Trump confirmed the high-level talks the day after The Associated Press and other news outlets reported that U.S. and Iranian negotiators had come to terms on a tentative agreement. The deal would extend the fragile ceasefire by 60 days as new talks are held on Iran’s disputed nuclear program.

Trump wrote on social media that “Iran must agree that they will never have a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb.” He said the strait must be reopened for international navigation and all sea mines destroyed.

Iran’s main negotiator said Friday that it has “no trust in guarantees or words,” only actions, underscoring lingering distrust after the U.S. and Israel have twice attacked Iran over the past year while it was engaged in nuclear negotiations.

“No step will be taken before the other side acts,” Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf wrote on X. “We do not gain concessions through talks, but through missiles."

Nuclear issues remain unresolved

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei later told a state broadcaster that the agreement “has not been finalized yet.”

On Thursday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance suggested negotiators were trying to strike general terms on Iran’s nuclear program, with the specifics to be hammered out in the ensuing talks.

Trump and his team said from the start of the conflict that a prime objective was to ensure that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, but Vance framed the war’s accomplishments more modestly.

“We’re in a position where we could substantially set back their nuclear program, not just during the term of this president but over the long term,” Vance said, adding that it would be “very, very good” for Americans.

Baghaei, however, said Friday that Iranian officials were "focused on the end of war and are not discussing the details of the nuclear plan at this point.”

Iran also wants any deal to include a truce between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, where fighting has intensified despite a nominal ceasefire.

The Islamic Republic has 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium that is enriched up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iran has long maintained its nuclear program is peaceful and has not publicly committed to giving up the stockpile. It's believed to be buried under three nuclear sites that were badly damaged by U.S. strikes last year.

Trump returned Friday to his on-and-off demand for the removal of the cache as part of a deal. The material would be unearthed by the U.S., in coordination with Iran and the IAEA, “and DESTROYED,” he posted.

Deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz

The proposed memorandum makes clear that Iran would not be able to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz and that it would have to remove all mines from the vital waterway within 30 days, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The U.S. would gradually lift its blockade on Iranian ports and would also agree to relax sanctions, allowing Iran to sell more of its oil.

Baghaei said Iran and Oman, which lie on opposite sides of the strait, would manage it and “adopt mechanisms” for transit through it, "based on their own national interests and the interests of the international community.”

The two nations' foreign ministers discussed the issue by phone earlier Friday, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who wrote on X that he had expressed solidarity “in the face of any threat.”

On Wednesday, Trump had warned Oman — a U.S. ally — not to enter into any agreement with Iran to share control of the strait or the U.S. will “have to blow them up.”

Iran has effectively closed the strait since the U.S. and Israel launched a surprise attack on Feb. 28 that killed Iran's supreme leader and other top officials. Before then, the waterway was open to international traffic, and around a fifth of the world's oil and gas passed through it.

The closure of the strait has caused the price of fuel and other goods to soar, with the effects felt far beyond the Middle East.

Iran has said it lets some commercial vessels pass — about two dozen daily in recent days, compared with more than 100 a day before the war. But the Islamic Republic also has charged tolls for at least some ships and established a formal gatekeeper agency earlier this month, spurring a new round of U.S. sanctions this week.

Since the ceasefire began about seven weeks ago, the U.S. and Iran have traded strikes and accusations of ceasefire violations. But they have not returned to full-scale hostilities and have kept negotiating.

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Associated Press writers Jennifer Peltz and Farnoush Amiri in New York, and Matthew Lee in Washington, contributed.

The drone was tracked overnight by radar in Romanian airspace, crashed onto the roof of the building in the Danube port city of Galati and sparked a fire, the Defense Ministry said in a statement. The two injuries were minor and several people were evacuated.

It was the latest in a series of drones — from both Russia and Ukraine — to hit a NATO member since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The incidents have left the 32-member military alliance on edge. Friday's incursion drew strong condemnation across Europe, with leaders calling Russia's actions reckless and irresponsible.

Romania scrambled two F-16 fighter jets and a helicopter, and alerted residents of the affected areas, but the aircraft didn’t engage the drone in the city, which is located near the borders of Ukraine and Moldova.

Romania asked NATO to speed up the transfer of anti-drone capabilities to its military, the Foreign Ministry said, calling the incursion a serious violation of international law.

Asked about the drone during a state visit to Astana, Kazakhstan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said its origin is yet to be determined, telling reporters that “no one can say what origin a particular aircraft has until it has been examined.” He urged Romania to turn the drone over to Russia for it to conduct “an objective investigation.”

But Romanian President Nicusor Dan identified the drone as Russian.

“We had a Russian drone, Geran-2, leaving Russia. We know the trajectory, we know where it went through Ukraine, we know where it entered Romania, part of a swarm of 43 Russian drones, of which only one reached Romanian territory,” a statement from Dan said.

He said later that investigators determined it was probably carrying at least 30 kilograms (66 pounds) of explosives.

Gen. Gheorghe Maxim, interim commander of the Romanian armed forces' joint staff, told a news conference that the drone in Galati wasn't “an attack from Russia against Romania,” but he added that “Romanians should understand that Russia is a threat to the security of the countries in the area.”

In Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had spoken to Dan, praising the country's “principled, prompt, and strong” response. In a social media post, he said the countries’ militaries were in contact and that "we will remain in constant communication with Romania and continue working together to protect lives from all potential Russian threats.”

Earlier drones in Romania

Romania has confirmed drone fragments landed on its territory on multiple occasions since the war began, including in Galati last month, but no one was hurt in any of those incidents, with debris falling in remote areas.

Dan convened Romania’s top defense body Friday to discuss what he called “the worst incident to hit the national territory” since the war began.

After the Supreme Council of National Defense met in Bucharest, Dan said the Russian consul in the Black Sea port of Constanta has been declared persona non grata and that the consulate will be closed. Foreign Minister Oana Toiu summoned Russian Ambassador Vladimir Lipaev and told him the consul had 72 hours to leave Romania.

Territorial violations have become so common in Romania in recent years that lawmakers adopted legislation last year allowing the army to shoot down drones entering its airspace as a last resort. But the country has remained cautious in downing errant drones, which can pose risks to populated areas.

Russia has been using long-range missiles and drones to damage Ukraine’s power grid and hammer cities, and Ukraine has braced for further heavy bombardments. Kyiv also has sent long-range drones deep into Russia to attack oil refineries, military bases and and other infrastructure.

Friday's incident adds to recent drone-related incursions in Europe. Ukrainian drones have hit the chimney of a power plant in Estonia and empty fuel tanks in Latvia, and also were shot down by Romanian fighter jets stationed in Lithuania. Ukrainian officials apologized and said the drones were aimed at military targets in Russia, but veered off course by Russian electronic interference.

Poland, Croatia, Romania and non-NATO member Moldova all have reported airspace violations and found drone fragments on their territory since the war began. The airspace violations have raised questions about the state of air defenses on NATO’s eastern flank.

A senior U.S. military official recently told reporters the number of “hybrid activities” — drone incursions, hacking attacks and other acts short of military force in Europe that can be attributed to Russia — have increased in recent years and are part of a campaign to achieve strategic objectives without actually going to war.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to talk candidly about the ongoing situation, said it is believed that there's an opportunity for the U.S. and other NATO countries to be more aggressive in countering these actions, particularly since there is a belief that Russia won't see the responses as escalatory.

Allies' condemnation

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said he had spoken to Dan and expressed “absolute solidarity” with its ally.

"NATO stands ready to defend every inch of Allied territory. We will continue to enhance our readiness to deter and defend against any threat, including from drones,” he said in a post on X.

NATO allies spoke informally about the incursion, but no official meeting was scheduled Friday. Romania can request formal NATO consultations if it believes its territory or security is under threat.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Russia "has crossed yet another line,” while the European Union will keep strengthening security on its eastern frontier and will draft a 21st set of sanctions against Moscow.

Putin also was asked in Kazakhstan about comments from Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, who said NATO is capable of destroying Russian military assets in Moscow's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad. He responded that Russia “has every means to raze to the ground anyone who tries to do so.”

He said nations posing a direct military threat to Russia “are legitimate targets,” responding to an earlier claim by Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service that Ukraine sent troops to Latvia to launch drones at Russia. Officials in Latvia and other Baltic nations rejected Moscow’s claims.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the risk of such “serious incidents” was raised by “ Putin’s increasing nervousness, driven by military setbacks.”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot complained to the Russian ambassador about what he called “this latest irresponsible act,” saying they are "both reckless and pointless, as they will in no way deter us from our support for the Ukrainian resistance.”

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Putin’s National Security Council, told European leaders to “just shut up” about the drone.

Medvedev, known for his provocative and inflammatory statements, said in an expletive-filed post on his messaging channel MAX that the leaders were “scoundrels” and “imbeciles” and that their countries were part of the “warring nations” in the conflict.

“European drones, their spare parts, and other weapons, not to mention intelligence data, are used daily in attacks on our country,” he wrote. “Their operations result in damage to residential buildings, killing civilians.”

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This story was corrected to delete Galati being east of the borders of Ukraine and Moldova. The city is west of them.

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McGrath reported from Leamington Spa, England. Konstantin Toropin in Washington contributed.

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Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

The crash happened at about 2:35 a.m. on southbound I-95 in Stafford County. All five of the people who died were in vehicles hit by the bus, and three of the injured are in critical condition, police said.

“The preliminary investigation indicates that traffic was slowing southbound for an upcoming work zone,” state police said in a news release. “A bus failed to slow for traffic and struck six vehicles."

It was not immediately known what the bus was being used for or how many people were aboard.

“We’ve got patients in multiple hospitals. We’ve got the driver at a hospital here,” said Peyton Vogel, a Federal Transit Administration spokesperson who was on the scene. “I’ve got to say, this is one of the most tragic things I’ve ever seen. Absolutely tragic.”

Mary Washington Healthcare said it received 19 patients from the crash. It posted online that seven of the patients were taken to its trauma center in Fredericksburg, where four were being discharged and three remained in treatment — one in serious condition and two in critical condition. Twelve were taken to its hospital in Stafford, where they were later discharged in good condition.

The crash is under investigation and charges are pending, police said.

The National Transportation Safety Board posted online Friday that it was sending a “go-team” to conduct a safety investigation into the crash and that it would have a spokesperson at the scene.

The southbound lanes had reopened by noon Friday, but traffic was still backed up for a couple of miles, according to a state transportation advisory.

While it is too soon to say what caused Friday's crash, federal authorities have been grappling with interstate passenger bus safety issues for decades.

Following a series of passenger bus crashes in 2008 that killed 41 people, the U.S. Department of Transportation published a Motorcoach Safety Action Plan.

The NTSB investigated 16 fatal motorcoach crashes between June 1998 and January 2008, finding that driver-related problems such as fatigue, medical condition, and inattention accounted for 56 percent of the accidents. The agency said driver-related problems were responsible for 60 percent of the fatalities in those crashes.

Among the actions recommended were creation of a pre-employment driver history screening program, and a national drug- and alcohol-testing database “to enable motorcoach operators to determine if drivers have a history of violating DOT alcohol or drug rules.”

The company fueled the hulking New Glenn rocket Thursday night, hoping to briefly ignite the engines ahead of a satellite launch next week. But the 321-foot (98-meter), rocket blew up, taking part of the pad with it.

Aerial views on Friday revealed heaps of crumpled structures on the ground, with just one tower and the water tank still standing. Emergency officials warned the public to avoid any wreckage that might wash ashore and to instead call 911. There were no reported deaths or injuries.

It’s a major setback for Blue Origin, coming just one month after the entire New Glenn fleet was grounded because of an upper-stage engine issue that dumped a satellite in the wrong orbit.

Named after John Glenn, the first American in orbit, New Glenn is the rocket that Blue Origin plans to use to launch landers to the moon under NASA's Artemis program that aims to build a sprawling base near the moon's south pole. The goal is to land the first Artemis moonwalkers as early as 2028. Earlier this week, the space agency awarded a new contract to Blue Origin worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

One of the biggest rockets to reach orbit, New Glenn has seven first-stage engines fueled by liquid oxygen and liquefied natural gas, which is essentially methane. It has flown three times.

None of the assigned 48 Amazon Leo satellites were on board the newest rocket when the blast occurred. Another batch of Amazon Leo satellites — competing with SpaceX's Starlinks to provide internet service to remote locales — awaited liftoff several miles away at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, courtesy of United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket.

Within 12 hours of the explosion, SpaceX launched more Starlinks to orbit Friday morning. CEO Elon Musk has two Florida pads in action, one on the Space Force side where the latest Falcon 9 lifted off and the other at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

Blue Origin has just one Florida pad: Launch Complex 36 dating back to the early 1960s. NASA's Mariner and Pioneer interplanetary probes rocketed away from there, as well as the moon-bound Rangers and Surveyors. The Washington state-based Blue Origin spent more than $1 billion rebuilding the launch complex — taking it from double pads to a single — after leasing it from the Air Force in 2015.

The company's smaller New Shepard rockets soar from Texas, skimming space for a few minutes with tourists and science experiments. Those suborbital hops were paused in January so the company could focus on New Glenn and upcoming moonshots. All that is now on hold, pending the investigation into the explosion.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said late Thursday that the space agency will evaluate near-term impacts to the Artemis program, which saw four astronauts fly around the moon in April. That Artemis II mission was hoisted by NASA's Space Launch System rocket.

Before the explosion, Blue Origin was on track to launch a prototype lunar lander to the moon on a New Glenn this fall, with another lander due to rocket into orbit around Earth in 2027 for docking practice by the soon-to-be-announced Artemis III crew.

A touchdown by two astronauts on Artemis IV — using a Blue Moon lander or SpaceX's Starship, whichever is ready first — was targeted as early as 2028.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

PREVIOUS REPORT: Harris County judge delays capital murder trial of Lee Gilley amid extradition limbo following recapture in Italy

Judge Angela Lancelin said she plans to hear testimony June 18 on whether it is in the children’s best interest to remain in South Carolina with Bauer’s parents. Their attorney argued the children are now established out of state. The judge also said she will allow attorneys for Gilley’s brother to argue in mid-June that he and his wife should continue to have visitation with the children.

Lancelin reiterated that she never ordered — or otherwise approved — the children leaving Texas in the first place.

The family court dispute unfolds as the criminal case against Gilley remains in limbo internationally.

Gilley, 39, is accused in the October 2024 strangulation death of his pregnant wife, Bauer, and was out on bond when authorities say he removed his ankle monitor and fled to Italy.

A Harris County judge recently delayed his capital murder trial because prosecutors are still working with the U.S. Department of Justice on a formal extradition request to Italy, and no new trial date has been set.

Approval of the new House map came a month after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the state’s current map as an illegal racial gerrymander, weakening the landmark 1965 federal Voting Rights Act. That decision intensified a national redistricting battle fueled by President Donald Trump’s efforts to protect the Republicans’ slim House majority in the midterm elections. Louisiana is one of several Southern states now redrawing their maps to help Republicans.

Louisiana Republicans had considered drawing a map giving the party a shot at winning all six of the state’s U.S. House seats. But that would have required adding more Black voters to Republican-held districts, potentially backfiring with GOP losses.

The map approved Friday in a 28-10 state Senate vote reflected Republican arguments that a 5-1 map is safer for the GOP and better protects U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson from facing a difficult reelection. Republicans currently hold four of Louisiana's six congressional seats.

A half-hour Senate debate revolved around Democrats contending that the proposed map is racially gerrymandered to squeeze more Black voters — who tend to be registered Democrats — into a single district.

The bill's sponsor, Republican state Sen. Jay Morris, repeatedly insisted that party affiliation, not race, drove district boundaries.

“I purposely put more Democrats into District 2 to make the remaining districts better performing for Republicans,” Morris said at one point.

Morris said he told the map demographers to avoid including any data on race or including those statistics in information shared with lawmakers before the vote.

Democratic state Sen. Sam Jenkins told Morris, “I think it’s a racially gerrymandered district that's going to get us into a lot of trouble here."

“Agree to disagree,” Morris told Jenkins.

Republican Gov. Jeff Landry is expected to sign the new map into law.

Louisiana is currently using a court-ordered map drawn in 2024 to comply with the Voting Rights Act by including a second district with a majority-Black population.

That map, however, was challenged in court, and the Supreme Court responded on April 30 by striking it down as an illegal racial gerrymander.

Landry postponed the state’s U.S. House primary, scheduled for May 16, until later this summer to allow time for Republican lawmakers to draw and pass a new map.

The proposed map redraws Democratic U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields' district, clustering it around predominantly white communities in the Baton Rouge area and southern Louisiana. It also adds part of Baton Rouge to a heavily Democratic, majority-Black district based in New Orleans currently represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Troy Carter.

More lawsuits were expected over the new map.

Democrats say the proposed map could draw a lawsuit over racial gerrymandering. Meanwhile, the plaintiffs in the U.S. Supreme Court's decision criticized the Legislature's map earlier this week for leaving a majority-Black district in place.

“From the beginning of the process, I said we’re building a house on a broken foundation — now it feels more like quicksand,” Democratic state Sen. Royce Duplessis said during floor debate. “I’m really, really troubled by the fact that we’re going to continue to lead the charge in this race to the bottom.”

In the weeks following the Supreme Court’s decision, several other Republican-controlled Southern states have seized upon a weakened federal Voting Rights Act to try to redraw their own congressional districts.

So far, Republicans are winning the redistricting contest. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they will win a narrowly divided U.S. House in November. Republicans think they could gain as many as 15 seats from their redistricting efforts so far, while Democrats think they could gain six seats from new districts in California and Utah.

Florida’s Legislature passed new congressional districts just hours after the ruling, completing a redrawing that was in the works in anticipation of the decision. It could yield Republicans as many as four additional seats in the midterm elections.

Tennessee adopted new U.S. House districts a week after the ruling, carving up a majority-Black district based in Memphis in a Republican attempt to win an additional seat.

In Alabama, Republicans are attempting to pick up another seat by redrawing two districts where Black residents compose a majority or close to it. Democrats hold both seats, and the proposal is mired in a court battle.

South Carolina’s Senate, meanwhile, decided against redistricting, despite pressure from Trump.

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Levy reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Prices for those red orbs have soared more than any other food product over the past year to cement a spot as one of the consumer headaches du jour.

“The tomato has become a symbol of something much deeper,” says Isaac Bernal Carbajo, a New York City chef who lamented life's “simplest pleasures” falling victim to price increases. “Something as basic as buying fresh vegetables is starting to become a serious financial decision for many families.”

Tomato prices are up about 40% over a year ago, according to the latest Consumer Price Index, dwarfing increases for other groceries, including coffee (up 18.5%), beef roasts (up 17.8%) and frozen fish and seafood (up 12%), among other products that have become symbols of America’s affordability squeeze.

A separate inflation gauge released Thursday showed that overall prices increased 3.8% in April from a year earlier, the highest reading in nearly three years.

Alongside crop yields, experts blame price increases for tomatoes, in part, on two pillars of President Donald Trump’s second-term policies: the Iran war and tariffs. The war spiked gas prices and increased shipping costs. Meantime, the U.S. withdrew from a deal allowing duty-free imports of tomatoes from Mexico, which grows most of America's supply.

Usha Haley, a Wichita State University economist, says it's “a perfect storm of trade policy, extreme weather and Mideast policy.”

American tomato farmers cheered the withdrawal from the tomato deal last July, saying it would help rebuild their shrinking industry. But for consumers, it's been painful. Though the U.S. withdrew from the Mexico tomato deal in July, it took time to see the impact in the produce aisle, with more imports in late winter and early spring.

When the tomatoes arrived, they were slapped with a 17% tariff.

“Tariffs are undeniably a big driver of the price inflation,” says Brett Massimino, a Virginia Commonwealth University business professor. “Because the U.S. relies on Mexico for the majority of its tomato supply, any changes in trade policy can have a large impact.”

U.S. tariffs collected on tomatoes ballooned from just $16,424 in 2024 to nearly $4.6 million, according to federal data, a staggering 27,879% increase.

As the cost trickles down, outraged shoppers have pulled out their phones in the produce aisle, shooting videos lamenting costs they said quadrupled, with some vowing to plant a garden to avoid prices of up to $8 a pound. But the impact has been most pronounced for businesses that rely on tomatoes as a key ingredient in their kitchens.

MarginEdge, which tracks prices for restaurants, says grape tomatoes have increased most — 65% in just a month — but prices have gone up across all types of tomatoes.

Phillip Coles, a professor of supply chain management at Lehigh University, says prices should drop later in the year when domestically grown tomatoes are harvested. Higher prices, he says, will also “induce farmers to increase planting to meet the demand, but this takes longer because of the lead time.”

Meantime, it's translating to a big hit for businesses like Snarf’s Sandwiches, which puts a tomato in nearly every sandwich it makes.

Wayne Humphrey, chief operating officer of Snarf’s, which operates dozens of stores in Colorado, Missouri and Texas, said cases of tomatoes went from costing him $27 to $93 in the space of a year, piled on top of rising expenses for other ingredients including bread and beef, as well as increased labor costs.

“That single ingredient now costs us more than $1.7 million in additional spend annually,” says Humphrey. “The math is getting harder to ignore.”

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Associated Press writer Dee-Ann Durbin contributed to this report. Matt Sedensky can be reached at msedensky@ap.org and https://x.com/sedensky

Prosecutors said Friday that the decision marks a significant milestone in heritage protection.

Fordlandia, now a ghost town and a district of the city of Aveiro, was built in 1927 in Pará by the Ford Motor Co. as a rubber-tapping metropolis intended to secure a steady supply of natural rubber for tires.

Designed to resemble an idyllic American suburb, it was once the third-largest settlement in the Amazon region. However, disease ravaged the rubber tree plantations, leading to the city’s abandonment. In 1945, the Brazilian government acquired the site.

In 2015, Brazil’s federal prosecutors’ office in Pará sued the country’s Iphan architectural heritage agency and the city of Aveiro for failing to preserve Fordlandia. They also demanded that authorities grant the city protected status.

“Fordlandia is a landmark chapter in the history of Brazil and of global industry. The project was an American effort to challenge the British monopoly on rubber, bringing cutting-edge infrastructure—including a hospital, running water, electricity and a movie theater — to the heart of the Amazon in the 1920s,” the prosecutors’ office in Pará said in a statement.

Despite the end of the commercial venture, officials emphasized that the district remains an important part of Brazil’s national memory and should be preserved for future generations.

Two weeks ago, a judge in Pará ordered both federal and local authorities to restore Fordlandia. The decision came after more than a decade of legal proceedings.

Although the district isn't officially recognized as a heritage site, the court found that it possesses historical, cultural, and architectural significance, which the Brazilian Constitution mandates must be protected.

The ruling further requires the government and municipality to develop and implement a recovery plan for the district, with potential financial penalties for noncompliance.

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The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Lake Texana reached 98% capacity Friday morning, a big leap from 56% three months ago.

Lake Corpus Christi jumped from 8% capacity last month to 18%. Rains missed Choke Canyon, which is further northwest and remains at 8% capacity.

The city has been bracing to enact emergency water restrictions by the end of the year. City leaders had estimated that by December, a Level 1 emergency would have to be triggered because the city would be an estimated six months from supply falling short of demand.

City Manager Peter Zanoni said the recent rains may push that projection to early 2027. The city’s water department is expected to make an official announcement during a City Council meeting on June 23.

Residents have been living under water restrictions since 2024 when Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon dipped below 20% capacity. When they fell below 10% capacity earlier this year, Zanoni began warning the community of tighter mandates. 

Initial estimates showed the city running short of water by summer, but Zanoni said the city had a recent run of luck.

“We had tremendous rainfall that hit the perfect spot for our western reservoirs,” he said in a Friday news conference.

The last time Lake Texana was at around 100% capacity was summer 2025, according to Water Data for Texas.

“The rain we’re seeing now is very different than what we’ve seen in the past five years, and so this gives us hope,” he said. “We need the rain to get through this, to get through this drought of record.”

Zanoni said the city is optimistic that the “super” El Niño expected this summer will bring even more rain to the Coastal Bend — hopefully quenching the historic drought that has gripped the region.

The city is relying on a patchwork of temporary solutions to meet demand, but only large amounts of rain can save it from a crisis. 

“These rains that we have will help get us through these next couple of months,” he said. “And if it’s dry in the summer, that’s OK because the reservoirs will be at a decent level.”

The World Health Organization said Friday authorities have reported 125 confirmed cases in Congo, including 17 confirmed deaths. Additionally, there are 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths.

Neighboring Uganda has confirmed nine cases and one death, the Ugandan ministry of health said Friday.

“To come here is to really show to the community that they’re not alone," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters at the airport in Kinshasa late Thursday.

“Pushing orders from my comfortable office in Geneva is easy, but I’m asking my colleagues to work with the community and I am asking communities to protect themselves,” he added.

The outbreak “can be stopped,” he said, but is “very complex.”

Challenges like the high number of people displaced by armed conflict in the region and food insecurity are complicating efforts, Tedros said. Aid supplies reached the heart of the outbreak this week but medical personnel continue to struggle with a lack of equipment, a distrustful population and armed groups in the volatile region.

Containment has been particularly difficult because the disease likely spread for weeks before it was first identified in mid-May.

Outbreak spreading faster than response

The outbreak continues to spread faster than the response, despite health facilities becoming more organized and more equipment arriving.

The Bundibugyo virus, the current kind of Ebola, has no approved treatment or vaccine.

Anaïs Legand, a researcher in the WHO emergencies program, cited a patient discharged Wednesday as a “positive development” since it is the only documented recovery of a confirmed Ebola patient during the current outbreak.

Legand said at a U.N. briefing in Geneva Friday that five other infected people were also likely to recover.

The average fatality rate of Bundibugyo virus is around 30 to 50%, she said.

Medical aid donated by the European Union arrived in Ituri, the heart of Congo’s Ebola outbreak, on Thursday, with more shipments expected over the next eight days. The U.S. announced $80 million in additional aid on the same day, bringing its total commitment to more than $112 million.

At Rwampara Hospital, where a treatment center has been established, the response looks far more organized than in previous days, with more staff deployed, stronger prevention measures and teams in protective gear visible across units — though patients continue to arrive around the clock, according to an AP reporter in Bunia, the provincial capital.

The same progress was noted at Bunia General Hospital, where new medical kits, support personnel and emergency funding appear to be reinvigorating operations.

David Munkley, the eastern Congo director of World Vision, said Friday more equipment and supplies are still needed.

“We know what is required in terms of personal protective equipment, in terms of supporting communities and ensuring proper sanitation hygiene practices,” Munkley told the AP. “So the moment of truth is, are we going to fund it or not?”

Congo’s Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba told reporters Thursday night they are exploring more drugs “that can help save even more lives, because ... this disease initially presents just like any other infectious disease we’re familiar with: dizziness, headache, fever, vomiting and diarrhea.”

The continent's top public health body will “ensure that we have a vaccine and a treatment for Bundibugyo" by the end of the year, Africa CDC chief Jean Kaseya said Thursday.

Distrust, travel bans could complicate response

Dangers faced by health workers have been heightened by anger among residents over the stringent medical protocols for handling the victims' bodies, which clash with local burial rites. Residents have launched at least three attacks against health centers.

Attacks in Ituri by the Allied Democratic Force, a rebel group allied with the Islamic State group, and a coalition of ethnic militias have also hindered the response.

The illness also has been reported in the Congolese provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, south of Ituri, where the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group controls many key cities, including Goma and Bukavu. The rebels have reported two cases.

After Uganda closed its border with Congo, the WHO chief said Thursday he discourages countries from imposing travel bans. “There are ways to manage workers and to manage cases without having a strong, restricted travel ban,” Tedros said.

The Trump administration last week announced a temporary ban on the entry of people without U.S. passports who have visited Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the past 21 days. It said Wednesday it plans to send Americans who are exposed to Ebola to a new facility in Kenya instead of flying them to the U.S.

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Kabumba reported from Bunia, Congo, and Banchereau from Dakar, Senegal. Associated Press writers Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Monika Pronczuk in Dakar contributed to this report.

A U.S. administration official said on Wednesday that the U.S. was planning to send Americans who are exposed to Ebola while abroad to a new facility in Kenya instead of flying them home. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to share the administration’s plans. It was unclear where in Kenya the new facility would be built or whether the Kenyan government signed off on the plan.

The Kenyan government said it was in discussions with the U.S. on support for Ebola preparedness, but declined to address whether the country would establish a treatment facility for Americans. The U.S. government intends to commit $13.5 million toward Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.

The High Court in Nairobi on Friday put a stop to any deal on the Ebola facility until petitions against it are heard on Tuesday.

An organization formed to defend Kenya’s Constitution, Katiba Institute, and the Kenya Law Society separately challenged any presence of Ebola-related facilities. The Kenya Law Society asked the court to nullify any agreements signed between the U.S. and Kenya on the project, citing public health risks and a lack of public participation.

It also said that Kenya lacks “the high-containment infrastructure required to safely manage such a facility, exposing the public to serious health risks.”

A Kenyan doctors' union on Thursday issued a 48-hour strike notice should the country proceed with the deal. It said the U.S. was clear that they would not allow Ebola on their soil and that Kenya should not become a “dumping ground.”

“As the vanguard of Kenya’s healthcare system, we are utterly disgusted by the government’s apparent willingness to trade national biosecurity and the lives of its citizens for foreign aid,” the union’s chairperson, Davji Atellah, said in a statement.

Ordinary Kenyans have been angered by the plan.

“Why do they want to get infected people and bring them to Kenya? Kenya is not a dumping area for such sick people," laborer Cedric Akweyu said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Student Wycliff Otieno also expressed concern. “It is like the government has been given a lot of money by the U.S. So, it is like they are selling us,” he said.

In northeastern Congo, health workers with scant supplies have been struggling to contain an outbreak of the Bundibugyo virus, a kind of Ebola that has no approved treatment or vaccine.

The Congolese government has confirmed more than 1,000 suspected cases, with at least 220 deaths, since it declared an outbreak on May 15. But the virus had been spreading undetected for weeks and the WHO suspects it is much larger than what has been reported.

The virus also has reached neighboring Uganda, which has confirmed seven cases and one death.

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Associated Press journalist Jackson Njehia in Nairobi, Kenya, contributed.

The S&P 500 rose 0.3% Friday. The index is coming off six gains in a row and is headed for a ninth straight winning week, which would be the longest such streak since 2023.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 349 points, or 0.7%, as of 1:18 p.m. Eastern. The Nasdaq composite rose 0.3%. Every major index is on track for records and to close out May with solid gains.

Markets in Europe and Asia mostly rose.

Technology stocks lead the gains. Dell Technologies surged 28.7% after after delivering profits that blew past expectations. The company also raised its outlook, citing powerful demand for AI computing.

Microsoft rose 3.9% and Broadcom rose 2.9%. Big technology stocks have been behind much of the market’s record-breaking streak. Their pricey stock values give them more influence in directing the market higher or lower. In May alone, technology stocks within the S&P 500 rose more than 15%, while most of the sectors in the benchmark index actually lost ground.

“The rally has been largely tech-led and supported by resilient earnings, but the key question is whether it can be sustained,” wrote Angelo Kourkafas, senior global strategist at Edward Jones, in a research note.

Wall Street has been gaining ground against worries that the U.S. war with Iran is worsening inflation and jeopardizing economic growth.

The U.S. and Iran are reportedly working toward a deal to extend a ceasefire. That eased pressure on oil prices. Brent crude, the international standard, fell 2.1% to $90.78 a barrel. It is still well above the $70 per barrel level in late February before the war began. Benchmark U.S. crude fell 2.3% to $86.89 per barrel.

Treasury yields held relatively steady as oil prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.44% from 4.45% from late Thursday.

High oil prices remain a key concern for Wall Street. The war has stifled the flow of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas is shipped through the waterway.

That has pushed up prices for gasoline and a wide range of goods, feeding inflation and squeezing consumers and businesses. Prices were already rising before the war began from the ongoing impact of tariffs.

Several reports this week reflected inflation’s rise and impact on consumers. A measure of inflation preferred by the Federal Reserve accelerated in April to its highest level in three years. Consumer confidence is slipping amid the squeeze from rising inflation.

Wall Street’s worries about rising inflation have been somewhat muted by the latest round of corporate profit reports. Companies in the S&P 500 have reported profit growth of 28% overall for the most recent quarter, according to FactSet. The overwhelming majority of companies in the S&P 500 have already reported their latest results. That could mean investors’ focus may shift back toward inflation, consumers’ behavior and the Fed’s path ahead for interest rates.

The Fed has been holding its benchmark interest rate steady as it closely watches rising inflation. It is expected to continue holding rates steady at its next meeting in June and through the year, according to CME’s FedWatch tool. Cutting interest rates could help lower borrowing costs and give the economy a jolt, but it could also worsen inflation at time when prices are already high and rising.

U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia, scheduled a June 12 hearing for arguments on whether to extend her order barring the government from moving forward with its “Anti-Weaponization Fund” while pending litigation challenges it. The administration created the fund to resolve President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns.

A Justice Department spokesperson said it's “extremely confident” that the fund is legally supported “by ample precedent,” including from settlements during the administration of President Barack Obama, a Democrat. "We will not allow the policy preferences of judges to interfere with our efforts to provide restitution to victims of lawfare,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

The White House declined to comment on the judge’s ruling, referring questions to the Justice Department.

The judge, who was nominated to the bench by President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, gave the government another week to respond in writing to the plaintiffs' arguments in favor of freezing the fund's creation and operation, including any payments in or out of it.

The fund has generated a fierce backlash since it was announced last week, with even Republicans pressing acting Attorney General Todd Blanche over the eligibility considerations and the possibility that even violent rioters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, would be free to seek compensation.

The Justice Department hasn’t formed the five-member commission that will decide on payout criteria, so there has been no money paid out yet or claims accepted.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys from the legal advocacy group Democracy Forward are seeking a court order halting the fund’s implementation and preventing the Trump administration from disbursing any payouts from it. The federal suit claims there is no legal basis or accountability behind the fund.

“President Trump and his allies have long accused Democrats of using the government and the legal system as political weapons,” plaintiffs' lawyers wrote. “In doing so, the (Trump) administration fails to acknowledge the unprecedented campaign of targeting individuals and entities for retribution on personal and ideological grounds that it has carried out.”

Brinkema said it’s important to maintain the status quo — for at least the next two weeks — and to ensure that no funds are “irreversibly disbursed” from the fund. Her order temporarily prohibits the Trump administration from transferring any money to the fund, considering any claims or disbursing any money from it.

The Virginia lawsuit's plaintiffs include a fired prosecutor and a college professor acquitted of assaulting federal agents at a protest.

“The unlawfulness that has imbued the Anti-Weaponization Fund from its inception requires that it be wholly dismantled,” the suit says.

At least two other lawsuits, both filed separately in Washington, also are challenging the fund's creation. A lawsuit filed by the advocacy group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington refers to the fund as “a jaw-dropping act of presidential corruption.” Two police officers who helped defend the Capitol from a mob of Trump supporters sued last week.

During a congressional hearing, Blanche wouldn’t rule out the possibility that rioters who assaulted police on Jan. 6 could be eligible for fund payouts.

Nearly 1,600 people were charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. Over 1,200 were convicted and sentenced before Trump handed out mass pardons, commuted prison sentences and ordered the dismissal of every pending Jan. 6 criminal case last year.

One of the plaintiffs in the Virginia case is former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Floyd, who prosecuted Capitol riot cases in Washington before he was fired last year by then-Attorney General Pam Bondi. Floyd believes his firing was retaliation for his Jan. 6 work.

“The President’s targeting of me and others involved in January 6 prosecutions leaves our country in a very dark place, sending a message that insurrection and sedition will be protected (and even encouraged) as long as it is on behalf of this administration,” Floyd said in a court filing.

Another plaintiff is California State University Channel Islands professor Jonathan Caravello, who was acquitted of an assault charge. He was accused of throwing a tear gas canister at federal agents during a 2025 protest against an immigration raid at a Camarillo, California, cannabis farm.

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Associated Press writers Darlene Superville, Alanna Durkin Richer and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.

2 Helps You Mario Diaz went to the 8100 block of Penrod Street in NE Houston to meet with 51-year-old William Pierre, who has lived in the neighborhood for 27 years.

Pierre said the trouble started above his head. “The main problem was my roof, it was leaking,” he explained.

When word spread, help arrived at his doorstep — and Pierre said it felt meant to be. “I was shocked and like wow… God sent me some angels to help me,” he said.

One of those “angels” is Trevor Barnett with The Restoration Team, a volunteer home-repair organization born out of Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts.

“I started this as a volunteer at my church,” Barnett said.

Since then, Barnett said The Restoration Team has grown into a large collaboration involving multiple churches, nonprofit partners, private donors and an army of volunteers.

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“This is the 500th home The Restoration Team is restoring,” Barnett said.

The project at Pierre’s home began as a roof replacement, but once crews got on site, they realized the home needed more extensive work. The group has now budgeted $45,000 to help bring the house back.

Pierre admitted he initially wondered if there was a catch. “You thought there was a catch… you thought this is too good to be true? Yes,” Pierre said. “But then you realized it was divine intervention? Yes it was.”

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Work on the outside is expected to wrap up soon, with plans to shift next to an interior makeover.

For Pierre, the result is a safer, repaired home. For Barnett and the volunteers, it’s the reward of neighbors helping neighbors.

“There is something to be said about helping your neighbors in need and not asking for anything in return,” Barnett said.

Barnett said the experience reinforces a message he hopes others will remember: “The world and the community we live in is more generous than it appears.”

As home No. 500 nears completion, The Restoration Team says its mission continues. The organization’s goal by 2028 is to help 100 families a year in northeast Houston.

According to authorities, the derailment happened on Union Pacific tracks over Hempstead Road. Officials said 11 rail cars carrying finished vehicles on a Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) train derailed.

Police said the initial call came in around 8:55 a.m. as a crash involving only the train. Part of the train could be seen hanging off a bridge in the area.

Officials confirmed there were no reported injuries and no hazardous materials involved in the derailment.

Union Pacific said it was notified about the incident but clarified that the train involved belongs to CPKC and not Union Pacific.

Crews have responded to the scene and are working to remove the derailed rail cars.

Drivers should expect road closures in the area. Police said Old Katy Road is blocked in both directions near Hempstead Road. Additional closures near Hempstead at Washington Avenue are possible, though they have not yet been confirmed.

Vallejo lost to French teenager Moise Kouame on Thursday after a tense five-set battle that lasted nearly five hours on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.

“This sort of match needs to be umpired by a man,” Vallejo told Clay magazine after his 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8) loss. “It’s very difficult for a woman to do it.”

His comments were “unacceptable,” the French Tennis Federation and Roland Garros organizers said on Friday.

“The competence of an umpire is not determined by their gender but by their professionalism and ability to officiate at the highest level,” they added in a statement. “The outcome of a sporting event, whether positive or negative, can never justify or excuse such remarks. The tournament organizers will impose a significant sanction on Adolfo Vallejo in the form of a fine.”

