already stepped in during the past two weeks to halt the yen’s slide.
In commodity markets, gold increased 0.1% to $4,718.48 per ounce, while bitcoin dropped 0.2% to $80,508.37 and ethereum declined 0.4% to $2,275.36.
Motorists traveling on South Silicato Parkway this morning should expect delays as construction crews continue work that requires intermittent lane closures.
The southbound lanes between Northeast Front Street and Route 1 are affected by the ongoing project, with flaggers positioned to guide traffic through the work zone.
According to DelDOT, the lane restrictions are scheduled to remain in place until 5:30 AM. Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when approaching the construction area.
Traffic control personnel will be on site to manage the flow of vehicles through the affected stretch of roadway during the closure period.
Technology shares led a market downturn that brought Wall Street’s historic winning streak to an end Tuesday, as artificial intelligence companies faced selling pressure and energy costs climbed.
The S&P 500 retreated 0.2% from Monday’s record close, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average managed a slight 0.1% gain. The tech-heavy Nasdaq fell 0.7% after reaching its own peak just one day earlier. Companies that had surged during the artificial intelligence rally became the session’s biggest drags on market performance.
The selloff started in Asian markets, where South Korea’s main index plummeted 2.3% amid speculation that officials might redistribute unexpected AI-related profits to the public. Meanwhile, crude oil jumped more than 3% as ongoing conflict with Iran raised supply concerns.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to arrive in Beijing Wednesday for high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump told the press that trade negotiations will dominate their agenda, with his administration hoping to create a “Board of Trade” mechanism to resolve disputes and avoid future commercial tensions. The diplomatic mission occurs as Trump faces domestic challenges from the Iran conflict and climbing inflation rates. Discussions will also cover Taiwan policy and an $11 billion arms deal, with Trump expressing confidence about improving U.S.-China relations.
Several major American business leaders have received invitations to accompany Trump on his China visit. The delegation includes technology, farming, and defense industry executives such as Apple’s Tim Cook, Goldman Sachs chief David Solomon, and Tesla and SpaceX leader Elon Musk. Beyond Iran-related discussions, Trump and Xi plan to address trade policies and artificial intelligence cooperation.
Hotel industry representatives report that anticipated economic benefits from World Cup hosting have yet to materialize. The American Hotel & Lodging Association’s latest analysis shows reservation levels falling short of projections in most of the 11 American host cities, with approximately one month remaining before the global tournament begins. Survey data indicates that nearly 80% of hotels in Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle are experiencing slower booking patterns compared to typical summer periods. Industry analysts suggest operators should have anticipated the lukewarm demand.
Trump has proposed suspending federal gasoline taxes to help consumers cope with elevated fuel costs during the Iran crisis. While the president lacks unilateral authority for such action, legislators from both parties are already advocating for the temporary measure. Proponents argue the suspension would benefit struggling households and businesses, though critics note the tax represents only a small fraction of pump prices and question its effectiveness. The federal fuel tax supports highway and transit infrastructure, raising concerns about long-term funding implications if suspended.
OpenAI leader Sam Altman appeared in court Tuesday to defend his business practices in a legal battle with Elon Musk, countering testimony that criticized his management during a crucial period for the ChatGPT developer. Musk, currently the world’s wealthiest individual, seeks Altman’s removal from company leadership through a civil case alleging betrayal of their original OpenAI mission. Altman’s testimony outlined various worries about Musk’s efforts to increase his influence over OpenAI, which aims to develop artificial general intelligence that surpasses human capabilities.
Global shipping companies warn of potential fuel shortages as the Iran war disrupts a critical supply route through the Strait of Hormuz. Maritime transport handles roughly 80% of international trade, relying on a thick, oil-based substance called bunker fuel for propulsion. Southeast Asia serves as the world’s primary ship refueling center, placing the region at the heart of mounting supply concerns as costs soar. Industry experts advise businesses and consumers to prepare for shipping cost increases and profit margin impacts, while interest in environmentally friendly fuel alternatives may accelerate.
Marty Makary has stepped down from his role leading Trump’s Food and Drug Administration following criticism from pharmaceutical companies, anti-abortion groups, and other administration supporters. The surgeon and researcher faced difficulties during his tenure, with Trump acknowledging Tuesday that Makary “was having some difficulty” but would “go on and do well.” Makary gained recognition as a vocal opponent of COVID-19 public health policies through Fox News appearances, but struggled to earn staff trust at the FDA amid workforce reductions, management changes, and disputes over vaccines, medications, and e-cigarettes.
Kuwait has accused Iran of attempting an unsuccessful assault on an island where China is constructing port facilities. The allegation emerged Tuesday as Trump prepared to depart for Beijing to meet with Xi Jinping for critical discussions about the war and other matters. Kuwaiti officials said six armed Revolutionary Guard members tried to infiltrate Bubiyan Island for “hostile acts,” with four detained and two escaping. Iran has not responded to Kuwait’s claims. With ceasefire negotiations between Iran and the United States stalled, continued attacks risk renewed full-scale conflict.
American consumer prices accelerated again last month as the 10-week Iran conflict drove energy costs higher. The Labor Department announced Tuesday that its consumer price index increased 3.8% compared to April 2025, with monthly prices rising 0.6% from March as gasoline jumped 5.4%. Core prices excluding food and energy climbed 0.4% monthly and 2.8% annually, suggesting the energy price surge hasn’t significantly spread to other categories.
Motorists traveling westbound on Pulaski Highway should expect delays this evening as construction crews have closed the left lane between Salem Church Road and Wellington Drive.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports the lane closure on US Route 40 westbound is part of ongoing construction activities in the area. The restriction is expected to remain in effect until 6 a.m.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and use caution when approaching the work zone. Traffic may be slower than usual as vehicles merge from the closed left lane.
Energy markets saw a decline Wednesday following three consecutive days of gains, as traders monitored the unstable truce with Iran while President Donald Trump prepared for crucial discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Brent crude dropped 82 cents to $106.95 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate fell 66 cents to $101.52 during early trading. Both oil benchmarks have stayed near or above $100 per barrel since late February when the U.S. and Israel launched military action against Iran, prompting Tehran to effectively block the Strait of Hormuz.
Tuesday saw oil prices jump more than 3% as optimism about a durable U.S.-Iran truce diminished, reducing chances of reopening the strategic waterway that typically handles about 20% of worldwide oil and natural gas shipments.
Speaking Tuesday, Trump indicated he doesn’t anticipate needing Chinese assistance to resolve the Iranian conflict, despite growing doubts about achieving a permanent peace agreement and Iran’s continued control over the strait.
China remains Iran’s largest oil customer even amid pressure from the Trump administration. The American president is scheduled to meet with Xi in Beijing Thursday and Friday.
“The length of the disruption and the scale of the supply loss – already more than 1 billion barrels – means oil prices are likely to remain above $80 per barrel for the rest of the year,” Eurasia Group said in a client note.
The Iranian conflict has begun impacting America’s economy as elevated oil costs translate to higher fuel prices, with economists predicting additional effects in coming months.
Consumer prices in the United States increased substantially in April for the second month running, creating the biggest yearly inflation spike in almost three years and reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve will maintain current interest rates.
“The marked increase in inflation across advanced economies has yet to cause real spending to contract, but the widespread decline in consumer sentiment and hiring intentions points to worse to come,” the Capital Economics said in a client note.
Higher interest rates increase borrowing costs, which could reduce oil demand. Meanwhile, American crude stockpiles dropped for the fourth week straight, with distillate supplies also falling, according to industry sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures.
The Energy Information Administration will release official inventory numbers at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, with analysts predicting continued stockpile decreases.
PHILADELPHIA — Following their elimination from the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Philadelphia 76ers dismissed president Daryl Morey on Tuesday while choosing to retain head coach Nick Nurse for the upcoming season.
The organization made swift changes after the New York Knicks eliminated them in a sweep, concluding Morey’s sixth year leading the franchise’s basketball operations.
Managing partner Josh Harris announced that he and Morey mutually agreed it was appropriate to pursue a new direction for the organization.
Former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers will spearhead the hiring process for Morey’s successor and will temporarily manage the basketball operations department.
“To our fans, your frustration and disappointment are understandable and warranted,” Harris said. “We have fallen well short of our own expectations and failed to deliver in the way this city deserves. That bothers me deeply and I have confidence in Bob to establish a path forward for our franchise.”
During Morey’s leadership, the Sixers compiled a 270-212 regular season record but struggled in playoff competition with a 28-26 postseason mark, never advancing beyond the conference semifinals. The team qualified for the playoffs this year after missing the postseason for the first time during Morey’s era in 2024-25, when they finished 24-58.
Myers constructed the championship Golden State squads that captured NBA titles in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022. Following his departure from the Warriors, he worked as an ESPN analyst before joining Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment as president of sports in October 2025.
Morey arrived in Philadelphia in 2020 following 14 years with the Houston Rockets, where he served as general manager for 13 seasons. Houston qualified for the playoffs during his final eight campaigns, and he earned NBA executive of the year honors in 2018 when the Rockets achieved a 65-17 record and reached the Western Conference finals.
In 2019, his social media post supporting Hong Kong protesters created diplomatic tensions with Chinese officials and damaged the NBA’s profitable Chinese market relationships. The Rockets had previously maintained strong popularity in China following their selection of Yao Ming as the top draft pick in 2002.
Known for his data-driven methodology — holding an MBA from MIT and co-chairing the institution’s annual Sports Analytics Conference — Morey struggled to construct a championship team around frequently injured center Joel Embiid. He brought in James Harden, his former Houston standout, and subsequently added veteran Paul George at significant cost.
His recent draft selections included successful picks like Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, chosen third overall last year. However, he faced criticism for trading Jared McCain, a 2024 first-round selection, to Oklahoma City this season. McCain contributed 11.5 points per game as the defending champion Thunder swept the Lakers in the second round.
WASHINGTON (AP) — When President Donald Trump touches down in Beijing this Wednesday, observers will closely monitor the ceremonial reception China provides, including which officials welcome him, the musical selections, and whether local children participate with flowers and flags.
Within China’s strictly structured diplomatic hierarchy, ceremonial events and formal protocols hold significant meaning. Trump’s welcome appears designed to be cordial and appealing to a U.S. president who appreciates grand displays, though it’s expected to fall short of the elaborate “state visit plus” treatment President Xi Jinping provided Trump in 2017.
“That reflects greater Chinese confidence in their position, greater skepticism of Trump, and the awkwardness of the current relationship,” said Rush Doshi, C.V. Starr senior fellow for Asia studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and an assistant professor of security studies at Georgetown University.
Over the past nine years, relations between China and the United States have transformed from cooperative engagement to strategic rivalry, reaching particularly low points during the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing trade disputes.
According to experts, China’s growing economic influence and its control over global supply chains have strengthened Beijing’s negotiating position, leading to more practical approaches from the Trump administration. The current conflict with Iran, which has disrupted the Strait of Hormuz and destabilized global markets, has further enhanced Xi’s advantageous position entering these talks.
The Iranian conflict, which started with American and Israeli military actions on February 28, forced a postponement of Trump’s originally planned late-March visit. This trip to Beijing will be considerably shorter than his 2017 journey, and first lady Melania Trump will not accompany him.
“The context for this visit is wholly different,” said Danny Russel, a former senior U.S. diplomat, who does not expect Beijing to outdo itself this time in receiving Trump. “The schedule has been compressed to basically one day and stripped down to the basics.”
However, America maintains unique importance in China’s international relationships, and Chinese leaders will still provide Trump with substantial ceremonial grandeur because they view it as an effective diplomatic strategy, Russel explained.
Based on the 2017 visit, Trump can anticipate descending from Air Force One onto a red carpet with gold trim while being welcomed by an enthusiastic gathering.
During the formal welcoming ceremony the following day, Xi and other Chinese leaders will greet him, with their positions potentially revealing diplomatic significance. Trump will then review military honor guards, arranged precisely by height, whose attention will follow both leaders as they proceed along the red carpet. A 21-gun salute will likely conclude the formal reception.
“It’s no secret to any government that President Trump responds positively to flattery and spectacle,” Russel said. “The pomp and pageantry is designed both to flatter Trump and to pacify him, making him more amenable to Chinese asks and reducing the risk of an embarrassing public confrontation.”
Xi will also provide unique experiences, as he has during previous American presidential visits. In 2014, he took former President Barack Obama on an evening walk through the Zhongnanhai leadership compound. During 2017, he arranged a private dinner for Trump at the Palace Museum within the former imperial palace grounds.
For this visit, the special connection between the Chinese and American leaders will unfold at the Temple of Heaven, a historic imperial location, near the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, a distinctive blue-tiled structure famous for its circular architecture and triple-layered roof. The White House confirms Xi will personally guide Trump through this World Heritage location, where Chinese emperors historically prayed for abundant crops.
Park officials have closed the entire complex Wednesday and Thursday, while main features including the hall and Echo Wall were shuttered Tuesday for “the maintenance of ancient architecture,” according to park administrators.
Such closures are uncommon. The facility remained open when British and Spanish prime ministers toured the Palace Museum and Summer Palace in Beijing during their visits this year. Additionally, Xi did not personally escort those leaders.
Beijing designated Trump’s initial presidential visit as a “state visit plus,” the only such designation China has granted any foreign leader. That trip featured extraordinary arrangements never before offered.
Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, personally toured the Palace Museum with Trump and the first lady, sharing afternoon tea and watching traditional opera in a royal theater that hadn’t hosted performances for a century. They also shared dinner there — an unprecedented honor for any foreign leader.
At the subsequent formal ceremony, “The Stars and Stripes Forever” played while both presidents reviewed Chinese military units, an uncommon selection chosen specifically to impress Trump.
Trump, who frequently mentions his positive relationship with Xi, continues referencing that nearly nine-year-old visit.
“You know, last time I went to China, President Xi, he treated me so well, he gave me a display,” Trump said in February. “I never saw so many soldiers, all the same height, exactly the same height within a quarter of an inch.”
China’s treatment of Trump during this visit will provide insights into current relationship dynamics, according to Doshi, who worked on former President Joe Biden’s National Security Council and assisted with planning Biden’s 2022 and 2023 summits with Xi.
“China uses diplomatic protocol as a method of signaling favor or disfavor. That is why we should pay close attention to how President Trump is received,” Doshi said.
The Trump Organization has withdrawn from its first planned development in Australia, ending a deal for a massive skyscraper project worth $1.09 billion just three months after the agreement was reached.
The company announced Wednesday it was backing out of the Gold Coast development, which would have been a 91-story tower in the popular Queensland tourist area. The February agreement with Australian firm Altus Property Group has now been terminated due to what Trump Organization officials call unmet financial requirements.
According to a Trump Organization representative, the partnership was dependent on Altus fulfilling certain financial commitments that were never satisfied. The company indicated it remains interested in pursuing other development opportunities in Australia.
“After months of negotiations and empty promise, after empty promise, on a supposed A$1.5 billion project, Altus Property Group was unable to meet the most basic financial obligation due upon the execution of the agreement,” the Trump Organization spokesperson stated in an email.
The representative also criticized Altus CEO David Young, saying he attributed the deal’s collapse to “some world events,” which the Trump Organization called “merely a ploy to distract from his own defaults and failures.”
Neither Altus Property Group nor Young provided immediate responses when contacted for comment by Reuters.
The Australian Financial Review reported that the development will move forward without Trump branding, and quoted Young as disputing claims that obligations went unmet.
The proposed luxury development was designed to include a “six-star resort-hotel,” 270 residential units, retail spaces, a beach club, and swimming pool facilities. Apartment prices were expected to begin around $3.62 million.
The project faced significant local opposition, with an online petition against the tower collecting more than 140,000 signatures. Opponents stated they were “deeply uncomfortable with the Trump brand and what it represents.”
A major emergency medical services company completed its debut on the stock market Tuesday, bringing in $478.7 million through its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange.
Global Medical Response, headquartered in Lewisville, Texas, sold nearly 32 million shares priced at $15 each, giving the company an overall market value of approximately $3.35 billion.
The fundraising total fell short of the company’s original goals, which had aimed to collect as much as $797.9 million by pricing shares between $22 and $25 each.
The stock offering comes as more companies are moving forward with public listings while market conditions remain favorable, despite ongoing economic uncertainties and global tensions that continue to make investors cautious.
Global Medical Response provides comprehensive emergency medical services including helicopter and ground ambulance transportation, mobile medical care, and disaster relief operations throughout both city and rural areas across the United States.
The company serves more than 1,400 counties nationwide and recently completed a major $5.4 billion financial restructuring in 2025.
Investment giant KKR has been building this emergency services empire since 2015, when it purchased Air Medical from Bain Capital for approximately $2 billion.
Three years later, the New York-based investment firm expanded its medical transport holdings by acquiring American Medical Response from Envision Healthcare for $2.4 billion, then merging it with Air Medical to create Global Medical Response.
Trading for the newly public company begins Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “GMRS.” Major financial institutions including J.P. Morgan, KKR, and Bank of America Securities served as the primary underwriters for the stock offering.
Samsung Electronics voiced disappointment Wednesday following the breakdown of wage negotiations with its South Korean labor union, expressing worry that the failed talks could create unease among workers, investors, and the general public.
The tech giant indicated it would maintain efforts to avoid a worst-case outcome through what the company characterized as “sincere dialogue” with union representatives.
Earlier Wednesday, union leadership announced they had been unable to secure a wage agreement with Samsung management, cautioning that over 50,000 employees might proceed with an 18-day work stoppage beginning May 21. Such a strike could interfere with the manufacturing of artificial intelligence processors and other semiconductor products.
Vietnam’s state-owned oil trading company has made an urgent appeal to the U.S. Navy, requesting permission for an oil tanker carrying Iraqi crude to navigate through American naval blockade operations in the Persian Gulf region.
The request comes as the Maltese-flagged supertanker Agio Fanourios I, loaded with 2 million barrels of crude oil, was forced to reverse course after exiting the Strait of Hormuz on May 10. Maritime tracking systems indicate the vessel changed direction on May 11 while traveling through the Gulf of Oman.
“U.S. forces redirected the vessel as part of ongoing enforcement of the blockade against Iran,” U.S. Central Command confirmed when asked about the incident by Reuters.
The American military has broadened its maritime blockade targeting Iran to encompass cargo considered contraband, though officials maintain that other oil shipments from the Gulf region remain free to transit.
According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, the tanker had successfully navigated through the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday using shipping lanes designated by Iranian authorities.
The ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has resulted in the closure of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, leaving hundreds of vessels stranded and creating significant disruptions to global energy markets. This critical shipping channel handles approximately 20% of worldwide energy supplies.
In a formal letter dated May 12 and addressed to U.S. military and diplomatic officials, Petrovietnam Oil Corporation (PVOIL) Vice President Hoang Dinh Tung emphasized the critical nature of the cargo.
“This cargo is of extreme importance to Nghi Son Refinery (NSRP), to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and to the Vietnamese people,” Tung wrote in the correspondence reviewed by Reuters.
“NSRP’s feedstock inventories are critically low; any further delay risks halting refinery throughput, with cascading consequences for millions of Vietnamese consumers, businesses, public services and industries.”
PVOIL provided definitive confirmation that the vessel was loaded with Iraqi Basra crude oil purchased from Iraq’s state oil marketing organization SOMO. The loading process took place between April 10 and 14.
U.S. military officials have not indicated whether they will grant Vietnam’s request to allow the tanker to continue its journey.
Delaware small businesses celebrated major victories Tuesday evening as Governor Matt Meyer and the Delaware Division of Small Business revealed the recipients of the Spring 2026 EDGE 2.0 Grant Competition.
The competitive funding program, which represents the Division’s premier pitch competition designed to foster business development and expansion opportunities, distributed nine awards worth a combined $1.15 million to local entrepreneurs.
Delaware Technical Community College’s Owen Campus in Georgetown served as the venue for Tuesday night’s awards ceremony, where business owners learned their fate in the state’s flagship funding initiative known as EDGE – an acronym representing Encouraging Development, Growth and Expansion.
The announcement generated considerable enthusiasm among attendees as the state continues its commitment to supporting small business growth throughout Delaware.
Morning commuters traveling southbound on Interstate 95 should expect delays due to ongoing construction work that has shut down several left lanes.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that multiple left lanes are currently closed along the southbound corridor, stretching from the Delaware Welcome Center through the Newark Toll Plaza area.
According to DelDOT’s traffic incident reporting system, the lane restrictions are expected to remain active until 7 a.m. this morning.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and use caution when navigating through the construction zone. Traffic may be moving slower than usual during the morning rush hour period.
Basketball pioneer Jason Collins, who broke barriers as the first openly gay athlete to compete in the NBA, has passed away at age 47 following an eight-month fight with an aggressive brain tumor, his family confirmed Tuesday.
Collins made history during his professional basketball career and later became a leading advocate for inclusion within the league and broader sports community. His groundbreaking presence in the NBA opened doors for LGBTQ+ athletes across professional sports.
The former center’s family announced his death after he battled the aggressive form of brain cancer for eight months. Collins’ courage both on and off the court made him a respected figure in basketball and an important voice for equality in athletics.
His legacy extends beyond his playing career, as Collins continued to serve as an advocate and representative for the NBA, promoting diversity and inclusion throughout the sports world.
President Donald Trump departed Washington Tuesday evening for a crucial state visit to Beijing, where he will sit down with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a turbulent period marked by global tensions over warfare, trade disputes, and artificial intelligence concerns.
Speaking to reporters before leaving the White House, Trump emphasized America’s military dominance, stating: “We’re the two superpowers. We’re the strongest nation on Earth in terms of military. China’s considered second.”
The Beijing summit comes as Trump faces mounting domestic pressure from declining approval ratings, largely driven by ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran, plus escalating inflation stemming from that military engagement. The president hopes to secure victories through agreements for China to purchase additional American agricultural products and aircraft, noting he plans to discuss trade matters with Xi “more than anything else.”
Trump’s team aims to launch discussions about creating a “Board of Trade” between the two nations to resolve bilateral disagreements. Such a mechanism could help avoid another trade conflict like the one sparked last year following Trump’s tariff increases, which China responded to by restricting rare earth mineral exports before both sides agreed to a one-year ceasefire last October.
However, Trump arrives in Beijing while Iranian issues continue consuming his domestic political focus. The ongoing warfare has effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, trapping oil and gas vessels and driving energy costs to heights that threaten worldwide economic stability. Despite Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visiting Beijing recently, Trump dismissed the need for Chinese assistance with the Iranian situation.
“We have a lot of things to discuss. I wouldn’t say Iran is one of them, to be honest with you, because we have Iran very much under control,” Trump explained to reporters Tuesday.
Taiwan’s status will likely feature prominently in discussions, as Beijing objects to American plans for weapons sales to the independently governed island that China considers part of its territory.
Trump revealed Monday he would address an approved $11 billion arms package for Taiwan during his talks with Xi. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s position as the globe’s premier semiconductor manufacturer has made it crucial for artificial intelligence development, with American imports from Taiwan now exceeding those from China this year. Trump has worked to expand domestic chip production through both Biden administration initiatives and his own negotiations.
Even before departing, Trump expressed optimism about the trip’s outcome, discussing Xi’s planned return visit to America and expressing disappointment that White House renovations wouldn’t be finished in time.
“We’re going to have a great relationship for many, many decades to come,” Trump predicted regarding U.S.-China relations. “As you know, President Xi will be coming here toward the end of the year. So that would be exciting. I only wish we had the ballroom finished.”
After speaking with the Chinese leader, Trump described the upcoming meeting as “positive” as he departed with senior staff, business executives, and family members. His itinerary includes arriving in China Wednesday evening for a ceremonial welcome before checking into his hotel, attending a state dinner Thursday, and participating in a working lunch with Xi Friday before returning home.
Despite Trump’s public confidence, Scott Kennedy, a senior adviser on Chinese business and economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, believes China enters these talks “from a much stronger place.”
Chinese objectives include reducing technology restrictions on semiconductor access and finding pathways to lower tariffs, among other priorities.
“But even if they don’t get much on any of those things, as long as there’s not a blow-up in the meeting and President Trump doesn’t go away and look to re-escalate, China basically comes out stronger,” Kennedy explained.
BEIJING (AP) — For almost five decades, American presidents have navigated a delicate diplomatic balancing act regarding Taiwan and China, where even minor verbal mistakes can spark international tensions.
The United States maintains a “One China” policy that acknowledges Beijing’s stance that Taiwan belongs to China, while simultaneously maintaining unofficial relationships with the self-governing island.
This approach deliberately maintains vagueness through what experts call strategic ambiguity. The U.S. commits to providing Taiwan with defensive capabilities against potential Chinese aggression, but stops short of specifying exactly what military response it would provide against Beijing.
As former assistant defense secretary Joseph Nye told Chinese officials in 1995 when they questioned America’s response to a Taiwan crisis: “We don’t know, and you don’t know.”
“The idea was, stick to the very careful language that’s been crafted and don’t vary,” explained Mike McCurry, who served as White House press secretary during Bill Clinton’s presidency. “Because there are too many people listening and paying attention.”
This carefully constructed policy aims to safeguard Taiwan’s security and independence without making excessive commitments or antagonizing Beijing. The policy may face renewed scrutiny during President Donald Trump’s current visit to China. Historical examples show how U.S. officials have previously stumbled over this delicate language, necessitating rapid diplomatic damage control.
“It’s the precision of the words,” noted John Kirby, who worked as a spokesman across multiple Democratic administrations at the State Department, Pentagon, and President Joe Biden’s White House. “They just have to be so extraordinarily precise when you’re talking about Taiwan because, quite frankly, the stakes are enormously high.”
A review of presidential missteps regarding Taiwan policy reveals a pattern of verbal confusion:
Biden made four separate suggestions that America would provide military intervention if China invaded Taiwan, prompting White House staff to repeatedly clarify that he wasn’t abandoning decades of established precedent.
In an August 2021 ABC News interview, Biden discussed America’s military commitment to NATO allies under attack and included, “Same with Taiwan.” The White House subsequently stated that Taiwan policy remained unchanged.
During a CNN forum that October, Biden declared America was committed to Taiwan’s defense against Chinese attack, leading to similar White House corrections.
At a May 2022 Tokyo press conference, Biden answered “yes” when questioned about using military force to protect Taiwan. “That’s the commitment we made,” he stated, forcing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to reconfirm America’s “One China” policy adherence.
Biden made similar implications during a September 2022 “60 Minutes” CBS interview, triggering additional White House clarifications.
Trump, as president-elect in 2016, accepted a phone call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen — potentially the first president to do so since America ended diplomatic relations with the island in 1979. He later dismissed the controversy, posting: “Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call.”
The following year, Trump’s White House released a statement about a Germany meeting between Xi and Trump that incorrectly identified Xi as president of the Republic of China — Taiwan’s official name — rather than the correct People’s Republic of China. Officials later corrected the transcript.
“There is a lot of difficulty to navigate a lot of these concepts. However, the reason why that is the case — a lot of misunderstanding and misspeaking — is because those concepts are conceptual traps set up by China,” said Miles Yu, who served as principal China policy adviser to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during Trump’s first term. “You cannot explain something that’s unexplainable.”
Yu, currently a senior fellow and China Center director at the Hudson Institute, supports more definitive statements regarding America’s Taiwan defense commitment. He described the “One China” policy concept, or Beijing’s “One China” principle claiming Taiwan as an inseparable Chinese territory, as “completely of Chinese making.”
“No one inside the Chinese high command has ever believed there is any ambiguity as to America’s resolve to defend Taiwan,” Yu stated.
He argued that America has consistently maintained Taiwan defense plans proportional to Chinese threats, demonstrated by Washington’s repeated force deployments to the Taiwan Strait during periods of heightened tension.
Currently, Trump’s White House maintains no policy changes have occurred but dismisses the need for careful verbal maneuvering, pointing to Trump’s approval of significant Taiwan arms sales.
Following the 1949 Chinese civil war conclusion, Washington recognized Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists as China’s legitimate government, even after that administration relocated from Beijing to Taiwan. However, through an agreement with Beijing starting in 1979 under Jimmy Carter, America began following the “One China” policy.
Carter’s administration conducted months of secret negotiations with China to establish this agreement. Yet Carter later stated it “does nothing to prevent” future presidents or Congress from “even going to war” to defend Taiwan.
During a 1998 Shanghai roundtable, Bill Clinton endorsed the “three no’s”: America not supporting Taiwan independence; rejecting the “two Chinas” concept of separate China and Taiwan; and opposing Taiwan’s membership in international organizations.
However, the following year, Clinton stated, “You know what I’ve done in the past,” appearing to reference previous U.S. military interventions and suggesting similar action regarding Taiwan.
In a 2001 Associated Press interview, George W. Bush was questioned whether America might use military force against a Chinese Taiwan attack and responded, “It’s certainly an option.” Bush later told CNN this didn’t indicate a tougher stance, saying, “I have said that I will do what it takes to help Taiwan defend itself.”
Five years later, during Chinese President Hu Jintao’s Washington state visit, Bush’s White House announcer mistakenly announced the Republic of China national anthem would play, instead of the People’s Republic of China. The correct anthem was eventually played.
In 1989, George H.W. Bush said during a China banquet that while America follows “the bedrock principle that there is but one China, we have found ways to address Taiwan constructively without rancor.”
During a 2014 Beijing joint press conference with Xi, Barack Obama stated, “We encourage further progress by both sides of the Taiwan Strait towards building ties, reducing tensions and promoting stability on the basis of dignity and respect.”
“Anybody who has been at the State Department, the Pentagon or even the White House podium can tell you: When the issue of Taiwan came up, you went to your notes,” Kirby explained. “You didn’t freelance it.”
Kirby remembered that he “got cocky once and didn’t,” misrepresenting the policy and creating “a little kerfuffle.”
Major errors typically first prompt complaints from U.S. policy officials, Kirby said, who express their dissatisfaction clearly: “You’ll be highly encouraged to make a statement correcting it right away.”
SALT LAKE CITY — Three young children whose mother was found guilty of murdering their father have expressed deep fears about their safety should she ever be released from custody, according to court documents filed before Wednesday’s sentencing hearing.
Kouri Richins, a 35-year-old writer, is facing the possibility of spending decades behind bars or life imprisonment following her conviction on five felony charges, including aggravated murder.
According to prosecutors, Richins poisoned her husband Eric’s drink with a fatal amount of fentanyl — five times what would be considered lethal — at their residence near Park City’s ski area in 2022. Following his death, she wrote and released a children’s book focusing on a young boy dealing with his father’s passing, publishing it shortly before authorities arrested her in 2023.
Defense lawyers for Richins chose not to provide statements Tuesday ahead of the sentencing, which is scheduled for what would have been Eric Richins’ 44th birthday.
The children’s emotional statements were included in a prosecutorial filing asking Judge Richard Mrazik to impose a life sentence without the possibility of parole. The boys were 9, 7, and 5 years old when they lost their father.
The eldest son, now 13, told the court he feels no longing for his mother’s return. “I’m afraid if she gets out, she will come after me and my brothers, my whole family,” he stated. “I think she would come and take us and not do good things to us, like hurt us.”
Court filings indicate the oldest child endured both emotional and physical mistreatment from Richins following his father’s death, with allegations backed by findings from Utah’s Division of Child and Family Services contained in sealed court records.
Investigators revealed that Richins worked in real estate and house flipping but had accumulated millions in debt while secretly planning a relationship with another man. She had taken out multiple life insurance policies on her spouse without his awareness and incorrectly assumed she would receive his estate valued at over $4 million upon his death.
The aggravated murder charge alone carries potential penalties ranging from 25 years to life imprisonment, or life without parole. The prosecution did not seek capital punishment.
The jury also convicted Richins on additional felony charges including insurance fraud, forgery, and attempted murder for an earlier incident on Valentine’s Day when she allegedly tried to poison her husband with a fentanyl-contaminated sandwich that caused him to lose consciousness.