Organizers did not say how much the fine would be, but players reaching the second round at the French Open receive 130,000 euros ($151,000).

Kouame was 5-3 down in the fifth set and 8-7 down in the tiebreaker. The French crowd was boisterous and Vallejo, from Paraguay, said the umpire, Ana Carvalho from Brazil, did not control the spectators.

“It has to be refereed by a man, because it’s a very demanding crowd and you need a lot of strength to go against the crowd,” he said. “The crowd was very out of line, but I understand they’re supporting their compatriot. It’s quite an intense crowd and that’s why I was prepared; I already knew it would be like that and, to be honest, it didn’t harm me, but rather strengthened him.”

Vallejo added that Kouame “took up a lot of time on many occasions, lying on the floor or stalling.”

“And it’s not normal for the crowd to be shouting for a full minute without any play. In a match where the physical aspect matters so much, if you give a player a lot of time he’s obviously going to take advantage of it. The truth is it’s also difficult for a referee to manage this situation.”

Roland Garros organizers said they condemn “all sexist remarks, regardless of who makes them” and offered their support to the match umpire “and, more broadly, to all the tournament’s umpiring officials.”

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AP sports writer Jerome Pugmire contributed.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Only rain — lots of it — can keep the coastal city from that grim fate.

Accessible sources of short-term water, including newly drilled wells, have already been tapped. A controversial desalination plant with the ability to filter seawater — rejected last year over cost and environmental concerns — is back on the table but years away from producing. Building a new lake-size reservoir is another option, but that would take even longer.

Corpus Christi is bracing for demand to exceed water supplies by next summer, leaving far too little time to dodge a crisis by building new infrastructure, said Kenneth Dees, a water resources engineer based in Fort Worth.

At this point, he said, “the only thing that you could do is stop using water.”

City leaders are left searching for ways to delay, not avoid, the looming emergency through conservation efforts, such as mandatory water restrictions and higher fees for exceeding limits.

Mayor Paulette Guajardo said preparing for the next stage of the water emergency has been a difficult balancing act of thinking long-term for the city, collaborating with a divided council and maintaining trust with the community.

“Water security affects everything — growth, public safety, jobs, industry, housing — all of it, and it all weighs on me,” she said.

Residents have expressed growing frustration with the city’s leaders, noting delayed decisions on setting emergency water restrictions and how to enforce them. Council members also will debate next week whether to move forward on building a desalination plant that they rejected nine months ago.

“There’s still time for you guys to turn things around, to work together, as hard as that may seem, and to come up with some good solutions for we the people because right now, you’re failing at the task,” resident Susy Saldana told the City Council earlier this month.

Guajardo said “people are looking for certainty.”

“They want to know their leadership and elected officials are working together to make thoughtful, decisive decisions that move our community forward,” Guajardo continued. “While there have been differing perspectives on council, I believe it’s important that we remain focused on finding common ground and delivering long-term solutions for our residents.”

Ginny Cross, vice president of advocacy for United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, said the city’s business community is on edge, waiting for city leaders to set a game plan. “They have to finalize the drought restrictions, and there’s a lot of unwillingness to make a concrete plan,” she said.

Cross said businesses, worried restrictions could freeze the local economy, want to prepare for mandatory water limits that city leaders have been debating for nearly half a year.

“Everybody’s going to be impacted in ways that we are just beginning to imagine,” she said.

Enacting ordinances and policies restricting water use are among the city’s few remaining tools to slow the looming emergency, said Dees, who has 40 years of experience consulting about water infrastructure projects across the state. “The only thing they can do involves a gavel because at this point, they can’t do anything with a shovel,” he said.

Residents and businesses have already been living under water restrictions since 2024 as two main reservoirs dwindled to puddles. Homeowners have reduced their water use by about 25% in the last couple months, largely by limiting car washing and outdoor watering. All will be asked to cut back even more if the next crisis point arrives, as projected, in December — though recent rains could push that tipping point into 2027.

“You hope for rain but in the meantime, I believe they really do have to take drastic action,” Dees said of Corpus Christi’s leaders. “They’re going to have to curtail usage because that’s the only thing they can do right now.”

Jarrod Reynolds, a water resources engineer in Hood County who focuses on underground projects, said building water infrastructure is a slow process that can sometimes take decades.

“With time you can build stuff — you can drill wells, you can do desalination, you can do pipeline projects — but every single one of those takes years,” said Reynolds, who works on projects statewide.

Next Tuesday, the City Council is expected to vote on how to enforce 25% mandatory cuts in water use if the city declares a Level 1 emergency — the point when Corpus Christi is six months away from falling short of meeting demand. Oil refineries and petrochemical plants, among the largest water users in the region, would be asked to conserve at the same 25% rate as residents and local businesses.

Corpus Christi is home to the Port of Corpus Chisti and one of the nation’s largest industrial corridors, including crude oil refineries such as Valero Refining and Flint Hills Resources. Together, roughly 20 large industrial companies make up around 60% of the city’s water demand, local officials say.

Complicating conservation efforts is a drought surcharge exemption program that City Manager Peter Zanoni has called an insurance program. Around a dozen industrial companies opted to pay an additional fee to their water bill — 31 cents for every 1,000 gallons — to avoid additional fees during a water crisis.

Isabel Araiza, co-founder of For the Greater Good, a group that opposes a desalination plant that would discharge salty brine into the Corpus Christi Bay, said the city isn’t out of options. “It’s just not willing to entertain all the options,” she said.

Despite industry being the largest consumer, city conservation measures have largely targeted residents — including appeals for shorter showers and turning off faucets while brushing teeth. Araiza said restricting industry’s water usage “is an obvious solution, but that’s not something entertained at all.”

“Rage is not a strong enough word to capture how I feel,” Araiza said. “It blows my mind that we’re more concerned with industry’s profits and single-use plastics and jet fuel than centering the needs of the community and environment.”

Discussions among Corpus Christi leaders in the past few months have mostly fallen into two buckets: greenlighting efforts to streamline short-term water supplies, such as scrambling to drill more than a dozen wells, and preparing for mandatory limits and higher surcharges.

The stakes are even higher because Corpus Christi’s water challenges have a large ripple effect. In addition to the city’s businesses and 318,000 residents, its water system serves more than 200,000 other customers across seven counties. The cities of Alice, Beeville and Mathis are wholesale customers of the city’s water and are also hurrying to drill their way out of a crisis.

Nick Winkelmann, chief operating officer at Corpus Christi Water, said the city has identified wells and other short-term sources that “certainly helped buy us some time” while other efforts continue to diversify and stabilize the long-term water supply.

On Tuesday, the City Council will discuss the water department’s proposal to revive the Inner Harbor Desalination Project, which can provide up to 10 million gallons of drinking water a day. But the soonest it could deliver water, if approved, would be late 2029. The city is also considering desalination plant proposals from two private companies, AXE H2O and Aquatech.

The city is also investing in wastewater recycling, an $11 million project that could produce up to 16 million gallons a day for outdoor use, such as golf courses and parks. Earlier this month, the city approved a contractor to work on that system, but just 60% of the design is complete so far, according to the city manager’s latest water memo.

On a typical summer day, Corpus Christi’s system provides about 130 million gallons of water, Winkelmann said.

City leaders got some positive news in mid-May when heavy rainfall pushed projections of a Level 1 emergency back by three months, from September to December. More good news arrived this week after rains continued to refill area reservoirs, likely delaying an emergency declaration into early 2027 — though that determination won’t be made until June 23. 

“We’re working towards every day to push that date out and eventually take that date completely off the table,” Winkelmann said.

Andrew Coppin, CEO of Ranchbot Monitoring Solutions, a company that helps ranchers track their water usage, said Corpus Christi’s situation should serve as a warning for the rest of the state.

“How many more Corpuses are coming in the next few years?” asked Coppin, based in Fort Worth.

Even after 12 years in the water management businesses, Coppin said, Corpus Christi’s situation still shocks him.

“We’ve got a large city in a first world country — arguably, the most successful first world country on the planet — and it’s running out of water,” he said. “I think what it highlights is the imperative for us to better manage and quantify water.”

Trump confirmed the high-level talks a day after The Associated Press reported that U.S. and Iranian negotiators had reached a tentative agreement to extend the fragile ceasefire by 60 days and start new talks on Iran’s nuclear program.

Earlier Friday, a federal judge temporarily blocked Trump’s administration from paying any claims through a new $1.776 billion settlement fund for Trump allies who believe they were victims of a weaponized government. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia, also barred the government from moving forward with the fund’s creation while litigation is pending to challenge it.

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Louisiana lawmakers pass a new congressional map designed to pick up a Republican seat

The new map is also likely to leave the state with just one of its two majority-Black House districts represented by Democrats.

Approval of the new House map came a month after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the state’s current map as an illegal racial gerrymander, weakening the landmark 1965 federal Voting Rights Act. That decision intensified a national redistricting battle fueled by Trump’s efforts to protect the Republicans’ slim House majority in the midterm elections.

Louisiana Republicans had considered drawing a map giving the party a shot at winning all six of the state’s U.S. House seats. But that would have required adding more Black voters to Republican-held districts, potentially backfiring with losses. Some Republicans said a 5-1 map better protects U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson from facing a difficult reelection.

Republican Gov. Jeff Landry is expected to sign the new map into law.

Bondi interview concludes after 4 hours

Democratic lawmakers say former attorney general told them she would not answer questions about Trump’s involvement in the release of case files on Jeffrey Epstein.

She also said Todd Blanche, her former deputy who is now the acting attorney general, had overseen the publication of case files.

Bondi refuses to answer lawmakers’ questions about Trump’s involvement in Epstein files release

Bondi was on Capitol Hill for a closed-door interview in which she defended the administration’s actions before House lawmakers who are scrutinizing a process that was delayed and included personal information of potential victims.

Democratic lawmakers said Bondi told them she would not speak about the president in Friday’s interview and, accompanied by a lawyer from the Department of Justice, cited her ability to decline questions because she agreed to appear before the committee voluntarily.

“It’s a sham in there. They are not answering any questions,” said Democratic Rep. Dave Min during a break in the interview.

Trump says only the US and China are capable of removing Iran’s enriched uranium

The president in his online post also turned back to his on-and-off demand that the highly-enriched uranium buried under nuclear sites badly damaged during last year’s U.S. air bombardment of Iran be removed as part of a deal.

“The enriched material, sometimes referred to as ‘Nuclear Dust,’ which is buried deep underground with virtually collapsed mountains, caused by our powerful B2 Bomber attack 11 months ago, sitting on top of it, will be unearthed by the United States (which, it is agreed, is the only Country, along with China, with the mechanical capability of doing so!), in close coordination and conjunction with the Islamic Republic of Iran, plus the International Atomic Energy Agency, and DESTROYED,” Trump said.

Trump has offered mixed messages over the course of the three-month conflict on the importance of removing the enriched uranium. Earlier this month, he told Fox News’ Sean Hannity he’d “just feel better if I got” the uranium, but that “it’s more for public relations than it is for anything else.”

Louisiana Republicans are poised to pass new US House districts in wider redistricting fight

The state’s Republican-controlled Senate is poised to pass a plan Friday to help the GOP maintain control of the U.S. House in November, potentially becoming the latest Southern state to eliminate a majority-Black congressional district that elected a Democrat.

The state Senate is set to vote on a redistricting plan that would give Republicans a chance to pick up an additional seat in response to late April’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that Louisiana’s congressional district map constituted an illegal racial gerrymander.

An amended map overwhelmingly passed the House on Thursday. Once the final map clears the Legislature, Republican Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry is expected to sign it.

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Hegseth meets with leaders of Vietnam and Singapore at Asian defense conference

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has met with leaders from Vietnam and Singapore to discuss shared security interests, the Pentagon said Friday.

The separate meetings occurred on the sidelines during the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s annual defense and security forum in Singapore.

Hegseth praised Vietnam’s decision to join the Board of Peace and for committing troops and police to the International Stabilization Force in Gaza. Hegseth also applauded the modernization of Vietnam’s military and discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation, including on unmanned naval capabilities.

Hegseth and Singapore’s leaders discussed expanding the U.S. military’s presence in Singapore with rotational deployments from the Navy and Air Force. Meanwhile, Hegseth reaffirmed the American commitment to support advanced training for Singapore’s military in the U.S.

Pam Bondi defends administration’s release of Epstein case files as she testifies before lawmakers

The former attorney general stood behind the Trump administration’s release of the case files on Jeffrey Epstein as she testified Friday before House lawmakers scrutinizing a process that was delayed and included personal information of potential victims.

Bondi, who arrived Friday morning on Capitol Hill for her closed-door interview, was defiant in previous public testimony when she was confronted by lawmakers about the Epstein investigation. In her opening statement, she kept to the same tack.

“The bottom line is: justice and transparency in this matter have been delivered at the direction of President Trump and his administration,” she said, according to a written copy of her opening statement.

The transcribed Bondi interview gave lawmakers a chance to dig for information on the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files and other related matters, including the prison sentence of Epstein’s former girlfriend and confidant, Ghislaine Maxwell.

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Trump meeting with aides to make ‘final determination’ on moving forward with Iran deal

The president says he’s holding a White House Situation Room meeting with his advisers.

Trump confirmed the high-level White House talks Friday, a day after The Associated Press and other news outlets reported that U.S. and Iranian negotiators had come to terms on a tentative agreement.

The deal would extend the fragile ceasefire by 60 days as new talks are held on Iran’s disputed nuclear program.

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White House declines comment on judge’s ruling blocking payouts from ‘anti-weaponization’ fund

The White House referred all questions to the Justice Department, which didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys from the legal advocacy group Democracy Forward are seeking a court order halting the fund’s implementation and preventing the Trump administration from disbursing any payouts from it. The federal suit claims there’s no legal basis or accountability behind the fund.

At least two other lawsuits, both filed separately in Washington, also are challenging the fund’s creation.

Rubio meets with Pakistani foreign minister as tentative Iran deal hangs in the balance

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has met with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, as a tentative deal to extend a fragile ceasefire with Iran hangs in the balance.

Neither Rubio nor Dar — whose country has emerged as a main player and mediator in talks to end the conflict — spoke or responded to questions from reporters as they posed for photographs at the State Department on Friday. Dar has been in the United States since earlier this week to attend meetings at the United Nations in New York.

The meeting came just a day after U.S. officials said an agreement in principle on a memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and return to talks on Iran’s nuclear program had been reached. That agreement, though, must still be approved by President Trump and Iran’s top leadership and there was no indication when that might happen.

Judge temporarily blocks payouts from Trump’s ‘anti-weaponization’ settlement fund

A federal judge has temporarily blocked Trump’s administration from paying any claims through a new $1.776 billion settlement fund for Trump allies who believe they were victims of a weaponized government.

U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia, on Friday also barred the government from moving forward with the fund’s creation while litigation is pending to challenge it.

The judge scheduled a June 12 hearing for arguments on whether to extend the order blocking payouts from an “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” which the government created to resolve Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns.

The fund has created a fierce backlash since it was announced last week, with even Republicans pressing acting Attorney General Todd Blanche over the eligibility considerations and the possibility that even violent rioters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, would be free to seek compensation.

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Pam Bondi interview gets underway on Capitol Hill

The former attorney general is appearing before House lawmakers as they investigate how the government has handled the investigations into Jeffrey Epstein.

Bondi was ousted as attorney general last month, but her in her previous testimony to Congress she has been defiant in the face of lawmakers’ questions about how the Department of Justice handled the release of case files on Epstein. She is also accompanied today by Department of Justice officials — an arrangement Democrats have criticized.

Several survivors of Epstein’s abuse also appeared outside the House office room where the interview is happening behind closed doors. They pressed the committee chair, Republican Rep. James Comer, to closely question Bondi.

“We want justice for the survivors, we do,” Comer told them.

South Carolina Democrats expected to celebrate after failure of Trump-backed redistricting push

Democrats may be in a more celebratory mood than usual as they gather Friday in South Carolina, a state led almost entirely by Republicans.

The party is holding events days after the GOP-led state Senate shot down an effort backed by President Donald Trump to redraw House district lines to help Republicans this fall. That move was aimed at ousting longtime Rep. Jim Clyburn, the state’s lone congressional Democrat and a party powerbroker who’s been in office since 1993.

Friday’s gatherings kick off with the Blue Palmetto Dinner, an annual party fundraiser that typically showcases potential presidential contenders and the party’s national figures. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear will be the headliner.

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Pam Bondi to face closed-door questioning from House lawmakers over Epstein files

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi is testifying before House lawmakers investigating Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse cases, a long-awaited appearance that brings fresh scrutiny of the administration’s botched release of the Epstein case files.

Bondi was defiant in previous public testimony when she was confronted by lawmakers about the Epstein investigation. It’s unclear whether she’ll bring the same approach Friday, now that she is no longer in charge of the Justice Department. The session will be held behind closed doors.

The transcribed interview will give lawmakers a chance to dig for information on the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files and other related matters, including the prison sentence of his former girlfriend and confidant, Ghislaine Maxwell. The Justice Department moved Maxwell to a prison camp in Texas last August.

“I think she absolutely could clear up many missing pieces if she wanted to,” said Rep. Yassamin Ansari, an Arizona Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. “Now it’s a question of whether or not she is willing to be transparent.”

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Judge refuses to block Trump order to limit mail voting. There’s no immediate effect on the midterms

A federal judge has declined to halt Trump’s executive order creating a federal voter list and limiting mail voting, clearing the way for potential sweeping changes in how American elections are run shortly before this year’s midterm elections.

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee in Washington, late Wednesday rejected the request by Democrats and civil rights groups that had argued Trump’s order would likely be found unconstitutional because the states and Congress, not the president, have the power to set election rules. Nichols agreed with the Republican Trump administration’s contention that it was too early to block the order because it has yet to be implemented.

Nichols’ ruling leaves the door open for further challenges when the Trump administration moves to implement the president’s directive. A separate lawsuit seeking to block the executive order is underway in Boston. No matter how rapidly the administration acts, no voting changes are expected during primary elections, which continue into next month.

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Treasury Secretary Bessent confirms limited steps toward a $250 bill featuring Donald Trump

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that his department has prepared the design for a $250 bill featuring Trump, anticipating the passage of stalled legislation in Congress to put the president on a new denomination of legal tender.

Bessent said at the White House that authorizing the new currency will be up to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, but that “we’ve created the bill” because “we have to be prepared.”

The secretary downplayed the idea that the administration is pushing the matter, despite Trump’s penchant for infusing his name and likeness across the nation’s capital and into the observances of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Yet he also insisted there is nothing inappropriate about Trump’s visage being part of the seminal national celebration.

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Top federal prosecutor in Chicago denies investigation into E. Jean Carroll, disputing media reports

The top federal prosecutor in Chicago denied Thursday evening that his office had opened an investigation into E. Jean Carroll, the longtime advice columnist who has said Trump sexually assaulted her 30 years ago, hours after multiple news organizations reported that the Justice Department was investigating whether she had lied during the course of civil litigation against Trump.

The Associated Press and other news organizations, citing anonymous sources, reported that the federal prosecutors’ office in Chicago had opened an investigation into Carroll.

But Andrew Boutros, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, issued a statement roughly 24 hours after the first report was published saying that his office “has not opened — and has never opened — a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll.”

A person familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, initially told the AP on Thursday morning that investigators were focused on Carroll but later clarified that the actual focus was on a nonprofit that had helped fund her case.

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US and Iranian negotiators reach tentative deal to extend ceasefire and start new nuclear talks

U.S. and Iranian negotiators reached a tentative agreement Thursday to extend the ceasefire in the 3-month-old war by 60 days and start a new round of talks on Iran’s nuclear program, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter.

Iran did not immediately confirm any deal. Vice President JD Vance on Thursday evening confirmed there was a tentative agreement, but said it was unclear if Trump would approve it.

“It’s hard to say exactly when or if the president’s going to sign,” Vance told reporters.

He added: “We’re going back and forth on a couple of language points.”

The emerging memorandum of understanding came as the fragile ceasefire in the war between the U.S. and Iran appeared to be wavering. The latest flare-up in fighting happened less than a day earlier, when Kuwait intercepted missiles fired from Iran, according to U.S. Central Command.

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— Aamer Madhani, Jon Gambrell, Michelle L. Price and Sam Metz

Houston’s weather pattern did a complete 180 this week.

After days of consistent downpours, sunshine and heat continue to settle in for the weekend.

Enjoy it while it lasts because rain will return next week.

Friday’s Forecast:

The only issue today will be poor air quality for Galveston, Brazoria, and Harris Counties. If you suffer from respiratory illness, limit your time outdoors.

Otherwise stay hydrated and cool as the seasonably hot temperatures climb to the 90s.

While the weekend is dry, more rain is possible next week as we start the month of June.

With more sunshine and less gloom through the weekend, temperatures will heat back to the upper 80s and low 90s.

And speaking of June, hurricane season officially begins next week on June 1st.

To help you get prepared before the season ramps up, be sure to catch our KPRC Hurricane & Flood Survival Guide live next Wednesday at 8 p.m., where we’ll cover what you need to know heading into the 2026 season.

In the meantime, check out this list for 2026 Hurricane Names: The history of how hurricanes get named

10-DAY FORECAST:

We’re looking at a hot and dry forecast going into the weekend. If you had to cancel plans because of the rain, you should be just fine for this coming weekend!

For the fifth time in this year's playoffs, a series is coming down to the ultimate game. San Antonio will visit Oklahoma City on Saturday night in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals.

The others this season: Philadelphia beat Boston on the road in Round 1, Cleveland beat Toronto in Round 1, Detroit beat Orlando in Round 1 and Cleveland beat Detroit on the road in Round 2.

The five Game 7s this season tie the most in a single postseason. There also were that many in 1994, 2014 and 2016. And there have never been three instances of Game 7 road winners in the same season; the Spurs will aim to change that on Saturday.

Home teams have gone 117-42 in the previous 159 instances of Game 7s in the NBA playoffs.

Game 7 records

A look at the histories in Game 7 for Oklahoma City and San Antonio, two franchises that have never before gone head-to-head in such a game:

— Thunder, since moving to Oklahoma City: 4-2 overall, 4-0 at home.

The four home wins — the last of which was Game 7 of last season's NBA Finals — were all by double digits and the margin averaged 17.5 points. The two losses were both on the “road,” though one of those was simply classified as a road game because Oklahoma City was lower seeded than Houston when those teams met in the bubble playoffs of 2020.

— Spurs: 4-7 overall, 1-5 on the road.

The lone road Game 7 win in franchise history was at New Orleans in 2008. The Spurs have never played a West finals Game 7 on the road — but played on the road in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals in 1979, losing to Washington.

Game 7 birthday matters

Spurs forward Harrison Barnes turns 34 on Saturday. This could be a good sign for San Antonio.

No player has ever appeared in a Game 7 during the NBA playoffs on his birthday and lost. Paul George turned 36 on May 2 and Philadelphia beat Boston. And Barnes has been in this position once before; he turned 24 on May 30, 2016, and his Golden State team beat Oklahoma City.

The other birthday winners of Game 7s:

— Pablo Prigoni turned 35 on May 17, 2015; he and Houston beat the Los Angeles Clippers.

— Udonis Haslem turned 32 on June 9, 2012; he and Miami beat Boston.

— Kevin Garnett turned 28 on May 19, 2004; he and Minnesota beat Sacramento.

— Scott Hastings turned 30 on June 3, 1990; he and Detroit beat Chicago.

— Walt Hazzard turned 24 on April 15, 1966; he and the Los Angeles Lakers beat St. Louis.

The best-of-12 season series

Saturday night will be the 12th matchup between Oklahoma City and San Antonio this season. San Antonio went 7-4 in the first 11 games between the clubs.

Golden State and Houston played 12 times last season between four regular-season games, an additional game tacked on because of the NBA Cup, and then a seven-game playoff matchup in Round 1.

Other than that, the last time — before now — that two teams met 12 times in the same season was 1994-95, when San Antonio and Houston faced off on that many occasions.

The league has used a scheduling model for the last three decades that doesn't have any teams meeting more than four times in the regular season, which capped the total number of head-to-head meetings at 11 even if they went the distance in a seven-game playoff series. But the addition of NBA Cup now makes a 12-game season series possible.

And technically, teams could meet as many as 13 times.

It's theoretically possible for teams to play four regular-season games, plus a fifth time in NBA Cup, then meet in the No. 7 vs. No. 8 game in the play-in tournament, then play a seven-game playoff series.

Regardless, the record for head-to-head meetings will probably never be broken. In 1959-60, the Minneapolis Lakers and St. Louis Hawks played 20 times and in 1960-61, the Los Angeles Lakers played the Hawks 20 more times. The league had only eight teams then and played a 75-game schedule.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

In a nod to the wave of conservative policies Burrows subsequently green-lit, Scudder authored a resolution “condemning the Shameful Leadership of Speaker Dustin Burrows and Declaring No Future Democratic Support for His Speakership.” The measure was submitted in March to the Dallas County Democratic Party, Scudder’s home base, and is set to be considered by the broader state party at its convention next month.

Burrows’ leadership, the proposal reads, “caused profound harm to millions of Texans across this vast state” and “stands in direct opposition to the Democratic values that define our party across Texas.”

“The Democratic members whose votes gave him the gavel must now acknowledge the consequences of that decision and must be held to account,” the resolution continues. “No Democratic vote should be cast for Dustin Burrows for Speaker of the Texas House in the next speaker election.”

Burrows won the speakership last year after a bitter power struggle within the Texas GOP, whose hardline faction had sought to shift the chamber further to the right and elevate a rival speaker candidate who vowed to strip all power from the House’s minority party. Most Democrats went for Burrows, who promised to protect the chamber’s independence and the minority party’s voice.

He then presided over perhaps the most conservative legislative session in modern Texas history, overseeing the passage of long-sought GOP priorities that had previously died in the House, including a school voucher program championed by Gov. Greg Abbott and a “bathroom bill” aimed at transgender people initially pushed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

In the resolution, Scudder faults Burrows for having “betrayed the very coalition that elevated him to power, weakened the independence of the Texas House and surrendered the authority of the speakership to the political agenda of” Abbott and Patrick. He also said Burrows “quickly discarded the bipartisan governing traditions that helped place him in power” when the GOP majority voted to ban Democrats from chairing committees.

The resolution does not mention repercussions for Democratic lawmakers who violate it. But the push could reverberate politically, by sharpening a question that has loomed since the Legislature gaveled out last summer: whether Burrows will still need Democratic votes to retain the speakership next session. Some of his initial skeptics on the right had come around by the time lawmakers departed Austin, raising the prospect that the Lubbock Republican had earned enough trust throughout the GOP caucus to win the gavel without Democrats.

Republicans currently hold an 88 to 62 majority in the Texas House, though potential gains by Democrats in November could eat into that margin and complicate the speaker election. Forty-nine Democrats joined a minority of Republicans to elevate Burrows last year; Rep. Ana-María Rodríguez-Ramos, D-Richardson, ran a protest campaign and won just 23 votes, all from her fellow Democrats.

Democrats have failed to cut into the GOP’s majority in the lower chamber since 2018, when they flipped a dozen seats on the coattails of Beto O’Rourke’s narrow loss to Sen. Ted Cruz and voters’ discontent with the Trump administration. Some Republicans have sounded the alarm about a possible repeat this November amid a parallel political climate.

In the resolution, Scudder cites a litany of Republican bills approved by the Legislature last year, including anti-abortion measures, the new congressional map redrawn to net the GOP up to five new seats, and a ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs — including LGBTQ+ student clubs — in public K-12 schools.

Scudder is up for reelection next month to decide if he will lead the party into the critical fall midterms. He was elected interim chair by the party’s governing board after a 2024 election that proved disastrous for Texas Democrats. He faces three challengers to his position, including Monique Alcala, who served as executive director of the party from August 2023 until Scudder’s election, and Marco Orrantia, a former TDP staffer of the past decade.

Scudder did not respond to a request for comment, nor did Burrows.

The proposal, which has so far been adopted by the Bexar, Calhoun, Collin, Denton, and Rockwall county parties, reflects the simmering Democratic discontent over Burrows’ leadership, at least among the nexus of activists who make up the state party.

At the Texas Tribune Festival in November, House Democrats said they were keeping their options open for speaker in 2027 after backing Burrows under the belief that he was the lesser of two evils and would maintain the House’s tradition of bipartisanship and independence from the Senate. There is little upside for Democrats to declare their plans for the speaker vote this far out, given the potential for the midterms to scramble things — and the reality that they will have the most leverage by voting as a unified bloc.

House Republicans, meanwhile, have said their caucus has never been more united after successfully passing major conservative legislation and further marginalizing Democrats in the chamber. Beyond the ban on Democratic committee chairs, the chamber’s GOP majority approved stiffer penalties for lawmakers who participate in walkouts after Democrats fled the state to stall passage of the new congressional lines.

“While we may have some issues that we’ve got to squabble about, and we will, I believe we’re united. I don’t see that ending anytime soon,” Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Allen, said at the Texas Tribune Festival last fall.

Burrows, too, has projected confidence that Republicans will maintain their dominance in the House, despite the political headwinds that led Patrick last month to warn that Democrats could seize control of the lower chamber.

“We have to unite as Republicans,” Burrows said, alluding to the acrimonious primaries playing out at the time. “By the way, just be real clear: I’ve seen the numbers. We’re not going to lose the Texas House.”

Christian Castro, of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, was taken into custody 11 days after Minneapolis prosecutors charged him with assault and falsely reporting a crime in the Jan. 14 nonfatal shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.

Hennepin County, Minnesota prosecutors said the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension located Castro, 52, in Texas and worked with agents from the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General's Office and the Texas Rangers to arrest him.

“Today’s arrest is a critical step forward in our prosecution of Mr. Castro,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said.

Online court records do not list an attorney for Castro and it wasn't immediately clear if he has one. Messages seeking comment were left with ICE, the Homeland Security Inspector General’s Office and the Texas Rangers.

Castro is the second federal agent to be charged over their conduct during the Minnesota crackdown, which was known as Operation Metro Surge. He is one of two agents that ICE Director Todd Lyons said lied about the circumstances of the incident.

According to prosecutors, Castro fired through a home’s front door and shot Sosa-Celis in the thigh after Castro and another officer chased a different man, Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna, to the Minneapolis apartment duplex where he and Sosa-Celis lived. Sosa-Celis and Aljorna were legally in the U.S., Moriarty said.

Federal authorities initially accused Sosa-Celis and Aljorna of beating an officer with a broom handle and a snow shovel. A federal judge later dismissed the charges, and ICE and the Justice Department opened an investigation into whether officers lied about what happened.

In a statement after the charges were announced, ICE said the U.S. attorney’s office was investigating statements made by officers, who could face disciplinary action including being fired and prosecuted. ICE called the Hennepin County attorney’s action “unlawful and nothing more than a political stunt.” DHS's Inspector General's Office, which Moriarty credited with assisting in the arrest, is separate from ICE and is meant to serve as a watchdog for DHS agencies, including ICE.

Minneapolis last month released video showing the moments before Sosa-Celis’s shooting, captured from a distance by a city-owned security camera.

The video appears to show a person standing with a snow shovel outside the house, near the street, then retreating toward the house and tossing the shovel into the yard. This happens as a person being chased by another person runs up from the street, falls on the sidewalk, gets up, and keeps heading toward the house.

The three appear to scuffle near the front steps for about 10 seconds. The exact moment when Sosa-Celis is shot isn’t clear. A car with flashing lights pulls up, and another person walks up.

The Trump administration sent thousands of officers to the Minneapolis and St. Paul area as part of President Donald Trump’s national deportation campaign and considered Operation Metro Surge a success.

But tensions mounted during the weekslong campaign, and the shooting deaths of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers sparked mass unrest and raised questions about officers’ conduct.

Minnesota leaders and the Trump administration have clashed over who has the authority to investigate and prosecute federal officers for on-duty conduct.

Moriarty’s office last month charged immigration agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr. with assault for allegedly pointing his gun at people in a car on a highway. He turned himself in last week and his lawyer disputes the charges.

The county is also investigating Good’s and Pretti’s killings and sued the Trump administration in March to gain access to evidence in those cases and the Sosa-Celis shooting.

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Insiders can enter the In the Kitchen with Kroger gift card sweepstakes daily during each round through Aug. 28 at 12 p.m. The first gift card winner will be announced on May 29, the day the second round begins. There will be four rounds with a new winner chosen at the end of each round.

Entries reset at the start of each of the four sweepstakes rounds, so make sure to bookmark this article and enter daily!

The schedule of rounds is as follows (all times CDT):

• ROUND ONE: April 29, 2026 at 12 p.m. to May 29, 2026 at 12 p.m. (Winner announced May 29 at 1 p.m. on Houston Life)
• ROUND TWO: May 29, 2026 at 12 p.m. to June 26, 2026 at 12 p.m. (Winner announced June 26 at 1 p.m. on Houston Life)
• ROUND THREE: June 26, 2026 at 12 p.m. to July 31, 2026 at 12 p.m. (Winner announced July 31 at 1 p.m. on Houston Life)
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OFFICIAL SWEEPSTAKES RULES

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Bondi, who arrived Friday morning on Capitol Hill for her closed-door interview, was defiant in previous public testimony when she was confronted by lawmakers about the Epstein investigation. In her opening statement, she kept to the same tack and said that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, now the acting attorney general, had overseen the process to release the Epstein case files as mandated by a law passed by Congress and signed by Trump last year.

“The bottom line is: justice and transparency in this matter have been delivered at the direction of President Trump and his administration,” she said, according to a written copy of her opening statement.

The transcribed Bondi interview gave lawmakers a chance to dig for information on the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files and other related matters, including the prison sentence of Epstein's former girlfriend and confidant, Ghislaine Maxwell.

But Democratic lawmakers said that Bondi told them she would not speak about the president in the interview and, consulting with a lawyer from the Department of Justice, cited her ability to decline questions because she agreed to appear before the committee voluntarily.

“It's a sham in there. They are not answering any questions,” said Democratic Rep. Dave Min of California during a break in the interview.

Democratic Rep. James Walkinshaw of Virginia said that he asked Bondi whether Trump had any knowledge of Epstein's crimes before they became public. Reading from his notes of the exchange, Walkinshaw told reporters that Bondi's response was, “I'm not certain of the extent of his knowledge.”

Epstein killed himself in a New York City jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial. Maxwell, a British socialite, was convicted in 2021 of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein but has insisted she’s innocent, arguing she never should have been prosecuted. The Justice Department moved Maxwell from a federal prison in Florida to a prison camp in Texas last August.

Lawmakers are trying to find out what decisions prosecutors have made about investigating Epstein associates, how the Justice Department handled the congressional mandate to release the Epstein case files and whether President Donald Trump was involved in the process.

Bondi told lawmakers in her opening statement that releasing the Epstein case files was “an enormously complicated and labor-intensive process” and conceded that the department had made redaction errors. But she mostly defended the Justice Department's work, saying that it had complied with the law and demonstrated “an unprecedented commitment to transparency.”

Several survivors of Epstein's abuse also gathered outside the Capitol office where the interview was taking place. They tried to make their presence known to Bondi as she entered the room, but several said they were shoved aside by police officers.

“I just hope that she does have a moment where she remembers her own humanity and our humanity and finds her compassion and remembers that this is a bigger story than political rhetoric,” said Danielle Bensky, one of the survivors.

The survivors also implored lawmakers to hold Bondi accountable for the handling of the Epstein case files' release, which included the personal information of potential victims.

They confronted the committee chair, Republican Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, and he told them that he would press for the complete release of case files mandated by law.

“We want justice for the survivors, we do,” Comer added.

Bondi, who revealed this week that she is being treated for thyroid cancer, has stayed within the Republican president's orbit even after being ousted from her job in early April.

Trump appointed Bondi to a White House panel on artificial intelligence this week, and she will be accompanied Friday by Justice Department officials, including Harmeet Dhillon, who heads the department's Civil Rights Division, acting as her counsel.

Democrats say that arrangement is a conflict of interest.

Bondi was central to the Epstein saga

Bondi has been central to the political firestorm over Epstein, initially raising expectations for the full release of what's known as the Epstein files, only to later backtrack. That reversal prompted Congress to step in and pass a law requiring the release.

Bondi faced even more backlash when the Justice Department's release of the files was delayed and then included personal information and nude photos of several potential victims. She has insisted in congressional hearings that she was trying to follow the law.

The House Oversight Committee, meanwhile, has been conducting a wide-ranging investigation into Epstein that spans multiple presidential administrations.

The interview format is already contentious

Bondi was subpoenaed by the committee in March in a bipartisan vote, but she tried to head off that demand by holding a closed-door meeting with lawmakers that month. The maneuver only added to the enmity between Bondi and Democrats on the committee.

Bondi's departure from the Justice Department also raised doubts about the enforcement of the congressional subpoena. After the committee's Democrats maneuvered to press for a civil contempt of Congress resolution against Bondi, she agreed to sit for a transcribed interview rather than a sworn deposition.

Democrats on the Oversight panel have criticized that arrangement, saying that it allowed Bondi to decline to answer questions. They also objected to Comer's decision not to video the interview.

“We continue to be incredibly disappointed of the decision to not have this interview videotaped and then released to the American public,” said Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the panel.

Comer has said he is allowing Bondi to sit for a transcribed interview rather than a deposition as an incentive to cooperate. Previously, he had enforced a subpoena on former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after they resisted the demand. Both of their depositions were video-recorded.

Still, Comer said Bondi could face prosecution if she lies to Congress. He said the committee would also release a transcript of the interview.

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Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington contributed to this report.

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Follow the AP's coverage of the Jeffrey Epstein case at https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein.

Dell dislocated his knee cap and tore his anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and lateral collateral ligament while catching a touchdown pass against the Kansas City Chiefs two seasons ago.

Dell underwent a pair of surgeries and has made significant progress, but he’s still not ready to practice. The Texans are taking a patient, big-picture approach with Dell, a former University of Houston star. The hope is that he can ramp up his participation by training camp and regain his old dynamic form.

“Tank is still working off on the side,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “When that time is set for him to be back, he’ll be back out there.”

And Jordan has sustained major injuries each of the past two seasons. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament against the Chicago Bears two years ago. And then he tore his patellar tendon in the same leg last August during a routine training camp practice, screaming in agony and frustration.

Jordan has resumed practicing, but was rested Thursday during an organized team activity. The team is managing the workload and stress on his leg to avoid any setbacks.

#Texans coach DeMeco Ryans update on Brevin Jordan and Tank Dell. Jordan is practicing, Dell is working out on the side @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/LgfBCABACj

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 28, 2026

“Brevin is out here, he’s rolling,” Ryans said. “He’s doing a great job back to where he’s been. Always here, big smile on his face, excited to practice. We’re easing him back in. He had a really big play yesterday on a choice route.

“He got to the proper depth, broke one of our safeties off and had a really nice play. It was exciting to see him just back on the field. We know how devastating it was for him to go down. To see him back working is very encouraging. I’m proud of the work that he’s put in.”