The middle son, now 11, contradicted his mother’s account that she slept in his room the night his father died. He remembered strange details from that evening, including being sent to bed early without bathing, finding his parents’ bedroom door locked, and hearing loud television sounds from inside. The boy recalled his mother shouting at him to leave when he attempted to use a broom handle to reach a key to the bedroom, where Richins later told emergency responders she discovered her husband’s lifeless body.
The 11-year-old expressed sorrow that his father would miss future camping trips, fishing excursions, sports coaching, and important life events. Similar to his older sibling, he said his mother’s freedom would make him feel unsafe.
“With (her) in jail, I will be able to continue to feel safe and live a happy and successful life without fear of (her) hurting me or anyone I love,” his written statement declared.
The youngest child shared feelings of “hateful and ashamed” emotions when others mention his mother “because she took away my dad.” He expressed he would be “so scared” if she was released from prison.
“Once she is gone I will feel happy and I will feel safer and relaxed and trust people more,” the youngest boy wrote, though his current age was not specified in court documents.
Richins is also facing more than two dozen financial criminal charges in a separate legal proceeding that has not yet reached trial.
MEXICO CITY – A Mexican state investigator has disclosed new details about U.S. officials who died in a vehicle accident in northern Mexico last month, revealing that one of the victims had been observed with a firearm just days before the fatal crash.
Wendy Chavez, who leads a specialized investigative unit within the Chihuahua attorney general’s office examining the incident, stated that one of the deceased Americans had been spotted carrying a weapon at a local security facility prior to the accident. Intelligence sources have indicated the victims were CIA personnel.
Mexican law typically prohibits U.S. government officials from carrying weapons while operating within the country’s borders.
The Milwaukee Brewers welcomed back star outfielder Christian Yelich on Tuesday, removing him from the 10-day injured list in time for their upcoming series against the San Diego Padres at home.
The 34-year-old player had been sidelined for an entire month due to a strained left groin muscle. His most recent game appearance was during an April 12 defeat against the Washington Nationals. Prior to his injury, Yelich was performing well at the plate with a .314 batting average, along with 10 RBIs and one home run.
To make room on the roster, Milwaukee sent utility player Tyler Black down to their Triple-A affiliate in Nashville.
The 25-year-old Black has seen limited action with Milwaukee, playing in nine contests this season and 32 games total across three years with the organization. Throughout his major league career spanning 98 plate appearances, he maintains a .250 batting average.
Yelich, who captured the National League MVP award in 2018 and earned three All-Star selections, rejoins the Brewers roster without completing any rehabilitation games in the minor leagues.
A Houston-based geothermal energy company has successfully completed one of the week’s largest stock market debuts, securing $1.89 billion through its initial public offering on Tuesday.
Fervo Energy distributed 70 million shares priced at $27 each, achieving a company valuation of approximately $7.66 billion. The share price exceeded the company’s revised target range of $25 to $26, which had already been increased from an earlier projection of $21 to $24 per share.
Growing electricity demands from artificial intelligence data centers, combined with increasing electrification across transportation and residential sectors, are creating strain on America’s power grid. This pressure is driving up energy costs and creating greater need for consistent power sources.
The company specializes in creating advanced geothermal systems that provide continuous, emissions-free electricity generation. This technology offers a stable energy source compared to solar and wind power, which depend on weather conditions.
Fervo represents one of three companies launching billion-dollar public offerings this week, alongside artificial intelligence chip manufacturer Cerebras Systems and Blackstone Digital Infrastructure Trust.
Major financial institutions including J.P. Morgan, BofA Securities, RBC Capital Markets and Barclays served as primary underwriters for the stock offering. Trading is scheduled to begin Wednesday on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker symbol “FRVO.”
The company utilizes enhanced geothermal systems technology to overcome limitations of conventional geothermal energy, which typically requires specific geological conditions like volcanic regions. Their approach incorporates underground monitoring equipment, including artificial intelligence-powered fiber optic sensors.
Construction is underway on Fervo’s major Cape Station facility in Utah, designed to become the world’s largest next-generation geothermal installation. Power generation from this project is anticipated to commence before the end of this year.
The stock market launch occurs as Middle Eastern conflicts have pushed oil prices beyond $100 per barrel, increasing investor interest in domestic energy alternatives.
Under President Donald Trump’s administration, geothermal energy has received more supportive regulatory treatment compared to other renewable sources, even as previous Biden administration policies promoting transition away from fossil fuels have been reversed.
South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back announced Wednesday that his country is exploring gradual ways to support international maritime security efforts in the Strait of Hormuz, following high-level discussions with American defense officials.
Speaking to South Korean reporters during a Washington press conference, Ahn indicated Seoul would consider non-military forms of assistance rather than direct military engagement in the strategic waterway.
“We said at about this level that, fundamentally, we will participate as a responsible member of the international community and that we will review ways to contribute in a phased manner,” Ahn stated, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The defense minister outlined several potential support options Seoul might consider, including diplomatic backing, personnel assignments, intelligence sharing, and providing military equipment. However, he emphasized that detailed conversations about expanding South Korean military involvement had not occurred.
“There was no deep discussion on something like specifically expanding our military’s participation,” Ahn explained, noting that any final decisions would require following South Korea’s domestic legal processes.
These discussions between American and South Korean defense leaders occurred just one day after Seoul condemned an assault on a South Korean-flagged ship near the Strait of Hormuz the previous week.
South Korea’s presidential administration issued strong criticism of the incident while stating that investigations into who was responsible for the attack were ongoing.
During their meeting, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told his South Korean counterpart that Washington anticipates allies will “stand shoulder-to-shoulder” as global security challenges increase. Hegseth referenced President Donald Trump’s authorization of what he termed Operation Epic Fury as demonstration of the current administration’s commitment.
The American defense chief commended Seoul’s plans to boost military spending and take on greater security responsibilities for the Korean Peninsula, describing these efforts as exemplifying how alliance partners should share defense burdens.
In separate discussions, Ahn reported that Hegseth showed understanding regarding South Korea’s stance on transferring wartime operational control from American to South Korean forces based on meeting specific conditions, with both nations aiming to complete this transition quickly.
The defense ministers also discussed other partnership matters, including South Korea’s plans for developing nuclear-powered submarines, according to Yonhap’s reporting.
Ahn noted that their conversations did not address potential reductions in American military personnel stationed in South Korea or changes to the strategic flexibility of those forces.
Jason Collins, the groundbreaking NBA veteran who became the first openly gay active player in major professional sports, has passed away at 47 following a battle with brain cancer, his family announced Tuesday.
In September, Collins shared that he was receiving treatment for a brain tumor, later revealing he had been diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive type of brain cancer.
“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” his family stated.
Collins broke barriers in 2013 when he became the first active male professional athlete in North America’s major sports leagues to publicly announce he was gay.
The center spent 13 years in the NBA after being drafted 18th overall by Houston in 2001, though he was immediately traded to what was then the New Jersey Nets. Throughout his career, he also played for Memphis, Minnesota, Atlanta, Boston and Washington.
Collins was part of the Nets teams that advanced to consecutive NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003, playing alongside stars Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson.
His announcement came through a personal essay published in Sports Illustrated, which generated overwhelming support throughout the sports community, including praise from then-President Barack Obama.
“Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar,” his family shared. “Our family will miss him dearly.”
Drivers using Route 2 near Brewster Drive should plan for delays as construction crews continue work that requires periodic lane restrictions.
According to DelDOT, eastbound traffic lanes will experience intermittent closures in the Brewster Drive vicinity as part of ongoing construction activities. These lane restrictions are expected to remain in effect until 5 a.m.
Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when driving through the work zone area.
Motorists traveling on Route 72 southbound are dealing with reduced lanes this morning as ongoing construction work forces the closure of the left lane.
The lane restriction affects the stretch of highway between Bellevue Road and Brookhill Drive, with the closure scheduled to remain in place until 6 a.m.
Drivers in the area should plan for potential delays and consider alternate routes if possible during the morning commute.
A Delaware State University student has been honored with a prestigious recognition from the American Legion for her commitment to service.
Tori McLeary, a student at DSU, was selected to receive the American Legion Spirit of Service Award. The honor recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication to serving their community and embodying the values of service that the American Legion promotes.
The American Legion Spirit of Service Award acknowledges young people who show outstanding commitment to helping others and making a positive impact in their communities. McLeary’s selection for this recognition highlights her contributions and service work during her time as a student.
Delaware State University continues to see its students recognized for excellence both in academics and community involvement, with McLeary’s award adding to the university’s record of student achievements.
Two Delaware State University students have achieved national acclaim for their documentary film about wrestling.
Sanaiyah Baines-Butler and Tia Jarvis received prestigious national recognition for their wrestling-focused documentary project. The students’ work has garnered attention on a national level, highlighting their filmmaking talents and dedication to storytelling.
The recognition represents a significant achievement for both students and demonstrates the quality of work being produced at Delaware State University. Their documentary project showcases the intersection of athletics and media production in higher education.
The basketball world mourns the loss of Jason Collins, who broke barriers as the NBA’s first openly gay athlete and later became a leading voice for diversity in professional sports. Collins passed away Tuesday at age 47 after battling Stage 4 glioblastoma for eight months, his family confirmed.
The center played professional basketball for 13 seasons across six different teams. In 2013, near the conclusion of his playing days, Collins made the groundbreaking decision to publicly share his sexual orientation.
Doctors had diagnosed Collins with Stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer with very poor survival odds.
“Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar,” Collins’ family said in a statement released through the NBA. “We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”
Recently, Collins was honored with the first-ever Bill Walton Global Champion Award during the Green Sports Alliance Summit. Due to his deteriorating health, his twin brother Jarron Collins, also a former NBA player, received the recognition on his behalf.
“I told my brother this before I came here: He’s the bravest, strongest man I’ve ever known,” Jarron Collins said while accepting that award.
Throughout his professional career, Jason Collins maintained averages of 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He was instrumental in helping the New Jersey Nets advance to two NBA Finals appearances, with his most productive season coming in 2004-05 when he averaged 6.4 points and 6.1 rebounds.
“Jason Collins’ impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador. Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.
“On behalf of the NBA, I send my heartfelt condolences to Jason’s husband, Brunson, and his family, friends and colleagues across our leagues.”
Collins made his historic announcement through a personal essay published in Sports Illustrated during April 2013. Though he was between teams at the time, he expressed his desire to continue competing and subsequently appeared in 22 games for Brooklyn during the next season.
“If I had my way, someone else would have already done this,” he wrote at that time. “Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand.”
The announcement received widespread praise, with notable players like Kobe Bryant immediately voicing their support. Even the White House and former President Bill Clinton endorsed Collins’ courage – Clinton’s daughter Chelsea had attended Stanford University alongside Collins. During his college years, Collins shared living quarters with Joe Kennedy III, who later served Massachusetts in Congress for eight years.
In his Sports Illustrated essay, Collins explained that watching Kennedy participate in Boston’s 2012 gay pride parade motivated him to speak publicly about his own identity, since he felt unable to do the same while remaining closeted.
Before his announcement, Collins had quietly shown support for LGBTQ+ causes through his jersey selections. He chose number 98 during his final three team stints with Boston, Washington, and Brooklyn – honoring the year Matthew Shepard, a gay Wyoming college student, was murdered. He also wore number 46 in one Nets game, though that was simply the only available jersey when he joined the team.
During his Stanford career, Collins achieved a shooting percentage of nearly 61%, establishing a university record that still stands. The Associated Press named him an honorable mention All-America selection in 2001, shortly before the Houston Rockets selected him 18th overall in that year’s draft.
“It’s a sad day for all of us associated with Stanford basketball when we lose one of the program’s greats,” former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery said. “We all have great memories of Jason and the kind of person he was. It’s hard to separate Jarron and Jason because they thought so alike, but even though he was an identical twin, Jason was unique in his own way. The impact he had on Stanford was immense, as he could match up against anyone in the country because he was big, smart, strong and skilled, all while being a very bright and nice person.”
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Massive demonstrations swept through Argentina’s major cities Tuesday as citizens rallied against President Javier Milei’s severe budget reductions targeting the nation’s public university system, a beloved institution that serves as a source of national pride in the economically troubled South American country.
Large crowds gathered in central Buenos Aires and marched toward government buildings to condemn the financial shortfalls threatening the foundation of Argentina’s higher education network. The country’s public universities have operated without tuition since 1949 and serve as a pillar of its educated middle class, having graduated five Nobel Prize winners over the decades.
Lawmakers approved legislation last year designed to cover universities’ operating expenses and increase faculty pay to match soaring inflation rates. However, Milei’s administration has refused to enact the measure while mounting a legal challenge against it in court.
Similar to his supporter and ally former U.S. President Donald Trump, Milei frequently condemns university environments as centers of “woke” ideology. The libertarian leader has dramatically reduced public education spending as part of his broader strategy to drastically cut government expenditures, marking a stark departure from what he calls decades of irresponsible financial management that bred corruption under previous left-wing administrations.
Tuesday’s demonstrations drew participants from diverse age groups and political backgrounds as Milei confronts dropping public support amid economic decline, reduced wages, and rising joblessness. Recent corruption allegations have also damaged his standing, particularly an ongoing probe into excessive spending by close associate and Cabinet chief Manuel Adorni that seems incompatible with his government salary and reported wealth.
“How much does Adorni cost us?” read one of several student protest signs alluding to the alleged misuse of public funds.
Alejandro Álvarez, Milei’s undersecretary for university policies, dismissed Tuesday’s demonstration as “completely political” and claimed the administration had provided universities with compensation for increased operational expenses — minimal adjustments that labor groups have denounced as inadequate.
In their effort to overturn the university funding law, Milei’s team contends the legislation lacks details on how the government will provide the required financial increases during a period of strict budget constraints. The dispute is anticipated to reach the Supreme Court, with student demonstrators Tuesday urging the nation’s top judicial body to “listen to the outcry throughout the country’s public squares.”
Faculty salaries at universities have dropped approximately 33% in real terms since Milei assumed office in late 2023, accounting for persistent inflation, according to the primary teachers’ union.
Ricardo Gelpi, who leads the renowned University of Buenos Aires, reported that declining purchasing power has prompted at least 580 research faculty members in engineering and science fields to abandon the public system for private institutions or higher-paying positions elsewhere.
“It’s very clear this government is determined to defund public education,” said Sol Muñíz, 24, a law student at the University of Buenos Aires at the march. “University is a source of pride for us. It is the best thing we have.”
Austin, Texas officials have agreed to a $35 million settlement with four men who were falsely charged in connection with the brutal 1991 slayings of four teenage girls at a local yogurt shop, one of the city’s most infamous unsolved cases that eventually sent one defendant to death row and another to life imprisonment.
Robert Springsteen, Michael Scott, Forrest Welborn and Maurice Pierce had consistently maintained their innocence in the heinous crime. A judge formally cleared their names in February following an investigation that identified the actual perpetrator as someone who had been dead since 1999.
The proposed settlement requires approval from Austin’s city council before becoming final. Officials have not disclosed how the compensation will be distributed among the men and their relatives.
“This settlement closes the final chapter of a devastating story in Austin’s history,” Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax said in a statement. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with those who were wrongly accused and wrongly convicted in this case and hope that this settlement brings a sense of closure to everyone affected by this horrific event.”
Legal representatives for Springsteen and Scott have not yet responded to media inquiries about the agreement.
The victims – Amy Ayers, 13; Eliza Thomas, 17; and sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, ages 17 and 15 – were restrained, gagged and executed at the “I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt” shop where two were employed. The perpetrator then burned down the building.
Law enforcement pursued thousands of tips and multiple false admissions before apprehending the four suspects, all teenagers at the time of the murders, in late 1999.
Both Springsteen and Scott received convictions primarily based on confessions they claimed were forced by investigators. Appeals courts reversed both verdicts during the mid-2000s.