Dell has been running routes and cutting for months, but not at full speed.

Dell is officially on the comeback trail.

He’s making tangible progress.

Ryans has emphasized how proud he is Dell and how hard he’s working to get back. Nonetheless, the focus is on the big picture. The Texans won’t be rushing back Dell.

They want him to be fully healthy before they clear him for football practice. He won’t be pushed back into organized activities until he’s ready.

“Tank has been around, working out all throughout the offseason while no one else was here,” Ryans said. “Tank has been here working, grinding in the background. I’m excited to see Tank when it is his time to get back out and play football, as is everybody here. We all love Tank. We’ve seen the ability that he has, the big playmaking ability.

“Nobody loves Tank more than me. I’m hopeful that we can get him back to playing, back to the level that he was playing. But I think it’s also, we know how devastating of an injury that was for Tank. So, I’m proud of the young man. For him just working in the background, working in silence to be back here working out with the guys and having that opportunity to go play again.”

Texans general manager Nick Caserio said previously that the team will evaluate where Dell stands after spring workouts to determine his activity level at training camp. He was noncommittal on a timeline.

“With Tank, honestly, it’s probably a day-to-day, we’ll kind of see where he is,” Caserio said. “Probably have a better idea as we get through the spring of what his availability is going to be in training camp. He’s been here pretty religiously, since he’s been able to do more once he’s gotten out of the rehab stage.”

Dell has fought through all of the doubt and frustration of an injury that interrupted the dynamic start to his NFL career, leaning on faith, hard work, family, friends and coaches like Ryans to remain positive and optimistic.

Dell called it the hardest year of his life.

Dell is looking forward to making a healthy return and get back to playing the game he loves.

“What I’ve been through is something that taught me to be humble and just keep working, I’m back, I’m feeling good right now,” Dell said earlier this offseason. “Once the season comes, I’m gonna cook up.”

Running free, catching touchdown passes, bolting past coverage.

That’s the vision for Dell. The comeback trail is being paved month by month for Dell as he continues to strengthen his surgically repaired knee.

Dell tried to make a return for the end of the season as the Texans made another playoff run that ended in the divisional round, but it was regarded as too soon for him to get back out there.

“I was making a push, I wanted to be out there with the guys,” Dell said. “Last year, that football season alone, was the hardest year of my life. Just sitting out of football for a year straight. Been playing football since I was five and that was my first year I ever had to sit out of football so that was hard. I tried to make a push back, it didn’t go as planned. I got time now and I’ll be ready.”

Jordan was named as the Texans’ Ed Block Courage award winner last year, recognizing his efforts on and off the field and ability to overcome adversity.

The Texans signed Jordan to a one-year contract extension through the 2026 season with a total value of $1.45 million, including a $1.145 million nonguaranteed base salary, up to $255,000 in roster bonuses if active for every game, $1 million in not likely to be earned incentives for playing time, catches and yards. He has a $50,000 workout bonus he’ll undoubtedly earn.

For his career, Jordan has 53 catches for 532 yards and five touchdowns.

“It means everything to me that my teammates voted for me to win this award,” Jordan said last season. “Coming back from an injury is a steady process, and I just take it day by day and embrace the journey. I love this city, I love this team, and I’m thankful to inspire others through my approach every day.”

The Ed Block Courage Award, established in 1984 and given to one player from every NFL team, honors players who exemplify commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage. It has become one of the league’s most prestigious awards that a player can receive because it marks the only NFL award that is chosen solely by a vote of his peers.

This year’s winner will continue the annual tradition of traveling to Baltimore to receive their trophy at a gala in their honor and visit the Ed Block Courage House. The Ed Block Courage House is a facility that provides support and quality care for abused children and their families in the community. Block served as the longtime head athletic trainer for the former Baltimore Colts, and in addition to being a pioneer in athletic training, was passionate about causes that support children.

When Jordan got hurt in the Texans’ Methodist Training Center while running a route against linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, it was a somber, emotional moment that led to Ryans halting practice for several minutes,

Although he got up initially and waved off trainers, Jordan went to the ground and began crying and sobbing loudly. He was inconsolable, in obvious pain and feeling the evident frustration of getting hurt again after working extremely hard to battle back from last year’s injury.

Practice was halted for several minutes. Teammates, including quarterback C.J. Stroud checked on Jordan and prayed. Stroud was emotional, as were the rest of the players, including tight end Dalton Schultz.

Jordan was carted off the field through a side door with medical personnel. His loud screams could be heard from several yards away while he was inside the practice bubble and once he departed the facility.

Jordan, a deeply spiritual person, leaned heavily on his faith and family while engineering a comeback from the knee injury last year.

He knew he was back for sure when he hit 21.7 miles per hour in training. That was a bit faster than the 20.03 miles per hour he reached during a 76-yard touchdown catch against the Cleveland Browns that set the tone for a 45-14 AFC wild-card playoff win during Ryans’ first season in Houston.

Even though he was injured, Jordan signed a one-year, $2.1 million contract last season because of how strongly the team feels about him.

“I think it’s just being empathetic to all the guys and knowing how much work NFL players go through, how much their bodies take and knowing the other side of it when guys are done playing and the effects it has on guys,” Ryans said. “The game, it puts a lot of guys in bad shape, so I don’t take that lightly. It’s just tough. Anytime I see guys go down, it’s tough to swallow because I know all the work these guys put in.

“Their road to recovery, I’m thinking, I’ve been on that road. I know how dark that road can be at times. It’s just constant prayer for all the guys around the NFL that go down with injuries.”

NOTES:

The Texans’ overhauled offensive line represents a mix of returning starters and newcomers.

That includes left tackle Aireontae Ersery, center Jake Andrews, right guard Ed Ingram and former Pro Bowl swing tackle Trent Brown back from last season. And the Texans signed left guard Wyatt Teller and right tackle Braden Smith in free agency and drafted offensive guard-center Keylan ‘Big Red’ Rutledge in the first round.

Smith didn’t have a helmet on at practice and Blake Fisher played a lot of right tackle along with Brown. Rutledge displayed his versatility, lining up at all three interior spots, including snaps to C.J. Stroud after Andrews.

All-Pro defensive end Danielle Hunter and veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins weren’t at the voluntary workout. That isn’t a controversial absence as both players will attend the Texans’ mandatory minicamp in June.

Woody Marks, now that David Montgomery is the primary running back, is expected to have a third-down back, complementary role. He’s also a candidate for kickoff return duties in addition to Jaylin Noel, the regular returner whose role at receiver is increasing.

The Texans have utilized cornerback Alijah Huzzie some at nickel behind Jalen Pitre.

Texans linebacker E.J. Speed had surgery Thursday to repair a partially torn quadriceps and partially torn quadriceps tendon, per sources, with Dallas Cowboys team doctor Dan Cooper performing the procedure. He’s expected to return at some point this season, likely in October to November range.

With Speed sidelined, the Texans had Jake Hansen and Jamal Hill stepping in behind starters Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o.

“The competition is high at every position,” Ryans said. “Unfortunately, we won’t have E.J. for some time, but we’ll see how that recovery process goes. I’m hopeful that we’ll get E.J. back at some point this year.”

Ryans praised former New England Patriots linebacker Marte Mapu, who was acquired in a trade this spring.

“Marte, wh what I like about him, he’s a very smart linebacker,” Ryans said. “Smart, he’s long, fast guy. But Marte does a really good job of being where he’s supposed to be in position. He’s communicating. We’re moving him around. He’s taking some reps at the Mike linebacker spot. He does a really good job of communicating. He’s also taking some spots at the, some reps at the Will linebacker.

“He’s a smart guy who you’re able to move around at multiple spots. He’s done a really good job on special teams as well. He’s a very versatile athletic linebacker. Still a young player. Marte is the type of guy, he’s always in the building. We have to kick him out. He’s always doing the extras, the film, the recovery, body maintenance. He’s a true worker. I’m proud to see how he transitions and how he looks during training camp.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com

The revised contract reflects Collins’ value and a dramatic increase in average wide receiver salaries across the league.

That includes the Seattle Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($42.15 million), the Cincinnati Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase ($40.25 million), the Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson ($35 million), the Dallas Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb ($34 million), the Pittsburgh Steelers’ D.K. Metcalf ($33 million), the New York Jets’ Garrett Wilson ($32.5 million), the Washington Commanders’ Terry McLaurin ($32.333 million), the Philadelphia Eagles’ A.J. Brown ($32 million), the Detroit Lions Amon-Ra St. Brown ($30.002 million), the San Francisco 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk and then Collins.

Originally ranked 18th in average compensation per year for 2026, Collins is now due $30 million total this year. He ranks 11th in terms of annual average per year. He’s due $29.8 million in 2027. It’s considered highly likely that Collins will get a contract extension with additional years added to his deal after this season.

During the NFL draft, Texans general manager Nick Caserio delivered an unequivocal message to anyone potentially interested in trading for Collins: Don’t bother.

Caserio was asked about trade rumors that NFL teams had made inquiries regarding Collins, the Texans’ most dangerous offensive skill player.

Instead, Collins’ deal has been boosted.

“Look, teams call teams all the time to ask about players,” Caserio said in response to a question from KPRC 2. “We’re not trading Nico Collins. Whoever reported it, whatever information they had, I mean, they can take it and shove it. We’re not trading Nico.”

Collins signed a three-year, $75 million maximum-value deal two years ago that included a $17 million signing bonus.

Collins was due $20 million fully guaranteed in 2026 and $21.25 million guaranteed for injury in 2027. That money is now fully guaranteed.

Collins, for his part, while not discussing anything specific regarding private financial matters, wants to remain a Texan for as long as possible — preferably for his entire career.

“I love the Texans,” Collins told KPRC 2 at his youth football camp. “I got drafted here. It’s somewhere I want to end. I love the city, the people, the community. There’s a lot of great positive vibes coming out of the city of Houston. So, it’s definitely a place I would like to retire.”

In February, Collins struck a similar stance when it came to his future in Houston.

“Yeah, for sure, just keep this thing rolling, for sure, 1,000 percent,” Collins told KPRC 2. “I love the city of Houston, man. I want to be here long-term, forever. My mom says every day, continue to be myself, continue to prove myself and get better. When the time is right, it will come.”

In the first season under offensive coordinator Nick Caley, the Texans averaged 23.8 points per game, ranking 13th in the NFL in scoring offense. They finished 18th in total offense, 14th in passing offense and 22nd in rushing offense.

The running game struggled to complement the passing attack after Joe Mixon missed the entire season due to a foot injury involving an infection that ultimately required surgery. With Montgomery in the backfield, there should be more balance overall and more options for Caley as a play-caller.

“Absolutely, you got to take one play at a time,” Collins said. “We know what our mission is. We know where we want to go. At the end of the day, we got to take one play at a time.

“We’ve got to move the sticks. We’ve got to continue to put points on the board for the defense because we know the type of defense we’ve got. So, I’m excited about this year, second year with Caley, and let’s rock.”

Collins’ value was underscored by his absence during the playoff game.

He caught 71 passes for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season on 120 targets.

Not having a prototypical 6-foot-4, 222-pound wide receiver with 4.44 speed in the 40-yard dash dramatically changed the equation for the Texans’ suddenly ineffective passing game.

As off as C.J. Stroud was, Collins could have potentially steadied the damage. Playing without Collins — and losing Dalton Schultz, the team’s leading receiver during the regular season with 82 receptions — proved too much to overcome.

Now, Collins is determined to elevate his game even further.

“Not get complacent, not get comfortable, continue to find the things I need to improve on,” Collins said. “Even though you have success, it’s still not good enough. Continue to aim for the stars and continue to be the best version of yourself every day.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com .

Behold, for example, the cheesehead hat.

Made of sofa foam and sunny yellow defiance, the hat was created in the late 1980s in response to the taunting faced by supporters of sports teams in Wisconsin, which has long called itself America’s dairyland.

“Cheeseheads!” residents of neighboring Illinois said. The insult was embraced and, yes, turned on its head — particularly in the realm of a certain football team named the Green Bay Packers.

Soon, Wisconsin sports fans were appearing at events wearing the hats shaped like large, dimpled wedges of cheddar. (The dimples evoked Swiss, but U.S. notions of cheese, especially processed versions, are another slice of Americana.)

This doesn’t mean that a single state has a lock on silly hats, though the “Wisconsin Cheesehead” is now included in the Smithsonian’s American History Museum. U.S. sports — college sports especially — bounces with fans who throw inhibition aside and put on horns or animal ears, or strip off shirts and paint their torsos even in freezing weather.

The seasonal display is perhaps the most colorful, and harmless, of the “Hold my beer” exuberance that’s defined generations of Americans at home and overseas.

We are loud. We do dumb things. We are tribal in ways both superficial (sports) and significant (the current political landscape).

We have a pretty good record of stumbling into greatness. “I wasn’t thinking too deeply about it,” the creator of the cheesehead hat, Ralph Bruno, once told Milwaukee magazine about his inspiration, which is now trademarked, owned by a professional football team and sells for $28.99 apiece.

Above all — literally, with this towering block of fake cheese that just might be a metaphor — Americans are known for being able to laugh at ourselves.

___

Part of a recurring series, “American Objects,” marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. For more American objects, click here. For more stories on the anniversary, click here.

Collins received a $27 million signing bonus and his base salary was lowered to $1.5 million this year, bringing his salary cap figures down to $14.939 million from an originally scheduled $27.517 million. He also has annual $1.5 million in per game active roster bonuses, at a rate of $88,235 per game.

Collins is due a $28.5 million fully guaranteed base salary (skill, injury and salary cap) in 2027. The contract now has $50 million void years in 2028, 2029 and 2030 for salary-cap purposes to prorate the deal.

The deal was negotiated by Collins’ agents, Drew Rosenhaus and Jason Rosenhaus, and Texans general manager Nick Caserio.

It’s regarded as likely that the Texans may do a contract extension within the next year for Collins, a Pro Bowl selection.

Collins has a $9 million cash increase this year and an $8 million cash increase next year.

The revised contract reflects Collins’ value and a dramatic increase in average wide receiver salaries across the league.

That includes the Seattle Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($42.15 million), the Cincinnati Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase ($40.25 million), the Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson ($35 million), the Dallas Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb ($34 million), the Pittsburgh Steelers’ D.K. Metcalf ($33 million), the New York Jets’ Garrett Wilson ($32.5 million), the Washington Commanders’ Terry McLaurin ($32.333 million), the Philadelphia Eagles’ A.J. Brown ($32 million), the Detroit Lions Amon-Ra St. Brown ($30.002 million), the San Francisco 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk and then Collins at $30 million annually.

Originally ranked 18th in average compensation per year for 2026, Collins is now due $30 million total this year. He ranks 11th in terms of annual average per year and will be 10th once the 49ers officially move on from Aiyuk.

During the NFL draft, Caserio delivered an unequivocal message to anyone potentially interested in trading for Collins: Don’t bother.

Caserio was asked about trade rumors that NFL teams had made inquiries regarding Collins, the Texans’ most dangerous offensive skill player.

Instead, Collins’ deal has been boosted.

“Look, teams call teams all the time to ask about players,” Caserio said in response to a question from KPRC 2. “We’re not trading Nico Collins. Whoever reported it, whatever information they had, I mean, they can take it and shove it. We’re not trading Nico.”

Collins signed a three-year, $75 million maximum-value deal two years ago that included a $17 million signing bonus.

Collins was previously due $20 million fully guaranteed in 2026 and $21.25 million guaranteed for injury in 2027. That money is now fully guaranteed.

Collins, for his part, while not discussing anything specific regarding private financial matters, wants to remain a Texan for as long as possible — preferably for his entire career.

“I love the Texans,” Collins told KPRC 2 at his youth football camp. “I got drafted here. It’s somewhere I want to end. I love the city, the people, the community. There’s a lot of great positive vibes coming out of the city of Houston. So, it’s definitely a place I would like to retire.”

In February, Collins struck a similar stance when it came to his future in Houston.

“Yeah, for sure, just keep this thing rolling, for sure, 1,000 percent,” Collins told KPRC 2. “I love the city of Houston, man. I want to be here long-term, forever. My mom says every day, continue to be myself, continue to prove myself and get better. When the time is right, it will come.”

In the first season under offensive coordinator Nick Caley, the Texans averaged 23.8 points per game, ranking 13th in the NFL in scoring offense. They finished 18th in total offense, 14th in passing offense and 22nd in rushing offense.

The running game struggled to complement the passing attack after Joe Mixon missed the entire season due to a foot injury involving an infection that ultimately required surgery. With Montgomery in the backfield, there should be more balance overall and more options for Caley as a play-caller.

“Absolutely, you got to take one play at a time,” Collins said. “We know what our mission is. We know where we want to go. At the end of the day, we got to take one play at a time.

“We’ve got to move the sticks. We’ve got to continue to put points on the board for the defense because we know the type of defense we’ve got. So, I’m excited about this year, second year with Caley, and let’s rock.”

Collins’ value was underscored by his absence during the playoff game.

He caught 71 passes for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season on 120 targets.

Not having a prototypical 6-foot-4, 222-pound wide receiver with 4.44 speed in the 40-yard dash dramatically changed the equation for the Texans’ suddenly ineffective passing game.

As off as C.J. Stroud was, Collins could have potentially steadied the damage. Playing without Collins — and losing Dalton Schultz, the team’s leading receiver during the regular season with 82 receptions — proved too much to overcome.

Now, Collins is determined to elevate his game even further.

“Not get complacent, not get comfortable, continue to find the things I need to improve on,” Collins said. “Even though you have success, it’s still not good enough. Continue to aim for the stars and continue to be the best version of yourself every day.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com .

Novak Djokovic:

The three-time Roland-Garros champion is the most experienced of all contenders. He is chasing a record 25th major title, and his first since the 2023 U.S. Open.

The 39-year-old Djokovic came into the tournament with questions over his form after losing to Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic at the Italian Open, his only clay-court warmup event after two months out with a right shoulder injury.

In Paris, Djokovic came from a set down to beat Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a first-round match that lasted nearly three hours. He was then pushed by 74th-ranked French player Valentin Royer for more than 3½ hours before he reached the third round. His next opponent Friday is Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca.

Alexander Zverev

A runner-up at Roland Garros in 2024, Alexander Zverev is chasing his first major title. He also advanced to three semifinals and another quarterfinal in Paris. The 29-year-old German is in excellent form, having reached the final in Madrid and the semifinals in Monte Carlo and Munich in the buildup to the French Open. The second-seeded Zverev has yet to drop a set and takes on Frenchman Quentin Halys during the evening session Friday.

Felix Auger-Aliassime

At No. 4, the Canadian is the highest seeded player left in the top half of the draw and will take on Brandon Nakashima in the third round. Auger-Aliassime was two points away from defeat in the first round before rallying past Daniel Altmaier in five sets. He then got past Roman Andres Burruchaga in four sets. Auger-Aliassime’s best result at Roland Garros was making the fourth round in 2022 and 2024.

Rafael Jodar

He is the latest tennis sensation from Spain. The 19-year-old Jodar is into the fourth round at a major for the first time after his five-set win over Alex Michelsen of the United States. Jodar claimed his first ATP title in Marrakech last month, then made it to the semifinals in Barcelona and the quarterfinals in Madrid and Rome. His tour-level record on clay is 18-3. By comparison, 14-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz both went 13-7 through their first 20 tour-level matches on clay.

Moise Kouame

Can the French teenager create a major surprise and emulate Yannick Noah, the last Frenchman to win at Roland Garros back in 1983? Kouame reached the third round after a five-set thriller that delighted the French crowd and lasted just under five hours. The No. 318-ranked player next faces Chilean Alejandro Tabilo. “Winning Roland Garros is, of course, a dream,” he said. Kouame beat Marin Cilic in straight sets in the first round, becoming the first man born in 2008 or later to win a Grand Slam match.

Casper Ruud

Ruud reached the final at the 2022 and 2023 French Opens, losing first to Nadal and then Djokovic. The Norwegian player has struggled in the Paris heat this week and needed five sets to prevail in his first round match. Ruud faces Tommy Paul of the United States in the third round.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Lao and Thai rescue workers posted the news on social media, along with a video showing the first rescued villager with a lamp strapped to his forehead. The villager, who was not immediately identified, was walking unsteadily with the assistance of two men. They handed him over to other team members amid a waiting crowd for a medical check.

The five had been found by divers on Wednesday, but that left rescue workers with two serious tasks: extricating the five and finding two more who are still missing.

Evacuations of the other four were suspended until tomorrow because they were not ready, said Chakkit Taengtang of Sai Than Association, one of the Thai rescue organization at the scene.

Rescue teams had pumped water out of the flooded cave’s passages on Friday, but a morning rainstorm complicated their work. The trapped men have already been supplied with water, soft food, and foil blankets to keep them warm.

The villagers had reportedly entered the cave last week to look for valuable minerals before being trapped by flash flooding that blocked their way out. One other villager escaped in time and alerted the authorities to the seven left behind.

A video shot inside the cave on Thursday vividly illustrated the desperation the trapped men were feeling.

Thai rescue diver Norrased Palasing spoke with a trapped villager named Khamla, who urged the divers to let the group attempt to swim out immediately

“I can’t go on. I don’t have any strength,” he said.

Norrased sought to reassure him, telling him that the water was being drained, and handing over blankets and food. He cautioned Khamla to eat slowly to avoid digestive problems.

Divers from several nations joined the rescue effort

Rescue teams from Laos and neighboring Thailand were joined by Japanese and Malaysian colleagues. Indonesian and French specialists also had been reported to be coming to the site in a rugged area in the central province of Xaisomboun, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of the capital, Vientiane.

Working in the dark in unfamiliar surroundings, divers had to make their way through twisting, narrow, flooded passages with jagged walls.

A good rescue plan depends on “the length of the dives involved, the restrictions and the sheer size of the passages that they are in, and the support that’s available," said Gary Mitchell, press officer for the South & Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team, which is associated with the British Cave Rescue Council.

Other necessities normally include the space and equipment to recharge air or oxygen cylinders, and a medical team.

Rescuers must weigh risks of waiting for flooding to recede

At the same time, rescuers must weigh the high risks of guiding survivors without diving skills through zero-visibility water against the strategy of waiting for water levels to recede, said Mitchell, who took part in the complicated 2018 cave rescue in northern Thailand of 12 schoolboys and their soccer coach. Several of the divers at the Lao site had also taken part in the Thai rescue.

“You can’t leave people underground too long without medical support, without proper food, sustenance, clean water ... before their condition is going to deteriorate,” Mitchell warned Thursday from Wales in a video interview.

The five found Wednesday were identified by their first names as Khamla, Mued, Ee, Ing, and Laen. They were reportedly in good health but exhausted from dehydration and lack of food.

A video filmed by Norrased showed the emotional moment he and Finnish diving instructor Mikko Paasi emerged from the water and discovered the trapped men sitting on a rock surrounded by floodwater.

Mued delivered a message to his family on camera, saying, “Don’t worry mom, dad. I’m still strong, I’m still healthy. Tomorrow I will be home. I love you, mom and dad.”

Lao officials say the villagers normally forage in the mountainous surroundings for a living.

The villagers are believed to have been searching for gold

The villagers had been reported to have entered the cave to look for gold deposits. Bounphong Khammanyvong, a local official in Longcheng, the district where the cave is located, said they had noticed rocks or sand with unusual colors in the cave, so they entered it in the hope of digging them out to see if they were valuable.

Bounphong, in an interview on Thursday with local media outlet Xaisomboun Province Television, said the villagers entered the cave on May 20, contradicting rescuers who put the date at May 19.

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Associated Press journalists Danica Kirka in London and Haruka Nuga in Bangkok contributed to this report.

The Houston ISD Police Department, Houston Police Department, METRO Police Department and Ministers Against Crime are set to announce Project Safe Start — a multi-agency initiative aimed at increasing security presence on and around HISD campuses as the 2025-2026 school year comes to a close.

The announcement is scheduled for today Friday, May 29, 2026, at 10 a.m. at HISD Police Headquarters, located at 3500 Tampa Street in Houston.

Who’s involved

The partnership brings together some of Houston’s most prominent public safety and faith-based organizations. HISD Police Department Chief Shamara Garner, HPD Assistant Chief Adrian Rodriguez and representatives from METRO Police and Ministers Against Crime are all expected to speak at the event.

What to expect

Officials are expected to outline specific security measures being implemented in and around HISD campuses during the final stretch of the school year. The initiative also highlights the growing collaboration between local law enforcement agencies and community partners — a model that reflects a broader push toward proactive, community-centered school safety.

Constable Ryan Gable’s Criminal Investigations Division said the case was opened in May 2026 after detectives learned Alexander Marban allegedly altered the images by removing clothing and pairing the minors’ faces with nude bodies from the neck down. Investigators said they later obtained a search warrant and went to Marban’s residence on May 28, where multiple devices were seized for forensic review.

• 20-year-old man killed in northeast Harris County shooting; teenage girlfriend may have been involved, deputies say

After analyzing the devices, detectives said they developed probable cause to believe Marban created the images with the intent to possess child sexual assault material (CSAM). Marban was arrested at his home and charged with five counts of possession of child pornography, a second-degree felony, along with one count of methamphetamine possession, a state jail felony.

The investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to identify additional victims.

Anyone with information is asked to call (281) 364-4211 and request to speak with a detective, or submit a tip online through the Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office website.

The 15th-ranked Ukrainian is in an excellent run of form and extended her winning streak on clay to 15 matches with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Viktorija Golubic on yet another hot day in Paris. Ahead of Roland Garros, she won in Madrid — the biggest title of her career — after she claimed another clay-court title in Rouen, France.

She previously reached the fourth round in Paris in 2021, when she lost to Swiatek. A rematch is coming up next after Swiatek defeated fellow Polish player Magda Linette 6-4, 6-4.

“Marta is having a great season,” said Swiatek, who has not won a title on clay since the 2024 French Open. “She always had a game to play well. Did some semifinals of big tournaments before. Now she won Madrid. So good for her.”

Swiatek, however, has won in straight sets all three times she has played Kostyuk and has experience on her side in Paris, holding a 43-3 record overall at Roland Garros.

“I’m still the person who lost to her three times, and she’s won this tournament four times,” Kostyuk said. “I would love to be the one who is a favorite in this match, but I still don’t think it’s the case, even though I have this really long streak."

Double bagel

Also advancing to the fourth round was 36-year-old Sorana Cirstea, who routed Solana Sierra and became the oldest player in the Open Era to claim a 6-0 6-0 win in a Grand Slam tournament. She will next face Wang Xiyu of China, who beat Ukrainian Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-3, 7-5. The Chinese qualifier has still not dropped a set in her campaign.

Eighth-seeded Mirra Andreeva progressed with a 6-4, 6-2 win against Czech opponent Marie Bouzkova. Andreeva leads the women’s tour with 32 victories this season. Her fourth-round match pits her against Jill Teichmann, who beat 10th-seeded Karolina Muchova 6-1, 7-5.

In men’s action, a day after top-ranked Jannik Sinner was upset after he twice failed to serve out the match in the third set, three-time champion Novak Djokovic later takes on Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca.

Second-seeded Alexander Zverev, chasing a first major title in Paris, continues his quest for his first major trophy against Frenchman Quentin Halys during the evening session. Casper Ruud faces Tommy Paul.

Earlier, Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta reached the fourth round at a major for the first time since the 2022 U.S. Open by defeating Argentina’s Thiago Tirante 7-6 (0), 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. Andrey Rublev beat Nuno Borges 7-5, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2).

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

The craft carrying Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang of the Shenzhou 21 crew touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia region in the evening. Their return came as China prepares for its first lunar landing by 2030.

The crew had completed various tasks, from processing and transmitting experimental data to transferring remaining supplies, the official Xinhua News Agency quoted the China Manned Space Agency as saying. They also shared their experience with the Shenzhou 23 crew who arrived at the space station on Monday, Xinhua said.

Xinhua reported earlier that the crew had completed three spacewalk activities. Zhang Jingbo, the space agency's spokesperson, said that Zhang Lu, who was also on an earlier Shenzhou 15 mission to the space station, had completed seven such operations in total — becoming the Chinese astronaut with the most spacewalks, the report said.

Zhang Lu said he felt extremely emotional when he returned to China. He said at the astronauts' mission wouldn't have been possible without the care and support from their families and comrades, as well as the the backing of leaders and those involved in the project.

Zhang Hongzhang recalled his time away from the planet.

“Looking at Earth from space, I really felt that humanity is an indivisible community with a shared future," he said.

One of the three astronauts who arrived at the Tiangong space station with the Shenzhou 23 craft is set to stay for a year. Tiangong means “Heavenly Palace" in Chinese.

The astronauts are Zhu Yangzhu, the commander, Zhang Zhiyuan and Lai Ka-ying, also identified by Chinese authorities as Li Jiaying, using the Mandarin transliteration of her name. Lai, who was born and raised in Hong Kong, is the first astronaut from the city on a space mission.

As China steps up its space program, its astronauts have carried out multiple missions to the Tiangong space station, developed after China was effectively excluded from the International Space Station on U.S. concerns over national security.

The U.S. is seen as China’s top space rival, with NASA aiming to land astronauts on the lunar surface in 2028.

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Liu Zheng contributed to this report from Beijing.

“As the mayor of Chicago, we are incredibly elated and proud of him,” Johnson told The Associated Press in an interview Friday, a day after meeting the American pope in a private audience.

The mayor said it was comforting to know that someone who comes from the city of Chicago "can speak to justice” and defend “the most vulnerable among us.”

Johnson, a first-term progressive Democrat leading the third-largest U.S. city, traveled to Rome with a delegation of some 50 local officials, drawing strong media interest. He is a leading critic of U.S. President Donald Trump and has applauded Leo for pushing back against the war in Iran and Trump administration immigration policies.

Johnson said he used the meeting to thank the pope “for his courage and his strength and particularly his moral stance,” framing the encounter as a convergence of civic leadership and moral authority.

He noted the meeting underscored areas of alignment between Chicago’s policy agenda and the pope’s emphasis on social justice, particularly on the legacy of slavery and the treatment of migrants.

Johnson said the pontiff’s apology for the Catholic Church’s role in slavery reinforced his administration’s push for reparations, including efforts to fund a task force examining the lasting impact on Black Americans.

“The fact that the pope made a very clear declaration apologizing for the church’s role in slavery … is an affirmation to the work that we’re doing,” he said.

Johnson stressed the visit reflects an effort to position Chicago within a broader international push for human rights, with the pope’s global influence lending weight to the city’s agenda on justice, migration and reparative policies — and potentially extending that message well beyond the U.S.

Focus on migrants' conditions amid US crackdown

Migration was also central to their discussion. Johnson said Pope Leo asked directly about conditions in Chicago following a broader U.S. immigration crackdown and efforts to deport migrants.

“He wanted to know the conditions on the ground in Chicago … how we were responding,” Johnson said, adding the pontiff was aware of “the mass effort to deport immigrants from the city of Chicago and really around the country.”

Johnson described outlining the city’s response to migrants facing fear and uncertainty, including rapid-response efforts to ensure families had access to schools and basic necessities. He also highlighted executive actions intended to shield migrants, saying Chicago’s approach has been adopted by other municipalities.

Johnson framed the meeting as the beginning of broader cooperation between city government and the Vatican. “We talked about how his pulpit and my pen can come together to protect all of humanity,” he said, referencing both descendants of enslaved people and immigrant communities.

The mayor also emphasized the shared Chicago background, saying the city’s history of activism makes it “uniquely positioned for this moment.” On Thursday, he marked the visit by presenting Leo with a key to the city and inviting him to celebrate Mass in Chicago’s Grant Park.

It’s at least the second official invitation that Leo has received to visit the United States. U.S. Vice President JD Vance invited Leo soon after he became pope last May.

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Associated Press writer Silvia Stellacci in Rome contributed to this report.

According to officials, deputies were called just before 4 a.m. to an apartment complex on Northcrest Drive near Spring Stuebner Road.

When deputies arrived, they found a woman suffering from multiple cuts. She was taken to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Investigators said deputies then spotted a man climbing down from the woman’s apartment using a ladder. Authorities chased the man and eventually took him into custody.

It is unclear what led up to the stabbing or what charges the suspect may face.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Dominique Dawes, a three-time Olympian and Olympic gold medalist, is opening the first Texas location of her Dominique Dawes Academy in Jersey Village on May 30, 2026. The new facility will offer the Academy’s signature gymnastics and ninja-style training programs for children as young as 18 months through high school age.

A milestone for Texas families

The Jersey Village opening marks a significant expansion for the brand, which has set a goal of reaching 50 academy locations nationwide within the next five years. A second Houston-area location in Spring, Texas, is already slated to open in late summer 2026.

• Flood Zone Maps

“Jersey Village is a very family-centered community,” said Dawes, founder of Dominique Dawes Academy. “We are so excited to open our doors here and create a space where kids feel encouraged, supported, and inspired to grow.”

More than gymnastics

The Academy’s programs are designed with more than athletics in mind. Certified coaches and an experienced management team will lead classes focused on skill development, confidence-building and character development — meeting children at every level, from first-timers to more advanced young athletes.

“Our goal is to create spaces where kids feel safe to take risks, learn from setbacks, and ultimately find their own success,” said Adam Zeitsiff, CEO of Dominique Dawes Academy. “Opening in Jersey Village allows us to become part of a close-knit community while offering families a high-quality, values-driven option for youth fitness.”

• 8 riders rescued from stuck roller coaster at Galveston’s Pleasure Pier

Early registration perks

Families don’t have to wait until opening day to secure their spot. Early registration is now open at a limited-time fee of $10 — a significant discount from the regular $75 registration fee. Early registrants will receive:

• Priority access to class schedules and enrollment
• Invitations to private pre-opening classes
• A VIP pass to the Grand Opening Celebration, where families can meet Dominique Dawes in person
• An opportunity to join a live virtual meet-and-greet with Dawes

Spots are limited, and the Academy encourages families to register early to be among the first to experience its programs in the Houston area.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked a temporary injunction issued by a federal district judge in Austin, who wrote in December that the restrictions in Texas’ law likely violated the First Amendment. The 5th Circuit panel did not explain its reasoning for issuing the decision, which can still be reversed by the appeals court in the future. 

Senate Bill 2420, which was supposed to activate on Jan. 1, establishes age verification requirements and mandates parental consent before a person under the age of 18 is allowed to download or make purchases within apps. The law also requires app developers to say whether their apps are appropriate for people in four categories: children under 13, teens aged 13-15, older teens aged 16-17 or adults 18 or older. 

Its supporters say the law is needed to protect children as they navigate social media and online spaces, while critics say it would violate free speech rights. Louisiana and Utah have passed similar laws that have not yet gone into effect. 

The Computer & Communications Industry Association, a tech trade group, and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, an advocacy group, filed separate lawsuits in October challenging the law, both arguing it violates the First Amendment. 

U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman sided with the plaintiffs in December, finding the law likely violates the First Amendment and issuing the temporary injunction blocking the law while the full case plays out in the district court.

“The Act is akin to a law that would require every bookstore to verify the age of every customer at the door and, for minors, require parental consent before the child or teen could enter and again when they try to purchase a book,” Pitman wrote in a 20-page ruling at the time. 

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office appealed the temporary injunction in late December.

Paxton earlier this month urged the appeals court to allow enforcement of the law, arguing the state has the right to regulate transactions between minors and app marketplaces that take place in the state, according to court filings. 

Paxton’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The plaintiffs earlier this week urged the court to uphold Pitman’s injunction, arguing SB 2420 “restricts an enormous amount of online speech” in violation of the First Amendment. 

Students Engaged in Advancing Texas in a statement Thursday noted its members use app marketplaces to access apps used to communicate and learn, and the organization itself uses apps to engage with its members and the public.

“Students have just as much a right to access information as adults, and this law denies them that access,” Cameron Samuels, co-founder and executive director of SEAT, wrote in a statement.

The Computer & Communications Industry Association said they were confident the law would ultimately be blocked, despite the setback.

“Texas’s App Store law threatens the First Amendment rights of app stores, app developers, parents and younger internet users,” CCIA Litigation Center Director Burke Kappler wrote in a statement.

Thursday’s ruling is only an administrative stay, temporarily blocking the lower court’s injunction of the law until a further review by the 5th Circuit.  

Disclosure: Apple and Google have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Police held 30 students overnight for questioning. Authorities said school administrators would face disciplinary action for safety violations after an exit door was found to be locked during the panicked rush to escape the building. At least 79 people were injured.

Education Minister Julius Ogamba said two teachers were aware that students were planning something but failed to take appropriate action, without elaborating.

A full day after the blaze, some parents said they had still not been told whether their children were under arrest or just being questioned.

“We have not even been told about the eight that police have arrested,” a parent, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of fear that her daughter could be victimized, told The Associated Press. “We are just here and no one is giving us any information.”

At a hospital morgue some 28 kilometers (18 miles) from the school, other parents awaited DNA tests to identify their children. A distraught father, John Muiruri, said they were being given conflicting information about the location of the bodies.

“They have just been doing some sideshows, trying to prevent us from knowing the truth, but the reality we have come to know is that we have lost our children," he said. “What we want to know is where are the remains of our daughters.”

The Utumishi Girls School, located about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from the capital, Nairobi, is managed and sponsored by the police, and many of the students are daughters of police officers.

“Investigators have conducted extensive interviews with students, teaching staff and other witnesses, while forensic teams carry out a detailed review of available CCTV footage,” John Marete, a spokesman for the investigative arm of the national police, said in a statement.

Education Minister Ogamba said the school's board of management had been dissolved and the principal would face disciplinary action for failing to comply with safety regulations.

“In particular, there was congestion in the dormitory and one exit door was locked, contrary to the prescribed safety requirements,” he said.

Fires at schools have long been a cause of concern for education officials in East Africa, where classrooms and dormitories are often crowded and firefighting equipment is rarely within reach.

Fires are sometimes attributed to electrical faults but there have also been cases of students burning down schools because of disciplinary issues.

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Associated Press journalist Zelipha Kirobi in Gilgil, Kenya, contributed.

The release of the funds was a signal of Brussels’ embrace of the new government in Budapest after the 16-year tenure of Viktor Orbán, who was allied with Russia and antagonized the EU.

The agreement, announced during a media briefing in Brussels on Friday by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, capped off weeks of negotiations between Magyar’s government and the EU to release the crucial funding that is badly needed by Hungary’s slumping economy.

Magyar called the deal “a historic breakthrough” for the nation, and said that his government was "very grateful, and we are ready to continuing cooperating together in the interest of the Hungarian people and all the European citizens.”

Partly by campaigning on forging stronger ties with the EU, Magyar's earthquake success in the April election ended the long tenure of Orbán, who had vilified von der Leyen and other powerbrokers in the 27-nation bloc as he hollowed out institutional checks and balances in Hungary.

Those actions, and concerns over corruption and the erosion of judicial independence, prompted the EU to freeze the billions in funding to Budapest in 2022. A year later, the commission found that the government had carried out sufficient reforms to have around 10.2 billion euros ($12.1 billion) released.