While Welborn faced charges, he never went to trial after two separate grand juries declined to issue indictments. Pierce remained incarcerated for three years before prosecutors dropped the case. He was killed in 2010 during a police encounter following a traffic violation.
Although prosecutors sought new trials for Springsteen and Scott, a judge dismissed all charges in 2009 when advanced DNA testing unavailable during the original investigation identified a different male perpetrator.
In 2025, investigators concluded that cutting-edge DNA analysis and reexamination of ballistics evidence confirmed Robert Eugene Brashers as the lone gunman.
Beginning in 2018, law enforcement had connected Brashers through sophisticated DNA methods to multiple violent crimes: the 1990 strangulation murder of a South Carolina woman, the 1997 sexual assault of a 14-year-old Tennessee girl, and the 1998 shooting deaths of a mother and daughter in Missouri.
The breakthrough in the Austin case occurred when DNA recovered from beneath Ayers’ fingernail matched Brashers’ genetic profile from the 1990 homicide.
Brashers took his own life in 1999 during an extended police standoff at a Kennett, Missouri motel.
A Boston photographer and content creator is making the most of an unexpected 42-day quarantine after a deadly virus outbreak turned his dream Antarctic expedition into a public health emergency.
Jake Rosmarin, 30, is among 18 Americans now under medical observation at specialized facilities following a hantavirus outbreak that claimed three lives aboard the MV Hondius expedition vessel. What started as an enthusiastic social media post about his 35-day South Atlantic adventure has become an extended stay at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s National Quarantine Unit in Omaha.
Fifteen other American passengers from the voyage are also housed at the Nebraska facility, while one passenger who tested positive for the virus remains in the hospital’s Biocontainment Unit. Two additional passengers are being monitored at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
Health authorities emphasize that the risk of the virus spreading to the general population remains extremely low, with quarantine measures taken purely as a safety precaution.
Rosmarin, who works as a content creator and photographer, told The Associated Press he’s determined to stay positive during his isolation period.
His quarantine accommodations resemble a compact hotel suite, complete with a closet, smart television, private bathroom, mini refrigerator, bed, chair and exercise bike. Though his room has windows, he keeps the blinds drawn to avoid media attention outside.
“It’s a very nice room,” Rosmarin explained. “I already ordered a mattress pad, new pillows. I think, for now, my plan is to take it one day at a time and that’s the best I can do.”
On Tuesday, facility nurses surprised him with a special treat he shared on social media – an iced Horchata made with oat milk and vanilla cold foam. “This is everything I needed, right now. Wow!” he said in a video post.
The hantavirus typically spreads through contact with rodent droppings and rarely transmits between humans. However, the specific Andes strain identified in this outbreak may occasionally spread person-to-person. Symptoms typically appear one to eight weeks after exposure.
“I never got sick,” Rosmarin stated Tuesday.
The outbreak affected eleven passengers aboard the MV Hondius, with at least nine confirmed cases. Three fatalities occurred during the voyage, including a Dutch couple that health officials believe contracted the virus first while visiting South America.
The final passengers left the vessel Monday, departing on flights to over 20 different countries where they’ll complete quarantine requirements.
The Omaha quarantine and biocontainment facilities are specially designed to monitor and treat individuals exposed to serious infectious diseases. The biocontainment unit specifically handles patients actively ill with highly contagious conditions.
Medical staff entering Rosmarin’s room wear complete protective equipment including gowns and masks, and he cannot receive any visitors. Nursing staff typically avoid entering his room, even during meal delivery.
“I open the door with a mask on and they kind of put the food toward me and I grab it on the tray,” he described.
Once passengers began falling ill during the voyage, everyone was instructed to remain in their cabins as much as possible.
“I left the cabin about 15 minutes each day to refill my water, get fresh air and grab food for breakfast and lunch,” he recalled, noting that passengers maintained social distancing and wore masks.
Rosmarin launched his world travel career in 2022 after leaving his job as a media buyer. He maintains an influencer partnership with the expedition vessel’s operator, which sponsored his trip to remote South Atlantic islands including South Georgia Island.
“We saw a King penguin colony — the largest in the world, 300,000 to 500,000,” Rosmarin shared. “We got to see Gentoo penguins, fur seals, elephant seals, Chinstrap penguins, albatross.”
He emphasized that the MV Hondius operates as an expedition vessel rather than a traditional cruise ship. Because passengers and crew would visit islands with delicate ecosystems, strict environmental protection protocols were enforced.
“An expedition vessel is much cleaner than any cruise ship you’re ever going to go on,” Rosmarin noted. “For South Georgia, there were the strictest biosecurity measures. We have to sit down in the lounge pulling fuzz out of our jackets. A little pebble in your shoe, it needs to come out.”
However, those safety measures were designed to protect the environment from passengers, not the reverse situation.
His originally planned five-week journey extended to six weeks because passengers couldn’t disembark once the outbreak was identified.
“We didn’t really know it was the hantavirus until the night we were supposed to disembark,” Rosmarin explained.
His fiancé awaits his return to Boston, where the couple plans to marry next year. “I think he tried to be calm for me, but I think he was also very scared,” Rosmarin said Tuesday.
A Colorado federal judge determined Tuesday that immigration enforcement officers have disregarded his directive restricting arrests conducted without warrants.
U.S. District Senior Judge R. Brooke Jackson stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel have ignored his November directive, which prohibited arrests without warrants unless officers had reasonable grounds to believe someone was unlawfully present and posed a flight risk before a warrant could be obtained. Jackson noted that since his ruling, ICE personnel have continued making arrests without warrants while failing to conduct “individualized, pre-arrest probable cause determinations of flight risk.”
The judge additionally mandated that immigration officers authorized to conduct warrantless arrests must complete training on court directives, and required the government to provide documentation of such arrests. This decision stems from litigation filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado regarding so-called incidental arrests of individuals unintentionally swept up during immigration operations.
The ACLU alleges that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been randomly detaining Latino individuals to fulfill enforcement quotas during President Donald Trump’s mass deportation initiatives while disregarding legal limitations on detention practices.
In his recent decision, Jackson determined ICE had insufficiently trained its deportation officers regarding his November court directive and is now mandating such education within 45 days.
He also determined ICE had “consistently failed” to meet documentation standards for warrantless arrests required under his court directive.
ICE, which has challenged Jackson’s November ruling, did not immediately provide comment regarding Tuesday’s decision.
“This is a profoundly important decision for the rule of law and the people of Colorado,” Tim Macdonald, legal director for the ACLU of Colorado, said in a statement. “The court made clear that ICE is not above the law and cannot continue to violate the law.”
During the past year, federal judges in Oregon, California and Washington, D.C., have similarly directed immigration officers in their jurisdictions to avoid conducting arrests without warrants unless flight risk exists.
Immigration officers typically obtain administrative warrants, which are documents issued by immigration agencies that authorize arrests, before searching for targeted individuals for arrest and deportation. The court cases focus on the detention of other undocumented individuals that officers encounter, including during searches for specific targets.
Such incidental arrests were prohibited during former President Joe Biden’s administration.
Mixed martial arts superstar Conor McGregor appears to be closing in on a deal that would bring him back to the UFC octagon this summer, multiple industry sources are reporting.
The Irish fighter, who has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury during his 2021 bout against Dustin Poirer, is reportedly very close to finalizing terms for a rematch against Max Holloway scheduled for July 11 during International Fight Week at UFC 29, according to combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani.
Speaking on his program, Helwani defended his reporting track record: “I was the first person to tell you Conor was coming back, I was the first person to tell you it was going to be Conor versus Max, I’m still the only one. I can’t dictate or decide when they are going to announce things because that’s arbitrary. What I can tell you are the facts. So, I will never get wrong fight bookings, matchups, things of that nature.”
While UFC President Dana White expressed being “very confident” that the 37-year-old McGregor will return to competition soon during an appearance on “The Jim Rome Show,” he confirmed that no contract has been finalized and no official opponent has been revealed. Helwani, however, suggested fans should anticipate a formal announcement before UFC Freedom 250, which is set for 8 p.m. Saturday, June 14 at the White House.
“If you don’t believe me, you’re going to be proven wrong. As of right now, they’re on the goal line,” Helwani stated. “I’ve never said it’s signed, sealed, and delivered. It will be. I just want to make that clear, I am not walking this back.”
The reporter added: “Something awful has to happen for this fight not to come to fruition July 11. (Announcing) it at the White House would be too late, that would be less than a month.”
In a follow-up comment, Helwani acknowledged White’s position, saying: “Dana is right. It is not signed, sealed, and delivered. Is one side signed, sealed?”
The potential matchup would mark a reunion between McGregor and Holloway, who is now 34 years old. The two fighters previously met in 2013 in the featherweight category, with McGregor securing victory by unanimous decision.
INGLEWOOD, California – Basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson made a passionate appeal Tuesday for global soccer fans to choose Los Angeles as their primary destination during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the metropolis as the “sports capital of the world.”
Speaking at a special countdown event titled ’30 Days to FIFA World Cup 2026′ held at SoFi Stadium, the promotional gathering showcased the metropolitan area’s ambitions to offer visitors a comprehensive experience beyond just attending soccer matches.
“The world game is coming to the greatest city in the world,” Johnson declared enthusiastically during the promotional event, which aimed to attract international travelers not only for World Cup games but also to explore the city’s numerous attractions and establish LA’s reputation as an international sports destination.
The five-time NBA champion and three-time MVP emphasized that Los Angeles is entering an unprecedented era of major sporting events. “Great events are coming to our city,” Johnson stated, referencing the upcoming World Cup, NFL Super Bowl, and the 2028 Olympic Games.
The California city will serve as the venue for eight World Cup contests, welcoming national squads from the United States, Paraguay, Iran, New Zealand, Switzerland, Bosnia, Belgium and Turkey.
This enlarged World Cup tournament will span across North America, with games scheduled in 16 different host cities throughout Mexico, the United States and Canada. The competition will include 48 participating nations, representing an increase from the traditional 32-team format.
Kathryn Schloessman, who serves as President and CEO of the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission and host committee CEO, promised that both local residents and international visitors will experience a “giant soccer carnival” throughout the city.
Officials also emphasized the city’s dedication to accessible public transit, highlighting $1.75 stadium tickets that contrast sharply with the expensive transportation costs that have sparked criticism on the East Coast.
However, the World Cup’s regional effects have generated ongoing discussion for several months. Opponents have expressed worries about local homelessness issues, economic inequality, and taxpayer expenses, cautioning that society’s most disadvantaged populations might face higher costs, housing shortages connected to the tournament, and interruptions to city services.
Los Angeles will additionally present the tournament’s U.S. opening ceremony on June 12, headlined by pop artist Katy Perry. This celebration will follow an opening ceremony in Mexico City the previous day and another Toronto event earlier on June 12, highlighting the tournament’s tri-national scope.
Although Los Angeles is primarily recognized for major American sports franchises like the Lakers, Dodgers, Rams and Chargers, the city has also drawn prominent international soccer players during the latter stages of their careers, including David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Steven Gerrard, who all competed for LA Galaxy.
The city’s World Cup organizing committee has leveraged its closeness to Hollywood’s celebrity community by recruiting Snoop Dogg, Eva Longoria, Will Ferrell and other entertainment figures as “community ambassadors.”
Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy will sit out the opening six games of next season after the National Hockey League imposed a suspension without pay for a violent stick attack on Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson during Boston’s playoff elimination on May 1st.
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced the discipline on Tuesday, following an in-person hearing at league headquarters in New York the previous day. The face-to-face meeting allowed officials to consider penalties exceeding five games.
The controversial play unfolded with 1:31 remaining in the third period when Benson tripped McAvoy while both players pursued a loose puck before colliding with the end boards. After getting back on his feet, McAvoy skated aggressively toward the Buffalo player and delivered a baseball bat-style swing with his stick, striking Benson in the stomach area.
Officials assessed McAvoy a five-minute major penalty for slashing plus a game misconduct, while Benson received a two-minute minor for the initial tripping infraction.
Buffalo completed their 4-1 victory that night, securing the Eastern Conference first-round matchup with a 4-2 series triumph that ended Boston’s playoff run.
The 28-year-old McAvoy has the right to challenge the suspension through an appeal process. This marks his third disciplinary action from the league during his nine-year professional career, having faced two previous suspensions and one fine.
McAvoy posted career-best offensive numbers this past season with 61 points on 11 goals and 50 assists, while accumulating 62 penalty minutes across 69 regular-season appearances. He contributed two assists during the Buffalo series.
Throughout his NHL tenure exclusively with Boston, McAvoy has recorded 71 goals and 361 total points with 491 penalty minutes over 573 regular-season contests. His postseason statistics include six goals, 50 points, and 103 penalty minutes in 97 playoff games.
MEXICO CITY, May 12 – Mexican government officials strongly disputed a CNN report on Tuesday that alleged the Central Intelligence Agency orchestrated a deadly security operation targeting a cartel member near the nation’s capital.
Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch took to social media platform X to firmly deny the claims, stating that Mexico “categorically rejects any (allegations that attempt) to normalize, justify or suggest the existence of lethal, covert or unilateral operations by foreign agencies on Mexican soil.”
The CNN report had claimed earlier Tuesday that a CIA operation resulted in the death of a cartel member in an explosion that occurred outside Mexico City, but Mexican authorities moved quickly to refute these allegations.
Delaware Department of Transportation crews conducted construction work that required closing the southbound right lane at the intersection of Foulk Road and Silverside Road.
The lane restriction was implemented to allow workers to safely complete their project in the area. DelDOT indicated the closure would remain active until 8:30 PM.
Motorists traveling through the intersection were advised to expect delays and consider alternate routes during the construction period.
A vehicle collision has forced authorities to completely shut down southbound Route 13 at Willow Grove Road, according to the Delaware Department of Transportation.
The crash has blocked all southbound traffic in the area, with DelDOT directing motorists to seek alternate routes while emergency crews work at the scene.
No details about injuries or the cause of the accident have been released at this time. The duration of the road closure remains unknown as officials continue to manage the incident.
Drivers are advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes until the roadway can be safely reopened to traffic.
OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman appeared in federal court to defend his company against serious allegations from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who claims Altman essentially hijacked what was supposed to be a charitable organization.
The courtroom showdown in Oakland, California features two of the technology industry’s most recognizable figures in a legal dispute that observers say could fundamentally reshape the artificial intelligence company responsible for creating ChatGPT.
During a break in Monday’s proceedings, Altman was photographed walking through the federal courthouse as the high-stakes trial continues to unfold.
Legal experts suggest the outcome of this case could trigger sweeping transformations at OpenAI, depending on how the court rules on Musk’s accusations regarding the company’s charitable status and operations.
NYU Langone Health has disclosed that federal prosecutors in Texas issued a grand jury subpoena demanding records related to transgender youth who received medical treatment at their facilities.
The hospital system became the first to openly acknowledge receiving such a subpoena as part of an ongoing federal criminal probe. In a statement released Tuesday, NYU Langone revealed it was among multiple healthcare institutions that received the legal demand on May 7 from the Northern District of Texas. Hospital officials said they are currently evaluating their response options.
NYU Langone Health operates seven inpatient hospitals and more than 300 medical locations throughout the New York City region and Florida. According to the hospital system, federal prosecutors are demanding records of patients younger than 18 who received gender-affirming medical treatment between 2020 and 2026, along with the identities of their healthcare providers.
This development represents the most recent action in the Trump administration’s campaign to halt medical care for transgender minors. NYU Langone had previously announced this year that it would discontinue providing such treatments to transgender youth following federal funding threats.
In July, the Justice Department distributed more than 20 civil subpoenas to physicians and medical facilities offering gender care to minors, stating it was investigating “healthcare fraud, false statements and more.” Former Attorney General Pam Bondi declared the DOJ was ensuring accountability for “medical professionals and organizations that mutilated children in the service of a warped ideology.”
A federal judge in the Northern District of Texas recently ruled in favor of the Justice Department, determining that Rhode Island Hospital in Providence must comply with one of these subpoenas requesting records of gender-affirming care provided to children.
The NYU Langone subpoena was discussed multiple times Tuesday during a federal court proceeding in Providence concerning those records. A Justice Department lawyer refused to reveal the exact timing of the grand jury’s formation, stating they could only address publicly available information.
U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy subsequently directed the DOJ to provide attorneys in the Rhode Island case with the grand jury affidavit since it had become public knowledge.
Following the Justice Department’s issuance of civil subpoenas last year, court records indicate that at least seven federal courts have agreed to dismiss or restrict the broad subpoenas, which required providers to surrender birth dates, Social Security numbers and home addresses of patients who received transgender care.
While medical professionals and hospitals navigate these subpoenas, 11 families filed a class-action lawsuit this week attempting to prevent the DOJ from accessing the documents. The lawsuit, submitted in Maryland’s federal court, represents families with transgender children who have received care from hospitals nationwide.
The Justice Department stated Tuesday that it does not provide comments regarding grand jury investigations.
NYU Langone and the U.S. attorney’s office for the Northern District of Texas did not respond immediately to requests for comment Tuesday.
LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations criticized the latest federal demands for gender care records.
“We will not allow anti-trans extremists to turn our hospitals into hunting grounds,” Tyler Hack, executive director of the transgender rights group the Christopher Street Project in New York, said in a statement. “Playing political games to weaponize Americans’ private healthcare information is not just an attack on trans people — it is an attack on every single American who benefits from basic patient-provider privacy.”
Motorists traveling on US Route 301 are facing a complete roadway closure this morning after a vehicle accident blocked all northbound traffic lanes at Exit 5.
The Delaware Department of Transportation has confirmed the crash through their traffic monitoring system, though specific details about the severity of the incident or potential injuries have not yet been released.
Drivers heading north on US 301 should expect significant delays and are advised to seek alternate routes until the roadway can be cleared and reopened to traffic.
This is a developing situation and DelDOT continues to monitor the incident as emergency responders work at the scene.
Medical professionals have officially changed the name of a widespread women’s health condition that impacts one out of every eight women globally, hoping the new terminology will lead to better patient care and understanding.
What was previously known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) will now be called polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), according to research published Tuesday in The Lancet medical journal.
Medical experts and patient advocates pushed for this change because they believed the former name was misleading. The previous terminology oversimplified what is actually a complicated hormonal disorder by emphasizing ovarian cysts and focusing too heavily on reproductive organs, which led to diagnostic errors and substandard treatment, according to the Endocrine Society, an international organization of medical professionals and researchers.
“The thought behind that is that one, there’s no cysts in the ovary, so it’s very confusing,” explained Dr. Melanie Cree, who co-authored the Lancet study and works as a pediatric endocrinology specialist at the University of Colorado Anschutz. “The hope was that with a more comprehensive and accurate name change, that it would start to enable and push better care.”
This terminology update comes after 14 years of collaborative work between medical professionals and patients.
The disorder involves hormone imbalances that can impact body weight, metabolism, mental wellness, reproductive health, and skin conditions.
Medical professionals link it to metabolic syndrome, which encompasses several health issues that raise the likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke, noted Dr. Sarah Hutto from the University of Minnesota Medical School in a university publication.
The exact cause remains unknown, though medical research suggests genetic factors and obesity may contribute, according to Cleveland Clinic information.
The wide range of symptoms makes diagnosis challenging for healthcare providers.
The condition typically involves unpredictable menstrual periods and overproduction of androgens, a hormone group that can trigger acne and changes in hair growth or loss. It may also lead to follicle development on ovaries, though these are not abnormal cysts. However, patients don’t need to exhibit all these signs for a diagnosis.
For teenage patients, Cree explained that diagnosis requires both menstrual irregularities and evidence of elevated androgen levels. This evidence can include elevated hormone levels in blood tests or physical symptoms like severe acne or unusual hair growth patterns.
Medical experts at Cleveland Clinic identify it as the leading cause of female fertility issues, since infrequent ovulation can prevent conception.
Women with this condition may face higher risks for pregnancy-related complications, including gestational diabetes or early delivery. However, most individuals with the disorder can successfully complete pregnancies.
Cree emphasizes that the primary treatment approach involves lifestyle modifications, including reducing processed food consumption, increasing physical activity, and maintaining healthy sleep patterns.
“We’re not trying to be judgmental. There is science to back this up,” she stated. “So in PMOS, there is too much of the hormone insulin in many women, and that insulin confuses the ovary to make too much testosterone. And it’s the high testosterone that is causing all the symptoms.”
Additional treatment options include medications that improve insulin sensitivity like Metformin, drugs that counteract androgens, and hormonal contraceptives.
Hutto emphasizes that treatment plans should be customized to target individual symptoms and patient goals. Women planning pregnancies might prioritize fertility treatments, while others may prefer options like hormonal birth control.
Medical professionals are informing their colleagues about the name change through conferences, professional organizations, and other communication channels. They anticipate this will increase understanding of the condition and improve patient care.
“I’m very excited about the name change,” Cree commented, “as are the majority of my colleagues.”
NEW YORK (AP) — With gasoline prices putting a squeeze on family budgets during the ongoing conflict with Iran, President Donald Trump is advocating for a temporary halt to the federal gasoline tax.
The president lacks the authority to implement this change independently, and he hasn’t detailed the proposed duration of such a suspension. However, members of Congress from both political parties have already been advocating for pausing the federal gasoline tax, with some proposed legislation calling for a moratorium lasting until October 1.
Supporters of halting the gasoline tax contend it would deliver essential financial relief to families and businesses currently facing economic hardships, particularly affecting lower-income households who bear the greatest burden. This situation stems from disruptions to global oil supplies and other essential commodities since the U.S. and Israel entered the conflict approximately three months ago, causing energy costs and gasoline prices to surge.
However, a tax suspension is unlikely to create a substantial or immediate reduction in pump prices. Critics also caution about possible long-term ramifications. While the federal gasoline tax represents only a small portion of what Americans spend on fuel, it generates billions in revenue that federal highway and mass transit programs depend upon.
Here’s the current situation.
The federal gasoline tax currently equals approximately 18.4 cents per gallon. However, motorists wouldn’t see that complete amount removed from their fuel costs immediately following a suspension.
“You can’t suspend the tax and then expect everyone to wake up the next morning and gas is suddenly 18 cents cheaper,” stated Carl Davis, research director at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a nonprofit organization. “It doesn’t work that way.”
This occurs because the federal gasoline tax isn’t imposed directly at gas stations, but instead at the wholesale distribution level. The expectation behind a suspension is that retailers will eventually transfer the tax reduction to customers through reduced prices, though Davis emphasizes this outcome isn’t certain — pointing out that state-level experiences show minimal relief that requires time to reach consumers, if drivers benefit at all during temporary tax holidays.
Fuel suppliers might also retain portions of the savings to increase their profit margins. Considering this factor, the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Wharton Budget Model projects that approximately 72% of a federal gas tax reduction would actually benefit consumers — equivalent to roughly 13.2 cents of the complete 18.4-cent per gallon rate.
Even with these savings, the financial benefit for typical drivers remains modest. Should the federal gas tax be suspended from June 1 through October 1, the Penn Wharton Budget Model calculates that a household refueling a 15-gallon tank weekly would save approximately $35 during those four months.
Meanwhile, current U.S. gasoline prices remain significantly elevated compared to pre-war levels — with the national average reaching about $4.50 per gallon on Monday, according to AAA, versus $2.98 in late February. As families continue experiencing financial pressure from increased expenses, Davis observes that many drivers might find it difficult “to even notice” a tax reduction if they receive it.
Trump has personally recognized that the federal tax represents a small percentage of gasoline costs. However, “it’s still money,” he informed reporters on Monday.
The U.S. gasoline tax also serves as the primary revenue source for federal highway and mass transit programs. Suspending it could eliminate billions of dollars in funding — which experts caution may create long-term problems in the future.
Based on current fuel pricing and consumption patterns, the government could forfeit $8.35 billion in revenue during a four-month suspension, the Penn Wharton Budget Model confirmed to the AP on Monday. Should the federal diesel tax (currently 24.4 cents per gallon) also be paused, that amount could approach $11.5 billion.
Congressional legislation suggests compensating for any Highway Trust Fund revenue losses with general treasury funds, but critics worry this approach could increase the federal deficit and potentially threaten the long-term viability of infrastructure projects. The federal gasoline tax has remained static since 1993, which experts argue has already weakened the Highway Trust Fund’s buying power when adjusted for inflation.
With specific details of a potential tax suspension remaining uncertain, future outcomes are difficult to forecast. However, “you could very easily imagine some kind of combination of higher national debt and lower funding for roads and bridges and other transportation projects,” Davis explained. “Eventually there will be a consequence.”
In addition to federal taxes, each state imposes its own separate gasoline taxes. These rates vary from as little as 9 cents per gallon in Alaska to nearly 71 cents in California, based on government data from early this year.
To address elevated prices during the Iran conflict, several states — including Indiana and Georgia — have recently enacted temporary suspensions of their gasoline taxes. Kentucky and Utah have decreased their rates. Additional states are considering similar measures.
However, other states may find it challenging to implement comparable actions.
Unlike the federal government, states generally must maintain balanced budgets annually. Beyond essential transportation infrastructure, some states also depend on fuel tax revenues to support education, environmental programs and other public services.
Numerous factors influence what drivers pay at gas stations. State and federal taxes, seasonal demand patterns and more expensive fuel formulations required for warmer weather all contribute. However, crude oil costs — the primary component in gasoline — represent the largest portion.
Despite worldwide government efforts to increase supply during the war, including accessing emergency oil reserves, elevated oil prices persist. Both Brent, the international benchmark, and U.S. crude are currently trading above $100 per barrel — rising from approximately $70 just months earlier.
Global attention focuses on the Strait of Hormuz, where one-fifth of the world’s oil previously flowed. However, Tehran and Washington remain deadlocked over the strategic waterway, while broader ceasefire negotiations continue to stagnate.
Industry analysts have consistently cautioned that if the conflict continues and supply chains face prolonged disruption, prices for gasoline and numerous other products could keep rising.
“This is really a foreign policy problem,” Davis noted. “There’s not a fiscal policy band-aid that can be slapped on.”
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Dozens of people gathered at a major intersection in Haiti’s capital city Tuesday, holding tree branches and calling for police intervention after deadly gang warfare over the weekend drove hundreds of families from their homes in the Cite Soleil district.
Among the demonstrators was 67-year-old Roselaine Jean-Pierre, who joined about two dozen others demanding government action even as gunfire echoed through nearby streets.
“I did not do anything to deserve this,” said Jean-Pierre, who abandoned her residence Sunday and has been sleeping on Port-au-Prince’s streets since then.
Several demonstrators reported witnessing killings during the weekend violence in Cite Soleil, where charred vehicles and dead livestock littered the area. Government officials have not provided casualty figures.
“I know of seven people that have been killed and also people that have been shot,” said Michel-Ange Toussaint, who had briefly returned to her Cite Soleil residence to collect clothing.
According to Toussaint, the civilian attacks started Sunday evening around 6 p.m., causing many residents to escape the neighborhood seeking refuge. “It is our good feet that saved us,” Toussaint said.
Criminal organizations have seized control of more than 90% of Port-au-Prince following President Jovenal Moïse’s assassination at his residence in July 2021. Law enforcement reports these groups have extended their criminal operations — including theft, abductions, sexual violence and rape — beyond the city into rural areas. The country has remained without a president since the killing.
The medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders issued a Monday statement announcing they had evacuated their Cite Soleil medical facility due to Sunday’s violent confrontations.
International peacekeeping forces connected to a United Nations mission began arriving in Haiti in April to help combat the persistent violence.
The U.N. Security Council authorized a 5,550-member peacekeeping force in late September, though the full deployment to the Caribbean nation remains incomplete. An undisclosed number of soldiers from Chad have been stationed there so far.
Research published this year by the International Organization for Migration revealed that criminal gang activity has forced more than 1.4 million Haitians from their homes, with roughly 200,000 now residing in overcrowded and inadequately funded shelter locations throughout the capital city.
Brazilian officials announced Tuesday that the European Union will halt imports of the country’s animal products starting in September, a surprising development that follows closely behind the implementation of a historic trade agreement worth an estimated $22 trillion.
The massive EU-Mercosur trade deal became effective in May, creating a vast trans-Atlantic marketplace. However, the agreement currently faces legal challenges at the European Court of Justice, with European agricultural interests and environmental advocates expressing concerns about competitive disadvantages, economic impacts, pricing issues, and environmental protections.
Brazil’s agriculture ministry expressed shock at the European decision, stating they received the news “with surprise” and confirming their intention to challenge the ruling. Reports from Brazilian news outlets indicate the EU cited insufficient documentation proving that animal products from Brazil and neighboring countries are free from growth-promoting antimicrobial additives.
Brazilian diplomatic representatives plan to meet with EU animal product officials on Wednesday “to seek explanations about the decision,” according to the ministry’s statement.
Data from Brazil’s animal products trade association shows that European Union nations ranked as the third-largest market for Brazilian beef exports in 2025, trailing only the United States and China in volume.
The EU-Mercosur free trade pact officially launched on May 1, following its signing on January 17 during a summit of the South American trading bloc that encompasses Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen implemented the agreement on a provisional basis, effectively bypassing the EU Parliament where legislators are now mounting a legal challenge through the bloc’s court system. Should the European judicial body rule against the agreement, it will be terminated.
MADISON, Wis. — An unexpected alliance formed Tuesday as pop icon Debbie Gibson joined forces with Terry “Geezer” Butler from legendary metal band Black Sabbath to champion the rescue of approximately 1,500 beagles from a Wisconsin research facility.
The two celebrities gathered not to collaborate musically, but to support the massive rehoming operation for dogs acquired from Ridglan Farms, a breeding and research operation located near Madison.
Setting aside Black Sabbath’s famous protest songs, Butler focused entirely on four-legged friends during his visit to the rescue effort.
“It was so profound to be able to hold each of these dogs in our arms and be able to assure them that their new life was starting,” Gibson expressed. “Today was a very emotional day.”
Both celebrities cradled beagles that had just arrived at the Dane County Humane Society from Ridglan Farms on Tuesday.
“They’ve never let me down,” Butler shared about his personal pets while visiting the humane society, which is handling placement for 500 of the rescued beagles. “They’re always loving.”
During their appearance in the humane society’s barn area, volunteers held beagles awaiting veterinary examinations, vaccinations, and additional medical attention.
Two animal advocacy organizations — the Washington, D.C.-based Center for a Humane Economy and Big Dog Ranch Rescue from Florida — negotiated the purchase agreement last month, acquiring all the dogs from Ridglan Farms for an undisclosed sum. Both groups actively oppose animal experimentation.
The rescue announcement came shortly after confrontations erupted between animal rights activists and law enforcement at the Ridglan facility. Officers deployed tear gas and pepper spray against protesters who claimed they intended to liberate the animals. Earlier in March, demonstrators had broken into the property and removed 30 dogs.
Multiple organizations are coordinating the relocation of all 1,500 purchased dogs to facilities providing veterinary treatment before transport to shelters across the nation for eventual adoption.
Interest in adopting these specific beagles has been extraordinary, with over 1,300 individuals contacting the Dane County Humane Society alone, according to Amy Good, the organization’s marketing director.
“It’s not a tough sell to get beagles into homes,” explained Wayne Pacelle, who leads the Center for a Humane Economy. “The response across the nation has been overwhelming.”
The initial group of 1,000 dogs was relocated earlier this month to temporary facilities managed by Big Dog Ranch Rescue’s partner organizations. This week marked the beginning of the Dane County Humane Society receiving the final 500 animals.
Ridglan Farms reached an agreement in October to surrender its state breeding permit effective July 1, avoiding felony animal abuse prosecution. While the company has maintained its innocence regarding animal mistreatment allegations, a special prosecutor concluded that Ridglan violated state veterinary regulations by conducting unauthorized eye procedures.
Butler, who shares his home with five dogs and five cats, described the day as a milestone in ending animal experimentation.