On Friday, von der Leyen said that only a few weeks since Magyar's new government took office, "we can already feel a strong wind of change across Hungary.”

“A great deal of work has already been achieved in very short time, and markets are already taking notice. Investors confidence is returning. Trust is being rebuilt,” she said.

After Magyar's party Tisza won a super-majority in parliament, which enabled deep and quick reforms, leaders in Brussels and Budapest prioritized releasing the funds as soon as possible to help Hungary's economy, which has stagnated for years.

The funds are split between 10 billion euros ($11.6 billion) of COVID-19 recovery funds and more than 6.3 billion euros ($7.3 billion) in the cohesion funds designed to lift up struggling economies within the EU.

Magyar's government has undertaken crucial changes like restoring judicial independence, academic and media freedom, and launching broad anti-corruption efforts in order to get access to the money.

On Friday, Magyar formally submitted Hungary's request to sign on to the European Public Prosecutor's Office, the EU’s corruption watchdog based in Luxembourg that Orbán's government had long refused to join.

He told reporters that Orbán's government — which frequently portrayed the EU as an oppressive force bent on punishing Hungary for its anti-immigration and anti-LGBTQ+ policies — had “lied to the Hungarian people constantly" about why the funds had been frozen.

“The real reason the European institutions and the European Union were not in a position to release (the funds) was corruption,” he said. “There was a degree of corruption that for a long time was unthinkable in the European Union, and in Hungary as well.”

Von der Leyen also announced deeper integration of Hungary into EU institutions. For example, Hungarian students will once again be able to join the Erasmus scholarship program that allows students to attend schools across the EU, an opportunity that had been suspended under Orbán.

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Justin Spike reported from Budapest, Hungary.

Sudan Doctors Network, a group that tracks violence across the country, blamed forces affiliated with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces for carrying out the attacks on Thursday on villages in al-Murrah area located west of Barah town in North Kordofan.

It said the attacks worsened already “catastrophic humanitarian conditions that citizens are enduring due to the ongoing war."

A full-scale war erupted in April 2023 after long-simmering tensions between the army and the Rapid Support Forces escalated. The Kordofan region has become one of the conflict’s main epicenters, with fighting intensifying on several fronts, including through drone warfare.

The paramilitary RSF and its allies control the western Darfur region and areas in the Kordofan region along the border with South Sudan — both regions rich in oil fields and gold mines. The RSF also repeatedly clashed with the army over Barah.

Thursday's attacks were carried out during the second day of Eid al-Adha or “Feast of Sacrifice,” an Islamic holiday celebrated by millions of Muslims around the globe.

The doctors' network said in its statement that “targeting villages and civilian areas and liquidating citizens in this horrific manner constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.”

North Kordofan's governing administration condemned the attacks in a statement on Friday and said that “such crimes will only increase the citizens’ unity behind the armed forces in defense of the security and stability of the state and Sudan in general.”

Earlier this month, intense clashes in southern Sudan in South Kordofan between forces linked to the rebel group Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North and the Otoro tribe killed over 61 people, including nine children. Last week, a drone strike on a bustling market in central Sudan killed 28 people and wounded dozens more.

The war in Sudan broke out in April 2023 after long-simmering tensions between the army and RSF erupted into a full-out war. The conflict has killed at least 59,000 people, displaced some 13 million, and pushed many parts of the country into famine. More than 30 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Both of Sudan’s warring sides have been accused by the United Nations and rights groups of committing atrocities, including ethnic cleansing, extrajudicial killings and sexual violence against civilians. Aid groups say the true toll could be much higher as access to areas of fighting across the vast country remains limited.

“Sleeping by the Lion Carpet,” regarded as one of Freud’s masterpieces, is going up for sale at Sotheby’s on June 24, with a presale estimate of 25 million pounds to 35 million pounds ($33 million to $47 million).

Tilley hasn’t seen any of the millions that the portraits have fetched at auction. But she doesn’t regret a thing.

“It did change my life,” Tilley told The Associated Press as she sat in front of the 7 ½-foot (2.3-meter)-high nude image of herself in the auction house showroom. “Who would have thought I’d be in Sotheby’s?”

“Sleeping by the Lion Carpet,” painted in 1996, is the last of Freud’s four monumental portraits of Tilley reclining, resting or dozing. An earlier painting, “Benefits Supervisor Sleeping,” sold at auction in 2008 for $33.6 million, at the time a record for a living artist.

“I was thrilled I was in ‘The Guinness Book of Records,’” said 69-year-old Tilley, who has a rich laugh and an air of delight at the twists her life has taken. “Unfortunately, it didn’t say my name. There was a picture and it said ‘Benefits Supervisor.’ But I was still thrilled that it was there.”

Cups of tea and paint everywhere

Freud, a grandson of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, is famed for fleshy nudes of friends, family and the artist himself. He slathered oil paint to capture his subjects’ mottled skin tones in portraits that are both unsparing and warm. He even painted Queen Elizabeth II — fully clothed. By the time of his death aged 88 in 2011, he was the most acclaimed British portrait painter of the 20th century.

His reputation has only grown since. Another picture of Tilley, “Benefits Supervisor Resting,” was auctioned in 2015 for $56.2 million. In 2022, his painting “Large Interior, W11” sold for $86 million.

Tilley met Freud through her friend Leigh Bowery, the late Australian performance artist, who also posed for the painter. She recalls “trudging up the stairs” to Freud’s London studio for sittings that involved plentiful tea and chitchat, punctuated by a good lunch. Each portrait was the product of months of work.

“Sleeping by the Lion Carpet,” Tilley says, “was the most comfortable one, because I was sitting up in a chair. Lying down on the sofa looks comfortable, but after a while it got a bit painful.”

Freud painted his friends, lovers, children and colleagues, and the results are bold and exposing. Tilley says that has never bothered her.

“I’m not really vain,” she said. “Sometimes I get out of bed in the morning, and I look at my legs and go, ‘Oh, they look just like that painting.’”

She loved the messy energy of Freud’s studio, where “he used to make you a drink and whisk it up with a dirty old paintbrush, and there was paint absolutely everywhere. I’d go home and there’d be bits of paint all over me.”

Tilley was part of a 1980s and '90s London creative scene, alongside figures like Bowery, who ran the avant-garde Taboo nightclub and died in 1994 aged 33. She says she enjoyed Freud’s tales of an earlier Bohemian era.

“I used to love hearing about when he was roaring around in a Rolls-Royce open top with Cecil Beaton and Marlene Dietrich and goodness knows (who), and when he met Judy Garland,” she said. “I used to love getting the stories of his youth and his misbehavior.”

Freud's ‘magnum opus’ up for sale

Tilley is unperturbed that her image is ending up in the hands of the ultra-wealthy. “Benefits Supervisor Sleeping” was bought in 2008 by Roman Abramovich, the then-owner of Chelsea Football Club, who was sanctioned by the U.K. after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

“Sleeping by the Lion Carpet” is part of a June 24-25 sale from the collection of British billionaire Joe Lewis, the former majority owner of Premier League soccer team Tottenham Hotspur, which is still owned by his family. Also going under the hammer are works by Henri Matisse, Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele and others, collectively valued at more than 150 million pounds ($201 million).

There's a chance “Sleeping by the Lion Carpet” could set a new record. Oliver Barker, chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, describes it as Freud’s “magnum opus.”

“This is a painting that during his lifetime was very much described by Lucian as being the apogee of everything that he was trying to achieve as a painter,” Barker said. “The market knows, and it’s very savvy, it wants to go for the best of the best — and this is it.”

Tilley, who is retired and lives on England's south coast, says Freud “gave me a couple of etchings, and then I sold them, because I’d rather have the money, and I went on holiday.”

She says she doesn’t regret Freud not leaving her one of the paintings. Her place in art history is secure.

“When I was younger, I used to read art books the whole time and read all about the Pre-Raphaelites and the Impressionists, all the goings on, how they’re all friends and interconnected and all the models knew each other," she said.

“And now, I’ve only just realized, I’m part of that. And that’s thrilling for me that I’ve achieved my ambition without really knowing it.”

If you’re trying to find out what the new draft flood maps mean for your property or community, these meetings will explain how to search the maps and interpret the results.

The Harris County Flood Control District has scheduled four additional virtual public meetings where residents can hear updates, ask questions, and provide feedback about the proposed floodplain changes.

Officials say the meetings are part of the agency’s broader effort to keep residents informed as FEMA updates flood risk maps to reflect increased rainfall, development, and flood mitigation projects completed throughout the county.

Emily Woodell, chief external affairs officer for the Harris County Flood Control District, told KPRC’s Deven Clark the updated maps account for increased rainfall, development across the county, and large-scale mitigation projects, including channel widening, bridge replacements, and expanded stormwater detention along bayous like Brays Bayou.

The district is encouraging residents to review the maps carefully and attend one of the remaining meetings.

Upcoming Virtual Meetings:

• May 29, 2026 — 12:00 p.m. (register here)

• June 8, 2026 — 12:00 p.m. (register here)

• June 23, 2026 — 4:30 p.m. (register here)

• July 1, 2026 — 12:00 p.m. (register here)

Residents can also register for meetings and review project materials through the Harris County Flood Control District website.

Search FEMA proposed Houston area flood maps

You can review floodplain changes using the county’s interactive online mapping tool.

CHECK MAP: Click here to search your address in the map

The Flood Control District says the draft maps currently carry no regulatory implications, but community input remains critical during the review process.

According to district officials, some neighborhoods are seeing an expansion of floodplain boundaries due to updated rainfall data, while others are being removed from floodplain zones because of major infrastructure improvements completed in recent years.

Projects across Harris County have included bayou widening, bridge replacements, and expanded stormwater detention systems designed to reduce flood risk.

Officials say public feedback gathered during the meetings will help shape future flood mitigation planning and project development throughout the county.

Then he listened to pronouncer Jacques Bailly, and his dour body language vanished as he nodded vigorously, his tell that, yes, he knew the words he was asked to spell. All of them.

“Once I get the word,” Shrey said, “I'm not really nervous anymore, because then it's all in my control.”

Shrey arrived as a favorite and walked away as a National Spelling Bee champion Thursday night, outlasting a deep and experienced group of finalists and beating Ishaan Gupta in a lightning-round tiebreaker that looked like it was over as soon as Shrey raced through his first word.

His final tally: 32 words spelled correctly in 90 seconds, a record for the shootout-style finish that was first used in 2022.

“I was counting and I'm like, OK, this is more than 30,” said Shrey's mother, Khyati Mehta. “And at that point, I'm like, ‘I think this is it.’"

Ishaan battled gamely, getting 25 words right during the spell-off, but he was more deliberate and hesitant from the start. The competitors stood next to each other as Scripps officials announced what everyone in a lively crowd at Constitution Hall already knew, and Shrey turned and shook Ishaan's hand.

After Sarv Dharavane bowed out in third place for the second consecutive year, Shrey and Ishaan had only one conventional round before the buzzer for the spell-off was placed on the stage. Ishaan was escorted away — the tiebreaker is the only time spellers get the same words — and Shrey had a last bout with nerves as he stood there for five minutes while crews tried, and failed, to fix a technical glitch with the buzzer.

“That was really, like, scary for me,” he said.

The spell-off moves so fast that it’s impossible to tell which word secures the title, but Scripps later announced that “bromocriptine” — a polypeptide alkaloid that mimics the activity of dopamine — was the winner. Shrey could get a dopamine hit from the winner's haul of $52,500 in cash, a custom trophy and a package of prizes.

He becomes the 31st of the past 37 champions with Indian heritage, a run that began with Nupur Lala's victory in 1999.

Bouncing back from a school bee stunner

A 14-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga, California, Shrey took an unusual route to the title. He finished third in 2024, but last year he was absent. He missed his regional bee, too — because, woozy from a virus that caused a fever, he blanked on the word “calipers” and bowed out of a competition that any speller of his talent would consider child's play: the spelling bee at Day Creek Intermediate School.

“Right now I’m probably the happiest I’ve ever been. I’m just so happy and relieved, and just such a flood of emotions,” Shrey said. “At my school bee last year, I was really dejected and just very upset. It didn’t even sink in until the next day. I had a really tough time, but I’m glad I was able to bounce back.”

After a few months off, he rededicated himself, seeking every edge he could find through coaching and study guides. In online bees against many of the same spellers he faced this week in Washington, he won again and again.

“Whenever I would quiz him, he would take notice of his missed words. He'd analyze every missed word he had, try to figure out why he missed it,” said Sohum Sukhatankar, a co-champion in 2019 who coached Shrey along with Sam Evans and Vijaya Ganesh. “All the time I coached him, he'd never miss a word twice.”

Evans, who has worked with each of the past three champions, said Shrey's work ethic stood out.

“I’ve really never seen someone put this much effort into spelling bees, into learning everything that he possibly can,” Evans said. “Shrey is relentless.”

A high-quality final comes to an abrupt end

The spell-off will never be popular among bee purists who prefer to see the final two contestants go head-to-head for as many rounds as it takes. Because it emphasizes speed and memorization, it lacks the intrigue of watching a speller work out the intricacies of a tricky word with odd vowel patterns or sneaky double consonants.

“It's a perversion of many values that I and many in the spelling community hold dear,” said Navneeth Murali, who competed through 2020 and now coaches. “I think everyone would have liked to see a duel, but it looks like the spell-off is here to stay. It’s something that we’ll have to adapt to.”

A stout, experienced group of nine finalists showed off their skills by going 18 for 18 at the start, breezing through the first spelling and vocabulary rounds. Aiden Meng ended that streak when he was tripped up by “catometope” to start the second spelling round.

Then the crowd gasped when the bell rung on two thought to be capable of winning it all: Oliver Halkett for “Faesulae” and Zwe Spacetime for “vaesite,” words with tricky combinations of origins and vowel sounds.

Oliver and Zwe are eighth-graders, which means they have now aged out of the competition. Sarv, a 12-year-old sixth-grader from Dunwoody, Georgia, has two years of eligibility left to try to repeat Shrey's achievement of going from third to first. Ishaan, a 12-year-old seventh-grader from Jersey City, New Jersey, can try again next year too.

The bee’s move from a suburban convention center to Constitution Hall was a point of contention for spellers and their families because of inconveniences it caused. But Thursday's finals had a lively atmosphere, with more intimate seating and better sight lines bringing the crowd closer to the action, and the broadcast got a reboot with ESPN's Mina Kimes hosting alongside longtime analyst Paul Loeffler.

Though the way Scripps determined the champion will be debated — and Shrey didn't even get the winner's usual shower of confetti — there was no doubt he was deserving.

“When it comes to competition, he goes all the way,” said his father, Gaurav Parikh.

Or, as Evans put it: “He's got that dog in him.”

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This story corrects the spelling of Gaurav Parikh’s first name

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Ben Nuckols has covered the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2012. Follow his work here.

According to the Houston Fire Department, crews responded around 3:49 a.m. to the rear of a building in the 7500 block of Westheimer Road near South Voss Road.

Investigators say the driver of a garbage truck was emptying a recycling dumpster into the truck when she heard a man screaming for help from inside.

The man reportedly told the driver he had injured his legs, prompting her to call 911.

Firefighters used an aerial ladder and a Stokes basket to pull the man from the back of the garbage truck. Video from the scene showed crews carefully lifting him out before transferring him to a stretcher.

HFD said the man was conscious and alert during the rescue and was able to assist firefighters as he was moved onto the stretcher.

He was transported to a hospital for treatment. His condition has not been released.

Officials say the dumpster contained cardboard and no valuables. It remains unclear why the man was inside the dumpster or whether he may have been dumpster diving or homeless.

The incident remains under investigation.

Iran did not immediately confirm any deal. Vice President JD Vance on Thursday evening confirmed there was a tentative agreement, but said it was unclear if President Donald Trump would approve it.

“It’s hard to say exactly when or if the president’s going to sign," Vance told reporters.

He added: “We’re going back and forth on a couple of language points.”

The emerging memorandum of understanding came as the fragile ceasefire in the war between the U.S. and Iran appeared to be wavering. The latest flare-up in fighting happened less than a day earlier, when Kuwait intercepted missiles fired from Iran, according to U.S. Central Command.

Proposal addresses Strait of Hormuz

The memorandum makes clear that Iran will not be able to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz and that Iran will have to remove all mines from the vital waterway within 30 days, according to the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

During the war, Iran has effectively closed the strait, which had been the conduit for about a fifth of the world's traded oil and natural gas. Its closure has sent oil prices skyrocketing around the world. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicted Thursday at a news briefing that the cost of oil could “come down very quickly” once a deal is finalized.

Iran has said it's letting some commercial vessels pass — about two dozen daily in recent days, compared with more than 100 a day before the war — but the Islamic Republic also has charged tolls for at least some ships. It set up a formal gatekeeper agency earlier this month, spurring a new round of U.S. sanctions this week.

Under the tentative agreement, the U.S. would gradually lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports and would also agree to relax sanctions, allowing Iran to sell more of its oil.

Yet even as word of the potential deal emerged, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed additional sanctions on the Iranian military's oil sales arm. The new penalties, first reported by The Associated Press, extend the Trump administration’s economic pressure campaign on the Islamic Republic.

Details of the tentative pact were first reported by the news outlet Axios.

Nuclear issue remains unresolved

Among the first issues to be negotiated during the 60-day ceasefire is what will happen to Iran’s highly enriched uranium, the first official said. The Islamic Republic has 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium that is enriched up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Vance suggested on Thursday evening that negotiators were trying to strike general terms on the highly enriched uranium settled in the tentative agreement, with the specifics to be hammered out in the ensuing talks.

Vance said the continued back and forth involved “a couple of issues on the nuclear stuff, the highly enriched stockpile, and also the question of enrichment.”

Iran has not publicly committed to giving up the stockpile. It is believed to be buried under a trio of nuclear sites that were badly damaged by U.S. airstrikes last year.

Nuclear analysts have said that Iran might consider China or Russia, which have close relations with Tehran, to be a potential acceptable third party to take possession of the enriched uranium. But Trump said Wednesday that he “wouldn’t be comfortable” with such a plan.

Though Trump and his team said from the start of the conflict that one of their prime objectives was to ensure that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, Vance framed the war's accomplishments as something far less definitive.

“We’re in a position where we could substantially set back their nuclear program, not just during the term of this president but over the long term,” Vance said. "That’s a very very good thing for the American people.”

Iran, which has long maintained its program is peaceful, has insisted that any deal must include an end to Israel’s military operations in Lebanon against the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah. Tensions deepened Thursday in Lebanon as Israel conducted an airstrike on a southern suburb of the capital, Beirut, and other strikes in the southern coastal city of Tyre. At least 14 people were killed across the country’s south.

Kuwait reports an attack

Kuwait announced that its air-defense systems intercepted incoming missiles and drones on Thursday, without detailing what had been targeted. Iran said it had retaliated for strikes earlier in the week by firing on a U.S. base in a Gulf state it did not name.

The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry condemned Iran for what it called “blatant aggression," and U.S. Central Command called the attack on one of America’s top allies in the Persian Gulf an “egregious ceasefire violation.” Kuwait repeatedly came under fire from Iran and Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Iraq before the April ceasefire began.

The exchange took place after U.S. officials said late Wednesday that American forces launched more strikes on Iran, shooting down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the strait and hitting an Iranian ground-control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard acknowledged the attack around Bandar Abbas International Airport and said via the state-run IRNA news agency that it launched a retaliatory attack on the air base that launched the assaults. The Revolutionary Guard did not specify whether the response targeted Kuwait, which houses U.S. Army Central’s forward headquarters, air bases and a naval base.

On Monday, the U.S. said it conducted what the Pentagon called “self-defense” strikes on missile launch sites and minelaying boats in southern Iran.

Although they have traded strikes and accusations of ceasefire violations, Washington and Tehran have not returned to full-scale hostilities and keep negotiating.

Vance said that, “Ceasefires are always a little messy” but it’s “very much holding."

Later Thursday, Iran's defenses destroyed “a hostile aircraft” around the southern city of Jam, the area's governor, Masood Tangestani, told state broadcaster IRIB. No other information was immediately available.

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Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank. Associated Press writers Konstantin Toropin and Matthew Lee in Washington and Jennifer Peltz and Farnoush Amiri in New York contributed to this report.

According to Lt. Pulido with the Houston Police Department, officers responded around 10:20 p.m. to a shooting call at 2323 South Kirkwood Road near Southlake Drive.

When officers arrived, they found a man unconscious and unresponsive with a gunshot wound. Houston Fire Department crews responded to the scene and pronounced the victim dead.

Investigators say the victim and the suspect knew each other and had gotten into an argument before the shooting.

Police said the suspect remained at the scene and waited for officers to arrive before being taken into custody.

As of the latest update, the suspect had not been formally charged. Homicide detectives and the crime scene unit continued investigating the scene overnight.

The Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office removed the victim’s body from the scene around 3:15 a.m.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Federal investigators say cybercriminals are creating convincing copycat websites that mimic FIFA’s official site in an attempt to scam people searching online for World Cup tickets, hospitality packages, job opportunities, and other tournament-related information.

According to the FBI, many of the fraudulent websites look nearly identical to the real FIFA webpage and use web addresses that are only slightly different from the legitimate domain.

MORE ON AVOIDING WORLD CUP SCAMS: The Ticket Queen’s guide to avoiding scams buying FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets in Houston

Some use misspellings, while others swap out the traditional “.com” ending for different domain extensions in hopes users will not notice the difference.

Officials say the goal is to trick visitors into entering sensitive information such as names, home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and even banking details.

In some cases, scammers are also advertising fake World Cup tickets and bogus hospitality offers.

The FBI says the tactic, commonly known as “typo squatting,” relies on users accidentally clicking or typing incorrect website addresses.

Examples include fake domains that closely resemble FIFA’s official website but contain extra letters, altered spellings, or unusual endings.

Investigators say they have already identified dozens of suspicious domains connected to the scam and expect more fake websites to appear as the World Cup draws closer.

Here are the domains the FBI listed in a press release:

• www.fifa[.]cab
• www.fifa[.]pink
• www.fifa[.]blue
• www.fifa[.]pub
• FIFA[.]city
• Fifa[.]bio
• fifa[.]beer
• fifa[.]click
• fifa[.]cam
• fifa[.]ceo
• fifa[.]help
• filfa[.]org
• fifa-online[.]com
• https://fifa-2026[.]xyz
• jobs-fifa[.]com
• fifa-hr[.]com
• fifa-careerhub[.]com
• fifaworldcup-careers[.]com
• fifa-hiring[.]com
• fifahiring[.]com
• fifa-ticket[.]live
• fifastore.us[.]com
• fifaworldcup26[.]sale
• fifaworldcup26.xcover-staging[.]com
• worldcup2026-tickets.com[.]mx
• worldcup26ticket[.]com
• 2026fifaworldcuptickets[.]online
• fwc2026[.]net
• fwc2026.web[.]app
• www.fifa2026p[.]com
• fifa2026fworldcup[.]com
• wvvw-fifa[.]com
• ww-fifa[.]com
• fifa-com[.]com
• www.fifa-com[.]services
• quiniela-fifa-2026.pages[.]dev

The FBI recommends typing FIFA’s official website address directly into a web browser instead of relying on search engine results or online advertisements.

Officials also advise users to bookmark legitimate websites, avoid entering sensitive information on unfamiliar pages, and carefully check URLs before making purchases.

Anyone who believes they may have interacted with one of the fraudulent sites or shared financial or personal information is urged to file a report through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with Houston set to serve as one of the tournament’s host cities.

I hope you’ve had a great week so far. It’s Friday, so let’s jump into some news of the day!

Do you want to go to the FIFA World Cup games that are coming to Houston next month? If so, be aware of fake FIFA websites that are designed to steal your personal information and money.

We are learning from the FBI that cybercriminals are creating convincing copycat websites that mimic FIFA’s official site in an attempt to scam people searching online for World Cup tickets, hospitality packages, job opportunities, and other tournament-related information.

According to the FBI, many of the fraudulent websites look nearly identical to the real FIFA webpage and use web addresses that are only slightly different from the legitimate domain.

Some use misspellings, while others swap out the traditional “.com” ending for different domain extensions in hopes users will not notice the difference.

To read more, click here.

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YOUR MORNING FORECAST ☀️

TODAY: 91° TONIGHT: 74°

KPRC 2 Meteorologist says:

“Enjoying the sunshine? Houston’s weather pattern did a complete 180 this week. After days of consistent downpours, sunshine and heat continue to settle in for the weekend. Enjoy it while it lasts because rain will return next week.”

Get your forecast details here.

TOP STORIES

20-year-old man killed in northeast Harris County shooting; teenage girlfriend may have been involved, deputies say

An investigation is underway into the deadly shooting of a 20-year-old man after police say he got into an argument with his teenage girlfriend. It’s not entirely clear how or why the man was shot, but police said the man’s 17-year-old girlfriend did return to the scene for questioning

8 riders rescued from stuck roller coaster at Galveston’s Pleasure Pier

Crews have successfully rescued eight people who were on a roller coaster that got stuck after a malfunction at Galveston’s Pleasure Pier.

The roller coaster is the Iron Shark.

The rescue process involved getting each rider into a safety harness before bringing them down the tower truck. Rescue crews were talking and directing the riders the entire time while they got them off the ride.

Man shot and killed after argument in west Houston, police say

Houston police are investigating a deadly shooting that left a man in his 20s dead late Wednesday night in west Houston.

According to Lt. Pulido with the Houston Police Department, officers responded around 10:20 p.m. to a shooting call at 2323 South Kirkwood Road near Southlake Drive.

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Let’s jump straight into the news of the morning.

A lot has been happening in Houston lately, from elections to rain nearly every day. We’ve been keeping you updated on all fronts, so let’s continue. If you haven’t heard and may be traveling soon, you may be subject to Ebola testing, but only if you’re traveling from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport has been designated as one of three U.S. entry points for travelers arriving from countries affected by an Ebola outbreak.

Under the order, certain non-U.S. citizens who have recently been in those countries are temporarily barred from entering the United States. In contrast, U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents must enter through designated airports, including Houston.

To read more, click here.

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YOUR MORNING FORECAST ☀️

TODAY: 89° TONIGHT: 72°

KPRC 2 Meteorologist says:

“We can finally say goodbye to widespread rain! Today will be the start of a new pattern! There will be less rain and fewer storm chances until next week. With more sunshine and less gloom through the weekend, temperatures will heat back to the upper 80s and low 90s.”

Get your forecast details here.

TOP STORIES

Montgomery Co. Pct. 5 deputy suspended after allegations of posting arrestee photos on Snapchat

A Montgomery County Precinct 5 deputy has been suspended after allegations surfaced that he shared pictures of an arrestee, including a photo of her driver’s license, on Snapchat following a traffic stop and arrest.

In a press release released Wednesday, Precinct 5 officials said the administration became aware of allegations involving a deputy “sharing pictures of an arrestee and a picture of their driver’s license on social media for unknown reasons.”

Texas is getting a massive new state park, and it will be the second largest in the state

A massive stretch of Texas Hill Country is officially becoming a new state park, and it’s set to be one of the biggest outdoor destinations in the entire state.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department announced Wednesday that nearly 54,000 acres in Edwards and Kinney counties have been acquired to create Silver Lake State Park, which will become the second-largest state park in Texas behind only Big Bend Ranch State Park.

Houston man charged with murder after allegedly shooting ex-girlfriend’s husband during child custody exchange

A man has been charged with murder after authorities say he shot and killed another man during a child custody exchange in northeast Houston on Tuesday, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the shooting happened in the 12700 block of Blue Timbers Court.

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. In contrast,

Deputies responded to a shooting call around 9 p.m. in the 14800 block of Woodland Hills Drive near Beltway 8.

When deputies arrived, they found a 20-year-old man unconscious and unresponsive with at least one gunshot wound. EMS crews responded to the scene and pronounced him dead.

Investigators say witnesses reported hearing a man and woman arguing moments before gunshots rang out. Witnesses also told deputies they saw a dark-colored vehicle leave the area shortly after the shooting.

While deputies were still on scene, a 17-year-old girl returned in a dark vehicle and told investigators she was present when the victim was shot.

According to HCSO, the victim and the teen girl were in a dating relationship, but neither lived at the apartment complex where the shooting happened.

Homicide detectives spent hours overnight interviewing witnesses, canvassing the area for surveillance video and collecting evidence.

Investigators say they have not recovered a firearm, and it is still unclear how many shots were fired.

Authorities believe the teenage girl may have been involved in the shooting, but no charges have been announced at this time.

Deputies say it is too early in the investigation to determine whether the shooting may have been an act of self-defense.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Jim Wallingsford drove his white Chevy truck one morning last month down North Walnut Street in Lacy Lakeview, dodging potholes on his way to inspect a repair project on a sewer lift station.

As public works director for this Waco suburb of 8,000 residents, Wallingsford is always triaging the city’s needs: Cracked and cratered streets, aging pipes and pump stations and the old water tower, which needs a $1 million facelift.

“I want to be a good steward of the City of Lacy Lakeview with the money I’m given to spend,” he said. “So I give everything a weighted scale and I base it off of the likelihood and consequences of failure.”

Lacy Lakeview, population 8,000, is typical of many small Texas towns that lack the resources to keep up with streets and pipes that are wearing out. Most of that infrastructure in Lacy Lakeview was installed more than 50 years ago. And the longer maintenance is deferred, the faster it deteriorates.

Mayor Chuck Wilson has pointed to the city’s maintenance backlog to justify the pursuit of a data center. He wants to partner with Infrakey to develop and annex a proposed $10 billion data center north of town near Ross.

That development represents tax base that would increase Lacy Lakeview’s tax base enough to increase city tax revenues from $6.5 million to $50 million a year. But the project has drawn a backlash from neighbors of the Infrakey site, as well as from some Lacy Lakeview residents, who just elected data center opponent Amy Gage to the City Council.

As Wallingsford sees it, the city needs new development, or the existing taxpayer and utility ratepayers will be on the hook for improvements.

“Everything that we purchase is going up, literally,” he said. “The only other solution is that we have to have a rate increase just to be able to keep up.”

Wallingsford stopped his truck at the Meyers water pump station, which was under repair after it was observed to be leaking.

“The consequence of them failing is pretty high but their issues aren’t critical and they continue to operate,” he said. “The city only needs one pump to operate and we have three, so there’s a backup.

“At the end of the day when something fails, we go back and work off of the plan.”

Wallingsford, a former city of Waco staffer, said utility infrastructure like this typically has a 50-year lifespan, and the ideal practice in public works is to set aside 2% of the system’s cost each year for replacement.

“I haven’t worked for a city that’s ever done that,” he said.

Even more visible is the wear and tear on Lacy Lakeview’s 30 miles of city streets. Asked which ones need to be repaved, he didn’t hesitate.

“All of them,” he said. “They all need to be done. I’d say we have about 15 critical streets” that need to be repaved.

The city is now repairing and reconstructing streets using a $9.5 million bond issue that voters approved in 2024. To save money, the city is using its own workers and equipment to grind up and recycle pavement, which is then compacted and resealed.

Among the most critical projects is Walnut Street, which is being reconstructed along with replacement of water, sewer, fiber optic and gas utilities under the street. That project is to be completed in February 2027.

This article first appeared on The Waco Bridge.

The eruption on May 29, 2006, was likely triggered by commercial gas drilling by a local exploration company, according to scientific research, contradicting an Indonesian government minister at the time who insisted it was a natural disaster.

Residents gathered to remember those killed, and the homes and neighborhoods they once lived in before boiling mud slowly swallowed them up in the Porong subdistrict in Sidoarjo.

For years, experts have been searching for ways to slow the spread of the sludge. But all measures, including the construction of holding dams, to stop it have failed. The volcano continues to erupt to this day.

The 14 deaths included a worker who was killed in August 2006 when the digger he was using fell off a levee, and the 13 other victims died in November 2006 when an underground gas pipeline beneath one of the holding dams exploded.

Tens of thousands of residents were displaced after losing their homes, land, jobs and even their ancestors’ graves.

One resident, Sastro, 55, lost his house and his former job as a factory worker. The factory where he worked was submerged in mud, along with thousands of other structures within the 572-hectare (more than 1,400-acre) sea of mud.

Twenty years later, he now works as a motorcycle taxi driver, ferrying visitors on daily trips to the site, which has become a tourist destination in East Java.

“As far as I can tell, things have been really tough ever since the Lapindo incident,” said Sastro, who like other Indonesians uses a single name.

Local mining company PT Lapindo Brantas was exploring for gas in the area of the disaster in May 2006.

Indonesia’s president at the time, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, ordered the company to pay $420 million in compensation to villagers who lost their homes and to help the government fund its emergency operations.

However, the government subsequently provided emergency financial assistance to compensate the affected victims. While Lapindo Brantas did provide some aid, it was a fraction of the total.

After two decades, white smoke can be seen billowing from the center of the mud lake, indicating that hot mud is still erupting from the vent. Excavators dredging the bottom of the mud pond have become a common sight.

Aerial photographs show the vent as a small dot in the middle of the vast expanse of the mud lake. That dot marks the vent that caused one of the largest and longest-lasting disasters in Indonesia.

The mud flow has affected more than 1,100 hectares (around 2,700 acres) as it submerged 19 villages across three subdistricts.

To this day, many survivors still face issues. They include environmental contamination, health and civil registration problems, and the uncertainty of life left in the wake of the disaster, said Lucky Wahyu Wardana, from the Indonesian Forum for Living Environment, or WALHI, in East Java.

“The Lapindo tragedy must serve as a lesson for the government to stop relying on extractive industries, as the costs of the impact far outweigh the benefits.

“Not only have lives been lost, but children who once lived in the affected areas have lost their future and face health consequences,” Wardana said. “In addition, many parents have lost their sense of history regarding their origins and hometowns.”

___

Edna Tarigan reported from Jakarta.

Police said Jacob Baker, 36, of Pahoa, Hawaii, was arrested on suspicion of murder, burglary and other charges following a search that involved “significant resources," including help from state and federal authorities. They described him as “armed and extremely dangerous.”

Authorities said they believe Baker is involved in the deaths of three men: a 69-year-old man found partially submerged in a cement pond, a 79-year-old man who was found just a few hundred feet (meters) away, and a third man, also 69, whose body was found about 19 miles (31 kilometers) away.

The killings took place over two days in a remote and mostly rural part of the island, which is the largest in the Hawaiian chain at more than 4,000 square miles (10,360 square kilometers). The area is a mix of tropical landscape and barren lava fields.

Police received information Thursday afternoon that Baker was hiding in a grassy area, ducking down as traffic passed, Hawaii Police Chief Reed Mahuna said at news conference after the arrest. Police found him hiding in a small cave and arrested him.

Deborah Davis was driving home when she slowed down near where one of the people killed had lived. That’s when she saw a policewoman chasing a man running on the road.

“I just stopped and I’m thinking, this is it, this is the guy,” she said.

The man ran into a grass driveway and into the jungle. After some yelling, several officers emerged with a shirtless man in handcuffs. She said officers were giving each other high-fives and shouting, “chee hoo,” a celebratory yell common in Hawaii.

“They were very happy,” she said. “And I was very grateful. I was thanking them with tears in my eyes.”

Police said they had not identified a motive but were confident Baker was involved in all three killings. Mahuna did not release information on how police identified Baker as a suspect or what evidence may connect him to the killings. He said investigators had not found any connections among the victims, other than two of them lived near each other.

Women accused Baker of threats and harassment

The slayings happened just days after two women requested temporary restraining orders against Baker, saying he had threatened and harassed them at a farm. One woman was staying there and the other co-owned it. A judge denied both applications, saying there was not enough proof of harassment.

One of the women claimed in her petition that Baker threatened to kill several women who were staying on the property, and caused a number of them to move or end their stays. She included a link to a video that allegedly captured at least one threat, but the link had either been removed or was incorrect as of Thursday.

The other woman alleged that Baker threatened women and a disabled man, and said he would trespass on the property, take things that didn’t belong to him and said his intention was to squat on the property.

No attorney was listed for Baker, who had 20 other cases in the court record in the past two decades, many of them traffic infractions. In most of those cases, Baker represented himself.

3 men found dead over 2 days

Police identified the first victim as Robert Shine and the third victim as John Carse. The name of the 79-year-old man was pending positive identification. Autopsies show Shine was strangled, and Carse died from “sharp force trauma,” police said.

On Monday night, police found Shine at a residence partially submerged in a cement pond, Mahuna said. On Tuesday, the 79-year-old man was found dead with apparent blunt force injuries shortly after 12:30 p.m., Mahuna said.

Later Tuesday, at around 10 p.m., police responded to a property about 19 miles (31 kilometers) away on a welfare check request and found Carse dead.

Stephen Shaffer said Baker had lived on his ex-wife's property in Puna, where they grow fruit, and Baker climbed coconut trees for her. But after several months, he said, she sought a temporary restraining order against Baker. Shaffer said he didn't know details of their falling out, only that his ex-wife felt threatened by Baker and wanted him to move out.

“He just seemed to me kind of angry,” said Shaffer, who lives in a separate dwelling on the same property. He added that others in the area were concerned about Baker but didn’t elaborate.

Donald Hyatt, who is friends with two of the men killed and Shaffer’s ex-wife, said Baker left the cabin he was living in on the property months ago.

“He left the place in disarray,” Hyatt said. “Trash inside and out.”

Baker returned recently claiming “squatter’s rights,” and threatened Shaffer's ex, Hyatt said. Hyatt urged her to seek a restraining order.

Puna, on the eastern side of the island, is a largely rural but fast-growing area known for affordable land. It's also an area where lava flows have wiped out entire communities over the years.

Residents on edge

Before the arrest, Puna resident Tiffany Edwards Hunt said many in the community were on edge. She said she had never seen so many police cars in Puna.

Many in the area live in poverty, she said.

“We have people who live in blue tarps in a jungle in makeshift homes,” Hunt said.

Puna is just 17 miles (27 kilometers) from Hilo, east Hawaii’s main town, but with unpaved roads in many parts of Puna, it can feel farther away, she said.

“In that remoteness, you have lawlessness,” Hunt said.

___

Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut, and Lauer from Philadelphia.

Among the dozens of companies taking part, including well-known players like Boston Dynamics and Toyota Motor Corp., the big stars now were clearly the Chinese.

Chinese newcomers, like Booster Robotics and LimX Dynamics, took the technology initially developed in Japan and the U.S. and fine-tuned it, often for cheaper mass production. It’s a repeat of what happened in other Japanese industries, from consumer electronics to cellphones and electric vehicles. In humanoids, Japan was initially ahead but then failed to produce major commercial solutions.

Tim Hornyak, author of “Loving the Machine: The Art and Science of Japanese Robots,” who was at the event, categorized it as the so-called “Galapagos syndrome,” referring to how innovative Japanese products evolve in isolation and end up not translating for the international market.