“This is just the beginning,” he declared.
Gibson, who launched her recording career at 16 with her 1987 debut album, announced plans to foster and potentially adopt one of Tuesday’s beagles.
“This little guy was the last one put in my arms, and I couldn’t put him back in a cage,” she said while holding the dog during her remarks.
When asked about potential musical collaboration focused on canines, both Butler and Gibson laughed.
“Maybe,” Butler responded with a grin, still holding a beagle.
The National Football League revealed Tuesday that the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons will clash at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on November 8, 2026, marking the second NFL regular season contest held in Spain.
Real Madrid’s legendary home venue, which has stood for seven decades, previously hosted an NFL game last November when the Miami Dolphins defeated the Washington Commanders 16-13 in overtime, featuring quarterback Tua Tagovailoa who now plays for Atlanta.
This Week 9 matchup, scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and broadcast on NFL Network, represents part of the 2026 NFL International Games series. The announcement came two days before the complete NFL schedule release set for Thursday.
For Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, whose team struggled to a 6-11 record last season, this will mark his debut in an international NFL game.
“The game has a lot of room to grow. Just like basketball did in the ’80s and ’90s,” Burrow commented Tuesday following the announcement. “The Bulls kind of spearheaded that. Made it global and, hopefully, the Bengals can do the same thing over the next couple of years for the NFL.”
Cincinnati has participated in two previous international contests, both held in London, with their most recent appearance being a 24-10 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams at Wembley Stadium in 2019 during head coach Zac Taylor’s inaugural season.
New Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski brings extensive knowledge of the Bengals to his first season in Atlanta, having spent six years coaching the AFC North division rival Cleveland Browns.
The Falcons have competed in five prior regular season games on foreign soil, including four European contests. Atlanta’s international experience includes games in Toronto (2013), London (2014, 2021, 2023), and Berlin last season, where they fell 31-25 to the Indianapolis Colts before finishing 8-9.
“We are truly honored and deeply grateful for the opportunity to host the Cincinnati Bengals at the Bernabeu, one of the world’s most iconic venues,” stated Falcons president and CEO Greg Beadles on Tuesday. “This matchup represents a unique opportunity to connect with fans in Spain, and we sincerely appreciate the NFL’s continued commitment to growing the game on a global stage. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, we are thankful for the opportunity to begin building meaningful connections with Spanish supporters who will also experience our great city of Atlanta on the world stage.”
A breakthrough study reveals that individuals transitioning from injectable weight-loss medications to Eli Lilly’s new oral drug Foundayo successfully maintained most of their weight reduction over a 12-month period.
The pharmaceutical giant announced Tuesday that clinical trial participants who had used GLP-1 injection therapies for more than a year experienced minimal weight regain when switching to the pill form. Results shared at an obesity medical conference showed those moving from Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy injection to Lilly’s oral Foundayo gained back just 2 pounds on average after one year. Meanwhile, participants transitioning from Lilly’s stronger injectable Zepbound saw an average weight increase of 11 pounds.
The Indianapolis-based company launched Foundayo in the United States during early April as direct competition to Danish manufacturer Novo’s oral Wegovy option. This launch represents Lilly’s continued investment in the lucrative obesity and diabetes treatment market, specifically targeting the GLP-1 medication category.
Industry experts project that weight-loss drug sales could exceed $100 billion annually within the coming decade.
Research findings presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul demonstrated that patients can successfully transition between treatments while preserving their weight reduction achievements – addressing a major worry associated with discontinuing GLP-1 injections.
“If you’re a patient on Wegovy, you can switch from a GLP-1 injectable to a GLP-1 pill and basically keep all the weight off,” stated Kenneth Custer, Eli Lilly’s president of cardiometabolic health, during a recent interview. “Patients now have options.”
The research examined individuals transitioning to Foundayo (scientifically called orforglipron) following 72 weeks of weight reduction using either Lilly’s tirzepatide medications (marketed as Zepbound and Mounjaro) or injectable semaglutide products (Novo’s Wegovy and Ozempic).
Detailed trial results showed that after 52 weeks post-transition, former tirzepatide users retained 74.7% of their original weight loss while taking orforglipron, compared to just 49.2% among those receiving inactive placebo treatments.
Participants who previously used semaglutide maintained 79.3% of their weight reduction with orforglipron, significantly higher than the placebo group’s 37.6% retention rate.
Novo introduced injectable Wegovy in 2021, followed by the pill version earlier this year. Oral medications are anticipated to attract new patient populations, particularly those uncomfortable with needle-based treatments.
When questioned about weight regain among patients switching from Zepbound to Foundayo, Custer explained this outcome was predictable considering the substantial weight loss achieved with Lilly’s injectable option. Clinical trials have demonstrated that Zepbound can produce weight reductions of 20% or greater.
Additional late-stage trial data revealed that participants maintaining maximum Zepbound dosages continued losing weight after an additional year of treatment, while those reducing to 5-milligram doses experienced approximately 12 pounds of weight regain.
“The study showed us two things. If you want to maintain every ounce of weight you lost on a drug like Zepbound, you should probably stay on that dose of Zepbound,” Custer explained.
“But if you want to consider reducing your dose, you can do that. You’ll regain a little bit of weight, but you’ll still maintain most of your weight loss,” he added.
World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler hasn’t captured a tournament victory since January, though his recent performances have been tantalizingly close to breaking through.
The 29-year-old finished as runner-up in three consecutive tournaments during April before taking time off to gear up for this week’s PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club near Philadelphia.
Though such consistent high finishes would be impressive for most players, Scheffler finds himself fielding questions about why he can’t seal the deal.
“I think it was last week my wife was like, ‘Hey, Scottie, you’re like the first guy in PGA Tour history to have three solo runner-ups in a row.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, it’s probably because the guy that was playing that good figured out a way to win one of those, he didn’t come second in all three,’” Scheffler joked when speaking with reporters Tuesday.
“A little bit of it is bittersweet. Finishing second in a golf tournament is not bad, but, I mean — especially in the way I did it in a couple of them. I was spotting guys so many strokes going into the weekend, mainly the Masters.”
At Augusta National, Scheffler bounced back from a disappointing second-round 74 with weekend scores of 65-68, ultimately finishing one shot behind Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy. The following week at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, he posted 64-67 during another weekend charge but fell to England’s Matt Fitzpatrick in a playoff at the RBC Heritage.
His third near-miss came at the Cadillac Championship in Miami, where another sluggish start was partially salvaged by a stronger finish. Despite reaching 13 under par, he trailed winner Cameron Young by six strokes.
“You know you’re playing good golf, and you’d love to get some wins,” said Scheffler. “Finishing second hurts, but I think when you reflect and you’re looking at things to work on, there’s a lot less to clean up when you’re finishing second than there is when you’re finishing 30th.”
Among Scheffler’s four major championships, he has never successfully defended one immediately. His Masters victories were separated by two years before he claimed both the PGA Championship and Open Championship in 2025. This week presents his first opportunity to win consecutive major titles.
Successfully defending a major championship outside Augusta requires favorable course rotation timing. Scheffler triumphed at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte last year, a venue that regularly hosts PGA Tour events. However, he acknowledged Tuesday that he believes he’s never competed in the Philadelphia region before.
“I think a lot of it depends on the golf course. A lot of it depends on the conditions,” Scheffler explained regarding PGA Championship challenges. “If you look at this golf course specifically, between it being soft and firm, I think is two totally different tests. If you’re looking at this golf course when it’s soft, I think there’s a lot of stuff you can kind of get away with in terms of like you can hit it pretty far offline. There’s not many things to block you. …”
“But if you look at this golf course when it’s firm, the fairways are hard to hit. Then if you want to get the ball close to a lot of these pins, you have to control your spin and control your distance really well, which is not that easy to do out of the rough.”
Despite his recent frustrations, Scheffler recognizes his position is enviable compared to struggling with poor results.
“I’d much rather have to sit here and be (asked), ‘Hey, how come you didn’t win last week,’ versus, ‘He finished 15th, like that was a pretty good start for you, game’s starting to turn around.’ It’s a lot better playing good golf,” he said. “… I think those questions are easier to answer.”
South Carolina’s Republican-controlled Senate dealt a blow to former President Donald Trump on Tuesday, rejecting an effort to redraw the state’s congressional boundaries that would have wiped out its single Democratic House district.
Several GOP senators defied Trump’s pressure and joined Democrats in blocking the redistricting plan, falling short of the required two-thirds majority needed to extend the legislative session. The final tally was 29-17, missing the mark by two votes.
The failed initiative means U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn, an influential Black Democrat who has served the district since 1993, will likely keep his seat safe for November’s midterm contest. However, Republican Governor Henry McMaster retains the option to convene a special legislative session to revisit the redistricting question. GOP lawmakers already hold control over the state’s remaining six congressional seats.
This redistricting battle reflects a broader strategy among Republican-led states throughout the South to reconfigure congressional boundaries in ways that could weaken Democratic strongholds and alter the region’s political landscape.
The push gained momentum following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on April 29 that weakened provisions of the Voting Rights Act, providing states with greater freedom to dismantle districts with majority-Black and majority-Latino populations. Multiple GOP-controlled southern states have seized on this opportunity, with Tennessee successfully passing new maps that break up a majority-Black district, while Louisiana and Alabama are pursuing comparable measures.
The South Carolina House had previously approved legislation that would have delayed the June 9 primary elections for U.S. House races and implemented new district boundaries that would have divided Clyburn’s constituency.
Trump attempted to influence the Senate vote through a social media message posted Monday, stating he was “watching closely” and encouraging state senators to support the redistricting effort.
This pressure campaign echoed Trump’s previous intimidation tactics against Indiana Republican legislators who refused to redraw their state’s map last year. Trump had promised to endorse primary opponents against those lawmakers, and his threats proved effective when six of the seven targeted incumbents lost to Trump-backed challengers in recent primary elections, demonstrating the continued power of his political influence.
Drivers traveling on Route 20 eastbound in New Castle County should expect delays due to ongoing construction work that has forced the closure of one lane.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that the lane restriction is affecting the stretch of Hardscrabble Road between Tyndall Road and Bryans Store Road. Officials say the construction zone will remain active until 7 PM today.
Motorists are advised to use alternate routes when possible or allow extra travel time if they must use this section of roadway during the construction period.
The New York Yankees made roster moves Tuesday, promoting shortstop Anthony Volpe from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre while putting utility player Jose Caballero on the 10-day injured list due to a broken finger.
Caballero sustained the injury to his right middle finger during Sunday’s 4-3 defeat against the Milwaukee Brewers on the road. The injury occurred when he dove back toward first base to avoid being picked off. When Caballero reported pain afterward, the team sent him back to New York for testing, where an MRI scan confirmed a fracture.
This injury opens the door for Volpe to return to the majors for his first appearance in the 2026 season, after Caballero had secured the regular shortstop position at the start of the year.
The 29-year-old Caballero was hitting .259 with four homers, 13 RBIs and 13 stolen bases across 41 games this season, starting 39 of those contests at shortstop. New York obtained him from division rival Tampa Bay Rays during the 2025 trade deadline and utilized him at various positions in both the infield and outfield.
Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Volpe dealt with a partial labrum tear in his left shoulder during the previous season and had surgery in October. His performance both at the plate and in the field suffered in 2025 while playing through the injury. Following his rehabilitation assignment, Volpe was sent down to Triple-A on May 3.
Volpe first reached the major leagues in 2023 after just 22 Triple-A appearances the previous year. He earned the starting shortstop role during spring training and delivered an impressive rookie campaign with 21 home runs and a Gold Glove award. He appeared in 159 games that season, followed by 160 in 2024 and 153 in 2025.
Over his 472 major league games, Volpe has compiled a .222 batting average with 52 home runs, 192 RBIs, 82 doubles and 70 stolen bases. However, he also shared the American League lead with 19 errors during the previous season.
Max Schuemann is scheduled to start at shortstop for Tuesday’s matchup against the Baltimore Orioles. The Yankees enter the game having dropped four consecutive contests.
Good evening, Delmarva! We’re wrapping up a beautiful Tuesday across the peninsula with mostly clear skies and comfortable conditions. Tonight will be pleasant with temperatures settling around 52 degrees and those clear skies continuing. You’ll feel a gentle south breeze at 5 to 10 mph – perfect for leaving the windows open!
Wednesday is shaping up to be a gorgeous day with mostly sunny skies and a nice warm-up to around 75 degrees. It’s looking like an ideal day to get outside and enjoy some of that spring sunshine we’ve been waiting for.
However, I do need to give you a heads up about Wednesday night into Thursday. We’re tracking the possibility of showers and thunderstorms moving through the area Wednesday evening, with rain chances continuing into Thursday when highs reach 67 degrees. Nothing severe is expected, but you’ll want to keep that umbrella handy and maybe move those outdoor plans indoors.
Stay safe out there, Delmarva, and I’ll see you tomorrow with your updated forecast!
Drivers using East Edinburgh Drive are experiencing periodic lane restrictions that will remain in effect until 6 PM today.
The intermittent closures are creating temporary traffic delays for motorists traveling through the area. Authorities advise drivers to plan for additional travel time and exercise caution when navigating the affected roadway.
The lane restrictions are expected to be lifted by this evening, allowing normal traffic flow to resume on East Edinburgh Drive.
Both Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism Tuesday that the ongoing Ukraine conflict is nearing its conclusion, though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly disagreed with this assessment.
Putin told reporters over the weekend that “I think that the matter is coming to an end.”
When asked about Putin’s comments, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Tuesday that significant three-way diplomatic efforts involving Ukraine and the United States have been underway to bring the conflict to a close, now entering its fifth year.
“This accumulated groundwork in terms of the peace process allows us to say that the completion is indeed approaching,” Peskov stated to reporters, while noting he could not provide specific details at this time.
Before beginning a state visit to China on Tuesday, Trump echoed similar sentiments about an approaching resolution between the two nations, though he also declined to provide specifics.
“The end of the war in Ukraine I really think it’s getting very close,” Trump commented as he departed the White House.
Zelenskyy, however, expressed a markedly different view. Speaking on Monday, he stated: “Russia has no intention of ending this war. And we are, unfortunately, preparing for new attacks.”
Trump has organized several rounds of negotiations with both sides in an attempt to resolve the conflict, though no peace agreement has materialized. Russia, which currently controls approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, is demanding that Kyiv surrender additional land. Ukraine insists that Russian forces must completely withdraw.
Peskov indicated Russia would support continued U.S. mediation and that Putin is willing to meet with Zelenskyy face-to-face once peace negotiations are completed.
“And for that finalisation, in order to put a full stop to it, a great deal of preparatory work still needs to be done,” he explained, suggesting the conflict could conclude as soon as Kyiv and Zelenskyy “take the necessary decision.”
The opposing forces recently agreed to a brief U.S.-brokered ceasefire from May 9-11, timed to coincide with the anniversary commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.
While neither side reported major air strikes during the temporary truce, both continued to report ongoing combat along the front lines and made mutual accusations of drone and artillery strikes.
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers are making their intentions clear: they want LeBron James to continue his career in purple and gold.
Following the team’s disappointing 115-110 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night, which completed a second-round playoff sweep, Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick expressed their strong commitment to retaining the veteran superstar. The loss marked the end of James’ eighth campaign with Los Angeles.
At 41 years old, James has just wrapped up his remarkable 23rd NBA campaign, though he remains uncertain about continuing his playing career.
“Any team, including ours, would love to have LeBron James on their roster,” Pelinka said. “That’s a blessing in itself, just with what he does.”
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer enters unrestricted free agency this summer, giving him complete control over his next destination should he decide to delay retirement. While not every franchise possesses the financial flexibility to offer competitive compensation, the Lakers maintain substantial cap space and numerous roster decisions ahead. The organization hopes James will remain part of their championship pursuit centered around Luka Doncic.
“He’s given so much to his teammates, to this organization, and the thing we want to do more than anything else is honor him back,” Pelinka said.
The general manager repeatedly emphasized his commitment to “honor” James’ deliberation process, indicating the franchise’s willingness to wait patiently for the superstar’s decision over the coming weeks.