“I really hope that Japan can come up with a Ford Model T-version of humanoid roots. But I think China has already stolen their lunch. It’s a bit too little too late,” he said.

The dancing and wiggling Mini Pi Plus robot from High Torque of China, for instance, still can’t help at an auto plant or do your dishes. But it’s cute. And it doesn’t come with an eye-popping price tag, starting at $5,500.

Chinese robots are dominating

One telling example of Chinese robotics use in Japan was GMO, a Tokyo-based AI and robotics company working on a humanoid with camera eyes that will help with Japan Airlines cargo and other chores at an airport.

The key is to have the robot do the work in the same way as people so they would be interchangeable, an initiative meant to tackle the labor shortage problem that is increasingly serious in Japan.

The inner robotics workings were all courtesy of Unitree, a Chinese outfit, which is also working on a four-legged dog-like “stellar explorer.”

Experts say Japan, with its finesse in manufacturing, proved a good breeding ground for robotics development. The sociological backdrop of a public receptive to robotics also helped.

A recent Pew global survey showed that people in Japan are highly aware of AI but are less anxious about it, at about 28%, than people in the U.S. at 50%.

Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co., a leader in robotics with its walking humanoid Asimo, first shown in 2000, was demonstrating a motorized four-fingered robotic hand that could screw on and off tiny bolts, or thread a needle.

It didn’t seem to bother Keisuke Tsuta, assistant chief engineer, that similar mechanical hands were on display galore near his booth, many of them from Chinese makers.

Japanese robotics show their prowess

The technology Honda had developed is more durable and powerful than rival offerings, and the Japanese have historically shown they can excel at quality mass production, according to Tsuta.

The looming threat of a Chinese robotics domination didn’t seem to phase Osaka University Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro, who has worked on humanoids for decades, including one that’s his clone.

“What’s significant is that Japan has a culture that’s receptive to robotics. If we’re going to really start using robots in society, Japan is the ideal place,” he said, stressing that Japanese don’t discriminate against robots.

His robotic counterpart, dressed all in black like the professor, did as good a job, if not better, of answering a key existentialist question on the meaning of robots.

“I think robots will coexist with people. Robots are the mirror of human beings,” the robot replied in a slightly monotonous but human-like voice.

Earlier, the professor had answered a similar question, but a bit differently.

“No one is interested in me. All everyone cares about is my robot,” he said, sitting next to his twin-like humanoid.

“As long as people identify with what I have produced, I am a success,” he added. ___

Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama

Animals use various techniques to navigate including following the stars and remembering key landmarks. Birds, fish and turtles orient themselves using Earth's magnetic field as a compass. But it's not yet clear how exactly they do this.

Pigeons are a well-known group of frequent flyers that can traverse hundreds of miles (hundreds of kilometers) in a single day. For thousands of years, humans have used them to carry news, notes and military messages.

Scientists have long tried to untangle how pigeons travel without getting lost. Some think the birds detect magnetic cues using light-sensitive molecules in their eyes, while others suggest it happens in the beak or inner ear.

“The magnetic sense has been this mystery for almost 100 years,” said Martin Wikelski with the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany.

In a new study, Wikelski and other researchers decided to draw back the curtain on pigeons' navigational secrets. They searched for magnetic clues in the birds' organs and found a strong signal in an unexpected place: the liver.

Specialized immune cells in the pigeon's liver break down red blood cells and store iron. When scientists temporarily stripped pigeons of those immune cells and let them fly, the birds “just couldn't find their way,” said Christian Kurts with the University of Bonn in Germany. That suggested the iron-rich liver cells might play a role in their sense of direction.

The birds' magnetic compasses only got scrambled on overcast days. That's because they also use the sun as a navigational guide.

Scientists have previously wondered whether immune cells could be involved in magnetic sensing, but the new study published Thursday in the journal Science is the first to present a full-fledged theory.

“I would never have guessed it, but once it was explained to me, it makes sense,” said behavioral ecologist Albert Kao with the University of Massachusetts Boston, who had no role in the study.

The immune cells are located near nerve fibers in the liver. That might be how they transmit their “magnetic sense” to the brain “and help the pigeons to navigate,” said study co-author Clivia Lisowski with the University of Bonn.

The researchers think other birds and animals like mice could operate using a similar magnetic GPS. But outside experts say more work is needed to verify the pigeons navigate this way and to firm up how these signals get to the brain. While the researchers found the strongest magnetic signal in the pigeons' livers, such immune cells have also been spotted in other areas including the beak and spleen.

It's possible this magnetic puzzle doesn't have a single answer, wrote veterinary pathologist Simon Spiro and biologist Hal Drakesmith in an accompanying editorial. The birds could use different techniques to sense magnetic fields depending on the task, be it traveling long distances or finding a specific destination.

“Indeed, it could be prudent to have more than one way of getting home in the dark,” they wrote.

—-

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Blue Origin said its New Glenn rocket exploded during an engine-firing test being conducted ahead of a satellite launch planned for next week. No one was hurt, according to officials at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

“It’s too early to know the root cause but we’re already working to find it," Bezos said via X. "Very rough day, but we’ll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It’s worth it.”

The massive New Glenn was grounded in April after it left a satellite in the wrong orbit because of engine failure. It was only the third flight of the rocket that Blue Origin intends to use to launch landers to the moon for NASA, including the landers that will take astronauts to the lunar surface.

The company had been on track to launch a prototype lunar lander to the moon on a flight test this fall. Earlier this week, the space agency awarded Blue Origin a contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars to launch a pair of moon buggies in the next few years as part of the Artemis program.

“Spaceflight is unforgiving, and developing new heavy-lift launch capability is extraordinarily difficult,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said via X. He promised to provide information on any impacts to the Artemis program, including the moon base that he recently outlined.

Homes shook in nearby Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach around 9 p.m., with residents turning to social media to wonder what happened. Launch Complex 36 is visible from the beach, and the internet quickly filled with photos of an orange fireball.

The rocket was supposed to blast off next week with internet satellites that are part of the Amazon Leo constellation in orbit.

Emergency crews remained more than an hour after the explosion. Officials stressed there was no threat due to fumes or other potential hazards.

Space Force officials said the explosion would not affect upcoming launches by other companies from other pads. United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket is due to blast off Friday night with a batch of Amazon Leo satellites, the same kind that this rocket was supposed to take up.

SpaceX's Elon Musk, who's had his own share of rocket explosions, offered his condolences. “Sorry to see this, I hope you recover quickly,” he told Blue Origin via X.

Towering at 321 feet (98 meters), New Glenn made its debut in 2025. It is named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, and is much bigger and more powerful than the New Shepard rockets that have carried tourists to the fringes of space from Texas.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

In a press release released Wednesday, Precinct 5 officials said the administration became aware of allegations involving a deputy “sharing pictures of an arrestee and a picture of their driver’s license on social media for unknown reasons.”

Department officials said their policies prohibit deputies from sharing images obtained while performing official duties and confirmed the deputy has been placed on suspension pending the outcome of an investigation.

The allegations stem from the arrest of 22-year-old Raven Walker, who said she was pulled over Wednesday night for an expired registration before being arrested on a controlled substance charge involving a THC vape pen.

• Houston man charged with murder after allegedly shooting ex-girlfriend’s husband during child custody exchange

Walker said after being handcuffed and placed in the back of the patrol car, she noticed the deputy using social media while driving her to jail.

“He was opening up Snapchat and responding back to them while he was driving,” Walker said.

According to Walker and her sister, Hailey Walker, they later learned screenshots allegedly from the deputy’s private Snapchat story included a picture of Raven Walker’s driver’s license and booking-related images.

Hailey Walker said a coworker alerted her after recognizing Raven in a Snapchat post allegedly shared by the deputy.

“She got a Snapchat from him the night before,” Hailey Walker said. “It stated, ‘Do you know this chick?’ and it had a picture of her identification card and all of her personal information. None of it was blurred out.”

The sisters said they filed a complaint with the constable’s office Wednesday morning.

KPRC 2 also obtained the department’s social media policy through a public information request. The policy states employees are prohibited from posting or sharing recordings or images obtained while engaged in law enforcement activities without authorization.

• Houston-area families warned about moving scams as peak moving season begins

The policy also warns employees against posting material that could negatively reflect on the department or violate professional standards.

Hailey Walker said the situation has raised concerns about whether similar images involving other arrestees may have also been shared privately.

“Who knows how many other people he’s done this to?” she said.

The Precinct 5 Constable’s Office said the investigation remains in its early stages and additional information is limited while investigators gather evidence.

Smalley, still seeking his first PGA Tour victory, had one of a bevy of bogey-free 5-under 65s on Thursday and was one of 12 players a shot behind six first-round leaders.

Lee Hodges, among those who had to sit through a two-hour weather delay during his round, finished with a bogey at the par-4 ninth. He was at 64 along with reigning U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun, Ryan Gerard, Andrew Putnam, Tom Kim and Matt McCarty, who birdied No. 9 two groups ahead of Hodges.

It's the second-most leaders after 18 holes at Colonial behind the eight atop the leaderboard in 2022.

Keegan Bradley, Brian Harman, Jordan Smith, Ricky Castillo and Luke Clanton matched Smalley with five birdies and no bogeys. The other six players at 5 under included 2019 U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland and eight-time tour winner Billy Horschel.

There were another 13 players at 4 under, putting 31 players within two shots of the lead at Hogan's Alley. Defending champion Ben Griffin, whose won three times last year, was 2 under.

“It’s one of my favorite courses we play all year because I don’t think there’s any one person that it caters to,” Hodges said. “You don’t have to bomb it. You’ve got to have your whole game here. I think it’s a great test of golf.”

Smalley finished three shots behind Aaron Rai at the PGA, tied with Jon Rahm after leading by two through 54 holes. The Duke alum spent the next few days focused more on travel plans for the U.S. Open and British Open than his return to Texas.

Smalley found that his Lone Star State vibe is still a good one. He is on a six-tournament run of finishing 21st or better. The first two were in Houston and San Antonio, followed by a tie for second in the team event in New Orleans.

The PGA finish matched that career best, and Smalley finally picked up a golf club again last Thursday, then picked up where he left off at Colonial. Four of his five birdie putts were inside 5 feet, including a 134-yard approach to inside a foot at the par-4 15th.

Colonial is tough when it's dry and windy, but it's neither right now in North Texas. Plenty of recent rain has been accompanied by calm winds.

“We would throw grass up and it was kind of coming right back down to our feet,” Smalley said. “So definitely more of the scorable conditions I’ve seen around here, but still not an easy golf course. To have no bogeys on the scorecard anywhere is nice, especially here.”

Kim, a South Korea native who lives in Dallas, is the closest thing to a hometown favorite with top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth skipping Colonial for the first time since the Dallas residents became household names. Both cited busy schedules.

Kim twice had the lead by himself at 7 under, but bogeyed the par-4 fifth and followed a birdie at the sixth hole with another bogey at No. 7, his 16th.

Hodges went in front with five birdies in a six-hole stretch to start his back nine, but he had to punch out of the rough at No. 9 and ended up missing a long par putt.

Gerard made all 17 of his putts inside 15 feet, finishing with eight birdies and two bogeys. Putnam's bogey-free round included four birdies over his final eight holes, which were on the front nine.

“It was nice to get a couple putts to go in,” said Gerard, whose only tour victory came at last year's Barracuda Championship, seven years after Putnam's only tour win at the same event. “I know the stats are probably going to lean more putting, but I’ve been hitting my driver really well.”

Harman, the 2023 British Open champion playing Colonial for the 13th consecutive year and 14th time in 15 years, ran off third birdies over four holes early and had two more on the first three holes of his back nine.

“I love playing golf in Texas, man,” said Harman, who has two top 10s at Colonial. “I love this weather. I like it hot. I like the course a lot. It’s holding up pretty good for itself. The greens are soft and the scores are still, there’s nothing crazy out there.”

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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

A white cargo plane with aid donated by the European Union delivered masks, gloves, boots and medications, which all are in short supply, to the northeastern town of Bunia at the heart of the outbreak in Congo's Ituri province. U.N.-branded forklifts lifted several cases into trucks.

Health workers with scant supplies have been struggling to contain an outbreak of the Bundibugyo virus, a kind of Ebola that has no approved treatment or vaccine. In some areas, doctors have resorted to wearing expired medical masks while treating suspected patients.

Dangers faced by health workers have been heightened by anger among residents over the stringent medical protocols for dealing with the bodies of victims, which clash with local burial rites. Residents have launched at least three attacks against health centers in Ituri province.

Congolese Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said that during outbreaks people in remote communities can feel overwhelmed by an incoming flood of information and people.

“We’ve seen in every epidemic that there’s always resistance,” Kamba said. "Communities always ask themselves, ‘What’s going on?’ And in epidemics like this one, it is really risk communication and community engagement that ultimately change perceptions.”

Aid donated by the EU is expected to arrive in batches over the next eight days, said Jérôme Kouachi, head of emergency operations at UNICEF in Congo.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was on his way to Congo to witness the efforts. The WHO has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, in the hope of ramping up aid.

The United States on Thursday said it is increasing aid to Congo and Uganda by $80 million, bringing its commitment to more than $112 million since the outbreak.

The additional money would pay for personal protective equipment for health care workers, Ebola test kits, support for health screening at airports and contact tracing, the U.S. State Department said.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, the Africa Centres for Disease Control director-general, said the organization on Monday believed it had secured funding pledges of nearly $500 million toward Africa’s emergency response, but as of Thursday afternoon the amount had dwindled to $290 million as partners withdrew or reduced pledges.

He also said the Africa CDC hoped to have treatments and a vaccine for the Bundibugyo virus by the end of the year and there were some vaccine candidates already in the works.

The Congolese government has confirmed more than 1,000 suspected cases, with at least 220 deaths, since it declared an outbreak on May 15. But the virus had been spreading undetected for weeks and the WHO suspects it is much larger than what has been reported.

The virus also has reached neighboring Uganda, which has confirmed seven cases and one death.

On Wednesday, the Congolese government said the first survivor to recover from the virus had left a health center.

“We are trying to catch up,” Congo Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner said earlier this week. “It is a race against the clock.”

The ground response has been hampered by multiple challenges including customs' red tape, insufficient storage facilities, bad roads and weak telecommunications, humanitarian agencies said in a report Thursday.

Tedros on Wednesday called for a ceasefire in a region where armed groups have staged violent attacks for decades.

“We cannot build community trust or isolate the sick while bombs are falling,” he said.

Tucked in the northeastern part of Congo close to the Ugandan border, Ituri province has been reeling from attacks by the Allied Democratic Force, a rebel group allied with the Islamic State group, and a coalition of ethnic militias. In early May, the ADF killed at least 40 people and burned several homes in Ituri.

The illness also has been reported in the Congolese provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, south of Ituri, where the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group controls many key cities including Goma and Bukavu. The rebels have reported two cases.

The region’s main airport in Goma, which doubles as a staging ground for humanitarian efforts into the region, has been closed since January 2025, when M23 seized the city.

The conflict has precipitated one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with at least 7 million people displaced in eastern Congo.

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Ope Adetayo reported from Lagos, Nigeria. Mathew Lee contributed from Washington and Mogomotsi Magome contributed from Johannesburg, South Africa.

Stroud had a similar exchange with coach DeMeco Ryans, who enthusiastically hugged the former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Sporting a shorter haircut that he grew up with and drew unwanted attention earlier in the offseason, the Texans’ quarterback also sported a transformed physique. Through dedication to his training regimen and a stricter, healthy diet emphasizing lean protein and vegetables and cutting out sugar and heavy carbs, Stroud is noticeably leaner and appears more mobile.

Running back Woody Marks told KPRC 2 recently that Stroud is running faster times in the Texans’ conditioning program and might be in line for an increased running role this season.

In the wake of a rocky playoff performance with five interceptions and five lost fumbles in two postseason games, including a career-high four interceptions in a loss to the New England Patriots in January, Stroud has used the setback as motivational fuel.

“I think I’m a motivated person, regardless of how we ended or how I did,” Stroud said. “Of course, that definitely helps, but I really learned in my life that you got to learn to let failures go, let successes go just as quick as you would do a win. You got to learn from it and move on, so that’s what I did.”

As much praise as has been heaped on Stroud this offseason from Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, Cal McNair and Hannah McNair and teammates, the team is not planning to engage with Stroud in long-term contract negotiations this year, per league sources. They are expected to try to extend Stroud next offseason depending on how he does this season, per league sources.

The Texans exercised a $25.9 million fifth-year club option to secure Stroud through the 2027 season.

The Texans have rewarded several of his teammates with new market-setting deals, including All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. becoming the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history with a three-year, $150 million extension and All-Pro corner Derek Stingley Jr. a year ago with a three-year, $90 million extension. However, Stroud’s long-term future with the Texans remains in limbo.

Although Stroud emphasized he believes he has earned a new deal, he isn’t making waves.

“I mean, I let my agent handle it,” said Stroud, who is represented by David Mulugheta of Athletes First. “If it’s time to do it, then it is. My job is football, that’s what I focus on is just getting better. I think I’ve held my bargain up on that end, so whatever happens, happens. I’m excited to be a Texan this year and go from there.”

Ryans previously addressed the contractual limbo for Stroud.

“The contract things, I always tell guys, they take care of themselves, so there’s never a need to panic or do anything different, you just keep improving as a player,” Ryans said. “You keep working on your craft, you keep doing all those things behind the scenes that you know improves your game, the contracts and those things will take care of themselves.”

And Texans principal owner Cal McNair said that he’ll leave contract talks to general manager Nick Caserio and wants to keep those communications behind the scenes.

“We’re fully committed to C.J.,” McNair said. “We exercised his fifth-year option, and so we’ll see how it all works out.”

The Texans like what they’re seeing from Stroud.

After an early interception as Stroud was picked off by nickel Jalen Pitre, the former second overall pick and consensus All-American from Ohio State was nearly flawless. He threw three touchdown passes in a red-zone competition against the Texans’ top-ranked defense. He frequently connected with tight end Dalton Schultz. And he looked confident while doing so, even with Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins held out of the full-team drills on a designated rest day.

“C.J. is doing a great job all offseason,” Ryans said. “It’s probably the first time he’s had a full offseason. He’s been dedicated to the work. He’s done a really great job of, first and foremost, just being here, being accountable, owning the reps, doing a great job of communicating with the staff, with the players.

“He’s doing a great job of just taking more ownership of the offense. I am just excited to see what this season entails for him, because he’s having a really great start to it being here in the offseason.”

When Stroud struggled mightily against the Patriots at a snow-covered Gillette Stadium, criticism rained down on him. Social media was a particularly tough environment as Stroud was the subject of mean-spirited jokes and harsh questions about his future. The interceptions and turnovers in the playoffs were uncharacteristic of how he normally played.

When Stroud decided to cut off his dreadlocks he had worn for his first three NFL seasons, the California native said he heard people were speculating that he was depressed.

That wasn’t the case, though.

“I honestly didn’t see the reactions,” Stroud said. “I was told that people thought I was, like, depressed or that I wasn’t doing okay. But I’ve been thinking about cutting my hair for a long time and I was actually going to do it months prior, but I just didn’t know how my helmet was going to fit, so nothing really too serious.

“I’m kind of used to this haircut, it’s how I grew up, the dreads were kind of a new thing. I hate how everything in my life is so public and people just have narratives, but it’s the life I’ve chosen to live, so it’s all good. But, yeah, I like my haircut. Everybody says I look younger, so I hope that’s true. I try to grow a beard, it’s a little scruffy, but I’m getting it right.”

Stroud has stayed out of the spotlight this offseason. That was intentional. He didn’t do podcasts, as he had in the past after his ultra-successful rookie year.

He didn’t travel quite as much. He stayed focused on his work and spending time with his family and a tight inner circle. He was working out at the Texans’ training facility by early March.

“Just being me,” Stroud said. “I didn’t really switch anything crazy. I just kind of got back home, got to work, and just stayed around my tribe and my village. I just focused on my family, my friends, and just getting myself away from football for a while and picked it back up and started to work hard.

“I think every year, every offseason, I kind of attack it better. Just because when you’re young, you really don’t know better. You don’t really get an offseason in college, so you get to the NFL you have to learn every year what’s for you.”

And the Texans, while Stroud remained focused on the task at hand, worked diligently to upgrade the supporting cast around him.

The Texans were missing a legitimate running game last season. So, they traded for powerful running back David Montgomery and signed him to a two-year, $16.5 million extension. The arrival of Montgomery should allow the Texans to build a punishing run game and become a better red-zone and play-action offense.

They retained right guard Ed Ingram on a three-year, $37.5 million contract and former Pro Bowl swing tackle Trent Brown with a one-year, $7 million deal. They signed left guard Wyatt Teller to a two-year, $23 million deal and right tackle Braden Smith to a two-year, $25 million contract during free agency. They drafted offensive guard-center Keylan ‘Big Red’ Rutledge in the first round out of Georgia Tech.

“I’m excited to have the new guys,” Stroud said. “I’m grateful that we’re beefing up the offensive line. We’ve got some guys in here who’ve played a lot of meaningful ball and they want to compete and they want to help me and they want to help this offense.

“They want to help the Texans. So, I’m very excited to have them and I think we’re trending up, we’re getting better and we’re attacking a lot of the things that we need to. Those guys are doing nothing, but just adding to it.”

They named Jerry Schuplinski as quarterbacks coach, replacing Jerrod Johnson. And they extended tight end Dalton Schultz on a one-year, $12.6 million deal. This week, they signed Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins to an upgraded contract that adds $17 million in raises over the next two years.

Stroud definitely appreciates the reinforcements, and the financial commitment to the offense.

“I think we’ve taken a huge step from where we were last year to where we are now,” Stroud said. “Even in practice, we’re competing. We’ve got guys that want to play ball, want to do the right things, who have been here. I think the culture is starting to pick up on offense and we’re starting to get it together.”

And the Texans have set their ambitions on a Super Bowl after losing in the AFC divisional round each of the past three seasons under the leadership of Ryans and the tenure of Stroud. The Texans are determined to reverse their disappointing playoff outcomes.

“You just grow and evolve,” Stroud said. “I learn a lot that I can’t give you like specifics, but I would prefer to keep those things to myself. I just grow as a man, grow as a man of God, grow as a teammate, as a leader, as a son, as a brother.

“Every single aspect of my life I try to learn and grow and never try to think that I’ve arrived or that I’ve just failed enough to where I can’t get back up. So, it’s just things I try to get better at.”

#Texans DeMeco Ryans bullish on C.J. Stroud, excited about him @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/VF0VehTpYB

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 28, 2026

Collins is seeing encouraging signs from Stroud. He sees a big season unfolding.

For his career, the former second overall pick, consensus All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist from Ohio State has completed 63.8 percent of his throws for 10,876 yards, 62 touchdowns and 25 interceptions.

“Different guy, different dude, man on a mission,” Collins told KPRC 2 during his annual youth football camp. “Man, he’s ready to hunt.”

Marks sees a similar approach from Stroud, who has been training with his teammates in Houston throughout the offseason conditioning program.

“Yeah, he’s been there since March 2, since we started the offseason workout, he’s been grinding,” Marks said. “Got a new look. He kind of told me the end of the season that he was going to cut his hair. I wasn’t believing it. He’s been working.

“Just seeing the quarterback, the leader of the team out there working in the offseason, not working somewhere else, putting in work at where he belongs at and that’s in Houston. He’s been doing a tremendous job. He got bigger and stronger. His times when we were running outside, he’s getting faster. I’d say he should be using his legs a lot this year, too.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com

Game 7 is Saturday night in Oklahoma City, with the winner hosting the New York Knicks on Wednesday night to open the NBA Finals.

Wembanyama and the Spurs responded to a listless 127-114 loss in Game 5 on Tuesday night with their most energized outing of this see-saw series.

“(Playing with desperation) just feels like it erases kind of all the little mistakes that we do that are human nature, whether it’s in the regular season or previous games,” Wembanyama said. “Just got to fight that all the time and put your backs against the wall. It feels like it’s the best opportunity to be able to play.”

Dylan Harper had 18 points, Stephon Castle added 17 and Devin Vassell had 12 points and two thunderous blocks for San Antonio.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was limited to a team-high 15 points on 6-for-18 shooting for defending champion Oklahoma City.

“I just think all of our focus and attention was on the defensive end,” Castle said. “I don’t think scoring against them has been a problem for us. I think just our self-infliced mistakes, like turnovers and allowing them to get offensive rebounds and easy buckets is what slows us down."

The Thunder were scoreless for eight minutes in the third as the Spurs ran off 22 straight points to make it 92-64 with 56 seconds left in the quarter.

“I don’t know that it was necessarily anything we did wrong,” Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said. “I thought we were ready to play. I felt confident going into the game, and I felt confident at halftime. It had the makings of a road win if we could be the team that threw the punch in the third and they were the team that did that.”

The average margin of victory has been 15.3 points, with the Spurs winning by an average of 18.3 points.

Wembanyama has been at the forefront of all three victories.

The 7-foot-4 star joined Hall of Famers David Robinson and Tim Duncan as the only players in franchise history with five games of 25 points and 10 rebounds in a single postseason.

Wembanyama made his first two shots — both 3-pointers — and blocked Gilgeous-Alexander’s layup in the first 1:27 as San Antonio took a 9-2 lead.

“I think we were consistent and we did what we needed to do,” Wembanyama said. “Trusted the game, trusted the basketball gods.”

Wembanyama had 11 points, five rebounds an assist and a block in the opening quarter.

The series remained physical and contentious, with the Thunder's Chet Holmgren jawing with and bumping into Vassell after the Spurs' wing blocked the 7-footer’s dunk attempt in the second quarter.

Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams returned after reinjuring his hamstring in Game 2 and missing the next three games. Williams was limited to one point on 0-for-1 shooting in 10 minutes.

Holmgren had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

There was the long robe that the San Antonio star wore to his home arena on Thursday night, done to celebrate an Islamic holiday but also reminding some of his look last summer at a Shaolin temple he visited while seeking physical, mental and spiritual growth. There was the freshly cropped hair, another sign that he was all business.

“I’d seen a picture pregame,” Spurs guard Devin Vassell told NBA TV afterward. “I knew he was locked in from there, for sure.”

Sure enough, on the court, Wembanyama was back to his dominant self as well.

Facing an elimination game for the first time in his career, Wembanyama — who had a fiery pregame address for teammates, something he doesn’t typically do — seemed as comfortable as could be. He had 28 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and two assists, on 10-for-21 shooting in 28 minutes, leading the Spurs past the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-91 to tie the Western Conference finals at 3-3.

“I think we were consistent,” Wembanyama said. “And we did what we needed to do.”

Game 7 is Saturday night in Oklahoma City, the place where Wembanyama started this West title series with a 41-point, 24-rebound masterpiece that carried the Spurs to a double-overtime win. If he gets another win on Saturday, he and the Spurs will be heading to the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks.

From the outset, Wembanyama’s imprint was on Game 6. After winning the opening tip-off, his next three plays went like this — made 3-pointer, blocked shot, another made 3-pointer. The tone was set, and the Spurs never trailed.

It was a very different approach from Game 5, when Wembanyama had 20 points on just 4-for-15 shooting.

“I would say his overall activity,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said, when asked to describe the biggest differences between Games 5 and 6 for his biggest and best player. “That, probably from my perspective, was just from his will and intent on leaving his imprints on the game.”

Wembanyama got most of the fourth quarter off, with the game having long been decided. Game 6 wasn’t over, but it’s a safe bet that he was already thinking about Game 7. Harrison Barnes, the team’s third-oldest player, was in Wembanyama’s ear during the fourth quarter on the Spurs’ bench, offering some wisdom.

He spoke. Wembanyama nodded. Whatever the message was, it was clear.

“Listening to the experienced people, whether it’s on our team, on our staff or outside,” Wembanyama said when asked what’s the first thing he thinks of when preparing for a Game 7.

The robe that he wore to Thursday’s game, he confirmed in French during his postgame news conference, wasn’t an homage to his time last June in China at the Shaolin temple — but rather to celebrate Eid al-Adha, an Islamic holiday. And during that same French portion of his remarks, he was asked if he can take a moment to even contemplate how far the Spurs have come.

Short answer: no.

“I have absolutely no desire to do that right now,” he said.

The formula for this series held true again Thursday. When Wembanyama is the most dominant player, the Spurs have won. When he isn’t, they’ve lost. Good hasn’t been good enough — in the three Spurs losses, he’s averaged 22.3 points on 43% shooting. In the three Spurs wins, he’s averaged 34 points on 51% shooting.

“He’s not always perfect and we’ve got to help him at times, obviously,” Johnson said. “He’s 22 years old, but his passion and desire for being right where he is and at the forefront of it all and to take the responsibility and the role and the burden of what he does ... I don’t know what else to say. He is comfortable with that regardless of the outcome and what that may look like.”

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

The Palm Beach County Sherriff’s Office said Thursday that deputies responded just after 3 a.m. to the scene of an apparent suicide at the family’s furniture store in Lake Park, Florida. The office said the victim was believed to be Lemieux, who was found in a rear warehouse by one of his sons.

The NHL Alumni Association announced Lemieux’s death in a post on social media.

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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org

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Just three days ago, Lemieux was the Montreal Canadiens’ torch bearer prior to Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final at Bell Centre. Former teammate Chris Nilan reposted a photo of him, Lemieux and Sergio Momesso from the arena with the message: “You never know when you’re going to see someone for the last time. Rest in Peace, Mon Ami.”

“Today is a dark day for the Canadiens family and the entire hockey community," Canadiens owner Geoff Molson said. “A fierce competitor who rose to the occasion in big moments, Claude was a relentless, courageous and tenacious player who led the team to the highest honors. He embodied the very essence of being a Montreal Canadiens player. Today we mourn the untimely passing of one of our champions. Our thoughts are with his family on this difficult day.”

President Donald Trump, in a post on social media, called Lemieux a “true Legend of the Game and one of the fiercest competitors Hockey has ever seen." He described Lemieux as a tremendous Trump supporter, saying he ”will be missed by all who love Winning and Toughness."

As a player, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Lemieux was a bruising mix of talent and abrasiveness, not afraid to cross the line in the name of competition over 21 seasons in the NHL. He wound up with nearly 400 goals, about the same number of assists and nearly 1,800 penalty minutes, the epitome of a guy you wanted on your team but dreaded facing on the ice.

“Just hard-nosed, hard-nosed player,” said Montreal coach Martin St. Louis, a former star for Tampa Bay. “When I played against Claude, you had to fight for every inch on the ice with him. He competed hard. He always toed the line. He was a hard player to play against.”

Lemieux won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after scoring 13 goals in 20 games for the New Jersey Devils to help them win their first championship in 1995.

A year later with the Colorado Avalanche, he was suspended for two games for a hit from behind on Detroit's Kris Draper that fueled one of the nastiest rivalries in the history of the NHL. Lemieux returned to score the first goal in Game 3 of the final against Florida on the way to the Avalanche sweeping the Panthers to win the Stanley Cup for the first time in their first season since moving from his native Quebec.

Darren McCarty, a truculent member of the Red Wings who had multiple fights with Lemieux, posted a broken heart emoji on social media and heard the news from Draper. McCarty said Lemieux the person was totally different than the player, and the two later met for an interview with smiles about their clashes.

“Sad day: another brother gone," McCarty said in a video message posted to YouTube. "If you’re struggling out there, no matter what, just reach out for some help. It can never be that bad. It’s a sad day, no matter what. Rest in peace, Claude.”

Colorado president of hockey operations Joe Sakic, who was teammates with Lemieux on the Avalanche, said the organization was devastated.

“‘Pepe’ was a terrific hockey player, a fierce competitor and a champion in every way. He was also a loyal friend who would do anything for his teammates and someone you could always count on,” Sakic said. "Gone but never forgotten. Rest in peace my friend.”

Lemieux also won the Cup with Montreal in 1986 and returned to the Devils to be a part of their title run in 2000. He played 1,449 regular-season and playoff games with six different teams from 1983-2009, finishing with Phoenix, Dallas and San Jose.

His 80 career playoff goals rank ninth in league history. Commissioner Gary Bettman called Lemieux “one of the greatest big-game players in hockey history.”

Lemieux had become an agent in the years since his playing career ended and represented Carolina’s Frederik Andersen, New Jersey's Timo Meier, Detroit's Moritz Seider and Boston's Hampus Lindholm among more than a dozen clients in the NHL.

Part of a hockey family, Lemieux's brother Jocelyn and son Brendan also played in the league. Brendan's feisty style over more than 300 games most resembled his father's.

At a gathering in December to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of Colorado's '96 Stanley Cup championship, Lemieux said of winning, “When it’s happening, when you’re in the middle of it, you don’t quite appreciate it as much as you should.” Late former teammate Chris Simon was represented during the on-ice ceremony by his children. He died in 2024 at 52.

“It’s very difficult, and especially with Chris passing at such a young age,” Lemieux said. “We have to count our blessings — be grateful for the days that we have and enjoy and appreciate those times when we get together.”

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Associated Press writer David Fischer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and AP Sports Writers Pat Graham in Denver and Aaron Beard in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this report.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The junior pitcher is already committed to Texas and the future Longhorn helped the pitching staff stay relaxed by playing hacky-sack.

Grant has one final season next year before heading to Austin where he hopes to bring a National Championship to the Longhorns program.

Minutes earlier, deputies raided what law enforcement described as an illegal gaming room operating in plain sight. The operation to shut down the room ended quickly, as one person was arrested and more than 80 gaming machines were seized. The scene was littered with evidence, including cash and a firearm.

However, what 2 Investigates uncovered was a bigger component after the raid: this was not a new location.

“We’ve been here a couple of times,” said Lt. Jeffrey Lee with Harris County Constable Precinct 4, referring to the same location being raided in September of last year.

Law enforcement officials, from investigators to prosecutor, we spoke with over the course of our investigation say these operations have become increasingly common across the Houston area and Texas.

“It’s extremely common. We run these operations numerous times,” Lee said.

Why authorities say these operations matter

Every member of law enforcement, from the courts to the streets, we spoke with during our months-long investigation made it clear that illegal gaming rooms create more than just gambling concerns.

“At its base, these gaming operations prey on the vulnerable members of our community-those on a fixed income, older people-promising these huge payouts that never materialize,” said Lee, who went on to add, “At its wider angle, these are funding operations for much more serious criminal enterprises like human trafficking, drug trafficking, and things like that.”

Criminal defense attorney Rick Detoto, who has experience with these cases, said the locations for these rooms can also become magnets for violent crime

“They are targets.” Detoto went on to add, “There is a lot of cash there, their security is minimal at best, and they go in there and they rob them and people get shot and there are capital murders and aggravated robberies and all kinds of stuff that come out of those game rooms.”

RELATED: Houston police raid Lucky J Social Club in Midwest Houston, arrest several in illegal gambling bust

In February, an illegal game room in Southwest Houston was the site of the shooting death of a security guard during a robbery.

The “8-Liner” loophole

At the center of the gaming controversy are machines commonly known as “8-liners.” These are not unfamiliar machines for Texans, as many can be found inside gas stations, convenience stores, or small strip mall businesses. Under Texas law, certain gaming devices may legally operate if they are considered entertainment-only machines and do not provide illegal cash payouts. In some cases, stores may offer small prizes or store credits instead.

However, critics and elected leaders have asked for clarification from the state, saying some operators exploit a gray area in the law centered around whether a machine is considered a “game of skill” or a “game of chance.”

What is the difference between a game of skill and a game of chance?

As Detoto explained, “A game of chance [is] you press a button and there is a computer program that randomly picks the numbers or the fruit or whatever and you win, compared to a game of skill where it’s based on memory or perception or your timing, where you are kind of playing a game and you have to remember things. That’s the loophole that these people are exploiting, and it’s allowing some of these games to be legally put into these stores.”

RELATED: Warrants executed at 20 locations around Hitchcock believed to be involved in illegal gambling operation

Investigators say some operators allegedly go beyond the legal boundaries by offering cash payouts either privately or openly. 2 Investigates found one machine advertising as much in Fort Bend County.

Detoto said the machines are becoming more common throughout everyday neighborhoods, including his. “I’ve started to notice them every time I get gas,” he said. “I go in to get a Coke or something to drink, water-there are three 8-liners there that weren’t there before.”

Raids, auctions, and recycled machines

Authorities say shutting down illegal game rooms can become expensive for taxpayers due to investigations, raids, manpower, and evidence storage. However, another issue emerged during our investigation: many confiscated machines are not destroyed after they are seized. Instead, there are law enforcement jurisdictions that auction them off.

Investigators confirmed to us that some of those machines seized by other agencies eventually make their way back into circulation because they’ve been made available again, “We do see reintroduction of machines and the equipment that come from these game rooms back in again,” Lee said.

Lee’s constable office does not engage in the practice of auctioning off machines.

How did Detoto describe the system? “It’s a revolving door of law enforcement seizing the machines, waiting until a case gets resolved, selling them, making a profit for the asset funds, and doing it over again.”

Multiple sources interviewed for this story questioned whether current enforcement efforts are actually deterring illegal operations.

• RELATED: Jackpot! Harris County Precinct 4 Constables shut down illegal gaming operation

Detoto said criminal prosecutions tied to 8-liners are relatively rare.

“I’ve never seen, in my experience, anyone go to jail for these 8-liners.” The Houston-based defense attorney added, “The prosecutors don’t have the time to deal with these cases. They are not the most important case on their docket.”

Lee agreed that stronger oversight and penalties may be needed: “There is room for improvement with regards to the oversight, the laws, and the stuff that concerns these gaming rooms-that we could actually enact some stiffer penalties to discourage this behavior.”

When 2 Investigates asked whether Texas lawmakers need to do more, Lee responded: “We would like to see some improvements, yes.”

Calls for legislative change

Texas State Senator Bob Hall, who represents Senate District 2, said the current system leaves too much room for abuse. “We need to do more to make sure that we can shut down and stop the operation of the illegal game rooms,” said Hall, who added, “There is no question about that.”

During an interview at his Dallas-area office, Hall acknowledged that changing the law could prove to be difficult. “It will be a challenge because it will depend on our local law enforcement doing its job the way it should be done,” Hall said.

Bottom line for Hall regarding a problem hiding in plain sight? “There is no reason for a gambling machine to exist in Texas.”

KPRC 2 News reporter Corley Peel spoke with the mother, about the family’s experience and their push for accountability. KPRC 2 News is not naming the mother due to the sensitive nature of the case.

“Right now, I have zero faith in the public school system,” the mother said.

The mother says her daughter was allegedly touched inappropriately by another student in multiple locations on campus. She says the family first learned about the incident from her daughter’s therapist, who notified the parents.

The family says the father went to school administrators Friday morning and requested a school resource officer. He spoke with an administrator who issued a no-contact order between the students, but the family says they never spoke with a CFISD police officer. By Monday evening, the family decided to take matters into their own hands and called district police directly.

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“Police told us that they should have been called right away, that our daughter and evidence should have been collected right away. Her clothing should have been collected for evidence, and she should have been sent for a victim’s exam at the hospital,” the mother said.