“The first order of business there is allowing him to spend the time he needs to decide what his next steps are,” Pelinka said. “Does he want to play another year in the NBA? That’ll be (determined through) family time, I think, time with his inner circle, and we just want to honor that for him.”
This represents James’ longest tenure with a single franchise, spanning eight seasons. His family has established roots in Los Angeles, where he captured an NBA championship and achieved numerous league milestones. Additionally, his 21-year-old son Bronny has spent two seasons as a reserve guard with the Lakers, creating the unique opportunity for father and son to share the court during several meaningful playoff moments.
Injuries limited James to 60 games this season, and he posted career-low averages of 20.9 points per game while adapting to his role as the team’s third scoring option behind Doncic and Austin Reaves. Despite this adjustment representing unfamiliar territory, James appeared to embrace his enhanced playmaking responsibilities, particularly during the team’s strongest stretch in March.
Los Angeles compiled a 53-win record and claimed the Pacific Division championship despite losing Doncic for the remainder of the season and Reaves for nearly a month due to injuries sustained in the same April 2nd contest. Although their campaign concluded with a four-game elimination by the heavily favored Thunder, the Lakers approach the offseason with confidence about their potential improvement — especially if James returns.
However, Pelinka clarified that the franchise’s long-term vision revolves around 27-year-old Doncic, who captured the NBA scoring championship before a hamstring injury derailed his playoff preparation.
“The archetype of the roster that we want is going to be retrofitted around Luka and the things he needs,” Pelinka said. “Clearly he’s that leader and player for the future that we want to build the right way around.”
The Lakers’ most significant offseason priority involves securing a new contract for Reaves, the former undrafted player who has emerged as one of the league’s most productive scorers during his five Los Angeles seasons. Reaves is anticipated to decline his player option, with Pelinka confirming mutual interest in a substantial extension.
“He started his journey here as a Laker and has made it very clear to us that he wants his journey to continue as a Laker, and we feel the same way,” Pelinka said. “We want his odyssey to continue to unfold in the purple and gold. Both sides have made it abundantly clear that we want to work something out.”
Other unrestricted free agents include forward Rui Hachimura, whose impressive postseason performance following regular-season inconsistencies likely earned him a significant raise; guard Luke Kennard, acquired via late-season trade who provided valuable contributions during Reaves’ absence; and reserve center Jaxson Hayes.
Starting center Deandre Ayton holds an $8.1 million player option and indicated Monday he hasn’t considered his decision. Marcus Smart, another key playoff contributor, possesses a $5.4 million player option he’s expected to decline in pursuit of a larger contract.
“Being here in LA, the crowd and everybody has been amazing,” Ayton said. “I wouldn’t change it for nothing, to be honest.”
Criminal charges have been filed against the operator of the cargo vessel that crashed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, resulting in six deaths more than two years ago.
The Dali cargo vessel experienced electrical failures that caused it to lose power and steering control before crashing into the bridge’s support structure, resulting in the fatal collapse that shut down Baltimore’s port for several months.
Beyond the criminal charges revealed on Tuesday, the companies responsible for owning and operating the vessel have encountered numerous legal battles, most of which have been settled through financial agreements.
State officials in Maryland estimate the replacement of the heavily used bridge will cost between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion, with traffic not expected to resume until the end of 2030.
The following timeline details the crash sequence and major developments afterward:
March 26, 2024
12:39 a.m.: The vessel departed Baltimore’s port bound for Sri Lanka. The Singapore-flagged cargo ship stretched approximately 985 feet in length and 157 feet in width.
Between 1:25 a.m. and 1:28 a.m.: The vessel experienced power failure and crew members broadcast a distress signal while approaching the Francis Scott Key Bridge at roughly 9 mph.
Law enforcement had approximately 90 seconds to halt vehicle traffic from entering the bridge from both sides.
Around 1:29 a.m.: The cargo vessel collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, hitting a support pillar and causing the structure to collapse into the water in seconds.
March 27, 2024
Federal authorities started gathering evidence from the vessel.
March 30, 2024
Engineering teams and multiple floating cranes extracted the initial piece of steel debris, beginning a lengthy and complex operation to secure the area for divers searching for missing construction workers and to establish alternative shipping routes for Baltimore’s port.
April 1, 2024
Grace Ocean Private Ltd. of Singapore, the ship’s owner, and Synergy Marine PTE Ltd., the vessel’s operator, submitted a legal filing attempting to restrict their financial responsibility.
May 8, 2024
Recovery teams found the remains of the final missing construction worker. All victims were Latino immigrants working the night shift repairing potholes on the bridge.
May 15, 2024
Federal investigators published initial findings about the ship’s electrical malfunctions while docked in Baltimore but did not confirm these were connected to the power failure that occurred just before the bridge collision.
June 19, 2024
National Transportation Safety Board records revealed investigators discovered a disconnected cable in a transformer and circuit breaker system that crew members had activated before leaving Baltimore’s port.
September 18, 2024
Federal authorities filed legal action against the ship’s owner and operator, alleging they disregarded known electrical issues and demanding $100 million in damages.
September 19, 2024
Maryland state government initiated similar legal proceedings, joined by Baltimore dock workers who filed a group lawsuit demanding compensation for lost earnings during the port closure.
October 24, 2024
The cargo ship’s owner and operator agreed to pay over $102 million in cleanup expenses to resolve the Justice Department’s lawsuit.
November 18, 2024
Maryland authorities revealed plans for a replacement Francis Scott Key Bridge that would be constructed higher than the previous structure, with an estimated cost of $1.9 billion.
December 19, 2024
Federal investigators reported that Maryland’s transportation department had not finished a recommended security evaluation of the Francis Scott Key Bridge prior to its collapse, which would have identified ship collision risks.
January 13, 2025
The vessel’s owner and operator initiated legal action in federal court against Hyundai Heavy Industries, the shipbuilder, claiming negligent design of an essential electrical panel.
January 23, 2025
Maryland officials increased their cost projection for the Francis Scott Key Bridge replacement to between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion, more than doubling the original estimate.
February 26, 2025
The National Transportation Safety Board determined that a disconnected electrical wire caused the power failure that resulted in the ship losing propulsion and steering before the crash. Investigators concluded the crew could have identified the loose wire beforehand using thermal imaging technology.
November 14, 2025
The ship’s owner and operator announced settlement deals with Maryland and ACE American Insurance Co. The $350 million insurance settlement equaled the amount ACE had paid to Maryland, representing the maximum coverage under the state’s insurance policy.
December 2, 2025
Federal prosecutors filed criminal charges against the ship’s operator and a senior staff member, accusing them of making decisions that caused the crash and attempting to conceal the facts.
On the same day, Maryland’s attorney general revealed the $2.24 billion settlement amount between the state and the ship’s owner and operator, which had been previously announced without specific figures.
AUSTIN, Texas — Former President Barack Obama threw his weight behind Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico during a Tuesday meeting in Austin, as party leaders work to energize what they acknowledge is an uphill battle in the traditionally red state of Texas.
The former commander-in-chief shared a meal with Talarico and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa at a local taco restaurant in Austin. The appearance was designed to provide momentum for both candidates through an endorsement from one of the Democratic Party’s most popular figures.
The visit continues Obama’s pattern of championing emerging Democratic leaders across the country, including a recent appearance alongside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in the Bronx to advocate for expanded childcare access.
Obama previously praised Talarico during a podcast appearance several months ago, describing him as a “terrific, really talented young man.” Hinojosa revealed in a March social media post that the former president had personally called to offer his congratulations on her campaign efforts.
Talarico’s Senate bid has drawn nationwide interest due to his combination of progressive politics with Christian messaging. His eventual Republican opponent will be determined by a May 26 primary runoff between current Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and sitting Senator John Cornyn.
WASHINGTON — Following a closed-door meeting with Secret Service Director Sean Callan on Tuesday, Republican senators expressed concerns about a billion-dollar White House security funding proposal, demanding more specific information about how the money would be allocated.
The comprehensive security plan includes $220 million dedicated to fortifying President Donald Trump’s newly constructed East Wing ballroom. According to documents reviewed by The Associated Press, this portion would fund bulletproof glass installation, drone detection systems, chemical threat filtration and detection equipment, along with various other national security measures.
The security funding request follows charges filed against an individual who allegedly attempted to assassinate Trump during last month’s White House Correspondents Association dinner. Additional funding allocations include $180 million for constructing a new visitor screening facility and $175 million designated for modernizing Secret Service agent training programs to address contemporary security threats.
Multiple Republican senators who attended the lunch meeting criticized the proposal’s lack of specificity. They emphasized wanting comprehensive details about expenditure plans and questioned the timing of the request. While Trump has consistently stated that private donations totaling $400 million would cover ballroom construction costs, the administration had not previously disclosed associated security expenses.
“I want more information,” stated Florida Sen. Rick Scott, who maintains close ties with the president. “I ran companies, okay? If somebody came to me and said they were going to spend a billion dollars on something, I’d get more detail.”
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins of Maine questioned why these security enhancements weren’t included in Trump’s earlier budget submission this year. She indicated requesting “a lot more data” during the meeting.
Indiana Sen. Todd Young expressed willingness to support the initiative while noting, “they need to go back and get us more detail about how exactly they arrived at the figures.”
Republican leadership has incorporated the security funding into a partisan spending measure aimed at restoring immigration enforcement agency budgets. Internal party skepticism regarding the White House funding could potentially threaten the legislation, which GOP leaders hope to advance without Democratic support.
Additional Secret Service requests include $175 million for “enhancements for protectee security,” $150 million addressing “evolving threats and technology” such as drone countermeasures and airspace protection, and $100 million for securing high-profile “events of national significance.”
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer announced plans to challenge the security funding through the Senate parliamentarian and propose amendments forcing Republican votes on the proposal if it remains in the legislation.
“How many Americans want to see a billion dollars for a ballroom and not for the cost of child care and groceries?” Schumer questioned Tuesday.
Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana also participated in the Senate Republican lunch, with some House Republican members similarly expressing reservations about the billion-dollar proposal.
Facing pushback from Democrats and some Republicans, South Dakota Republican Sen. Mike Rounds suggested potentially reducing the security plan’s scope, deferring portions to future annual spending legislation.
However, Rounds indicated Republicans might ultimately approve the complete request after receiving additional details.
“I think as more of the information begins to come out, I think people are going to feel a lot more comfortable with what they are requesting,” Rounds explained.
WASHINGTON, May 12 – Officials at the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are developing plans to bring employees back to their workplace following more than a year since the Trump administration closed the agency’s Washington headquarters and attempted to dismantle its staff, according to three sources familiar with the situation.
The workplace return strategy for the consumer protection agency has not been shared with employees yet, and the timeline for implementation remains undetermined, sources indicated.
Currently, the downtown headquarters building is partially being used by the Office of Management and Budget, led by Director Russell Vought who also oversees the CFPB, according to five sources knowledgeable about the building’s occupancy.
Sources were unable to confirm whether employees would return to the original CFPB headquarters location or if the directive would apply to agency personnel stationed in other locations beyond Washington.
Agency representatives did not provide immediate responses to requests for comment on Tuesday. In February, the Trump administration terminated the headquarters lease and transferred the building to the General Services Administration, as previously documented by Reuters.
Following initial calls for completely shutting down the CFPB last year, senior administration leaders now indicate they have reduced their plans to dramatically cut the agency’s staff. A judge’s temporary restraining order preventing this action continues to stand after a lower court determined the administration intended to destroy the CFPB before courts could rule on the legality of such actions.
Due to severely limited agency operations and an uncertain future, numerous CFPB workers have departed the organization, which was established after the 2008 financial crisis to safeguard Americans from exploitative consumer lending practices. Staff numbers have decreased by approximately 30% since the Trump administration began, based on legal documents.
Senior administration leaders, including President Donald Trump, have characterized the CFPB as a politically motivated obstacle to business freedom, while Democratic lawmakers and agency supporters have called elimination efforts a corporate favor that harms consumers.
Major corporations are beginning to see the first payments in what could become a massive $166 billion refund program following a Supreme Court decision that invalidated Trump-era import tariffs.
On Tuesday, heavy truck manufacturer Oshkosh Corp and toy company Basic Fun both announced they had received initial portions of the tariff refunds they requested after the nation’s highest court struck down the trade taxes earlier this year.
The payments represent a significant development in an ongoing legal and financial dispute. Following the Supreme Court’s ruling that deemed the tariffs illegal, the federal government faces the task of returning up to $166 billion to businesses that paid the import taxes.
Jay Foreman, who leads Basic Fun – the company behind popular brands like Tonka trucks, Care Bears and K’Nex building sets – described the situation in practical terms. “The issue is will the funds flow like a river or fire hose or like a stream or garden hose,” Foreman wrote in an email message. “So far, the funds are trickling out but they have started.”
Foreman’s company received $400,000 as part of their total $7.4 million claim. While Oshkosh confirmed receiving partial payments, the Wisconsin-based company has not revealed the total amount they are seeking in refunds.
According to a Tuesday court document filed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency expects to distribute refunds totaling $35.46 billion covering 8.3 million individual shipments that were processed by 7 a.m. Eastern time on May 11.
However, this represents only a fraction of the total money scheduled to be returned to businesses nationwide.
CBP data from early April shows that importers had completed required paperwork for refunds worth $127 billion – representing more than three-quarters of all eligible refund money. The agency processed tariff payments from over 330,000 importing companies across 53 million separate shipments.
The refund process is creating a secondary wave of financial negotiations, as customers who absorbed higher prices due to the tariffs are now requesting their own refunds from the importing companies.
Jim Estill, who runs appliance importing business Danby, has not yet received government refunds but has already heard from two customers seeking their share of any future payments.
“When we get a refund, we’ll look at giving a refund to some of those customers,” Estill explained. “But we haven’t committed to anything because we haven’t received any refund yet.”
Estill pointed out that his company absorbed some of the original tariff costs rather than passing all expenses to customers, and that pursuing refunds involved additional expenses.
“We used a consultant to help us file this and they get a percentage of the refund,” he noted.
The world’s top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler will begin defending his PGA Championship crown Thursday afternoon at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, paired with English players Justin Rose and Matt Fitzpatrick.
The defending champion, ranked first globally, will tee off at 2:05 p.m. ET alongside fourth-ranked Fitzpatrick and seventh-ranked Rose in one of the day’s final groupings from the opening par-four hole.
Scheffler, who claimed last year’s British Open title and dominated the PGA Championship by five strokes at Quail Hollow, enters the tournament after three consecutive second-place finishes on tour. His recent near-misses include the Masters, where the American nearly completed a historic rally from 12 shots behind after two rounds.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, ranked second worldwide and fresh off his successful Masters title defense at Augusta National where he edged Scheffler by one stroke, will begin play much earlier at 8:40 a.m. from the par-four 10th tee. McIlroy’s group includes American Jordan Spieth and Spain’s Jon Rahm, who represents one of 11 LIV Golf competitors in this year’s second major championship.
Teeing off one group before McIlroy will be a star-studded trio featuring 2024 PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele, five-time major champion Brooks Koepka, and LIV Golf’s Tyrrell Hatton from England. This tournament marks Koepka’s second major appearance since departing LIV in December, following his tie for 12th place at the Masters.
Current U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun will start his round at 12:59 p.m. from the first tee, joined by American Max Homa, who earned his spot in the 156-player field after six-time major winner Phil Mickelson withdrew, and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama.
Cameron Young, competing in his fifth PGA Championship while enjoying his strongest PGA Tour campaign with two victories already this season, will play in an American trio with former U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley and two-time champion Justin Thomas, starting one group before Scheffler.
Tournament play will officially commence at 6:45 a.m. when Philadelphia native Braden Shattuck hits the opening shot, playing alongside England’s Alex Fitzpatrick and American Ben Griffin.
WASHINGTON, May 12 – Federal legislation designed to force social media platforms to better protect children from online dangers moved closer to reality Tuesday after a powerful Republican senator announced his backing for the measure.
Senator Ted Cruz declared his support for the Kids Online Safety Act during a Washington event, marking a crucial step forward for the proposed law. The legislation would mandate that social media companies “exercise reasonable care” when creating features that could harm young users, targeting issues such as eating disorders, depression, and the sexual harassment of minors.
Cruz’s endorsement carries significant weight since he leads the Senate Commerce Committee, which typically reviews and approves such legislation before it reaches a full Senate vote. While the senator has previously supported similar measures, he had not yet scheduled a formal committee vote on this particular bill during the current congressional session.
Speaking at a gathering outside the U.S. Capitol alongside parents who lost children to online-related harms, Cruz made a firm commitment about the bill’s future. “We are going to pass it out of the Commerce Committee, we’re going to pass it in the Senate,” he stated.
Representatives from Cruz’s office did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment on the announcement.
DOVER — Delaware Governor Matt Meyer revealed two significant legislative proposals Monday aimed at reducing healthcare expenses and bolstering patient safeguards throughout the state, marking a key component of his administration’s comprehensive strategy to create a more affordable, transparent, and responsible healthcare framework.
Speaking alongside legislative leadership and state officials in Dover, Governor Meyer detailed his administration’s blueprint for transforming Delaware’s healthcare landscape to better serve residents facing rising medical costs.
The legislative package represents a cornerstone initiative in the governor’s broader mission to address healthcare affordability challenges that have impacted families and individuals across Delaware.
Agricultural producers in Virginia have an extended opportunity to earn money while implementing environmentally beneficial practices on their land. The Virginia Farm Bureau is urging farmers to submit applications for the Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture initiative before the June 15 deadline.
The statewide initiative provides monetary rewards and expert guidance to agricultural operators who implement conservation methods that enhance soil quality, boost pasture output, and promote long-term farming sustainability. Eligible participants can earn $100 per acre when they adopt approved practices including nutrient management plans, improved grazing systems, or establishing new pasture and hay crops. Those seeking more comprehensive improvements may qualify for enhanced compensation through specialized pasture restoration projects.
The initiative extends beyond simple financial compensation by linking farmers with technical guidance from regional conservation specialists and agricultural professionals. This assistance ensures proper practice implementation and may create pathways to new market opportunities that generate supplementary income.
Virginia agricultural producers who satisfy program criteria can enroll as many as 120 acres in the initiative, which aims to compensate conservation efforts that enhance farm productivity while creating resilience against evolving environmental challenges.
Program participation is limited, prompting organizers to urge swift action from interested farmers. The opportunity allows agricultural operators to enhance their operations, upgrade their property, and participate in a progressive initiative that balances farm economics with environmental responsibility.
Producers are strongly advised to submit applications before the June 15 cutoff to maximize their land’s potential earnings.
A Delaware State University educator has earned recognition on the national stage, receiving a pair of distinguished awards for excellence in education.
Dr. Pietro Sasso, a faculty member at the Dover-based institution, was presented with two national education honors, marking a significant achievement for both the professor and the university.
The dual recognition underscores the quality of educational leadership present at Delaware State University and highlights the institution’s commitment to academic excellence.
Details about the specific nature of the awards and Dr. Sasso’s contributions to education that earned him this national recognition were not immediately available.
The Southern Poverty Law Center confronts a major challenge from federal authorities, arriving during a period when both former and current employees describe the civil rights organization as especially vulnerable to outside pressure.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, speaking alongside FBI Director Kash Patel during a recent press conference, revealed charges against the Montgomery-based organization. Federal prosecutors claim the group illegally transferred more than $3 million to white supremacist and extremist organizations.
The timing of these federal charges creates additional strain for an organization that has historically weathered violent attacks and intimidation campaigns. The SPLC, known for tracking hate groups and pursuing civil rights litigation, now finds itself defending against serious allegations from the Justice Department.
Internal sources suggest the organization faces institutional challenges that may complicate its ability to respond effectively to the current federal investigation. The charges represent a dramatic shift in the relationship between the civil rights group and federal law enforcement agencies.
CANNES, France — Tuesday marked the beginning of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, launching nearly two weeks of continuous movie premieres that will conclude May 23 when the coveted Palme d’Or is awarded.
The prestigious French Riviera event opened with an homage to Peter Jackson, presenting the “Lord of the Rings” director with an honorary Palme d’Or. Elijah Wood, who portrayed Frodo Baggins in Jackson’s trilogy, made the introduction.
“I’ve never figured out why I’m getting a Palme d’Or. I’m not a Palme d’Or sorta guy,” the disheveled New Zealand director remarked.
Jackson received a musical tribute featuring the Beatles’ “Get Back,” referencing his acclaimed 2021 documentary. The filmmaker was spotted lip-syncing from his seat on stage.
The honor of officially launching the festival went to 88-year-old Jane Fonda and Chinese-Singaporean performer Gong Li.
“Cinema has always been an act of resistance,” Fonda declared.
During the presentation of the jury responsible for selecting the Palme d’Or winner, panel members delivered frank commentary about conducting a film festival amid global political turmoil.
Scottish screenwriter Paul Laverty, recognized for his collaborations with director Ken Loach, referenced this year’s festival poster featuring “Thelma and Louise” while addressing attendance at Cannes during what he termed “genocide in Gaza.”
Drawing from “King Lear,” Laverty stated: “Madmen lead the blind.”
“Cannes has a wonderful poster,” Laverty continued. “Isn’t it fascinating to see some of them like Susan Sarandon, Javier Bardem and Mark Ruffalo blacklisted because of their views in opposing the murder of women and children in Gaza? Shame on Hollywood people who do that.”
South Korean director Park Chan-wook, known for “Oldboy” and “No Other Choice,” leads the nine-person jury. He emphasized the connection between politics and filmmaking.
“Art and politics are not concepts that are in conflict with each other,” Park explained. “One cannot disqualify a film on the pretext that it has a political message. Just as one cannot reject a film because it would not be political enough.”
Additional jury members include Chloé Zhao, Stellan Skarsgård, Ruth Negga and Demi Moore, who gained Cannes recognition two years prior for her return performance in “The Substance.”
The festival has occasionally welcomed figures who receive cooler receptions in Hollywood. Three years prior, Cannes notably opened with Johnny Depp’s “Jeanne du Barry.”
James Franco made a surprise appearance at Tuesday’s opening ceremony. The 48-year-old actor previously attended Cannes in 2024.
In 2021, Franco and fellow defendants paid $2.2 million to resolve litigation claiming he coerced acting school students he taught into inappropriate and exploitative sexual scenarios.
Two decades after Guillermo del Toro debuted his celebrated fairy tale “Pan’s Labyrinth,” the filmmaker returned to Cannes Tuesday for a 4K restoration screening. Del Toro noted the film’s continued relevance, which follows a young girl and fascist officer in 1940s Spain.
“We are, unfortunately, in times that make this movie more pertinent than ever because they tell us everything is useless to resist, that art can be done with a —-ing app,” del Toro commented.
TEL AVIV, Israel — A comprehensive investigation has concluded that sexual violence served as a calculated and pervasive component of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 assault and its consequences, according to findings released by an Israeli research organization.
The Civil Commission, an independent entity focused on documenting gender-based violence following Hamas’ 2023 assault on Israel that triggered the Gaza conflict, published their findings Tuesday in a document called “Silenced No More.”
Researchers conducted a two-year examination that incorporated over 400 witness accounts and nearly 2,000 hours of video evidence, identifying 13 distinct patterns of abuse including gang rape, sexual torture and forced nudity.
“Our findings demonstrate that it was a deliberate tactic within the broader architecture of the terror inflicted on victims and hostages,” stated Cochav Elkayam-Levy, who founded and chairs the commission while serving as the report’s primary author.
Since the Gaza war commenced, sexual violence allegations have become highly politicized, with both sides attempting to undermine each other’s claims.
Israeli officials have referenced incidents from the October 7 assault and hostage treatment to underscore what they characterize as Hamas brutality and support their military objective of eliminating future Gaza-based threats. Israel’s government has criticized the global community for allegedly dismissing or minimizing sexual violence evidence, claiming anti-Israel prejudice.
The Associated Press could not independently confirm the report’s conclusions, and some observers have questioned Elkayam-Levy’s earlier research. However, notable figures including Hillary Rodham Clinton, Rahm Emanuel and Facebook pioneer Sheryl Sandberg have supported her efforts.
United Nations officials state they have discovered “reasonable grounds” to believe Hamas fighters perpetrated rape and additional sexual violence during their offensive. International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan has indicated he believes three senior Hamas officials bear responsibility for “rape and other acts of sexual violence as crimes against humanity.”
Human rights organizations and Palestinians detained by Israel following the attacks have also provided extensive accounts of sexual violence and torture within Israeli detention facilities.
In March, Israel dismissed charges against five soldiers previously accused of beating and sodomizing a Palestinian prisoner in an incident allegedly partially recorded on video. Hard-line political figures, who had vigorously opposed the charges, celebrated the decision to drop them, while human rights advocates said it demonstrated Israel’s reluctance to probe misconduct.
Neither Israel’s government nor Hamas immediately responded to AP requests for comment.
The commission — consisting of researchers, legal experts and trauma specialists — gathered digital evidence, conducted interviews and recorded testimonies. Officials said they also verified information using independent data sources.
According to the report, Hamas and its allies primarily focused on women and hostages, though children also experienced violence and abuse.
One instance described two young hostages who returned being compelled to perform “sexual acts on one another,” including removing clothing while captors touched their private areas.
The document stated sexual torture aimed to intensify pain and suffering, with survivors experiencing burning, mutilation and forced object insertion. Some victims were discovered handcuffed or restrained. Armed groups also filmed acts of abuse and killings, distributing footage via social media, the report indicated.
The investigation recorded attacks at various locations, including the Nova Music festival, where hundreds died and others were kidnapped. The AP previously discovered evidence that sexual assault occurred during Hamas’ October 7 rampage, including testimony from a festival attendee who said he heard a woman screaming for help and shouting, “They’re raping me, they’re raping me!”
Hostages also faced sexual harassment and assault, some lasting months, the report stated.
Several freed hostages have publicly discussed sexual assault during captivity. In Israeli media interviews, Romi Gonen described repeated sexual assault and harassment by three men.
Another former hostage, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, told the New York Times he experienced sexual abuse from a captor and received death threats for speaking about it.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva unveiled a massive public security initiative on Tuesday, allocating 11 billion reais ($2 billion) to combat organized crime in what political observers view as an effort to strengthen his law enforcement reputation before October’s electoral contest.
The comprehensive program targets areas where Lula has faced persistent criticism from political opponents regarding his approach to public safety matters.
Key components of the initiative include intensifying efforts to stop illegal weapons trafficking, disrupting criminal organizations’ financial networks, improving murder case investigations, and upgrading the nation’s correctional facilities. Brazilian officials announced that approximately 1 billion reais ($190 million) will be allocated through December.
The funding will enable authorities to acquire sophisticated equipment including unmanned aircraft, body scanning technology, metal detection devices, cellular signal jamming equipment, X-ray systems, surveillance technology, radar systems, genetic identification tools, and transportation vehicles. The program specifically targets two major criminal enterprises: the First Command of the Capital (PCC) and the Red Command (CV).
Speaking at the presidential palace in Brasilia during the program’s announcement, Lula, who is seeking his fourth presidential term, revealed he had discussed security matters with U.S. President Donald Trump during his recent Washington visit.
“I told him we had proposals on financial asphyxiation (of crime gangs), fighting money laundering. Some of the weapons (used in Brazil) come from the United States,” Lula stated. “I told him that, if he wants to be a part of this, there’s space. But he will have to work in agreement with what are decisions of Brazil’s government and Brazil’s police.”
Congressional supporters of the president indicated that opposition state governors, who oversee regional law enforcement agencies, are hesitant to utilize resources from Tuesday’s announced program.
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro and former Goias state Governor Ronaldo Caiado have consistently promoted hardline crime policies while criticizing Lula’s Workers’ Party for what they characterize as insufficient attention to public safety.
While Lula avoided responding to such criticism during the program launch, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin criticized former President Jair Bolsonaro, who has nominated his son as a presidential candidate.
“The only security policy in the previous presidency was to distribute weapons, allow weapons,” Alckmin stated. “And those end up with criminals, with organized crime. It is police who should be able to bear arms.”
Salisbury, MD – Music fans can enjoy an evening of complimentary entertainment as Salisbury presents a live concert at the Pohanka Riverwalk Amphitheatre on May 22, running from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
The featured performers will be Great Train Robbery, a veteran musical group boasting nearly five decades of live entertainment experience. Known for their classic Southern rock style, the band delivers high-energy performances that blend traditional influences with their distinctive musical approach.
The concert carries no admission charge and welcomes community members of every age, creating an ideal setting for families and music enthusiasts to experience downtown Salisbury’s entertainment scene.
Organizers suggest bringing portable seating and taking advantage of local dining and shopping establishments before or following the performance to help boost the downtown business district.
“I am very excited to announce a great partnership event between Savour Restaurant, located in the Hilton’s DoubleTree, and the City of Salisbury as they bring Great Train Robbery to the Riverwalk Amphitheater. Great Train Robbery is a phenomenal band spanning over four decades, performing all over the Mid-Atlantic, as well as being an institution in Ocean City, MD. They have shared the stage with The Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker Band, and Blue Öyster Cult. Come out and enjoy this tremendous event while enjoying food and drinks!” stated Mayor Randy Taylor.
Those seeking current information and event specifics can check Downtown Salisbury’s social media platforms or browse their event schedule at https://www.downtownsby.com/events/event-calendar
NEW YORK — A federal appeals court has granted President Donald Trump temporary relief from paying an $83 million defamation judgment to columnist E. Jean Carroll, according to Tuesday’s court filing.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals approved a request from Trump’s legal team to postpone the payment to Carroll until the Supreme Court can either review the case or decline to hear an appeal. However, the court mandated that Trump secure a $7.4 million bond to account for potential additional interest charges, as Carroll’s legal team had requested.
Last month, the appeals court denied Trump’s petition for the full 2nd Circuit to conduct a rare en banc hearing regarding an appeal of a three-judge panel’s confirmation of the January 2024 jury verdict.
Following that denial, Trump’s attorney Justin D. Smith petitioned the 2nd Circuit to halt enforcement of its ruling that upheld the monetary award, preventing Trump from being compelled to pay before the Supreme Court could weigh in on a potential appeal.
Smith argued last week that there exists a “fair prospect” the Supreme Court would rule favorably for Trump, who has characterized Carroll’s allegations—first revealed publicly in 2019 regarding a claimed sexual assault in a Manhattan department store dressing room during spring 1996—as a “made up scam.”
The $83 million judgment awarded to the 82-year-old Carroll resulted from a jury trial where Trump provided brief testimony and displayed notable courtroom conduct over multiple days.
When affirming the verdict, a 2nd Circuit panel noted in September that Trump persisted in his public statements against Carroll for no less than five years, with attacks becoming “more extreme and frequent as the trial approached.”
“He also continued these same attacks during the trial itself,” the appeals court stated. “In one such statement, issued two days into the trial, Trump proclaimed that he would continue to defame Carroll ‘a thousand times.’”
The jury had been directed to accept the conclusions of a previous jury that awarded Carroll $5 million in May 2023, after determining Trump sexually abused her at the department store and subsequently defamed her following her account’s publication in a 2019 book.
Trump contests the $83 million judgment on multiple legal grounds, claiming “absolute immunity” for statements made during his presidency when he denied knowing Carroll and questioned her motives, suggesting they were politically motivated or intended to publicize her memoir.
Workers at Meta’s United States facilities circulated protest materials on Tuesday opposing the company’s decision to install computer mouse monitoring software, according to photographs obtained by Reuters.
The distributed materials urged employees to join an online petition opposing the surveillance technology. The flyers stated that “workers are legally protected when they choose to organize for the improvement of working conditions.”
The workplace demonstration occurred across several Meta office locations as staff members voiced concerns about the newly implemented tracking technology on their work computers.