CFISD says administrators began investigating immediately after receiving the complaint and put safety measures in place. The district also says it follows state law and works with law enforcement when required.

When KPRC 2 News asked the district whether administrators are required to report crimes to district police, a spokesperson pointed to Texas Education Code §37.015. That law requires principals to notify police about certain serious offenses, including weapons, drugs and terroristic threats. It also includes crimes that can lead to a student being expelled under Texas Education Code §37.007, a list that includes sexual assault, indecency with a child and some lewd conduct.

The mother says the situation exposed a gray area in how the case was handled and is calling for change.

“When you ask for a school resource officer, one should automatically be called,” she said.

She also expressed hope that the district can still make things right for her daughter and others.

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“We can still make up for it and we can make sure that other young girls are safe and we make sure that you’re safe for the rest of your education,” she said.

CFISD says the investigation is ongoing and that any disciplinary action will follow the student code of conduct and school board policy. The family says they are pursuing criminal charges against the student.

FULL STATEMENT’S FROM CFISD:

The incident is still under investigation. The campus received the complaint on Friday before Memorial Day and began investigating. Safety measures were implemented and an update provided at the conclusion of the day.

Prior to school resuming, the family chose to also file a police report. Campus officials continue to investigate and have cooperated fully with police investigators. At the conclusion of the investigation, consequences will be applied in accordance with the Code of Conduct and school board policy

Under Texas Education Code (TEC) §37.015, principals are required to report certain offenses to the CFISD Police Department, including serious criminal conduct such as deadly conduct, terroristic threats, controlled substance violations, weapons possession, organized criminal activity, and offenses eligible for expulsion under TEC §37.007.

CFISD follows all applicable laws and coordinates with law enforcement as required. The matter remains under investigation, and the district will take appropriate action in accordance with policy.

The dispute has now resulted in a court judgment exceeding $300,000 and conflicting accounts about how much work was actually completed.

Isaac Rodriguez, owner of Marsalas Italian Grill in Conroe, says he hired James Duncan after Duncan performed HVAC work at another restaurant location.

“He told me that he is licensed to do plumbing, electrical, and HVAC,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said Duncan, who operated under the name Total Services Company, was hired to help with the buildout of a new restaurant location in Huffman.

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According to Rodriguez, he paid Duncan more than $200,000 through checks and wire transfers for HVAC, plumbing and other construction-related work.

However, Rodriguez said problems began to emerge when work stalled and contractors stopped showing up at the site.

“We found out that we needed to have a grease trap in the back of the building,” Rodriguez said. “James sent me an invoice for that grease trap. I compensated him in full for that grease trap. A day later, two days later, the plumbers never showed back for work.”

Court awards restaurant owner more than $300,000

Court records show Rodriguez later sued Duncan and Total Services Company in Montgomery County.

In March, a judge granted a default judgment in favor of Marsalas Catering LLC after Duncan failed to appear in court. The judgment awarded approximately $202,960 in damages, $100,000 in punitive damages, attorney’s fees and interest.

Rodriguez says he has not received any of that money.

“I worked for years just to get $200,000 and for somebody to just take it away,” said Rodriguez.

Contractor says he was nearly finished

KPRC 2 tracked down Duncan at his business in Spring and showed him a copy of the judgment.

Initially, Duncan said he believed the case had been dismissed.

After reviewing the court paperwork, Duncan said he had never seen the judgment before.

Duncan strongly disputed Rodriguez’s version of events.

“He did not pay us over $200,000. That is a total lie,” Duncan said.

Duncan said substantial work had already been completed, including framing, drywall, HVAC installation and plumbing work.

“We were probably getting ready to finish,” he said.

Duncan estimated the project was approximately 75% complete when he says Rodriguez terminated the relationship.

According to Duncan, disputes surrounding the installation of a grease trap and delays involving a crane needed for the project contributed to the breakdown.

“We did a ton of work,” said Duncan.

Duncan also told KPRC 2 he would be open to mediation.

Questions raised about licensing and business registration

During KPRC 2’s interview, Duncan acknowledged that Total Services Company is not registered with the Texas Secretary of State.

“No, because we’re not an LLC,” Duncan said, adding that he operates as a sole proprietorship.

Duncan’s business was registered with the Harris County Clerk’s office.

He also said subcontractors working under him handled specialized plumbing and electrical work.

“We have contractors that do all that,” said Rodriguez.

KPRC 2 searched Texas licensing databases and did not locate a plumbing license issued to Duncan through the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. KPRC 2 also did not find an electrician license issued to Duncan through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

Contractor hired afterward says work was incomplete

Rodriguez also provided KPRC 2 with a letter from another HVAC contractor who was hired after Duncan left the project.

In the letter, the contractor wrote that HVAC ductwork was “installed incorrectly and unfinished.” The contractor also stated trunk lines were incomplete, insulation had not been installed, thermostats and grilles were missing, some rooftop units lacked required code components, and portions of the work did not match mechanical drawings. The contractor further stated the work was being performed without required permits.

Criminal history surfaces during dispute

Rodriguez said he later discovered Duncan had prior criminal cases involving theft by check.

According to records in one case in Montgomery County, Duncan was convicted and spent one year in state jail.

When asked about that history, Duncan acknowledged it but said it does not reflect who he is today.

“That’s all my past. I don’t have anything in my present,” Duncan said.

Rodriguez says if he had known about Duncan’s history before hiring him, he would have made a different decision.

“I had to blame myself because I didn’t do the research,” said Rodriguez.

How to verify a contractor before hiring them

Consumer advocates recommend researching contractors before signing contracts or making large payments.

1. Check business registrations

Not every legitimate business will appear in the Texas Secretary of State database.

Businesses structured as LLCs, corporations and limited partnerships generally register with the Texas Secretary of State.

However, sole proprietorships often do not.

A sole proprietor may instead file an assumed name certificate, sometimes called a “DBA” (“doing business as”), through the county clerk’s office where the business operates.

If a contractor says they are an LLC, you can verify that through the Texas Secretary of State’s business search database.

2. Verify plumbing licenses

The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners maintains a public license search tool that allows consumers to verify whether a plumber is licensed and in good standing.

Consumers can search by name or license number.

3. Verify electrician licenses

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation maintains a public license search database for electricians.

Consumers can search by name, company or license number to determine whether an electrician is licensed.

4. Ask for proof of insurance

Request certificates of liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage when applicable.

5. Search court records

Check county court records for lawsuits, judgments and prior disputes involving contractors.

6. Ask for references

Speak directly with previous customers and, if possible, visit completed projects.

Rozier, 32, was charged Thursday in a superseding indictment in Brooklyn federal court with bribery in sporting contests and honest services wire fraud conspiracy. Superseding indictments are used when prosecutors want to change or add new charges to an existing criminal case.

Rozier has denied participating in the gambling scheme, and has been fighting to have the case dismissed after pleading not guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy charges in December. His attorneys argue in part that the government’s theory of the case — that he prevented sportsbooks from making informed decisions about accepting certain bets — runs afoul of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that narrowed the federal wire fraud statute.

The new indictment "just confirms that our motion to dismiss was righteous — new charges, new theories, but all just an effort to make something stick,” Rozier's attorney, Jim Trusty, wrote in an email to The Associated Press.

Rozier was arrested in October along with former NBA player Damon Jones, who pleaded guilty last month for his role in schemes to defraud major sportsbooks including DraftKings and FanDuel. Others charged in the case include sports bettor and influencer Marves Fairley, who pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy, bribery and other federal charges in connection with gambling schemes targeting basketball games in the U.S. and China.

Rozier remains free on $3 million bond. The case has kept him off the court this season.

The new indictment alleges that Rozier not only defrauded sportsbooks, but also the NBA and the team he was playing for at the time, the Charlotte Hornets.

Rozier is accused of conspiring with gamblers to leave a game early, citing a lingering lower leg injury, so they could cash in on more than $250,000 in bets that his points, assists and other totals would be lower than what the sportsbooks had set as betting lines.

Not all of the bets were successful because Rozier collected four rebounds, which was more than the betting line, the superseding indictment said. As a result, after the game, Rozier and his co-conspirators negotiated a discount on his bribe, cutting it from $100,000 to about $70,000, the superseding indictment said.

The new indictment against Rozier was filed within hours of the guilty pleas by Fairley, who goes by the name “Vezino Locks" on Instagram. As part of his plea, Fairley admitted to prosecutors’ allegations that he used insider information to get an edge when betting on NBA, NCAA and Chinese Professional Basketball League games — including paying Rozier’s longtime friend $100,000 in exchange for a tip that Rozier was going to leave a game early.”

Fairley's attorney Eric Siegle said his client “deeply regrets and is ashamed of his conduct.”

“By publicly acknowledging his guilt and conduct today, Marves is taking the first step toward atoning for his wrongful conduct and to starting his ‘second half’ on the right foot,” Siegle said. ____ Associated Press reporter Michael R. Sisak contributed from New York. Boone reported from Boise, Idaho.

Sky 2 Chopper flew over the scene and captured emergency crews working to free and bring down the riders.

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The roller coaster is the Iron Shark.

The rescue process involved getting each rider into a safety harness before bringing them down the tower truck. Rescue crews were talking and directing the riders the entire time while they got them off the ride.

Galveston Fire Chief Mike Varela Jr. says the pier was designed with input from the fire department and because of that, they were able to get the trucks and equipment they needed for the rescue to the back where the ride is.

He says at one point, the tower truck’s basket was extended to its full 105 foot length. He said the angle of the rescue necessitated the way they positioned the basket.

“We felt that was the proper angle, especially the way we had to get one of the patients out and it was just a safety measure on our part,” Varela said.

It took around four hours to get all the riders down. Varela said all the riders seemed fine and uninjured. He gave great praise to the firefighters who completed the rescue.

“I can’t say enough words about them tonight. They are top notch, they did an amazing job, its a proud moment, proud to be chief here,” he said. “It took almost four hours to get that happy ending but I promise you, there’s a great deal of relief that I have right now especially when I had that last crew member come off that ladder and we can all go back to the station and go home.”

Late Friday, Houston ISD said the riders were students on a field trip organized by Energized for STEM Academy Middle School and STEM Academy High school, two HISD in-district charter schools.

“We are grateful that all students, staff, and chaperones are safe. School administration is in direct contact with the families of all students who were on the trip. We are thankful for the rescue efforts of the first responders and park personnel,” the district said.

Terry Turney, COO of Pleasure Pier, released the following statement:

“The ride experienced a malfunction at its initial ascent, however, as designed, it immediately stopped to keep everyone safe. Our focus immediately shifted to the safety of our guests. Therefore, we contacted the Fire Department to assist, ensuring all guests were safely removed from the ride. A thorough inspection of the ride will take place before it is placed back in service.”

“You know, I never thought I would run for governor, so I guess I should know better than to say any of it. Never say never,” Whitmer said when asked later Thursday about the remarks.

“At this juncture, I’ve got nothing to announce,” Whitmer said during an onstage interview following her annual speech at the Mackinac policy conference.

Whitmer has long been viewed by some Democrats as a possible White House contender after her decisive election victories in the closely contested state that Republican Donald Trump has carried twice in presidential votes. Whitmer is term-limited and will be done after this year.

For months Whitmer had offered only cautious answers about her political future. She seemed to put an end to the speculation during an interview earlier Thursday, telling Fox 2 Detroit: “I think there will be a robust group of people running for president. I will not be one of them in 2028."

But she backtracked later in the day, saying she wanted to “correct the record.” Whitmer said she was answering the “100th question of the morning about it” and said she wasn't making any plans.

“I guess I’ll smile and say, ‘I’m going to stay focused’ and leave it at that for now," Whitmer said.

Whitmer has previously said she plans to take time before deciding on her next move politically.

“I don’t know that I’ll put my name on the ballot again. I’m just not sure,” Whitmer said at an April breakfast in Detroit. “But I also am 54 years old. I got a lot of gas in the tank.”

The Mackinac conference has become a hub of presidential speculation, with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin — both considered possible 2028 contenders — also in attendance.

“If there was someone I believed in, I'd be all in,” Slotkin told The Associated Press. “But I'm not taking it off the table because I want to be a part of that next generation of leaders.”

Scheduled performers also include Milli Vanilli, the pop duo from the 1980s who were discredited after it was revealed that their frontmen, Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan, were only lip-syncing.

Milli Vanilli won a Grammy in 1990 for Best New Artist, but the award was rescinded after the scandal broke. Pilatus died in 1998, while Morvan has attempted a solo career and published a memoir, “You Know It’s True: The Real Story of Milli Vanilli.”

Morvan recently told The Guardian newspaper that he owns the Milli Vanilli name, and he said in a statement Thursday that he would be performing at the Great American State Fair.

“I am here to entertain and unite people, not divide them,” Morvan said. “Let’s celebrate life & music and take a trip down memory lane. I feel honored to be a part of as it will celebrate the 250 Year Anniversary of America with so many other accomplished artists.”

A Freedom 250 spokesperson did not immediately respond Thursday to a request for comment. Freedom 250, which Trump launched late last year, describes itself as a “national, non-partisan organization leading the celebration of our Nation’s 250th birthday.” Trump appointed Keith Krach, who served as an under secretary of state during his first term, as the organization’s CEO.

Trump and his supporters have long had a contentious relationship with the music community. Celine Dion, Elton John and Guns ’N Roses are among the many artists who have objected to their music being played at Trump rallies.

Country singer McBride wrote Thursday on social media that she had agreed to perform after she “was assured this was a nonpartisan event.”

“Yesterday things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening,” she said.

In an Instagram post, Young MC questioned whether the National Mall shows would be nonpartisan. “The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event,” he wrote, adding that he hoped to “perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.”

Day posted on Instagram, “Contrary to rumor, Morris Day & The Time will not be performing at the 'GREAT AMERICAN STATE FAIR.”

McBride was scheduled for June 25. Young MC and Milli Vanilli were among those on the roster for an “I Love the '90s” concert on June 26. Day was listed for June 27. Other performers announced include Flo Rida and Bret Michaels. The Great American State Fair is scheduled to run June 25-July 10.

At least one “I Love the 90s” act will be there: Vanilla Ice.

“He is proud to help celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary!” a representative for the “Ice Ice Baby” rapper wrote in an email to the AP. “Everyone is welcome to attend and celebrate USA’s Birthday and our Freedom!”

Their appearance on Houston Life marked their first time on live TV as a group. They formed in 2024 but the guys have known each other for years. While in Studio B, the band shared how their different musical backgrounds came together naturally to create a unique sound rooted in the soul music of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. Inspired by artists like Sunny and The Sunliners, Sam Cooke and Los Lobos. With their Texas twist their sound can be described as nostaligic and groovy.

The band also explained the story behind their name, a nod to the “souldies” genre, a style of oldies music with deep soul influences especially songs from the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s that became popular in Chicano, Latino and lowrider communities across the Southwest.

Following the interview, the band performed their song “Lets Jam Baby.” Houston Life guest co-host Roseann Rogers couldn’t help but dance during their performance.

The band is preparing to release their second album, “Wildflower,” The title track “Wildflower” is currently available to pickup as a CD at shows and other events. Castañeda says the record will be available on streaming platforms this summer.

Fans new and old can also catch Los Souldees during their residency every second Thursday at The Big Easy on Kirby near Rice Village.

The Judicial Council of the 11th Judicial Circuit, which includes Alabama, Florida and Georgia, said in a February order that the judge would receive a private reprimand. The Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability of the Judicial Conference of the United States last week affirmed that order.

The judge’s name and court location within the 11th Circuit were not disclosed, and The Associated Press was unable to confirm the judge's identity.

Federal judges are appointed for life but can be subject to disciplinary action, including censure, public or private reprimands and temporary withholding of cases. They can only be removed through impeachment by Congress.

According to the investigation, the judge and the unidentified officer had “sexual intercourse in the judge’s chambers during business hours within hearing distance of staff” and that the judge went to a partisan political event. The judge initially called the allegations “outrageous” and denied them.

In deciding to impose a private reprimand that kept the judge's name secret, the committee said it took into account that the judge recanted the false statements. The committee also found that the judge was unlikely to engage in similar misconduct in the future, noting that the judge had ended the relationship and committed to avoiding partisan political events in the future. And the committee took into account the judge’s “otherwise exemplary service to the court.”

“Although the special committee is deeply troubled by the conduct in which the judge engaged, the Subject Judge has demonstrated a strong propensity for rehabilitation and continued diligent service to the judiciary,” the committee’s report says.

Lester Tate, a lawyer who often defends Georgia judges facing misconduct in the state judicial system, said the punishment feels like a “slap on the wrist.”

“I'm shocked that there was not a more severe punishment for the false statements that were made by this judge during the course of the investigation,” he said, adding that he always advises his clients that it is best to tell the truth.

A person who is appointed for life and sits in judgment of others needs to be honest about their own flaws, and most people would likely find “being held up for a little public scorn” appropriate in this case, Tate said.

The genesis for the investigation was one of the judge's law clerks reporting the judge had engaged in sexual activity with an officer on multiple occasions in the judge’s office. It also was alleged the judge didn’t properly supervise clerks and on one occasion yelled and cursed at staff.

William Pryor, chief judge of the 11th Circuit, asked the judge to respond to the allegations. The judge replied the same day and “specifically denied” each allegation. In a follow-up email the next day, the judge speculated to Pryor that the law clerk may have invented things in retaliation for being required to work in the office. Pryor appointed a special committee to investigate.

The committee's review of logs and security footage showed an officer had frequently visited the judge's chambers in uniform around lunchtime. Six clerks recalled seeing someone who fit the officer's description, with three remembering overhearing what may have been sexual activity in the judge's office.

Three clerks remembered bringing summer interns on their first day to watch the judge presiding over a hearing in a criminal case. Right after that, they told the committee, the judge declined to have lunch with the interns, acknowledging having too many martinis the night before at a primary election victory party for a district attorney friend.

The clerks said the judge didn't provide sufficient guidance and “rarely, if ever, substantively edited civil orders the clerks drafted.” While clerks described an “eggshell culture,” the committee didn't find evidence of abusive behavior.

The judge ultimately admitted to having an extramarital sexual relationship with the officer but denied the allegations about mistreatment of staff, the committee wrote. The judge acknowledged to the committee having gone to a “mixer” of former employees of a district attorney's office, where the judge used to work, but said it was in a separate room from the victory party.

The judge also agreed to write apology letters to six former law clerks, not to accept the position of chief judge of the district when eligible and to refrain from serving on any Judicial Conference committee.

The families of detainees and their supporters said Thursday that immigrants being held at Delaney Hall in Newark have been subjected to pepper spray and physical force as the situation inside deteriorates.

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said state health officials were also “denied full access” to the facility to conduct an inspection Thursday. The Democrat said they were allowed to inspect only a limited area.

“Unrest within Delaney Hall is directly related to its rampant inhumane conditions and the Trump administration’s refusal to dedicate appropriate resources for basic human needs like food and health care,” Amol Sinha, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, said in statement.

The GEO Group, the private contractor that runs the facility, confirmed that a “physical altercation” involving people detained at the facility prompted staff on Thursday to enact “response and control measures” including the "limited use of chemical agents.”

The company didn't elaborate on the nature of the altercation or how many people were involved but said all affected people were "promptly evaluated by on-site medical personnel and were cleared with no serious injuries.”

The company also denied allegations of poor conditions inside, dismissing them as “part of a coordinated, politically motivated campaign” by groups opposed to federal immigration enforcement.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees federal immigration enforcement, didn't immediately respond to emails seeking comment but has previously denied there is any hunger strike, abuse or poor conditions inside the center.

Thursday's developments followed violent confrontations Wednesday night between protesters and U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement officers.

Groups of demonstrators, many wearing gas masks and other face coverings, linked arms in a human chain, videos and photos posted on social media show.

Some used trash cans, old mattresses, umbrellas and other materials as makeshift shields and barricades as they confronted U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement officers.

Others attempted to block people and vehicles from entering and exiting the building or threw orange traffic cones and other objects in the direction of ICE officers as they taunted them with expletives and vulgar chants.

The ICE officers, many of whom wore helmets and tactical vests, used pepper spray to try and disperse the protesters, according to videos posted to social media. Some used their batons to beat and push back protesters as the officers attempted to clear the roadway for vehicles.

DHS said about six demonstrators were arrested for assaulting law enforcement officers.

Earlier Wednesday, Democratic members of Congress from New York City toured the facility as part of an oversight visit. Reps. Jerry Nadler, Daniel Goldman and Adriano Espaillat, who all represent Manhattan, described dire conditions where people held in the facility are fed small portions of often spoiled food and their varied medical needs are ignored.

Baseball owners hadn’t proposed a firm cap since 1994. Their effort prompted a 7 1/2-month strike that forced the cancellation of the World Series for the first time in 90 years.

MLB's proposal would cap spending in 2027 at $245.3 million, using figures for luxury tax payrolls that include $20.1 million for benefits and the pre-arbitration bonus pool. It also would establish a payroll floor of $171.2 million, forcing some teams to spend more. The Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball's biggest spenders, had a $415.2 million payroll on opening day this year — around $170 million over the proposed cap.

“The cap is pretty much a nonstarter,” Pittsburgh outfielder Bryan Reynolds said.

Owners said they would discuss with the union both a phase-in schedule that would give teams like the Dodgers time to comply with the cap and an escrow system as part of a proposed seven-year deal. In an escrow system, a portion of a player's salary is withheld to ensure the agreed-to-revenue split when final figures are accounted for.

MLB maintained all current contracts would remain guaranteed and there would be no prohibition of guaranteed contracts under the cap system.

MLB said it would centralize local media revenue from the 30 teams equally and give players a 50-50 split as part of a proposal that would eliminate the current revenue-sharing plan among the clubs.

“Our salary cap and floor proposal levels the playing field while sharing baseball revenue with the players 50/50 as we grow the game together,” MLB spokesman Glen Caplin said in a statement. “Further, by sharing media revenue equally as part of our proposal, we can address another top fan concern of local TV blackouts.”

Baseball’s current five-year deal, agreed to in March 2022 after a 99-day lockout, expires Dec. 1. While a lockout next winter is expected, talks are not likely to intensify until late February or early March 2027, when the possibilities of losing regular-season games and revenue near. If regular-season games are lost, negotiations may become a standoff of which side can tolerate the most economic loss.

“Billionaire owners are not seeking to cap their profits or asset values, only player salaries,” union head Bruce Meyer said in a statement. “This isn’t out of generosity or a desire to protect the game’s well-being. It’s a play to control costs, increase profits and maximize franchise values — all at the expense of players past, present and future.”

Based on 2026 opening day figures, eight teams would have to cut payroll to get under the cap. The teams over are the two-time reigning World Series champion Dodgers, New York Mets ($379.2 million), New York Yankees ($339.6 million), Toronto ($319.5 million), Philadelphia ($315.2 million), Boston ($263.7 million), San Diego ($260.1 million) and Atlanta ($247.9 million).

Twelve teams would be required to increase payroll by a total of $617 million based on 2026 numbers: Miami ($81.8 million), Cleveland ($95.7 million), Tampa Bay ($108.2 million), the Chicago White Sox ($108.6 million), St. Louis ($114.4 million), Washington ($119.1 million), Pittsburgh ($122.6 million), Minnesota ($125.6 million), Milwaukee ($130.9 million), the Athletics ($139.2 million), Colorado ($142.2 million) and Cincinnati ($148.8 million).

“I think If you want to even remotely persuade us on a salary cap or even try to persuade players at all, this was very, very far from it," said Baltimore pitcher Chris Bassitt, a member of the union's eight-man executive subcommittee.

Owners and the union agreed to a luxury tax in 2003 designed to slow spending, but teams feel it has had little or no impact on the Dodgers and Mets in recent years. The last small-market MLB club to win a World Series was Kansas City in 2015, although Cleveland, Tampa Bay and Milwaukee all lead their divisions as of Thursday, while the Mets and Red Sox are in last place.

MLB said its revenue has grown by 247% since 2003 and player payroll has increased by 149% in that span.

Deputy commissioner Dan Halem and MLB executive vice president of baseball operations Morgan Sword presented the cap plan to players during a bargaining session at the commissioner's office, one day after the union made its economic proposal. Owners say a cap is needed to improve competitive balance and restrain wealthy teams from assembling starrier rosters than their smaller-market brethren.

Players want expanded free agency and salary arbitration rights along with almost doubling the major league minimum, increasing the money high-revenue teams share with the less-wealthy clubs and establishing penalties for teams that drop below payroll floors. MLB's proposal did not address those issues.

Other U.S. major sports leagues operate under a cap. The NBA had a cap in its initial season in 1946-47, then dropped that and began its modern version in 1984-85. NFL players and owners adopted a cap for the 1994 season, and the NHL did so in 2005-06 after a lockout wiped out the entire 2004-05 season.

The Dodgers shattered MLB's spending record with a combined $515 million in payroll and luxury tax last year en route to their second straight World Series title. Los Angeles' total was seven times the $68.7 million payroll of the Marlins, the lowest-spending team, and more than the payrolls of the bottom six clubs combined.

Players say a cap would hurt them, enrich owners and increase franchise values.

“Cap systems are always proposed without any consideration for the billions in franchise value that talent brings to owners," said Scott Boras, baseball's most prominent agent. “The blindness of that concept is something that the Major League Baseball Players Association has dealt with and will continue to deal with as we move forward.”

Without a cap, MLB stars have landed lucrative, guaranteed contracts that outpace what the biggest stars in other U.S. sports leagues make. Juan Soto's $765 million, 15-year contract with the Mets negotiated by Boras is believed to be the biggest in team sports and is far greater than the largest deals in the NFL (Patrick Mahomes at $450 million over 10 years) and NBA (Jayson Tatum at $314 million over five years).

MLB's last salary cap proposal in 1994 offered players a 50-50 split of revenue in a system that would have forced teams to maintain payrolls of 84-110% of the average. Salary arbitration would have been eliminated and the threshold for free agency would have been lowered from six years’ major league service to four — with the provision that a player’s former club could match any offer until he had six years.

MLB's offer came on June 14 that year, and players struck on Aug. 12. MLB withdrew the cap proposal the following Feb. 6 after pressure by the National Labor Relations Board. The strike ended on March 31 after U.S. District Judge Sonia Sotomayor — now a Supreme Court Justice — issued an injunction restoring the work rules of the expired labor contract. Two days later, owners accepted the union's offer to return to work without an agreement. A deal wasn't reached until 1997.

“For generations, our members have fought against cap systems because they harm players at all levels, erode or eliminate contractual guarantees, pit player against player, lead to more work stoppages, not less, and get worse for players over time,” Meyer said. “Caps don’t lower ticket prices for fans, eliminate tanking or ensure teams are run with equal competence. They suffocate competition by offering owners an all-purpose excuse for inaction and mediocrity.”

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AP Sports Writer Noah Trister and AP freelance writer John Perrotto contributed to this report.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

The fight has gone mostly in Carroll's favor, with one jury finding Trump liable for attacking her and a second awarding her tens of millions of dollars in damages for Trump’s public attacks on her credibility.

But numerous news organizations, citing anonymous sources, have reported that Trump's Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether Carroll lied under oath during the civil litigation. A person familiar with the matter, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss an ongoing inquiry, said the perjury investigation is being led by the federal prosecutors’ office in Chicago. That person later clarified that the actual focus was on a nonprofit that had helped fund Carroll's case.

Late Thursday, Andrew Boutros, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, denied the reports. He issued a statement saying his office “has not opened — and has never opened — a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll.”

Here's a look at the history of the legal fight between Carroll and Trump.

Carroll's allegations and Trump's denials

Carroll first went public with her story about being sexually assaulted by Trump in June 2019, when an excerpt from her soon-to-be-released memoir “What Do We Need Men For?” was published in New York magazine.

In the book, she described bumping into Trump while shopping at Bergdorf Goodman, flirting with him, then physically fighting him off after he sexually assaulted her in a dressing room.

The claims drew angry denials from Trump.

“I've never met this person in my life. She is trying to sell a new book — that should be sold in the fiction section," he said in a statement.

“Number one, she's not my type. Number two, it never happened," he said in another statement.

Carroll sues Trump for defamation

In 2019, Carroll filed a libel lawsuit against Trump, saying his claims that she made the story up had “smeared her integrity, honesty and dignity — all in the national press.”

That legal claim wound up being bogged down for years over the legal question of whether, in denying the allegations, Trump had been fulfilling his duties as president. Trump claimed that as a federal employee carrying out his job, he was shielded from the defamation lawsuit.

At the time Carroll filed the legal claim, she was barred by law from suing him over the alleged sexual assault because so many years had passed.

New York changes the law

In 2022, New York changed its laws to give sexual abuse survivors a fresh chance to sue over attacks that happened in the distant past. Carroll was one of the first people to take advantage, filing a new legal claim against Trump alleging that he had raped her. She also sued over things he had said about her after leaving the White House.

That lawsuit moved more quickly through the courts. It went to trial in New York City in 2023.

Trump chose not to attend, leaving his lawyers to argue the case on his behalf.

The jury found that while Carroll had not proved she had been raped, under New York’s definition of that crime, Trump had sexually abused her. It also found that he had made some false statements about her that had damaged her reputation. Jurors awarded Carroll $5 million.

A second trial

Months later, in January 2024, a federal judge held a second trial to determine whether other things Trump had said about Carroll were defamatory.

Its purpose was narrow. Since a jury had already found that Trump had sexually assaulted Carroll, the testimony was limited to how badly Carroll's reputation had been damaged by his comments assailing her credibility and denying the alleged attack.

This time, Trump attended the proceedings and testified for about three minutes.

“She said something that I considered to be a false accusation,” he told the jury, later adding, “I just wanted to defend myself, my family and, frankly, the presidency.”

Carroll testified that she faced a stream of death threats after Trump repeatedly attacked her story.

The new jury sided with Carroll again, awarding her more than $83 million in damages.

Appeals continue

Carroll has yet to receive any of the money while Trump's appeals of the two verdicts have moved through the courts.

Ruling in one of those appeals, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also addressed the issue of whether Carroll had been honest about who was paying for her legal representation.

Trump's lawyers had accused Carroll of hiding the fact that her lawyers had received money from an organization backed by Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn. The judges ruled that there was no evidence to suggest that Carroll was involved in that funding arrangement or had purposely lied about it when she was asked during a deposition in 2020 whether anyone was paying her legal fees.

“It showed that Ms. Carroll simply was not involved in the matter of who was or was not funding her litigation costs,” the appeals court said.

A lawyer for Carroll declined to comment through a spokesperson on Thursday.

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Associated Press reporter Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington contributed to this report.

At least five people also went to hospitals with injuries, Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesperson Jason Evans said. It was unclear how many residents lived in the two-story complex in the Oak Cliff neighborhood south of downtown Dallas, where a towering plume of black smoke was visible for miles.

Evans did not rule out that more victims could be found as crews continued to sift through the charred remains of the building. By late Thursday, Evans said firefighters had searched less than half of the scene by hand and that some areas would require excavation.

“This was enormous,” Evans said of the fire.

As dozens of firefighters swarmed to the neighborhood, some residents’ friends and relatives worried as they tried unsuccessfully to reach each loved ones. Dozens of firefighters searched through the smoldering rubble of the building even as colleagues continued to drench the blackened debris.

Berry said firefighters were responding to a call of a gas leak when an explosion happened.

“We had the cavalry coming," Dallas Fire-Rescue Deputy Chief Mark Berry said. "But the explosion had already taken place.”

Atmos Energy, a natural gas provider, said in a statement they were told by fire officials that a construction crew unrelated to the company had damaged a pipeline near the site of the fire.

Kacee Proctor, a resident of the apartment building, said her mother had smelled gas inside a day earlier, but Proctor didn't think much of it at the time.

She wasn't home during the blast and was devastated that her cat, Shirley, was stuck inside.

“I’ve been sitting over there crying for several hours. I don’t know what to do. This is all I have right here,” Proctor said, gesturing to the clothes she was wearing.

She spent the afternoon chatting with neighbors who had evacuated, including a girl who was home babysitting her little sister and carried both the child and their dog to safety.

Natural gas service to the area remained shut off, and company officials were working with investigators on-site, the company said.

Authorities set up a family reunification center at a nearby high school. Several hours after the blaze, Frances Rizo was still trying to find her friend who lived in the building.

“She’s not answering her phone,” Rizo said.

Firefighters rushed to the scene as flames and black smoke billowed into the sky. Some trained their hoses on piles of smoking debris while others removed lumber and other burned wreckage to look for anyone trapped underneath. Little more than a blackened shell of the original building remained.

“The fire is contained, but our members are still working on the scene to do primary searches,” said Dallas Fire-Rescue Assistant Chief James Russ.

Julie Jensen said she was at home less than a block from the burning building when she heard a noise like an explosion that left her ears ringing.

“I was sitting on my couch watching TV — stuff flew off our walls,” Jensen said.

Jensen said she saw rising smoke and neighbors running when she looked out the window. She grabbed her family’s cat and left, finding a nearby parking lot to wait until she knew it was safe to return.

Sal De La Rosa was at work at a nearby auto repair shop when “all of a sudden we just heard and felt this huge boom.”

“We felt where the building kind of shook a little bit,” De La Rosa said.

He said a co-worker went outside and saw thick, black smoke rising into the air.

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This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Frances Rizo's last name in one instance. It is Rizo, not Rizzo.

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Associated Press journalists Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas, Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia, and Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed.

The fire happened at the Utumishi Girls School, which has more than 800 students, in the Gilgil area of central Kenya, Education Minister Julius Ogamba said, adding that 79 students were injured in the disaster.

Detectives were questioning students to determine whether any wrongdoing triggered the fire, and Ogamba said authorities were trying to find out whether the school's fire safety manual had been adhered to.

The victims were not yet been identified, a source of anger and frustration for parents who gathered outside the ruined dormitory. Some of them angrily confronted police guarding the site, demanding to see the remains of still-uncollected victims.

Bernard Omwandho, a representative of the parents’ association, urged calm as the police investigation continued.

“Most of the parents who are still here are those whose daughters are being questioned,” he said, adding that he hoped that those being questioned will be “able to at least shed some light or give us a hint on what really transpired.”

The school is located about 120 kilometers (75 miles) northwest of the capital, Nairobi. The government-owned secondary school is managed and sponsored by the Kenya Police Service. Many of the students are the daughters of police officers.

Elizabeth Rioba, a mother of two girls at the school, said she was relieved to see her daughters but expressed concern because one of the girls saw her friend get stuck while trying to jump out of a window.

“She’s very traumatized, but I’m relieved she’s OK and I’m sad for all these children who have died,” she told The Associated Press.

The Kenya Red Cross said several students were evacuated and are receiving treatment in various hospitals. The group said it sent psychological support teams for students and their families.

Kenyan President William Ruto expressed his condolences in a statement. “No words can truly ease the pain of losing young lives filled with promise, hope, and dreams for the future,” Ruto said. “As a nation, we mourn with the parents, guardians, teachers, and fellow students who are enduring this unimaginable tragedy.”

Fires at schools have been a cause of concern for education officials in East Africa, where classrooms and dormitories are often crowded, and there’s usually no firefighting equipment in place. Officials sometimes cite poor electrical connections as sparking blazes.

In 2024, 21 students burned to death in a school fire in central Kenya. Ruto declared three days of mourning.

Kenya’s deadliest school fire in recent history occurred in 2001 when 67 students died in a dormitory fire in Machakos County.

In 2017, 10 students died in a school fire in Nairobi. A student was charged with murder.

The National Assembly voted 254-0 — a rare show of unanimity — to adopt a bill repealing Code Noir, or Black Code, the 1685 decree King Louis XIV signed to govern slaves across France’s colonies.

The law turned human beings into chattel, allowing them to be worked, beaten, sold, raped and murdered.

And the realization that France never formally did away with it left many aghast. Debate in the chamber turned raw on Thursday.

Steevy Gustave — a lawmaker descended from enslaved people on the Caribbean island of Martinique, now a French overseas department — told colleagues that the repeal was necessary, “but no vote alone can repair centuries of shattered lives.”

“We are not descendants of slaves,” he said, bursting into tears. “We are descendants of human beings born free, then reduced to the worst — reduced to slavery.”

The code’s reach was total. Article 44 declared the enslaved “movable property” — assets a master could acquire like real estate. Those who fled faced branding, the amputation of their ears, and even death. The word of an enslaved person counted for nothing.

Code Noir’s 60 articles “should never have survived the abolition of slavery” in the 19th century, President Emmanuel Macron said last week.

“The silence, even the indifference, that we have maintained for nearly two centuries toward this Black Code is no longer an oversight,” Macron said. “It has become a form of offense.”

Like French presidents before him, Macron stopped short of an apology.

France ran the third-largest slave trade, shipping about 1.4 million Africans to plantations whose sugar wealth built the French cities of Nantes and Bordeaux. The French empire later spanned four continents.

Others see the repeal as something more telling — a symptom, they argue, of a country that has yet to reckon fully with that past, one of many slow steps along the way.

Calls for France to face its past

In law, officially eliminating it is the easy part, observers say. Code Noir lost all authority in 1848, when France abolished slavery.

France didn't relinquish its slave colonies: the four oldest — Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana and Réunion — were made full French overseas departments in 1946. That means they're governed from Paris like any other.

Their roughly 1.9 million people, most descended from the enslaved, are French citizens.

Despite being fully part of France, the overseas departments remain among its poorest territories. Unemployment runs roughly double the mainland rate, and more than three-quarters of households in the Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte live below the national poverty line.

Shocked to find the law wasn't annulled

Before he discovered the truth, the French lawmaker who put forward the proposal to repeal the law didn't know it still existed.

Max Mathiasin, from Guadeloupe, had bought copies of the text over the years and left them on his shelf.

“As the great-great-grandson of people who were enslaved, I had never been able to read it in full,” he said. “This was made by human beings — against human beings.”

For him, the vote is “a way of restoring our ancestors, restoring our humanity” before a France whose motto is liberty, equality, fraternity. “It means living up to the Republican promise.”

That promise, he says, is still unkept at home.

“In Guadeloupe,” Mathiasin said, “in the most important positions, in the structures of the state, they are white.”

A colonial exception that never ended

The Foundation for the Memory of Slavery is chaired by a former prime minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, and its deputy director is Pierre-Yves Bocquet — both white men.

Bocquet calls Code Noir the birthplace of France’s “colonial exception” — the principle that the French Republic’s founding rights could be suspended for those under its rule.

The principle outlived the empire, he said: “Even today, we accept that people in the overseas territories can have fewer rights than in mainland France.”

France is hardly the only country still holding fragments of empire — the United Kingdom, the United States and the Netherlands still have overseas territories.

But what sets France apart, observers say, is that it made its slave colonies equal departments of the Republic, not dependencies it governs from afar.

The state insists that the overseas departments are France like anywhere else, even as the people who live there say they are treated as less.

Most major colonial powers, including Britain, Spain and Portugal, had laws governing slavery in their colonies. In each case, those laws fell away when slavery itself was abolished, leaving no single text to repeal.

France’s Code Noir was different, experts say: a single, named royal law that no one ever formally erased, even after France abolished slavery.

France is 'still in a form of apartheid’

For Max Relouzat, 81, president of the Association for the Memory of Slaveries, the repeal matters, because so little else has.

His African ancestor had no name under the law, only a number and a registration code — the family that lived in Martinique was given the name Relouzat at emancipation, likely after Nelouzat, a village in the Auvergne region of central France.

What galls him, he said, is what the symbolism leaves untouched: systemic racism in France.

“Under the cover of departmentalization, a colonial system was maintained,” Relouzat said. “If the overseas departments are part of France, why is there a ministry for the overseas?”

In France, he said, “we are still today in a form of apartheid … a form of colonial continuity.”

‘Racism is the legacy of slavery itself’

For some who have fought longest, Thursday isn't the milestone it appears.

For Florence Alexis, a slavery expert and daughter of the Haitian writer Jacques Stephen Alexis, the real turning point came 25 years ago. In 2001, the Taubira law made France the first country to call the slave trade, and slavery, crimes against humanity.

“That is what changed my life,” Alexis said.

For her, racism is the legacy of slavery itself, not of one edict.

“When I was a child at school, they called me the little monkey,” she said. “People made animal cries when I walked past — as they still do in football stadiums today.”

Paris-born Élodie Léon, 29, whose family is from French Guiana, welcomes the repeal, but resents the delay.

“Symbolic neglect is also neglect,” she said.

“It shocks me,” said Muriel Jean-Baptiste, a Paris-born nurse whose parents are from Martinique. “A law that treated Black people as property was left sitting there.”

The history of reparations

At the Taubira law’s 25th anniversary on May 21, Macron floated the idea of reparations — something that France has long stayed away from addressing.

He called it “a question we must not refuse,” but one on which “we must not make false promises.”

He committed no money, instead defining repair first as truth-telling, education and historical work.

The wealthiest of France's plantations were in Saint-Domingue, in the Caribbean, where the enslaved rose up and won independence in 1804 as Haiti. France then forced the freed to pay reparations for the loss of their masters — a debt cleared only in 1947.

France isn't alone. In the United States, federal reparations legislation has stalled for decades. California approved an apology, but no cash.

But the timing of Macron's latest speech was awkward. Two months earlier, France abstained when the U.N. General Assembly voted 123-3, with 52 abstentions, to call the trans-Atlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity.

And this month at the Africa Forward Summit in Kenya, days after declaring himself a “pan-Africanist,” Macron seized a microphone and ordered the room to quiet down.

“As soon as he sets foot on the African continent,” French opposition lawmaker Danièle Obono said, “he can’t help but behave like a colonizer.”

The repeal of the nCode Noir, said Bocquet, “will have no direct effect.” Whether it helps France fight racism and inequality in its overseas territories, he said, “remains to be seen.”

“It is easy for the French authorities, and for Macron, to do this,” Alexis added. “Because it commits them to nothing.”

The Associated Press and other news organizations, citing anonymous sources, reported that the federal prosecutors’ office in Chicago had opened an investigation into Carroll examining possible perjury allegations.

But Andrew Boutros, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, issued a statement roughly 24 hours after the first report was published saying that his office “has not opened — and has never opened — a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll.”

A person familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, initially told the AP on Thursday morning that investigators were focused on Carroll but later clarified that the actual focus was on a nonprofit that had helped fund her case.

A lawyer for Carroll declined to comment through a spokesperson on Thursday.

The Justice Department investigation into Carroll was first reported by CNN on Wednesday evening.

Reports of the investigation added to the perception from Democrats and other former officials that a Justice Department meant to make prosecutorial decisions independent of the White House is being weaponized against the president’s political enemies. Trump's Justice Department has opened multiple investigations into perceived adversaries of the Republican president, including securing an indictment last month against former FBI Director James Comey.

Carroll has said a flirtatious, chance encounter with Trump in 1996 at Bergdorf Goodman’s Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan ended violently. She said Trump slammed her against a dressing room wall, pulled down her tights and forced himself on her. Trump has called the allegations a “made-up scam," and he has attacked her motivations, saying they were politically driven or arose from a desire to promote her memoir.

A jury in 2023 found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll and defaming her, and she was awarded $5 million. The following year, another jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in a defamation case related to Trump's social media posts about her.

The reports this week said the Justice Department was scrutinizing a statement Carroll made in the course of the civil litigation that no one else was paying her legal fees. It later became public that a Chicago-based organization backed by Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn, had helped fund Carroll's case. Trump's lawyers in the civil case accused Carroll of concealing that information, which they said called into question whether the case was politically motivated.

Multiple news organizations, including The Washington Post and NBC News, cited unnamed sources in reporting Thursday that the investigation was actually centered on Hoffman's nonprofit, which the person familiar with the matter confirmed to AP.

A month before the first trial in 2023, then-Trump lawyer Alina Habba sought to delay it, saying in court papers that new revelations about Hoffman partially funding Carroll’s case “raises significant questions as to Plaintiff’s credibility, as well as her motive for commencing and/or continuing the instant action.”

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a Dec. 30, 2024, ruling, upheld the $5 million jury award from 2023. The court addressed Carroll’s credibility after Trump accused her of lying, during a deposition, about how her case was funded.

The court cited Carroll’s explanation that when the question about Hoffman's contributions was first posed to her in 2022, she had forgotten about “the limited outside funding” received in September 2020.

“It showed that Ms. Carroll simply was not involved in the matter of who was or was not funding her litigation costs,” the appeals court said.

Hoffman has defended the financial assistance, saying in a social media post that “supporting women's fight for progress and justice in philanthropy, politics and business has been a longstanding priority of mine, as is supporting America against the threat of Trump.”

A court entry earlier this month said Trump will not have to pay the award until the U.S. Supreme Court gets a chance to review the case or reject an appeal. The appeals court agreed to a request by one of Trump’s lawyers that it let Trump delay the payment to Carroll, though he was required to post a $7.4 million bond to cover any additional interest costs, a request Carroll’s attorney had made.

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Associated Press reporter Larry Neumeister in New York contributed to this report.

The state party chairs of five Democratic parties wrote a letter Thursday to the Democratic National Committee calling on party leaders "to do everything in your power to ensure South Carolina continues to serve as the indispensable first proving ground for Democratic presidential nominees." The DNC is currently debating the order in which states will vote in the next round of presidential primaries.

The state should hold the first presidential balloting in 2028, they argued, in part because it “is not simply a geographic starting point. It is a moral and political compass for our party and our nation.”

The DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee is meeting this week, hearing presentations from the dozen states seeking to lead off its 2028 calendar. Other southern states, including Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, are in the mix.

South Carolina chair Christale Spain, who made her argument on behalf of the state Thursday afternoon, has said she believes her state has “more to offer than other states do,” including “the role of Black folks.”

“The fight for voting rights is no longer just a courtroom battle, it is an electoral one,” the Democratic chairs from Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and West Virginia wrote in the letter, provided to The Associated Press ahead of its release. “And it begins in South Carolina.”

“Any effort to diminish South Carolina’s role in the primary process would be a step backward for the Democratic Party’s stated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” they wrote. “It would signal to Southern Democrats and to Black voters in particular, that their loyalty to this party is taken for granted. We refuse to accept that, and we will stand firmly against it.”

In a separate letter to DNC leaders, Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus Institute — which has partnered with the South Carolina Democratic Party on several presidential debates in the past — reiterated those sentiments.

“To remove or diminish South Carolina’s standing in the primary calendar would send precisely the wrong message to Black voters and to every voter who has been told their voice does not matter until after the outcome is already decided,” Thompson wrote.

For years, South Carolina has held one of the earliest Democratic primaries in the country. As the first southern state to hold its primary, South Carolina has been the initial gauge of a candidate’s ability to appeal to Black voters, who play an outsized role among the state's Democratic voters.

In 2020, Joe Biden's ability to make that appeal — along with a coveted endorsement from Rep. Jim Clyburn, the state's lone congressional Democrat and for a time the top Black Democratic lawmaker on Capitol Hill — helped him revive a flagging primary campaign, win a resounding victory in South Carolina, and go on to secure the nomination.

For the 2024 cycle, Biden led a DNC effort to have South Carolina go first overall in the party’s primary, citing the state’s more racially diverse population compared to the traditional first-in-the-nation states of Iowa and New Hampshire, which are overwhelmingly white. New Hampshire, which rejected the DNC’s plan, held a leadoff primary ahead of South Carolina anyway, and Biden — who didn’t campaign or have his name on the ballot — still won by a sizable margin after supporters mounted a write-in campaign on his behalf.

Biden, who also handily won South Carolina's 2024 contest, pushed for a revamped primary calendar that saw Nevada go second. He also pushed the Democratic primary in Michigan — a large and diverse swing state — ahead of the expansive field of states voting on Super Tuesday, the date in early March when multiple states hold primaries and the largest number of delegates needed to win the nomination are up for grabs.

Although the calendar won't officially be set until later this summer, Democrats likely to be among their party's 2028 contenders have been making the rounds in South Carolina for months. ___

Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP

In all, 11 people were killed in the disaster, including the three yet to be recovered, and eight injured. It’s one of the deadliest U.S. workplace accidents in recent decades.

A tank containing more than 500,000 gallons (1.9 million liters) of a chemical mixture used to break down wood for making paper collapsed Tuesday morning at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. in Longview, a city along the Columbia River.

The collapse occurred during a shift change, and the six workers whose remains were recovered had been in an area where they would congregate in the morning as they awaited their assignments for the day, said Matt Amos, Longview fire battalion chief.

Among the victims were a grandfather who was always willing to help anyone and a young husband described as selfless and caring, according to friends who organized fundraisers for the victims’ families.

The recovery of the victims has been slow and deliberate, complicated by the dangers posed by the remaining chemicals and other industrial hazards, Amos said. Crews were steering clear of a zone closest to the tank, in case of further collapse. They have been working with engineers to determine whether damaged buildings around the tank are safe to enter.

As they collect the remains, crews must decontaminate them before turning them over to the coroner's office for identification. The searchers also must decontaminate themselves.

Authorities said the cause of the disaster is still under investigation. They have not released the names of those who were killed, but friends and relatives had begun confirming their names and posting online fundraisers to support their families.

Gilbert Bernal, a grandfather who was an electrician at the plant, was the first confirmed death, said his friend Todd Cornwell.

“He was one of the most genuinely good people that you’ve ever met. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He was always there willing to help in whatever needed to be done," Cornwell said.

CJ Doran, who was 26, was among those presumed dead, according to a GoFundMe post verified by the crowdfunding site.

He was a husband who was “the spiritual leader of their family, the joy of their home, and the family provider,” the post said.

Other victims included John Forsberg, a father to two young children; Jared Ammons, who had two children and another on the way; and Braydon Finkas, an electrician at the plant who, along with his longtime partner, Kaitlyn Kincaid, took in exchange students and others in need at their home in Cathlamet, according to their friend Rex Czuba.

Finkas was always willing to help someone cut hay or to buy a beer for a new face in their small town, he said.

“He was a really big part of the town,” Czuba said. “He really jumped in and became a part of the community so quickly.”

The tank failure also injured eight people, including a firefighter. Some suffered burns or inhalation injuries, authorities said.

The mill's Japanese parent company, Nippon Paper Group, said in a statement Wednesday that it was offering its “deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families.”

Authorities said Thursday the spill hadn’t contaminated the air and drinking water in and around Longview, a city of about 40,000 people along Washington's border with Oregon.

The community, which was founded at the confluence of the Cowlitz and Columbia rivers by a Kansas City timber baron in the 1920s, has deep ties to paper and lumber industries.

Generations of families have worked in the mills, and many residents who spoke with The Associated Press had family members or friends connected to the Nippon Dynawave plant. The sprawling facility, which employs about 1,000 people, makes material for tissues, printing paper, cups, plates, and cartons. It sits along the Columbia next to other timber, paper and chemical businesses.

Crews were working to flush water from ditches near the plant and dilute it before pumping it into the river.

Some contamination has reached the river, but the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it has had no noticeable effect.

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Johnson reported from Seattle. Associated Press Martha Bellisle and Hallie Golden in Seattle, Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, and John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, contributed.

The move Wednesday by Republican Gov. Mike DeWine comes as tax breaks for energy-hungry AI data centers are increasingly playing a role in state budgets and the industry is under pressure to pay the full costs of the vast network of its computing warehouses needed to power AI.

The size of Ohio's tax break skyrocketed, dwarfing previous projections, as opposition to data centers is sweeping through cities, suburbs and towns there and prompting lawmakers to form a committee to study the impact.

In the meantime, residents are trying to bypass the GOP-controlled Legislature and get a referendum on November's midterm election ballot that's designed to permanently ban hyperscale data centers, likely the strictest such statewide ban under consideration in the U.S.

DeWine's office cited the rising utilization of the tax break and the state Legislature's new research undertaking to declare a “pause” in granting it to new applicants.

"The governor felt it was the right time to let the citizens know, let businesses know that we're going to pause on new offers of this tax incentive while that process plays out," DeWine's spokesperson, Dan Tierney, said Thursday.

DeWine stressed that he supports data centers — calling them a critical component in today’s economy — and that the roughly $37 billion in data center-related investment in 2024 and 2025 in Ohio has been worthwhile. Meanwhile, business groups — including the state Chamber of Commerce — and labor unions warned that pausing the tax break put Ohio at risk of losing tech-sector investments to other states.

The state, in 2024, had used previous history in projecting that the exemption would total $136 million in fiscal 2025 and $142 million in fiscal 2026. It was $554 million in 2024 and nearly $1.6 billion in 2025, the state reported.

The resumption of Ohio's tax break — should it resume — could happen under a new governor: DeWine is term-limited and the race is on to replace him. The Republican nominee, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy — an Ivy League-educated biotech billionaire — likes to talk about turning the Ohio River Valley into the next Silicon Valley.

However, Ramaswamy and Democratic nominee Amy Acton could share the midterm ballot in November with the citizen-led drive to ban the new construction of large data centers across Ohio. It faces a July 1 deadline to gather more than 400,000 voter signatures.

State tax breaks for the massive data center industry are facing growing criticism by governors and lawmakers.

The cost is likely rising as data center and AI-related investments drive higher consumer spending in the U.S. and tech giants keep boosting their spending commitment to hyperscale data centers.

In Virginia, budget negotiations have been hung up for months on a bid by Senate Democrats to eliminate the roughly $1.6 billion annual tax break.

Thirty-eight states have some form of a sales tax break for data centers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Many were approved when data centers were a small, but growing part of the economy, and well before the late 2022 debut of OpenAI’s ChatGPT launched an intensifying buildout of increasingly large data centers.

Ohio's exemption is fairly broad, applying not only to construction materials, but to the expensive equipment — such as server racks and cooling systems — used in data centers. Operators might buy new server racks every couple of years as the technology improves.

DeWine's order was a surprise.

Dorsey Hager, executive secretary-treasurer of the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, where union members spend much of their time on data center projects, said he was upset with DeWine and trying to understand the governor's reasons.

He worried, he said, that developers that were in the midst of trying to finalize plans or permits for a project might have second thoughts.

Lawmakers acknowledged the opposition in announcing their joint data center committee on May 13, and said their mission was to ensure that Ohioans have accurate information about the economic, environmental and security impact of data center development.

“We’re well aware of initiatives to limit Ohio data center development during this critical point in America’s history,” state Rep. Adam Holmes told a news conference. “This public concern has become a priority issue for us and could have dramatic impact on Ohio and American’s future.”

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Follow Marc Levy at http://twitter.com/timelywriter

Not everyone at this week's competition appreciates the change.

“I feel like they should not have moved it. The old venue was better. Because it's a bit of a hassle, getting on the bus and going there and then coming back,” said 14-year-old Yahya Mohammed, a three-time speller from Hoffman Estates, Illinois. “The old venue was more spacious, and it feels kind of isolated in the hotel.”

As the National Spelling Bee began with Tuesday's preliminary rounds, spellers and their families marveled at the historical significance of their new venue and the nearby cultural opportunities while also dealing with logistical hurdles: crowded hallways, limited dining options and shuttle bus rides to and from their hotel.

Built in 1929 by the Daughters of the American Revolution, Constitution Hall sits a few blocks from the Washington Monument and the White House. Spellers and their families are staying at the nearby J.W. Marriott, a favored haunt of lobbyists and interest groups, and the quickest route to the competition venue would normally be a stroll across the Ellipse, the grassy expanse south of the Executive Mansion.

However, the Ellipse is surrounded by temporary fencing and security checkpoints as crews construct an outdoor octagon on the South Lawn of the White House for UFC Freedom 250, a June 14 event timed for President Donald Trump's 80th birthday and marking the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.

“Two very disparate forms of entertainment,” said Rajeev Malhotra of Boston, the father of speller Sanjay Malhotra, describing the bee and the mixed martial arts extravaganza.

Venue change brings heavy security but plenty of history and culture

Security was beefed up at the hall, with guards and metal detectors stationed at every entrance and explosive-sniffing dogs patrolling the hallways. Three blocks away and three days earlier, a man opened fire at a White House security checkpoint, injuring a bystander before he was fatally shot by Secret Service officers.

At the prior venue, the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland, spellers moved freely throughout the building, roaming between their hotel rooms, the ballroom that housed the competition stage and a massive food court where they grabbed quick meals between last-minute study sessions.

“Last year was better,” said Arpit Aggarwal of Columbia, Missouri, whose daughter, Ananya, is competing for the second time. “Everything was in one place.”

“It's an adjustment,” Ananya's mom, Deepti Bahl, said diplomatically.

Other spellers appreciated the buzz of gathering downtown, saying it was more appropriate for a national competition. The bee began in 1925 and was held at a series of Washington hotels before it moved to the suburbs in 2011.

“I just love being here, right next to the National Mall. You can see the Smithsonian, you can see the Jefferson Memorial. It's such a lively and unique city and I love being in the heart of it,” said three-time speller Oliver Halkett, a 14-year-old from Los Angeles. “There's so much history, there's so much culture. The memorials and the museums are fascinating to go to.”

Speller Andie Seavey of Fairbanks, Alaska, and her mom, Kristin, went to see the musical “The Great Gatsby” at the National Theater next door to the hotel.

After 80 spellers were eliminated Tuesday during onstage spelling and vocabulary rounds, the remaining 167 competitors reconvened at the hotel for a high-stakes written test that determined the 100 or so who would move on to Wednesday morning's quarterfinals. The competition concludes Thursday night.

At the spelling bee, the bell is not necessarily the end

Last year, Faizan Zaki won the National Spelling Bee even though he misspelled a word and heard the dreaded bell rung by head judge Mary Brooks. In fact, he knew it after a few letters. He stopped spelling and told Brooks, “Just ring the bell.”

Faizan's flub let his two remaining competitors back in, since all three misspelled during the round.

Kushi Gottimukkala of Morrisville, North Carolina, is one of a few spellers competing this year who know what that feels like.

At her regional bee, sponsored by the NFL's Carolina Panthers, it was down to Kushi and two other spellers for the final spot at nationals. She misspelled “anchialine,” and she thought it was over, only to see the other two spellers mess up.

Kushi rode the emotional roller coaster and ultimately got through.

“I was still thinking about the mistake, but I was also really grateful that I got a second chance, and so I took that into consideration and decided to focus on my next word,” she said.

Spellers have to prepare for the possibility that missing a word isn't necessarily the end.

Oliver Halkett, too, has competed in a bee where he got a word wrong but wasn't eliminated. He battled through the disappointment by focusing only on the word in front of him.

“It's a peculiar situation, but I think, above all, mental clarity is so important, especially in those latter rounds,” he said. “I close my eyes and do some deep breathing and I visualize the word, and it's just me and the word. That's how you have to approach every single word.

“Treat every word as if it's your first and last word.”

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This story has been updated to correct the name of Boston speller Sanjay Malhotra, not Rajeev Malhotra.

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Ben Nuckols has covered the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2012. Follow his work here.

Quieter weather pattern on the way:

Friday morning, watch for some patchy dense fog before sunshine takes over late morning. By the afternoon, the only issue will be poor air quality for Galveston, Brazoria, and Harris Counties. If you suffer from respiratory illness, limit your time outdoors.

While the weekend is dry, more rain is possible next week as we start the month of June. With more sunshine and less gloom through the weekend, temperatures will heat back to the upper 80s and low 90s.

And speaking of June, hurricane season officially begins next week on June 1st.

To help you get prepared before the season ramps up, be sure to catch our KPRC Hurricane & Flood Survival Guide live next Wednesday at 8 p.m., where we’ll cover what you need to know heading into the 2026 season.

In the meantime, check out this list for 2026 Hurricane Names: The history of how hurricanes get named

10-DAY FORECAST:

We’re looking at a hot and dry forecast going into the weekend. If you had to cancel plans because of the rain, you should be just fine for this coming weekend!

More than 20 people were injured in the strikes, according to Shifa Hospital. Video from the scene showed flames pouring from an upper-floor window of a building, while bystanders rushed to carry wounded people, including children, to ambulances.

Mohammed Shawish, who was wounded and lost his wife in the strikes, broke down in tears as he held her body at the hospital morgue, saying, “I married my wife for love. For God’s sake, I chose her because of love.”

The strikes took place on the first day of Eid al-Adha, or the “Feast of Sacrifice,” an Islamic holiday celebrated by millions of Muslims worldwide. The Israeli military said Wednesday evening it had launched strikes in the northern Gaza Strip targeting two Hamas militants.

Among those killed was Hamas fighter Imad Isleim. On Thursday, mourners carried his body wrapped in a white shroud with a Hamas flag draped over it. His death came as a “shock” to the family, even though they knew it could happen at any time, his cousin Nidal Isleim said.

The strikes came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was expanding its control in Gaza.

“Right now we are tightening the grip on Hamas," Netanyahu said Thursday at the Jordan Valley Conference in the occupied West Bank. “We are now in 60% of the territory of the Gaza Strip. You know that? We were at 50%, we moved to 60%."

He said the next step was to move to 70% control, with Israel “tightening the grip" on Hamas "from every direction.”

“We will deal with the remnants,” Netanyahu said. "But the most important thing is to continue leveraging our power, to increase it.”

The conference was part of a broader discussion on the war, Iran, Hezbollah, Gaza and regional strategy.

"There is still more work. What is happening right now is truly a global change. There is no doubt about that,” Netanyahu added.

Earlier this week, an Israeli strike killed Mohammed Odeh, the newly appointed leader of Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, less than two weeks after his predecessor was also killed.

Across the Gaza Strip, 16 people were killed and 39 others wounded over the past 48 hours, Gaza’s health ministry said in an update on Thursday. The ministry is part of Gaza’s Hamas-run government, but is staffed by medical professionals who maintain and publish detailed records viewed as generally reliable by the international community.

Since a fragile ceasefire came into effect last October, 922 people have been killed in Gaza and 2,786 others injured, according to the ministry.

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This story has corrected the location where Netanyahu spoke.

Messi, about to turn 39, headlines the 26-man World Cup roster announced by the Argentine Football Association on Thursday.

Of those called up, 17 players were part of the team that triumphed four years ago in the final against France in Qatar.

Several of those players were in doubt due to injuries of varying severity, close to the June 1 deadline set by FIFA for finalizing World Cup squads. Among them was Messi himself, who is suffering from muscle fatigue and strain in his left hamstring, which prevented him from finishing the match with Inter Miami last Sunday.

The club has officially stated that his recovery time will depend on “his clinical and functional progress.” Messi will be playing in his sixth World Cup, having previously participated in Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2015, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.

Goalkeeper Martinez named

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who fractured the ring finger of his right hand during last week’s Europa League final in which Aston Villa defeated Freiburg, has also been confirmed.

Scaloni also included defender Cristian Romero, who is recovering from a sprained collateral ligament in his right knee suffered in mid-April while playing for Tottenham, and fullbacks Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel, who scored the decisive penalty kicks in the 2002 World Cup shootout against France, both of whom are recovering from muscle injuries.

Argentina, also world champions in 1978 and 1986, will debut on June 16 against Algeria in Group J, which also includes Austria and Jordan.

The squad will travel on Saturday to their World Cup base in Kansas City and will play friendlies against Honduras and Iceland before the start of the tournament.

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Argentina squad:

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille), Juan Musso (Atlético de Madrid).

Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Nahuel Molina (Atlético de Madrid), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marseille), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique de Lyon), Facundo Medina (Olympique de Marseille).

Midfielders: Giovani Lo Celso (Betis), Leandro Paredes (Boca Jrs), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Valentín Barco (RC Strasbourg Alsace).

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolás González (Atlético de Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atlético de Madrid), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), José Manuel López (Palmeiras), Julián Álvarez (Atlético de Madrid), Thiago Almada (Lyon), Nico Paz (Como).

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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

In a letter sent Thursday to Superintendent Matias Segura, TEA officials said Texas Council for International Studies failed to demonstrate a record of turning around campuses with repeated failing accountability ratings and, in some cases, partnerships with the nonprofit had produced worse academic outcomes.

District leaders applied for the partnership in March under the SB 1882 program, which can shield campuses from certain state sanctions when districts turn over operations to outside organizations. But without the partnership protections, Dobie, Webb and Burnet middle schools remain on a collision course with state intervention if accountability scores do not improve this year. Under state law, Education Commissioner Mike Morath must either close campuses or replace the elected school board with an appointed board of managers when a campus receives five consecutive failing accountability ratings.

According to the letter, the district is still free to pursue the partnership, but would not receive a reprieve from accountability ratings that is offered under the SB 1882 program.

The decision comes as Dobie, Webb and Burnet students finished the school year Thursday. Earlier in the spring, the middle schools completed state standardized testing. Those results, expected this summer, will heavily shape the accountability ratings that could determine whether the state intervenes in Austin ISD.

“While we’re disappointed by the Texas Education Agency’s response, we look forward to sharing additional details that reinforce our certainty that TCIS has the experience and capacity to meaningfully improve student outcomes at these three schools,” Segura said in a statement.

Texas Council for International Studies CEO Margaret Davis said the nonprofit is excited to be a part of the Austin ISD community and honored to be in partnership with the district. Davis referred all further questions about Thursday’s letter to Austin ISD.

Segura said Austin ISD partnered with the nonprofit to ensure Dobie, Webb and Burnet receive the exceptional academic support they deserve, reiterating his confidence in Texas Council for International Studies’ “proven ability to lift student outcomes.”

Austin ISD is beefing up resources aimed at systemic improvement across all schools, especially where students need the most support to reach their highest potential, Segura’s statement said. Student outcomes have continued to improve over the past two years, the statement continued, and the district sees promising trends in Austin ISD’s data that the district is demonstrating accelerated student academic growth.

The state’s rejection marks another escalation in a monthslong effort by Austin ISD leaders to prevent state intervention at the campuses, which have faced mounting accountability pressure for years. Trustees approved the partnership earlier this year despite criticism questioning the timeliness and transparency of the process.

The decision does not automatically trigger a state takeover of Austin ISD. Still, the Texas Education Agency has increasingly shown a willingness to intervene in districts tied to chronically failing campuses, including recent takeovers in Houston, Fort Worth and Lake Worth ISD that replaced elected school boards with state-appointed managers.

Public information records previously obtained by Austin Current showed Texas Council for International Studies was the only organization to submit a bid to operate the three schools. Board members approved the sole bidder just days before the March 31 deadline to submit an application for SB 1882 benefits in a high-stakes move to skirt state intervention. According to Thursday’s letter, district leaders submitted additional information to the state in May before the application was ultimately denied.

Texas Council for International Studies has led 16 SB1882 partnerships since 2019 across San Antonio, Edgewood and Longview ISDs with mixed results. The nonprofit, which was founded as a partner organization focused on supporting students and schools implementing the International Baccalaureate programs in Texas, meets only two of three criteria for SB1882 partnerships added by state education leaders as of March 2020, according to TEA’s letter.

While it has been in existence for at least three years and managed multiple campuses, Texas Council for International Studies does not have a track record of managing campuses to academic success or significantly improving academic performance, TEA’s letter said.

Only five of the 16 campuses led by Texas Council for International Studies under SB1882 partnerships since 2019 faced “D” or “F” ratings at the time the partnerships were approved and three of those schools have either received worse ratings or failed to improve since, according to TEA.

Earlier this year, Austin ISD leaders expressed confidence in contracting Texas Council for International Studies as an operational partner for Dobie, Webb and Burnet middle schools. In a March board meeting, Segura said “After spending time with the partners and understanding their structure, having conversations with the staff at these schools, meeting with principals, I am confident this partner and this iteration will help us be successful.”

Executive Director of Governance, Accountability and Board Services Joshua Jeon previously told Austin Current that the district intended to move forward with the partnership even if the state were to deny SB1882 benefits.

Vanessa Gamez, mother of a Webb Middle School student, said it is disappointing to hear the partnership was denied, noting the students will ultimately be the ones most affected. SB 1882 partnerships can increase state funding for partnered campuses. Gamez said it is unfair that their low-income, historically marginalized communities were again denied more resources.

State and district politics and economics, she said, seem to be at the core of the decision. Gamez said if the state intervenes, she looks forward to seeing how the state will approach fixing the deeply-rooted issues facing the schools and Austin ISD as a whole. She said she hopes TEA will realize students are struggling with language barriers, which parents have communicated to Austin ISD without much resolution.

“How can it not benefit us?” Gamez said in Spanish. “If we are where we are, what can be worse? I don’t think there can be worse.”

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because the team had not announced the injury.

The Knicks are set to play Game 1 of the NBA Finals next Wednesday on the road against either Oklahoma City or San Antonio.

Robinson appeared in 13 of New York’s first 16 games through the first three rounds of the playoffs, including more than 17 minutes off the bench in the Eastern Conference finals-clinching victory at Cleveland. The team returned to practice at home on Thursday.

It was not clear exactly when Robinson was injured, though video shows him grabbing at his right hand and shaking it going back down the court with 5:35 left in the third quarter Monday night after coming down from attempting to rebound a missed shot by teammate Mikal Bridges. He played off and on until 7:47 left in the fourth.

The Knicks are 12-2 in the postseason, with a victory margin of 19.4 points a game, and have won 11 in a row. That’s tied for the third-longest winning streak within one postseason.

The 28-year-old Robinson is averaging 5.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in the playoffs as a big man whose minutes come in a reserve role and who can fill time on the court when Karl-Anthony Towns gets into foul trouble. On the offensive end, Robinson has been the subject of fouling from opponents because of his issues at the free throw line, where he's 13 of 43 (30.2%).

ESPN first reported Robinson's broken finger.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

The ruling came after the first bench trial in the country to examine the constitutionality of the execution method that has now been used to put eight people to death, seven in Alabama and one in Louisiana. The ruling clears the way for Alabama and other states to continue with the method and is a setback for critics who hoped a fuller examination of Alabama's protocol would halt its use.

The execution method, first used in 2024, involves strapping a respirator to the person's face and replacing breathable air with pure nitrogen gas, causing death from lack of oxygen. The lawsuit challenging the method was filed last year by death row inmate Jeffery Lee. Lee, 58, is scheduled to be executed with nitrogen gas on June 11 at a south Alabama prison.

“While Lee establishes that death by nitrogen hypoxia involves some suffering, he fails to show that the protocol is cruel and unusual in violation of the Eighth Amendment,” U.S. District Judge Emily C. Marks wrote.

Attorneys for the state and Lee disputed how long inmates are awake during a nitrogen gas execution. Marks wrote the evidence shows Alabama’s protocol “likely causes severe air hunger —the most severe form of breathing discomfort — for one to three minutes” but did not arise to a constitutional violation.

Lee's attorneys indicated in court filings that they are appealing the decision.

The Alabama attorney general praised the judge's decision.

“After the first full trial on nitrogen hypoxia in the entire country, the district court found it to be constitutional. The district court considered all the evidence and concluded that nitrogen hypoxia is not cruel and unusual, affirming that the question of capital punishment belongs to the people and their representatives, not the courts, to resolve,” Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said.

Inmates executed by nitrogen gas have displayed various levels of shaking during the executions, and lawyers for the state and inmates have disagreed on whether those are involuntary or a sign of suffering. Alabama's last nitrogen gas execution took more than 30 minutes to complete.

Marks noted that Lee faced a high legal bar because the U.S. Supreme Court has yet to find a state’s method of execution qualifies as cruel and unusual.

Five states have authorized nitrogen gas as an execution method, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, although only two states have used it.

Lee was convicted of capital murder for killing Ellis and Thompson on Dec. 12, 1998, near the small town of Orrville, Alabama. Prosecutors said Lee entered a pawn shop with a sawed-off shotgun and fatally shot Jimmy Ellis, the owner of the store, and Elaine Thompson, a store employee.

A jury voted 7-5 that Lee should receive a sentence of life imprisonment. However, a judge overrode that recommendation and sentenced Lee to death. Alabama in 2017 ended the practice of judicial override and no longer allows a judge to disregard a jury’s sentencing decision in death penalty cases.

Lee's legal team did not issue an immediate comment on the decision.

“The real torture of the death penalty is in the decades of waiting. With what we know about each of the available methods of being killed in Alabama or in the U.S., I can’t imagine anyone choosing conscious suffocation," said Abraham Bonowitz, executive director of Death Penalty Action, a group that opposes the death penalty.

He added that Lee would not face the death penalty if sentenced today because judicial override has been abolished.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that the First Command of the Capital, or PCC, and the Red Command, or CV, will be considered foreign terrorist organizations as of June 5. Until then, they will be named as specially designated global terrorists, which hampers their ability to make financial transactions as they are regarded as a threat to U.S. citizens.

Rubio's announcement comes 24 hours after a visit by Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, a presidential hopeful and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who has advocated for the move. The senator's bid to face President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in October's election is at risk after he admitted receiving money from a disgraced banker.

Lula, who the Bolsonaros accuse of not fighting organized crime, has repeatedly said he would interpret a designation of the two criminal groups as terrorist organizations as interference to favor his electoral rival. He has yet to comment on Thursday's announcement.

The PCC and the CV likely have more than 50,000 members combined, according to experts, who also say most of their connections are in Europe rather than in North America. Most of PCC's operations are centered in metropolis Sao Paulo, while the CV is based in Rio de Janeiro. They have reach throughout South America.

Latin America strategy

Designating criminal cartels in Latin America as foreign terrorist organizations is a strategy the Trump’s administration has used as it turns to military activity and other steps to combat drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere, notably carrying out a campaign of deadly boat strikes against those it calls “narcoterrorists” in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean.

“CV and PCC are two of the most violent criminal organizations in Brazil. Together, they command thousands of members and have orchestrated brutal attacks against Brazilian police officers, public officials, and civilians,” Rubio said. “Their influence and illicit networks extend far beyond Brazil’s borders, across our region and into our country.”

“Today’s action taken by the State Department further demonstrates the Trump Administration’s unwavering commitment to dismantling cartels and criminal organizations in our region and ensuring the safety of the American people,” he added.

Sen. Bolsonaro, who briefly met Trump before his longer conversation with Rubio on Wednesday, said his visit to the Washington this week had produced more results for Brazil's public security than in Lula's three administrations. The incumbent president also governed in two terms between 2003-2010.

“Lula was on his knees to Trump to lobby for CV and PCC, and I was there to work so they can be treated as terrorists, which is what they are,” Sen. Bolsonaro said.

Brazil reaction

A Brazilian government staffer told The Associated Press there was no previous notice from the Trump administration that the move would take place on Thursday. The source spoke under condition of anonymity for lack of authorization to speak to journalists about the decision.

Lula, who is seeking reelection and is trying to boost his anti-crime credentials, has openly opposed labeling criminals as terrorists, while Bolsonaro’s supporters in Congress have publicly urged Trump to hit harder on the gangs.

Earlier Thursday, Brazilian prosecutors launched a mega-operation to dismantle fraud, money laundering and tax evasion, in the latest phase of an investigation targeting criminal gangs like the PCC and CV.

Lula's special adviser for foreign affairs and former foreign minister Celso Amorim was the first to publicly comment on Rubio's announcement.

“Public security is a key topic for social economic development. Organized crime is an evil that must be fought. International cooperation is welcome, especially in matters of money laundering and arms trade. (But) pretext for intervention is unacceptable,” Amorim said.

Public security will likely be a wedge issue in Brazil’s presidential elections, when Sen. Bolsonaro faces off against Lula. The 71-year-old Jair Bolsonaro cannot run as he is serving his 27-year prison sentence for leading a coup attempt.

Experts have said neither Jair Bolsonaro nor Lula was very successful in fighting the two criminal groups, although Brazil’s federal police and prosecutors have conducted several raids against them in recent years. Authorities scored a major win against the PCC in August by dismantling part of its money laundering network that included gas stations, perfume shops and even a financial services company based in one of Sao Paulo’s main arteries.

Brazil’s federal police said then that their operation, known as Hidden Carbon, found companies linked to the PCC laundering at least 6 billion reals ($1.1 billion) in recent years.

Political analyst Thomas Traumann says Rubio's move is about “the Trump administration trying to meddle in the election after a request by Flávio Bolsonaro during his trip to Washington.”

“Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign was hit by his problematic businesses with a corrupted banker, he came to the Trump administration to ask for some help and he got this one,” Traumann said. “Lula's best moment in the polls was after Trump imposed tariffs against Brazil and he revived a narrative on national sovereignty. It is likely he will do it again.”

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Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Already known for its gaming, luxury accommodations, pools, golf and live entertainment, the resort has now added another major draw to the experience: Big Sky Steakhouse.

The new restaurant brings an elevated steakhouse experience to the property — but without the stuffiness or sky-high prices people often associate with fine dining.

“You can absolutely dress up for dinner if you want to,” said Coushatta Casino Resort Food & Beverage Director Matthew Beard. “But we also wanted people to feel comfortable coming in after a day at the pool or spending time on the casino floor.”

That approachable atmosphere is part of what’s making the restaurant resonate with both visitors and locals.

The space feels polished and upscale, with the kind of ambiance you’d expect from a Las Vegas resort steakhouse, while still remaining welcoming and accessible. It’s already becoming a popular spot for graduation dinners, birthdays and celebrations, thanks in part to the restaurant’s two private dining spaces that can accommodate group events and special occasions.

For Beard, the project is especially meaningful.

He grew up in the area and actually got his start working at Coushatta in an entry-level kitchen role years ago before eventually rising through the ranks to lead the resort’s food and beverage operations.

Now, he’s helping create a menu inspired by the flavors and traditions of Southwest Louisiana.

One example is the restaurant’s use of ingredients like oxtail — a nod to the resourcefulness and culinary traditions of local farming communities, where no cut of meat went to waste.

“A lot of the inspiration comes from the culture here and the people who grew up here,” Beard said.

That combination of local influence and elevated dining is helping Big Sky stand out as more than just another steakhouse.

And when paired with everything else Coushatta Casino Resort offers, it becomes part of a much bigger experience — one that feels like a true getaway without requiring Houstonians to book a flight to Las Vegas.

Whether you’re planning a romantic weekend, a girls’ trip, celebrating a milestone or simply looking for a fun road trip destination, Coushatta is leaning into the idea that luxury can still feel relaxed, approachable and distinctly Southern.

Big Sky Steakhouse is now open at Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, Louisiana. Wlk-ins are always welcome and for reservations or for information on accommodations, entertainment, and upcoming events, visit CoushattaCasinoResort.com.

State-run Yemeni TV said that he died at his residence in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, but gave no other details.

Rashad al-Alimi, the head of the Presidential Leadership Council — the leadership body of Yemen’s internationally recognized government — said Hadi believed in the Yemeni people’s “right to a just state, freedom and human dignity.”

“He led the battle to defend the republican system," al-Alimi said on X.

The government announced three days of mourning, during which flags will be flown at half-staff.

Hadi's presidency

Hadi became president in 2012 after the resignation of longtime leader Ali Abdullah Saleh during the Arab Spring uprisings. Backed by the United States and Gulf states, Hadi emerged as a compromise candidate in a one-person election meant to guide Yemen through a political transition.

But his presidency soon got bogged down in unrest.

During his first years in office, Hadi tried to implement wide-reaching reforms, including the unification of the country’s various armed factions.

His opponents accused him of favoring the country’s eastern oil-rich provinces at the expense of the mountainous heartlands dominated by Houthis, the Iran-aligned movement.

Another challenge came from al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, long considered one of the global network’s most dangerous branches. The group carried out a bombing in Sanaa in 2012 that killed more than 100 people.

The defining moment of Hadi’s presidency came in 2014, when Houthi fighters swept south from their northern strongholds and captured Sanaa amid growing public anger over economic hardship and political instability.

With support from forces loyal to Saleh, Houthi forces took control of Yemen’s presidential palace in January 2015. Hadi resigned and escaped to Aden. But he later withdrew his resignation, and a Saudi-led coalition entered the conflict in March 2015 in a bid to restore Hadi’s government.

Although Hadi remained the internationally recognized president, much of the real decision-making was influenced by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the coalition's main players.

His authority weakened further as divisions emerged in the anti-Houthi alliance.

Tensions with the UAE deepened after Hadi dismissed senior Emirati-backed figures, including Aidarous al-Zubaidi, who led the separatist Southern Transitional Council, or STC.

The STC eventually took control of Aden and parts of southern Yemen, leaving Hadi’s government confined to exile in Riyadh and to scattered territories in the east.

While the STC stopped short of openly demanding Hadi’s removal, it refused to place its forces under his command and accused his government of accommodating Islamist factions linked to the Islah party, Yemen’s branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. The STC was dismantled earlier this year.

Hadi spent his final years in office largely out of public view in the Saudi capital. In April 2022, shortly after a U.N.-brokered ceasefire was announced, he transferred power to al-Alimi, who began leading the newly formed presidential council backed by Saudi Arabia.

His rise as a military officer

Mansour Hadi was born Sept. 1, 1945, in Yemen’s coastal Abyan province at a time when the southern of the half country was a British protectorate. His family was part of the influential Al-Fadl tribe, one of the largest and most established in the south.

After completing school, Hadi pursued a career in the army, graduating from the United Kingdom's Sandhurst military academy. His early military years saw him serve in Egypt and Russia, before returning to Yemen.

Hadi was a senior officer when civil war erupted in 1986, following a fallout between rival factions of Southern Yemen’s then governing Socialist party. He sided with President Ali Nasser Mohammed, fleeing with him to northern Yemen, then an independent state.

In the immediate years after Yemen’s reunification in 1990, Hadi was promoted first to the rank of general and later to defense minister by Saleh. As a reward for leading numerous successful military campaigns against southern separatists in 1994, Saleh appointed Hadi as vice president of the new republic.

Hadi is survived by his wife, Hala, and six children. Funeral arrangements weren't yet known.

___

Fatma Khaled reported from Cairo. Jack Jeffery provided reporting for this story from Cairo before leaving The Associated Press.

The climbers’ conditions weren’t immediately known following the fall, which was reported to Denali National Park and Preserve rangers overnight, and rangers were seeking a weather window to allow them to reach the area by helicopter, a statement from the agency said. The four climbers were part of a seven-person team.

The three others climbing attended to those who fell, and then returned to camp, the statement says. The fall occurred near Denali Pass, at about 18,200 feet (5,547 meters). The climbers returned to an area known as high camp around 17,000 feet (5,181 meters), the statement says. McKinley stands at about 20,310 feet (6,190 meters).

Park officials have been in contact with the three climbers, said Scott Carr, a park service spokesperson. He said additional information would be released “if and when it becomes appropriate.”

Over the years, many climbing injuries and deaths have occurred on the traverse between the high camp and Denali Pass, mainly resulting from unprotected falls, according to the park.

Park rangers and mountain guides install and maintain snow pickets — which are used to help build anchors for extra protection on areas like steep slopes — between the high camp and Denali Pass, the park says. Climbers are urged to have their own pickets in case the protection placed by rangers and guides is missing.

Weather conditions didn't improve the way rescuers had hoped. Carr said late Thursday that conditions throughout the day had been variable, with low cloud ceilings and limited visibility, and that authorities were still awaiting an opportunity to safely fly.

"Helicopter operations will start when a weather window opens up,” he said.

A typical climbing season for Mount McKinley begins in late April and continues into mid-July, according to the park. There were 516 climbers on the mountain as of Thursday, Carr said by email.

On Wednesday, two climbers as part of a separate incident were evacuated from the mountain by helicopter around 11 p.m., but the park service said it did not have additional information to share.

Today, visitors arriving at Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, Louisiana, are greeted by luxury accommodations, award-winning dining, championship golf, live entertainment and a gaming floor buzzing with excitement. But behind the bright lights and recent expansion is a story that runs much deeper.

It’s a story of perseverance, vision and a tribe investing in its future.

The newest chapter in that story is the Legacy Tower, a stunning new addition to the resort that offers guests a more elevated experience while honoring the generations who helped make it possible.

For longtime visitors, the transformation is impossible to miss.

Lori and Bob, a Houston couple who regularly visit Coushatta, were returning for the first time since the Legacy Tower’s completion.

Their reaction was immediate.

“Are we even in the right place?” they laughed.

The couple said they barely recognized the property after the extensive expansion and renovations. What began as a familiar getaway now feels like an entirely new destination, blending the excitement guests have always enjoyed with a more elevated resort experience.

The Legacy Tower’s spacious rooms, contemporary design and upscale amenities represent the latest chapter in the resort’s evolution. Yet while the property continues to grow, its mission remains rooted in something much deeper than hospitality.

The Legacy Tower is more than the name of a building. It’s a reflection of what generations of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana have worked to build.

The ancestors of today’s Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana have called this region home for generations. Federal recognition opened new opportunities for the tribe to invest in economic development, self-determination and a future built on their own vision.

When Coushatta Casino Resort first opened in the mid-1990s, it represented far more than a business venture. It was an opportunity to create jobs, strengthen the tribal community and build lasting opportunities for future generations.

Three decades later, that vision continues to grow.

The resort now welcomes visitors from across Texas, Louisiana and beyond. Revenue generated through tourism and gaming helps support tribal programs, infrastructure, education, healthcare and community development initiatives that benefit tribal citizens today and for years to come.

In many ways, the Legacy Tower stands as a symbol of that progress—a reminder that when communities are given the opportunity to invest in themselves, remarkable things can happen.

Of course, for many guests, the appeal begins with a little excitement.

From slot machines and table games to poker and sports betting, Coushatta offers plenty of opportunities for those hoping Lady Luck might be on their side. As always, guests are encouraged to gamble responsibly and play within their means.

Beyond the casino floor, visitors will find pools, golf, entertainment and dining experiences that make Coushatta a destination in its own right.

And there’s even more on the horizon.

One of the newest additions to the Coushatta Casino Resort experience is Big Sky Steakhouse, an upscale yet approachable dining destination that’s already becoming a favorite among both resort guests and locals.

The restaurant delivers the atmosphere of a classic Vegas-style steakhouse while keeping the experience relaxed and accessible — whether guests want to dress up for a special night out or stop in after a day at the pool or casino.

The menu, created by Coushatta Food & Beverage Director Matthew Beard, draws inspiration from the flavors and traditions of Southwest Louisiana. Beard, who grew up locally and began his career at Coushatta in an entry-level kitchen role years ago, says the restaurant was designed to reflect both elevated dining and the region’s rich culinary culture.

This summer, Coushatta will host one of the largest Native American powwows in North America, bringing together dancers, drummers, singers, artists and tribal members from across the continent.

The annual celebration offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience Native American culture, traditions, and community firsthand. Colorful regalia, powerful drum circles and generations of history come together in an event that is both educational and unforgettable.

It’s another reminder that Coushatta is about more than entertainment.

It’s about culture.

It’s about community.

And it’s about legacy.

As the resort continues to grow, the Legacy Tower stands as a physical representation of where the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana has been—and where it’s going next.

For visitors, it offers a beautiful new place to stay, a place to unwind, reconnect and maybe even enjoy a little excitement along the way.

For the tribe, it’s something even more meaningful: another investment in the generations yet to come.

Because the true legacy of Coushatta isn’t found in the tower itself.

It’s found in the people who built it, the generations who came before, and the generations who will benefit from it long into the future.

Planning a visit? The new Legacy Tower is now open at Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, Louisiana, just a few hours from Houston. Visitors can enjoy luxury accommodations, dining, entertainment, gaming and a calendar of cultural events, including one of the largest Native American powwows in North America. For information on accommodations, entertainment and upcoming events, visit CoushattaCasinoResort.com and remember...please gamble responsibly.

KPRC 2 returned to the Lancaster Hotel in downtown Houston, where we checked in just two weeks ago as the tournament draws closer. At that time, hotels reported bookings were falling short of expectations, not even reaching occupancy levels seen during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Now, just weeks out from the start of play, that picture hasn’t changed much.

“I think they sold us as something really big… and we just don’t see those numbers yet,” said Emre Ozsut of the Lancaster Hotel.

• Houston fans paying some of the highest prices in America for game-day wings ahead of FIFA World Cup, study finds

The Lancaster, a downtown property celebrating their 100th anniversary this year, expected a record-breaking summer. They say business is picking up, but most of it still appears to be driven by corporate travel, not World Cup visitors. Hotel staff say they also checked in with other downtown properties and report similar conditions.

“All of us were expecting to be a lot at this point because games are so close,” Ozsut said.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo pushed back on the idea that early booking numbers tell the full story.

“75% of ticket sales have been international; they have to stay somewhere,” Hidalgo said.

Hidalgo also described the World Cup as “multiple Super Bowls at once.” But when pressed for more specifics about current hotel demand, and why businesses aren’t feeling the promised economic surge — her office referred KPRC 2 to Houston First. The only additional detail provided was that June and July are trending as a “better than normal summer.”

• Ever heard of ‘typo squatting?’ FBI warns of fake FIFA websites targeting Houston fans ahead of 2026 World Cup

Beyond that, no further explanation was offered for the disconnect between tourism projections and what hospitality businesses are experiencing on the ground.

Hotels say the slower-than-expected demand has forced them to adjust.

“All of us had to change our strategy, and then we remove the restrictions and readjust the price a little bit,” Ozsut said.

Ticket brokers say what they’re seeing is typical for a global event of this size — but also not extraordinary. Many tickets remain available as fans wait until the last minute to purchase, particularly as they monitor prices on the secondary market.

“For some of the other games, there’s like 1,300 to 3,000 tickets left on the secondary market,” said Kayla Ramsey, known as the Ticket Queen.

Both hoteliers and brokers note that ticket sales and hotel bookings don’t always move at the same pace, especially with international travelers who may still be finalizing their plans.

“It’s always slow for us right now,” Ramsey said. “I think the hype will get more intense and people will start coming in.”

For now, hotels say they remain hopeful that the final matches in Houston could drive a stronger last-minute surge — but they’re still waiting for the boom city and county leaders keep promising.

“We are supposed to be sold out, have no rooms, but everyone has availability,” Ozsut said.

The 35-page report — shared by the Israeli mission to the U.N. late Thursday ahead of its expected release Friday — blacklists 77 government and non-government parties in a dozen countries suspected of committing or being responsible for sexual violence in conflicts around the world. It says the number of cases rose sharply in 2025 from 2024.

Russian armed and security forces were also blacklisted for the first time this year for sexual violence against prisoners of war and civilians detained during the war in Ukraine.

The list for 2025 includes Israel's armed and security forces as well as Hamas militants, who were previously blacklisted after their attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which sparked the war in Gaza.

Both Israel and Russia were warned in last year's report by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that they could be put on the list.

The ambassadors of both countries expressed outrage at their inclusion and lashed out at Guterres.

“We will write a letter to the secretary-general saying that these are unsubstantiated lies and alleged things which again portray Russia as a villain, like they do all the time," Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said. He said Russia is documenting and preparing a report on how the Ukrainians are treating Russian prisoners of war.

“We are done with this UN Secretary-General,” Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the U.N., said in a statement on social media. “Guterres has put Israel on the same blacklist along with Hamas, ISIS and the most depraved terrorist organizations in the world.” Guterres' second five-year term ends Dec. 31.

Danon said Israel had provided documents, data and detailed responses to the allegations that are raised in the report.

The report said in 2025 the U.N. was able to document “patterns of sexual violence" against Palestinians detained in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, and verified multiple incidents of conflict-related sexual violence, including as a form of torture, inflicted on 14 men, seven women, nine boys and one girl from Gaza and the West Bank. It said 13 cases occurred in 2025 and 18 in 2023 and 2024.

“Violations consisted of rape, including with objects, gang rape, attempted rape, physical violence to the genitals, instances of targeted shooting of the genitals, touching of breasts and genitals, strip and cavity searches conducted without apparent security justification, forced nudity and threats of rape,” the report stated.

It detailed at least nine victims, mostly from Gaza, who were raped or gang raped, in some cases repeatedly, by perpetrators from the Israel Defense Forces and Israel's prison service, its special forces and police units.

Israel's foreign ministry said Thursday it has “comprehensively, thoroughly, and unequivocally refuted these allegations.”

“This decision is yet another example of the UN’s long-standing, institutionalized hostility toward Israel,” the foreign ministry wrote on X.

The report again includes accusations of sexual violence by Hamas, but says many of the details could not be independently confirmed because the Israeli government continues to deny the U.N. the access it needs to carry out investigations.

Russian authorities also consistently deny access to U.N. human rights investigators, the report said, but they still were able to verify 310 cases of conflict-related sexual violence in Russia and Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine against prisoners of war and civilian detainees. The vast majority of the victims were men, the report said.

Human rights monitors in Ukraine documented 31 cases of conflict-related sexual violence against prisoners of war and civilian detainees, the majority of which occurred prior to 2025, the report said. Ukraine has not been put on the U.N. blacklist.

The Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether E. Jean Carroll, the longtime advice columnist who has said President Donald Trump sexually assaulted her in a Manhattan department store 30 years ago, lied during the course of civil litigation against the Republican president, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Also, a federal judge has declined to halt Trump’s executive order, creating a federal voter list and limiting mail voting, clearing the way for potential sweeping changes in how American elections are run shortly before this year’s midterm elections.

Here's the latest:

Jill Biden disagreed with her husband’s initial refusal to pardon son Hunter

In June 2024, Hunter Biden was convicted of three felony charges related to the purchase of a revolver in 2018.

The family was surprised the case had gone to trial and viewed it as politically motivated.

But while Joe Biden had vowed that he wouldn’t use the powers of his office to pardon his son if he were convicted, the former first lady saw things differently.

“In the end, it felt like in working so hard to be impartial, we guaranteed that Hunter would meet the worst possible legal fate,” she wrote. “Joe might have gone too far, in my opinion, to show that his family was being treated with complete impartiality.”

But after Trump was elected, Biden changed his mind and pardoned Hunter, sparing his son a possible prison sentence.

Jill Biden is ‘pained’ by the East Wing’s destruction

People in Washington sent her photos of the demolition and she said, “I could barely look.”

The East Wing was the historic base of operations for first ladies and their staffs, along with other White House operations. Trump had the wing torn down last year to build a ballroom.

“A major landmark and historic treasure was being treated like an extreme fixer-upper on HGTV’s ‘Property Brothers,’” she wrote in “View from the East Wing,” her memoir being published next week.

The Associated Press obtained a copy of the manuscript.

She said what “pained me” was “the symbolic bulldozing of history and the eradication of institutional memory.”

Jill Biden discloses that she was fired by Northern Virginia Community College

The former first lady had taught English and writing at the Alexandria, Virginia, campus since 2009. She signed her annual contract in July 2023, and a termination letter was hand-delivered that winter, she wrote in her forthcoming memoir. The grant used to pay her salary had dried up. “I felt sick,” she wrote in “View from the East Wing.” The Associated Press obtained a copy of the manuscript. Ultimately, the issue was resolved — she did not say how —- “and I kept my position.” But she taught her last class at the school in December 2024 and closed the book on a 40-year career as an educator as she and her husband prepared to leave the White House.

Jill Biden thinks they could have explained better after Joe’s debate

The official explanation from the White House for Joe Biden’s poor debate performance was that he was suffering from a cold.

But Jill Biden wondered in her memoir, “View from the East Wing,” if they should have just acknowledged what millions of people saw – “that he looked very unwell in that debate.”

“The biggest lesson for us, I think, was that if you don’t explain something well enough then the question won’t go away,” she wrote. “There was never a satisfying enough explanation offered for Joe’s debate performance, and a lot of people never got over it.”

The Associated Press obtained a copy of the manuscript for the book before it is published on Tuesday.

Jill Biden says she thought Joe might be having a stroke while debating Trump

The former first lady writes in her new memoir, “View from the East Wing,” that her husband “didn’t seem himself” from the start of the debate in June 2024.

And after he said, “we finally beat Medicare,” she started to wonder about his health.

“Is he short-circuiting? I thought,” she wrote. “Is this a stroke?”

He improved as the debate went on “but not enough to reassure me or anyone watching that he was okay. He clearly wasn’t,” Jill Biden said. “I’d never seen that look on his face before in my life.”

The Associated Press obtained a copy of the manuscript for the book.

Vance seems to move goal posts for achieving one of Trump’s key objectives for launching the war

Trump and his team said from the start of the conflict and throughout the 3-month-old war that one of the prime reasons they undertook it was to ensure that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.

But Vance, touting what he said the war had accomplished, told reporters that, “We’re in a position where we could substantially set back their nuclear program, not just during the term of this president but over the long term.”

Vance said it’s hard to say if Trump will sign the tentative agreement with Iran

The vice president said to reporters Thursday evening after he returned from a trip to Colorado that “it’s hard to say exactly when or if the president’s going to sign.”

He said it was clear Iran wants to make a deal and that negotiators were “going back and forth on a couple of language points.”

He said points of disagreement included Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which could potentially be used to make a nuclear weapon.

“There are a couple of issues on the nuclear stuff, the highly enriched stockpile, and also the question of enrichment,” Vance said.

US sanctions more Iranian oil sales despite officials saying tentative deal has been reached

The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday announced additional sanctions on Iran’s military oil sales even as one U.S. official said that Tehran and Washington had reached a tentative agreement to extend the ceasefire and start nuclear negotiations.

The latest penalties -- first reported by The Associated Press -- are part of the Trump administration’s sprawling and ever-growing economic pressure campaign to get Iran to capitulate to its demands. But both Republican and Democratic administrations have levied countless sanctions against Iran for decades to no avail.

The action puts additional sanctions on Sepehr Energy Jahan -- the oil sales arm of Iran’s armed forces -- which facilitates the shipment of millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil to China. In a news release, Treasury claimed that Iran’s military generates revenue through these sales “via an array of front companies to help fund its reconstitution and threaten its neighbors.”

“The Treasury Department will continue to increase pressure on Iranian oil sales to deprive the Iranian regime and its military of the financial resources it needs to threaten U.S. allies and partners in the Middle East,” Secretary Scott Bessent said.

Acting AG says there’s ‘no limit’ on who can apply for payments from Trump administration settlement

Todd Blanche said there’s “no limit to who can apply” for the Trump administration’s new $1.776 billion settlement fund to pay individuals who believe they were targeted politically.

The acting attorney general, attending a law enforcement symposium in Dallas on Thursday, declined to rule out payments to people who violently stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

“You have to define something and then stick to it,” Blanche told The Associated Press at the symposium. “So that’s something I’ve been hesitant to try to do because it’s very fact intensive.”

He said “the example that comes to mind” of someone who might receive a payment is a parent who is pushed out of a school board meeting and charged with assault.

Blanche is facing questions about the fund from the Senate. GOP leaders have put a Homeland Security funding bill on hold until the administration agrees to some parameters on the settlement money.

About 8% of the country lacked health insurance in 2025, new data shows. That could rise next year

The proportion of Americans without health insurance held steady at around 8% of the population in 2025, according to new findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The national survey results published Thursday show the uninsured rate has stayed down from where it was a few years ago.

However, changes from the Trump administration could increase this rate in the years ahead. Massive changes to Medicaid and the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies may lead to more uninsured individuals. Around 5 million fewer people are expected to enroll in those plans in 2026 compared with 2025, according to the healthcare research nonprofit KFF.

The survey also indicates a possible increase in the percentage of insured Hispanic Americans, which could be due in part to immigration changes.

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Milli Vanilli and Morris Day say they won’t perform at Trump-linked Freedom 250’s DC shows

A day after the Trump -affiliated Freedom 250 announced the “first wave” of performers for “The Great American State Fair” shows on Washington’s National Mall in June and July, Milli Vanilli and Morris Day are among the scheduled acts who have said they will not be appearing.

Day and Young MC issued statements on social media disputing Wednesday’s announcement from Freedom 250, while Milli Vanilli singer Jodie Rocco told The Associated Press that neither she, her sister Linda Rocco, nor any of the other group members had been asked to come.

“My sister and I were shocked to see our name, ‘Milli Vanilli’, as one of the performers,” Jodie Rocco wrote in an email.

Freedom 250 has not responded to requests for comment.

Other scheduled performers include the Commodores, Flo Rida and Martina McBride.

The president launched Freedom 250 last year to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday. The organization describes itself as nonpartisan.

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FACT FOCUS: Trump says Obama and Biden spent ‘hundreds of millions’ on reflecting pool. They did not

Trump has claimed that the administrations of former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden spent “hundreds of millions of dollars” to fix the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and alleged that renovations he is currently overseeing will be much more economical. This is false.

The Obama administration spent at least $34 million on a massive, two-year reconstruction project that ended in 2012. No major repairs to the pool were done during the Biden administration.

Trump has repeatedly said that his administration’s work on the pool will cost only $1.5 million, but records show that at least $14.8 million in contracts have been awarded for the project so far.

The reflecting pool, which is more than 2,000 feet long, was originally built in the 1920s. It sits between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument and is one of the most iconic sites in Washington.

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Immigration lawyers raise concerns about new green card policy

Attorneys from the American Immigration Lawyers Association are warning that they don’t think anyone should assume they’re safe from a new green card policy announced last week.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced Friday that immigrants applying for a green card would have to do so in their home countries except in “extraordinary circumstances.”

In later statements, the agency has said the policy wouldn’t affect people who provide an “economic benefit” or “skilled professionals who have followed the law.”

Immigrants and lawyers have been trying to assess how broadly the new guidance will be applied and who might get a green card in the U.S.

AILA lawyers said during a news conference Thursday that they didn’t think anyone, including those in the country on the highly coveted employment-based H-1B visa, should assume that the new policy wouldn’t affect them.

The association provides legal education to its 18,000 members.

Bessent says Americans could be saving less because of optimism

The Treasury Secretary responded to a question about a report earlier Thursday showing Americans are saving the smallest proportion of their paychecks in about two decades, outside the pandemic. He said it could be because wages aren’t going as far, which he termed a “doomer” view, or because they are more optimistic about the economy and the stock market.

Consumers do step up their spending when they are more confident of their job and income prospects. But consumer confidence surveys show Americans have a decidedly gloomy outlook on the economy right now, and their perception of the job market is also negative.

Thursday’s report showed that after-tax, inflation-adjusted incomes have fallen 1.1% from a year ago, a key reason consumers were forced to dip into savings to maintain their spending. Credit-card balances have also jumped as gas prices have spiked.

Bessent won’t confirm that the tentative agreement to extend the ceasefire is in place

The Treasury secretary was repeatedly peppered with questions about reports that U.S. and Iranian negotiators have agreed to a memorandum of understanding.

But Bessent claimed that he hadn’t spoken with Trump on the matter before taking part in the White House briefing with reporters.

“It’s always a mistake to get out ahead of the president,” he said. “So, it is all going to be the president’s decision.”

Bessent, however, underscored that Trump has made clear that there can be no deal without Tehran agreeing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, dispose of its highly enriched uranium and pledge to never have a nuclear weapons program.

Bessent says he doesn’t have presidential aspirations

During his session with reporters in the White House briefing room, it was noted that the Treasury secretary was following Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the podium -- both of whom are widely expected to run for president in 2028.

Asked to laughs about his own aspirations to be president, Bessent responded with a dose of humor himself.

“No,” he said with a smile, “I just think it just means they’ve run out of things on the food chain.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is on maternity leave, and Vance, Rubio, and now Bessent have taken turns holding weekly briefings in her absence.

Treasury secretary and Oman ambassador discuss Strait of Hormuz

Bessent told reporters at a White House briefing that he spoke with Oman’s ambassador to Washington, Talal Alrahbi, earlier on Thursday, and the Gulf envoy assured him that his country had “no plans for tolling the strait.”

Trump, during a Cabinet briefing on Wednesday, warned Oman, a U.S. ally, not to enter into any agreement with Iran to share control of the strait or the U.S. will “have to blow them up.”

Bessent downplayed the president’s rhetoric.

“I think the president wanted to punctuate freedom of navigation in the strait,” he added.

Bessent says he had first meeting with new Fed chair

The Treasury secretary said he had breakfast Thursday with Kevin Warsh, the new chair of the Federal Reserve, who was just sworn in last week to replace former chair Jerome Powell.

Bessent provided some cover for Warsh by not repeating the Trump administration’s calls for him to immediately cut the Fed’s short-term interest rate, which Trump regularly demanded of Powell.

Instead, Bessent said, “I believe he will do the right thing to balance inflation and growth.” Such phrasing suggests the Fed should consider addressing inflation, which it typically does by keeping rates elevated or even raising them. Financial markets increasingly expect the central bank to raise its key rate, rather than cut it, by early next year.

Treasury secretary says the $250 bill with Trump’s picture is up to Congress

Speaking at the White House, Scott Bessent did not take a personal position on the idea of a new $250 bill with Trump’s picture.

He said it’s up to Congress, where legislation to allow a new currency note has stalled.

Bessent affirmed that the Treasury Department does “prepare things in advance.” That’s a tacit confirmation of a Washington Post story that reported said the agency has produced a mockup of a new $250 bill. The design has Trump’s picture and a 250th anniversary logo celebrating the nation’s founding.

The secretary noted that, at least for now, U.S. law does not allow a living person to appear on currency. A bill by Rep. Joe Wilson, a Republican from South Carolina, would provide an exemption allowing Trump’s image to appear.

“It’s all up to Capitol Hill,” Bessent said. “We will stick to the law.”

Bessent says oil prices may fall ‘very quickly,’ cites UAE leaving OPEC

Asked about rising oil prices, the U.S. Treasury secretary told reporters that a large number of ships are waiting to “come out of the gulf.”

He said that, once an agreement has been reached between the U.S. and Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, “I think the oil market is going to be very well supplied on the other side.”

“We could see prices come down very quickly,” Bessent said, also noting that prices could further ease because “we saw the UAE leave OPEC.”

US Treasury secretary touts Trump accounts at the opening of White House press briefing

Scott Bessent called Trump’s benefit for newborns “the most important benefit for young people since the GI Bill.” He said almost 6 million children have been signed up for the accounts, which will launch on July 4.

The accounts are meant to give $1,000 to every newborn whose parents open an account. That money is then invested in the stock market by private firms, and the child can access the money when they turn 18.

Bessent is part of a rotating cast of Cabinet members leading White House press briefings while press secretary Karoline Leavitt is on maternity leave.

Trump officials: Kenya facility for Americans exposed to Ebola abroad to be operational this week

A new camp in Kenya where the Trump administration plans to send Americans who are exposed to Ebola abroad will be operational with 50 quarantine beds starting Friday, according to a senior administration official.

The government is still working on bringing in additional isolation and biocontainment units for Americans who may contract the disease, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to freely discuss details of the facility with reporters on Thursday.

While no Americans have yet been identified to be sent to the facility, 30 members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps have so far been trained and deployed to staff the camp at Kenya’s Laikipia Air Base, the official said.

The U.S. government has been in conversation with Kenya’s president on the establishment of the facility, said another senior administration official on the call who spoke on the condition of anonymity to brief reporters.

Trump approval still pending, US official says

Another U.S. official said the broad outlines of a tentative deal have been reached but stressed that until the president signs off on it, there is no deal.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private diplomacy, said there are still questions about whether Trump will ultimately accept the agreement.

US and Iranian negotiators reach tentative deal to extend ceasefire and launch nuclear talks

U.S. and Iranian negotiators have reached a tentative agreement to extend the ceasefire by 60 days and launch talks on Iran’s nuclear program, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter.

The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Trump still needs to sign off on the emerging memorandum of understanding.

The tentative agreement worked out by the two sides comes at a moment when the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran appeared to be wavering.

The U.S. military earlier on Thursday accused Iran of violating the ceasefire after Kuwait reported coming under attack following an American strike against the Islamic Republic. It was the latest flare-up of fighting to threaten ongoing negotiations to end the war.

Details of the tentative agreement were first reported by the news outlet Axios.

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Vance tells Air Force graduates to use AI but ‘never submit to it’

In his commencement speech at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Vance said technology is evolving faster than military institutions have been accustomed to. He endorsed Pope Leo XIV’s recent message warning against outsourcing moral decisions to technology.

“If the warfare of the future is to live up to the moral values of our ancestors, decisions over life and death must be made by humans and not machines,” Vance told graduates Thursday at a ceremony in Colorado Springs.

Vance said he was confident in the class of 2026, saying they will follow in the footsteps of service members who pulled off a daring rescue of two aviators whose fighter jet was downed by Iran in April.

“Your Air Force, your future force, went in there and did the impossible,” he said.

Iran’s UN envoy calls US action against Venezuela, Iran and now Cuba `dangerous’

Iran’s U.N. ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, told the U.N. Security Council on Thursday that the U.S. actions reflect a pattern “of coercion, intimidation and interference” which violates the U.N. Charter, threatens the countries’ sovereignty and independence, and endangers international peace and security.

U.S. forces arrested Venezuela’s president and the Trump administration now oversees the country, and it’s pressuring Cuba by blocking the delivery of oil.

Iravani defended Iran’s right to respond to the U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iran on Feb. 28 and to close the Strait of Hormuz, accusing unnamed countries of ignoring the root causes of the current situation in the region and unfairly shifting the blame to Iran.

“Iran’s actions are lawful and consistent with international law,” Iravani said. “Iran could not allow such a critical waterway to be used as a corridor for hostile action and military aggression against its sovereignty, territory and vital interests.”

Trump’s DOJ sues 4 Democratic-run states over denying undercover license plates for federal agents

It’s the latest front in the wider struggle between the White House and Democratic-led states over the Republican president’s immigration crackdown.

The Department of Justice alleges in separate lawsuits filed Wednesday that Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington state are imposing unconstitutional restrictions it says impede law enforcement and threaten agents’ safety.

“By denying undercover license plates to DHS components, including ICE, while issuing them to their own state agencies, these governors are pursuing discriminatory and obstructionist policies against federal law enforcement,” said acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in a statement.

“These actions undermine federal immigration enforcement, allow dangerous criminals to escape justice, and terrorize American communities,” Blanche added.

The Justice Department filed individual suits in U.S. district courts in the respective states. The four state governments are accused of trying “to obstruct the Federal Government’s immigration enforcement efforts, even though control over immigration and the nation’s borders is an exclusive federal power.”

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US boosts Ebola response aid to Congo and Uganda by $80M

The Trump administration says it’s boosting its Ebola response assistance to Congo and Uganda by $80 million, bringing the U.S. contribution to those efforts to more than $112 million over the past two weeks.

The State Department said Thursday the additional money would pay for personal protective equipment for health care workers, Ebola test kits, supporting health screening at airports and other points of entry into Central and East Africa, and contact tracing of potential virus victims in the Congo and Uganda.

The U.S. has been criticized for massive reductions in assistance since Trump began his second term, including dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development. But current officials say the new aid procedures are more effective and less costly.

In addition to the bilateral assistance it has pledged, the State Department said it also committed $50 million to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to fund up to 50 Ebola clinics and has earmarked $300 million through the agency for regional humanitarian initiatives.

Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says she won’t run for president in 2028

She put to rest speculation about a potential 2028 presidential bid, saying Thursday that she won’t join what’s expected to be a crowded primary field after leaving office at the end of this year.

Whitmer has long been viewed by some Democrats as a possible White House contender after her decisive election victories in the closely contested state Trump has carried twice in presidential votes. For months, however, Whitmer had offered only cautious answers about her political future.

But she delivered her clearest response yet in an interview Thursday with Fox 2 Detroit.

“I think there will be a robust group of people running for president. I will not be one of them in 2028,” Whitmer said.

Her comments came during Michigan’s annual Mackinac policy conference, where Whitmer is set to be honored and deliver remarks later Thursday.

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Justice Department scrutinizing statement Carroll made that no one else was paying her legal fees

It later became public that a Chicago-based organization backed by Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn, had helped fund Carroll’s case.

Trump’s lawyers in the civil case accused Carroll of concealing that information, which they said called into question whether the case was politically motivated.

Oil prices climb, but US stocks hold near their records

Oil prices are clawing back some of their sharp drops from earlier in the week Thursday, but U.S. stocks are remaining near their records as companies like Dollar Tree, Snowflake and Hormel Foods keep piling up profits.

The S&P 500 edged down by 0.1% from its all-time high set the day before. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 219 points, or 0.4%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.2% lower after both indexes also set records the day before.

Stocks appear to be less beholden to swings in the oil market, where prices climbed Thursday following the latest threat to the ceasefire in the United States’ war with Iran. U.S. Central Command said Kuwait had intercepted missiles launched by Iran late Wednesday night, following earlier “defensive” strikes by the U.S. military on missile launch sites and minelaying boats in southern Iran.

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Trump says he’s been invited to watch the Knicks play in the NBA Finals

Trump told reporters Wednesday that New York Knicks owner James Dolan has invited him to the NBA Finals, when the Eastern Conference champion Knicks host either the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs next month at Madison Square Garden.

New York, which is riding an 11-game postseason winning streak after sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference finals, is scheduled to host Game 3 on June 8 and Game 4 on June 10.

Trump, a New York native, said he initially planned to attend Game 5 of the conference finals at MSG before the Knicks finished off the Cavaliers in four games. The president called Dolan a “great guy” and marveled at New York’s run.

Trump called the club’s return to the finals for the first time since 1999 “great to see.”

Trump has routinely dropped in on prominent sporting events during his time in politics. He’s taken in the College Football Playoff championship and caught a prime-time NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Jets just days before the 2024 election.

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The City of Houston is officially opening the Main Street Promenade this weekend, a seven-block pedestrian-focused corridor stretching from Commerce Street to Rusk Street. The project features wider walkways, outdoor dining areas, shade structures, public art, landscaping, and gathering spaces designed to create a more walkable and vibrant downtown experience.

For some business owners, the opening marks the end of a difficult chapter.

One of them is Casa Blanca owner Josh Sylvia.

Last September, Sylvia spoke with KPRC 2 while construction was underway outside his business.

“If cancer didn’t take me out, construction is not going to take us out. Casa Blanca is here to stay,” Slyvia said.

At the time, construction along Main Street created challenges for businesses trying to attract customers.

Now, months later, Sylvia says the finished project has completely transformed the area.

“Fast forward to now, I mean, it’s just beautiful out here. Like, the way the city did a promenade out here, I can definitely see it as a landing spot for a lot of visitors, not only for the FIFA coming up, but the people who live in the suburbs. It’s time to come back to downtown,” he said.

City leaders hope that’s exactly what happens.

The promenade was designed as a major centerpiece ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which is expected to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to Houston throughout the tournament.

Beyond the World Cup, the project is intended to create a destination where residents and visitors can walk, dine, shop, and spend time outdoors year-round.

Sylvia says he can already envision what the space will become.

“I’m excited to see people utilize this space the way it’s intended to be utilized. I’m excited to see people walking up and down with their dogs, riding bikes, families out in front. And in the nighttime, I’m excited to see people take pictures with the skyline in the background. Like, this is literally the spot to be in the city, and I want to welcome people who haven’t been here a long time to come on back,” he said.

He’s not alone.

Right next door, another longtime downtown business owner is also counting down to the grand opening.

At Notsuoh, a quirky and eclectic bar known for its unique decor, owner Jim Pirtle says visitors can expect an experience unlike anything else in Houston.

“A Lions, Tigers and Bears…oh my!”

Pirtle describes his establishment as a collection of oddities and conversation pieces.

“There’s mannequins that I bought from Las Vegas from Circus Circus. They retired them, so we’ve got seven sort of circusy mannequins. There is probably an intense amount of taxidermy, maybe too much.”

Outside his business, crews spent the week planting trees, landscaping, painting sidewalks, and putting the finishing touches on the promenade before Saturday’s opening celebration.

Pirtle believes the project will help showcase a side of Houston many visitors don’t expect to see.

“Money…Well, it’s a chance for Houston to show off the innovation and the city within the promenade, and so many of the Europeans from Portugal, from Holland, are expecting a car culture, and then downtown.”

He says the promenade also highlights something unique about Main Street — its concentration of locally owned businesses.

“There are maybe 20 different bars that are also owner-operated, not chained, so it displays the uniqueiveness of Houston.”

Both Pirtle and Sylvia say they hope visitors spend time exploring more than just one destination.

They want fans, tourists, and Houstonians alike to support the local businesses that have invested in downtown through both good times and difficult ones.

“Not just a single bar collective and the block wins in the West. So that’s sort of, you know, support the whole block, not just one bar. Go check them out, all the different bars or all the different places.”

Sylvia agrees.

After navigating months of construction impacts, he’s optimistic the opening of the promenade and the arrival of World Cup visitors could help generate new business opportunities.

“We are intending to see an influx of people and an influx of visitors. I can tell you right now, a lot of us out here are vending on that, so we would really, really appreciate and love to have as many people out here as possible just to enjoy all the businesses out here. Because a lot of us are small, locally owned businesses, and a lot of people tend to forget that.”

The Main Street Promenade officially opens Saturday with a block party beginning at 11 a.m.

For downtown business owners, it’s more than a celebration of a new public space.

It’s the start of what many hope will be a new era for downtown Houston.